How Do I Return This Piece of Crap?

[StephenJ]

So, I'm pretty sure the return time limit at the store has passed, and they would want to exchange it (yeah, that's funny). Do I return this thing to Titled Mill or what? I've tried to stick things out and wait for updates, but my game literally runs for about 20 minutes before crashing. What a joke.

My DXDiag is attached just in case you guys have an idea, but at this point I'd rather stick a sharp stick in my eye than deal with this thing any longer.

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

Found your problem.

You ready for this?

Here it comes.



...


You're running Windows Vista. *Blech.*


(Seriously, why don't people wait like, two years so that new OSs go through the paces and get raised or dumped according to how they perform? Vista has proven to be unreliable AND slow... Even to random people overseas like Ken Akamatsu... *Sigh..*)

On a side note, how are those dual core processors working out? I've a single core but it's up in the 3 GHz range.

[Ed.]

Found your problem.

You ready for this?

Here it comes.



...


You're running Windows Vista. *Blech.*


(Seriously, why don't people wait like, two years so that new OSs go through the paces and get raised or dumped according to how they perform? Vista has proven to be unreliable AND slow... Even to random people overseas like Ken Akamatsu... *Sigh..*)
What's Vista got to do with anything? Exactly the same error occurs in Windows XP SP2. Vista isn't unreliable and slow either. It manages memory far better, has a more stable device driver model and on all current hardware runs fine. Just because you own a 4 year old Dell with 512Mb RAM doesn't mean Vista is crap.

(A Vista, XP and Ubuntu user before you ask)

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

What's Vista got to do with anything? Exactly the same error occurs in Windows XP SP2. Vista isn't unreliable and slow either. It manages memory far better, has a more stable device driver model and on all current hardware runs fine. Just because you own a 4 year old Dell with 512Mb RAM doesn't mean Vista is crap.

(A Vista, XP and Ubuntu user before you ask)


I guess it's a good thing I don't own a four year old dell with 512Mb of RAM, but rather a custom constructed superbeast with two gigs of RAM. :p
Otherwise my hobbies (http://admiraltigerclaw.sheezyart.com/) would not have the processing power to procede.

Box kit computers... 'P-TUI!'

Anywho, I've been hearing/seeing more problems associated with Vista than without, even from overseas. I don't have to go scrambling through things to know its got more bugs than Joe's Apartment. General word of mouth is what's been spelling out that 'Vista is crap'. Have fun defending it. I won't even touch it without maybe another few years refining.

[Camel_Moe]

I guess it's a good thing I don't own a four year old dell with 512Mb of RAM, but rather a custom constructed superbeast with two gigs of RAM. :p
Otherwise my hobbies (http://admiraltigerclaw.sheezyart.com/) would not have the processing power to procede.

Box kit computers... 'P-TUI!'

Anywho, I've been hearing/seeing more problems associated with Vista than without, even from overseas. I don't have to go scrambling through things to know its got more bugs than Joe's Apartment. General word of mouth is what's been spelling out that 'Vista is crap'. Have fun defending it. I won't even touch it without maybe another few years refining.


LOL, even some of MS Game studios own devs have said that Vista is a buggy resource hog with lots of issues. Not to mention MS corporation itself has aknowledged it officially a time or two. Hence the various performance fix releases.
Like AdmiralTigerclaw, I run a up to date custom machine. I need it to even get my foot in the door to run MS Flight Sim X. I run a dual boot system with Vista on one drive, and XP sp2 on the other, and almost everything runs better on XP.
Just because the box and a few biased reviewers say it's better, don't make it true.
But yah, have fun defending it. Someone has to I suppose.

[omni2226]

Im running Vista and have no troubles with the game since changing from nvidia to ATI graphics.
Why an HD 2600 works and Nvidia cards didnt is not my problem. I know Ill never install another Nvidia card after all the troubles I had with most of my games running them.
Defend Vista? Mehh if it sucked for me Id uninstall it and go back to XP in a heartbeat. XP was a buggy piece of **** too once but its stable now after several years of patches.

Actualy I have no problems with any games I have installed. The Movies. Roller Coaster Tycoon 3. The Settlers. Oblivion. The Sims 2 with all expansions. Etc etc.
My problem with this game is that it sucks period. Boring. No depth. No challenge. No nothing except plop plop plop fizzle.
And I tried. I wanted something new and fresh, moving beyond the wore out Sim City ideas. Alas this game phails.

[mprovancha]

Found your problem.

You ready for this?

Here it comes.



...


You're running Windows Vista. *Blech.*


(Seriously, why don't people wait like, two years so that new OSs go through the paces and get raised or dumped according to how they perform? Vista has proven to be unreliable AND slow... Even to random people overseas like Ken Akamatsu... *Sigh..*)

On a side note, how are those dual core processors working out? I've a single core but it's up in the 3 GHz range.

Please do not post inaccurate information. I have XP and I get regular crashes too. Perhaps you should take your vista bashing somewhere where people care. I would suggest, if you do want to post, you provide an answer to his question which had nothing to do with why his game was crashing but as to how he can return it.

