Microsoft screws up Halo 4 DLC release, pretends it was intentional

Let's just put it this way: If Microsoft chooses to act in such a blatantly untrustworthy manner that is beyond anything they have done so far this gen, then it will be much more difficult for me to choose to invest my trust and my money with them for a whole new console generation.
Microsoft charges a fee to use the multiplayer component of Xbox games. That should tell you all you need to know.
 
Turning off the maps for the code-people seems like a bad idea. There will be another shitstorm as MS has really failed to communicate anything on this one way or another, and given that the maps are generic and not very good plus the fact that Halo's population is low and getting lower... :(

Seems like they should be giving these away to everybody Starhawk-style just to get the population up and get people playing Halo.
 
If they continue to lie and ignore the scope of this problem, then this is potentially a much bigger deal than some people losing five or ten bucks. It shows than instead of owning up to their mistakes, Microsoft is willing to lie and screw over their customer base at any point just to make a few more bucks in the short term. If an error entirely of their fault happens to make them money, they will choose to deceptively make things up instead of coming clean to their customers as any decent business would.

Let's just put it this way: If Microsoft chooses to act in such a blatantly untrustworthy manner that is beyond anything they have done so far this gen, then it will be much more difficult for me to choose to invest my trust and my money with them for a whole new console generation.

It took them a year to own up to rrod.
They never acknowledged fifa hacks.
They'll never acknowledge this.

The record is proof enough that they say nothing until it reaches fever pitch in the media.
 
The code I got in the LE didn't unlock any of the specializations.

Was I supposed to request a replacement code somehow?
 
As of now, that's correct. We'll see how it really works out and if Microsoft/343 don't manage to screw anything up with this process.

Okay, thanks. I'm now downloading the map pack from within Halo 4 itself. I see that if you attempt to download from the dashboard or Xbox.com marketplaces, they're still requiring the 800 Allards.
 
Okay, thanks. I'm now downloading the map pack from within Halo 4 itself. I see that if you attempt to download from the dashboard or Xbox.com marketplaces, they're still requiring the 800 Allards.

Yup.

Just to be clear, if you entered the Specialization Priority Alpha code, once you go into Halo 4 and select the Marketplace option, the map pack will show up and will ask if you want to download it.

You can't download it from the dashboard or marketplace.xbox.com for free.
 
I bought the LE, and I'm not upset about this glitch. It means more people to kill on the new maps. That's a good thing.

I think MS/343 will try to correct this mistake, though. Time will tell.


Let's just put it this way: If Microsoft chooses to act in such a blatantly untrustworthy manner that is beyond anything they have done so far this gen, then it will be much more difficult for me to choose to invest my trust and my money with them for a whole new console generation.
Microsoft charges a fee to use the multiplayer component of Xbox games. That should tell you all you need to know.

<3 Xbox360 threads on GAF. :)
 
I'm not sure if I get the anger. I mean, sure, it sucks that I paid for something that other people can now access for free (albeit TEMPORARILY), and that this "14-Day" thing was more or less just now made up. But really? I still got my maps with my LE, and the season pass holders got their maps. All the people who got the maps for free due to a systematic error? Well, they can continue playing the maps for a little while and eventually they will have to pay for those maps.

Doesn't bother me.
 
The temporary release just annoys me even more. They fucked up and gave them away for free then tried to cover it up. If they had just rolled with it and let these remain free then my respect would have been earned and I would have gladly paid for future dlc.
 
They really do need to refund season pass buyers the cost of the first map pack. Pretty dumb they're covering it up, it's not like they're desperate for money.
 
They really do need to refund season pass buyers the cost of the first map pack. Pretty dumb they're covering it up, it's not like they're desperate for money.
I agree I would be happy if they gave us a refund for it, I got the limited edition and I have no problems with people getting the map pack free but I wish they would do things for everyone else that has the war pass.
 
So after 14 days people who downloaded it free can't play them anymore?

This is so confusing

After seven days people who downloaded it for free can't play it anymore.

If you played the game within the first 14 days of release, you were given a code to unlock all the rest of the specializations. That's where the 14 Days part comes from. If you used that code they are letting you download and play the Crimson Map pack for online for free, until 12/18.

There is speculation about how they'll be able to cut off those users from accessing the map pack online, but their official stance is that this is a trial only.
 
Once again, GAF members trying to defend something that's completely anti-consumer.

It's not anti-consumer for this consumer. Those who purchased the map pack or pass will still have access after the 18th. As a consumer who was on the fence about purchasing the map pack or pass, this gives me a chance to try it out and see if I like it.

If I get to keep the maps for free after that? Yeah, that fucks over the LE and map pass people absolutely. Until that happens I don't see what's anti-consumer about it.
 
I'm curious who came up with this dumb as shit "promotion" during the crisis meeting they had. Just tell people you done goofed. Make things right for the LE people. Crisis mainly averted.
 
