EA just approved my refund for SimCity

[Therumancer]

simcity 4

SC4 never stopped crashing for me, I think my PC is too advanced to run it these days.

I'm not a big city sim fan, but in the wake of this disaster I've actually heard people saying a lot of unusually nice things about Anno 2070 again, even if it is an Ubisoft game apparently. Never played it, but I guess STEAM did a sale on it not too long ago and it's been scratching the itch for some people.

 

[bug_of_war]

You do not earn the reputation EA has earned by making a "few" mistakes.

I think the primary example is the +$2/minute for calling their helpdesk. That's the customer service culture.

Perhaps they're starting to slowly turn over a new leaf - if so good on them, maybe the new CEO will slam some heads together. I mean, the only way to go is up.

EA has made some great games. I have honestly enjoyed Mass Effect III and Dead Space III and felt I got my money's worth.

I did not enjoy SimCity but I took the free Dead Space III they gave me and am satisfied paying as much as I did for SimCity to get those games. So if I feel I got what I paid for I am happy. At the same time I despite their customer service and the path they are continuing to travel down.

Everyone says they've made so many mistakes yet I have literally only ever heard of the most recent ones, some of which have nothing to do with EA. I too really enjoyed Mass Effect 3 and Dead Space 3, hell I've defended the absolute fuck out of ME3 on this website, so it's good to see some other people also enjoyed the game. Also, I have trouble seeing this supposed evil road that EA are/have travelled down and would appreciate some more examples so that I better understand why all the hate for EA. Because honestly, I see very little wrong with EA at this point and have been happily purchasing and enjoying their products since 1999.

 

[Madman123456]

I have to say i did not expect something like that. I mean, you did get a Game as per "contract" and in that Contract there isn't a clause that says that you get your money back if the Game doesn't perform to your expectations.

It's likely that the Person who got your email thought you where one of the People who could keep the Internet hate against EA simmering for a bit longer and didn't want to give you any ammunition.
For all they, or we know you might be some Blogger with a billion People following.

Then again, i will have to acknowledge a nice gesture and this certainly was one. In this one Case (and possibly others) EA has done a nice thing. So nice in fact that this can not become something general because then everyone would play "Call of Honorfield" for a Month and then apply for a refund because the Noobtube hasn't been nerfed yet.


One thing that does rub me the wrong way, because there can't be an EA thread without that; Sim City *still* doesn't work right? Apart from the DRM, which is not a DRM measure of course, just being there, it still has server issues?

 

[major_chaos]

Good lord I'm trying to think of everything I would have had to demand a refund for if issues near launch made me this mad. Off the top of my head: Diablo 3, Guild Wars 2, Deus Ex HR, every single Bethesda game I have ever played, TERA. Hell the only time I have ever asked for a refund was from Steam after they sold me the totally-nonfunctional-even-after-hours-of-dicking-with-it Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines, and I was told in no uncertain terms that A. no refunds, no exceptions and B. they didn't even read the rest of my ticket. EA support on the other hand has been prompt and helpful on both occasions I have had to contact them so I guess I just have weird reverse luck.

 

[Abomination]

Under duress? You know this for fact do you?

When saying the alternative isn't even available? Might as well be.

And the thing is though, you complained about MORE than just the online didn't you. But conveniently when I call out your bullshit you neglect to mention the shitty gameplay elements that you complained about earlier. Yet those design choices, are via Maxis most probably. It's not too irrational to blame EA for the always online, that doesn't mean it's definitive that it's their fault but as far as guesses go it's a fair one (except of course you state as fact, not as a guess).

But then you blame EA for all the other shit too? Man alive, you people are hopeless.

Get some perspective.
Don't assume that you know what you don't know.
And don't blame design choices on a publisher. Blame overall implementation sure, but is the bad pathfinding EA's fault? Let me guess, you're gonna say "oh, the game was rushed, that's why it sucks. It's EA again." R

ational upon rational to prop up assumptions and double standards to maintain your unhealthy point of view.

