Why Atari Sucks! aka DDO is DDOn't
Okay, so I let an old guildmate from Everquest talk me into playing Dungeons And Dragons Online (DDO) developed by Turbine, Inc. I may in fact do a belated game review some other time, but in brief, it is not silly cartoons like the World of Lamecraft, nor is it 5000 people running around bragging about their Mitril Chain Panties they were able to craft after acquiring the skill from 900 hours of repetitive clicking like Everquest2. But they released DDO with about 20% of the content it should have had, and now they are moving to make it more like World of Warcraft at the fastest rate they can, this is sad because even though WoW has a high percentage of the market, the half it does not have are the players who want something more than Pokeman(tm) Adult.
So I bought it, I even bought the Limited Edition. Then the screwups started on the behalf of Turbine and Atari. The Limited Edition means very little, a nicer box set, and some +5% movement boots. You will get a +5% movement in the first few days of playing and my main characters have 20% movement items. I went home, popped in my new DVD and it started to install, half way through, it died, file read error. So I tried again, then I tried to do a read of the entire DVD to copy it to good media just in case I got lucky, and still it could not read. No scratches, no flaws, just mismanufactured.
Back to Turbine's Tech Forums and they have this noted as a problem and offer a 1.8 gig download to install the game, ( but not the game I paid for, merely a LOWER resolution moderately gimped version) You can read about it from THEIR FAQ. So I downloaded and installed, then I began my much delayed and over paid for game. Log in, make a char and discover that I did not get the Limited Edition items. Back to Turbine's Tech Forums and I see that I have my work cut out for me, because I have to jump through hoops to get what I had already paid for.
Because this is what I have to provide to get what I already paid for;
* Your name
* A contact telephone number
* Your Limited Edition Account key
* The Box Part Number – The six character alpha-numeric code located on the back bottom right of your DDO box
* The CD Case part number – The seven character alpha-numeric code located on the inside bottom right of the CD jewel case
* The name of the retailer you purchased your Limited Edition from
* In order to verify your purchase of a Limited Edition, we must also ask that you scan your receipt and include it in your email it to us as an attachment. If you cannot scan your receipt, note that in your email and Customer Service will instruct you on alternatives.
So, basically I have to go far above what I would do for a USD$50 rebate. But all in all, they actually FIXED IT and in 48 hours from me putting material together that was like prepping for an IRS audit. So I am not entirely unhappy about the process, but the need for it goes to show that Turbine/Atari has problems actually releasing a game.
But due to some hardware problems I have had to reinstalled my OS lately a few times (MB died :-(), and at this point I am just copying the entire directory and moving it around each time, because installing the app from the 1.8GIG download ( THAT HAS NOT ONCE BEEN UPDATED) then requires an hour of downloads to get current. This sucks, so I want what anyone would want, a DVD that I paid for that WORKS.
Back to Turbine's Tech Forums;
When I get there I see;
If you are having problems installing the game due to a defective CD/DVD, we suggest you do the following:
1. Download the Dungeons & Dragons Online ™: Stormreach™ game software from http://download.turbine.com/ddo/ddo_client_install.exe.
Note: This download is large and you may want to use a download manager.
2. Install the game. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
3. Find instructions to replace your defective CD/DVD by visiting www.atari.com.
For all other support questions, please select the appropriate option above.
Okay, cool, so I head to Atari's site, and fill in the required form;
From: kylere@xxxxx.com [mailto:kylere@xxxxx.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 03, 2006 7:32 AM
To: US-SE-Tech1
Subject: Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach – XP : USA :
REQUIRED CUSTOMER INFORMATION (bunch of stuff best left out)
OPTIONAL CUSTOMER INFORMATION (same)
ISSUE DESCRIPTION
My DDO DVD does not work properly, I have to download the 2gig file to install it, and since the DVD was damaged out of box, I need a replacement. My Address is XXXXX I expect a replacement for this poorly manufacturered DVD immediately. I am aware this is a common issue, and I will not accept any answer other than it is in the mail. If the person answering this is not able to do so, you need to move it to your second tier support or supervisor.
Then I wait….and since I did not grow up on Mars, I do not grok patience well. 5 days later I get this email;
US-SE-Tech16 to me
Hello Michael,
I'm sorry, but if the game was damaged out of the box, we will not be able to offer a replacement.
US-SE-Tech16 (Jim)
Atari Customer Support
Tech16@atari.com
http://www.atarisupport.com
To which I reply;
Michael Reed to US-SE-Tech16
No, it was damaged prior to being taken out of box. It has never worked, and required me to download a 1.8gig file to play the game I have purchased. I need a copy of the original media that functions.
And amazingly, I get a response the same day, just as ignorant as before!
US-SE-Tech16 to me
What file did you download?
US-SE-Tech16 (Jim)
Atari Customer Support
Ohh I bet he is all happy, thinking he can track down some Pirate who downloaded it from their CORPORATE SITE! FOLLOWING THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. I hate incompetence, and this guy is obviously not working on all 8 cylinders! So I reply,and 5 days have now gone by without a response.
Michael Reed to US-SE-Tech16
Perhaps you should forward this to someone who is aware of the product at hand. It is clear that you need to escalate the issue. Do you have a supervisor I could email?
Still no reply, but I am not shocked, Atari is the company that entirely OWNED the gaming world, and through sheer stupidity gave it all away.
I would have to say, pretty much the same awful process happened to me with THQ. While I don't say this in defense of Atari, I won't ever buy an Atari product, tho mind you. They killed the Masters of Orion series of games. Maxis, the makers of Simcity, actually sold me a blank CD and wouldn't replace it.
But THQ sold me a game without multiplayer, that was advertised as having it. Gamers can't fight back. Our only way to fight back is to pirate.
Because first they insult us, by labeling us pirates when we are not, then they require we flush our constitutional rights down the toilet, in order to participate on their support forums to obtain help with their buggy half finished, product, and then they wag the tail until we give up. People give up after the first 5d wait, usually.
Best thing we can do is pick up another hobby.
I spent 3 month fighting one, via the BBB. And they didn't do a damn thing. A game shouldn't say Multiplayer, if the company isn't going to host a server for it. THQ/Games for Windows LIVE shouldn't sneak server code into thier game clients, either. And if they do, they should say it on their product labels. Red Faction Guerrilla didn't say it. Many others don't say it.
Yet they charge us double, for multiplayer. We aint buying a server app. We are buying a client. There is a huge difference, shame the BBB doesn't recognize it.