Mysterious Song Status: Refunds possible?

[mrhaboobi]

Hey Guys, i sent my money long ago, but nothing released so far, just wondering if there is a pre order refund process, right now id rather put the money onto other released homebrew rather than have it sitting there on something that may never see the light of day.  Could someone let me know the refund process ( if its possible) or if not how about a small updateon progress..   Happy to buy the game in future when or if it gets released.


Thanks

[RoyVegas]

I'm with him.  I'd like a refund at this point.  Can someone let me know what I need to do?

[Arkhan Asylum]

go to www.frozenutopia.com and email them directly about it.     

I'm not sure if the paypal thing ever got fixed.


And, Roy, you should know this already since you took part in the last drama about the same thing.  Or did you throw away your forum recollection along with your turbob collection.

[shubibiman]

I can't believe this still hasn't been fixed.

[mrhaboobi]

Would like to contact them, but i see there is no longer an email address for pre orders.. 

[Nazi NecroPhile]

From Rover's profile, his email address is dave@nodtveidt.net.  Alternatively, try getting a hold of him via the contact info. in your Paypal receipt.

[RoyVegas]

And, Roy, you should know this already since you took part in the last drama about the same thing.

There is no email address listed on their website to contact them that I could find. 

From Rover's profile, his email address is dave@nodtveidt.net.

I'll give that a try, thanks NecroPhile.

Alternatively, try getting a hold of him via the contact info. in your Paypal receipt.

My paypal transaction log is rather long from my purchases back then.  I tried to sift through it for awhile but didn't have much luck.  I'll save this method as a last resort. lol

[RoyVegas]

No go on his email posted in his profile.......

Hi. This is the qmail-send program at yahoo.com.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

<dave@nodtveidt.net>:
208.43.81.118 does not like recipient.
Remote host said: 550 5.1.1 User unknown: dave@nodtveidt.net
Giving up on 208.43.81.118.

[RoyVegas]

Here's the info from my Paypal transaction.  Trying this email next.

Business Name:
 Digital Blackie Services    (The recipient of this payment is Verified)
Email:
 sales@digitalblackie.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

 
Total Amount:
 -$35.00 USD
Fee amount:
 $0.00 USD
Net amount:
 -$35.00 USD

 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

 
Item amount:
 $35.00 USD
Sales Tax:
 $0.00 USD
Shipping:
 $0.00 USD
Handling:
 $0.00 USD
Quantity:
 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

 
Item Title:
 Mysterious Song Pre-Order
Date:
 Nov 13, 2009
Time:
 13:50:09 PST
Status:
 Completed

[SignOfZeta]

You only bought one copy!?

BTW, its a shame this game seems to be taking forever/never to come out. I mean, I played the fucking thing months ago. Not the full thing, obviously, but once you have the basic shit of an RPG up and running its really just a matter of adding assets, isn't it?

[lord_cack]

....but once you have the basic shit of an RPG up and running its really just a matter of adding assets, isn't it?

Well, thats the thing right there. The game itself is 98%-99% only thing left is the shiny bits touch up here, polish there. But the real catch has been the Cutscenes. When the game reached a near complete state (I would say it was around 85%-90%) the decision was made to redo the cutscenes. The reworked cutscenes are pretty nice (note I work on this project so I'm not gonna toot my own horn and say the cutscenes are fantastic....) but the artist has had several real life issues and needs come up which prevented the rapid rework that would have been required. Now the scenes are completed and they now only need to be implemented into the game. Well, Real life yet again holds up this process.

I won't comment on the reasons the refunds have not been handled. I will also not comment on why the pre-orders were begun in the first place. All that can be found in another thread and has been discussed thoroughly (and to the locking of said thread). I can say this project for me has been a beast of its own, road blocks, hurdles, and all sorts of issues have made it a monster unto itself. I will be glad when its released. Not just because it needs to be so everyone can enjoy it, but the beast needs set free

[Nazi NecroPhile]

the beast needs set free

Amen.  Preferably before it dies of old age.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Yeah, it's deffinitly going to be a breath of fresh air for me, once this beast is out of the way!

[TheClash603]

I may br a sucker... but I think this game is probably near complete.  I would pay one of you that want your money back, so that I may get your preorder + bonus.  I am just not sure if we could get ahold of the MS team to get the game shipped to me instead.

