The game is being released for retailers to send out on the 15th. The reason there is no grace period is because Bioware are trying to ensure you all get the game EARLY.
If your retailer isn't aware of this fact point it out to them.
So, what's the law about a wholesaler (EA) giving their retail arm (Origin) an unfair competitive benefit over other retailers of their product?
Seems like origin is able distribute the game in the US way earlier than other retailers. If that conflict of interest was removed, then US retailers would be shipping at the same time and there would be no need for a grace period.
So, what's the law about a wholesaler (EA) giving their retail arm (Origin) an unfair competitive benefit over other retailers of their product?
Seems like origin is able distribute the game in the US way earlier than other retailers. If that conflict of interest was removed, then US retailers would be shipping at the same time and there would be no need for a grace period.
Illegal or just immoral?
Now your just trying to make them seem like the bad guy when they are not. They have given many options for ordering the game. Its "Your" choice to order where you wanna order. They have already said they are giving retailers there copies on the 15th. Its your retailers duty to get them to you before head start ends. NOT EA/Biiowares issue.
So, what's the law about a wholesaler (EA) giving their retail arm (Origin) an unfair competitive benefit over other retailers of their product?
Seems like origin is able distribute the game in the US way earlier than other retailers. If that conflict of interest was removed, then US retailers would be shipping at the same time and there would be no need for a grace period.
Illegal or just immoral?
This doesnt even make sense. What would Origin have to do with when retailers ship out their product? Also there is no rule or anything immoral about creating a system that delivers your product directly to the consumer. If you are a business and have the means to do so, your extremely stupid if you dont.
If there is any evidence that EA is allowing retailers to ship pre-orders at the same time as Origin releases game code emails, then I will stand corrected.
Last I heard, (from their press release on swtor.com) EA were only allowing retail orders to ship in the US ship from 20/12. (ie the publisher is imposing the deadline).
Vague suggestions of "working with retailers" means nothing until projected shipping dates actually start changing.
Its not the same thing as if activision came and took your game. You guys are really making a big deal out of nothing. Bunch of crybabes i swear. Seriously as others have stated. You were not lied to. Go spend some time with your family if you have not already alienated them to the point where you want to spend all of xmas on a video game.
Not really, I got mine from gamestop so I will have it most likely at midnight or launch day but I would be upset if I was one of the hundres of thousands who won't get their copy thus suffering a break of service. I am assuming some people who scheduled vacations etc. to coincide with the release date and now will have that time mean nothing. It's just slightly inconsiderate of the dev/publisher to their already payed for customers.
Its not inconsiderate. They have been doing everything in there power to get it shipped to people earlier and any many places in the USA people are going to be getting there copy early. Also if you planned on taking vacation time for this game release it would of been smarter for you to order a digital copy, that way your guarenteed to have your cd key so there would be no interuption. And dont give me that oooo but i want a hard copy bullshit. And you say already paid customer, Check your bank statement have you been charged for anything yet. Nope didnt think so. So calling yourself and already paid for customers, well your a soon to be payed customer. People should realize that a digital copy is going to allow you a guarantee that your going to get a game on release day.
The moment I walked into gamestop and gave them my money for the game, I became a paying customer.
So they, quite rightly, are being inconsiderate to those that won't get the game on launch day and that was their decision regardless of how these people feel and what plans those people had made. Moreso for the people who buy directly from EA, it will be amusing to see when their copies are shipped.
Now your just trying to make them seem like the bad guy when they are not. They have given many options for ordering the game. Its "Your" choice to order where you wanna order. They have already said they are giving retailers there copies on the 15th. Its your retailers duty to get them to you before head start ends. NOT EA/Biiowares issue.
Love the game, love the authors. EA as a publisher, not so much. Is greed good?
Just saying....If they put as much effort into fixing this mess and retaining their existing customers, as they are into organising launch day events to attract new ones, then this thread probably wouldn't exist!
Everyone saying its "No Big Deal." either lives in a country where they have been able to pre-order the game without hassle, or just plain ignorant of how often these types of things happen to countries like Australia and the Oceanic Region in general.
Australians are constantly classed as second rate when it comes to customer support and being provided online services.
We are not a backwater country, we are a first world nation. We arent rednecks, we are people just like YOU. And hey, we actually have a big gaming culture in this country and we make up a big portion of online communities in online games, heck publishers could make a mint if they marketed more towards Austral-asia, but they are ignorant or fail to see how such an investment could turn them a tidy profit... I mean Australia economy is one of the best in the world at the moment all things considered. Last I recall, America had a rediculous unemployment rate of 10%, where as Australia is around 3-4%... WE HAVE MONEY HERE AND WE WANT TO SPEND IT.
