Gearbox and Sega falsely advertised Aliens: Colonial Marines with press demos, according to lawsuit

Sega and Gearbox Software are the defendants in a class action suit claiming the two companies falsely advertised Aliens: Colonial Marines with unrepresentative trade show demonstrations.

[Sandmano]

Serves them right.

[GamerElite]

Damn right

[Gaming101]

Sega deserves it for not funding the game so it would get to where it needed to be by the time it released, unfortunately an old fart judge is going to be reviewing the before and after pics, and I have a feeling based on those comparisons the judge won't have a clue what everyone is whining about as the difference only appears to be in the lighting in those pics.

Really this is just the typical whiny reaction from self entitled gamers who think they can hurt a developer for making a bad game. The thing is, all marketing materials that were released right before the game launched had the game's final footage and screenshots, and not the E3 demo screenshots, so the judge is going to throw this one out.

Still, it would be nice to see Sega get its just deserves for not paying the right amount of attention to a game that deserved to be made right.

[NYC_Gamer]

I'm happy about this lawsuit since they tricked so many gamers into buying garbage

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Its called bait and switlch and its 100% illegal in the U.S. I gladly will add my name to this lawsuit. What they pulled really was horribly wrong.

[T2]

Generally by default you are included on a class action if you have proof of purchase ... Usually you only need to do work to opt out and commence your own suit if you wish...

[zerocrossing]

I hope they finally get this awful mess sorted out, I don't like wishing ill on anyone but someones head needs to roll for this.

[Gameatholon]

Curious to the person who's disagreeing with everyone, yet hasn't made a comment to validate his opinion.

And yes, Gearbox should be made to pay up for their lack of honesty and character.

[BanBrother]

Nevermind Randy, he likes to wait in the shadows on these articles.

[Sandmano]

You caught me ...

[Biohazard8860]

Good glad they will get what's coming to them.

[jetlian]

I doubt sega will lose. what was a demo doesn't mean it will make into the game

[Gameatholon]

Jetlian did you read the article?

"The suit claims that by sending out review code to the press under an embargo that lifted in the early morning of Aliens: Colonial Marines' launch date of Feb. 12, the game's pre-orderers and early adopters would have no knowledge of the discrepancies between the demo and final game. As such, it seeks damages for anyone who purchased the game on or before its release date."

It would be difference if people had actually seen the final product but they didn't, the last PAX show, they showed ACM and claimed it was a final build of the game, when in fact it was most likely a CGI video.

I would like for you to imagine that you spent the last 4 years pining over a series, it could be final fantasy, cod, gears of wars, it doesn't matter. You pre-order the game and mark the calender date and begin to count the days.

That day finally arrives and you rush to the store, get your copy home and pop it into your system finally, but to your surprise and utter disappointment this is NOT the game you had seen in all the game-play videos, and seen developers playing at trade-shows, instead it is something completely different and all the developer says is, "we're looking into that".

Imagine your disappointment and frustration, and can you honestly tell me that you wouldn't want answers or for someone to explain why you were lied to?

[jetlian]

it doesn't matter when an embargo lifts. I've seen movie trailers with scenes taken out by the time the movie hit the show.

There is nothing you could do about it. You think people can sue lionhead for not having the ability to grow trees in fable?!

Im not saying people can't be mad but this crap is wack.

edit: your new around here I should have known

[Wagz22]

See there's a difference between promising something a game might have and actually showing a game being "played" and claiming its gameplay when its really a rendered cg video...

[jetlian]

show this footage now then! whining and an unused account with 149 comments. go cry in the corner!

They promised me yea ok. what it was then and by release changed and once the court see the demo and compares the final game they will conclude its virtually the same!

[Wagz22]

Really mature to attack someone cause they don't meet you "comment quota", didn't realize I couldn't have an opinion...oh and here's the link that shows the hilarious comparison video: https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[Wagz22]

@Gameatholon, well said and I love how there's still a disagree, hilarious.

[ziggurcat]

did some idiot seriously file a lawsuit against these guys?

it's obviously not ideal that the game didn't end up being what was shown years before its release, but i don't think it's lawsuit-worthy.

what's next? sue irrational games because some of the content shown in the bioshock infinite demo from a few years ago - while the game was still in its early stages of development - wasn't in the final release version?

fact of the matter is that games sometimes go through major changes during the time it's being made, even after tech/gameplay demos have been shown. if you're going to sue a game studio/publisher because you aren't pleased with the final version of the game, then you *really* need to sit down, and seriously re-evaluate your priorities.

instead of being a bunch of litigious crybabies, and wasting taxpayers' money over a video game, they should be speaking with their wallets.

and for the record, i'm not the one clicking the disagree button.

