No Man's Sky Refunds!

[TeknoBug]

Steam reverted their refund exception this morning, no longer can get refunds on it past 2 hours. I suppose there were too many ~50-80 hour users trying to refund. Sony and Amazon are still offering refunds though.

I'm glad I didn't fall into this hype, when I saw videos and articles about it it looked a bit gimmicky from the get-go to me, and now Sean Murray has been completely quiet and a few devs has left Hello Games since then. And I'm a person that avoids pre-ordering, specifically for this particular reason.

 

[Sabrewings]

Steam reverted their refund exception this morning, no longer can get refunds on it past 2 hours

I don't think it was ever a blanket exception. However, if they are going to refuse me it will be unfortunate for them in my eye. Steam has long been my go to place for PC gaming with GOG ever gaining favor. This will be a huge blow for them in my spending habits and I would be sure to let them know that.

I still haven't received a reply to my ticket, so they have a chance to avoid going that path.

a few devs has left Hello Games since then.

Have a source? Curious to read about it.

 

[zinfamous]

and now Sean Murray has been completely quiet and a few devs has left Hello Games since then. And I'm a person that avoids pre-ordering, specifically for this particular reason.

Probably unrelated to the botched release, though, as dev teams always get trimmed significantly after a game's release. But this is a pretty small crew afaik, so either they planned to keep it small and close after release to work on patches and extra content, or "a few devs" leaving an already small team is the same as "dozens of devs" typically leaving after a major AAA +++budget release.

 

[clamum]

I totally agree with what the former Sony director (who happens to be a developer, too) was saying about it on Twitter: http://www.techspot.com/news/66124-no-man-sky-refunds-steam-no-special-exemptions.html. Especially:

We’re not talking about a consumer product in the factory sense. We’re talking about a work of art. You can’t just treat it like a widget.

Unless it's totally broken and crashes when you try and run the frickin thing, get over your whiny-ass self. I'd never be able to interact with consumers if I was a game dev... wouldn't be able to hold my tongue.

 

[Sabrewings]

Unless it's totally broken and crashes when you try and run the frickin thing, get over your whiny-ass self.

So it shouldn't matter that features we were sold on weren't in the game?

 

[DigDog]

no guys, the hype did not being with Hello Games, or Sony - it began on youtube, on reddit .. and here.

 

[Sabrewings]

no guys, the hype did not being with Hello Games, or Sony - it began on youtube, on reddit .. and here.

Hype isn't the problem. I'll break it down for you. Sean said things. They were not true. They put things in videos that are on the Steam store page RIGHT NOW that are not in the game.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I imagine this the way I would think of a vehicle. If the sticker stated it had x, y, z features, and if the manufacturer had stated in interviews, press releases, whatever, that it had x, y, z features, and I purchased the vehicle based on those features, only to find out the damn thing was MISSING those features, I'd probably ask for a refund. Time driven in it may exceed 2 hours (might need longer than that to realize the 'fuel saver' feature at under 1/4 gas tank doesn't exist). MFG might put out a press release about their car being a 'work of art', which would still be nonsense. People would be upset with me, stating I should have waited for a review.. which would imply we cannot trust the MFG at all, and must wait for an independent, 3rd party verification of all stated claims prior to actually purchasing the product. Yet those same people would say I shouldn't get my money back because I shouldn't have trusted the untrustworthy MFG that I'm giving money to? What?

Nah, a lemon is a lemon in any realm. If the other MFGs see this one lose every dime they gained from sales due to false advertising, and delivering a product which doesn't meet what was claimed by then, maybe they'll make sure their crap is in order before release (not likely).

 

[zinfamous]

I imagine this the way I would think of a vehicle. If the sticker stated it had x, y, z features, and if the manufacturer had stated in interviews, press releases, whatever, that it had x, y, z features, and I purchased the vehicle based on those features, only to find out the damn thing was MISSING those features, I'd probably ask for a refund. Time driven in it may exceed 2 hours (might need longer than that to realize the 'fuel saver' feature at under 1/4 gas tank doesn't exist). MFG might put out a press release about their car being a 'work of art', which would still be nonsense. People would be upset with me, stating I should have waited for a review.. which would imply we cannot trust the MFG at all, and must wait for an independent, 3rd party verification of all stated claims prior to actually purchasing the product. Yet those same people would say I shouldn't get my money back because I shouldn't have trusted the untrustworthy MFG that I'm giving money to? What?

