15 réponses à ce sujet

[UnderlAlDyingSun]

Hi guys,

This is my first post, but due to the choddy, apprehensible treatment I've received from EA I have but no where else to turn.

To make a long story short, last october I finally bought ME2, I was a late comer to the first game and did 6 full playthroughs so it took some time. In preperation for playing it, I bought a bunch of pre order DLC codes from ebay, that worked. I let my account sit and throughout I accumulated the rest of the xbl DLC. Having completed my last ME1 playthrough, on insanity wewt for N7 pic, I was immeasurably excited to play ME2. I load the game and, WTH! , am prompted w/ a brief message telling me my account is invalid. According to EA, my account has been marked for fraud by Fraud Management stating my game key is invalid?! I play console, what are these morons talking about? I was offered a digital download key from the seller on ebay who sold me the terminus gear, but I never redeemed it, nor would I, I prefer console. So now I'm in the situation of not being able to access any of my xbl dlc, nor connect to the cerberus network and EA is giving me the run around! Please any advide on how to proceed, for gods sake I played ME1 for hundreds of hours only to be unable to play ME2! Thx in advance

[Homebound]

See, your first mistake was buying from Ebay.
Second mistake was just not getting the DLC's from EA itself, which not only is easier, safer and less of a hassle, but also less risky.

Buyer beware.

Modifié par Just_mike, 16 février 2011 - 07:13 .

[UnderlAlDyingSun]

The dlc items were pre order bonuses, If they we're offered through official channels i'd have gone there. I wasn't shopping for price or convenience, but out of necessity. I spent like 30 dollars a code. I just don't see the logic in this, the codes used to work, I know they weren't randomly generated because two of the three came from the original cards, and all of those downloads show up on my xbox and are recognized on this site. My whole account is suspended because of this :/ I really just want some advice on getting a straight answer on this, and how to deal with EA particularly. It's more than upsetting.

[OBakaSama]

I recall another member also having a similar problem to your own.



As much as what Just_mike has said sounds hurtful to you it is unfortunately probably true as well.



What is possible from what you wrote is that in not redeeming the code straight away, it is possible for the seller to sell the exact same code to someone else who redeemed before you (original card or not). That is a possibility with what is essentially secondhand codes.



The best you can do, if you haven't already, is get into contact with EA with your proof of purchase of the original games and argue your case that you were made an unwilling victim of fraud. The other member managed to get their account sorted out so they could play ME2 in the end.



Good luck.

[UnderlAlDyingSun]

Thank you for your reply, but I've somewhat narrowed down this issue. Basically, according to EA I used a fraudulent gamekey, I know they're crooks I so blatantly play console so wth does a gamekey have anything to do w/ it, and what they've done to alleviate the problem is to have me blow another twenty dollars on another cerberus network code to access said dlc. I submitted a plethora of evidence supporting that my codes were legitimate, recognized on this site and my xbox harddrive yet they insisted they could not do anything. I swallowed my pride and forked over the twenty dollars. The folks and policies implemented by EA are absurd, they've made gaming way too corporate, technical, and what's worse they could care less about their consumers so long as we accept their dictatorship on part of this industry. Unfortunately, they produce too many games I love. I'd love to undermine those b**stards somehow. Alas, I'm finally enjoying ME2 and wow, there are limitless elements I miss from the first game but WOAH, the atmosphere is breathtaking!

[OBakaSama]

Glad to hear you're enjoying the game and sort of had the problem solved.

A few things still confuses me, not that it makes a difference now seeing you've bought a new Cerberus Network code which is what caused the problem (?), so you may ignore my following questions. (I'm nosy and seeking clarification. )

[1] What precisely do you mean by 'gamekey'? I'm not sure what this term refers to specifically. I presumed you meant the 'code' which you use to redeem the associated dlc. And buying from an eBay seller does run the risk of the code being invalid, but it didn't sound as if that was your problem.

[2] The Cerberus Network code which you purchased in the end allowed you to access the game, correct? Because if EA flags that usage as being fradulent it suggests (though I am not saying it is the case) that the CN code had already been used. (This has nothing to do with format.) This could mean that someone else had already used that code before you did; which in turn suggests that either someone copied the code for themselves and sold you the game 'new' or the copy of the game you got was secondhand. Given the nature of these dlc codes the safest ones are in sealed and shrinkwrapped cases. I was a tad nervous when I got my ME2 as it was unsealed.

