Very disappointed - going to complain to steam

edited August 2012 in The Walking Dead
I waited almost 2 months for second episode. Now telltale changes the deal to periodic releases. WTF? I didn't paid for this. If You offer something You have to deliver. I bought 5 episodes released monthly. I expect monthly releases or refund. I'm not having fun waiting. Don't sell what You don't have - it's a scam.
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Comments

  • edited July 2012
    Hate to break it to you, if you want your cash back then you'll have to do an account chargeback and risk banning yourself from Steam.

    Besides, TTG announced that they were delaying the game and stated an alternate release window in the exact same blog post. They also released a formal apology for the delay and updated the remaining games' release schedule. Now, do you have an actual, legitimate complaint or problem with the game, or can we just safely throw this thread in with the ~250 other general bitching threads?
  • edited July 2012
    This is legitimate complaint - I don't care what they said after they got my money. This is scam. I paid for something they didn't deliver.
  • edited July 2012
    Hey Butler, can you link that blog?

    I found something close to that, at least the apology but I didn't see an updated schedule. I want to see if we are seeing the same thing.
  • edited July 2012
    heavypre wrote: »
    This is legitimate complaint - I don't care what they said after they got my money. This is scam. I paid for something they didn't deliver.

    Really? Legitimate complaint for what exactly?

    A scam would be hooking you up for something you pay upfront for and then NOT DELIVERING SAID PRODUCT. Essentially you would have paid upfront to receive nothing or only part of something. Not releasing the game in the original "planned" time line? I agree with Ted, this is mostly "general bitching", and didn't really require a new thread.

    Just like the rest of life, something get caught up in the works, causing a delay in how fast they can make the episodes available. They have acknowledged this, and have released a new tentative release date for episode three. Can't handle the delay? Consider this a life lesson to NEVER pre-order a game ever again. There's not much else you can do.
  • edited July 2012
    http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-975
    This page shows the release date for next episode.
  • edited July 2012
    magzhi wrote: »
    http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-975
    This page shows the release date for next episode.

    ah good very good. Thank you.

    So I was reading the same thing. But I don't see anything about future dates or plans for the next parts.

    Just seems like they said "our bad" and kept it moving.
  • edited July 2012
    now read it again ^^
    It actually says Mid August is the release date for next episode.
  • edited July 2012
    Really? Legitimate complaint for what exactly?

    A scam would be hooking you up for something you pay upfront for and then NOT DELIVERING SAID PRODUCT. Essentially you would have paid upfront to receive nothing or only part of something. Not releasing the game in the original "planned" time line? I agree with Ted, this is mostly "general bitching", and didn't really require a new thread.

    Just like the rest of life, something get caught up in the works, causing a delay in how fast they can make the episodes available. They have acknowledged this, and have released a new tentative release date for episode three. Can't handle the delay? Consider this a life lesson to NEVER pre-order a game ever again. There's not much else you can do.

    I have to agree and disagree with her.

    I as a rule do not pre-order anything. Even my most beloved series from childhood "Metal Gear Solid" I don't pre-order. But for some reasons I did not consider this a pre-order. I thought I was getting a game that was like a tv show or comic. That can be seen as a pre-order and I'll take the fault for that.

    But still, I feel as if this lot has fumbled the ball, and I suspect everyone else is just complacent with bad service. Not to bash the states but my God, this country has horrible customer service and this is a fine example. It's like the rap artist say "F-you pay me!"
    magzhi wrote: »
    now read it again ^^
    It actually says Mid August is the release date for next episode.

    Yeah, yeah I saw that part, in the middle paragraph. I saw it the first go around, but I was under the impression from the Butler's post that a time table for the rest of the episodes was hashed out. That's why I even asked for a link. I wanted to see that.
  • edited July 2012
    been here before bought the t shirt made meme's and still people whinge..

    merge time...
  • edited July 2012
    Really? Legitimate complaint for what exactly?

    A scam would be hooking you up for something you pay upfront for and then NOT DELIVERING SAID PRODUCT. Essentially you would have paid upfront to receive nothing or only part of something. Not releasing the game in the original "planned" time line? I agree with Ted, this is mostly "general bitching", and didn't really require a new thread.

    They didn't deliver. Monthly releases means I should have new episode every month. I didn't agree to change release cycle. You need to be stupid to wait 10 months for 5 episodes. I will do everything in my power to get refund from steam (eaven going with chargeback - only this game on account) and will never buy anything from telltale. If they think I'm stupid and they can do whatever they want they are wrong. No service = no payment.