[Arkhan Asylum]

I may br a sucker... but I think this game is probably near complete.  I would pay one of you that want your money back, so that I may get your preorder + bonus.  I am just not sure if we could get ahold of the MS team to get the game shipped to me instead. 

It is near complete guy.  I have a prototype thats like the entire game minus the cutscenes being shoved in.

[OldRover]

The game is virtually complete, as it has been for quite some time now. We are STILL missing the final cutscene art though. I swear I'm just gonna give this fucking thing away eventually, just to get it out of my damn hair.

I explained the refund thing before, and nothing on the subject has changed... paypal is still holding the money and there is apparently no way to get it back. I have been in contact with paypal's lawyers for quite some time now and even they don't know what the issue is. Anyone got a pointy stick?

[TheClash603]

Rover, would it be possible to change the address of one of the preorders?  As a refund is not possible from the creators, it would help some of us get in on the game who missed the preorders, and those who want their money back can get it.

[shubibiman]

We are STILL missing the final cutscene art though

How come? And how long has it been that way? I think that people would rather have a complete game than have something released just because it has to.
By the way, who's xorking on that cutscene art?

[OldRover]

Rover, would it be possible to change the address of one of the preorders?  As a refund is not possible from the creators, it would help some of us get in on the game who missed the preorders, and those who want their money back can get it.

Yeah, I don't see why not. I'll be around for the next few days so if anyone wants to do this, just let me know and I'll make the changes in the order list.

How come? And how long has it been that way? I think that people would rather have a complete game than have something released just because it has to.
By the way, who's xorking on that cutscene art?

We have been waiting on the final cutscene art for over a year now. Black Tiger is the cutscene artist... we were hoping it would get finished at the end of last summer but it was delayed a bit... then the plan was for the end of the year, and that fell through too... then we set a final release date, pending the beta test results, but we still didn't have the final work... and now we're over a year overdue and still the art isn't finished. We have most of it and some of it is already in the game data, but there are scenes which are still incomplete and some which need some retouching to work.

SoZ, developing a PCE game isn't quite the same as developing a game for a more open system like the PC. Just making the game engine isn't always enough; with the low-memory issue, you can find yourself being forced to custom-tailor subprograms for each particular portion of the game. That becomes especially true for a huge production like an RPG. Also, since the compiler isn't as optimal as it could be, there tends to be a bit of overhead, and sometimes routines can be unoptimized, often creating large chunks of output code. So just adding assets isn't really the case here... I wish it was.

I am considering releasing the game as open beta, meaning that the full game in its current, unfinished form would become publicly available for free. This is obviously pending a vote from the team, but I think it would reassure people that this is most certainly not vaporware or a dead project that won't ever see the light of a replicator. Of course, this would also open it up to a big attack by certain Sega fanboys who know absolutely dick about the game's origin or about why the game is made the way it is, but you can't escape zealots in real life so there's no escaping them online either.

[lord_cack]

I am considering releasing the game as open beta, meaning that the full game in its current, unfinished form would become publicly available for free. This is obviously pending a vote from the team, but I think it would reassure people that this is most certainly not vaporware or a dead project that won't ever see the light of a replicator. Of course, this would also open it up to a big attack by certain Sega fanboys who know absolutely dick about the game's origin or about why the game is made the way it is, but you can't escape zealots in real life so there's no escaping them online either.

Well, that certainly would set the beast free.... it would be a little disappointing in the aspect that it would be cool to have a full on release, Cover Art, Disc.... you know the works. But, I have picked no bones with this game. Since the moment I can recall working on it this game has been a beast and has really worked us over.

This would free up time to take on another project, but I will refrain from commenting further on that as it would make me look a bit more selfish than I actually am.... excited about a project would be more appropriate than selfish

[nat]

Just my two cents-- I think releasing the game "as is" just to "get it out there" is stupid. Many hours were put into the thing, and I think it ought to be finished before released to the public. Refund people's money if you must, and perhaps work on this other project while you wait for the final artwork, but I think you guys owe it to yourselves to see it finished.

[TheClash603]

Just my two cents-- I think releasing the game "as is" just to "get it out there" is stupid. Many hours were put into the thing, and I think it ought to be finished before released to the public. Refund people's money if you must, and perhaps work on this other project while you wait for the final artwork, but I think you guys owe it to yourselves to see it finished.

I agree with this.

