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[Hydranockz]

If it's temporary, then fine whatever. If not, we have major problems.

Somehow I doubt they'll be able to track who paid for it and who didn't.

Not to mention they lied and just made up this bullshit PR statement to save face.

Exactly. Why couldn't they hold their hands up and say;

"Hey all. Unfortunately, due to a validation error on the part of the Xbox Live Services in relation to the Halo 4 Specilisations Code, there was a portion of the playerbase who wrongly were deemed eligible to obtain the Crimson DLC for free. While we appreciate the eagerness of those fans we ultimately want to honour the legitimate purchases from the remaining fans. Those who have been able to get the maps for free will have a week to try and play the mps along with the rest of the community. From the 19th onwards, however, we'll be restricting access to that content until either the 2000MSP Halo 4 Season Pass or the 800MSP Crimson DLC are purchased."

I've always been a dreamer.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Are they really expecting people to drop $10 after playing the maps for a week? Shouldn't they remove KOTH on Wreckage from the playlist first?

I'd call it "cinematic framerate" but at least I'll see the Hobbit at 48fps on Saturday.

High five!

 

[Korosenai]

wait I missed this, MS is really saying they did this on purpose?

Yup, not buying another Halo limited edition as long as 343 is running it.

 

[Vire]

So not only did the Season Pass owners have to wait an additional 9 hours to play the maps, they also get cheated by Microsoft after the whole free maps fiasco.

Brilliant.

Now that's what I call good customer support!

 

[Tawpgun]

So we might as well get pissed off at anyone who wins the game in a contest or something, right? I mean, they got something for free that (gasp!) I PAID FOR!

Guess what? I still got what I paid for. I'm still HAPPY with what I paid for. I couldn't give a flying shit about someone else getting it for cheaper or for free, because it actually doesn't really affect me. If you never knew that others got the map pack for free, would it bother you? No? Then it really didn't affect you. (Yes, I'm sure all the argumentalists in the room will figure out scenarios where that argument breaks down eventually; it works for this)

The key is what is your priority? This is gonna sound super-soapboxy, but the issue really just stems from everyone focusing on themselves; what they can get; making sure no one else can possibly get something better. I think that's where my problem lies. It in a community that rather than say, wow, that's cool, more people will get these maps and more people might be playing them, they say "OH NO! BULLSHIT! They get it for less than me!"

I paid for the map pass too. And guess what, it's still cheaper than buying all three packs. That's the point. Let's make sure there are just no sales on anything ever again. That way, everyone will be the same, pay the same, get the same. That must be utopia right?

I paid for something. I got my value out of it. I love the community. I'm happy that some people get a good deal too by getting one of these packs for free.

It's not brown-nosing. It's not kiss-ass. It's also not being a self-centered me-me-me whiny jerk.

Actually everyone who bought the map pass is losing $5. Assuming we don't get reimbursed by another map pack or something else.

 

[NullPointer]

I know its pretty damn unlikely, but if, just if, they really did intend the maps to be free for a period of time, and this is how their messaging to the community works, then damn, that's far worse then the idea of lying to cover up a mistake.

 

[MIMIC]

I was kicked out of a match the moment my XBL Gold expired (was using a trial). What in the actual fuck? They won't even let you finish the match??

Is it like that with all games?

 

[Computron]

I know its pretty damn unlikely, but if, just if, they really did intend the maps to be free for a period of time, and this is how their messaging to the community works, then damn, that's far worse then the idea of lying to cover up a mistake.

So either way this is a bad situation.

Halo 4.

 

[Fracas]

If there's a way for Microsoft to remove maps from people that got it for free, then there's a way to give me 800 MS points back.

 

[Ken]

I know its pretty damn unlikely, but if, just if, they really did intend the maps to be free for a period of time, and this is how their messaging to the community works, then damn, that's far worse then the idea of lying to cover up a mistake.

At least we don't have to uncover secret terminals to get the entirety of the message.

 

[GrimBrother One]

Actually everyone who bought the map pass is losing $5. Assuming we don't get reimbursed by another map pack or something else.

