RtCW cdkey and Activision customer support
•
17 Jun 2008, 14:12
•
Journals
I bought Return to Castle Wolfenstein - the Extended Edition in 06/2004 from http://www.play.com . I played it only once, everything was looking fine for me, as I didn't play the game that often due ET. Well, know last week when I thought I play the game again, I noticed my cdkey was banned? I was like what, how can that be since I haven't the played the game in years. I did a search with my PBGUID.. and guess what, I see +8000 users/nicks with it. Of course some cheaters from Norway, US, Canada, and so fort.
That obviously meant the cdkey was compromised somehow. I checked the first times that my cdkey was in the punkbusted & pbbans database. The date was bit surprising, 3 - 6months BEFORE I had bought the game.
Of course I contacted Activision to sort this issue, since no one will unban a cdkey that is in public use by cheaters. Also, I didn't ask them to such thing in the first place. I had the receipt, fortunately the store stores them online so it was easy to proof date of purchase to Activision. So I have everything to prove I am the legal owner of the product.
Activision support responded quite quickly of my question replacing the cdkey, but the answer I didn't expect. The support claimed that this is my fault, and I should contact pbbans and punkbusted to get the cdkey unbanned. I was like whaat?! I didn't ask for the cdkey to be unbanned, I asked for a replacement key for a key that was in use before I even bought the game. Second, pbbans or punkbusted can't unban anyone(correct contact would be Evenbalance), and it would be foolish since thousands use my cdkey.
I sent another reply showing explaining the situation very thoroughly. Again they reply fast. They don't have replacement keys, only way they could get one is by opening a game. And it's my fault again for the cdkey for being in public use BEFORE I bought the game.
Again, I was quite dissatisfied with such answers, and asked for the support to get someone else response on the issue. Well they did, now they claimed that it's the stores fault. Thing to notice, the game was wrapped in plastic when I got it.
Now I am waiting for their next response...
A question for the audience, have you experienced similar problems with RtCw or any other cdkey tied game? For Counter-Strike / HL I remember the times when cdkey was printed outside of the packaging.. Must have been fun. Your thoughts? Should the store or Activision replace the key? If not either, why?
That obviously meant the cdkey was compromised somehow. I checked the first times that my cdkey was in the punkbusted & pbbans database. The date was bit surprising, 3 - 6months BEFORE I had bought the game.
Of course I contacted Activision to sort this issue, since no one will unban a cdkey that is in public use by cheaters. Also, I didn't ask them to such thing in the first place. I had the receipt, fortunately the store stores them online so it was easy to proof date of purchase to Activision. So I have everything to prove I am the legal owner of the product.
Activision support responded quite quickly of my question replacing the cdkey, but the answer I didn't expect. The support claimed that this is my fault, and I should contact pbbans and punkbusted to get the cdkey unbanned. I was like whaat?! I didn't ask for the cdkey to be unbanned, I asked for a replacement key for a key that was in use before I even bought the game. Second, pbbans or punkbusted can't unban anyone(correct contact would be Evenbalance), and it would be foolish since thousands use my cdkey.
I sent another reply showing explaining the situation very thoroughly. Again they reply fast. They don't have replacement keys, only way they could get one is by opening a game. And it's my fault again for the cdkey for being in public use BEFORE I bought the game.
Again, I was quite dissatisfied with such answers, and asked for the support to get someone else response on the issue. Well they did, now they claimed that it's the stores fault. Thing to notice, the game was wrapped in plastic when I got it.
Now I am waiting for their next response...
A question for the audience, have you experienced similar problems with RtCw or any other cdkey tied game? For Counter-Strike / HL I remember the times when cdkey was printed outside of the packaging.. Must have been fun. Your thoughts? Should the store or Activision replace the key? If not either, why?
this key got on sites like serials.ws
hackers used them
nobody is responsible for ur problem
so society fucked U
They could just gift me the game on Steam? That way the key is ensured not the be in use. They have to have somekind of keygen somewhere, since Steam has to get the cdkey also.
The way Activision reply to me is out of this world. Took 4 messages for them to figure out the cdkey was indeed in use before I bought the game. And then it's the stores fault for a game that is wrapped in plastic. I know you can wrap thing again, but this seems highly unlikely thing to happen.
there is not much you can do about it.
