Wonders why the internet Blames the Victim and not the Criminal

JoelR

Contributor
CRank: 6Score: 29300

MGO Store - a case of Botched Opportunity

I could present on the fact that the store has been overloaded multiples of times
or that the design of the store is hard to use if you use HD resolutions on smaller screens but I won't as that has been said many times before...

What I will talk about it.... Credit Card Issues and the lack of quality support when something fails - they really need a phone number as well...

Many countries are completely locked out of the MGO store as they only accept Money from about 20 countries (sorry Northern and Eastern Europe, Sorry Africa and SAmerica and Mexico)
I was one of the lucky ones in that I live in Canada and you would think that that would mean me being able to get the expansion.... well that would be a complete NO.  The following is my story 


To contrast what I am about to say about Konami Online Store Support- My Credit Card company got back to me within minutes of me contacting them and they contacted me several times throughout this to see if things are working right or not now and to inform me that charges were removed from my bill etc...


The story starts out as so....
I decided I want to purchase the Gene+ expansion so I go to my PC (as trying to use their website on the PS3 is nightmarish)
I attempt to log in (of course this is during the overload period )
This attempt takes place over 4 days!!!
I finally make it in and fill in all the information  ---- Purchase failed????
ok ... relog in (and fail 20-30 times due to overload)
Finally make it in and do it again.... FAILURE
(repeat about 6 -7 times)

Think to myself: Did I have all the info correct? maybe I am screwing up? So ... Pickup the phone to talk to my CC company:


phone CC after 7 attempts to buy Gene+ expansion  and getting error messages from Konami MGO store saying transaction did not go through. MC informs me that all transactions occurred... ALL TRANSACTIONS OCCURRED (that means I was billed for each and every attempt that MGO said I did not succeed at!)


(sent by me to KSupport)

07/21/2008
9:57AM

Topic: Konami Metal Gear Online store

Credit card company (XXX--XXX) reports that I have 6 successful transactions for gene expansion plus. The MGO store has reported that my financial institution refused it 6 times and has not credited me with the expansion. So I have been billed for 6 but received none.
I have no order number as the site always said it was refused.
These attempts all reflect the fact that the store said the transaction was refused - if it reflected the fact that the transaction had gone through the extraneous transactions would not have been attempted
I am very upset about this and I hope you understand why (14.99usd is ok 14.99x6 usd = bad)
Please make this up to me in an appropriate way


7/24/2008   (notice the three days)
Dear Joel,

Thank you for contacting Konami Customer Support.

In order to better assist you, please provide the following information.

· What type of credit card are you trying to use? (Ex. AMEX, Visa, Discover, MasterCard)

· Is it a bank debit card, a true credit card, or a pre-paid credit card?

· What is the name of the issuing bank?

· What is your Konami ID

· What is your Game ID

· What is the character name that you used to try to purchase items from the MGO shop

· What are the last 4 digits of the credit card number that you used?

· Have you verified with the bank that they have your address information exactly as you are entering it?

· Have you verified with the bank that the charges aren’t just pending transactions that drop off the account automatically?

· Are you using the PS3 web browser or a PC web browser?

· If you are using the PS3 web browser have you tried a computer instead?

· If you are using a computer, have you tried the PS3 web browser instead?

· What were the results?

Supplied the info to KSupport  (will not post mail as most of this is confidential information

AGAIN recontacted CC company about transactions . they say they are still valid and ask If I want to dispute them... I do and they remove them


07/25/2008 (only a day this time)

Dear Joel,

Thank you for contacting Konami Customer Support.

We have forwarded this information along for further investigation. Please note that it may take a little while to hear back regarding this issue.

Please note that on our end we do not show that the purchase was successful, so if you see any funds on hold in your account they should return in a few business days depending on the bank.
Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Regards,

KDE-US Support

support@konami.com

Hours of Operation 9:00 to 5:30 pm PST


No kidding eh? I disputed the charges so the payment was removed)
was gone for 2 days so didn't get to reply immediately (but here it is

08/01/08

>
Since I had last contacted you the billing has been dropped from my Credit Card... Now I need to know why it failed so that I can pick up the Gene+ expansion. Your online store does not appear to like me at all.


 08/01/08 (OMG A FAST REPLY)

Dear Joel,

Thank you for contacting Konami Customer Support.

We have forwarded the information along to be investigated further. We will let you know when we have a suggestion or a possible solution for you to try.

Regards,

KDE-US Support

support@konami.com

Hours of Operation 9:00 to 5:30 pm PST



08/06/08  23:49 (6 days this time!!!)
Dear Joel,

Thank you for contacting Konami Customer Support.

