So I wrote this post on the xbox forums, thought I'd post it here because I'm getting really frustrated lately with an originally great service, getting worse. You can read the original thread
here.
I know everyone is still upset by the recent downtime and I don't mean to complain again but this is the second time this has happened and I'm really frustrating with wasting money on Arcade games with incorrect descriptions!
It happened with Sonic The Hedgehog 2 where the xbox website originally claimed to have online co-op. Everyone I knew was really excited about this being a co-op title and as I had played it alone as a child I was looking forward to playing it with my friends now.
I wasted 800 ms points, that's nearly £10 on an old game I can download on my PC for free and play multiplayer for free. I don't want to play ranked mini stages with people I wanted to play the main game, Sonic and Tails together!
Of course there were a few complains however no one really got compensated, I wanted a refund because I wasn't really going to play it single player. I'd played the game alone to death, I just wanted to fun co-op time.
Well I forgot (not forgave) and carried on with my xbox experience. Metal Slug 3 just got released and I had never played the original MS3, so I was excited for some 2-6 player co-op as the DESCRIPTION once again boasted. I now make sure I read the descriptions after the mess of Sonic. So I pay up another 800ms points and download the game, 2 of my other friends doing exactly the same and we were ready to have some multiplayer fun.
I create the private room and invite the first friend, as I go to invite the second... wait.. I can't? what!? 2 player co-op!? for gods sake.
Seriously Microsoft, I am fed up with throwing £10 away just because someone can't be bothered to put "2 player co-op" instead of 2-6 online multilayer which is VERY misleading.
I've wasted money on a game that I wanted to play Co-op again. Of course if I demand compensation I won't get it. I also don't understand why the game doesn't support at least 3-4 multiplayer seeing as there are 4 characters to choose from and you can be the same character......
Really upset Microsoft, here I am spending £50 a year on your service which not only is down during the only holiday time I have but is also making me waste MORE money on games with incorrect descriptions!
I'm sure this is against some kind of consumer law, or something. Things like this push me towards the Triples, sadly.
(Don't read Aytheistium's blog)
Not only that, but the damn game has (as Grim said) 5fps AND while me and Bahamut were playing the lag of it all was unforgivable.
THE LOVE IS OVER MICROSOFT!!
Also, paying for the ability to play online is retarded. This goes against my PC gamer mentality. I've never had to pay to play online. I pay for my internet, that's plenty.
LAG AND FRAME RATE ISSUES ON CONSOLES ARE UNACCEPTABLE
Exactly, I expect it on a pc if I havent got more than the recommended specs but on a console!? wtf?! It;s great when games push the technology but I don't want a console where the the game is taking too long to keep it's framerate and graphics in check.
Gears of War (online) and Mass Effect proved this where bump mapping took way to long to load.
(i.e. I've got some games from publishers that are shit that I can trade in ;) )
spend your hard on points on pacman c.e., and feel the love.
And I agree with Sonic 2, I didnt buy it though. Something didnt feel right with their delivery. I feel really sad for alot of the titles we get so hyped about, and they crush us to the ground for having positive gaming ideas.
(sigh)
I'm always.. whispering :p
haha sorry I'm never able to speak. The walls in my house are thin and now I'm living back home again my mum needs silence for sleeping haha.
(Sorry, been burned by many, many bad SEGA PC ports).
...OK, that's cool. I guess I can just do this by myself... hmph
I would call M$ immediately and demand a refund or something.
Too bad they aren't supplementing our downtime with a free month or three. For a lot of people, school screws up play time any other time of year, so this was prime play time for them.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/80367-Microsoft-Addresses-Xbox-Live-Holiday-Performance-Issues
For those of you who are too lazy to click the link: apparently the bigwigs at Microsoft are disappointed at the holiday performance of Xbox Live too, so to compensate, they're going to be releasing an Xbox Live Arcade game to download completely free of charge, a la Aegis Wing. They haven't announced what title yet, but they say they will in the coming weeks.
I know, not the kind of compensation you guys want, but it's better than nothing...
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/80367-Microsoft-Addresses-Xbox-Live-Holiday-Performance-Issues