Misrepresented in Steam store

[Strider051]

I looked at this game on the steam store and bought it after reading the stats. I did not read the forums (won't make this mistake again). There is NOTHING in the steam store listing this as an alpha version of the game. I have read the Developer post about this being a "playable version"; unfortunately I did not pay for an alpha I paid for a full game.

I understand that the developer is going to release new content over time but what is to stop them from ending all updates as of today because they made a little money?

For this reason I have voiced a complaint to steam asking for a refund (probably won't get it). I have also urged them to remove this title from the steam store. Greenlight has failed by passing this title as is.

It has a lot of potential, but it is MY choice to invest in this games development not the developers. Shame on them for the misrepresentation and shame on steam for failing to check the quality of games they have greenlighted.

[Fizban Frobozz]

Yeah, here is what should have been done:

http://steamcommunity.com/app/221020/discussions/0/882965239794624961/

[Strider051]

Agreed, If it was represented this way it'd be honest. I may have bought it and been happy with the results if I had known what I was buying. Dishonesty is a good way of losing all of your customers and making sure you don't get new ones. I hope the developer makes good on this but I am half expecting them to ditch this project and pocket their cash. They didn't even offer their demo on steam like they have posted on other sites.

[Fizban Frobozz]

In their defense, it is very common for a demo to come a little bit after release. It may appear in a week or so. I would hope so, as the demo is the full game with a time constraint. Nothing misrepresentative about that.

[ExpendableGrunt]

I've asked for a refund as well. And regardless of whether I get it, I'll be staying on here to alert potential purchasers of the state of this so-called "game."

The mods have deleted numerous negative threads, and will likely continue to do so. I hope every sale of this game at this state costs them 10 sales when/if the game is actually ready to be released.

[Strider051]

I'm pissed off and I think rightfully so. I've made a Metacritic post as this is what steam uses as a rating system. The game is not a functioning whole so I rated it a 0. Potential doesn't get you the grade...

http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/towns/user-reviews

[Fizban Frobozz]

Postat inițial de ExpendableGrunt:

The mods have deleted numerous negative threads

I hadn't noticed that. Which ones were deleted?

[Fizban Frobozz]

Postat inițial de Strider051:

I'm pissed off and I think rightfully so. I've made a Metacritic post as this is what steam uses as a rating system. The game is not a functioning whole so I rated it a 0. Potential doesn't get you the grade...

http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/towns/user-reviews

This is another negative to releasing unfinished. Your review won't count in the score shown on the store page, but since Towns is released, it will begin to be reviewed by the various web sites and magazines. The score is sure to be lower than it would be if the game were done.

[ExpendableGrunt]

Postat inițial de Evecque:

I hadn't noticed that. Which ones were deleted?

Several with clearly negative subject lines, including one with 70+ comments.

[sensless]

I purchased the game last night excited to try it out and the game won't even run. It just opens a white window, closes it, and then nothing happens. I noticed on the forum I wasn't the only one with this issue and now I see it is not a final product. I'm very displeased about being mislead.

[Strider051]

From what i've read the white screen seems to be occuring due to old video card drivers, although i've seen posts about a windows 7 64 bit issue too. Try updating your video drivers. Hope this helps. I feel your pain!

[Ruiner]

I've also asked for a refund. I don't expect much, but Steam/Valve really needs to do something about this.

[Tom Kent]

Postat inițial de ExpendableGrunt:

Postat inițial de Evecque:

I hadn't noticed that. Which ones were deleted?

Several with clearly negative subject lines, including one with 70+ comments.

No negative threads have been deleted. 2 threads were deleted regarding people giving away Dota 2 keys, and 3 that were spam. We welcome all kinds of response here. It doesn't matter if it's negative or positive, we take it on board.

[Tom Kent]

Postat inițial de jwietzeljr:

I purchased the game last night excited to try it out and the game won't even run. It just opens a white window, closes it, and then nothing happens. I noticed on the forum I wasn't the only one with this issue and now I see it is not a final product. I'm very displeased about being mislead.

No game, nomatter who made it, from EA to a single developering in his bedroom, can ensure a game will run on EVERY computer. Driver issues are a problem in all games. The issue isn't really ours if your drivers or java are out of date. We have tried to circumvent the java issue by bundling the game with java, but drivers are out of our control.

[Ruiner]

Postat inițial de tommykent1210:

Postat inițial de jwietzeljr:

I purchased the game last night excited to try it out and the game won't even run. It just opens a white window, closes it, and then nothing happens. I noticed on the forum I wasn't the only one with this issue and now I see it is not a final product. I'm very displeased about being mislead.

No game, nomatter who made it, from EA to a single developering in his bedroom, can ensure a game will run on EVERY computer. Driver issues are a problem in all games. The issue isn't really ours if your drivers or java are out of date. We have tried to circumvent the java issue by bundling the game with java, but drivers are out of our control.

A better example would have been id Software and RAGE. I assume you are responsible for the description on the Store Page though. You can claim it's not misleading, but the simple fact is that the game is not available for purchase through your own website, it is only available for Pre-Order, yet it is available for full purchase through Steam. Surely you can see how this is misleading?

You're only hurting your own business by doing this, I love these type of games and would have gladly continued to support your company if you had been up front about the fact that it was not a finished product. Yet as it stands now, I'll never play Towns again, I'll never buy any product that your company creates and I will discourage anyone that asks about your products on the Steam Forums and Reddit.

Was that really worth my $10?

[Tom Kent]

Actually, sales fomr the main page stopped in january 2012. The game is currently avaiable to purchase on Desura, Gamersgate, BMT and now Steam. Nothing about the store page is misleading. I don't understand why people beleive they have been mislead. Everything stated on the steam page has been delivered. Nothing has been left out. We haven't claimed there are dragons when there aren't have we? It's up to the devs when they believe the game is ready for release. If you bought the game and don't like it, then maybe you should have done more homework. There are hundreds of lets plays, and tutorial. We have an active forum. Sips is still doing an ongoing series.