According to our records the 3 digit code on the back of the credit card was entered incorrectly.

Please make sure that you are entering the correct 3 digits off the back of the credit card.

Regards,

KDE-US Support

support@konami.com

Hours of Operation 9:00 to 5:30 pm PST

08/07/08  (my response)
*This response seems unlikely as my Credit Card provider did in fact approve the transaction (as evidenced by my bill and their affirmation that multiple transactions did go through) but the transaction was later canceled it after my request because of this issue. After talking to them they say it was your side entirely that messed up in some manner as you did receive approval for the purchase from them.

I am no longer worried as the _transactions have dropped off my bill_ but the fact remains that either you or the credit card company made a mistake (the credit card company in approving it if the code was wrong or you in not accepting the approval given by the credit card company in some manner).

I am extremely disappointed in Konami Support's speed of help as my credit card company responded within minutes when I contacted them whereas your "investigation" has taken several weeks with little to no information being passed on to me. I am also disappointed in the fact that one of either the credit card company or you is obviously very mistaken as to the cause.

Ah well I live and learn - will never purchase product from Konami again unless it is in a retail store or through the PSN and not Konami's own online store service.
**





It also laughable that I would have entered my security code wrong on multiple different occasions on one site when I had it right for the 11 other online transactions I did during that period with 6 other retailers.

Overr8ed6465d ago

yea konmai would have saved a lot of problems if they used PSN like normal Devs.

JoelR6460d ago

Of course I do understand their desire to do it themselves (approximately 30% more incoming revenue) but the aggravation and flubs must be causing them some loss of prestige which in the long run could cost them more.

30°

Gang of Dragon Studio Reportedly Removes YouTube Channel Amid Funding Uncertainty

Nagoshi Studio’s YouTube channel with the Gang of Dragon trailers appears to have been removed following reports that NetEase will stop funding.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
240°

We Are Xbox

Dear team,

Xbox has always been different.

We started with a simple idea. Games should bring people together through shared experiences. That led to the first Xbox in 2001, Xbox Live in 2002, and new ways to connect, from friends lists and achievements to parties and play across devices. Today, Xbox reaches over 500 million players around the world, with some of the most important franchises in entertainment.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
Itveds11h ago

re-evaluating exclusivity 💀

PS players will need to go back to pretending to dislike Xbox games

pwnmaster300011h ago(Edited 11h ago)

Or meaning since it’s doing so good they might just do everything day 1.

They didnt say re-evaluating their multiplatform approach.
🤣🤣🤣 Xbox is so dead. I know you scared🤣🫵ӿ 97;

11h ago
Eonjay8h ago

Even when the topic is strictly Xbox he can't stop talking about PlayStation. Xbox has basically become the hate of PlayStation... and not much else.

peppeaccardo1h ago

This whole mess is the result of bad decisions and strategy from those who have "the vision" inside the company.

pwnmaster300011h ago

Hurt over video games 🤣🤣

Lmao we all grew and got jobs but apparently you stayed home broke 🤣🤣.
Man I love loyal dogs like you. MS kicked Spit and slapped you around but you still come back on all 4s.

Good little boy 🤣🤣

11h ago
GhostScholar9h ago

My only question is what games are PlayStation gamers gonna play now? They don’t really come out with new games anymore. I’m looking forward to wolverine, but after that then what?

-Foxtrot11h ago

Lmao

There’s no way after everything it’s going back, the damage is done

What you are seeing now is the new management telling what the core fanbase (aka…you) want to hear so they are pumped full of hope and are more likely to invest in the next Xbox console

When Phil took over after the awful Xbox One reveal he did the same thing, he told people what they wanted to hear for damage control.

It’s crazy people are getting suckered into this again.

GhostScholar9h ago

I mean I always buy both systems, so none of this affects me.

darthv723h ago

FWIW..... wasn't the new management speaking to the other staff.... not so much us (regular folk)?

CrashMania10h ago

And you'll now go back to again thinking exclusives suddenly matter, that multiplatform is no longer the future, or that revenue from multiplatforms doesn't matter, like all you flop flopping xbox grifters lol.

The whole post just sounds like the previous phil corpo slop talk to me, whole thing reads like a nothing burger lol.

Jin_Sakai9h ago

“re-evaluating exclusivity”

She also said this.

“The model that got us here won’t be the one that takes us forward.”

Profchaos7h ago

I don't know if they have a model anymore it's flipped so many times since the xbox one reveal

TriniOutsider9h ago

It must be miserable being someone like you.

