Consumer Group Reporting Activision To UK Fair Trade Office Over Black Ops Glitches

[CptainCrunch]

Speaking of patches; from Gamesutra.com

<a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/gamersvoice.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_gamersvoice.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>

Independent British consumer group Gamers' Voice is preparing to submit a formal complaint to the UK's Office of Fair Trading over alleged performance issues in the PS3 and PC versions of Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops.

The move comes after the publisher failed to respond to an open letter from the group, sent one month ago, which alleged persistent problems with freezing and online multiplayer log-in, to the extent that the game did not function as intended or advertised.

The letter asked for an explanation for how these problems came about and sought information on how Activision planned "to recompense [its] customer base."

By taking the matter to the Office of Fair Trading, Gamers' Voice Head of Industry Relations Chris O'Regan tells IncGamers he hopes to "test the might of government agencies against Activision. ... These agencies do exist to protect our rights as consumers, let us see if they can fullfill their remit on this pressing issue."

While a formal investigation could take months, O'Regan said any litigation would set a precedent and help "ensure [future] games are not released in an unfinished state.”

Established in 1973, the non-ministerial UK Office of Fair Trading is dedicated to "mak[ing] markets work well for consumers" by ensuring "businesses are in open, fair and vigorous competition with each other for the consumer's custom," according to its web site.

The office has the power to impose severe financial penalties if it finds companies guilty of such breaches as breaking competition law, perpetrating scams or operating cartels.

So you think this might hold up? Could something like this work and actually produce some type of results? Will Activision just show how they continue support on a game and these things take time and thats the end of it? Will the gaming industry ever be held accountable for their products or will it be "buyer beware"?

Source

[stilla-killa]

Re: Consumer Group Reporting Activision To UK Fair Trade Office Over Black Ops Glitch

Well if a game does not work as advertised and the company has not fixed it since the games release then yes I think the companies should be held accountable.

[Shawn Zipay]

With Activision already threatening to pull the MP on the PS3 version and Activision obviously not caring about PC gamers since MW2's release...

Well, all I can picture for future Call of Duty games are them going Xbox 360 exclusive.

[Anarchy1]

Re: Consumer Group Reporting Activision To UK Fair Trade Office Over Black Ops Glitch

I hope Activision is ruled against, and rightfully so. However, I don't think a consumer group will be able to match up against a massive company.

[CptainCrunch]

Re: Consumer Group Reporting Activision To UK Fair Trade Office Over Black Ops Glitch

Hmmmm, with these comments it makes it seem like it could be possible that this happens.

It is harder to go against a large company that have built in lawyers, but its done all the time and sometimes very successful.

From the sounds on the internet, a lot of people are not happy at all and waiting for patches may not be enough. I would think that Activision could show that they are working on it and this takes time to fix. You all think that wouldnt fly?

Crunch

[Spik3d]

Re: Consumer Group Reporting Activision To UK Fair Trade Office Over Black Ops Glitch

The problem is, Treyarch would probably eventually be punished for it while it was most likely Activision's fault.

[Anarchy1]

And why isn't it Treyarch's fault as well? Activision does have a major hand in it, but Treyarch are the developer. Ultimately, any problems from bugs/glitches lies completely on Treyarch, since they are the ones that actually make the game.

[Spik3d]

Re: Consumer Group Reporting Activision To UK Fair Trade Office Over Black Ops Glitch

And why isn't it Treyarch's fault as well? Activision does have a major hand in it, but Treyarch are the developer. Ultimately, any problems from bugs/glitches lies completely on Treyarch, since they are the ones that actually make the game.

Well yes, it's both of their fault.

I'm saying Activision will probably end up not receiving the end punishment and it just being pushed off Activision onto Treyarch so Kotick can keep more money in his wallet.

[x=FAST=x]

i hope activision gets burned in the process specially kotick. They deserve it after how careless they are with consumers.

[NanoTech]

Ah well if we're talking about false promises and broken games, lets take every game developer to the slaughterhouse and make some steaks.

Seriously, is this for real, yeah activision are worse than my left nut (Pardon the profanity), but aren't every other game company, look at EA & Dice, I can't remember the last time they released and game that freaking worked!

BF2 great game, glitched to high hell

Fifa 11, newish game, good fun, glitched to high hell

CoD Black OPs, good fun, glitched to High hell

Do we see the pattern here, every game is flawed, its damn near impossible if not actually impossible to create a perfect game, I'm one of those people that refused to buy MW2 because of its pure bulls***tery, so yeah I know first hand what its like to be fed crud on a daily bases.

We can kick and scream all we want, It aint gunna change the Money Hungry Machines, because, and heres the kicker, we all keep buying the games, so we fund their faults, and they love every second of it, are they gunna change if they're making billions, even if they screw it up? Are they sugar lumps.

People need to find more reasons to live than if a video game works or not (unless thats your job of course)

Peace

Tech

[Anarchy1]

Re: Consumer Group Reporting Activision To UK Fair Trade Office Over Black Ops Glitch

Well yes, it's both of their fault.

I'm saying Activision will probably end up not receiving the end punishment and it just being pushed off Activision onto Treyarch so Kotick can keep more money in his wallet.

I'm not sure if I fully understand the publisher/developer thing, but wouldn't Activision have to pay any fines? I don't think they can push it onto Treyarch.

[Spik3d]

Re: Consumer Group Reporting Activision To UK Fair Trade Office Over Black Ops Glitch

I'm not sure if I fully understand the publisher/developer thing, but wouldn't Activision have to pay any fines? I don't think they can push it onto Treyarch.

Activision would pay for any fines. But they might end up taking away bonuses, lay people off, lower funding, etc.

[CptainCrunch]

Re: Consumer Group Reporting Activision To UK Fair Trade Office Over Black Ops Glitch

Yeah, fines are a joke that for some reason people think work. Here is a prime example where I live about fines:

AT&T was sued by the city that neighbors me for some city tax they failed to pay. City took them to court and won. AT&T bills now have a $2 increase for all AT&T customers in the area that states its to pay that fine. Once paid, it will go away.

At least AT&T was honest about it as other companies just raise rates on other things and dont mention why. Unlesss it is a HUGE fine or settlement that shuts the doors of a company, its the people that always pay. In fact, when they shut down a company, look at who loses their jobs.

Crunch

[ch3ch3n]

I dont even care about BO op pc anymore its doomed i bought the ps3 version cause i was just sick of the random fps drops. From now on the only pc games i m going to buy are the ones from valve