And, early October could mean anything from Oct. 1 to Oct. 15th I guess.
-
NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
No Character Builder Update
- Thread starter Kzach
- Start date
And, early October could mean anything from Oct. 1 to Oct. 15th I guess.
GuJiaXian
Explorer
Yeah. I understand your sarcasm, but I think WotC has realized now what pushing back these updates means to their business plan: losing money.
There are tons of people who are getting refunds right now because of their dissatisfaction with this push back. I think WotC will hopefully learn their lesson and make sure the updates get out on time. Money talks.
Yeah. Literally. Tons. I weighed them. It doesn't take many D&D customers to reach "tons".
In the end, it really comes down to this...
WotC realizes that because of the good work they've done most months up to this point, that their customers expect certain things. Since they weren't able to reach that expectation, they're granting refunds to those people who ask for them. This is the same thing restaurants, movie theaters, and other places of business do... give refunds (either partial or full) to those who ask for them. They aren't going to offer them to every single person who was affected, because that just sets a precedent for massive problems down the line. But if you're a squeaky wheel, you'll get some grease.
Most people on these boards realize that any product they purchase will occasionally not come out or work as advertised 100 percent of the time. Sometimes the box is missing a couple screws, sometimes the steak was a bit undercooked, sometimes the Character Builder isn't released on schedule. They then have a few options based upon who they are, and how bothered they truly are about it. They include:
- writing to WotC customer service to complain and ask for a refund
Those who have done this seemingly have started receiving refunds.
- writing on boards such as this to say they are annoyed with it, but it's not such a big deal in the grand scheme of things, considering how much WotC gets right most of the time
Those who have done this are the ones here telling folks to just chill out, or the ones who don't bother writing in this thread because they realize it's not important.
- writing on boards such as this to say that if something isn't done, they will cancel their subscription, or be lost as a customer
Those that have done this are in a tight spot. Because complaining here won't get 'something done'. The Builder won't get updated any faster, and they won't receive any refund. Their only decision is to whether or not go through with their idea of actually cancelling their subscription.
And that's where they're going to run into problems, because for many of them, they're already paid up through however many months, and by the time it comes to re-up and they choose not to... this snafu will have been many months in the past and WotC won't know it was this incident that caused this cancellation. So the poster's desires end up being for naught.
As a result, this is why many folks are countering these claims by saying that folks are just 'venting'. Because threats in this thread do not in of themselves result in anything. They are virtually useless, other than the hope against hope that someone at WotC notices the post count of this thread and uses it as evidence in some future DDI meeting to try and get either more people on staff or a bigger lead time on programming.
- and of course there's the final snide way of looking at things, which is the people on these boards who threaten to leave WotC forever and ever and ever... but whom we all know are just trying to look tough, and are blowing smoke up our behinds because they have no intention of ever cancelling their subscriptions. Because let's face it... the tools we DO get for 6 bucks a month are actually pretty damn useful and cool. And we're not going to cut off our noses to spite our faces... even if we say we are in an effort to try and act the big shot.
WotC realizes that because of the good work they've done most months up to this point, that their customers expect certain things. Since they weren't able to reach that expectation, they're granting refunds to those people who ask for them. This is the same thing restaurants, movie theaters, and other places of business do... give refunds (either partial or full) to those who ask for them. They aren't going to offer them to every single person who was affected, because that just sets a precedent for massive problems down the line. But if you're a squeaky wheel, you'll get some grease.
Most people on these boards realize that any product they purchase will occasionally not come out or work as advertised 100 percent of the time. Sometimes the box is missing a couple screws, sometimes the steak was a bit undercooked, sometimes the Character Builder isn't released on schedule. They then have a few options based upon who they are, and how bothered they truly are about it. They include:
- writing to WotC customer service to complain and ask for a refund
Those who have done this seemingly have started receiving refunds.
- writing on boards such as this to say they are annoyed with it, but it's not such a big deal in the grand scheme of things, considering how much WotC gets right most of the time
Those who have done this are the ones here telling folks to just chill out, or the ones who don't bother writing in this thread because they realize it's not important.
- writing on boards such as this to say that if something isn't done, they will cancel their subscription, or be lost as a customer
Those that have done this are in a tight spot. Because complaining here won't get 'something done'. The Builder won't get updated any faster, and they won't receive any refund. Their only decision is to whether or not go through with their idea of actually cancelling their subscription.
And that's where they're going to run into problems, because for many of them, they're already paid up through however many months, and by the time it comes to re-up and they choose not to... this snafu will have been many months in the past and WotC won't know it was this incident that caused this cancellation. So the poster's desires end up being for naught.