Aloymetal8h ago

There's a bunch just like him but that's what happens when some rely on dreams, hope and wishful thinking. lol

isarai_lee8h ago

"pretending"? Bro gears hasnt broke 1mil on ps5, and starfield hasn't passed 200k, Hellblade 2 was even stated to be a financial disappointment in sales on its own console, let alone ps5. Im not saying people don't like them, but they certainly aren't setting the community on fire, Forza may be different tho

Neonridr7h ago

Forza broke 5 million on PlayStation. So yes. And there's a new one coming soon.

Aloymetal8h ago

Xbawx is ''re-evaluating exclusivity''... Translation: After throwing all sort of crap to the wall to see if something sticks but clearly nothing worked, we, including our lord ''in charge'' Phil came to the conclusion that exclusives indeed do matter so please forget if we ever said otherwise.
Yup, I feel it in my gut, next gen belongs to xbox, PS6 is cooked...

8h ago
1Victor7h ago

Someone can’t sleep after those 5 million forza games PURCHASED by PlayStation owners🤣 🧌 💥

6h ago
Extermin8or3_5h ago

Well with the decreased price of gamespass even with cod off it there is no way it is profitable given the cost of making their 1st party games (not if you actually include that cost in gamespass costs which they typically dont but should) they will just make a loss without the sales on

Xx_Pistol_xX3h ago

They don't hate the games. They hate the box.

DazaMc1h ago

Forza just sold five million copies on PS5, they have a taste for it now.

+ Show (11) more repliesLast reply 1h ago
Outside_ofthe_Box11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

If they go back to exclusive games it at least shows that they are finally getting it. They would be turning down immediate money for something that will potentially workout in the long term.

Only issue is they've already opened Pandora's box. A lot of their base has moved to PC or jumped to PS. So will be a long road to get back on track.

We have been saying this from day one exclusives are a must if you are going to be selling hardware look at Nintendo and Sony before Jim Ryan. That's the proven formula. You had some that were deluded and blinded by loyalty accepting that multiplat was the future and that MS was merely getting ahead of where the industry was headed, but at least they can finally see the light and agree with what everyone has been saying for a decade+

pwnmaster300011h ago

True, blame it on the rabid fanboys. MS can do no wrong and spinner this multiplatform move. While the actual fans moved on.

I feel like with the new Xbox coming they are hoping to bring back those old fans and then if it goes well. Bring back exclusives.

If the new console is performing like series x and one. Naw they staying multiplatform.

darthv722h ago

Actual fans dont move on... they can add to their hobby while waiting for the next new release. If you believe what you typed then I guess PS fans moved on too.... you know, since its been a Sahara for 1st party games this gen.

Itveds11h ago

Gonna be a funny world where Xbox games are exclusive and Sony games are not lol

Outside_ofthe_Box9h ago(Edited 9h ago)

Funny world where Sony is pro consumer and Xbox is not? At least according to what you loyalists have been saying all this time 🤭

VenomUK8h ago

@itveds For how many years have you been doing this sad stuff? For how many years have you been creating fake accounts to troll? For how many years have you always been cl vnn

fr0sty7h ago

Pathetic incels with nothing better to do than argue over a box... Because they don't have any good games to play on theirs, obviously. If your precious box is so special, why don't you shut the fuck up and go play it?

Elda1h ago

Sony exclusives will always be better than anything XB puts out.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1h ago
CrashMania10h ago

I think it's too late, xbox sales were diving even before ABK, they got even worse since then even long before the full multiplatform push. I'd be surprised if they even went back to timed exclusivity at this point, Helix is basically a PC and is going to be expensive, they already struggle to sell cheaper xbox consoles, it will be low volume and they'll have a very small 'console' base to sell to, which has already been conditioned to just play via gamepass anyway.

Neonridr7h ago

I don't see them removing PC from the equation. Considering MS has a heavy enough investment in the PC market, it would be foolish to abandon them. I could see them taking away games from PlayStation or ensuring they are timed exclusives at the very least. Say what you will but if Call of Duty ends up becoming a timed exclusive to Xbox machines, that would hurt PlayStation, don't pretend like those games don't sell millions.

Outside_ofthe_Box4h ago

They would lose out on a lot of CoD sales tho. Doesn't PS make up most of the sales?

Pyrofire955h ago

Their lifeline of solely the Xbox consoles is dry. Good-Great games on a 1st party scale can't be made at a loss so willingly - sent to the Xbox to only sell limited copies.
They invested billions scooping up studios and need to start making returns.
Sucks that nearly every company is publicly traded and have to be so shareholder biased but that's how it is.
Their words are strong but it'll take time to see what their actions accomplish. Lowering the cost of Game Pass and taking CoD off of it was a good clear start.

darthv723h ago

More like, allot of their base just played game pass. So now they need to encourage them to start buying again.