Personally I don't know if you even can return it.

[Rnett]

My DXDiag is attached just in case you guys have an idea, but at this point I'd rather stick a sharp stick in my eye than deal with this thing any longer.

Just a shot in the dark, but try to free up some space on your C drive.

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

Please do not post inaccurate information. I have XP and I get regular crashes too. Perhaps you should take your vista bashing somewhere where people care. I would suggest, if you do want to post, you provide an answer to his question which had nothing to do with why his game was crashing but as to how he can return it.

Personally I don't know if you even can return it.

As they say:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/admiraltigerclaw/technicaldifficulties.jpg

As for my information. All data I have given is accurate.

[StephenJ]

You're running Windows Vista. *Blech.*

On a side note, how are those dual core processors working out? I've a single core but it's up in the 3 GHz range.

Hehe, well Vista runs just fine for me. I do plenty of gaming and work on this machine without issue. The only game that runs poorly is Sim City Societies. I run Supreme Commander, BioShock, Eve Online (w/ the advanced graphics update) and a bunch of others just fine.

I ran Vista at launch, had some issues, went back, then when drivers caught up I went back to Vista. I like Vista, it isn't a perfect OS, but it runs just fine.

The dual cores are fine. The machine seems more responsive in certain games. But its hard to define. Supreme Commander definitely likes the dual cores.

-Stephen

[Ed.]

The game crash issue is being worked on and we should receive an update for stability in time. Rather than waste your time fiddling for days with your system try completing the QA form (http://simcitysocieties.ea.com/community/qa_form.php) and give the dev team as much information as possible.

[omni2226]

The game crash issue is being worked on and we should receive an update for stability in time. Rather than waste your time fiddling for days with your system try completing the QA form (http://simcitysocieties.ea.com/community/qa_form.php) and give the dev team as much information as possible.

Oh ya its being worked on. I bought the game the day it was released and have been tracking the forums ever since.
Going on three months now and the major crashing issues have yet to be fixed.

In another post a TM groupie mentioned "I dont know why TM made this game" implying TM is too good to do Sim City type games.

I agree with that statement but you need to switch the partys around.

Why EA gave a series with the pedigree of Sim City to a mediorce company like TM is beyond me.
As individuals they have some experience, but as a software company the experience simply isnt there.

The history of Caesar 4, and now SCS, confirms this.

[King Faticus]

been drinking?

Obviously you haven't been reading the forums or you would know that many TM and didn't like the direction of C4 and only support SCS because TM it.
The game you need to judge TM by was it's first COTN. the camera acts weird and the gfx are dated but personally I thoguht it was better than any SC game;)
coincidence that you didn't list it.. definitely not:p

sure the last two games weren't perfectly well received but you tell me two game companies that haven't had TWO games that weren't huge hits ;)
or maybe they are all mediocre?

[omni2226]

Actualy I quit drinking about 6 years ago :)

I had never heard of TM till now.

Against my better judgement after the SCS fiasco, and ignoring mostly negative/so so reviews about Caesar 4, I bought and played both games.

Cotn: Nice graphics. Nice gameplay. Could have used a better information layout,escpecialy with the religion aspect. Kind of frustrating trying to find out why half the city is on strike outside the palace every few minutes.
The farming is cool. The way it depends on the flooding of the Nile and such.
Overall score 3/5.

Caesar 4: Graphics were ok. User controls/interface could have been much better. And doing away with the way the diagonal roads/layout worked would have been a huge plus.
Total botch on the military units. No tactical options at all and very little control.
Campaing mode was nice. Online play isnt too bad when the server is up.
Overall score 2/5 due mainly to the clunky diagonal layouts and military aspect.

See I base my opinions on experience, not just reviews and other peoples view points.
Have a nice day :)

[King Faticus]

funny thing with the drinking comment was it is an inside joke:p

even gamespot which gave SCS a bad score gave Cotn a 7.5 but that is just their opinion.. I would give it an 8.6 (no not a 10 I don't give anything a 10)

really what I was trying to say (and not well i know) is that of course your going to hear people say company X is better than company Y in company Xs own forums :p

and your going to get some opposition if you say company X 'sucks' in company X's forum too

brand loyalty - fans ect

to you SC 4 was probably an 8-10 to me it was a 3.5 at best;)
also personal expirience :)

[omni2226]

Na SC4 gets about 2/5.
Graphics and gameplay are ok but the way the AI pathfinding and commute times work sucks.
And I hate having to lay water pipes every time I expand a section.

SC3 would get 4/5 :)

[King Faticus]

SC3 gets a 7.5 out of 10 in my book

[aeval99]

Do I return this thing to Titled Mill or what?
Is this serious question or just a way to express your disappointment? Obviously you can't return the game to Tilted Mill. If you buy a bad orange from the grocery store, do you try to return it to the farmer who grew it?

EA published the game and sold it to you. If you want compensation, then you have to deal with them. Personally, I think you would be better off with the stick in the eye thing. EA is not known for their customer service.