Nah, a lemon is a lemon in any realm. If the other MFGs see this one lose every dime they gained from sales due to false advertising, and delivering a product which doesn't meet what was claimed by then, maybe they'll make sure their crap is in order before release (not likely).

exactly. I'm normally one to lack any sort of sympathy for consumers pre-purchasing something that turns out not to be what they hoped it would be, but it is hard to ignore the fact that this Murray dude was really selling a game that absolutely did not exist.

Plenty of media and fans hyped this game, but they hyped it on what this squirrely little weasel confirmed was in the game. This is very different from typical prepurchasing and being disappointed with a game that doesn't work that well in the first week, or just isn't "ss fun" as you wanted it to be, or some interesting new mechanic or feature turns out to be not that interesting or just really repetitive (important distinction: the feature is still in the game).

If anything, I hope this serves as the more extreme case and warning for consumers about pre-purchasing these games: There is already enough precedent with early release, broken AAA crappy assembly line games on release (Everything from Ubisoft, apparently) that should have long informed consumers that pre-purchasing games is a terrible idea. Now we have this case of devs outright creating and perpetuating lies and feeding the hype train about this mythical game that simply never existed. Maybe it's a wake-up--I dunno but I kinda doubt it. Still, it's promising that enough people seem to be asking for and receiving refunds. Bitch about whiny fans all you want, but I'm not familiar with a more impressive case of consumers directly taking a developer to task and making them pay for a terrible product and release. However this hurts Sony and Hello Games, it is definitely a piece of data, and probably history in the industry, that is going to inform further consumers and devs how not to market games and treat their fans.

 

[Sabrewings]

Steam has denied my refund request for a second time. I informed them that the product on their store front and the one delivered do not match and that this constitutes fraud. I will be reporting it to the appropriate authorities and agencies and performing a charge back through my credit card company's fraud department, whom I will give all the evidence and Steam's support transcript.

This isn't about $60 anymore, it's about Steam's business practices in aiding this train wreck. Their competitors have understood that this deserves to be excepted to the policy, and I will make every effort to do business with them instead in the future.

 

[DigDog]

Sean said things. They were not true.

yeah, so he lied. he said many things that were true, and a few that were not. i don't think the issue here is whether or not people can see each other, but rather the bugs, crashes, horrible framerate, crappy UI, repetitive gameplay, tiny inventory, and ridiculous ending, all things which were delivered as described. no? in a space battle, you can still take sides .. except either side doesn't care whether you do or not. might be bad advertisement, but you wouldn't win a day in court with it.

Look Sabre .. the same people who now are saying "refund me", are the ones who were saying "no mans sky is going to be the bestest game ever!".

 

[Sabrewings]

Either side caring is something that was explicitly said was there. Also rotating planets, planets that have orbits, ships having any difference between them at all besides inventory slots, planets closer to stars having different resources than further out, landing on asteroids, fighting space stations, in-atmosphere battles, etc

It's a long list, and if I'm barking up the wrong tree then it's my tree to bark at I guess. I don't think Amazon, GOG, and Sony would make exceptions to policy if it wasn't founded in reason.

 

[Aikouka]

I will be reporting it to the appropriate authorities and agencies and performing a charge back through my credit card company's fraud department, whom I will give all the evidence and Steam's support transcript. ...

This isn't about $60 anymore...

Do you really want your Steam account terminated/suspended that badly?

 

[Sabrewings]

I've played most of what I have on there. Can always use the wife's if need be.

Honestly, I want to know if this really who I'm dealing with and never give them another cent if so.

 

[Linux23]

Steam has denied my refund request for a second time. I informed them that the product on their store front and the one delivered do not match and that this constitutes fraud. I will be reporting it to the appropriate authorities and agencies and performing a charge back through my credit card company's fraud department, whom I will give all the evidence and Steam's support transcript.

This isn't about $60 anymore, it's about Steam's business practices in aiding this train wreck. Their competitors have understood that this deserves to be excepted to the policy, and I will make every effort to do business with them instead in the future.

they denied me a third time. it's that auto deny bullshit. is there a way to get an actual human being to review a refund request? this is ridiculous. i just want the $60 refunded to Steam wallet and i'd happily purchase a few games with that credit.

 

[Sabrewings]

they denied me a third time. it's that auto deny bullshit. is there a way to get an actual human being to review a refund request? this is ridiculous. i just want the $60 refunded to Steam wallet and i'd happily purchase a few games with that credit.