[Ceti Alpha]

Just my two cents-- I think releasing the game "as is" just to "get it out there" is stupid. Many hours were put into the thing, and I think it ought to be finished before released to the public. Refund people's money if you must, and perhaps work on this other project while you wait for the final artwork, but I think you guys owe it to yourselves to see it finished.

I agree with this.

As do I. It would be a shame for an unfinished product to be released after all the hard work that has gone into it.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Just my two cents-- I think releasing the game "as is" just to "get it out there" is stupid. Many hours were put into the thing, and I think it ought to be finished before released to the public. Refund people's money if you must, and perhaps work on this other project while you wait for the final artwork, but I think you guys owe it to yourselves to see it finished.

+1.  I've waited this long, so what's another few months?

[Arkhan Asylum]

Screw releasing it open-beta for free.  That's giving in to defeat.


Also, PM me the scoop on the paypal bullshit.  I've been pretty good at getting them to stop dicking off in the past.  Maybe I can lend some expertise in getting that clusterfuck fixed.

[mrhaboobi]

Heya.  AS i started the thread, thought i would chip in.  Im happy to wait ( as it seems many others are aswell ), would rather see a completed product than one which has been ruhed out due to pressure.  I appreciate the updates, i do think these should be a little more often then, as being able to understand the issues you have does give me a level of appreciation as to why there are delays ..

[lord_cack]

I appreciate the updates, i do think these should be a little more often then, as being able to understand the issues you have does give me a level of appreciation as to why there are delays .. 

I know not everyone has one, but Frozen Utopia has a Facebook and I do actually update that from time to time. More often than the actual Frozen Utopia site is updated. Certainly more than is mentioned here. So, if you wanna join the Frozen Utopia Facebook page that would be great. Also, that is where the most updates will be for the Jungle Bros. project.... once it gets fully underway.

[OldRover]

The actual site doesn't get updated very often at all... and the forum's pretty much dead as well, and is likely going to be closed to the public soon since the only action there is behind the scenes... there are also over 400 new registrants waiting for approval, and pretty much 100% of them are spambots... I don't really have the time or desire to approve of and then delete accounts that I know don't belong to PCE fans.

[Keranu]

If you close the public forum, could you leave the old posts intact? There's still some good info floating around in the developers section.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Yknow, if it's difficult to get updates posted on the site, or because not everyone has facebook, if its cool with you guys, I can copy pasta the updates as news feeds on Aetherbyte

though I dont know if anyone actually goes to my site either. 

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Isn't PCEFX the obvious place for updates?  It certainly has more traffic than any other related site.

[ParanoiaDragon]

The actual site doesn't get updated very often at all... and the forum's pretty much dead as well, and is likely going to be closed to the public soon since the only action there is behind the scenes... there are also over 400 new registrants waiting for approval, and pretty much 100% of them are spambots... I don't really have the time or desire to approve of and then delete accounts that I know don't belong to PCE fans.

Yeah, I've thought about sifting thru them, but the time involved/wasted would suck.  We could put updates on here, though, any kind of updates I can think of, would continually start with "we're waiting for..."

[OldRover]

I hate waiting.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Indeed!

[nat]

Someone ought to contact CrackTiger and ask him straight up if he feels he will actually [be able to] complete the cutscenes at some point in the future or if Frozen Utopia should start looking at other options.

[OldRover]

The aggravating part is that it's only a little work, but it's very important to the scenes. And my wife has already thought about finding someone else to finish the small amount of remaining work while B_T is unavailable.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Isn't PCEFX the obvious place for updates?  It certainly has more traffic than any other related site.

Not everyone comes here.  Theres all those whiners at pigitdress that say were too hardcore for them or whatever

[RoyVegas]

Just an update on my end.

Clash wen't ahead and sent $35 to me to take my spot in line for my preorder.  My info was passed along to Rover and Rover confirmed that Clash will now get my preorder.  Thanks Clash for filling up my spot in line and also thanks to Rover for allowing it to happen.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Last time I talked with BT about everything, & getting things done, was over a month ago, & he was out of town, with crappy internet service & dealing with alot of family stuff.  He hasn't been on here since that very day, September 17th.  I suppose I could try emailing him to see how he's doing.

[OldRover]

Just a quick update... B_T seems to be back, but I don't know for how long. He submitted some more work to the production. I don't know yet if it's everything or not but this is certainly a good sign.