LE scandal - Firaxians, there has to be an explanation to 75,000 customers!

[klesh]

I'll probably get sued for doing this...

I just wanted to let people who weren't fortunate enough to buy the LE what they were missing by these so called 'designer's notes'...

Dear World Ruler,

It's hard to believe that ten years have passed since the original Civilization was born. Though we knew the team had created something special, no one anticipated the impact that Civilization and Civilization II would have. Countless hours would pass as gamers across the world would again and again try to create the ultimate Civilization with just one more turn...

Even today, our team at FIRAXIS regularly hears from fans who have conqured new heightsand built even more incredible empires. Both the original Civilization and CivilizationII were grounded in the principles that guided the creation of CivilizationIII.

--FUN-- --INTERESTING DECISIONS-- --ACCESSIBLE DESIGN-

We're pleased to say that everyone at FIRAXIS has remained commited to these guiding principlesand created a new and even more compelling experience with CivilizationIII. You'll immediately notice that CivIII wonderfully detailed and beautiful graphics and a more streamlined interface. Many of the most significant innovations will be discovered when you journey through the gam, recognizing the many gameplay elements that have made the previous versions of Civilization so enjoyable and revealing the new and exciting features we've added to make CivIII the most fun Civ ever. With the introduction of new gameplay concepts such as Culture, we hope you will enjoy the challenge of exploring some of the many new ways to create the ultimate empire and strive to stand the test of time.

We are grateful to the many Civ fans who have shared their thoughts with us over the years... you have helped us make CivilizationIII the ultimate Civ experience.

On behalf of the entire team at FIRAXIS Games, we hope that you enjoy this legendary game that is so close to our hearts. Thank you for joining us in this, the dawn of a new Civilization.

Sincerely,

Sid Meier, Chairman and Director of Creative Development,
FIRAXIS Games

Jeff Briggs, President & CEO, FIRAXIS Games

Gee, that took me all of two minutes to type out for you guys.
Hope it was worth all the extra cash I spent.


-FMK.

[Fidel]

Re: I'll probably get sued for doing this...

Originally posted by Field Marshal Klesh
I just wanted to let people who weren't fortunate enough to buy the LE what they were missing by these so called 'designer's notes'...



Gee, that took me all of two minutes to type out for you guys.
Hope it was worth all the extra cash I spent.


-FMK.

Um, FMK, I also got that pathetic letter (my gf still laughs at me because of the opening line ) but that is NOT a designer's note, even us non-native speakers know the difference

[klesh]

I'll probably get sued for doing this...

Originally posted by LaRusso


Um, FMK, I also got that pathetic letter (my gf still laughs at me because of the opening line ) but that is NOT a designer's note, even us non-native speakers know the difference

That's odd, you would think they'd try to pull a fast one over on you non-native speakers while giving us Americans the real deal.


BTW, don't try to translate this into your native language, ok? You may get the Infogrames hit squad after you.



-FMK.

[yin26]

LaRusso got two replies, in fact, and asked me to pass them on:

THEIR REPLY NO !
Thank you for your e-mail and for bringing this matter to our attention. I have forwarded your e-mail on to the appropriate people within our company and assure you that they will look into this immediately. I will keep your e-mail address so that we can contact you when we have an answer for you.

Sincerely,
Nancy Bushkin
Vp, Corporate Communications

THEIR REPLY NO2
We have looked into your complaint and have tracked down the following information: While we are not aware of the advertising you mention, we did list the contents of the Limited Edition on certain online sites prior to the launch of the product. That listing indicated that there would be a note from the game's designers included in the product. To our knowledge, every copy of the Limited Edition included a one-page letter from Sid Meier and Jeff Briggs. If you -- or any of the other customers you mention -- did not receive this letter in your Limited Edition packages, please let me know and we will make certain that copies are sent out immediately.

I hope this answers your questions. If we can be of further assistance, please let me know. Again, thank you for your interest in and support of the Civilization franchise.

Sincerely,
Nancy Bushkin
VP, Corporate Communications


MY REPLY TO EVIL INFOGRAMES
Dear Mrs. Bushkin,
I am rather astonished that the Infogrames is not aware of the advertisement, since it has been printed at the back of the Limited Edition tin box. Also, the advertising specified "designers' notes"(plural) and not a "designer's note" or "designers' note". Moreover, since the Infogrames is well aware of the meaning of certain words in the gaming business, it surely does know that 'designers' notes' represent much more than a supposedly personal note from Sid Mayer and Jeff Briggs. Designers' notes are usually a rather thorough account of the makers on mechanics, making and working of the game that enables fans to get that extra info they would otherwise have to dig for themselves. Most of the Civ3 fans bought Limited Edition precisely because of that and they are rather disappointed at your the way Infogrames treatment. Since there has been quite a discussion about that on fan forums, I suggest that your company sends official explanation (but a real one) and/or apology to Apolyton, biggest Civ3 fan site online. You may send your communication
to markg@apolyton.net

[Earthling7]

SHOCKING!!!

