35 réponses à ce sujet

[Sidney_Lotterby]

Hi. I bought my first 360 on August 4th, 2010. I bought Mass Effect 2 after beating the first one and proceeded to get all the DLC. I already had everything purchased and on my hard drive except for the collector's edition items. I found a seller on eBay that said you could buy a digital collector's edition for the PC and use the codes on your 360. Since I didn't know then that you could purchase it from EA's store I bought one of multiple copies of the CE (never downloaded or installed, bought for codes only). I carried over my saves and played the game on my 360 without problems until I tried to redeem a Dr. Pepper code. When I logged into the game to download my item the Cerberus Network did not start and I received an error message.

After already having played the game with these "fraudulent" codes working I didn't think that could be possible. Now after contacting EA they tell me that none of it is something they can handle and that I had registered a fraudulant copy of the game on my 360 despite the fact I bought it new from Gamestop. They also said that I had to reregister the game after getting another copy of the registration code without any details on what that specifically constitutes. Now I'm out over $100 and have been called a crook. Am I the only one who has had their first problem with a game basically ruin it so drastically? I'm afraid to load a game, unsure whether or not my saves are going to load or be corrupted. I've already tried to get back in touch with EA but nothing is what I got as an answer.

I gave them all the copies of the codes I had as well as the eBay seller's name (520+ sales with 100% positive feedback). Since the seller is French Canadian there is a language barrier in emails. How can I possibly be held responsible for something far from my knowing; i.e. How can I tell if a code is a fraudulant one that will destroy my account?

I just wondered what some other gamers would think of this.

[AntiChri5]

What the **** is it with EA?

[AdmiralCheez]

Greedy corporate bastards.

[Bullets McDeath]

So is their logic basically that you were playing with one copy of the game, but using the bonus materials from a different copy? Hmm. You might want to dig into the ME2 EULA if you can find it. Seems like if you can get an "upgrade" code from the EAstore, what you did shouldn't really be a problem... other than that you bought it used and they receive no money from that sale. Hmmm.



Yeah, this kinda stinks.

[Skodmunk]

I think you shouldn't listen to people from Ebay.



Also, this might not be relevant to this case. But EA and other game companies want to get rid of the resellers market of games, so this could be something they cooked up to try to discourage people from buying from other sources than themselves.

[Sidney_Lotterby]

The digital copy was supposedly new (the codes were accepted and I have 2 copies of the Cerberus Network though it was never checked off on my list I had the missions and crew added from its purchase). The only copy I registered was the one I bought new for the 360. I never downloaded the PC version (let alone registered it) because my PC can't handle it. I can't figure out the EA support message. Here it is in full:



Hello,



Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts Customer Support.



We are really sorry for the inconvenience caused to you. I've checked through your account and found out that your Mass Effect 2 have been disabled due to fraudulently purchased of the game. We would like to suggest you please contact retailer they will provide you another registration code. Please know that kind of issue cannot be resolve in our hand. Please contact your retailer for further assistance.



If you still have any further issues, please do let us know.



Sincerely,



Isaac

EA Customer Support.

[AntiChri5]

Bull****.



A fraudulent copy of the game?



And since bloody when do you need to frikken' register the game.

[Bullets McDeath]

It seems as likely, however, this guy may have sold the codes to multiple people. And I'm not 100% certain about the legality of re-selling digital copies in the first place. You may be SOL on this one.

[Sidney_Lotterby]

The eBay seller had a few dozen copies not just one or two. And is still selling them. I asked them about the game before purchase and it sounded legit between the broken English. Also, I was able to play for a month or more problem free before this happened. I'm SOL and have accepted it. I hope they enjoy my money they got a good amount of it since October first when I picked up this game and all the DLC. I can only tell EA what I know. I don't have the ability to police their game sales for them.

[Bullets McDeath]

It's a raw deal, either way. You have the sympathies of this random internet guy, for what they are worth. Stuff like this is why I almost always buy retail and new when it comes to games (EA must love folks like me, LOL).