But no, we are always left behind... No localized servers, no customer support and no love for us.
We have had enough of it, and sincerely hope one day the tables are turned so thos big wigs can finally feel the pain of their ignorance.
"The problem with quotes from the Internet is that it's almost impossible to validate their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln
Well EA has a hefty track record of doing its utmost to annoy and even insult its non-NA customers. Anyone remember the WAR/Goa fiasco?
I don't know why this is so. What? Are they loosing profits on non-NA players? Or is it a cultural superiority complex? (We don't care for them non-murricans) Or simple incompetence? Or all of the above?
"Note to all, i have posted this on their offical forums and mailed a real letter to biowares offices. Im posting here because i am supprised that MMORPG hasnt made any comment on this. Not surprising really given the massive add space SW:TOR has taken on the site."
I feel for you guys, hope things get sorted soon. Lucky enough to not have this issue here, but I can imagine how lame it would be. Sure it's only a couple of days, but when you have the time to play and you can't it's going to be frustrating.
At the end of this month I will most likely have to get carpal tunnel surgery on my right wrist and possibly on my left. I wont be able to work for 6 weeks and won't be able to play while I recover AND YOUR CRYING ABOUT A COUPLE OF DAYS???
Hello, OP. I will be presumptuous and respond to you on behalf of EA.
We love you. You are the type of customer that keeps us ticking. That said, and because you have made it eminently possible, we will go back to ignoring you until...well until we don't have to.
A grace period is pretty standard and IMO generally required. Particularly around this time of year, even for folks who have copies being to local regions.
I've always been a medium for getting guildies access in the past. Last time it was..gosh i don't remember at this point. In any event, a guildie in Germany couldn't get something or other so I bought it for him even as he was paypalling me the $$. I had my code in 15 minutes, my money from him in 10 minutes and he was downloading in 20 minutes (give or take).
A delay in playing won't kill folks but having them play in early access and then taking it away will be more frustrating than not. I am pissed that I bought my CE within a few hours of sales going live but didn't know that the registration would affect early access. So while they aren't taking anything from me, I'll be delayed in starting. Will it kill me? Not at all. I'll keeping working, maintaining the household, walking the cats etc...while my guildies post about how they are in and have put levels on that I won't catch up to (I suppose some might came back 'down' to my piddly starter levels and roll with me but I won't ask them to do so). Will it kill me? No. But it would be nice to be there. Will there be frustration. Yep you bet.
I feel for the OP.
Also, all of you who are haranguing him about his posting. Ever hear of catharsis? He's blowing steam.
1. the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music.
2. a. psychotherapy that encourages or permits the discharge of pent-up, socially unacceptable affects.
b. discharge of pent-up emotions so as to result in the alleviation of symptoms or the permanent relief of the condition.
I have lived in various parts of the world where things took sometimes 2 weeks to arrive or even got lost heaven forbid ! I just accepted it and continued on I cannot understand why you have to get this upset honestly. This is part of life and even people living in the USA may get their deliveries delayed.
When I lived in Asia we sometimes had no option even to play since they would IP block . Honestly you should just count yourself lucky that is not the case. I get that you think Australia should not be treated like that but do you think it is fair how they treat some places in Asia even places like Singapore whose laws are so damn strict by lumping them up with the other countries. You have to realise the area you're in geographically and laws.
They have the right to not give any grace period and you have the right to not buy the game. Since you are not exercising that right than you should not complain because you are accepting what they are doing to you. BTW I live in Italy now and the game because of the postal system here will probably only arrive after New Year. I am not going to whine about having to stop playing.
If there is any evidence that EA is allowing retailers to ship pre-orders at the same time as Origin releases game code emails, then I will stand corrected.
Last I heard, (from their press release on swtor.com) EA were only allowing retail orders to ship in the US ship from 20/12. (ie the publisher is imposing the deadline).
Vague suggestions of "working with retailers" means nothing until projected shipping dates actually start changing.
Dear EA, thanks for putting business before creativity yet again to give us another run of the mill game that will turn a profit and fade into gaming history to never be remembered. You are so good at that!!
Now your just trying to make them seem like the bad guy when they are not. They have given many options for ordering the game. Its "Your" choice to order where you wanna order. They have already said they are giving retailers there copies on the 15th. Its your retailers duty to get them to you before head start ends. NOT EA/Biiowares issue.