--Onilink--3m ago

What exactly is the long term goal with exclusives though?

Because for the most part, the hardware side of things has never been the most profitable, even sometimes being subsidized for a period before breaking even. And that’s before the hardware component nightmare we currently live in.

The whole point of exclusives was to get more people to buy your console in order to have a bigger install base, which meant even bigger software sales.

But if their ports to PS5 are selling (for the most part it seems) quite well, then other than negating the cut Sony takes there, unless you are REALLY increasing your software sales on your own console, it probably doesn’t make that much of a difference?

Honestly I don’t even understand Sony’s decision to scale back on it for PC unless they weren’t even recouping the port expenses. They released ports when the hardware sales never really dropped, and now that all consoles will undoubtedly take a noticeable drop in sales due to the ridiculous prices, that’s when they decide they don’t want to sell to a larger install base to more easily recoup dev costs… it’s just weird

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3m ago
maximusprime_10h ago

Despite all of that, it's clear that Microsoft's Xbox division is broken beyond repair.

10h ago
BeHunted9h ago

PlayStation is currently draining money on flop after flop. It's Sony that needs to re-evaluate their strategy

8h ago
CrashMania6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

Wonder how much money was lost on perfect dark, hellbalde 2, 300 million lost revenue
by putting cod on gamepass. The recent Jason schrier news that Xbox has cancelled dozens of projects, spent 70 billion just to see Xbox sales further collapse and gamepass see little growth.

The fact is this has been PlayStation's most profitable generation and they are making loads of money and selling plenty of consoles and games. While MS won't give you any sales figures or profit numbers for Xbox, says it all really.

shadowT10h ago

"Our presence on PC isn’t strong enough."

Fishy Fingers10h ago

It isnt. But I dont think they mean in 'games', rather, footprint.

They own the OS but as far as gaming is concerned, Steam dominate. I imagine the VAST majority of people who use the Xbox app/launcher are PC gamepass subs. No ones buying their 3rd party PC games through Xbox PC.

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90°

Marathon Was One Of The Best-Selling Games In March 2026

Insider Gaming writes: "Marathon was one of the best-selling video games in March 2026 in the United States. On Wednesday, Circna released the best-selling games of the month, and it featured six new releases along with two games returning to the top 20 after previously falling out."

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
92nar1d 14h ago (Edited 1d 14h ago )

Is it April fools day again?

The game is dead.

EDIT: the numbers are fudged. “digital sales on Nintendo and Xbox weren’t included in the data”

italiangamer1d 14h ago

🖕🖕🖕 29313;🤡🤡

92nar1d 11h ago

How’s concord 2, sorry I mean marathon doing? 🤣🤣

Neonridr17h ago

well it's not on Switch / Switch 2.. so their number would be zero.

The game had a decent launch however the userbase numbers are dwindling on Steam.

1Victor17h ago(Edited 17h ago)

“ Is it April fools day again?

The game is dead.

EDIT: the numbers are fudged. “digital sales on Nintendo and Xbox weren’t included in the data”

Does it hurt you to hear a SONY game was BEST selling ?
You gotta let go of those OBCURED feelings 🤷🏿

Neonridr17h ago

I mean the only reason MLB was the best selling title was because it was multi-platform. Likewise with Marathon. Will ring true for MS games. Only Nintendo titles are truly flexing their muscles when they chart as they are only to be found there.

S2Killinit6h ago

So that means we are going to act like it wasn’t best selling?

ChunkyMonk5h ago

It's kinda funny how this Obscure guy lives rent-free in your head. lol

Does Phil also live there?

1Victor4h ago

It's kinda funny how this Obscure guy lives rent-free in your head. lol

Does Phil also live there?
I’m sorry did you wrote something smart ?
Or are you trying to to be funny because you failed at both
Now kid run to mommy legs the grown ups are talking.
Don’t bother writing anything I will not respond to a bratty child like you

Outside_ofthe_Box16h ago

Can't wait to see how this is spun negatively. 😜

-Foxtrot11h ago

Yeah sure, yet the player count is no where near what they want for a AAA game with so much money behind it

Why people are trying to spin this game like it’s done overly amazing is baffling to me.

It won’t even be a blip on peoples radars by the end of the year .

S2Killinit6h ago

I really doubt that. I see it getting more and more traction.

ChunkyMonk5h ago

You must me typically wrong cuz those Steam chart numbers (AKA where the game sold the MOST) is less than what Hunt has, and Hunt didn't cost $500 million to make lol

Soy8h ago

So........doing better than most expected, but not enough to make back what it cost.

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