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Halo Wars: Definitive Edition |OT| The Best Marketing This Game Will Get

PaulLFC

Member
Waves is just how the store works - and actually XBL does this historically too - which is why you see threads with people asking if it's here yet on other games. And that wave function (sorry science) is one of the reasons we have fairly nonspecific timing language, which was one more thing piled on here.
Thanks for the clarification - as a follow up to this, there appears then to be a difference between the "waves" system and the standard pre-order system which is evidently used on most games. For example I preordered Forza Horizon 3, it went into my game library, and on the release date, it unlocked. It was ready to play, for everyone who had pre-ordered, no codes needed.

Was there a specific reason it was decided to go with the waves system for Halo Wars DE instead of the "normal system" (not sure what it's actually called), that seemingly would have let everyone play at the same time instead of creating questions around why some who have pre-ordered don't have access today?
 

Akai__

Member
Nobody is being dishonest, just a traffic jam of bad semantics. And that's on us. And part of my job is communicating with you guys. This is a pot someone left on the stove. You would turn it off too if you walked in.

Not making light of it. Just explaining that I had missed the issue.

First things first. Know that I always appreciate it when you (or anyone else) are actually giving explanations. That's out of question. I think most people actually do appreciate it arround here, because otherwise we would probably not hear a thing.

At the same time, don't you think it's getting old? Don't you sometimes ask yourself "how did this happen again" and "why do I have to clean up this mess again"? I find it extremely weird that explanations are given afterwards, instead of straight up saying it loud and clear beforehand. And I'm not sure about the honesty thing. If (emphasize on IF) information was really stealth edited into the game description, I would say that's not really honest. It's not lying either, but it's certainly not a right thing to do.

Waves is just how the store works - and actually XBL does this historically too - which is why you see threads with people asking if it's here yet on other games. And that wave function (sorry science) is one of the reasons we have fairly nonspecific timing language, which was one more thing piled on here.

This also isn't really true. South Park did the same thing as you did. If you pre-ordered South Park: The Fractured But Whole, you got South Par: Stick of Truth for free. No codes, just the game being immediately being available to download. Heck, I didn't even pay completely for my game yet and I could play Stick of Truth already.

Just boggles my mind that a 3rd party studio is able to pull it off flawlessly, but THE 1st party flagship franchise of Xbox has a catch.
 

CyReN

Member
Just got my code, went to redeem and got an error message.

Sorry, an unexpected error has occurred. The error has been recorded and we will investigate. Please try to redeem your code later.
 

Forsythia

Member
Nice, just received my code! Did not expect that honestly!

[EDIT] ...and of course I get an error trying to download it.

The code system is early access guys
Spartan1337.png~c200

[EDIT2] I can't redeem the code on Xbox, but it worked for me on the website!
 

BraXzy

Member
I only ordered on the 17th. RIP me.

Waves of codes (known or not) is dumb as hell in this day and age. MS needs to bring that system into the modern age.

Set time. Digital. Unlock. If you're gonna copy Steam's early access, at least copy their release methods ;)
 

Gwyn

Member
I only ordered on the 17th. RIP me.

Waves of codes (known or not) is dumb as hell in this day and age. MS needs to bring that system into the modern age.

Set time. Digital. Unlock. If you're gonna copy Steam's early access, at least copy their release methods ;)

Yep i mean they got BC working on x1 and few days ago they announced win10 on arm, yet sent codes in waves...
 

PaulLFC

Member
I only ordered on the 17th. RIP me.

Waves of codes (known or not) is dumb as hell in this day and age. MS needs to bring that system into the modern age.

Set time. Digital. Unlock. If you're gonna copy Steam's early access, at least copy their release methods ;)
What confuses me is that most preorders do exactly that (unlock at a set time, no code needed). Forza Horizon 3 being a recent example I pre-ordered. I could play right away on release day, no waiting for a code.

Why do MS have two different systems, especially when one is clearly inferior to the other from a customer standpoint? It makes zero sense.
 

vsMIC

Member
wtf?

just got my code but only get error messages when trying to redeem. somthing with resource not found...

edit
pre-ordered digital over xbox store
 

Hawk269

Member
Same...code is giving me an error.

RANT ON:

How do you fuck up a fuck up?

Frankie if you are reading, I am sure your head just spun and this is the last thing you want to read about...but seriously, how can things get so screwed up. I know shit happens, but this has been an avalanche of shit so far. Poor messaging, stealth edits, last minute edits and now codes that don't work. Sigh!!! :(
 

Timeless

Member
Redeemed successfully through the Xbox website. Downloading now on PC, says the size is 9.36 GB. My steps to activate:

Had Xbox app open on Win10
Saw message, clicked on it, there was a handy button that said activate
didn't seem to be doing anything, went to Xbox site and messages section
Another button that said activate, pressed it
The website said it worked

---

then went to the Win10 Store and searched for Halo Wars Definitive and found the page and started the download.

Made my preorder for the HW2 $80 bundle on the Xbox site, not in the store app, iirc. I don't have an XONE and don't think I ever logged in to one with my account.
 

LAA

Member
Yeah I'm getting unexpected error trying the code. God why did MS distribute the code this way and why couldn't they organise, for their supposed flagship title, to actually launch on the release date.
 

PaulLFC

Member
No code for me. Joy. Going to cancel the pre-order tomorrow I think, wait on some reviews. Seems the sensible thing to do in this situation if it can't be organised that everyone who's paid money for a product gets to play on the same day.
 
Redeemed successfully through the Xbox website. Downloading now on PC, says the size is 9.36 GB. My steps to activate:

Had Xbox app open on Win10
Saw message, clicked on it, there was a handy button that said activate
didn't seem to be doing anything, went to Xbox site and messages section
Another button that said activate, pressed it
The website said it worked

---

then went to the Win10 Store and searched for Halo Wars Definitive and found the page and started the download.

Thanks, these steps worked for me. Downloading now
 

Tecnniqe

Banned
No code for me. Joy. Going to cancel the pre-order tomorrow I think, wait on some reviews. Seems the sensible thing to do in this situation if it can't be organised that everyone who's paid money for a product gets to play on the same day.

Well do they send the whole wave at once or multiple batches of waves?
 

Cranster

Banned
Go to Xbox.com and click on the message itself and it should allow you to redeem the code successfully. It worked for me and the game is now installing on my Xbox One console.
 

01DragonFly

Member
for those having problem go to xbox.com and redeem it from there
xbox.com<account<messages<click on halo message <redeem code
edit: lol
 

Werd

Member
Have both versions downloading, took a few minutes for the W10 store to switch from "product owned" to having the install button.
 
I appreciate your explanation, Frankie. Thank you.

The only thing that's upseting is that I don't believe the December 14th cutoff for getting a code on day 1 was ever discussed prior to the 20th.

Was excited to play today.
 

Ade

Member
So yeah, code works via the web.

In addition to installing on my XB1, its currently installing on my OG Surface Pro, which amazingly claims to be able to run it...
 
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