Battlefield 2 Ultimate Edition Plight! greedy EA...

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to bring to everyones attention my plight i just had with battlefield..

I recently purchased a brand new (in plastic wrap) copy of Battlefield 2 bad company Ultimate Edition. I specifically bought this as obviously it is the version with all the DLC included. I could have got a regular edition for half the price, but no i wanted the add ons. Especially Battlefield 1943. To my horror i open it up, and the codes have a bloody valid until date!!!! which has passed!

Now tell me EA how can you sell a game including all DLC as a special edition and have use by dates on the codes!

I contacted EA regarding this and they tell me they have no codes for the download of Battlefield 1943! How can this be!! that had a Battlefield Edition that SPECIFICALLY included this DLC!

I paid good money for a product that isnt as advertised. Has anyone else out there experienced this and feel as annoyed as i am right now?

This is not fair and is a money grabbing exercise!

I love EA's games, but this could make me a hater :(

would love to hear from other gamers

(deleted paragraph)(Edit: Ijust looked into it and believe I wasconfusing this with the launch of Battlefield 3, which also was supposed to have BF 1943)

As far as the Ultimate Edition, did you try your codes or just see the date and assume it wouldn't work? Sometimes they have an expiration date, but still work. And I believe this has actually happened before with EA games. There was a similar issue with digital copies of blu-ray movies expiring but still being adverted on store shelves as "combo packs' with no mention of expiration date, sometimes you buy a movie and the digital copy expired like 2 years ago! I believe Warner Bros has actually extended all of theirs to 2017 (at least 1 studio took the correct action there). So even if the voucher has a date on it, I would certainly still give it a try. Maybe EA did the right thing as well, but it wouldn't be surprising to see them drop the ball either.

If you tried and they actually were expired, then I agree. More shameful EA nonsense. Maybe try taking it back to the store and show them the expiration date, usually they won't help you with opened software but if you show them the expiration date and explain the situation MAYBE they would take it back or at least let you exchange for the cheaper, regular version. Activision did the same with CoD4: Modern Warfare - really pissed me off. I bought that game but when I found out about the ripoff I ended up selling it, I let the return window expire but fortunately I didn't open it.

Been there. I purchased a PSP Go and it said it had 3 downloadable games. They were all expired.

You could always try to take the game back from where you bought it, you might get a sympathetic manager.

yeh i tried to take it back but since it was open no dice :(

The VIP code which was out of date worked, but the code for battlefield 1943 and onslaught mode didnt work. I emailed EA and they gave me a code for Onslaught mode which worked but said they dont have any codes for Battlefield 1943! i can beleive they dont have ANY codes for it....

The worst thing is that im all for DLC and dont mind buying it when ive played a game to death then some more goodies come out, but when its supposed to be included, and says it is on the pack its included and THEN i have to buy it because it wasnt......

Arrrrggghhh what happened to help your common man!

Been there. I purchased a PSP Go and it said it had 3 downloadable games. They were all expired.

You could always try to take the game back from where you bought it, you might get a sympathetic manager.

d_parker

its a joke hey! included is supposed to be included!

I would take it back. Act p!ssed and you'll eventually get your way.

If you don't just knock over all their games on the shelves and run out.

How's this for a story about what's supposed to be included...

I recently purchased Battleship only to open it at home and found the case was empty except for the manual, no disc.

It was factory sealed and there was no sign of tampering.

Called Activision and at first they said mail the disc back for a replacement (I'm serious) and eventually they said there was nothing they could do for me. How's that for customer service? It helped me to decide whether to buy Black Ops 2 at full price or not.

Luckily for me the store gave me another copy, disc included.

How's this for a story about what's supposed to be included...

I recently purchased Battleship only to open it at home and found the case was empty except for the manual, no disc.

It was factory sealed and there was no sign of tampering.

Called Activision and at first they said mail the disc back for a replacement (I'm serious) and eventually they said there was nothing they could do for me. How's that for customer service? It helped me to decide whether to buy Black Ops 2 at full price or not.

Luckily for me the store gave me another copy, disc included.

d_parker

lucky you got a good result hey! in a totally different story, i had the same thing happen with a KFC burger as i got it drive thru and opened it up and it had no top half of the bun! took it back and they didnt beleive me! i was like "why would i drive 2kms down the road, turn around, come all the way back and walk inside to make this **** up?" they never did give me that top half of the bun.....

sorry i know thats a bit off the subject, but still funny! I guess it relates to greedy corporate conglomorations thou!

So because the code expired this makes EA greedy? What logic does that operate under?Kravyn81

because it is an ULTIMATE EDITION, you know the edition that INCLUDES all the DLC's. Not very ultimate if it has no DLC's is it

So because the code expired this makes EA greedy? What logic does that operate under?Kravyn81

Was the fact that the code expired clearly visible on the front of the case and not buried in small font on the bottom of the back?

They do thingks like sell a game like Lord of the Rings and shut down the serves without putting a sticker on the box saying there's no more online.

I think EA's online codes show they're a bunch of greedy bums and I wish them nothing but misfortune...