I actually believe zerrin here has a valid point. You are free to choose the store or method you order. You might want to verify they have the item you are thinking on ordering, before you do it. If you really want it so bad, you order it as soon as it is available, be the first in line.
If that fails, well... You just lost the competition to another customer who was faster than you. It's nothing new in the world we live. And is it worth writing letters sealed with tears? Hardly. You just grow a pair, then pick up the game or whatever you were wanting when it's available.
It's ridiculous that when someone doesn't get what he want's, right now, he needs some special treatment or he'll take out his pen. What happens if autumn turns into winter and you need a set of snow tyres to your car, but the store next to you has already run all out? You going to write a letter to Goodyear and blame them?
Now your just trying to make them seem like the bad guy when they are not. They have given many options for ordering the game. Its "Your" choice to order where you wanna order. They have already said they are giving retailers there copies on the 15th. Its your retailers duty to get them to you before head start ends. NOT EA/Biiowares issue.
I actually believe zerrin here has a valid point. You are free to choose the store or method you order. You might want to verify they have the item you are thinking on ordering, before you do it. If you really want it so bad, you order it as soon as it is available, be the first in line.
If that fails, well... You just lost the competition to another customer who was faster than you. It's nothing new in the world we live. And is it worth writing letters sealed with tears? Hardly. You just grow a pair, then pick up the game or whatever you were wanting when it's available.
It's ridiculous that when someone doesn't get what he want's, right now, he needs some special treatment or he'll take out his pen. What happens if autumn turns into winter and you need a set of snow tyres to your car, but the store next to you has already run all out? You going to write a letter to Goodyear and blame them?
This isnt a product that is already in stock. Its a preorder. And a preorder that no one knew the release date until months later. I preordered a CE edition to be shipped. Mainly because I didnt know when it was being released. I didnt know anything about if I would be able to pick it up or whatever. So I picked having it shipped to me.
Then Bioware developers said there would be a grace period. Even better. So if I get it after launch I dont have to worry. I can still play. But then they announced the Dec. 20th release date and I thought "Oh hell! Here we go!" But they countered with there would be a grace period. So ok fine.
A few days ago they dropped the bomb. No grace period. Well hell. My retailer said probably after christmas early january. Well I am a cynic when it comes to game companies so no skin off my back. But to others this was a huge let down.
You have to understand something here. Honestly, I dont think this is because they took away the grace period. Yah it sucks but I think its something else. Alot of people had their trust in Bioware dashed. For over a decade fans looked at Bioware as the "set in stone" company. The company that did what they said. The company you could trust. And they just found out that Bioware is just like every other game company out there. Shady and full of intrigues. They are owned by EA after all. The single worst game company out there in regards to their customers.
And us gamers are an unpredictable lot to begin with. You dont go around making decisions like that and expect no fallout. You prepare for World War 3. I have seen game companies make huge massive mistakes and tell bold faced lies. Yet their fanbase stays loyal. But then that company does little minor thing that really has no real effect on anything and the fanbase turns on them like a pack of wolves. This is what Bioware is going through now. And until they come up with a workable solution there will be this dissent in the masses.
EA needs to get their act together, between this and the PS3 BF3 fiasco, it's quite clear EA marketing and EA's publsihing depts. are not in sync what-so-ever. They promise one thing and offer the opposite, quite an easy way to lose consumer confidence.
Note: I'm unaffected by either issue, I don't play BF3 on ps3 and I haven't pre-ordered TOR. I just find it rather amatuer on their behalf to have issues like this.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Comments
I think we have all learned an important lesson here...don't be Australian.
Argh
Hey thanks for the info!
(gives thumbs up)
I don't trust Wal-mart as far as I can throw them. Glad it worked out for them. Carry on.
Nevermind.
Error: 37. Signature not found. Please connect to my server for signature access.
The game is being released for retailers to send out on the 15th. The reason there is no grace period is because Bioware are trying to ensure you all get the game EARLY.
If your retailer isn't aware of this fact point it out to them.
So, what's the law about a wholesaler (EA) giving their retail arm (Origin) an unfair competitive benefit over other retailers of their product?
Seems like origin is able distribute the game in the US way earlier than other retailers. If that conflict of interest was removed, then US retailers would be shipping at the same time and there would be no need for a grace period.
Illegal or just immoral?
Now your just trying to make them seem like the bad guy when they are not. They have given many options for ordering the game. Its "Your" choice to order where you wanna order. They have already said they are giving retailers there copies on the 15th. Its your retailers duty to get them to you before head start ends. NOT EA/Biiowares issue.
