A class action lawsuit has been waged against Scopely Inc. by users claiming that the online video game company decreased the value of virtual goods purchased on the video game Star Trek Fleet Command (STFC).
Plaintiff Vernon Ackies says that he purchased virtual goods on the Star Trek video game and found out that Scopely decreased the value and the effectiveness of the goods after he bought them.
“Simply stated, Scopely took advantage of, and defrauded, its players through numerous unconscionable commercial practices and fraudulent acts to extract as much money as possible from them,” the Star Trek video game class action lawsuit notes.
The plaintiff states that Star Trek Fleet Command is a multiplayer online game, or “MMO,” which allows players to participate at the same time over the internet. STFC is free to play, but players can buy virtual goods with real money to enhance their abilities compared to other players on the game.
The Star Trek Fleet Command class action states that, for as high as $99.99 players can purchase “resources,” “materials,” “character cards,” “faction credits,” and “ship blueprints.” In addition, the plaintiff notes that game players can purchase “packs,” like “Master Station Upgrade Pack” and “Ultra Ship Power Pack,” which encompass tokens which are used to upgrade a player’s character, space station or space ship.
“Making upgrades to a player’s space station and space ship through the purchase of virtual goods is an important function in STFC. Without making these upgrades, which cost real money, competitive players are unable to advance far in STFC and are easily defeated by other players who have made such purchases and upgrades,” the Scopely class action lawsuit states.
In addition, the plaintiff claims that the defendant represents the importance of upgrading a player’s space station and space ship.
The Scopely class action lawsuit alleges that STFC misrepresents to players the cost of Star Trek Fleet Command’s virtual goods. The plaintiff claims that STFC subtracted more in-game currencies from a player’s balance than the stated cost prior to purchase.
The plaintiff also claims that players pay for virtual goods that had stated benefits and capabilities at the time of the purchase, but that the players did not get those benefits and capabilities that they paid for.
The Star Trek Fleet Command class action lawsuit also claims that in February 2019, after complaints from STFC players, Scopely released an “update” to the game, which was supposed to fix parts of the software that was causing issues.
The plaintiff claims that these updates made changes to the “rules” of STFC, which had an effect on the “in-game economy and cost structure.”
“The February 2019 update, as well as a series of subsequent updates, substantially changed the rules of STFC and the in-game economy, effectively devaluing all prior purchases made by paying players,” the Scopely class action lawsuit alleges.
The plaintiff also alleges that Scopely makes it hard for Star Trek Fleet Command players to file complaints and refuses to issue refunds to players who have lost purchased virtual goods bought with real-world money.
“Refunds are not issued even if the virtual good was lost through no fault of the player…or if a virtual good does not operate as represented,” the Scopely class action lawsuit states.
The plaintiff has filed this action under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, conversion, unjust enrichment, and legal fraud.
Did you purchase virtual goods while playing Star Trek Fleet Command? Leave a message in the comments section below.
The plaintiff is represented by Bob Kasolas and Mark E. Critchley of Brach Eichler LLC.
The Scopely Star Trek Fleet Command In Game Purchase Class Action Lawsuit is Ackies v. Scopely, Inc. Case No. 2:19-cv-19247, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.
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513 thoughts onStar Trek Fleet Command Players Lose Virtual Goods, Class Action Says
I purchased a few packs. Lost my online resources due to a bug they admitted was a known issue and acknowledged it was a problem. Refused to do anything about it. Told me to refer to the ToS. And contact google if i wanted to complain.
I lost resources also, contacted tech support, they said after an investigation I was wrong. I know I am not wrong but they do not care, very sad.
I Purchased a package that cost me $50 to build a ship which I never ever got to build ever. At one point they were double charging me on all my purchases as well. I finally gave up that login and started new and then They lost all my information. When they finally found it they lost all my officer XP I had used to level up all my officers. That was magically gone and now they all need to be re-leveled.
Just lost lots of supplies I paid for because of their buggy game. I have tried numerous times to work with customer support but they just tell me everything is fine. It’s not fine when I paid real money and loose it because the game said you put a shield up but in reality it is never applied. However I wake up the next morning and my base has a shield with hardly any time expired but had been completely raided.
This game preys on its players to spend money to be able to continue playing. For the amount of money they are asking for these packs the player should get a lot more materials and better customer service. I have bought resource packs and turn around and lose everything because of glitches in the game.
Wish I never played the game. They designed the game to just take your money, and did
A few days into the game release I purchased a pack of resources. Nothing in the store said any warnings. It had nothing.. 2 hours later while offline. My base was raided resources stolen. Scopely didn’t care, offer a compromise or even claim I should have known. They simply gave me the finger in so many words or less.
Real money purchases have always had some sort of protection. Scopely does a lot things a game company should never do. In the real world some would bring felony charges to their door
Price Fixing – You cant get to any of the real deals until a min 4.99 is spent. After that you find deals @ 19.99. When you spend 19.99 the 49.99 deals appear. Spend that and 99.99 offers show up. But What happened to the 19.99 deals. GONE forever. your not allowed to see them ever again and even the 49.99 deals disappear. our stuck with 99.99.
Resource Quanity Manipulation – A pack costing 99.99 has all sorts of items and resources. At Lv18 you get this much at Lv28 you get several times more. And at Lv38 you get as much as 10x what Lv28 got.
False Advertising – Just as bad there’s Pack offers for low level players that claim to do something specific that can’t be done with normal resources. But when you look at the contents. There’s nothing special it’s all standard resources.
Virtual goods have no real world value. Games have always offered the same amount items to all levels for one price. Higher levels would have to spend more but at least it would be honest.
Finally, the game is starting it’s downward trend. You can now choose the server you want to play on. Scopely has began a campaign to increase players by offering free items to anyone who can get another player in the game to Lv10.
Campaigns like this, have always been right after a game peaks then begins to show downward trending.
Server merges come next.
Another victim.
I’m another victim (sucker)
Please include me in this class action lawsuit. I have lost in-game resources due to glitches, bugs and outright cheats, also spent money on resource and material packs in order to complete “prime research”, only to find that the research had zero effect on my game stats (beware “prime protection” – it does nothing!) I have documented these issues in email to Scopely support, and consistently received zero compensation from them, only assurances they are “working on it”, or explainations for why the problem is not a problem at all!
same for me, made purchases, game is designed to give less of the materials you need to upgrade. glitches that are still present from day one and they keep adding content that adds more glitches. I would like in please
Same as many other people here. Fell for one of their promotions, got nothing for it. I want in.