Open Letter is Disappointing #wrongiswrong

theRealBender · July 2016

It appears they have every intention to continue fraud with changing items after you've paid for them with no appropriate compensation. Don't bring up Rick's Pistol, I am talking about any gear item purchased outright and the gold that was purchased to upgrade them.

This Open Letter says they hear us regarding game content and will work on it. What about the issue of changing the things we paid for after the fact? What is NG's refund policy? Is it No Refunds? Is it Buy at Your Own Risk? Maybe that should be spelled out in-game?

I will now take some time away from playing and use it to champion this issue. I will report back with ways you can help, without too much effort. I'm going to make that effort for you. This company, who on one hand says they appreciate us, yet with the other hand they have their fingers crossed behind their back. This company who would effectively steal from the very people that pays their salaries. Why? Because they can. So far, anyway. They know people can't be bothered until they are put out in a big way. Well, I don't care about the difference between a million little wrongs and one big wrong. Wrong is Wrong. It shows what they really care about....

Here are a few threads discussing it and threads of support:

http://forums.nextgames.com/walkingdead/discussion/comment/109951#Comment_109951

http://forums.nextgames.com/walkingdead/discussion/comment/109228/

http://forums.nextgames.com/walkingdead/discussion/comment/109977/

http://forums.nextgames.com/walkingdead/discussion/comment/110744#Comment_110744

http://forums.nextgames.com/walkingdead/discussion/13357/finnish-monday-finished/p1

http://forums.nextgames.com/walkingdead/discussion/comment/107992/

http://forums.nextgames.com/walkingdead/discussion/13452/

(FYI - if I don't like a game's design & I'm not having fun I just delete and play another game. This is about paying customers getting taken for their money)

TroubleMan · July 2016

Check your PM's.

LilyTheTigress · July 2016

You deserve a round of applause! Thorough, precise and on point.

Tess · July 2016

Very well said

Jun · July 2016

My Summary of NG Statement:

NG admitted:

1. The token economy imbalance and promised "more ways" to receive tokens.

2. Nerf of weapons in particular the Silenced trait without prior inforation to players specially those who purchased the items. Apologized for this but stressed they "reserve the rights to make balance changes in-game"

3. problems like Xp tents, low level challenge mission and scarcity of official communication from NG to the players.

My Comments of the NG statement:

For Item Number 1:

They did not specify what kind of "ways" to receive tokens though they already have plans. Not very transparent on this point. Also what these ways are might not be what the players wanted. They only addressed token economy problem for heroes, they did not mention TOKEN PROBLEMS FOR SURVIVORS which is the more important problem.

For Item Number 2:

They do have the rights as owner and developer but because there is selling and buying (they become not only developers but also business persons) Consumer Rights come in as a crucial factor. When I buy a product, I expect the features of the product to be there. TAKING AWAY PROMISED PRODUCT FEATURES AFTER THEY ARE SOLD may well constitute fraud (I am talking with my lawyer friends on this).

Nothing was mentioned about the Nerf-ing in the past like the Nerf on Hunter Class and giving back value of time and money the players have spent developing the Hunters and their weapons should they choose not to use the new Hunter anymore. (After the Nerf on Hunters, I began developing and using Warriors).

For Item Number 3:

These are issues of rich and very high level players. The most immediate issues for us who are neither the former nor the latter is fixing fuel economy, fuel waiting time and fixing the very high cost of upgrading buildings, survivors and equipment.

Teeceezy · July 2016

For those that have purchased for example the Rick Bundle, it's important you read this message here: http://forums.nextgames.com/walkingdead/discussion/comment/109458/#Comment_109458.

LilyTheTigress · July 2016

Teeceezy said:
For those that have purchased for example the Rick Bundle, it's important you read this message here: http://forums.nextgames.com/walkingdead/discussion/comment/109458/#Comment_109458.

May I point out that you neither address the community's concerns nor do you present any compromise to alleviate the current complaints from your paying customers for a fair and balanced service. Instead you try and distract from the issues by diverting to a dismissive response to a legit request - i.e. for IAPs to effectively perform the way they should at time of and post- purchase without any reduction in performance. Anything less than what is expected is fraudulent advertisement and rendered service (or lack thereof).

How long are you and your company going to string us along? Will you kill the game instead of fixing it?
It would be a great shame and I would hate for you to tarnish the reputation of such a beloved franchise.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

MizTy · July 2016

@Teeceezy @MrCEO
*EDIT

Here's my problem: I bought bundled bundles, equip bundles, etc. I don't even remember what all I bought. Tbh, I don't really want to know. I would feel ridiculous starting a trouble ticket for it.

I don't want to have to take screen shots of my purchases to see whether NG made changes to the stuff i just bought under an umbrella term like game balancing. Those customer service people ask pesky questions like when, where, what & screen shots please. I want to be able to trust NG not to screw me.