[QUOTE="Kravyn81"]So because the code expired this makes EA greedy? What logic does that operate under?coight30

because it is an ULTIMATE EDITION, you know the edition that INCLUDES all the DLC's. Not very ultimate if it has no DLC's is it

[QUOTE="coight30"]

[QUOTE="Kravyn81"]So because the code expired this makes EA greedy? What logic does that operate under?Kravyn81

because it is an ULTIMATE EDITION, you know the edition that INCLUDES all the DLC's. Not very ultimate if it has no DLC's is it

The hell dude.

If it's expired it should be taken off store shelves (or at least marked back to the price of the standard edition), and yes it absolutely is EA's fault, not the buyer of the game. There is no logical expanation for their passes to have an expiration date at all.

This is especially true if there is no expiration date noted on the OUTSIDE of the game case. If I'm buying a gallon of milk the expiration is right there in front of me. In this case you can't see the expiration until you open the case, but that's too late because of how most retailers treat open software returns. How is that even remotely fair to the buyer?

If it's expired it should be taken off store shelves (or at least marked back to the price of the standard edition), and yes it absolutely is EA's fault, not the buyer of the game. There is no logical expanation for their passes to have an expiration date at all.2Chalupas

And how are the employees supposed to know when the codes are expired? There's no way for them to know the codes even have an expiration unless they open it up.

Of course there is a logical explanation to have an expiration date: They only want to support the promotion for a limited time. Simple as that.

It wasn't to screw you over.

It's not fair to the buyer, but that's a risk you take when you buy such an old game. What can I tell you? Life doesn't always offer up a happy ending so get used to it.

[QUOTE="2Chalupas"]If it's expired it should be taken off store shelves (or at least marked back to the price of the standard edition), and yes it absolutely is EA's fault, not the buyer of the game. There is no logical expanation for their passes to have an expiration date at all.Kravyn81

Like I said, the simple solution is for EA toNOT HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE. EA is the one implementing the expiry date without notfying anyone on the outside of the packaging.

If EA wants to implement arbitrary "expiration dates" then they need to have the logistics in place to address what happens after the expiration (either to have stores pull them off the shelves and return unsold stock to EA for repackaging, or to mark down MSRP equal to the standard version). If they don't have this capacity, then they shouldn't implement the expiration date in the first place. Any way you slice it, the failure goes back to EA.

A situation where the servers are shut down after a number of years is different, and I believe they do cover themselves with the "online features may not be available". However when you are buying an "Ultimate Edition" of a game that is well known to be active, and the DLC is still for sale on various store-fronts, then that Ultimate Edition damn well should come with the DLC it's advertised to come with on the box. Especially if it's $39.99 for the Ultimate Edition vs. the $19.99 for the regular edition.

Like I said, the simple solution is for EA toNOT HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE. EA is the one implementing the expiry date without notfying anyone on the outside of the packaging.

2Chalupas

[QUOTE="2Chalupas"]

Like I said, the simple solution is for EA toNOT HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE. EA is the one implementing the expiry date without notfying anyone on the outside of the packaging.

Kravyn81

You say that EA didn't just pull a date out of a hat, when in fact, that seems to be exactly what they did. I believe they didn't just expire recently, but it seems like some of their games have expiration dates of just ONE YEAR. The OP can confirm but that means the Bad Company 2 Ultimate Edition might have expired in 2011, when it was still stock almost everywhere. There is no world in which that is acceptable.

Look at that example with Warner and the blu-ray combo packs. Many of their blu-rays were on store shelves with expired dates (mostly titles released before 2010). It was OBVIOUSLY an arbitrary date very similar to DLC vouchers, so what did they do? Extend them across the board to 2017. Still an arbitrary date, but it should allow for retail channels to clear out. In all of these situations where you are PAYING for the voucher in the "ultimate edition" package, there really shouldn't be a date at all. The only expiration should be when the servers are finally shut down on the actual game, I agree if somone pulls out a sealed copy of software 10 years from now they shouldn't necesesarily expect any online features to work, but after 1 year, 2 years? It's sort of rediculous for the lifespan to be that short, it's not even enough time to clear through the retail channels.

the thing isKravyn81that its not a promotion, its a version of the game, the back of the bloody box has pictures of the game content, 1/4 of the back of the box is taken up with a picture of battlefield 1943 and a description! its not even on there as downoadable content, its on there as if its included on the disc. Its like buying battlefield 2 and opening it up to get battlefield 1 and then been told, "oh nah you dont get that now".

Maybe next time don't wait years to buy the ultimate edition of a game. It's not EA's fault you waited so long to buy this game and now complain that the code inside is expired. ummm im pretty sure i should be able to buy a game no matter when it was released and still be able to enjoy it to the potential the package advertises...

Of course there is a logical explanation to have an expiration date: They only want to support the promotion for a limited time. Simple as that. - If this was the case it should say on the cover "Battlefield 2 Bad Company - Ultimate Edition (For a limited time only, then just regular edition again)"

I went on PSN and added up the costs of the DLC's that are still available at full price then added in the price of a regualr edition of the game to see the price difference before going out and making a thought out educated decision to buy the Ultimate Edition to try save myself some money and now its going to cost even more!

