Neverwinter - Bait and Switch - Unacceptable Behavior

In the Winter of 2015, and January of 2016, specifically, Arc Games released information regarding an update the Xbox version of the game was to receive, that update being the recently released Module 8: Underdark. In the build up to the release of this
DLC Arc Games presented a series of articles highlighting the changes that would be coming with the release; the PC version of the game, which is one module ahead of the Xbox, received the same exact information prior to their receipt of the same module.

Based on the information released by Arc Games players spent actual money to acquire several in-game digital items and services, namely VIP and Enchanted Keys, so that players could amass an in-game currency called "Tarmalune Bars." According to the documents
released by Arc Games, these "Tarmalune Bars" could be used to purchase a wide variety of items in the new Trade Bar Store, which would accompany the release of Underdark. Some of these advertised items were high-value items, such as Coalescent Wards and Blood
Rubies. With particular regard to the former, Coalescent Wards are required to advance certain items within the game and are a key component of character play and development. Aside from a low chance to randomly receive a Coalescent Ward, players
must purchase them, either with in-game currency or real money. The cost for a Coalescent Ward is $10.00USD--each.

The reveal of the new Market was met generally with praise, as the new price of Coalescent Wards (75 Tarmalune Trade Bars) represented a significant price reduction. The PC received the same developer's notes and the same marketplace when Underdark
launched on the PC in November, 2015. Because of the large price reduction, and the volume of Tarmalune Bars in circulation, the Blood Rubies and Coalescent Wards were easily the most popular and most anticipated items to be included in the new store.

The week prior to the release of Underdark, Arc Games and Neverwinter held an Enchanted Key sale; during this sale players purchased keys, which enabled players to gather Tarmalune Bars in advance and anticipation of the new Marketplace.

On the day of release, February, 9, 2016, Underdark was released to the Xbox community; the new marketplace was in place, but missing three items: Preservation Wards, Blood Rubies, and Coalescent Wards. In response to the community's outrage--or perhaps in
anticipation of it (we cannot know)--Arc Games deliberately and intentionally went back to their original developer blogs and altered them to include new language indicating that the expectation XBOX players had of parity between the PC and Xbox version of
the game was inaccurate, even though no such statement was evident when it was first presented to us. In fact, the copy of the article cached by Google demonstrates the original blog post of January 18, 2016 was indeed intended for an Xbox audience.

The tone from Arc Games, since the release of the Tiamat Module in summer of 2015, was that the intended vision of the game was to seek parity between both versions. As such, Xbox players who stay in the loop with Neverwinter were aware--as early as October
of 2015--that the Tarmalune Trade Bar re-work was coming to the Xbox at a point in the future. At no point, between October until Release Day, did anyone from Arc Games represent that the Xbox community was to receive a substantially different experience
than what was advertised. In fact, they represented the categorical opposite: parity. Going so far as to include a detailed inventory with prices, which--in light of the dubious and sudden inclusion of a disclaimer--is all the more fraudulent.

Those players--myself included--who paid real, actual money during various sales between October and now, did so with the full understanding and expectation that the Xbox players would be receiving the same content. That understanding was confirmed by
official release and patch notes--corroborated by parity with the PC version--and then unceremoniously removed without explanation.

The period since has been marked a noticeable lack of any communication or assurance on behalf of the Developer. Instead we are told "that they are investigating the situation." They claim their decisions were intentional. That the Trade Bar Store--with
all of their hype, detailed inventory and price sheets, alleging goals of parity with the PC version of the game, and a lack of any disclaimer prior to release--was all purely hypothetical and not meant to be construed as a statement or promise
of what was to be delivered to the player.

Arc Games has defrauded Xbox players across the world. Our version of the game is not as advertised. Perfect World and Arc Games and Cryptic took advantage of Xbox Players. Few things in the world of Neverwinter are actually required. You can get by
without a lot of things they sell for real money. Coalescent Wards are not optional. When it comes to creating certain items these are required by the game, and the items you create, by extension, are also required in order to meaningfully
participate later in the game.

They advertised it; they sold us on it. They got their money in the run up to the release, and then released a different version than advertised, all the while surreptitiously altering their blogs.

I am deeply disappointed in the developer's behavior, and it does not compare with any of the experiences I've had in 10 years of Xbox Live. This is classic bait-and-switch. Advertise one product, make that product unavailable, and offer an alternative product
which, in the purchase thereof, enriches the seller directly because of the false advertisement.

Please stand by your players; they are feeling overwhelmed by a bully at the moment. Thank you.

For your consideration, here are links to the relevant documents:

Original, Cached Version of Release (as of 2/4/16): Developer Blog: Improved Trade Bar Store | Neverwinter

*Updated* Version, released sometime after 2/4/16. Without notice of any kind in any official way. Note the appended inclusion at the very bottom which seems to attempt absolve the document of any validity. https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/xbox/neverwinter/news/detail/9746173-developer-blog%3A-improved-trade-bar-store



And here is the claim, from the Community Manager, that this disparity--not just between versions--but between what we were told through Official Channels and what we're experiencing now, was indeed intentional: Neverwinter | Arc Games

:)

 

Neverwinter on Xbox one, bait and switch fraud

Hey all!

Very sorry to see any frustrations this may have caused. As Daft Badger and TheyCallMeBlitz have already mentioned, the best way to provide this sort of feedback is directly to Arc, the developer of the game. As Misses Quinzel mentioned in the thread linked
earlier by TheyCallMeBlitz, we do not have any involvement in the creative decisions in 3rd party games, including pricing models.

From here, the best route to take is to reach out to Arc.

Thank you for understanding!

 

Neverwinter on Xbox one, bait and switch fraud

Victim. 8(

Wish I knew how to describe it, and what channels to go through in order to get MS to "help me".

Very frustrated with Xbox in general right now.. I've had a controller quit turning on altogether, a brand new one die within 40 days of purchasing, my chat headset quit working, and now this.. All within 60 days.

My live subscription ends this month, I'm fairly confident I won't be renewing if I can't get some magic resolution to all this (which even to me seems far fetched).

 

I too have been affected by this and would like to know how Microsoft is going to support their players. I can't understand how Microsoft would allow the developers to do this and not be issuing all customers with refunds. Please update us. Thank you

 

Hey, guys! I'm very sorry to see the situation, but the offers that developers promote are up to their discretion to change. As you stated, they are already looking into it what their next steps are, and you will want to refer to them for updates. We do
not control content within the games themselves unless they were developed by Microsoft.

Additionally, I'd like to make sure you know that the cached version you have linked to is showing a snapshot from February 10th, not the 4th, and I am unable to find another version of the the cached site. I only let you know in case you are sharing it
other places.

Please do let us know of any changes that happen! Again, sorry to see the frustrations, and we hope Arc works with you guys to an amicable resolution.