[Siegdrifa]

The best way to avoid this kind of problem is buying from "more" official shop, and keep the receip as proof the game was "brand new".
If you buy on internet, you can also save the web page that show your transaction was accepted, just in case.

I bough a smartphone last year from intenet, and i choose an operator from the same web site, but the option for communication i chose from the web site was different from the contract i had by mail (more expensive from what i choose of cause...), and when i contacted the operator, they said it was registered like this by the web site. when i said i saved the web page as proof (just in case) and it show different options for the transaction, he sounded less happy and confident "oh.... so you can prove what you bough in the web site "yes ..." .... okay, we will change your options and send you a new contract" ...
****ing operator company !

Modifié par Siegdrifa, 15 novembre 2010 - 03:03 .

[Captain_Obvious_au]

EA is full of **** when they say they can't 'fix' it. Email them again with proof of purchase, otherwise contact an organisation like the Better Business Bureau, they might be able to help you.

[Sidney_Lotterby]

Thanks for the feedback all.

I have the original receipts of both the October 1st purchase from Gamestop and a copy of my online transaction. I do not feel as though the Canadian seller did anything illicit because I did ask questions concerning the "official" capacity of the game. I told him that I was purely interested in the code for the armor. Had I known EA had a store with the same product at the time maybe I wouldn't be in this mess but hindsight is 20/20. I just wanted the last piece of CE gear just for the heck of it to add to my enjoyment of this epic series, and eBay is were one would normally look to purchase an unwanted code. I plan on gathering all transaction information before contacting EA via phone tomorrow.

I just felt that this was a very questionable situation that only other gamers could find interesting for various reasons. Also, I found no other information concerning this on any site and felt that Google needed to lead others who possibly had this happen to a website that may let them know they weren't alone in the strangeness of EA's decision making.

[Kloreep]

Agreed on being wary of buying DLC codes on on-line auction sites, that sounds like a sketchy way to go. But I mean that in the sense of "you could get screwed in to buying a code that's already been used." If it works, then, hey, like you, I would have thought it's all good.



I mean, the system is designed so that each code can only be used once. So, given that, how can it be that a code that Bioware's (EA's) own website accepted is "fraudulent"?



I think EA may also have a bridge they want you to buy... okay, not fair to them, I'm sure there's something that raised a red flag. But since I'm just another customer and don't know how ME2's DRM works, I couldn't tell you what. Good luck with EA, I'm interested to hear where this goes.

[Sidney_Lotterby]

I did mention to them (politely) that all I was hearing from them was that they wanted another purchase from me, possibly two.

While I was preparing, gathering my transaction information, waiting for their phone lines to open this morning I finally got a response. It doesn't describe the problem or what specifically made the problem appear, but it sounds as though they found something odd.



Hello,



Thanks for writing back to us.



It looks like the issue is more complex than what it initially seemed and more time is required for investigation. I am escalating issue to the higher tier. We apologize for any prolonged delays this might cause, but please be assured that we are trying to handle your issue in a timely manner. During this time, you may still update your incident with additional information that might help us resolve your issue without causing any additional delay. To update your incident click the link that says, "To view or update your question from our support site, click here."



We appreciate the opportunity to assist you and look forward to getting you back in the game!



Thank You,



Victor

EA Games support

[Siegdrifa]

Ok, i hope it wont take weeks to figure out a solution.

[Sidney_Lotterby]

::still waiting patiently::

[Latharion]

Is it just me or did that concersation sound earily similar to the example that Siegdrifa gave above regarding smartphones? After we help him gather his transaction info, the tune changes from "thou art a thief" to "erm... this needs futher investigation".



Good luck, and by the sound of it, you just hopped the train to sanity-ville (which was rapidly being derailed by the EA insanity bus!)

[BTCentral]

Sidney,



When you get a chance could you check your messages on the forums please? It's related to this.



Thanks!

[Sidney_Lotterby]

Message responded to. Sorry about the delay.