As a result, this is why many folks are countering these claims by saying that folks are just 'venting'. Because threats in this thread do not in of themselves result in anything. They are virtually useless, other than the hope against hope that someone at WotC notices the post count of this thread and uses it as evidence in some future DDI meeting to try and get either more people on staff or a bigger lead time on programming.
- and of course there's the final snide way of looking at things, which is the people on these boards who threaten to leave WotC forever and ever and ever... but whom we all know are just trying to look tough, and are blowing smoke up our behinds because they have no intention of ever cancelling their subscriptions. Because let's face it... the tools we DO get for 6 bucks a month are actually pretty damn useful and cool. And we're not going to cut off our noses to spite our faces... even if we say we are in an effort to try and act the big shot.
Because they've done it this way before. And, you know, have language on their website referring to the "monthly updates" from the subscription service. And I'm sure there areother similar references out there as well.
Like Mapache says, there is a middle ground. They aren't required to publish an update every month, but that is certainly the goal of their service and what people expect. Thus, it is perfectly reasonable for people to be disappointed when circumstances mean that goal isn't met. WotC seems to agree, given that both times this has happened, they have tried to compensate those upset by the situation.
Must spread XP around...blah blah blah
Artoomis
First Post
1. I am annoyed because i have no received what I was promised.
2. WotC promised, through the DDi web site, a monthly update with books appearing the month after publication and Dragon/Dungeon articles with one-month delay.
3. The EULA addresses software updates, not necessarily content updates, which is primarily what they promised, though needed software updates to make it all work was certainly implied.
4. I am annoyed and I did write them - though I care not for a refund, I asked them to extend my annual subscription by one month. I figure that does not cause them to have to cut a check, and I'd rather not pile on and cause that kind of loss to them right now, though some compensation is certainly in order.
5. FWIW, I also asked them to please not over-promise and under-deliver. I even told them it is making the company really look bad (like they need me to tell them that! ).
2. WotC promised, through the DDi web site, a monthly update with books appearing the month after publication and Dragon/Dungeon articles with one-month delay.
3. The EULA addresses software updates, not necessarily content updates, which is primarily what they promised, though needed software updates to make it all work was certainly implied.
4. I am annoyed and I did write them - though I care not for a refund, I asked them to extend my annual subscription by one month. I figure that does not cause them to have to cut a check, and I'd rather not pile on and cause that kind of loss to them right now, though some compensation is certainly in order.
5. FWIW, I also asked them to please not over-promise and under-deliver. I even told them it is making the company really look bad (like they need me to tell them that! ).
For what it's worth, here is the email I sent to Wizards customer service this afternoon. Others may wish to do the same.
*****
My name is Sean XXXXX (RPGA #XXXXXXXXX), and I have a question regarding the DDI program and its costs.
With the two month (and counting) delay in content update, the question of compensation for current subscribers should be addressed. This is particularly important for those of us who play Encounters, as the two updates dealt specifically with the Encounters season that was going on at the time (Dark Sun/psionic, followed by Essentials). Are current DDI subscribers going to be receiving a refund for the past two months? Or will we be given some sort of vouchers for the Dark Sun and Essentials books that have become almost necessary to buy in order to play in the free Encounters program? The past "game table" incident was brushed aside with the promise that it wouldn't happen again, but sadly it appears that history is repeating itself. Please consider the impact this has on player/DM faith in Wizards and the D&D team.
I, and my $9.95 per month, await your reply.
Many thanks--
Sean XXXXX
XXXXX@XXXXX.com
*****
My name is Sean XXXXX (RPGA #XXXXXXXXX), and I have a question regarding the DDI program and its costs.
With the two month (and counting) delay in content update, the question of compensation for current subscribers should be addressed. This is particularly important for those of us who play Encounters, as the two updates dealt specifically with the Encounters season that was going on at the time (Dark Sun/psionic, followed by Essentials). Are current DDI subscribers going to be receiving a refund for the past two months? Or will we be given some sort of vouchers for the Dark Sun and Essentials books that have become almost necessary to buy in order to play in the free Encounters program? The past "game table" incident was brushed aside with the promise that it wouldn't happen again, but sadly it appears that history is repeating itself. Please consider the impact this has on player/DM faith in Wizards and the D&D team.
I, and my $9.95 per month, await your reply.
Many thanks--
Sean XXXXX
XXXXX@XXXXX.com
Similar Threads