    The game was released btw.
  • edited July 2012
    heavypre wrote: »
    They didn't deliver. Monthly releases means I should have new episode every month. I didn't agree to change release cycle. You need to be stupid to wait 10 months for 5 episodes. I will do everything in my power to get refund from steam (eaven going with chargeback - only this game on account) and will never buy anything from telltale. If they think I'm stupid and they can do whatever they want they are wrong. No service = no payment.

    The game was released btw.

    Seems like a heavy price to pay my friend. Sometimes you just gotta eat the loss. They won this time around.
  • edited July 2012
    are we stupid for buying a game that is episodic which could take a year or so to complete ? depending on how the games episodes are made and then certified slowly ? that only cost half of a standard fully complete game..

    NO
  • edited July 2012
    are we stupid for buying a game that is episodic which could take a year or so to complete ? depending on how the games episodes are made and then certified slowly ? that only cost half of a standard fully complete game..

    NO

    If it would have taken them a year to make it otherwise, why did they think it would take them less than half a year to make it on episode release?
  • VainamoinenVainamoinen Moderator
    edited July 2012
    Question:
    why did they think it would take them less than half a year to make it on episode release?

    Answer:
    Jake wrote: »
    i don't know if you've played telltale games in the past but we are generally known for being the episodic/downloadable company who actually hits their dates, or very close. On some of our earlier games there has occasionally been a small slip either at the very beginning or very end of the season, but a monthly schedule is something we traditionally pride ourselves on, and walking dead episode 2 taking the extra time that it took kind of caught us with our pants down, made us deer-in-the-headlights a bit. We've realized now that making the walking dead games the games they are is taking longer than a lot of our older games (so we've changed the wording to remove monthly, as that has turned out to not be true), and we're sorry for that, but we hope, and we think, that the resulting content you guys get to play when its done makes up for the delay.

    I get that you are upset at the delay, but please know that the delay is not meant out of disrespect, it is meant out of the opposite. We are honored that you are interested enough in our take on the walking dead to purchase the game from us, and we want to do right by your purchase and the world of the walking dead with a quality game we hope you'll remember well for years to come. Hopefully the delay between eps 1 and 2 hasn't marred that too much! (also, if it's any consolation, a silence like that is unlikely to ever happen again.)


    heavypre wrote: »
    it's a scam.

    Undoubtedly no intent to deceive = not a scam.

    Get your wording right. And stupidity insults can make a thread rather short-lived.
  • edited July 2012
    heavypre wrote: »
    They didn't deliver. Monthly releases means I should have new episode every month. I didn't agree to change release cycle. You need to be stupid to wait 10 months for 5 episodes. I will do everything in my power to get refund from steam (eaven going with chargeback - only this game on account) and will never buy anything from telltale. If they think I'm stupid and they can do whatever they want they are wrong. No service = no payment.

    The game was released btw.

    i think maybee they could relese on time if they wern't trying to concentrate on relesing it on new cross platforms also never buying another telltale game
  • edited July 2012
    Did you know games are commonly delayed, and release dates are missed quite often? I think you should get off whatever drug you're on and take some time to check back into reality.

    They altered the episode schedule to reflect what will probably happen, as well as apologizing for such. Also, you've already played through 2/5 of the game, how can you ask for a refund at this point, it would be like buying a game at gamestop, playing it for 3 hours and then trying to return because you don't like it's pace.
  • edited July 2012
    Compared to Valve, these episodes are getting cranked out like nothing. When it comes to episodic gaming, Telltale is probably the fastest. I can't think of anyone else with "episodic releases" who actually get to them. Half Life, the Sonic game, Penny Arcade Adventures... Name me another company who actually gets to their shit.

    And if you don't like uncertain release dates, HeavyPre, maybe you should hold back on the HeavyPreordering!

    Hee hee. *cries, wipes tear*
  • edited July 2012
    Vainamoinen-

    Hey thanks for that. It's all I ever wanted. I take back all the snarky thing I ever said about the company.

    Except the California things, those stay.