But that's NO DIFFERENT from missing out on some sort of sale (even an "unannounced" one). Item is $10. I get it on sale for $8. I save $2. Item goes on sale the next day for $5. I STILL SAVED $2.

 

[HigherLevel]

Yep, that's exactly what is going to happen.



Because it's not?

I know, that was rhetorical haha.

 

[NullPointer]

But that's NO DIFFERENT from missing out on some sort of sale (even an "unannounced" one). Item is $10. I get it on sale for $8. I save $2. Item goes on sale the next day for $5. I STILL SAVED $2.

Thats not a bad point. And another argument against these passes.

At least we don't have to uncover secret terminals to get the entirety of the message.

Whats the source on this again? Seems like its about as coherent as the Halo 4 plot sans terminals.

 

[senador]

But that's NO DIFFERENT from missing out on some sort of sale (even an "unannounced" one). Item is $10. I get it on sale for $8. I save $2. Item goes on sale the next day for $5. I STILL SAVED $2.

What? This is very very different from that.

 

[Hydranockz]

But that's NO DIFFERENT from missing out on some sort of sale (even an "unannounced" one). Item is $10. I get it on sale for $8. I save $2. Item goes on sale the next day for $5. I STILL SAVED $2.

No. A more accurate analogy would be purchasing something in-store. You hand them the item and they scan it in. You get charged and pay. The next person walks up to that same clerk and says a special phrase. The clerk hands them the item with no charge. Both of you obtained the same item from the same supplier via the same method except the person behind you was sent an email with the phrase.

 

[GrimBrother One]

Thats not a bad point. And another argument against these passes.

Oh I won't disagree that the season pass model has TONS of issues, lol. That's another ball of wax.

 

[Omni]

So we might as well get pissed off at anyone who wins the game in a contest or something, right? I mean, they got something for free that (gasp!) I PAID FOR!

Not at all. Imagine you bought a new car and then the seller decided afterwards that he was just going to give them away for free. Would you be so content then? An extreme example, but the point it there.

Guess what? I still got what I paid for. I'm still HAPPY with what I paid for. I couldn't give a flying shit about someone else getting it for cheaper or for free, because it actually doesn't really affect me. If you never knew that others got the map pack for free, would it bother you? No? Then it really didn't affect you. (Yes, I'm sure all the argumentalists in the room will figure out scenarios where that argument breaks down eventually; it works for this)

I'm not even going to bother with this. Might as well be asking if a falling tree makes a noise in the forest when no one is around.

The key is what is your priority? This is gonna sound super-soapboxy, but the issue really just stems from everyone focusing on themselves; what they can get; making sure no one else can possibly get something better. I think that's where my problem lies. It in a community that rather than say, wow, that's cool, more people will get these maps and more people might be playing them, they say "OH NO! BULLSHIT! They get it for less than me!"

No. This is us saying that we're pissed off because we paid for content that is being given away to any and everyone! If they were free from the get go, literally no one would be saying a word against it.

I paid for the map pass too. And guess what, it's still cheaper than buying all three packs. That's the point. Let's make sure there are just no sales on anything ever again. That way, everyone will be the same, pay the same, get the same. That must be utopia right?

But people are getting the map pack for free?

Map pass = 2000MS points.
Two map packs = 1600MS points.

You were saying? Of course this point will be negated if people who got it free only have limited access to it, but I honestly don't see how MS would implement that without causing more mess.

 

[Vire]

No. A more accurate analogy would be purchasing something in-store. You hand them the item and they scan it in. You get charged and pay. The next person walks up to that same clerk and says a special phrase. The clerk hands them the item with no charge. Both of you obtained the same item from the same supplier via the same method except the person behind you was sent an email with the phrase.

Ding ding ding.

Someone needs to make a gif of season pass owners getting bent over by MS.

 

[heckfu]

If it's true that the freeloaders get the pack revoked then why are people still bitching?

 

[Fracas]

If it's true that the freeloaders get the pack revoked then why are people still bitching?

No one has any idea if that's true or not. Personally, I don't see how the map pack could be revoked. Hell, if you really wanted the maps, just take your Xbox offline and there you go.

Maybe tomorrow's bulletin will explain this.

