Own Undertow? Call MS to get another free goodie
by Dustin Burg 
{ Jan 22nd 2008 at 1:45PM }
So, Undertow will be a free download to both gold and silver Xbox Live subscribers tomorrow, but what about those who already the game? Are they not worthy of another apology download option? Shouldn't they get another form of compensation since they've already plopped 800 MS points down on Undertow ? Well, the answer is ... yes.Major Nelson posted a comment telling those who already own Undertow to "contact [Xbox] support" and that "they will take care of you." By taking care of us we don't expect free pizza for a year or a massage, but we do expect either free MS points or another XBLA download. Bottom line, if you've previously purchased Undertow and want another form of compensation for the Xbox Live downtime, get on the tele and make a call to Xbox customer support. State your case and ask (politely) for other compensation. Like Major said, they'll take care of you.
[Thanks, LHarmon]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
remix3d @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:51PM
2 genius steps in getting what you deserve more:
1) download Undertow once it is released from Atlantis (or i mean when it becomes free...)
2) then call the support service, and say" I've already downloaded this before (just do a little white lie), may i please get something else?"
And there you have it, a Free Undertow and free MS points or another XBLA game..
Diamondxp @ Jan 22nd 2008 1:53PM
Microsoft Really takes Care of its customers. THey do not really have to do anything going by the TOS. Yet they always exceed my expectations.
InTheCatBoxAgain @ Jan 22nd 2008 1:58PM
What if you don't want Undertow?
I'd much rather get 800MP to use as I wish.
xenocidic @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:02PM
Then I'd suggest you purchase Undertow today, then call tomorrow and you will receive 800 Microsoft points.
Mark @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:04PM
But then he still has Undertow. Apparently he's allergic and can't play any Undertow or he'll break out in hives.
InTheCatBoxAgain @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:37PM
I'm not into side scrolling shooters.
But I guess I have no choice. :(
Mark @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:03PM
It's side-scrolling CTF shooter... with a bunch of different unit types that you can upgrade each match. It's different enough from the run-of-the-mill variety that maybe you'll like it.
Bryan T @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:45PM
xenocidic's comments are tempting...
JakubK666 @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:27PM
So according to Xenocidic you make a profit by spending 800 points and getting the same 800 points back next day....Well I don't see a point in that.
xenocidic @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:30PM
because then you get to experience the joy of talking to MS support reps to extract your refund
Larry *not allowed to say cheevo* @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:01PM
w00t! I'm LHarmon! Yay! I'm famous! No pictures, no pictures.
Yeah, pretty good of them to do something. Although the customer service line is excruciating! That should take care of all the folks that are upset because they already purchased this game! Win/win!
Jeremy @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:04PM
Doesn't do me much good considering I got the RRoD last week and this is a limited time download.
Diamondxp @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:21PM
Wow Jeremy You bring up a interesting dilema. Here is my suggestion. Take your account to another XBOX360. THen Download game to your account. As long as it is bought on your account you can play it. Or call MS customer support and let them know that this is your issue. My Experience has been that MS always finds a way to make the customer feel happy.
xenocidic @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:14PM
As long as it is bought on your account you can play it...
...as long as you are connected to XBL.
mgroves @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:06PM
[insert additional whining about free product here]
Big Bird @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:28PM
I agree some people can't go through the day without complaining about something. Sad existence.
ZeroCorpse @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:04PM
Someone has to complain.
If nobody complains, then everybody just becomes complacent and eats the cold soup with a fly in it.
If it weren't for complainers, you'd be breathing bad air, drinking near-toxic water, and waving hello to the King of the British Colonies of America as he drives by in his gas-guzzling motorcade eating an endangered animal on a stick.
Complainers. . . Or heroes?
mgroves @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:23PM
Complaining about a free game is the same as fighting against tyranny. Your metaphor makes sense and is relevant.
riot @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:13PM
Already called support. You have to wait until AFTER 6 p.m. tomorrow (Wed), and if you do not have the points already credited to your account, then call support.
Anticrawl @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:16PM
Ahh so I'm guessing they'll actually check the games tied to your gamertag.. guess my plan of calling in and lieing about owning it to get free points won't work. Bah, lieing is always a bad idea. Usually never works so I avoid it when I can.
Anticrawl @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:17PM
Dustin should add this in as an update, about how people who already have the game will be compensated and what they will need to do exactly.
Boff @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:25AM
Oh bollocks! I was going to lie through my teeth too.
I'd rather have my choice of 800msp XBLA titles than be forced to take one game in particular.
Not that I thought the trial was crap. I enjoyed it, but there are other trials I enjoyed a lot more!
riot @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:19PM
yea, i was gonna do the same for my girls account, but oh well. we still get to choose one other game. besides, undertow isnt THAT bad....just small people. online play is pretty good though, if not but for passing time waiting for another good game to come out
Neebs @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:29PM
Speaking of this, I heard the dumbest thing. This guy on GameFAQs was proposing to get 800 free MS points, you should buy Undertow then for 800, then when it goes free you'd get 800 points...for free.
I just couldn't...
xenocidic @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:14PM
LOL I actually suggested that above on/around #3 ;>
Mark @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:06PM
If you look at the black box of that... you're putting in 800 MS points and getting 800 MS points + Undertow. But you add having to possibly deal with MS support in the mix. Doesn't make any sense.
ccc @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:32PM
I dont want undertow so Im gonna call them and try for something else.
thisguyrighthere @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:33PM
I've no problem complaining. Undertow sucks and I don't want it.
