Reader Dustin had a question about his PS3, so he emailed Sony. Now he’s starting to suspect that they don’t actually read the emails people send…
gaming
Mass Effect DRM Causing Backlash Among PC Gamers
By 5.8.08
If you’d like to play the PC version of Bioware/EA’s hit XBOX 360 title “Mass Effect,” you’d better have an internet connection. Why? Because in order to remain “activated” the game will need to reauthorize itself via the internet every 10 days. Go 11 days without checking in and your game won’t work until you do. Some gamers are saying that this requirement makes them feel like criminals, and doesn’t make a lot of sense for a game that otherwise doesn’t require an internet connection.
Toys"R"Us Pretends To Have Wiis In Stock, Disappoints Customers
By 5.3.08
Toys”R”Us’ website may claim to have Wiis in stock, but as reader Nick discovered yesterday, they don’t. Nick ordered the elusive console first thing yesterday morning, but Toys”R”Us quickly sent an email explaining that the Wii was backordered and unavailable. As of this morning, Toys”R”Us’ website still inexplicably lists the Wiis as “In Stock.”
Bungie Sent All This Free Swag To The Gamer Whose XBox 360 Artwork Microsoft Destroyed
By 3.8.08
Remember Nathanial? Microsoft’s repair center senseless erased the valuable signatures and cool artwork he had painstakingly collected on his XBox 360. When Bungie, the maker of Halo, saw what happened, they wanted to help—even though they had nothing to do with the calamity. They decided to ship Nathanial an awesome swag bag stuffed with signature-adorned freebies.
50 Ways To Get Through Phone Systems
By 3.6.08
VOIP-News has a list of 50 ways to get through to a real, live, not necessarily well-trained CSR on phone systems. We’re posting this not just because their first tip is “Read the Consumerist,” but because there are some really good ideas here, like hitting up EDGAR to search for contact info on public companies.
Microsoft Scrubs All The Valuable Signatures And Artwork Off Your XBOX 360 Case
By 2.29.08
We read a lot of stories about companies doing boneheaded things but rarely do we read anything like what reader Nathanial sent in.
Microsoft Doesn't Know Why You Can't Access Any Of Your Saved Games
By 2.28.08
Reader Brad took his XBOX Live Gamertag to a friend’s house. When he got home, he realized that he’d forgotten his memory card (with the Gamertag on it) at his friend’s place.
GTA San Andreas "Hot Coffee" Settlement Offers $5 To Soothe Your Injured Mind
By 1.29.08
Horribly offended by the GTA: San Andreas “Hot Coffee” mod in which you could (help, help) indulge in crude polygon sex? Great. You’re being offered a $5 cash settlement.
It's Still Possible To Game Your FICO Score By 100 Points Or More
By 1.21.08
For about $1400, you can raise your FICO credit score by 35 to 40 points through companies like TradeLine Solutions, writes the New York Times. Lots of subprime mortgage holders are turning to these companies in a last ditch effort to game the FICO system, in order to avoid rate adjustments that might send them into foreclosure. Of course, knowingly misrepresenting your credit score might count as loan fraud, points out a FICO representative.
By 1.19.08
../../../..//2008/01/19/walmart-is-offering-10-gift/
Walmart is offering $10 gift cards to gamers whose pre-orders for Super Smash Bros. Brawl were unexpectedly canceled.
Walmart Slaps Down Super Smash Bros. Brawl Pre-Orders
By 1.12.08
Don’t worry avid gamers, Walmart has “received your request to cancel” your pre-ordered copy of Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii. Oh, you didn’t ask to cancel the order, you say? $19.82 is an amazing price for a $50 game?
UPDATE: Circuit City Apologizes For Not Honoring Call Of Duty Advertisement
By 11.8.07
Adam writes us to say that Circuit City has apologized for not honoring their advertisement and have offered to compensate him with both games for free.
By 10.31.07
../../../..//2007/10/31/do-protests-against-violent-video/
Do protests against violent video games help sell said violent video games? Yeah, probably. [Wired via Digg]
Valve "Deactivating" Customers Who Bought "Orange Box" Internationally
By 10.24.07
According to reader Todd, there are quite a few customers are finding their “Orange Box” games have been deactivated by Valve because they bought them from a seller that wasn’t authorized to do business with US customers.
EBgames Taking Permanent Pre-Orders For Canceled Game
By 10.16.07
If you want to grab a copy of the non-existent game “Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising,” your best bet is to pre-order from EBgames, because it’s been put on “indefinite hold”—aka canceled—by the publisher and we’re not sure how else you’d get a copy. Obviously EBgames does, because they’re still taking orders as of 3:18pm EST, October 16th.
CheapAssGamer.com Subpoenaed By Circuit City
By 8.10.07
According to Consumerist’s sister-site Kotaku, CheapAssGamer.com has been sued subpoenaed by Circuit City over some leaked advertisements posted to their forum.
Apparently, You Don't Know How To Work Your XBOX 360 Or PS3
By 8.9.07
Next gen consoles have more features than ever before, but if you’re like many consumers, you don’t know about them.