Reach had 68,000 people online when I played it Tuesday, I don't think the community will be dead in 6 months... This game and Battlefield 3 are the only 2 games I've bought a season pass for and Battlefield 3 was easily worth it. This game would have been too if it weren't for this.
 
The net result is that people who didn't pay got to play the maps they wouldn't have otherwise. Who're the consumers again?

No...the net result is that people who shelled out for the season pass are going to pay more than those who didn't.**

**assuming this is not temporary
 
They really do need to refund season pass buyers the cost of the first map pack. Pretty dumb they're covering it up, it's not like they're desperate for money.

Judging by the tweets, they aren't covering anything up. They are doing a poor job communicating, sure, but you're conspiracy theory is silly.
 
I knew I should have waited instead of buying the Season Pass. I wonder if they are planning on giving us something to make up for this mess?
 
No...the net result is that people who shelled out for the season pass are going to pay more than those who didn't.**

**assuming this is not temporary

No? I would respond but seeing as the quote in OP isn't even being read 7 pages later, I think any kind of reasoning at this point is in vain.

I knew I should have waited instead of buying the Season Pass. I wonder if they are planning on giving us something to make up for this mess?

Yes, you get to keep playing the maps. How are you enjoying them?
 
If most people are done with the game in 6-12 months then thats a pretty awful community.
Maybe I'm just spoiled by PC communities...
Hard core players will stick around but the ppl who jump from game to game usually quit after the initial 4 months or so
 
So you are trying to say that no one will be playing this game 6 months from now? I think the people that bought the Premium BF3 made out really nice.

If most people are done with the game in 6-12 months then thats a pretty awful community.
Maybe I'm just spoiled by PC communities...

There are people still playing Halo 3 on XBL. And there would be a ton of Halo-GAFers playing Halo 2 on XBL if they could (they hate every game since then).

What the other poster is saying is that in 6mos, the H4 community will be about half of what is now, maybe even less. This scenario isn't unique to Halo (or XBL), however. The best time to play any online MP game is right at launch, and for a few months after. After that, a lot of people move onto other games. And yup, there will be a surge of new Halo 4 players on Christmas.

Halo 4 will be popular on XBL (in the Top 10 most-played) until the next Halo drops.
 
No? I would respond but seeing as the quote in OP isn't even being read 7 pages later, I think any kind of reasoning at this point is in vain.


What quote in the OP? This one?

we decided to provide the additional reward of complimentary access to the Crimson Map Pack, for a limited time

Looks like it could mean either to me. Does access mean download or play? If they mean "play", I'd love to see how they are going to pull that off. Guess we will find out.
 
Judging by the tweets, they aren't covering anything up. They are doing a poor job communicating, sure, but you're conspiracy theory is silly.
No they are covering it up, they screwed up and now are saying it's a "limited trial" I don't believe it and I bet the maps will still work after the 18th for those that didn't buy them.
 
What quote in the OP? This one?



Looks like it could mean either to me. Does access mean download or play? If they mean "play", I'd love to see how they are going to pull that off. Guess we will find out.
You can only play them in matchmaking until the 18th. 343 "clarified" this in a blog post the other day. Whether this will work out smoothly (hint: it likely won't) remains to be seen.
 
They screwed up the DLC release and I'm going to bet they screw up the DLC rescinding as well. I suspect a lot of people with season passes and so on will suddenly find that they can't use the maps and the cycle begins again.
 
Judging by the tweets, they aren't covering anything up. They are doing a poor job communicating, sure, but you're conspiracy theory is silly.

Mmm...no, it's a cover up. Neither 343i or MS have EVER mentioned a "14 day trial" period until AFTER the fuck up.

Now, I'm no marketing expert but...you typically let consumers know of promotions BEFORE a promotion period begins.
 
Mmm...no, it's a cover up. Neither 343i or MS have EVER mentioned a "14 day trial" period until AFTER the fuck up.

Now, I'm no marketing expert but...you typically let consumers know of promotions BEFORE a promotion period begins.

They didn't mention a 14 day trial after the fuck up either. It's a week trial, given to those that play the game in the first 14 days of release. That's where the 14 days part comes from. That promo was to receive a code to unlock specializations and was known about, they were a week late rolling the specialization codes out for that promo and you can find stories about that whole ordeal.
 
Looks like they disabled the DLC for everyone who got it for free now.

I just got prompted to download a 30mb update for Halo 4. After it finished, I am no longer able to play the Crimson DLC playlist. Tells me I need to buy it. Can't use them for custom games either.
 
People that lost it but still have Crimson on their drive should see if deleting the Halo 4 Title Update from Halo 4's folder (then turning down the prompt to update) lets them use the maps.

edit: I know you won't be able to get online at that point, but just for shiggles.
 
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