Open a ticket here.

https://support.steampowered.com/

Good luck. I've received a strong "no" thus far and been referred to their policy.

 

[TeknoBug]

That Shahid Ahmad is a bit of a knucklehead, I've been a gamer for a long time and I've only refunded Driveclub due to network issues but otherwise normally I don't ask for a refund on games I buy but if I had bought NMS, I would've demanded one because being sold a product of which isn't what it was said to be.

no guys, the hype did not being with Hello Games, or Sony - it began on youtube, on reddit .. and here.

You mean Youtube, Reddit and here showing VIDEOS of Sean Murray talking about features that the release lacks? The multiplayer feature was probably the biggest blow to most people that bought the game, of which Murray said is in the game. Honestly if the game was priced $30 a lot of people probably wouldn't be fussing about it as much, but a game that barely qualifies as a beta selling at a AAA price?

 

[Linux23]

Open a ticket here.

https://support.steampowered.com/

Good luck. I've received a strong "no" thus far and been referred to their policy.

i tried through the main steam page but it keeps directing through the auto refund rejection system.

I did find something about billing issues and submitted my refund request through there in hopes that a real live person reviews it.

i'd give it a try if i were you.

 

[Sabrewings]

The page I linked you to is separate from the main Steam website. You have to create a totally different account to even use it. You will get a person through that method.

 

[Linux23]

The page I linked you to is separate from the main Steam website. You have to create a totally different account to even use it. You will get a person through that method.

Is that the method you took and got a no?

I was also reading if you write a bad review on steam your refund may actually process without getting denied. Some guy tried 4 times wrote a negative review and the fifth time got a refund.

I don't even want a refund to PayPal just store credit.

 

[Newbian]

I've played most of what I have on there. Can always use the wife's if need be.

Honestly, I want to know if this really who I'm dealing with and never give them another cent if so.

I hope you did not link your phone numbers with hers or used the same credit card as this could also cause her account to get locked if you did either.

 

[Sabrewings]

Is that the method you took and got a no?

I was also reading if you write a bad review on steam your refund may actually process without getting denied. Some guy tried 4 times wrote a negative review and the fifth time got a refund.

I don't even want a refund to PayPal just store credit.

I've tried both. I haven't written a review yet, so I may add that to the mix.

 

[Sabrewings]

I hope you did not link your phone numbers with hers or used the same credit card as this could also cause her account to get locked if you did either.

Nope. As far as they know we're not in any way affiliated. Still uses her maiden name even.

 

[Stg-Flame]

It's called waiting for reviews before you buy. It's like watching a crappy movie and not waiting for reviews and wanting your money back.

Eh, everyone has different tastes. I heard Suicide Squad was absolutely amazing and the best superhero movie ever made by my co-workers. I took my girlfriend to go see it (both of us are huge Marvel/DC fans) and we left the theater feeling like we should have used that $18 on Taco Bell. Reviews are always a mixed bag and you never know if the review you're reading is substantiated with actual experience or if the reviewer experienced a CTD then went on a rant. The best thing is to watch gameplay videos and decide for yourself.

 

[DigDog]

You mean Youtube, Reddit and here showing VIDEOS of Sean Murray talking about features that the release lacks?

i should specify that i do not trust ANY media that does not answer to a government authority; this might shock some freedom americans, but i don't trust any youtube review, the huffington post, kotaku, The Edge, and so on. I only trust the old media where, if you print something which is bullshit, you go to jail.
European laws, your mileage may vary.

So, out is totalbiscuit, jim sterling, and all the self-styled youtube "journalists" and "video game reporters" because they don't actually belong to a licensed outfit. In my point of view, Sean Whatshisname can lie to these people all day long, if they buy into it and decide to hype .. to praise the game, just out of seeing some footage and following some interviews, then the people who buy the game based on those recommendations are dumb.

Now, if you print a box description, and the features printed on the box are false, that's false advertising; if the steam page advertises features that aren't there, that's false advertising and people do deserve to get a refund.

Remember that the guy is not selling you the material in the promotional videos, he's selling you what's in the box. The promo should be expected to embellish the material, always.
And if he cheats you .. you got cheated. Caveat Emptor.

Once upon a common sense time, companies didn't mess around like this because good business was made through reputation and word of mouth; and sadly, people who pre-order and rush to buy on day one, KNOWING that games often fail on day1 and are often misrepresented, are what's ruining what was once a good system of business.
Those who forget history ...