Example Of Great Support

[blue3c]

Before you read any further, if you are looking for a u rah rah thread. This is not it. I am pissed off and deserve to be so. If hearing someone talk bad about sid soren and there crap company upsets you. Leave now and read no further.
Otherwise enjoy my RANT.



oh a little over a month ago I sent an email to take2 wondering about the crashes and such. Asking how to get my money back. Because I did not feel the game was finished.
Today I got an answer back in the for form of the following form letter response.


TAKE 2-NA <TECHSUPP@TAKE2SUPPORT.COM> wrote:

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for contacting Take 2 Technical Support.

In order to fully troubleshoot the problem that you are having please try
the steps below:

1. Delete all temporary files from your system.
Navigate to C:\Windows\Temp and delete all files in this folder.
Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\*Your User Name*\Local Settings\Temp
and delete all the files in this folder.
You may need to turn on the ability to view hidden files and folders to do
this. To do so, double click My Computer, then click Tools and Options.
Then click View and select the option to view all hidden files.
Then reboot and try the game again.

2. Close down all background tasks.
To do this click Start, then Run, then type MSCONFIG and click OK. From
there click on the tab marked startup.
For Windows XP users click the button marked as Disable All, then click
Apply and Close.
For Non Windows XP users, please remove the ticks from all of the boxes
apart from the below four and then click Apply and close.
LoadPowerProfile
ScanRegistry
SystemTray
TaskMonitor
Once this has been done, please reboot the computer and then try the game
again.

3. Reinstalling the game.
Please uninstall the game, then delete the folder that is left behind. Then
reboot the computer, reinstall the game and reboot again. Then install any
patches that are available for the game, reboot the computer and then try
the game again.

4. Run a thorough Scandisk and Defrag on your computer.
From the Start menu please select and run a thorough Scandisk of your
computer's hard disk drive. Then run the Defrag option from the same menu.
Then reboot and try the game again.

5. Update your drivers.
Please ensure that you have downloaded and installed the latest drivers for
your video and sound cards available from the website of the card
manufacturer. Then reboot and try the game again.
If all of the above have not resolved your situation then please reply back
to this e-mail attaching the information from the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
To do this click Start then Run and type DXDIAG then click OK. From there
select the button marked as Save All Information and save the text file it
creates. Then attach that file to the e-mail and send it to us.




Please be sure to delete all previous correspondence when replying. This
will help us to process your response in a more timely and efficient manner.

Kind Regards,
Take 2 Technical Support

​

Oh my god. Are you kidding me. What a bunch of deleted. Nothing like great support from them. Even the auto response is a month behind.
They can't even post the patch that is not screwed. The website reports incorrect sizes on the patch. The game is still even after this patch full of bugs and mem problems. It causes ctd's to hard crashes. Hard locks and crashes can damage hardware. this is no good. The best god dam cure for civ iv is fdisk.

 

[blue3c]

And I love the line, from the start menu run scandisk......
Really.... REALLY. In Xp you want me to goto start..... scandisk?
where is this scandisk you speak. I could go back to win 2000 and run scandisk. Although I think I would really have to go back to win98se to be able to run scandisk. deleted don't even know checkdisk not scandisk.

 

[Steelsmith]

Cool, I didn't know about that MSCONFIG tool. My wife has lots of crap loading when her computer boots up, that will help me get rid of some of it.

 

[Kolyana]

I'm surprised they didn't just say "format and reinstall everything" ... it would be quicker.

 

[vbraun]

How would you suggest they fix this problem?

 

[blue3c]

How would you suggest they fix this problem?

Well first I would learn about the os my program works on. Scandisk does not exist in XP it is checkdisk.
Next and heres the really novel Idea. Actually read the email sent in. Don't make up a canned response that does not address the problem. It may address common issues with an os. But it does not address problems with the crap software you create.
next I would not release software that is not tested properly. But hey I believe in keeping my customers happy. Thats just me.
But being the deleted that they are. They don't know xp they know there software sucks and the patch size is what, not to mention the fact that they refuse to communicate with customers that they are in fact aware of the issues and are still working on it. NO NO. this might suggest that they are a company who cares about more then getting your money the first time. That they actually would like repeat business. Sorry no repeat business for you deleted!

 

[Arizona_Steve]

Also msconfig does not exist on Windows 2000. That would confuse a few people.