 

[Franklinator]

If it's true that the freeloaders get the pack revoked then why are people still bitching?

If the people who got it for free do get it revoked, then yeah, this isn't a big deal to me. Although I'll still be a bit frustrated about how poorly 343/Microsoft communicate with their audience.

Maybe tomorrow's bulletin will explain this.

lol

 

[Hydranockz]

If it's true that the freeloaders get the pack revoked then why are people still bitching?

Because no one likes being lied to about already needlessly complicated things.

 

[senador]

No. A more accurate analogy would be purchasing something in-store. You hand them the item and they scan it in. You get charged and pay. The next person walks up to that same clerk and says a special phrase. The clerk hands them the item with no charge. Both of you obtained the same item from the same supplier via the same method except the person behind you was sent an email with the phrase.

Or even better, you paid months in advance because you are a loyal customer. You go to pick yours up and what you described happens. They tell you it just a glitch and they'll fix it. You go back later and they tell you it was actually part of a program to reward customers. It sure feels great to be loyal. But hey, I shouldn't be mad since I got what I paid for.

If it's true that the freeloaders get the pack revoked then why are people still bitching?

The lack of communication, miscommunication, then lying.

 

[Blinding]

If it's true that the freeloaders get the pack revoked then why are people still bitching?

Because it's likely not true.

 

[Kibbles]

[edit] bleh, thread went to the last unread post which was a lot earlier and we've moved on (not really)

 

[GrimBrother One]

No. A more accurate analogy would be purchasing something in-store. You hand them the item and they scan it in. You get charged and pay. The next person walks up to that same clerk and says a special phrase. The clerk hands them the item with no charge. Both of you obtained the same item from the same supplier via the same method except the person behind you was sent an email with the phrase.

Um, that happens ALL THE TIME, lol. Reward cards, coupons, special offers... that doesn't change the fact that the first person in line still got what they paid for. Someone else getting it for cheaper is irrelevant to that fact.

That was my point. It's only an issue because people can't handle the sheer notion that someone else might get something better or for less. It's an attitude problem at it's core, not an economic one.

Map pass owner.wasted 800 points. had to wait 9 hours to download maps only to find out a little later that they are free. 343i is rock solid

If you are a map pass owner, aren't you (theoretically) only "out" 400smp?

 

[heckfu]

If the people who got it for free do get it revoked, then yeah, this isn't a big deal to me. Although I'll still be a bit frustrated about how poorly 343/Microsoft communicate with their audience.

No one has any idea if that's true or not. Personally, I don't see how the map pack could be revoked. Hell, if you really wanted the maps, just take your Xbox offline and there you go.

Maybe tomorrow's bulletin will explain this.

Whoa, brother attack. Hopefully you guys hear something that'll make you feel better...until then I'm riding the free-map train.

 

[Vire]

If it's true that the freeloaders get the pack revoked then why are people still bitching?

I'll be personally waiting for the secret service MS guys to blow up my brother's hard drive.

 

[Fracas]

Whoa, brother attack. Hopefully you guys hear something that'll make you feel better...until then I'm riding the free-map train.

Lol it's all good. I'm upset with all this, but yeah, at least fellow gaffers got a free map pack.

 

[senador]

Um, that happens ALL THE TIME, lol. Reward cards, coupons, special offers... that doesn't change the fact that the first person in line still got what they paid for. Someone else getting it for cheaper is irrelevant to that fact.

That was my point. It's only an issue because people can't handle the sheer notion that someone else might get something better or for less. It's an attitude problem at it's core, not an economic one.



If you are a map pass owner, aren't you (theoretically) only "out" 400smp?

Dude what? This was a fuck up. There's no justifying it. Period.

 

[NullPointer]

Whoa, brother attack. Hopefully you guys hear something that'll make you feel better...until then I'm riding the free-map train.

My dream scenario here is that this was a fuckup, MS humbly admits it and gets their house in order, the pack stays free, buyers get reimbursed, and nobody ever buys another season pass or map pack pass again.

*crosses fingers*

 

[Karl2177]

Dude what? This was a fuck up. There's no justifying it. Period.

He's a Waypoint mod. He's probably getting minimum wage.