Ah well. Have fun.

[UnderlAlDyingSun]

Well, I believe the way EA termed gamekey was related to my copy of the game in a general sense. It almost seemed as if they thought I had obtained a digital copy of the game, which I don't I'm on xbox. I actually had a friend give me my original cerberus card, he had purchased two copies and since he didn't need the card from his later copy he gave it to me. To be honest, I think EA just wanted to pick on somebody. They actually had no technical quarrel w/ my dlc stuff, all they could do was state that I certainly had fraudulently obtained a code of somesort and that as a means of punishing me I'd have to dish out twenty dollars!

[Vizkos]

Under the terms of service:

Section:
11. Rules of Conduct

A fair ways down:

- Unless expressly authorized by EA, you may not sell, buy, trade or otherwise transfer your EA account or any personal access to EA Services, Content or Entitlements, including by use of auction websites.

Source:
http://tos.ea.com/le...n/PC/ #section1


Most people ignore terms of service until, in cases like this, it comes to bite you in the butt.

Modifié par Prosthetics511, 19 février 2011 - 03:37 .

[Garrusrules]

I am starting to doubt bioware cares or listens to us, people have been asking for stuff like I of many would love to see more Garrus stuff everyone else seems to get shown in group shirts or on other items you hardly see him so this problem and bioware giving you the run around don't surprise me, hell look two months before its due to be released they cancel the bloody garrus figure

Modifié par Garrusrules, 19 février 2011 - 06:39 .

[JaegerBane]

I do think EA could have used a bit more common sense in this situation. The whole way the DLC system works means this type of thing is highly likely to happen - if they just offered every DLC for a given figure the whole situation with buying DLC via Ebay wouldn't exist.

That said, the idea of paying 30 dollars for a pre-order DLC is something I wouldn't touch with a barge pole. You're leaving yourself wide open to being exploited. The bonus DLCs weren't even that great, they're certainly not worth this kind of risk.

Garrusrules wrote...

I am starting to doubt bioware cares or listens to us, people have been asking for stuff like I of many would love to see more Garrus stuff everyone else seems to get shown in group shirts or on other items you hardly see him so this problem and bioware giving you the run around don't surprise me, hell look two months before its due to be released they cancel the bloody garrus figure

I think it's a little tenuous to link this to issues with the mechandise....

[Cyberstrike nTo]

A word of advice: when you buy any DLC buy it either from the Xbox Marketplace, PS Store, or from the publisher directly or a site that the publisher has given permission to sell the DLC. 

[OBakaSama]

iiReaperZz wrote...

Well, I believe the way EA termed gamekey was related to my copy of the game in a general sense. It almost seemed as if they thought I had obtained a digital copy of the game, which I don't I'm on xbox. I actually had a friend give me my original cerberus card, he had purchased two copies and since he didn't need the card from his later copy he gave it to me. To be honest, I think EA just wanted to pick on somebody. They actually had no technical quarrel w/ my dlc stuff, all they could do was state that I certainly had fraudulently obtained a code of somesort and that as a means of punishing me I'd have to dish out twenty dollars!

Thanks for the reply. Although what Prosthetics511 wrote is legally correct, EA has no way in knowing that a friend gave you a spare copy. (That suggests to me that they may have given you the wrong Cerberus Network card which is why they accused you of fraud, as that code had been used, so those terms of conditions would apply.)

The whole promo dlc thing would be easier to accept if they were obtainable at a later date. (Reminds me of the DA2 fiasco in the UK.) All a moot point now anyway.

Anyway, enjoy the game iiReaperZz.

[Vizkos]

Garrusrules wrote...

I am starting to doubt bioware cares or listens to us, people have been asking for stuff like I of many would love to see more Garrus stuff everyone else seems to get shown in group shirts or on other items you hardly see him so this problem and bioware giving you the run around don't surprise me, hell look two months before its due to be released they cancel the bloody garrus figure

What does this have to do with the topic at hand?

JaegerBane wrote...

I do think EA could have used a bit
more common sense in this situation. The whole way the DLC system works
means this type of thing is highly likely to happen - if they just
offered every DLC for a given figure the whole situation with buying DLC
via Ebay wouldn't exist.

