Shogun's response to patch campaign

**screwtype** · 04-15-2005, 08:16

My take on the semantics:

I think "sabotage" is probably a fair description of the one-star ratings on Amazon, given that they are designed to, well, sabotage the game's average rating there.

But, so what? The average rating was 5 before the campaign began - the highest possible rating which is clearly absurd. Vanilla RTW deserves a 3 at most, I personally would rate it at a 2. And arguably the "read our lips - no new patches" policy deserves a further downgrade, which would make it a 1. So the 1-star ratings are at least defensible.

As to "blackmail" and "extortion" though, I'm sorry, I don't regard a person exercising his legitimate right to post a review on Amazon as being tantamount to criminal activity.

In any case, I think anyone who reads the latest reviews on Amazon will get a very clear picture of the debate, since the issues have been thrashed out there in the various pro- and con- reviews as well. Readers will quickly realize that (a) there's a deliberate campaign in progress to bring the average rating down, and that (b) some gamers are very dissatisfied not only with the state of the game but also the lack of support from CA.

No-one is being misled. No-one is being tricked. There's just a very open public debate going on, and I see absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Oh and BTW, the reviews are probably helping to raise the org's profile since several reviewers have mentioned it by name. So people can come here, read the threads and be as well informed as anyone about the issues before making their choice about whether to go ahead and buy. And that can only be a positive IMO.

**Browning** · 04-15-2005, 08:51

In order to make a proper decision, the customer must be provided with a proper information. Advertising is not such a proper information, it is a part of information at the best. Reviews in computer game magazines have been, possibly, a part of the advertising campaign for the product. The customer, seeking information, could turn to the internet fora like this one but it seldom happens. Moreover, the official forum displays only the part of the information of the product (its positive side) while hiding the other part (deleting the posts on bugs), thus it can be considered a part of the advertisement campaign.
Disillusioned users of the product, posting their angry reviews on Amazon and other sites dedicated to selling, do a good thing, since they provide a potential consumer with a valuable information he would not obtain otherwise.

**HarunTaiwan** · 04-15-2005, 09:13

CA should print the following onto it's packaging:

CONSUMER ADVISORY: THIS PRODUCT WILL BE SUPPORTED BY A MAXIMUM OF TWO PATCHES.

**Colovion** · 04-15-2005, 09:31

Originally Posted by HarunTaiwan

CA should print the following onto it's packaging:

CONSUMER ADVISORY: THIS PRODUCT WILL BE SUPPORTED BY A MAXIMUM OF TWO PATCHES.

/support

**player1** · 04-15-2005, 09:42

Originally Posted by HarunTaiwan

CA should print the following onto it's packaging:

CONSUMER ADVISORY: THIS PRODUCT WILL BE SUPPORTED BY A MAXIMUM OF TWO PATCHES.

Well, I think it would be great if there was a LAW (at least in US, all roads lead to US), which would order all gaming companies to have such declaration on thier boxes.

It would detail how long is guaranteed patch support (how many months).
And what is guaranteed number of patches.

That would be a campaign I would support.

**Colovion** · 04-15-2005, 09:50

Originally Posted by player1

Well, I think it would be great if there was a LAW (at least in US, all roads lead to US), which would order all gaming companies to have such declaration on thier boxes.

It would detail how long is guaranteed patch support (how many months).
And what is guaranteed number of patches.

That would be a campaign I would support.

this is more like something to be thought of all across the internet, something which would be MUCH more supported by the gaming magazines - which would most likely support a campaign as far sweeping as this.

**SpencerH** · 04-15-2005, 12:21

Its funny but I mentioned that the Amazon rating had fallen to 3.5 in another thread (as an interesting aside) and my comment was expunged by the mods, yet here y'all are discussing it.... hmmm.

Congratulations to whomever thought of expressing our views at Amazon. Brilliant!

"Sabotage", what drivel! CA have sabotaged this game with their behaviour much more effectively than a few patrons who gave the game 1 star. As far as I'm concerned, even if the 'campaign' does negatively impact the development of the TW series or even if CA calls it quits it may remind other developers and more importantly we (the consumers) of where the power truly lies. Its time that all game developers stop foisting buggy software on the public. What do we need to do, agitate in congress for a software lemon law?