    It's good to see a company owning up. I respect that. Take as long as they like then, I just hope it is worth the wait.
  • harrisonpinkharrisonpink Telltale Alumni
    edited July 2012
    jayster01 wrote: »
    i think maybee they could relese on time if they wern't trying to concentrate on relesing it on new cross platforms also never buying another telltale game

    Hey everyone, just to clarify, the guys that worked on the iOS port are different than the rest of the guys on the Episode 3 team.
  • edited July 2012
    heavypre wrote: »
    I waited almost 2 months for second episode. Now telltale changes the deal to periodic releases. WTF? I didn't paid for this. If You offer something You have to deliver. I bought 5 episodes released monthly. I expect monthly releases or refund. I'm not having fun waiting. Don't sell what You don't have - it's a scam.

    honestly you just need to man the fuck up, its not a large amount of money and would you rather a shit rushed game like every other game from the big studios lately? or do you want them to take their time and do the best they can? the choice is pretty obvious.
  • edited July 2012
    heavypre wrote: »
    Don't sell what You don't have - it's a scam.

    It's called pre-order.. Pre = Earlier, before.

    They're selling something they're going to have later - it's not a scam.
  • edited August 2012
    If you read the blog post, they said the episode would be done midaugust, not released mid august. Lot of time could be between done and released. And they have had over a year to get this done. Iirc they announced they were working on the game april 2011. So it was logical to think the game was mostly done inapril when they released the beginning episode. This is my first and will be my last game from telltale, no just because of the delays, but the poor communication of the company
  • edited August 2012
    If you read the blog post, they said the episode would be done midaugust, not released mid august. Lot of time could be between done and released. And they have had over a year to get this done. Iirc they announced they were working on the game april 2011. So it was logical to think the game was mostly done inapril when they released the beginning episode. This is my first and will be my last game from telltale, no just because of the delays, but the poor communication of the company

    Man, we can't go five seconds without Godzilla whining about something.
    "RRRRRAAAAAAAAAGHHHH!"
    "RRRRRRRRAAAAAGHHHHHH!"
    "RRRRAAAAAAGHHHHHHHH!"

    Hopefully this time he doesn't destroy New York again.
  • VainamoinenVainamoinen Moderator
    edited August 2012
    Iirc they announced they were working on the game april 2011.

    They announced they had acquired the license at the beginning of 2011. Nothing more.

    They were still occupied with Back to the Future at the time (with three episodes still to be released), then released Puzzle Agent 2 in the middle of the year and four episodes of Jurassic Park in November. They started into 2012 with 7 multi-platform episodes of Law & Order Legacies.

    IMHO, "they had over a year to get this done" means not understanding the episodic concept. OF COURSE the bulk of the work is done after the first episode releases with the help of the TTG engine. OF COURSE this is an immense pressure on the developers - and has always been in the last six years. This is what episodic means. "Can you finish all episodes before you release the first one?" is like asking for water to be less wet.

    If they make Fables in 2013, I'm waiting for the new community members stating "They had two years to finish this!". ;)
  • edited August 2012
    Do you think tv shows release the first episode of the season and then make the others before the next episode? Episodic means that they will not be realing it all at once, but gradually over time. Also tell me excalty what we say or did in episode one, that made them wait to write episode 2? They knew when episode 1 realeased what people options and choices could possiblely be in episode 2, there is nothing in any of the episodes that would cause them to delay writing the next episode beforehand. In choose your own adventure books, the writers don't wait for you to make your choice and then write the next section, they write all sections covering anychoice you could make. Which is what telltale should of done ahead of releasing. And none of that covers the poor communication about why they can't deliver on thier orginal plan of episodes being monthly!!!
  • edited August 2012
    Do you think tv shows release the first episode of the season and then make the others before the next episode? Episodic means that they will not be realing it all at once, but gradually over time. Also tell me excalty what we say or did in episode one, that made them wait to write episode 2? They knew when episode 1 realeased what people options and choices could possiblely be in episode 2, there is nothing in any of the episodes that would cause them to delay writing the next episode beforehand. In choose your own adventure books, the writers don't wait for you to make your choice and then write the next section, they write all sections covering anychoice you could make. Which is what telltale should of done ahead of releasing. And none of that covers the poor communication about why they can't deliver on thier orginal plan of episodes being monthly!!!

    He has some points. Don't thrash him. It's logical and exactly what one would expect if they have no prior relationship with the company.

    I only disagree at the end of the statement. For me the company apologized, addressed the issue head on, and now it's time to move on.