It looks like there may be a piracy ordeal with digital copies of the game. At least that is what it's looking like given the timeline and the information now confirmed by another victim of this guy, BTCentral. Tomorrow, Nov. 29th, will make it 2 weeks since I notified EA about this. Seller's name included. I also had to resubmit a new question because I was no longer able to add to my incident report.

I'm just being patient, and adamant in the fact that I'm not intentionally behaving fraudulently. If they say that I used a fake code then who knows if I just get my CE gear removed (only fake code I think I used, if any, or will I stay on permanent suspension? I did use the Cerberus Network code by accident from the possibly illegal copy, but I already had it installed from my newly purchased copy and refused the download again option.

[BTCentral]

Thanks for the reply Sidney!



I had an initial response from EA's higher level support today (after talking with someone on Live Chat last Thursday).



Looks to be the same story "From what we can see in our records the title Mass Effect 2 codes are listed as fraudulent." Sidney confirmed that we purchased the Digital Deluxe edition of Mass Effect 2 from the same seller on eBay so I can only assume that this is the cause.



Rather frustrating, especially considering the fact that the only reason I purchased it to was to get the collectors edition gear to complete my Mass Effect 2 DLC collection. Even more so that instead of just disabling the PC version as you would expect, they have disabled both the PC and Xbox 360 online functionality.



I have suggested that I remove Mass Effect 2 from my PC, and they disable the PC codes provided, and then re-activate my Xbox 360 version (considering all the content I purchased for the 360 was legitimate).



I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens.

[BTCentral]

Well, I had another reply EA's support origionally stating that both my copies of Mass Effect 2 were fraudulent, that there was nothing they could do to lift a status set by an EA associate, they then offered me a discount for the EA online store and told me to contact the retailer.

I then responded asking if they were sure that both copies were fraudulent, since I had purchased it for the Xbox 360 from a reputable online retailer - asked if there was anyone else I could contact to get this resolved, and finally that if I purchased it again if the account would still be disabled (and therefore if I would have to re-buy all the DLC content I had already bought on a different account). I also pointed out that purchasing the game again does not actually solve the issue.

After this, they spoke with a supervisor, who thankfully gave the go ahead to re-activate my access to the online services.

Issue resolved, I am happy

I hope that they are also able to resolve the issue for you Sidney, assuming they have not already!

Modifié par BTCentral, 01 décembre 2010 - 10:46 .

[FoxShadowblade]

outlaworacle wrote...

So is their logic basically that you were playing with one copy of the game, but using the bonus materials from a different copy? Hmm. You might want to dig into the ME2 EULA if you can find it. Seems like if you can get an "upgrade" code from the EAstore, what you did shouldn't really be a problem... other than that you bought it used and they receive no money from that sale. Hmmm.

Yeah, this kinda stinks.

And............BOOM!

He hits the problem. You CAN get a upgrade code from an EA store.

And that's why they do not like the fact you didn't. EA is just trying to put their fingers where they shouldn't, thinking that even though this "property" was sold, it's still their's.

[Sidney_Lotterby]

After nearly three weeks I don't even care anymore. I never got any help out of EA. I'm still shut out despite the fact that I told them I could produce receipts and now pinpoint another instance of this. I was informed by them that they were on it when they responded the third time so I didn't bother calling, but now I'm being told to get another code again. I guess you found the competent employee. Did you get a name? lol. I can't remember if it's been four or five people I've talked to and all I get is that the flag for a fraudulent code went up and my game is not a valid copy. The EA site still accepts the game code from the back of the manual on their registration site though. So, yeah...

[Sidney_Lotterby]

My last reply from EA:



Hello Gamer,



Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts.



I do apologize for the issues you have been experiencing with . As a gamer myself, I can understand how frustrating not being able to play your game can be. I have been assigned to your issue, and would be happy to assist you in this matter.



I am sorry but due to the nature of this situation we will not be able to assist you. We can not give you access to the game as the code was obtained fraudulently. I can not say what happened or didn't happen with another customers account as we do have a privacy policy in place.



If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to let me know.



Best Regards,

Justin C.

Electronic Arts Customer Support.

(650)628-1001