But if NG does screw me over in the middle of the night (because NG continues to feel this is an acceptable business practice), you (NG) should contact ME. Apparently you guys have a fancy customer stalking system, I'll bet it records financial transactions

And this, MrCEO is why my wallet remains closed

sborg · July 2016

Let's not forget the nerfing of bruisers and hunters (rifle range). $ and XPs were spent on those items, only to have their effectiveness downgraded in the name of balancing.

MizTy · July 2016

I feel whatcha saying @sborg , but the reality is that really was game balancing NG-style. I don't think their likely to change on that point

R2runfast · July 2016

It would be fine if they didn't take people's money. People paid for those special features and NG committed fraud. Sue the F out of them. Let's get a new regime to take over this scandalous act.

ste · July 2016

That's the nature of most games with these types of purchase. Things get nerfed and things get buffed. No one threatens to sue riot every time they rebalance a champion they paid for in LoL.
Don't get me wrong I don't think they went about it the right way. Capping some traits would have been a much better solution that way nothing is really nerfed you've just got an upper limit that avoids it being game breaking.

theRealBender · July 2016

ste said:
That's the nature of most games with these types of purchase. Things get nerfed and things get buffed. No one threatens to sue riot every time they rebalance a champion they paid for in LoL.

@ste
Not entirely true. There have been lawsuits. And in other games I've played, players were compensated when items they bought were reduced. In fact, also in other games, when new free items were given to new accounts they also gave the same items to existing players. I just saw how they're giving (free) tokens with the new player bundles. Where are our tokens? But that's not what this is about - I only mention it to further illustrate the character of this company.

theRealBender · July 2016

And another thing, as user ste was alluding to - this sort of thing does happen with many companies, which is why I posted above already about why they are so comfortable with doing it and getting away with it. These "app mills" as I refer to them, who are really scum of the software industry who churn out a new app/game every month and make money with a heavy marketing machine to sucker in and recycle the consumer-users. NG of course, isn't this type of company but they sure aren't the pillar of ethics with what they're doing.

PowerUK · July 2016

I welcome any improvement in communication from NG and thank @Teeceezy for taking the time to write to us all.

That said,at this point in the game they are just words on my screen. Actions always speak louder NG. Downgrading items bought with real money shouted very loudly how you see customers. If not illegal, it is most definitely,morraly wrong.

Going forward I would urge NG to use the obvious passion we all share for the game in a way that is positive for all. Be modern,forward thinking, inventive. Not just the traditional maximum profit for minimum effort type business. Game design is one of the best platforms to showcase your abilities. You guys are talented,prove it. Inspire us!.

Power.

[Deleted User] · July 2016

What really concerns me @theRealBender is that the majority of people who purchased Rick's silenced pistol are most likely unaware of the circumstances. Where is the in-game notification of this " mistake" for those who don't use the forum? If we don't know a refund is available, we don't deserve one? @Teeceezy

GreenBalloon · July 2016

Completely agree. There were too many words wasted saying nothing. Absolutely a delay tactic on their part as they apparently expect this to all blow over shortly.

As to their right to make changes within the game, there are rules as to how they're allowed to go about doing so. If they don't like the Developer TOS they agreed to with Apple, Google and whomever else, then they shouldn't have signed on the dotted line. They did, though. Time to be adults about it.

Jun · July 2016

The majority's agenda:

Gonkistan · July 2016

sborg said:
Let's not forget the nerfing of bruisers and hunters (rifle range). $ and XPs were spent on those items, only to have their effectiveness downgraded in the name of balancing.

I really really really can't understand any universe where a hunter with a long rifle can't shoot further than a shooter with a handgun.

GreenBalloon · July 2016

Taking away a step from them has been a pain, too. Having to go an extra turn just to hit the exit box is stupid. I notice the walkers, tanks and armored walkers don't have their steps hindered, in fact it seems they can pull out an extra 2-3 steps to bitch slap your survivor if they want.

LilyTheTigress · July 2016

GreenBalloon said:
Taking away a step from them has been a pain, too. Having to go an extra turn just to hit the exit box is stupid. I notice the walkers, tanks and armored walkers don't have their steps hindered, in fact it seems they can pull out an extra 2-3 steps to bitch slap your survivor if they want.

I noticed that too. Screams of passive-aggressive from NG in the midst of the "wallet strike" as in "you don't like when we f*ck you up from the side? How about when we do it from the back?".

GreenBalloon · July 2016

@LilyTheTigress ~ And no lube, dammit!! That costs extra.

Never have I paid to get screwed and I'm not about to start now. My last purchase was New Year's Eve and then I saw the writing on the wall. Rule by Greed was coming faster than a hormonal teenage boy with unfiltered internet and I wasn't going down that path. I survived my sons' teenage years, I see no reason to do it again with a bunch of egomaniac millennials with a god complex.

mongo911 · July 2016

Dear God @GreenBalloon...

The vividness of your statement, is wonderful...

GreenBalloon · July 2016

@mongo911 ~ Thank you very much. One always hopes to paint a picture... LOL!!!

Welcome.

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Open Letter is Disappointing #wrongiswrong

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