It's like having a truck full of horse shit dumped all over your lawn and to apologize for what they've done they offer you some cow shit.
I'd much rather just have the horse shit cleaned off my lawn. They can keep their cow shit.
mgroves @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:56PM
Not a great metaphor.
AnOffday @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:01PM
This whole XBL thing is a mess, but you're still an idiot. Undertow isn't that bad. It's free, and I'll take it. If you don't want it, then sucks for you I guess.
Premo @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:07PM
That was actually a simile...
Haha, sorry.
English finals at the end of the week :p
InTheCatBoxAgain @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:47PM
I too got the RRoD.
But I just went out and bought another.
Tony @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:16PM
It's either this or be refunded your $1 for the service issues. I hardly see what the problem is.
JeffT @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:30PM
OK, I'm not lazy let's see if all the owners of undertow call up let's say tomorrow, then I'm imagining that some or most of us will be on hold to ask MS to compensate us in some way.
They really should make it easier for those of use who already own Undertow. I can't sit on hold all day for 800pts. We should be able to send an email or something.
riot @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:15PM
like i said, they should automatically put the points in your account, or at least thats what the non-english speaking guy from their customer service told me, after asking his manager since he didnt know they had even finalised which game it would be.
NvM @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:20PM
While, I would rather have another game., I downloaded the Undertow demo and it wasn't that bad.
Hell I'm looking forward to getting it tomorrow, and playing it online.
Then again, I'm a whore for free things and have Yaris on my HDD.
Rouge @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:40PM
Why are you guess still calling it compensation or an apology? It has been confirmed in the Xbox forums that it is neither (even hinting that Major Nelson never “pinged“ you in for your first entry on the topic). The free download is a thank you gift in celebration of their success. But then again why let the facts get in the way of a good story that angers people into thinking that it is something it isn’t so that you get a lot of comments.
HaVoC @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:44PM
What Rouge wrote is true. It was confirmed to be nothing more than a thank you offering, as confirmed by Lucky 13 X of the official representative of Xbox support. http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/forums/iconsandlevels.htm (page 3)
HaVoC @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:09PM
Ops. Wrong URL. Try page 3 of this instead.
http://forums.xbox.com/17996927/ShowPost.aspx
xenocidic @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:41PM
actually it was Deaconblade on page 3 who confirmed it's just a "Thank you" and not compensation.
HaVoC @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:50PM
Lucky 13 X (Official Xbox Support Representative):
“Yeah, I have seen the posts on some sites that imply this is compensation, when as it was stated by Marc Whitten earlier this month that this Wednesday's Xbox Live arcade game is being offered for free as a token of Xbox's appreciation to the community in celebrating the success of Xbox Live this past holiday. This would include both Silver and Gold members.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/live/serviceissue.htm
In any event, please enjoy the game come this Wednesday. If you have purchased the game, please give Xbox Support a call for details on how we can assist you.”
Deaconblade:
“i doubt Major Nelson has pinged anyone at Xbox 360 Fanboy to let them know anything of the sort concerning Undertow as compensation. that's a fansite by the way. they're entitled to run and name any article of theirs as they see fit. but i highly doubt Major Nelson let them know anything beyond what Marc wrote in his letter.
this game is to celebrate the success of Xbox Live. it is not an apology game.”
Lucky 13 X in response to Deaconblade:
“Thanks Deacon. Just give Xbox Support a call for asssitance on how we can assist you or for details on this offer.”
xenocidic @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:07PM
right i did see that further down the page , sorry.
ccc @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:19PM
Well I called them and they wont just give me points. Undertow sucks balls and I told them that I did'nt except it as compensation but they didn't care.
I told them to fuck off, that I wasnt renewing my gold membership when it runs out, that Im getting in on the class action lawsuit and that I'm buying a ps3.
xenocidic @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:31PM
whats your gamertag and when does your sub experience?
i'm willing to bet you renew.
xenocidic @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:32PM
*expire ?
HaVoC @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:39PM
Dude. Relax. Forget what 360fanboy is reporting. Undertow isn't a form of compensation. Look a few comments a head. Breath. You'll be alright. :)
ryan @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:46PM
about the peopel thinking buying undertow just to get 800 points come wednesday.. wtf???
then whats the point, your essentially just getting the points back so in the end your still getting undertow for free..
man some people these days with their backwards thinking..
Sneaky Swede @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:49PM
I called tech support and they are reimbursing anyone who bought Undertow with 800 pts once the game becomes free! Woot
ryan @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:54PM
im sorry the game they picked you don't like,
but if you realize according to the agreement they didnt have to do anything especially when its only been having major issues for a week.... the game is worth more than what it would of costed to access live for those days... and based on a $5000 dollar annual fee it equals to .13 cents a day.
you guys fail to realize that you are paying for a service not a product...
unlike products, services do run into issues once in a while that makes it not work.. its the same with all services you may subscribe too..
be it tv, inet, cell phone etc... they all can go down unexpectedly and there is nothing you can really do about it but to wait it out until the service provider fixes the problem on their end
and the agreement you agreed to makes no guarantee that you will always be able to connect to the service (if they did then there would be a vaild reason to sue)
HaVoC @ Jan 22nd 2008 7:16PM
You are aware that section 16 of Live’s terms of use is for it’s silver members and that if a service isn’t rendered as advertised, the company can not charge for it? The point of it is, Microsoft didn’t have to give it to anyone. Microsoft isn’t offering it as compensation.