What do you think of MS' apology?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We are merely stating that forcing a game on us that we may or may not want to play as an apology for not being able to play a game we do pay to play may not be the best customer service move. </div></div>

I fail to see how Undertow is forced on anyone. You can DL it if you want, or not. It's a token. Some people may think the token is great, others may not care, and then some may find it completely half-assed and unacceptable. My point, is that the assumption that ANY online gaming service is to be flawless and not have the occasional intermittent issues is moronic. This has nothing to do with getting a hotdog when you paid for a hamburger.

Online services are not guaranteed. In this case, some people think the game Undertow is not satisfactory compensation. Well, tough shit. They owe you nothing - show me the part of the contract where it says you $50 guarantees you 365 days of uninterrupted service.

To be perfectly honest, the complaining is more along the lines of asking your government for a piece of your road taxes back because last Monday morning an accident prevented you from using the highway.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For the record, you're completely wrong. The issue is more about contractual obligation than it is about the actual intermittent service. </div></div>

You sure about that? Quote from the contract, btw: Section 16: WE MAKE NO WARRANTY

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We provide the Service "as-is," "with all faults" and "as available." The Microsoft Parties give no express warranties, guarantees or conditions.</div></div>

 

I am sure about that. They're currently being sued about the issue from the perspective that I mentioned of contractual obligations. Now, it's unclear whether they'll win or lose that suit... you have correctly pointed out some contract terms in their favor, but I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know how to interpret that correctly. Whether or not they win doesn't change what the issue is, however.

Even if the contract is entirely in their favor, and they owe us nothing, which there's a good chance you're right about, they stand to lose some business over this, particularly from players in games where online is available on PC/PS3. That is to say, there's merit from a business perspective in them making apologies such as this free Undertow thing, regardless of whether they're actually required to or not.

 

Alright, first of all, Stiff... forgive me for giving you the impression that I called you a prick. The truth is, if you work for Microsofts PR department you are a prick... otherwise I was just saying that you sounded like one (or both ;-p) Anyway, I didn't mean it personally (unless you are an MS PR agent). I am kidding around here, but the point is this, it is an issue and obviously many people are concerned about it.

As for Llanfair (and other people with the same jaded outlook), I think it's been explained by other people in this same thread in a very easy to understand manner. The point is this, the amount of money spent on the service is insignificant compared to the fact that the service was not fulfilled. You may not have a problem with spending 50 bucks and not receiving full service but you fall into a category that is smaller than those who actually do care about what they receive in return for their earned money. Perhaps you're rich, inherited moneys, or your mommy and daddy pay for everything for you... it really doesn't matter.

The point is this, if nobody complains, then nothing will be done about these situations in the future. That is the cold hard truth for people who can't accept it. So writing a letter to Microsoft is really only the beginning because if you have looked around the net on the subject you would have realized that hundreds of people have already written to Microsoft in lue of the announcement that several other gamers have taken action and filed for a class action lawsuit against Microsoft. These people aren't doing this to make money, they just want a better service.

It's hard for people who've been handed everything to them for free to accept these ideas and beliefs, but I believe most people feel what's right and know that some things (in regards to services) no matter how expensive or cheap should be worth the value that customers (in this case on an international scale) have paid for. People just want to get their moneys worth, and at $50 - $60 dollars a game, I think I should be able to play online anytime I want when I've also paid for that online service to coincide with the game(s).

Wow, that's so simple... I should be president of the US LMAO ;-P

 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Perhaps you're rich, inherited moneys, or your mommy and daddy pay for everything for you... it really doesn't matter.</div></div>

Or, I'm an adult with a full time job. It's not just kiddies who play videogames, son.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You may not have a problem with spending 50 bucks and not receiving full service but you fall into a category that is smaller than those who actually do care about what they receive in return for their earned money.</div></div>

It's more that I don't naively go around thinking that MS owes me full time service for online gaming, when the contract explicitly says that the agreement provides the service "as is". As much as I understand the dying need for complaints to drive the online business improvements, I'm certainly not sitting here with some obscure and jaded outlook. I just honestly believe that there are far more beneficial ways to get your money's worth than looking for an argument/support on the VFDC forums.

Being President of the US, btw, requires simply a grade 5 education if we are to go by current in-house standards. You write well - far better than your President.

 

So, all I'm hearing from you now is "blah blah blah" Llanfair. You're off subject which makes it seem that you're the one that wants to argue with everyone. We don't care about whether or not you think Live should work consistently. Honestly to expect it to run like shit is ridiculous.

Lets put it this way. We paid for Live and the ability to play VF on it. We were not allowed to do that. Llanfair thinks we aren't owed squat. However, MS (the company we have the contract with) seems to think it best that they give a token of apology for the issue.

So back to the original subject. I'll take my copy of Undertow and I'll probably enjoy it a little. Also, even though I cursed MS every time I tried to log on in the past few weeks, I'm still awake at 1 in the morning playing VF5 on Xbox Live.

 

Live was really dodgy for me last night. Very annoying.

 

Yeah, LIVE was giving me problems last night as well. There was more than just intermittent lag, I tried a few different games and the service was acting up across the board. The amount of players online in some of the other games were very low (some people couldn't connect, while others had no problem). Funniest part about all of this is when I checked the Status of Xbox LIVE at XBOX.com it was showing that LIVE was up and running with no problems... that's the best kind of status report, one that doesn't work. I should've called up tech support to bitch about it but I didn't have 2 hours to kill. ;-P

I'm thinking at this rate Microsoft should be giving out a free game every 2 months. Don't worry, they'll just jack up the price of Xbox LIVE to compensate the loss and use the fact that we "might" be heading for a recession.

Off topic, has anyone noticed how Microsofts Tech Support is divided and all over the map? Need help with windows? Call our 1-800-number which will put you through to an operator somewhere in India... no joke! Tech support for Xbox and XBL haven't hit that point yet but I'm waiting to see how long that takes.

 

Our MS support is somewhere in the Middle East. It's not that I can't understand anyone's accent, not the fact they are foreign, no. I just detest the whole reading from a script rubbish they have to do. When I was sending my 360 back a few months ago I described exactly what had happened, the disc tray won't stay closed. I told them I'd tried everything and I told them everything I tried. Then the script began. "Have you tried turning the power off from the mains and leaving it for an hour" *sigh*.

Also, they sent me a replacement PSU which didn't fit the kettle (power) lead I already had. So then I had to wait to get a new one of those.

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