An Explanation of Discontinued Offers

Daeke · 08-25-2009, 03:02 PM

We'd like to take a moment and hopefully clear up any confusion regarding our discounted Champions Online lifetime and six-month subscription offers...

First, we do sincerely apologize for the rather abrupt end to the promotional offers. It was never our intention to spring that news on our fans or anyone else. In short, we had an allotment of special subscription packages to sell over a fixed time (ending September 1). When we began approaching the offer cap before the date cap, we had to message. Frankly, we never suspected our special offers to be so popular.

While we did mention that supplies were limited in an announcement post, we definitely should have emphasized our limits more explicitly in all our messaging. Again, we just never expected supply to be any kind of an issue. The community response to our offers has been... amazing.

It’s hard for all of us here at Cryptic to see outcry in our communities. We work day and night to create the best gaming experiences we can and any missteps – big or small – on the long, winding, and sometimes treacherous path of development are always regrettable.

We do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and we do sincerely hope you understand and come play Champions Online with us this September.

Redempshin · 08-25-2009, 03:10 PM

You guys (Cryptic/Atari Management) screwed up.
One post out of the many many about this topic doesn't count as notified.

Make it better by reinstating the offer.
People are cancelling their pre-orders, that's going to hurt your bottom line a lot more then re-opening the lifetime & 6 month subscriptions. There's a combination of people that want the perks, the money saving offer, and the STO Beta Access.

Your management needs to man up and do the right thing.

Gray · 08-25-2009, 03:10 PM

We do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and we do sincerely hope you understand and come play Champions Online with us this September.

nice business-speech. how many people you "made suffer the inconvenience" do you REALLY expect in september? more or less than the offers?

Kierstyn · 08-25-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redempshin

You guys screwed up.
Make it better by reinstating the offer.

They don't have any control over it. That decision would be made by Atari, and I wouldn't count on it happening.

Goryus · 08-25-2009, 03:16 PM

How did they screw up?

As Daeke pointed out, they announced that the offer was only good "while supplies last". They also went out of their way to point out that the offer wouldn't be around for long. Finally, when they started getting low they made an announcement urging anyone who wanted one to buy quick, as they were almost out.

The community is blowing this up into a much bigger deal than it actually was. Lots of people sell out of lots of things. Movie theaters run ads for a seat at a price and then, when you show up, have sometimes sold out. Life sucks sometimes - deal with it, move on with your life, etc.

Tellis · 08-25-2009, 03:16 PM

Nice post Daeke but as others have said, Cryptic screwed up... Big time.

I've been here since Closed Beta however due to financial restrictions I was unable to order the game until today. I ordered two copies of the game at just after midnight (as soon as my wages hit my bank) and I had also planned to order two 6 month subscriptions but as the site never said that I could order them before receiving my headstart codes I was reluctant to order them in advance in case I lost the subs.

Now that I've seen the way Atari/Cryptic have screwed this up I'm extremely disappointed and have discussed this with my girlfriend and other friends who have also pre ordered and we're all seriously considering cancelling our pre-orders.

I know many people have already said this but you have REALLY dropped the ball with this one!

Archwraith · 08-25-2009, 03:22 PM

Hilarious! Would read again!!

:

A.

Teasing_Pink · 08-25-2009, 03:22 PM

There is only one real solution: keep your word, and reinstate the offers (with bonuses) until the well publicized Sept 1st cutoff date. The excuse of "We said it's limited supply" doesn't really cut it when that is two words in a buried forum post, vs only a time limit mentioned on the front page, in the emailed newsletter, and various other forum posts made by Cryptic employees.

However, as it stands right now, I don't care about a PR/Marketing driven apology, don't understand why you can't or won't do the right thing for your player base, and won't be coming to play Champions Online with Cryptic this September.

Stillhart · 08-25-2009, 03:22 PM

Well I feel better now knowing how much you sincerely apologize. Too bad I still won't be buying your product anymore. You showed one post that mentioned it in passing and failed to mention the other posts AND email that didn't mention it at all. You ****ed up big time and you'll reap what you sowed.

Banon · 08-25-2009, 03:23 PM

A whole 8 minutes before someone is indignant, forums losing it's edge. On a serious note bear in mind people the last few weeks before an mmo launch are extremely busy for the companies involved, expect things to not go as planned and happen at the last minute, understanding and patience are still virtues you know.

