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Can I have my money back please?
By Steve MacGregorWhat to do?
So what can we do about it? Well the first thing we should all do is to get rid of the mind-set that says we should be grateful for games that are incomplete and don’t have too many bugs. We don’t have to be grateful for this. This is no longer a cottage industry relying on the enthusiasm of a handful of talented amateurs to keep us provided with games. This is big business, and as paying customers, we have the right to demand a reasonable level of quality in our games.
We should expect the same level of service from games developers and publishers as we do from any other manufacturer or supplier. We wouldn’t accept shoddy, half-finished goods in any other area, so why should we accept it in games? The second thing we can do is let the developers and publishers know when we are unhappy. Don’t just stick the game on the shelf and move on---complain! If the game won’t run on your system, or won’t run properly, or has bugs, or isn’t complete, tell the developer and/or the publisher and/or distributor.
Demand your money back. E-mail, write, telephone. Let people know that you aren’t happy. Use customer protection bodies and trade associations to make your case. Don’t shout at each other on the forums, shout at the people responsible. Ultimately, if you don’t get any satisfaction, don’t buy that developer’s products again, and let as many people as possible know that you are doing this and why. The final power we have as consumers is not to give our money to those who don’t give us value for money. Ultimately, we get the games we deserve.
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