 

[TCKaos]

If it's true that the freeloaders get the pack revoked then why are people still bitching?

We don't know if the free download will stop on the 18th or if the map pack itself will stop working for those who downloaded it for free. We don't know anything at all about any of this at all forever because of how amazing the whole PR experience as been.

Quoting from Gaming side:

This would all be hysterical if it wasn't so bad.

Is this temporary? Was it a bug? Was it reimbursement for specialization code delay? Were we ever intended to get specializations? Why was it possible for people with the specialization code to buy to map pack? Will people who bought the pack/season pass/LE and played within the first 14 days be reimbursed? Why didn't anyone announce this? Where the fuck is the press release? What the fuck is even happening?

Jesus Christ, I mean, it's one thing to make a small mistake. It's another thing to make several small mistakes, and it's another thing completely for the entire marketing campaign of your flagship franchise be a abominable parade of terrible mistakes.

Where the fuck was this announced? Why isn't there an official announcement? Why the fuck hasn't anyone shouted "HAHA, SURPRISE!" ?

WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS MY LIFE?

 

[Ken]

We don't know anything

Given how even different 343i people gave out different messages regarding the whole LE map pass helmets no helmets thing that's not surprising.

 

[IHaveIce]

I'm calling it right now, people with the LE will also lose their maps and Microsoft has no clue how that happened and it has to be fixed.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

People need to relax before they have a heart attack. I'd guess MS will say something soon, as the press will have wind of it tomorrow. I'd bet the Kotaku quote was one person, and that will be altered soon. Someone get me a paper bag.

 

[Fracas]

If everyone who got it for free wakes up on the 18th and sees their map pack is removed, that's just going to be another shitstorm.

I'm calling it right now, people with the LE will also lose their maps and Microsoft has no clue how that happened and it has to be fixed.

Haha, I said the same thing to my brother just now.

 

[ncsuDuncan]

Let's take a look at the sequence of events from the perspective of my non-LE friend:

- Buy standard edition Halo 4 and play it before Nov. 20th.
- Put up with awkward specialization code distribution, but eventually get the email. No mention of free maps or trials.
- Redeem code, unlock specializations. Still no mention of map bonuses.
- Get up on Dec. 10th and drop $10 on map packs.
- Microsoft: "Oh, we probably should have mentioned it earlier, but that code also gave you free* maps. You didn't buy it already, did you?"

*Are they free? Is it a trial? Who knows!

It's either:
A) Terrible communication after the specialization bug.
or
B) Outright lying/backpedaling after the map pack bug. With some terrible communication on the side.

 

[TCKaos]

Haha, I said the same thing to my brother just now.

I mean, that was supposed to be the fix, right? The people with the LE/Season pass couldn't download the maps, and as far as I've heard that was never fixed. The pack just became free. These people still haven't downloaded the actual physical file they were intended to download...

 

[Hydranockz]

Um, that happens ALL THE TIME, lol. Reward cards, coupons, special offers... that doesn't change the fact that the first person in line still got what they paid for. Someone else getting it for cheaper is irrelevant to that fact.

That was my point. It's only an issue because people can't handle the sheer notion that someone else might get something better or for less. It's an attitude problem at it's core, not an economic one.

If you are a map pass owner, aren't you (theoretically) only "out" 400smp?

No. A coupon is a third party thing. You see them in newspapers, magazines, in the mail, online or even in-store. Let's assume that this Spec code is the same as a coupon to get the map pack for free. If you were in the store and that was the only place they had distributed the coupons and you walked up and bought the Crimson DLC, only to find that the person afterwards discovered a pile of coupons and bought the pack using that, wouldn't you be the slightest bit annoyed that the store just took your money anyway? A good retailer would stop you at the till and say "Hey, buddy. There's a coupon right there to get this for free. I'll wait here while you go fetch it".

This wasn't a coupon. It was an exploit. This was people using loopholes to nab a free DLC where there was absolutely zero intention to be free.

Call me self centered. Call me what you want. People who used the Specilisation Code exploit knew they were getting a steal compared to every other consumer. Exploiting a glitch is something that shouldn't be sugarcoated by the retailer.