08-25-2009, 03:02 PM	#1
Daeke Online Community Team Join Date: Apr 2009	An Explanation of Discontinued Offers We'd like to take a moment and hopefully clear up any confusion regarding our discounted Champions Online lifetime and six-month subscription offers... First, we do sincerely apologize for the rather abrupt end to the promotional offers. It was never our intention to spring that news on our fans or anyone else. In short, we had an allotment of special subscription packages to sell over a fixed time (ending September 1). When we began approaching the offer cap before the date cap, we had to message. Frankly, we never suspected our special offers to be so popular. While we did mention that supplies were limited in an announcement post, we definitely should have emphasized our limits more explicitly in all our messaging. Again, we just never expected supply to be any kind of an issue. The community response to our offers has been... amazing. It’s hard for all of us here at Cryptic to see outcry in our communities. We work day and night to create the best gaming experiences we can and any missteps – big or small – on the long, winding, and sometimes treacherous path of development are always regrettable. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and we do sincerely hope you understand and come play Champions Online with us this September. __________________ [COLOR="#ffcc33"]"Don't tell me what I can't do." - John Locke [URL="http://twitter.com/cryptic_daeke"]Follow me on Twitter![/URL][/COLOR]

08-25-2009, 03:10 PM	#2
Redempshin Citizen Join Date: Jan 2009	You guys (Cryptic/Atari Management) screwed up. One post out of the many many about this topic doesn't count as notified. Make it better by reinstating the offer. People are cancelling their pre-orders, that's going to hurt your bottom line a lot more then re-opening the lifetime & 6 month subscriptions. There's a combination of people that want the perks, the money saving offer, and the STO Beta Access. Your management needs to man up and do the right thing. __________________ ~~~~~~~ Tilda Man ~~~~~~~ Last edited by Redempshin : 08-25-2009 at 03:13 PM.

08-25-2009, 03:10 PM	#3
Gray Vanguard Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Down below	We do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and we do sincerely hope you understand and come play Champions Online with us this September. nice business-speech. how many people you "made suffer the inconvenience" do you REALLY expect in september? more or less than the offers? __________________ Sanity's only a limitation... Last edited by Gray : 08-25-2009 at 03:30 PM.

08-25-2009, 03:16 PM	#6
Tellis Citizen Join Date: Oct 2008	Nice post Daeke but as others have said, Cryptic screwed up... Big time. I've been here since Closed Beta however due to financial restrictions I was unable to order the game until today. I ordered two copies of the game at just after midnight (as soon as my wages hit my bank) and I had also planned to order two 6 month subscriptions but as the site never said that I could order them before receiving my headstart codes I was reluctant to order them in advance in case I lost the subs. Now that I've seen the way Atari/Cryptic have screwed this up I'm extremely disappointed and have discussed this with my girlfriend and other friends who have also pre ordered and we're all seriously considering cancelling our pre-orders. I know many people have already said this but you have REALLY dropped the ball with this one! __________________ Kevin is watching! Yes, even here.

08-25-2009, 03:22 PM	#9
Stillhart Champion Join Date: Apr 2009	Well I feel better now knowing how much you sincerely apologize. Too bad I still won't be buying your product anymore. You showed one post that mentioned it in passing and failed to mention the other posts AND email that didn't mention it at all. You ****ed up big time and you'll reap what you sowed. __________________

08-25-2009, 03:16 PM	#5
Goryus Champion Join Date: Feb 2008	How did they screw up? As Daeke pointed out, they announced that the offer was only good "while supplies last". They also went out of their way to point out that the offer wouldn't be around for long. Finally, when they started getting low they made an announcement urging anyone who wanted one to buy quick, as they were almost out. The community is blowing this up into a much bigger deal than it actually was. Lots of people sell out of lots of things. Movie theaters run ads for a seat at a price and then, when you show up, have sometimes sold out. Life sucks sometimes - deal with it, move on with your life, etc.

08-25-2009, 03:22 PM	#7
Archwraith Hero Join Date: Aug 2009	Hilarious! Would read again!! : A.

08-25-2009, 03:22 PM	#8
Teasing_Pink Citizen Join Date: Apr 2009	There is only one real solution: keep your word, and reinstate the offers (with bonuses) until the well publicized Sept 1st cutoff date. The excuse of "We said it's limited supply" doesn't really cut it when that is two words in a buried forum post, vs only a time limit mentioned on the front page, in the emailed newsletter, and various other forum posts made by Cryptic employees. However, as it stands right now, I don't care about a PR/Marketing driven apology, don't understand why you can't or won't do the right thing for your player base, and won't be coming to play Champions Online with Cryptic this September.

08-25-2009, 03:23 PM	#10
Banon Hero Join Date: Aug 2009	A whole 8 minutes before someone is indignant, forums losing it's edge. On a serious note bear in mind people the last few weeks before an mmo launch are extremely busy for the companies involved, expect things to not go as planned and happen at the last minute, understanding and patience are still virtues you know.