The one glaring issue with the game is the always online feature and the other issues of the game were on Maxis but they are ALSO on EA. That's what being the boss is about. If your people make a shitty product the boss is just as liable as everyone else.

Maxis certainly fucked a lot up but it's the producer who has to keep their developers in line, give them goals and engage in product testing before okaying a ship.

This results in one of two scenarios: EA didn't product test enough to discover the glaring flaws or they DID discover the glaring flaws and decided to ship ANYWAY. Which is worse? They're BOTH bad and EA is responsible for both. If EA isn't responsible they can always sue Maxis for breach of contract.

 

[ResonanceSD]

simcity 4

SC4 never stopped crashing for me, I think my PC is too advanced to run it these days.

I'm not a big city sim fan, but in the wake of this disaster I've actually heard people saying a lot of unusually nice things about Anno 2070 again, even if it is an Ubisoft game apparently. Never played it, but I guess STEAM did a sale on it not too long ago and it's been scratching the itch for some people.

Try Tropico 4, that game is the shit. Seriously brilliant.

 

[ResonanceSD]

I have to say i did not expect something like that. I mean, you did get a Game as per "contract" and in that Contract there isn't a clause that says that you get your money back if the Game doesn't perform to your expectations.

Under Australian Law, the only law worth following, in this country, if a product or service isn't up to scratch, or isn't working like the seller said it would, I'm entitled to my fucking money back. Here we take a dim view of people who sell you broken products.

 

[shintakie10]

Me finding someone's wallet is different because I never told that individual "If I find your wallet I will return it to you." and they never gave me compensation before hand for that service I promised to provide them. Since there is no duty of care I am considered a good person for returning it to them if I was to do so because I was not OBLIGATED to do so. That is going above and beyond. That is customer service. Doing more than you are legally obliged to do.

Not making an effort to return it is a crime, "larceny by finding"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theft_by_finding

Yet you will find it to be seldom enforced or next to no effort put towards such "crimes" due to just how absurd it can be.

Certainly it's a crime not to but being honest with ourselves it's there to ping people who "find" incredibly valuable and important items knowing who the owner is and not returning it.

Actually, NYC likes to do sting operations in subways involvin just that. They leave a wallet/keys/bag of money somewhere and "walk away." When someone comes and takes it they show back up and ask for it back. If the person doesn't give it back, or tries to hide the fact that they took somethin from the bag, blah blah they get arrested.

It apparently helps quite a bit with petty theft, but I find it pretty shady myself.

 

[Drake666]

Me finding someone's wallet is different because I never told that individual "If I find your wallet I will return it to you." and they never gave me compensation before hand for that service I promised to provide them. Since there is no duty of care I am considered a good person for returning it to them if I was to do so because I was not OBLIGATED to do so. That is going above and beyond. That is customer service. Doing more than you are legally obliged to do.

Not making an effort to return it is a crime, "larceny by finding"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theft_by_finding

Yet you will find it to be seldom enforced or next to no effort put towards such "crimes" due to just how absurd it can be.

Certainly it's a crime not to but being honest with ourselves it's there to ping people who "find" incredibly valuable and important items knowing who the owner is and not returning it.

Actually, NYC likes to do sting operations in subways involvin just that. They leave a wallet/keys/bag of money somewhere and "walk away." When someone comes and takes it they show back up and ask for it back. If the person doesn't give it back, or tries to hide the fact that they took somethin from the bag, blah blah they get arrested.

It apparently helps quite a bit with petty theft, but I find it pretty shady myself.

Perhaps they think that if someone doesn't want to give back a found item, he is probably capable of other petty theft act... but, yeah, it seems a bit shady :S

OP: Loves the thread, by the way. I think the consumers' laws in Canada are more or less the same: even if you accept a EULA or sign ANY contract it does not mean that you lose some of your rights. American Laws are weird. However, your legal recourse seems easier. Canadian government tends to bend over for big corporation...