 

[vbraun]

Well first I would learn about the os my program works on. Scandisk does not exist in XP it is checkdisk.
Next and heres the really novel Idea. Actually read the email sent in. Don't make up a canned response that does not address the problem. It may address common issues with an os. But it does not address problems with the crap software you create.
next I would not release software that is not tested properly. But hey I believe in keeping my customers happy. Thats just me.
But being the deletedthat they are. They don't know xp they know there software sucks and the patch size is what, not to mention the fact that they refuse to communicate with customers that they are in fact aware of the issues and are still working on it. NO NO. this might suggest that they are a company who cares about more then getting your money the first time. That they actually would like repeat business. Sorry no repeat business for you deleted!

So your problems are:
scandisk vs. checkdisk
not reading your e-mail
crap software
not tested properly
they are deleted
software sucks
can't identify the patch size correctly
they are deleted

eliminate the stuff that they could improve on (and the stuff where your opnion is really that of overreaction) and you're left with:
scandisk vs. checkdisk
not reading your e-mail
not tested properly
can't identify the patch size correctly

It would be nice if you (and other ranters) would make a list without all the deleted" and the "crap software" things so that Take-Two/Firaxis could more easily identify what they could improve on.

If your not trying for them to improve then why bother posting and telling them what is wrong? Why not make it hard for them to identify there problems thus making it harder for them to adapt making it so they lose money so they ultimatly end? Or are you just complaing for the sake of complaning?

 

[Andygal]

Exactly what Vbraun said.

Sure you are frusturated. But calling the tech support people deleted is not going to solve the problem.

 

[Zinegata]

Exactly what Vbraun said.

Sure you are frusturated. But calling the tech support people deleted is not going to solve the problem.

As a whole, you're right that it's not going to solve the problem (companies rushing the game release without proper testing). However, throwing a hissy fit can sometimes yield extraordinarily effective results =).

More than one person on the board has suggested to throw a hissy fit if a store doesn't let you return their copy of Civ IV. Personally, this is actually a pretty effective, if messy, way to go about it. Why not do the same for the Firaxis/Take 2 people, especially considering he's asking for his money back? =)

 

[blue3c]

Cool any more of my posts you want to make go away?????
Thats nice. Oh well. what should I expect.

 

[vbraun]

Cool any more of my posts you want to make go away?????
Thats nice. Oh well. what should I expect.

I'm saying skip the name calling, its not doing anyone any good.

 

[blue3c]

I'm saying skip the name calling, its not doing anyone any good.

No I answered you and now my post is gone. And truthfully, I got 50 bucks of name calling to do. I need to get my monies worth. Cause I sure as hell am not going to get it by playing the game I paid for.
If I am pissed because I got ripped off. Name calling is the least of anyones worries.

 

[blue3c]

Or better yet, maybe I should go out right a bug filled game. Sell it to everyone knowing dam well that it needs patching. But instead of working on it. I should go out and sign copies of the game and not care about the quality of work I did. Because hell I have created better games then this. I mean why should I care about people actually being able to play the game I created. right. Them having a signed copy of my buggy game is a better idea. cause hell I took the time to sign it.

 

[Psyringe]

I'm saying skip the name calling, its not doing anyone any good.

Good effort, but it's of no use. I tried some days ago to convince him to do anything constructive. Worked for half a day or so, then he started calling Sid the Anti-Christ. Apparently he simply doesn't want to do anything that might actually help to improve the situation.

 

[Zinegata]

Good effort, but it's of no use. I tried some days ago to convince him to do anything constructive. Worked for half a day or so, then he started calling Sid the Anti-Christ. Apparently he simply doesn't want to do anything that might actually help to improve the situation.

... After the latest posts, I have to agree ^_^

 

[blue3c]

Sorry to disappoint but the whole point is I should not have to work at this to get it to work. I paid for it. Sid and Soren should not be out on tour. They should be in the lab getting this to work. Fixing the crap they created. Not acting as if nothing is wrong and they just created a the game of all time. I notice they stay in europe to promote it. Let them come here. I will take the time off of work to go see them and hand them my copy. ohhhhh please come to the states sid baby. Pllllleeeeeaaaaasssseeee.
yes I am pissed even more now. The email set me off big time. Before that, it was the fact that one more hard crash in game cost me a hard drive. Then hearing people talk about upgrading there hardware to support software that clearly states it will work on what they already have.
its complete bull. A rip off. A con Job. ITS CONSUMER FRAUD.

 

[Chieftess]

Moderator Action: blue3c, If you want to comment about your game, do so by constructively asking for help. Swearing, trolling, spamming your own thread, and constant ranting isn't going to help. Apparently, other gamers are playing the game just fine. Do some research before ranting. In fact, here's 4 days for your swearing and trolling.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889


Moderator Action: Others, don't feed the troll, and don't repeat their vulgarities. You will be warned, too. That goes for anyone who's post I had to edit for swearing.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889