This doesnt even make sense. What would Origin have to do with when retailers ship out their product? Also there is no rule or anything immoral about creating a system that delivers your product directly to the consumer. If you are a business and have the means to do so, your extremely stupid if you dont.
My Guild Wars 2 Vids
If there is any evidence that EA is allowing retailers to ship pre-orders at the same time as Origin releases game code emails, then I will stand corrected.
Last I heard, (from their press release on swtor.com) EA were only allowing retail orders to ship in the US ship from 20/12. (ie the publisher is imposing the deadline).
Vague suggestions of "working with retailers" means nothing until projected shipping dates actually start changing.
The moment I walked into gamestop and gave them my money for the game, I became a paying customer.
And let me break this down for you by definition;
Inconsiderate:
a : heedless, thoughtless b : careless of the rights or feelings of others.
So they, quite rightly, are being inconsiderate to those that won't get the game on launch day and that was their decision regardless of how these people feel and what plans those people had made. Moreso for the people who buy directly from EA, it will be amusing to see when their copies are shipped.
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Originally posted by zerrin
Love the game, love the authors. EA as a publisher, not so much. Is greed good?
Just saying....If they put as much effort into fixing this mess and retaining their existing customers, as they are into organising launch day events to attract new ones, then this thread probably wouldn't exist!
LOL at what they have already said.
Everyone saying its "No Big Deal." either lives in a country where they have been able to pre-order the game without hassle, or just plain ignorant of how often these types of things happen to countries like Australia and the Oceanic Region in general.
Australians are constantly classed as second rate when it comes to customer support and being provided online services.
We are not a backwater country, we are a first world nation. We arent rednecks, we are people just like YOU. And hey, we actually have a big gaming culture in this country and we make up a big portion of online communities in online games, heck publishers could make a mint if they marketed more towards Austral-asia, but they are ignorant or fail to see how such an investment could turn them a tidy profit... I mean Australia economy is one of the best in the world at the moment all things considered. Last I recall, America had a rediculous unemployment rate of 10%, where as Australia is around 3-4%... WE HAVE MONEY HERE AND WE WANT TO SPEND IT.
But no, we are always left behind... No localized servers, no customer support and no love for us.
We have had enough of it, and sincerely hope one day the tables are turned so thos big wigs can finally feel the pain of their ignorance.
"The problem with quotes from the Internet is that it's almost impossible to validate their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln
Well EA has a hefty track record of doing its utmost to annoy and even insult its non-NA customers. Anyone remember the WAR/Goa fiasco?
I don't know why this is so. What? Are they loosing profits on non-NA players? Or is it a cultural superiority complex? (We don't care for them non-murricans) Or simple incompetence? Or all of the above?
And you post it here because? Bioware /ea doesnt read these forums go to their own forums but doubt it does matter anyway .
^
"Note to all, i have posted this on their offical forums and mailed a real letter to biowares offices. Im posting here because i am supprised that MMORPG hasnt made any comment on this. Not surprising really given the massive add space SW:TOR has taken on the site."
I feel for you guys, hope things get sorted soon. Lucky enough to not have this issue here, but I can imagine how lame it would be. Sure it's only a couple of days, but when you have the time to play and you can't it's going to be frustrating.
At the end of this month I will most likely have to get carpal tunnel surgery on my right wrist and possibly on my left. I wont be able to work for 6 weeks and won't be able to play while I recover AND YOUR CRYING ABOUT A COUPLE OF DAYS???
Hello, OP. I will be presumptuous and respond to you on behalf of EA.
We love you. You are the type of customer that keeps us ticking. That said, and because you have made it eminently possible, we will go back to ignoring you until...well until we don't have to.
Enjoy the game.
A grace period is pretty standard and IMO generally required. Particularly around this time of year, even for folks who have copies being to local regions.
I've always been a medium for getting guildies access in the past. Last time it was..gosh i don't remember at this point. In any event, a guildie in Germany couldn't get something or other so I bought it for him even as he was paypalling me the $$. I had my code in 15 minutes, my money from him in 10 minutes and he was downloading in 20 minutes (give or take).
A delay in playing won't kill folks but having them play in early access and then taking it away will be more frustrating than not. I am pissed that I bought my CE within a few hours of sales going live but didn't know that the registration would affect early access. So while they aren't taking anything from me, I'll be delayed in starting. Will it kill me? Not at all. I'll keeping working, maintaining the household, walking the cats etc...while my guildies post about how they are in and have put levels on that I won't catch up to (I suppose some might came back 'down' to my piddly starter levels and roll with me but I won't ask them to do so). Will it kill me? No. But it would be nice to be there. Will there be frustration. Yep you bet.