    I say, let them do the work, nothing more can be done. Yeah, its a bum but hey, going into the future we can all be wiser about our time and money.
  • edited August 2012
    I willbe wiser with time and money by not buying from telltale games again. This was a chance for the company to gain a lot of new followers, and they missed it. What annoys me the most is them nit doing as they planned and then a simple "my bad, oops" and the going back to no saying hardly anything. 1 small thing saying we are planning on mid august sometime having it finished doesn't let us know if that means finished to release or finished to submit to microsoft and sony. And mid august is vague enough it could be anywhere from the 10 to the 24 and still be considered mid august. Hurts nithing to update people, and give us more than a 4 day notice of the actual release date?
  • puzzleboxpuzzlebox Telltale Alumni
    edited August 2012
    Also tell me excalty what we say or did in episode one, that made them wait to write episode 2? They knew when episode 1 realeased what people options and choices could possiblely be in episode 2, there is nothing in any of the episodes that would cause them to delay writing the next episode beforehand.

    Just as an FYI, they actually do write the next episode before they release the first one - in fact they have the whole season's story arc planned out, if not individual lines of dialogue. Development is staggered, rather than a straight "work on ep 1, then work on ep 2" scenario. I think when they release episode 1 they already have a lot of work done for ep 2, and are usually recording dialogue for ep 3. Because episodes are being worked on simultaneously, each one has a different director/lead to manage it (you'll see this in the episode credits).
  • edited August 2012
    New user, just signed up, really enjoying the game so far.

    I don't completely agree with the OP, but I don't completely disagree with him either. The fact is we were told we would get monthly releases, and that has not come to fruition at all.

    The only thing that irks me is the fact that the only update on episode three is that it'll be finished sometime in the middle of this month. You would think this company would learn from the lack of communication the previous episode that they should be upfront and honest with the consumers who are paying for their game.

    Thats all I want, and it isn't asking for too much.
  • VainamoinenVainamoinen Moderator
    edited August 2012
    You're right, it is indeed not much.

    I posted in the release date thread today that Telltale really can't tweet "we're still on track for mid August" every day. Long term Telltale fans really don't see the need for continued progress updates - but that is because they've gained a trust in the company that new people likely can not have after what they experienced between episode 1 and 2.

    So, what the heck, I support that Telltale should raise a finger in this quiet moment and speak a few words about their progress at the present time.
  • edited August 2012
    I agree and disagree the games are great but why be freakin forced to buy an entire series instead of per episode? then turn around and say sorry theres a delay that is about unethical as hell and the way i see it it also give people the right to complain a little bit lol considering telltale already took the peoples money and isnt delivering at the time they were expected to deliver. Im not really complaining here i dont really care how long they take with the rest of the episodees ive already found other games to play and things to do its telltales fault for making me lose interest ill play them when they are ready.
  • VainamoinenVainamoinen Moderator
    edited August 2012
    When the company just started out, PC players could indeed buy individual episodes (and "Season upgrades" later on). Jake has also addressed this recently:
    Jake wrote: »
    When we opened up on day one selling seasons and individual episodes, the communication was "BUY THE SEASON. OR AN EPISODE. AND THEN UPGRADE YOUR EPISODE TO A SEASON. OR IF YOU BOUGHT TWO EPISODES HOW DO YOU UPGRADE?" and we immediately spent more time explaining how the episodic structure works than explaining what the game is!

    It's frustrating that the people who are interested in just buying one chapter get left with a dilemma, I know, but it turned into a situation where we had to make the call that we can't please everybody out of the gate.

    When Telltale gets back to hitting their release time frames like a nail on the head, maybe this whole discussion is a topic of yesterday. If the insecurity persists, however, reconsidering the "complete Season" sales might not be a bad thing.
  • edited August 2012
    then again most people will still buy the season pass because
    a) it's usually better value for money
    b) most people would like to see the game through and complete the story

    then there are the minority of idiots who want to fight the machine and 'conformaty'
  • edited August 2012
    Do you think tv shows release the first episode of the season and then make the others before the next episode? Episodic means that they will not be realing it all at once, but gradually over time. Also tell me excalty what we say or did in episode one, that made them wait to write episode 2? They knew when episode 1 realeased what people options and choices could possiblely be in episode 2, there is nothing in any of the episodes that would cause them to delay writing the next episode beforehand. In choose your own adventure books, the writers don't wait for you to make your choice and then write the next section, they write all sections covering anychoice you could make. Which is what telltale should of done ahead of releasing. And none of that covers the poor communication about why they can't deliver on thier orginal plan of episodes being monthly!!!