That said, the idea of paying 30
dollars for a pre-order DLC is something I wouldn't touch with a barge
pole. You're leaving yourself wide open to being exploited. The bonus
DLCs weren't even that great, they're certainly not worth this kind of
risk.

The idea behind pre-order exclusive DLCs is to try and get you to purchase from them and nowhere else.  You don't purchase it from them, you don't get it.  I personally don't see how hard that is to understand.  Companies like GameStop pay quite a bit of money to game devs to get exclusive DLC deals like that.  Regardless, it is against the terms of service, which you accept when you create an account, when you activate a game online, etc.

iiReaperZz wrote...

Well, I believe the way EA termed gamekey was
related to my copy of the game in a general sense. It almost seemed as
if they thought I had obtained a digital copy of the game, which I don't
I'm on xbox. I actually had a friend give me my original cerberus card,
he had purchased two copies and since he didn't need the card from his
later copy he gave it to me. To be honest, I think EA just wanted to
pick on somebody. They actually had no technical quarrel w/ my dlc
stuff, all they could do was state that I certainly had fraudulently
obtained a code of somesort and that as a means of punishing me I'd have
to dish out twenty dollars!

EA didn't want to pick on anybody, its exactly the anthesis of what they want (more customers).  Doesn't make sense to alienate customers and lose potential puchasers of later products.  You violated the TOS when you purchsaed pre-order DLC from an auction site, violating the TOS section that I alluded to in my previous post.

OBakaSama wrote...
Thanks for the reply. Although what Prosthetics511 wrote is legally
correct, EA has no way in knowing that a friend gave you a spare copy.
(That suggests to me that they may have given you the wrong Cerberus
Network card which is why they accused you of fraud, as that code had
been used, so those terms of conditions would apply.)

He didn't break the TOS becuase of the Cerebrus Network card, as EA can't really prove that.  This is assuming he bought a used copy of the game, as new copies come with the CN card as part of Project Ten Dollar.  The part of the Terms of Service he broke was purchasing DLC (pre-order DLC) from an auction website (ebay).  I will bold the parts of the clause he broke.

- Unless expressly authorized by EA, you may not sell, buy, trade or otherwise transfer your EA account or any personal access to EA Services, Content or Entitlements, including by use of auction websites.

Modifié par Prosthetics511, 19 février 2011 - 08:41 .

[OBakaSama]

True, I don't disagree with that. But that those dlcs he got were not part of the problem...well, you can draw your own conclusion to that.

[SkyDragon11]

well it might be cheaper to get this stuff elsewere of download it

but be aware of the buyers risk because when you have problems and it goes to the direction of piracy/illigal selling to 3th people there is an very strickt way of rules of the guys on the other side and most of the time they are not willing to help anymore (this is generally im not accusing anyone)

i would advice u for the next time buy it yourself a new one not second hand coz with things like this IT ALWAYS TURNS TO BITE YOU IN THE ASS

im afraid you wont be able to convince them to help you if you violeted some of their rules

unless you have some strong proof and are very very lucky (and even then you will have to beg for forgiveness)

[JaegerBane]

Prosthetics511 wrote...

JaegerBane wrote...

I do think EA could have used a bit
more common sense in this situation. The whole way the DLC system works
means this type of thing is highly likely to happen - if they just
offered every DLC for a given figure the whole situation with buying DLC
via Ebay wouldn't exist.

That said, the idea of paying 30
dollars for a pre-order DLC is something I wouldn't touch with a barge
pole. You're leaving yourself wide open to being exploited. The bonus
DLCs weren't even that great, they're certainly not worth this kind of
risk.

The idea behind pre-order exclusive DLCs is to try and get you to purchase from them and nowhere else.  You don't purchase it from them, you don't get it.  I personally don't see how hard that is to understand.  Companies like GameStop pay quite a bit of money to game devs to get exclusive DLC deals like that.  Regardless, it is against the terms of service, which you accept when you create an account, when you activate a game online, etc.

It's not a question of understanding. Everyone is aware if the promotional motivations of the promo DLCs. The simple fact is EA going down this route all but guaranteed that the situation of having people reselling DLC codes via ebay would occur. It's common sense - restricting supply of something will always jack up prices and there will always be people willing to attempt to sell anything. Ultimately if EA don't want this kind of scenario occuring they shouldn't engineer the situation so that it's inevitable that it will happen.