I did hear that they would replace keys in similar situation, but they claim they have never done that.
but i highly doubt that.
To be fair for Activision, I've only dealt with two of their support staff.
"nigga stole my cdkey"
The thing that makes this riducolous is the fact that the cdkey had been in use before I bought the fucking game.
If they don't replace it, well what can I do? Nothing much, but I will not stop willingly and say "that's it" before I've tried everything.
""
Hi,
If the store sold you a key that was already used then
you will need to take the game back to the store you
bought it at for an exchange. If you have any further
questions feel free to contact us.
""
A new one game just now:
""
Hello,
It is likely that the store resold you a [bgame that was returned by another customer. This happens frequently. Stores can re-shrinkwrap an item and put it back on the shelf.[/b] Once the retailer sells it then it is thier responsibility to exchange it if they sell you a previously opened product. This is especially true with software that has a license key like this one.
""
Well, I bought the game as new. I will mention the store now, as it makes more sense to make it clear that they are reputable. www.play.com
explain them everything and prove it with the mails.
if the store doesn't give you a new one...fuck his shit up (j/k lol)
For a game that has basically no retail value nowdays Activision aren't willing to replace the cdkey. I can't do shit, not funny at all. 15euros isn't much, but to talk about cheating money from customer ...
I can't blame activision either. They sold the game to the shop. The shop sold it to you and now you want another CDKEY. It's like activison giving you a key for free. Imo the shop should solve this problem.
1) From the guys that build the game packages
2) Revrese generated (is there an algorithm? is it possible?)
In both sitations is very hard to point the guilty person. The shop can give you a new CDKEY only if they have a certain contract with activision that states who's responsable for this sitations. Otherwise I don't think they have any obligations at all...
I am sure that the store will say it is Activision's fault, and Activision says it's the store's fault.
The 'we'd have to open the game' line is a pile of shit, as they are responsible for the generation of said cd-keys. Surely they can provide a new one.
The store the game was brought from is obviously shit too, as people are able to open sealed games and take CD keys from them?
Both poor examples of customer service :(
Even if it's only 15euros, I can't see how it is so hard for them just to make another happy customer.
The customer support indeed explicitly stated that they don't:
a) have cdkeys, unless they open a copy of the game
b) have sent cdkeys ever to anyone, ever
c) in the same email the guy said it's my fault
I've buyed few books with the playseller function, and it worked fine, but it has a "playseller" logo, and the receipt is different.
It will be very very tedious to get any kind of answer from play.
I've studied some electrical engineering stuff due my studies, but not as a main goal. It's more related to powering houses and their electrical systems that involve the concept of "thinking home". Solar energy, geothermal heating and so on :)
------------
Hello,
Unfortunately we do not have any extra keys to give/sell you. There are only enough keys to go with the amount of copies of the game that were printed. It is up to the store to give you a product with a valid key.
As for play.com, they are very fucking hard to get in touch with. Phonecalls will cost a lot money, which they won't refund. Emails they take ages to answer due large customerbase.
Then there is the sum, it is merely 15euros, so I don't think you can go far with, since it is a miniscule sum for some parties.
I just wonder, if they don't have keys, why won't they send me it on Steam?
I haven't asked for reimbursement yet, if I will, I guess they say the same thing. "We can't/won't/don't due..."
either go as high as you can in the company (cut out all these help desk gimps) and show the conversations you've had so far and ask "what can you do for me?"
or send a firm but polite email demanding full reimbursement and send a copy to all developers and suppliers involved as well..
I will go higher if needed, I will ask him to forward the message.
I have been very polite, contrary of to what the first person was towards me. Also, the Activision customer system is kind of a ticketing system in way. They use this: http://www.rightnow.com/crm.html
The new persons see everything that has been said by me, and by them.
if you can get an email to CEO / MD or their assistants you're much more likely to get results
Welcome in the real life !
A disc replication plant makes the discs and prints the keys. They keys are put on at the plant. We do not have any keys here."
In the end, I don't really care how the key was compromised, or what they have to do to replace it, but so far no gain.
hf with all the hackers :x
it's well known that they steal the keys, also happened in some english game stores.
i never experienced anything like that, but i wonder what in their opinion was your fault...
the store has to replace it ;)