Doctor Venkman

Oniell Ford
I support your letter, GuyCC!

I believe that if you signed it as a representation to the entire GB fanbase, it could get their attention. Or maybe we all can send in letters/complaints about this to get some media attention to make them look bad.

It has happend before to certain game companies and has worked. I believe it happend to Microsoft when the “Red Ring of Death” occured. That certainly got their attention! (o_O) :-@ :@

Maybe everyone sending the same letter and being really annoying would prove that Activision has made a mistake in not publishing it, but with the wheels already in motion to find a new publisher (and apparently they're lining up), its not going to help much. Its coming, just a little later than expected.

Suggesting that one person sign a letter representing the whole fanbase would get their attention is asinine, however. Any old Joe can do that without actually checking with anyone first, and companies know that. They won't take that seriously. Besides the fact that this guy doesn't represent the entire fanbase. I for one would not want my name attached to something that uses such idiotic fanboy terms as “Borglike”. Besides the fact that the letter isn't firm enough. Saying “I think I'm going to stop being an Activision customer” is not as effective as “I'm going to stop being an Activision customer”. If you want to make a point, make it. Stick by your choice, and even if a cool game comes out, if its from Activision, you can't buy it. You can't do a protest half-assed if you're going to do one. And you can't “sort of” or “think” about committing to such a process. You need to make your point solid if you're going to try to write a letter of this magnitude.

Well, sorry my letter isn't up to your standards. Perhaps I should run any future correspondence past you for proofreading and potential verb usage errors, or better yet, you can always write your own letter and send the “correct” kind of message to companies the way you feel it should be handled. I'll be curious to see it, unless it's been sent already.

Activision should understand the phrase “Borg”. They published several Star Trek titles back in the early 2000's. Luckily for everyone involved, I spared you from the seeming “embarrassment” associated with my letter. Because cyborgs and scientists who catch ghosts with nuclear accelerators are not in the same social standing of fantasy/sci-fi. My bad. I'll creep over to some lower class residings once I finish this post. Does the same apply for genres of video games played? I want to be clear so I have a better understanding of this particular caste system.

For that matter, have you ever seen the average game designer's/tester's/marketing person's desk? When you've worked in the industry, you'll know that they are the same kind of (and in many cases bigger) geeks as the average joe. More money to buy expensive toys, and all.

Seriously, you think you can do it better, show them up. The more support the better.

Oh quit being such a baby.

I wasn't insulting you. I was saying that I wouldn't want my name associated with that. I never said that a letter your writing representing yourself needs to be approved by me. I said that if it was being written as indicative of the entire GB fanbase that I wouldn't want my name associated with it.

And like it or not, gaming industry folk will take a letter like this more seriously without fantasy terms thrown in.

Now go take a nap and we'll chit chat later.

GuyCC
Seriously, you think you can do it better, show them up. The more support the better.

For the last time, these letters will make no difference, hence I don't need to prove anything by writing another pointless letter that will go unread and unnoticed. The decision has been made. The game is delayed. Not canceled. If Activision doesn't want to be the ones profiting from the massive amounts of money we're gonna be throwing at this game, that's their choice. Someone else will profit then. Fine by me.

Doctor Venkman
Oh quit being such a baby.

I wasn't insulting you. I was saying that I wouldn't want my name associated with that. I never said that a letter your writing representing yourself needs to be approved by me. I said that if it was being written as indicative of the entire GB fanbase that I wouldn't want my name associated with it.

And like it or not, gaming industry folk will take a letter like this more seriously without fantasy terms thrown in.

Now go take a nap and we'll chit chat later.

You're so funny.

Do you save these witticisms for special occasions or did you make these up just for me? :-)

Seriously, no snark. Write your letter and send it. I didn't make mine as a “group” letter, and if you have your own points to make, then do so and send them to Activision. Somebody has to read them, even if they just will get a form letter response back, then deleted.

If you can make a better point and it helps the case for the game, you'll have my support on it.

I think you misunderstood. I wasn't trying to imply that you said your letter was representative of the whole community. I was responding to those who said that it should be signed as such.

Doctor Venkman

GuyCC
Seriously, you think you can do it better, show them up. The more support the better.

For the last time, these letters will make no difference, hence I don't need to prove anything by writing another pointless letter that will go unread and unnoticed. The decision has been made. The game is delayed. Not canceled. If Activision doesn't want to be the ones profiting from the massive amounts of money we're gonna be throwing at this game, that's their choice. Someone else will profit then. Fine by me.

Just curious… why are you having to try to actively be the authoritative word on this matter? Obviously, you didn't like my letter, and that's fine as it's your opinion, but you keep coming back to this post to “correct” anyone on the matter of either liking it, supporting the message, not wording things the way you would have, or people hoping that at least it would be read and taken into consideration.

The game's not cancelled. I know that. Someone will make up for Activision's mistake and publish it. I'm already aware of a few interested parties. But it's a bad move on Activision's part that a few people share the same opinion, especially when they have such a long history publishing the license.

You've made your point. You don't think the letter is going to work or will be taken seriously and you're glad that you're not associated with what I've written. What else is there left to say on this subject? Seriously?

I'm not interested in continuing an ongoing back-and-forth banter will you on a really silly nitpicking session. Did I make my thoughts on this particular matter straight enough to the point?

Feel free to engage me in other conversation matters, however. I don't have a problem talking with you, but this dead horse has been beaten enough.

Hey Doctor, I sent you a PM. Take a look and let me know your thoughts.

I just hate arguing on public forum boards, and from my end, I consider the matter dropped.

Its no problem man. I was just making my points, as well. Its a message board, we're all just posting opinions. No one is the authority on any matter. No worries.

And THAT'S how you solve a problem!

I do agree with Doctor Venkman, though. My letter will more than likely line a birdcage (If I'm lucky). But I wanted to make my opinion heard on the matter.

Seriously, there's how many of us on all of these various fansites? I think that something can be done to show Activision that we're serious about this game (more than we have), and to either publish the game themselves or get things set up quickly and painlessly to hand the reins over to someone who will take the game. It's a wasted opportunity for Activision, but hey, it will be their eventual loss, and not our problem. Maybe one big unified and concentrated push from every site would work. I really don't know.

I do, however, think it would just suck to sit on a completed game for seven months in order for some “brilliant” marketing strategy to hold off until the 25th anniversary. The 20th one met with quite a bit of “meh” in regards from the various projects' publisher support, and I REALLY don't see them getting much better this time around.

They need to release the game this year. It's like asking “Do you want money NOW or later?” They don't care. It's all the same. And it sucks we even have to discuss this at all due to Activision's indecisiveness.

“Ghostbustergate” continues….

Well, no word on the letter status, though I'll be surprised to get anything better than a form letter at best about how they “care” what the customers think. I wonder if they'll suggest something like “try the new Transformers game for a suitable alternative”.

Here was my Sierra forum post on the same subject and the replies its gotten there:

http://forums.vgames.com/thread.jspa?threadID=74064&tstart=0

I'm still having trouble why Activision has decided to cause so much uproar over a title slated to come out in two months. I hope this week we'll start seeing some more definite answers.