MourningCoffee
CAG Veteran
Like many of you, I recently picked up "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Game of the Year Edition" for Xbox 360. Before I purchased it, I researched the game and thought it was a good deal considering the fact that it included the original game plus the "Variety Map Pack." However, when I got the game home, I found that the keycode to download the map pack was missing.
I contacted Activision customer support via their website to obtain the map pack and their response to me was:
I did not recall any announcements or advertisements stating that the map pack would only be included for a limited time, so I researched various Activision press releases and articles on gaming websites but could find no evidence of this claim. Here are a few examples of articles I found:
http://www.gamershell.com/companies/activision/406831.html
http://www.gamershell.com/companies/activision/412572.html
http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/142/14242235.html
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3166984
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/call-of-duty-4-gets-game-of-the-year-edition-next-month/
http://kotaku.com/369931/modern-warfare-variety-map-pack-details
Given that there was no disclosure from Activision to the public regarding the fact that the map pack had been removed, and the fact that all reports from the games press continue to state that the "Variety Map Pack" should be included in the "Game of the Year Edition," I do not see how Activision could possibly expect consumers to know they should be looking for a "green patch" on the box to make sure they obtain the map pack.
Furthermore, the only differentiating features between the original release of "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" and the "Game of the Year Edition" were the box art and the inclusion of the "Variety Map Pack." If Activision did not want to include the map pack, it would have been very simple, and much clearer to consumers, to stop production of the "Game of the Year" box art and simply return to manufacturing the original version of the game.
My question to all of you is this: Does this seem like false advertising to you?
Some of you might think, "It's only $10, get over it." But if Activision can mislead 100,000 people to buy the game, they potentially made themselves a million bucks.
I look forward to your comments on this issue.
I contacted Activision customer support via their website to obtain the map pack and their response to me was:
My copy of the game did not include this "green patch" so Activision told me I was out of luck. Given the fact that I had already opened the game to look for the keycode, Best Buy would not allow me to return it for my money back.The only Call of Duty 4: Game of the Year versions that include the token for the Variety Map Pack have the green patch, stating "FREE 4 New Multiplayer Maps."
This was a temporary promotion/limited time during March 2008 and mid-summer 2008 and only through several retailers, like Gamespot, EBgames, Target, Walmart and Best Buy.
If your game case has the green patch, but does not have the map pack token, the retailer must honor this and provide you with the map pack.
I did not recall any announcements or advertisements stating that the map pack would only be included for a limited time, so I researched various Activision press releases and articles on gaming websites but could find no evidence of this claim. Here are a few examples of articles I found:
http://www.gamershell.com/companies/activision/406831.html
http://www.gamershell.com/companies/activision/412572.html
http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/142/14242235.html
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3166984
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/call-of-duty-4-gets-game-of-the-year-edition-next-month/
http://kotaku.com/369931/modern-warfare-variety-map-pack-details
Given that there was no disclosure from Activision to the public regarding the fact that the map pack had been removed, and the fact that all reports from the games press continue to state that the "Variety Map Pack" should be included in the "Game of the Year Edition," I do not see how Activision could possibly expect consumers to know they should be looking for a "green patch" on the box to make sure they obtain the map pack.
Furthermore, the only differentiating features between the original release of "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" and the "Game of the Year Edition" were the box art and the inclusion of the "Variety Map Pack." If Activision did not want to include the map pack, it would have been very simple, and much clearer to consumers, to stop production of the "Game of the Year" box art and simply return to manufacturing the original version of the game.
My question to all of you is this: Does this seem like false advertising to you?
Some of you might think, "It's only $10, get over it." But if Activision can mislead 100,000 people to buy the game, they potentially made themselves a million bucks.
I look forward to your comments on this issue.
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