My LE Tin arrived today, and even if it isn't quite as crappy as many have stated, it is far from impressive.

I promised to post a picture of the content, and will honour that tomorrow.

...and Infogrames really expect people to believe that a little letter about how amazingly fast time has flown can qualify as designer notes?

[scientist]

Shocked at Infogrames

Yin,

Thanks so much for actually contacting Infogrames. You are a braver man than I am. After reading their reply, I have actually become physically unwell.

There are so many things that bother me about Infogrames:

1)The LE ripoff

2)Their heavy-handed treatment of the German translation effort by fans.

3)Their and Prima Publishing going after Hurricane online strategy guide, especially when Prima's effort was so pathetic.

All three of these episodes are pointing to a publisher that has no appreciation nor understanding of the community they are supposed to be serving.

There are obviously some real idiots at Infogrames, who are oblivious to the fact that they are destroying a great franchise through their heavy-handed stupidity.

Perhaps the time for quiet carping on the message boards is over. Maybe we should get at these guys where they hurt. They seem to really love their lawyers. Maybe we should keep their lawyers busy and take some action. A class action on behalf of 75,000 LE victims could definitely hurt them. I just think it is time to stop playng nice with these idiots.

What do you think? That e-mail reply you received really show me that these morons just don't get it .

P.S. CivIII is a great game. The current implementation is buggy but I wouldn't be spending so many hours playing it if I didn't love it. It's all this crap that Infogrames is pulling that infuriates me.

[Q Classic]

i say we storm infogrames headquarters. with pitchforks.

be sure to wear red, dye hair black, and have the mayor flee in panic.

[yin26]

scientist: I just want to clarify that it was LaRusso who sent the mail and got the reply. I only passed it on for him. HE is the brave man.

I have to agree that this is a sick display from both Firaxis and Infogrames. As I've said before, I'm only haging around now to see if this black comedy could possibly get any worse...sad.

[Alexander's Horse]

I actually bought the LE version out of morbid curiosity because of this controversy

I was pleased to find the lid of the tin I got is warped so it won't close properly

[Jack_www]

The people at Infogrames have to be idiots. They seem to have no clue on how to conduct public realtions, and they have no clue on what has been said on this forum and other civ related firums. I am glad I never got the LE. I actually thought about getting because they said it had extra scenarios in it, but I decided in the end it was not worth the money, how right I was.
I say everyone here send firaxis and infograms letters and tell them exactly how we all feel about the crap they are doning to people.

[scientist]

Kudos to LaRusso

I should have read your post more carefully. I maintain my compliments to you,Yin, for posting, and I have double compliments to LaRusso.

Do you think it would help if more people complained?(duh, of course it would.)

So here's my effort:


Dear Infogrames:

I purchased Sid Meier's Civilization III Limited Edition several weeks ago. I enjoy the game greatly. The Civilization series is a great gaming tradition and the latest installment shows great promise.

I was, however, very disappointed that the Limited Editon did not contain the "Designer's [sic] Notes from Sid Meier and Jeff Briggs", as promised on the back of the tin box. I paid a premium of $10 dollars for the Limited Edition with the sole purpose being those designers' notes. I may also note that the "Fold-Out Tech Tree" was a very disappointingly poorly produced document as well.

There has been considerable online discussion on this matter ( http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...825&perpage=30 ), but there has been no word from your company nor from Firaxis concerning this failure on your company's part to provide the promised materials. I have posted a copy of my letter to you in this aforementioned forum, so that others may benefit from your quick and thoughtful response to our correspondence.

I look forward to your correction of this unfortunate situation.

Sincerely,

Michel Evanchik

P.S. On a personal note, I'm sorry to subject you to such a silly exchange, but your company has screwed up so badly on this one that I'm sure you will want to take some action, if for no other reason than out of some sense of corporate pride in having possession of such a venerable gaming franchise. The fact that Infogrames is also alienating thousands of paying customers may also prompt you to take some ameliorative action on this matter.


I'll post the reply when and if I get it.

[MustPost]

I was pleased to find the lid of the tin I got is warped so it won't close properly

All the ones in the store I went to had warped covers.
I bought one, it was warped but it still closed.

[Alexander's Horse]

I kept it anyway as a piece of Schlock. The warped lid makes me laugh. I don't know how they can defend this kind of shoddy production.

[MarkG]

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36335