If I were you, I would throw the thing on a shelf for a few months and play something else. Come back to it later when the bugs have been worked out and the modding community is more organized and knowledgeable than it is at the moment.

[abomb59]

Why am I amused at the thought of hundreds of people in line at the grocery store because they can't get their orange to open? :D

[aeval99]

Why am I amused at the thought of hundreds of people in line at the grocery store because they can't get their orange to open? :D
Damn! I knew I should have gone with a banana. Definitely the comedians of the fruit world. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/aeval99/smileys/banana.gif

[Akodis]

Imagine a world in which fruit has minimum home requirements for it to be opened...

"I'm sorry sir, but that banana requires a home with 3 baths and an attached 4-car garage... 6 baths if you're running Vista."

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

I did that last week... the result was Third Impact. Let's not do it again... I've had my share of Tang.

[King Faticus]

umm.. I have three baths.. but the attached garage was converted into another living room... can I still open a banana? :o

[Akodis]

umm.. I have three baths.. but the attached garage was converted into another living room... can I still open a banana? :o

If you set taste and texture to minimum it should still work.

Turn off any unnecessary food applications in the background, such as microwave popcorn.

Make sure you're using the most recent window treatments and upgrade your carpeting if necessary.

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

You need to decrease the resolution from six inches to three inches as well, and adjust the chew rate to sixty ChHs. Oh, and it might help if you turn off Dynamic aftertaste.

[Camel_Moe]

ROFLMBO

And don't forget to upgrade your Garage door opener to a 5 hp motor with liquid cooling and version 3.0 return spring support....

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

ROFLMBO

And don't forget to upgrade your Garage door opener to a 5 hp motor with liquid cooling and version 3.0 return spring support....

And update to DirectTV 9.0b or better.

*Rimshot.* :cool:

[King Faticus]

I have a sun room and and two (small) kitchens.. does that help anything? o_0
(my house was actually two houses that were combined) a dual core house!
ohh well.. as long as the pot stickers work I'll survive until I upgrade :eek:

[StephenJ]

Is this serious question or just a way to express your disappointment? Obviously you can't return the game to Tilted Mill. If you buy a bad orange from the grocery store, do you try to return it to the farmer who grew it?

lol, I have to say the comments above were hillarious, but back to the question....

I would say that tracking down the farmer for his bad orange is not worth the effort considering the unit cost of an orange and especially considering that my local grocery store has a workable return policy on goods such as oranges. Considering the unit cost of this game and the fact that the store will not take it back I am left with wondering whom it goes back to. You bring up a good point that EA publishes the game and is thus the next in line to return this turd to. I will investigate that.

Thanks for the assistance.

-Stephen

[Kareal]

[QUOTE=StephenJ;180929]So, I'm pretty sure the return time limit at the store has passed, and they would want to exchange itQUOTE]


I returned my game no problem. Here's how you do it:


NOTICE: Please refer to the original documentation that came with your product for warranty replacement information specific to your product.

Product Exchange or Return:

If you meet one of the following criteria and you are within the 90 day warranty period, you can return the product to Electronic Arts for a replacement.

The product was determined to be defective by an Electronic Arts Technical Support representative.
The product has been determined to be incompatible with your computer by an Electronic Arts Technical Support Representative.
The product will not work on your computer because you do not meet the requirements.
When sending us your product, be sure to include the sales receipt showing the date of purchase, as well as the Requested Information shown below.

Product Replacement:
If you meet one of the following criteria, you can send your product along with a nominal fee to Electronic Arts for a replacement product.

The product is 90 days past the purchase date
The product has been scratched, broken, or has been damaged in another fashion.
When sending us your product, be sure to include a check or money order for the amount shown in the replacement costs section made payable to Electronic Arts, as well as all of the information in the requested information section below.


Electronic Arts Customer Warranty
209 Redwood Shores Pkwy
Redwood City, CA 94065

Note: We strongly recommend that you send your product using a traceable delivery method. Electronic Arts is not responsible for products not in its possession.

************

Also, dont listen to Admiraltigerclaw. His response alone tells me enough about his lack of understanding of tech issues relating to this game. He makes two assumptions that are quite silly

1. He thinks it's only happening to Vista users. Wrong. It's happening to XP as well

2. Vista has been out for a year and three months now. If software hasn't been able to adapt to the OS, then they should not make the game for that OS. However, this isn't the case withthis game as it is affecting ALL OS

[pcgamer2]

Well this may be out of your 90 days but i know how you can return opened games. If within 90 days,you simply have to call EA (recommend ) and tell them you simply don't agree with the license agreement (don't say ANYTHING Else about the game or it sucks or bla bla bla , just simply say you don't agree with the license agreement, and after all, doesn't the license agreement say if you don't agree with it,you can return it?If you return it to retail,you may have a lower chance of getting your money back (mostly meaning target).LOL speaking of that, in our local target, the target return line is always empty because everyone knows what they are going to say, or the ones who don't and are at the counter most likely find out there and then.But anyways, if you don't believe me on this, i read an article on it and they tested it with about 10 games, and 7 of them got returned with money back or credit for their products and etc.