r/OnePieceTC • u/pesaher • Sep 23 '17

MEGATHREAD Global Controversy Megathread

As you all know, shit has been going down in the Global server in the last 48 hours. So, to avoid cluttering the front page, all the already existing threads will be linked here and any future threads regarding this topic will be deleted. Keep the discussion in this thread, and please redirect users who make new threads here.

Without further ado:

Main threads

Controversial threads

Relevant threads

Sugo-Fest spicy memes

External resources

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u/qqhomo Sep 29 '17

Based on the boilerplate response from Bandai with no follow up action, we must reunite as a community to have our voice heard. I have drafted the following message and plan to submit to the Better Business Bureau and California Attorney General's office over the weekend.

Compliant against BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. 2051 Mission College Blvd Santa Clara, CA 95054

One Piece Treasure Cruise is a freemium mobile game based on a largely popular Japanese comic series One Piece which enjoys global notoriety. There are multiple variants of the game available globally with the main differences being language and content availability. The more prominent versions of the game are the Japanese version and the English version. Other versions available are French, Korean and Taiwanese. The look and feel, mechanics and overall game play is largely the same.

The game is based on players obtaining characters based on the comic series and there are 2 methods to obtain these characters. The “free” route in obtaining characters is to clear content of the game, but the characters obtained are usually less appealing being less useful in clearing future contents due to having lower attributes. The paid route in obtaining characters is to purchase gem stones as virtual currencies to exchange for pulls to obtain more rare but much more appealing characters. A pull operates like a slot machine where the best characters are considered jackpots and are extremely rare to obtain. Each pull costs 5 virtual gems stones and each gem stone cost between $0.99 to $0.64 depending on the purchase volume. This means that each pull would cost approximate $3.25 to $5.00, which is quite significant. Some users have reported spending spending thousands of dollars every month on hundreds of pulls in the hope to obtain extremely rare “jackpot” characters. Based on user gathered data, it is observed that the probability or percent for users to obtain jackpot characters differs significantly between the Japanese and English version of the game, which is approximately 7% for the Japanese variant and 2% for the English variant. Furthermore, in the Japanese version, the game developer Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. publicize the rates with transparency. In contrast, the pull rates for the English version of the game is gathered with user collected data. While this practices may not be well received by English variant game players, it is not illegal by any means. However, Bandai Namco violates the consumer protection law when there is false advertisement.

During the recent Cat Viper character pulling advertisement, Bandai Namco advertised increased rates on certain highly desirable characters that are considered as jackpot characters so game players expected high probabilities in obtaining them. However, user gathered data shows that not only did Bandai Namco not increase the rates on said characters, the rates were actually reduced. Many players reported spending large sums of money on pulls but received limited jackpot characters. Though anecdotal, one player reportedly spent thousands of dollars before pulling a rated up character. Based on the guideline published by the Federal Trade Commission, this is a deceptive marketing practice and is a bait and switch violation .

To rectify the situation. I am seeking 1). Bandai Namco to publicize pull rate information for every future pulling event in order to provide transparency to its English game variant game players. 2). Refund the money spent on the Cat Viper pulling event to its English game variant players.

Thank you for your attention on this matter.

Link to BBB - https://www.bbb.org Enter business name: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Link to California States Attorney General consumer complaints page - https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company

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u/broke_and_famous Hello. Oct 01 '17

Thank you for posting these links and this comment.

I sent a complain myself. Just hoping that something good happens from this.

3

u/qqhomo Oct 03 '17

Apparently Bandai doesnt give any rats about BBB. There are currently 4 outstanding complaints against Bandai dated Jan to June of 2017 and Bandai failed to address them. Bandai's current BBB rating is "F".