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Borg Queen/Cryptic Studios and Atari
A red alert was sounded among the community for the fledgling Star Trek Online over the weekend, as word got out of a special Atari.com promotion.
In an effort to bolster subscriber numbers for the sometimes poorly reviewed MMORPG ahead of its first big content patch, Atari.com not only lowered the price for the standard edition of the game by $10 and offered free shipping for the collector's edition, but also advertised giving out an extra 60 days of game time (apparently, in addition to the normal 30 days that normally comes with the game). This means that, if one purchased the standard edition, Atari.com would actually be paying the buyer about $5 for taking the software off their hands (since the total of 90 days of game time has a value of $45, but the standard edition would only cost $40).
Much doom was spread around the official forums. Many saw this offer as an act of desperation, taking place so soon after game release, for what they perceived to be a dying game. Others felt it was a slap in the face, that people who hadn't supported the game through its closed and open beta stages, or who hadn't bought the game through preorder or at launch, weren't getting the extra 60days for their trouble. That it was a PR nightmare can't really be disputed.
The nightmare only got worse today, when mention of the extra 60 days was removed from the official Star Trek Online website as well as the Atari.com site. Star Trek Online's Director of Customer Service posted a thread this evening that contained an apology, but it wasn't entirely clear exactly what he was apologizing for. He also referred to the offer as a "weekend promotion," despite the fact that the original offer was actually stated to last until March 3rd.
Adding to the frustration, many forum users are reporting getting e-mails from Atari customer service stating that there never was an offer for 60 extra days of play time, leading to accusations of a cover-up on Atari's part. (UPDATE 3/2/10 6:00am... Online Community Rep Phoxe has updated a post he had made yesterday on the topic assuring anyone who had purchased the game under the promotion will indeed receive what they purchased, as advertised. He still didn't mention the 60 extra days specifically, but that is apparently what he means.)
While the offer for 60 extra days of play time has apparently been vaporized faster than a Romulan hit point-blank by a phaser, you can still get the standard edition of the game for $10 off if you act quickly. Of course, the game may also be purchased at local game stores, as well as Wal-Mart, Target, and other retailers. If you prefer shopping at brick-and-mortar stores, here are a couple you can pick up the game from:
GameStop
Charleston TownCenter
304-346-1452
Wal-Mart
2700 Mountaineer Blvd
South Charleston, WV
304-746-1720
Target
2070 Thundering Herd Dr
Barboursville, WV
304-736-7767
Comments
Some are also claiming that they had the 60 days time removed from their accounts. This is fraud, plain and simple.
Say goodbye to Cryptic, boys and girls. Possibly Atari as well.
I've heard the 60 "free" days have been removed from accounts AFTER PURCHASE, and that the "free shipping" was actually charged to the customers. When they questioned cryptic on this....they were instantly banned!!!
(Full story on antoher site).
Never get involved with Atari.
I will be filing a complaint with the FTC for unfair trade practices. I would suggest that all Star Trek fans contact CBS who owns the Star Trek franchise and complain about the practices of Atari/Cryptic. This is not the type of thing Star Trek needs. Maybe this game needs to come to a quick end and the product sold to a competent company.
I cannot believe I paid them to pre-order a product of this quality. I suggest free-to-play MMO games to those looking to engage in an online community. They tend to not have these complications as the player only pays for premium item content, and not a flat recurring access fee.
By the way, the $10 off "deal" still ends up with a price of $49.99, which was the listed MSRP earlier in the weekend. Convenient that it still costs $10 more with $10 off than it was listed for this weekend. Convenient MSRP manipulation just to round it all out.
This may be worse than when Atari pushed out Horizons: Empire of Istaria.
Amazing lol, burn these companies to the ground.
Yeah this whole thing sucked, and "I Still Don't Get It."
Since their split from PLAY-NC's umbrella and the sale of City of Heroes / Villains Cryptic has been consistently sub-par and poor at the follow through. They hybridized Cash-Shops on top of pay-per-month subscription based plans, and release 1/2 - 3/4 done games and expect customers to pay for what is essentially beta with a box. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Studios like this drag the bar down for all others, and perpetuate this style of "publish now and use the quick cash to finish the game" which is in itself multiple examples of poor management and poor planning. Add into the mix intentional deception, cover-up potential and just flat out fraud and lies, and you get Cryptic and Atari. Keep in mind, Cryptic (and in turn about 80% of its subscribers) has nearly abandoned champions online, less than a year after launch, and is Currently working full time on yet ANOTHER mmo. STO Deserved better. Plain and Simple.
I find it highly amusing that after an article about the shady business practices and outright fraud committed by Cryptic/Atari that the author tells us where we can purchase the game.
Why would anyone want to touch it with a ten foot pole?
Hi everybody.
I just want to add my voice to the disgraceful business practices of Atari/Cryptic.
Please do not support these cowboys.
Its all about the money for them.
They sold out on Gene Roddenberrys dream.
Thank you.
You should really do anoither article on how they are banning anybody with an opposing view on the STO forums. Their idea of damage control is just to ban you--not very smart IMHO.
in response to:
*****I find it highly amusing that after an article about the shady business practices and outright fraud committed by Cryptic/Atari that the author tells us where we can purchase the game. Why would anyone want to touch it with a ten foot pole?*****
As a local Examiner, I am required to find a way to make stories about my topic (in this case, MMORPGs) local. The only real way to do that is to mention where in my local area to buy the games. Also, even though I detest what Atari has done in this case, I still enjoy the game and would like to see it do well, despite what its publisher is doing.
You should really do anoither article on how they are banning anybody with an opposing view on the STO forums. Their idea of damage control is just to ban you--not very smart IMHO.
I really wanted this game to blow up. I waited for so long only to be dissapointed with something that was anything but Star Trek. It is so obvious they rushed it because of the success of the new movie hoping to get a major jolt from it. It wasn't even challenging. I just can't believe that there are actual developers that would release something like this in this day and age. They made Star Trek, something which was supposed to be limitless, and apply a time clock mentality to it. I hate to say garbage, but that is the NICEST way I can describe it. I wish an actual reputable and good development house would have gotten this. They could have really made this game special for uber Trek fans AND new fans experiencing it for the first time. A complete waste of money. And I bought the CE to boot. $85 for a game a six year old could master in two weeks.
@SteppedInFail In direct opposition to what you're suggesting people do...I suggest people AVOID free to play MMOs like the plague, and rather choose a game that is with a REPUTABLE company, not Atari/Cryptic. STO is, essentially, a free to play game in EVERY way other than the monthly fee. Pay to play games from reputable companies do NOT generally operate their businesses using this bait and switch song and dance routine that Cryptic is using.
Well I’m a lifetime subscriber to the game. I was in the beta and pre-ordered. The game just coming out has tons of room for growth people. More playable races, an expandable galaxy etc.. I’m excited to be on the ground floor of something that imho is going to be massive and only keep growing.
I could give a crap about them enticing new members the more the merrier.
******Well I’m a lifetime subscriber to the game. I was in the beta and pre-ordered. The game just coming out has tons of room for growth people. More playable races, an expandable galaxy etc.. I’m excited to be on the ground floor of something that imho is going to be massive and only keep growing.
I could give a crap about them enticing new members the more the merrier.*******
DITTO.
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