 

[Fracas]

I mean, that was supposed to be the fix, right? The people with the LE/Season pass couldn't download the maps, and as far as I've heard that was never fixed. The pack just became free. These people still haven't downloaded the actual physical file they were intended to download...

Tweets from several MS and 343 folks said that LE/map pass owners were gradually getting access on Monday afternoon. But then again, who even knows at this point.

As the downloading the wrong file, as far as I know, whatever people downloaded was the real thing. I still don't see how they can revoke it.

 

[Omni]

I mean, that was supposed to be the fix, right? The people with the LE/Season pass couldn't download the maps, and as far as I've heard that was never fixed. The pack just became free. These people still haven't downloaded the actual physical file they were intended to download...

Egh. This whole thing is such a cock-up. How does this even happen at all? Honestly.

 

[JackHerer]

Harvest might be an ok map if it didn't have horrendous frame rate issues.

 

[IHaveIce]

I mean, that was supposed to be the fix, right? The people with the LE/Season pass couldn't download the maps, and as far as I've heard that was never fixed. The pack just became free. These people still haven't downloaded the actual physical file they were intended to download...

Yep exactly this lead me to this assumption, also there were people who had no idea what the spec code was and downloaded it even though they have the LE and the map pass, if the spec code really was a reason why the game gave it to people free how does the system recognize which files are important, is the person allowed to have it anylonger or not.

I don't know, I get a bad feeling and just hope the next DLC is handled better

 

[Jack Scofield]

Let's take a look at the sequence of events from the perspective of my non-LE friend:

- Buy standard edition Halo 4 and play it before Nov. 20th.
- Put up with awkward specialization code distribution, but eventually get the email. No mention of free maps or trials.
- Redeem code, unlock specializations. Still no mention of map bonuses.
- Get up on Dec. 10th and drop $10 on map packs.
- Microsoft: "Oh, we probably should have mentioned it earlier, but that code also gave you free* maps. You didn't buy it already, did you?"

*Are they free? Is it a trial? Who knows!

It's either:
A) Terrible communication after the specialization bug.
or
B) Outright lying/backpedaling after the map pack bug. With some terrible communication on the side.

Is there really any doubt that it's B? It's obvious that everything that happened since yesterday has been a maor mistake that Microsoft is now trying to backpedal on. It's damage control, pure and simple.

 

[Hydranockz]

If a truck overturned with crates of Vitas, would you honestly expect Sony PR to say;

"Hey fans! Hope you're enjoying our new distribution methods! To those of you who picked up a Vita from the charred wreckage over the weekend, be sure to enjoy the next week's trial period while authorities locate you."

 

[enzo_gt]

People need to relax before they have a heart attack. I'd guess MS will say something soon, as the press will have wind of it tomorrow. I'd bet the Kotaku quote was one person, and that will be altered soon. Someone get me a paper bag.

How are people supposed to relax when 343 murdered all of their families a month ago?

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

Speaking of murdering. Who needs a DMR when you have an SMR?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNgAUgmj6lc


Also, keep fighting the good fight! MS/343 need to hear us!

 

[senador]

If a truck overturned with crates of Vitas, would you honestly expect Sony PR to say;

"Hey fans! Hope you're enjoying our new distribution methods! To those of you who picked up a Vita from the charred wreckage over the weekend, be sure to enjoy the next week's trial period while authorities locate you."

It's funny but its almost the same thing: having an obvious accident then turning around and saying it wasn't but it was actually a reward or trial of sorts, enjoy!

It's the lying and communication that gets me, but the defending of it is starting to get to me worse. Makes no sense to defend it.

If they aren't lying, then the communication is a huge issue which may as well be lying.

 

[TCKaos]

Is there really any doubt that it's B? It's obvious that everything that happened since yesterday has been a maor mistake that Microsoft is now trying to backpedal on. It's damage control, pure and simple.

Not in my mind. It's like someone at the office figured that they could kill two birds with one stone: say the glitch wasn't some terrible incompetence and redeem themselves from how horribly they handled specializations. Instead they screwed LE/Season pass owners out of $5 and some people out of $10 for the actual pack.