Yesterday I explained how I found that game Lost Sites Online had been removed from Xbox Live. For those of you who haven’t seen it yet, I’ve pasted it below:
The post explains how I discovered Lost Sites Online had been removed from the Xbox Live Marketplace. After Googling a few different terms and many subsequent emails and call-backs from Activision, the game’s publisher, I was able to get some answers.
First, an important update on “Lost Sites Online” from Verizon. That company’s services used to provide communication and information services for Xbox Live’s Marketplace, something that has since been outsourced to Amazon.
Here’s the update from a representative of Verizon:
“Please be advised that we no longer offer the game ‘Lost Sites Online’ on our telephone service, The Game Chiefs call center, and, accordingly, the required game codes or code replicates are no longer available through this channel. Consumers may call the AT&T phone number for Verizon 1-800-445-2922) to receive applicable game codes.
The publisher Activision has re-instated Lost Sites Online from the European markets on their pricing page:
Check out this resumption:
Finally, Activision’s comment seems to contradict our findings:
Nintendo reps of New England Evening News: I understand that several lists of PS3 games that used to be in North America marketplaces on game charts have been removed. Our story was incorrect and caused further confusion in our story about the events at Activision.
Many thanks to everyone that has contacted us. It’s nice to have folks on the ground here to help when we need them.
Which brings us to Activision again.
The publisher has confirmed in email that these listings and codes have been taken off the website, then went on to blame the circumstances for the removal:
Thank you for contacting Activision.
We have decided to remove “Lost Sites Online” from the Xbox Live Marketplace.
In an attempt to keep piracy at bay, many Xbox Live titles have previously received “branded codes” and codes that gamers actually had to pay for individually at Game Stop or GameStop. This content may have played a role in our action, since some consumers may not have thought to refer to the “lost sites” codes specifically.
During our investigation, it became clear that a portion of our game sales for Lost Sites Online contain a promotional code that we were unaware of when the game was released in March. We regret that any gamer has purchased any game without first purchasing a unique code for their game. We deeply regret that this caused additional confusion in our marketing materials and online sales campaign.
In addition, our intent was to support the launch of the game Lost Sites Online on Xbox Live with promotional codes, particularly to encourage gamers to download other title exclusive codes. This promotional code should not have been included in the game catalogue viewable on the Xbox Live Marketplace.
We regret any customer confusion as a result of this mistake and apologize for any inconvenience that this caused you.