    You clearly are using a metaphor you don't understand. Only hour long dramas like Dexter and premium channels are written out so far in advance as a rule. When it comes to sitcoms, they are written as episodically as you claim they are not. An episode is filmed while the next is being written.

    Actors don't know where an arc is going because no one but the showrunner has any idea of what's happening. Look at South Park. That is written two days before it airs.

    Episodic gaming works EXACTLY like sitcoms. The only difference is they have more work to do.

    So either come up with metaphors that prove you right, or give them some slack.
  • edited August 2012
    You clearly are using a metaphor you don't understand. Only hour long dramas like Dexter and premium channels are written out so far in advance as a rule. When it comes to sitcoms, they are written as episodically as you claim they are not. An episode is filmed while the next is being written.

    Actors don't know where an arc is going because no one but the showrunner has any idea of what's happening. Look at South Park. That is written two days before it airs.

    Episodic gaming works EXACTLY like sitcoms. The only difference is they have more work to do.

    So either come up with metaphors that prove you right, or give them some slack.

    That makes sense for shows like SNL but you mean that all sitcoms are written one at a time.

    I dunno..doesn't the studio buy a season, or buy contracts etc etc for a certain length of time. Don't they know ahead of time what they will air. How does the studio know what it is getting. The show may not be "shot" but at least it is written. Even in books and novels they make the author give an outline for books in a trilogy even if the whole book is not out. Its the only way to know that they will get something in the future.

    I mean, if you say so it is I guess, its just I was always under the impression that the season was long completed before it was "shot"
  • edited August 2012
    That makes sense for shows like SNL but you mean that all sitcoms are written one at a time.

    I dunno..doesn't the studio buy a season, or buy contracts etc etc for a certain length of time. Don't they know ahead of time what they will air. How does the studio know what it is getting. The show may not be "shot" but at least it is written. Even in books and novels they make the author give an outline for books in a trilogy even if the whole book is not out. Its the only way to know that they will get something in the future.

    I mean, if you say so it is I guess, its just I was always under the impression that the season was long completed before it was "shot"

    Yeah, you're right to say it doesn't make any sense. They might outline the season, but I don't think many sitcoms have that many planned out in advance beyond possibly the finale. I think they even market for spec scripts from outside sources.

    I'm writing some sitcoms to get into a fellowship. This stuff fascinates me. I couldn't really tell you all of how it works, but I guess a lot of it depends on the showrunner [in charge of planning and okaying plotlines].
  • edited August 2012
    Yeah, you're right to say it doesn't make any sense. They might outline the season, but I don't think many sitcoms have that many planned out in advance beyond possibly the finale. I think they even market for spec scripts from outside sources.

    I'm writing some sitcoms to get into a fellowship. This stuff fascinates me. I couldn't really tell you all of how it works, but I guess a lot of it depends on the showrunner [in charge of planning and okaying plotlines].

    Yeah, okay I can live with that.

    At least an outline. If not a few shows written out ahead of airing the first.

    A fellowship huh? So you are a writer, it's nice to have fellow artists around. I wish you well sir.
  • edited August 2012
    So in this thread people defending telltale? Guess everyone forgot their rage at how they were treated...Thats cool, but you are SERIOUSLY saying episode 2 was satifying? The story was predictable. The decision percentage the devs were so proud of in episode 1 didn't follow in episode 2. Clearly the illusion of choice is ALREADY falling apart. And there was very little in the way of true interaction or puzzles. This game is coasting by ENTIRELY on its name because there isn't much else to it that I'm seeing.
  • edited August 2012
    So in this thread people defending telltale? Guess everyone forgot their rage at how they were treated...Thats cool, but you are SERIOUSLY saying episode 2 was satifying? The story was predictable. The decision percentage the devs were so proud of in episode 1 didn't follow in episode 2. Clearly the illusion of choice is ALREADY falling apart. And there was very little in the way of true interaction or puzzles. This game is coasting by ENTIRELY on its name because there isn't much else to it that I'm seeing.

    Blanket statements and hyperbole do nothing to serve honest debate.
  • edited August 2012
    Blanket statements and hyperbole do nothing to serve honest debate.

    Oh yeah??? Well how's this??

    **sarcasm** The game sucks man.... It was all late and stuff.. And then when it was finally released our decisions didn't even matter.. Like if I decided not to do something it happened anyway man. Every decision should lead to a completely different course of action maaaan. Telltale really needs to step up because this game not having an infinite number of different storylines just irks me so.**end sarcasm**
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