eGames' CEO challenges Customer Complaint 8/25/00 -
Contact: Donald A. Thomas, Jr., consumer
webmaster of ICWhen.com
[email protected]
For Immediate Release
eGames CEO challenges Customer Complaint with Suit
Manteca, CA - (August 23, 2000) -- In a recent exchange of email communications with a customer, eGames, Inc. (www.egames.com) reveals plans to continue selling abridged software without telling customers that the software they're purchasing are not the original full versions. The revelation is made while Mr. Donald A. Thomas, Jr., Webmaster of ICWhen.com (www.icwhen.com), submits a complaint to the firm concerning their marketing policy.
"Mr. Thomas obviously has a mission here and short of revamping our marketing and product development strategies, he's not about to (be) appeased, " states Mr. Gerald W. Klein, CEO of eGames, Inc. in an email addressed to his staff in which Mr. Thomas was copied. "Ellen, are you sure we can't sue him?" he concludes.
On Saturday, August 19, Mr. Donald A. Thomas, Jr. purchased two video game compilations published by eGames, Inc., a Langhorne, Pennsylvania-based software publisher. "Galaxy of Arcade Classics" includes "7 exciting games featuring 3D graphics and sound." "Galaxy of Games Red Edition" is a "best-ever collection of 50 full feature games". Both are CD-ROMs intended for computers equipped with the Windows '95 or Windows '98 operating systems. Don installed "Galaxy of Arcade Classics" on his home computer and found that the software titles advertised on the packaging were quite different from their originally released forms.
"I played 'Tunnel Runner' for fifteen minutes, then the game stopped and told me that I had completed all the levels," revealed a disenchanted Thomas. "As you exit the main menu, they then offer to sell you the complete versions. I then realized I had actually purchased an elaborate eGames product catalog with nothing more than game samples represented as complete games."
Indicating that their target market are casual gamers that do not realize that they're purchasing only small portions of the complete game originals, Klein points out, "We realize that we cannot hope to satisfy both core and casual game players with the products that we intend to market and sell."
"Interestingly," challenges Thomas, "many of eGames titles are look-and-feel copies of classic video game titles such as 'Dig Dug', 'Pac-Man', 'Missile Command', 'Frogger', 'Breakout' and others. As a Webmaster of a game history Web site, I know that all these games became popular, in part, to their never-ending nature. If the player ever did reach a 'final' level, the entire game begins again adding to the existing score at a faster and more challenging pace. I purchased EGames' 'Galactic Patrol' a while back and it plays just like the original 'Galaga'. It's clear that they know what their target market is and it's not people interested in games that end in less than fifteen minutes."
Klein considered an invitation to have the matter reviewed by one or more Attorneys' General offices. The CEO responded that eGames' money-back guarantee protects them from any such inquiries inferring that those consumers who felt that they had been misled will be entitled to a refund.
"Our money-back guarantee protects our customers and our interests too," boasts Klein. "Experience has shown such a guarantee to be the best insurance money can buy and the best customer service policy."
Assuming that a money-back guarantee would protect eGames marketing strategy, Thomas points out that the products he purchased make no references whatsoever to any such guarantees.
The complete email exchange between Donald A. Thomas, Jr. of www.ICWhen.com and Mr. Gerald Klein of eGames, Inc. (www.egames.com) can be found at http://www.icwhen.com/news/egames0822.html.
Mr. Thomas may be reached in email at [email protected].
Mr. Klein may be reached in email at [email protected].
ARKANNA UPDATE 8/20/00 - Arkanna is now 20% complete! Here are some new screenshots from the game:
Be sure to check out Storm Works Interactive
JAGUAR IN THE NEWS 8/20/00 - Gamefan has an article in their current issue which included a lot of Jag related stuff. If you don't already have a subscription click here. The Dallas Morning News recently ran a story that also included some Jag stuff. Check out the article or these scans from the Dallas Morning News.
SONGBIRD UPDATE 8/14/00 -
Due to the recent move, the Songbird Productions mail order buiness will be closed for most of August while we relocate our merchandise. Any orders received will be temporarily held until then.
Also, Songbird has almost exhausted its supply of new Jaguar products. Soccer Kid is out of stock, Hyper Force has only one copy left, and Protector and Skyhammer have a few copies each. When Skyhammer is gone, it is gone and will likely never be reproduced again. The other games will have a very small second run made in the next 2-3 months.
Likewise, supplies of Ponx, SFX, and Lexis are running low, and there are no plans to reproduce these games once they have sold out.
Once Songbird re-opens, we will offer a bunch of new products for sale, including Jaguar Rapid Fire Controllers, Lynx Remnant, and Lynx Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure. All are limited edition items that may not be offered beyond their initial run.
Thanks for your continued support, and for your patience during this transition.
Sincerely,
Carl Forhan
Songbird Productions
http://songbird.atari.net