I feel for the OP.
Also, all of you who are haranguing him about his posting. Ever hear of catharsis? He's blowing steam.
1. the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music.
2. a. psychotherapy that encourages or permits the discharge of pent-up, socially unacceptable affects.
b. discharge of pent-up emotions so as to result in the alleviation of symptoms or the permanent relief of the condition.
I have lived in various parts of the world where things took sometimes 2 weeks to arrive or even got lost heaven forbid ! I just accepted it and continued on I cannot understand why you have to get this upset honestly. This is part of life and even people living in the USA may get their deliveries delayed.
When I lived in Asia we sometimes had no option even to play since they would IP block . Honestly you should just count yourself lucky that is not the case. I get that you think Australia should not be treated like that but do you think it is fair how they treat some places in Asia even places like Singapore whose laws are so damn strict by lumping them up with the other countries. You have to realise the area you're in geographically and laws.
They have the right to not give any grace period and you have the right to not buy the game. Since you are not exercising that right than you should not complain because you are accepting what they are doing to you. BTW I live in Italy now and the game because of the postal system here will probably only arrive after New Year. I am not going to whine about having to stop playing.
http://torwars.com/2011/12/10/swtor-shipping-update-tis-the-season-for-origin-gamers-to-rejoice/
Dear EA, thanks for putting business before creativity yet again to give us another run of the mill game that will turn a profit and fade into gaming history to never be remembered. You are so good at that!!
Play as your fav retro characters: cnd-online.net. My site: www.lysle.net. Blog: creatingaworld.blogspot.com.
That's unfortunate.
But then on the other hand we are talking about the planet wide launch of a video game. Relax. Get some perspective.
I actually believe zerrin here has a valid point. You are free to choose the store or method you order. You might want to verify they have the item you are thinking on ordering, before you do it. If you really want it so bad, you order it as soon as it is available, be the first in line.
If that fails, well... You just lost the competition to another customer who was faster than you. It's nothing new in the world we live. And is it worth writing letters sealed with tears? Hardly. You just grow a pair, then pick up the game or whatever you were wanting when it's available.
It's ridiculous that when someone doesn't get what he want's, right now, he needs some special treatment or he'll take out his pen. What happens if autumn turns into winter and you need a set of snow tyres to your car, but the store next to you has already run all out? You going to write a letter to Goodyear and blame them?
This isnt a product that is already in stock. Its a preorder. And a preorder that no one knew the release date until months later. I preordered a CE edition to be shipped. Mainly because I didnt know when it was being released. I didnt know anything about if I would be able to pick it up or whatever. So I picked having it shipped to me.
Then Bioware developers said there would be a grace period. Even better. So if I get it after launch I dont have to worry. I can still play. But then they announced the Dec. 20th release date and I thought "Oh hell! Here we go!" But they countered with there would be a grace period. So ok fine.
A few days ago they dropped the bomb. No grace period. Well hell. My retailer said probably after christmas early january. Well I am a cynic when it comes to game companies so no skin off my back. But to others this was a huge let down.
You have to understand something here. Honestly, I dont think this is because they took away the grace period. Yah it sucks but I think its something else. Alot of people had their trust in Bioware dashed. For over a decade fans looked at Bioware as the "set in stone" company. The company that did what they said. The company you could trust. And they just found out that Bioware is just like every other game company out there. Shady and full of intrigues. They are owned by EA after all. The single worst game company out there in regards to their customers.
And us gamers are an unpredictable lot to begin with. You dont go around making decisions like that and expect no fallout. You prepare for World War 3. I have seen game companies make huge massive mistakes and tell bold faced lies. Yet their fanbase stays loyal. But then that company does little minor thing that really has no real effect on anything and the fanbase turns on them like a pack of wolves. This is what Bioware is going through now. And until they come up with a workable solution there will be this dissent in the masses.
Kai
EA needs to get their act together, between this and the PS3 BF3 fiasco, it's quite clear EA marketing and EA's publsihing depts. are not in sync what-so-ever. They promise one thing and offer the opposite, quite an easy way to lose consumer confidence.
Note: I'm unaffected by either issue, I don't play BF3 on ps3 and I haven't pre-ordered TOR. I just find it rather amatuer on their behalf to have issues like this.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
I heard some children in Africa will never be able to play the game.
(perspective, have some)