Like i said in my first post, i love EA games and have done for a lot of years, i just think this is wayyyy harsh and seems to be the way these things are going in the way of greed taking over!

TC can confirm if this is the actual back cover of the game. Note the orange print 3/4 of the way down the image that clearly states an expiration date. If this is in fact the same as the cover of your game TC, then I can't blame EA for this one.

As far as why is there a time limit on the content code, you all already know the answer: money. I'm sure Sony/Microsoft charge some fee for codes because they have to store those codes somewhere. Storing it for only a year and then opening up space could save Sony/Microsoft money so they may charge Publishers/Developers less to have a codes for a year versus codes for 10 years.

TC can confirm if this is the actual back cover of the game. Note the orange print 3/4 of the way down the image that clearly states an expiration date. If this is in fact the same as the cover of your game TC, then I can't blame EA for this one.

As far as why is there a time limit on the content code, you all already know the answer: money. I'm sure Sony/Microsoft charge some fee for codes because they have to store those codes somewhere. Storing it for only a year and then opening up space could save Sony/Microsoft money so they may charge Publishers/Developers less to have a codes for a year versus codes for 10 years.

The_Rick_14

hey i appreciate you putting this pic on here, as you can see where the orange type says about the Bonus downloadable content, does it mention what that downloadable content is? hell no. oh to me that Battlefield 1943 looks like its included in the box (especially as that text underneath translates to "Includes Battlefield 1943"). Now i think that orange text about the downloadable stuff is **** that they have this experation date, and ok i accept that (although when i purchased the game from a reputable store this was not made visable) BUT the battlefield 1943 is clearly placed on the pack as part of the game, its promoted on the front of the package as well as on the back as a major draw card to buy this copy of the game.

the thing isKravyn81that its not a promotion, its a version of the game, the back of the bloody box has pictures of the game content, 1/4 of the back of the box is taken up with a picture of battlefield 1943 and a description! its not even on there as downoadable content, its on there as if its included on the disc. Its like buying battlefield 2 and opening it up to get battlefield 1 and then been told, "oh nah you dont get that now".

Maybe next time don't wait years to buy the ultimate edition of a game. It's not EA's fault you waited so long to buy this game and now complain that the code inside is expired. ummm im pretty sure i should be able to buy a game no matter when it was released and still be able to enjoy it to the potential the package advertises...

Of course there is a logical explanation to have an expiration date: They only want to support the promotion for a limited time. Simple as that. - If this was the case it should say on the cover "Battlefield 2 Bad Company - Ultimate Edition (For a limited time only, then just regular edition again)"

I went on PSN and added up the costs of the DLC's that are still available at full price then added in the price of a regualr edition of the game to see the price difference before going out and making a thought out educated decision to buy the Ultimate Edition to try save myself some money and now its going to cost even more!

Like i said in my first post, i love EA games and have done for a lot of years, i just think this is wayyyy harsh and seems to be the way these things are going in the way of greed taking over!

coight30

I saw the box at EB/Gamestop in a store in Canada today and its pretty much exactly like the European one. It states on the back that the codes expire on August 1st, 2011 and while I think EA is scum, it's a case of buyer beware. You missed it TC - if you had questions, should have asked the staff or looked it up online or contacted EA before the purchase. Oh well, it happens to everyone, usually only once - now you'll know for next time.

hey i appreciate you putting this pic on here, as you can see where the orange type says about the Bonus downloadable content, does it mention what that downloadable content is? hell no. oh to me that Battlefield 1943 looks like its included in the box (especially as that text underneath translates to "Includes Battlefield 1943"). Now i think that orange text about the downloadable stuff is **** that they have this experation date, and ok i accept that (although when i purchased the game from a reputable store this was not made visable) BUT the battlefield 1943 is clearly placed on the pack as part of the game, its promoted on the front of the package as well as on the back as a major draw card to buy this copy of the game.

coight30

the thing isKravyn81that its not a promotion, its a version of the game, the back of the bloody box has pictures of the game content, 1/4 of the back of the box is taken up with a picture of battlefield 1943 and a description! its not even on there as downoadable content, its on there as if its included on the disc. Its like buying battlefield 2 and opening it up to get battlefield 1 and then been told, "oh nah you dont get that now".

Maybe next time don't wait years to buy the ultimate edition of a game. It's not EA's fault you waited so long to buy this game and now complain that the code inside is expired. ummm im pretty sure i should be able to buy a game no matter when it was released and still be able to enjoy it to the potential the package advertises...

Of course there is a logical explanation to have an expiration date: They only want to support the promotion for a limited time. Simple as that. - If this was the case it should say on the cover "Battlefield 2 Bad Company - Ultimate Edition (For a limited time only, then just regular edition again)"

I went on PSN and added up the costs of the DLC's that are still available at full price then added in the price of a regualr edition of the game to see the price difference before going out and making a thought out educated decision to buy the Ultimate Edition to try save myself some money and now its going to cost even more!

Like i said in my first post, i love EA games and have done for a lot of years, i just think this is wayyyy harsh and seems to be the way these things are going in the way of greed taking over!

coight30