Boycott Activision?

[deleted]

ATVI broke no laws.

[skorpion59]

quote: Originally posted by deleted on 01-21-2001 05:55 AM ATVI broke no laws.

Possibly not, especially since they disavowed any scenario support whatsoever. This is akin to @Home's email never working. They claim email is 'Recreational' therefor it doesn't have to work all the time. BS! Just because something is not illegal doesn't mean it is not wrong. This is wrong any way you look at it. To deliberatly produce a scam product with the sole intention of making money from it at XMas time and then dropping it, is WRONG. The only thing separating this from the Ford/Firestone tire fiasco is the fact that people only lost money and not their lives. It is Big Business only caring about the bottom dollar.

[Simpleton]

quote: Originally posted by deleted on 01-21-2001 05:55 AM ATVI broke no laws.

Technically, they did. Activision advertised/promoted certain product features that the game did not have or function. This is, in fact, called misrepresentation. Probably, since it's only a $40 - $80 dollar computer game it might not be worth sueing over but it's possible a person with some time on their hands to prepare a case may just have a chance. Just remember if you do sue make sure you check the exact company name Activision is listed under and use that under in your documents or the case will be thrown out.
No I'm not a lawyer but I have taken a few law courses.



[This message has been edited by Simpleton (edited January 21, 2001).]

[Bluevoss]

Well, outside of the boycott (which I will support - I bought this for myself and for my Pop for Xmas. How embarrising that he drifted back to Civ2 3 hours after installing it), there is something else that will work.

I intend to spread this story far and wide on the internet. I go to a lot of other sites, and it isn't hard to find someone *****ing about something. Nothing like saying "Well, I bought Activisions CTP2, and lemme tell you about a screw job..."

Just think - over the long year before they can release everything, I'll post my opinions on sites where hundreds might read it. And if there ever is a CTP3, I'll be leading the charge against it, putting out my own reviews, making sure that the crummy customer support will be noted.

Activision, you might as well go back to frogger. Nobody is going to take you seriously for any adult games anymore.



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Bluevoss-

[Alexander's Horse]

You would all be much better off taking up your complaints with your local consumer protection authority. Activision produced a faulty product, particularly the multiplayer. That is against the law in most Western countries. In Australia it is called "false or misleading conduct" and carries very heavy fines. Its about time game companies were brought to book. If your local Consumer Protection authority gets on the case, you watch em sit up and take notice.

So get writing - if they are under attack in several jurisdictions then the media might get interested and then they will really be twisting in the wind.

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Chaos, panic and disorder - My work here is done.
[This message has been edited by Alexander's Horse (edited January 22, 2001).]

[deleted]

My stamement concerning the fact that they broke no laws, was in response to the post above mine; I was not defending their actions on an ethical ground.

Misrepresentation? When where you informed that PBEM or Hotseat would be part of the product, or any other feature. The bugs remaining in the game probably would be construed as reasonable.

Taking your complaint to a consumer protection agency. That would be the FTC, and unless you were informed by ATVI that a certain tangible feature would be in the game but was never included, you don't have a case. BTW if you live in Virginia companies are not responsible for software bugs.

Once again I reiterate I do not support ATVI actions, but they were legal. It is my belief that ATVI is finished for a while concerning TBS games. The damage concerning other titles in other genres is yet to be seen. I would wager that it will be relatively small, since there is little association between games by the same company. Unless you were burned by the company yourself, some one else being burned will have little effect.

[Alexander's Horse]

Sorry but the game box says it offers multiplayer. The multiplayer does not work. That alone is grounds for consumer authorities to take action against Activision.

Why should game buyers continue to accept "second class citizen" consumer rights as far as computer games are concerned.

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Chaos, panic and disorder - My work here is done.
[This message has been edited by Alexander's Horse (edited January 22, 2001).]

[deleted]

Hmm. It kind of works but Id hazard a guess that the consumer protection agency would end up considering the bugs in MP to be reasonable given the complex nature of the product You can run with the complaint but I can't see it succeeding.

[Alexander's Horse]

Deleted, are you with Activision?


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Chaos, panic and disorder - My work here is done.

[deleted]

Concerning 2nd Class Consumer rights with software. Legislatures are very interested in cozying up to tech companies, so when they make laws specific to tech, they are very producer friendly. Check Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Article 2B. It's not a law in most states but is in a few.

AH:

Activision. Sure boss

[MrFun]

Unfortunately, it will not make an iota difference if 0.5% of all customers boycott Activision products.

[Martock]

maybe not in the beginning mrFun but in the long run it will. losing 5% now and having that 5% talk to another 5% will cost them even for any future games. look at it this way, if they made $60 million off of both CTP and CTP2 and now they've lost at least 5% of their market, they've lost $3 million in a future gaming market. now if that 5% makes a stink and causes them to lose 5% more of their market, now, they'll be standing to lose $6 million. sadly, tunnel vision in the marketing dept will eventually sweep this filthly company away...

after reading activision's cop out letter, i've decided to write to the heads of act and let them know how disappointed in their company. like others, i too will let them know they will never get my $ again and i will spread the word on how badly they produce their games.

[MrFun]

I didn't say 5% - I said only 0.5%. How many materialistic customers will actually be able to swallow hard and ACTUALLY boycott an entire company's line of products?

I am materialistic to some extent.

[Ming]

Thank you kormer...
The list of names you provided is perfect.

If you really want to be heard on this issue, send a personal letter (not a form letter or email) to the people on his list.

Again, be nice. Don't rant and rave. Say how many games of theirs you own, discuss why you don't like their decision, and tell them you have lost faith in them because of their treatment of customers. Tell them WHY you aren't going to buy a game from them again.

A well thought out letter will get to their desks!

Now... let's just do it!

[Jerk]

I'm in on the boycott. I don't care if one is official or not, I personally am never buying any of their products again. Regardless of the game genre what is to keep them from repeating this?

I think what we as users should push for is emailing all those game sites that have rated it, and request that they rerate the game based on the fact that Activision pulled the plug and it will never be a fully functional game. Additionally I'd like to recast my vote in the "CTP2: Did it match your expectations?" poll. How about we get a new poll: "CTP2: Now that it's scrapped, can it ever meet your expectations?" or "CTP2: What would you pay for it?" When I cast my vote for "CTP2: Did it match your expectations?" I based my opinion on the overall improvements to the game with the expectation that the various glitches would be fixed eventually. REVOTE!

Activision Management: All I wanted was simple bug fixes, not an entire overhaul, not PBEM or hotseat, just a working version of what I purchased. You lost 3 paying customers in this house alone.

CTP2 Programmers: I feel sorry that the company you work for did not give you the chance to produce the product you are capable of making. I would definately keep this in mind next time another game company tries to lure you away. Your names are unfortunately attached to a product that your employer ruined the name of.

- Jerk -
Who should have known better the moment he saw old obsolete CTP1 files still packaged in CTP2.

[This message has been edited by Jerk (edited January 24, 2001).]