Mass Effect Trilogy - Faulty DVD's and no support
EA has no compassion for rural folks with limited internet bandwidth...
EA and Origin's failures:
You are required to install and use Origin to install the software, which in and of itself is not necessarily bad, just irritating. I have read the reviews about some people getting bad media, and I believe I am one of them. My experience: Insert disc one for Mass Effect, Origin is installed from the DVD, you're asked to create account, I did so, you're asked to enter the product code, I did so, this is the first error, no explanation, just says "General Error - Try again later" I found out through trial and error that the version of Origin installed was not the "latest version" and this was the reason for the error. Updated to the latest version and my product code was finally accepted and all 3 games show registered within Origin. However the installation from the DVD immediately failed with no explanation other than "installation failed" So I tried again, it asks for my product code again and then immediately fails because the product code is "already used" so I am forced to download 10gigs, I try that , I leave it running overnight, it just decides after downloading a gig and a half to pause itself for no apparent reason. So... I decide to just move on and install ME2, "disc read failure".. ok.. whatever, maybe I'll just install ME3 . "please enter your product code" (you only get one!) - surprise! "This product code has already been used" so basically the DVD's are glorified Frisbee's / paper weights. Do not waste your money on the DVD's, if you want this game. Download it, or better yet, don't buy any products by Origin at all if this is the best they can do. I know I'll never buy another Origin product. Should have took advice from the prior reviews and saved the time, money, headache.
Maybe it's a great game, who knows. May be weeks before I get to play it attempting to get past all the incompetence that went into producing this debacle of a product....
Sincerely,
A frustrated customer.
You are now ready to chat with EA Support Tech
EA Support Tech
Thanks for holding, my name's ****, with Electronic Arts. I'll be just one more moment as I go over your case notes, then we can get started.
EA Support Tech
ok thanks ****
EA Support Tech
You are welcome.
EA Support Tech
Please confirm the game code you are referring.
Me
*****************(only one I received with the trilogy)
EA Support Tech
Thank you.
EA Support Tech
Please confirm email ID of your EA account for check account details for better assistance.
Me
would that also be my Origin ID then?
Me
*************
EA Support Tech
Thank you.
EA Support Tech
Please allow me another moment.
EA Support Tech
Thank you for waiting.
EA Support Tech
I check the game code and this game code is already consumed in your account.
ME
correct, all three games show I own them in my account, but when I try to install from the DVD it asks for the code and will not let me past that point
Me
As I told *****, I haven't been able to install the games yet. Mass Effect 1 failed, then would not let me attempt to install it again as it wanted the product code again, Mass Effect 2 encounters a "disc read error" everytime, and Mass Effect 3 asks for the product code again when I try to install it...
EA Support Tech
Thank you for information.
EA Support Tech
Let me provide you game code so you can install game from your Origin account not from game disc.
Me
Data constraints on internet in my area prevent me from downloading the games...
EA Support Tech
Okay.
Me
Is there no method to get the games to install from the discs?
EA Support Tech
In this case please disable firewall on your PC and try to install from game disc.
Me
And when it asks for the product code again, the one provided in the box will work? or it will tell me again it's used already?
EA Support Tech
Yes, the product code work which you have in the box.
Me
ok one moment
ME
The product code did not work
EA Support Tech
May I know the game you are trying to install?
Me
Mass Effect 1
Me
actually I want to install all 3 but I can't get any of them to install
EA Support Tech
Please install Mass Effect 3 and use this code: ***********************
Me
Same error "code already been used"
EA Support Tech
Okay.
EA Support Tech
In this case you will have to download the game from your account because there might be some issue with the game disc and you are not able to download the game.
Me
I cannot download the game, data constraints on the internet here make it impossible, this is why I bought the DVD's
EA Support Tech
I can understand your situation however you are getting error while downloading from game disc then how can we fix this issue until you will not connect with Internet.
Me
replace the discs? With discs that work would be a good solution. I bought the product new, and sealed. I would expect to be purchasing working media, and not be expected to attempt to circumvent faulty media.
Me
This is not an isolated incident evidently, after reading a few reviews of the Mass Effect Trilogy set, it seems many customers have received faulty media...
EA Support Tech
I wish we can do this however EA stops providing game disc and now EA only provided PC game in digital version.
EA Support Tech
We can only add digital code on customer account and that also need internet connection to install the game.
Me:
Understood, I will put the game on a shelf and file it under "money wasted on faulty EA products. Thank you for your time, I know it's not your fault. Please let the folks there at EA know that I will encourage all my acquaintances in the gaming community not to purchase EA products in the future if this is the best they have to offer. Good day.