[Bosna98]

GearBox Employee is that you? O.O

[Dirtnapstor]

I agree. The lawsuit thing is ridiculous, and your reasoning is valid. Don't know why people think they're entitled... wait, yes I do; a whole different topic.
Aside from all the Aliens mess, people should know better these days not to assume anything!

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Its not entitlement in this case. Gearbox did a full on bait and switch with ACM. They kept showing off the press demo footage all the way up to release representing it as what the consumer was getting. Then used review embargos to keep the press quiet until after release so they could get all the preorder sales as they knew the final game was not like what they had been showing off through the demo and developer led walk through vids they again released to the public just the month prior to release.

[Bosna98]

I feel bad for who ever paid 60$ thinking it was going to be good based on the footage they seen, but only to be lied to and disappointed by the final product.

[Gameatholon]

Ziggurcat I think you're missing the point, people had no idea, they were literally shown one hand while the other slid in the fast one before anyone could notice.

I totally agree with your statement that more gamers should SPEAK with their wallets. But come on man, the gamers were FLAT out lied to on this one. If gamers had of been shown the actual game, and there had not been an embargo on reviews until the release day, most gamers would have spoke with their wallet and avoided this train wreck.

Can you honestly defend such a shameful and dishonest tactic of a company? How could anyone spin this so it is justifiable?

What if Naughty dog, Bethesda or even Bioware pulled stunts like this with its fan base?

Yes the lawsuit will probably be swept under the rug, but its more of a wake up call for gearbox to smarten up.

To be quite honest, I could care less about a lawsuit, just an explanation an admittance of guilt, plus an apology something like; "We messed up, it will not happen again, we're sorry."

If the CEO & Chairman of SONY can come out on stage and bow before gamers and apologize, surely Mr.Pitchford could muster up something. Gearbox could stand to learn a tad of humility.

What does me being new around here have to do with anything at all? And for the record, I have been coming to this site for years, never made an account because I loathe "this".

[MilkMan]

Where do i sing up for this?!
I want IN!

Make no mistake this could be a paramount court case.
Just think, NO MORE BOGUS DEMOS OR LIES.
You get what was promised.

HALLELUJAH!

[Plagasx]

Good. Unfortunately, the damage has been done...

Just stick to Borderlands from now on Gearbox...

[ger2396]

So is this game worth $10? Its on sale at gamefly.

[nick309]

not worth it even if it was free

[Captain Qwark 9]

The best part is people are so obsessed with gearbox and impressed by them when the reality is, they have only made 2 good games lol they are more or less still an unproven dev. Add to that this is a licensed game and it pretty much guarantees average at best and a train wreck at worst ( apparently what it was lol )

I get the law suit but as a long time gamer, when it comes to newer devs and licensed games,common sense tells me to "wait and see" even if it means an extra day or three

[ICarly1985]

the most disgusting thing they have ever done, I don't have the game but I would gladly throw my hat in this! utter bullcrap is what I call it

[Bonerboy]

Pfft gearbox. Of all their games only Borderlands were any good. Pitchford is a douche'. Sad thing is that even after getting lied to and ripped off, gamers will still run out and buy this guys crap.
Rumour has it, Randy "fukface" Pitchford and Sergay "the swine" Titov will be teaming up to produce an ambitious little title guaranteed to rip off gamers on nearly every level. With Titovs P.R. prowess and Pitchfords gaming design genius the world is their oyster...well, you can be the judge of the outcome there...
I hope Gearbox bites it hard.

[kevinsheeks]

Wait zig you just told them to speak with thier wallets well if they win this law suit they can speak with sega or gearbox's wallet isnt tht even better :D

[cleverusername]

This game looked brilliant, until it was released!!!

[Garethvk]

The pathetic thing is all they needed was a line saying images may not reflect final version of the game and they would have been covered.

[MikeyDucati1]

It was an E3 showing they are talking about. E3. Isn't it common knowledge that what happens in E3 can suddenly change when it comes to final product? Since when gamers don't know this?

[Garethvk]

That's true but I think the big issue for some is the trailers leading up to release showed graphics of a much better quality.

[MikeyDucati1]

So what demos and E3 games were EXACTLY like the final product? What games?