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’m also a victim of this bait and switch. I have purchased thousands of dollars worth of packs and upgrade packs from $19.99, $49.99 or $99.00. If you want to purchase the USS Enterprise it will cost you over $1000.00 but Scopley doesn’t reveal the total cost of anything in the game. When you purchase one of the upgrade packages to upgrade ships or characters the packages never come with enough resources to accomplish what they tell you it will do
I’m also a victim of this bait and switch. I have purchased thousands of dollars worth of packs and upgrade packs from $19.99, $49.99 or $99.00. If you want to purchase the USS Enterprise it will cost you over $1000.00 but Scopley doesn’t reveal the total cost of anything in the game. When you purchase one of the upgrade packages to upgrade ships or characters the packages never come with enough resources to accomplish what they tell you it will do
Yeah count me in, I have screen shots of packs, £99, £94 &£47 for the same pack to different players.
I’ve had a very similar experience as many here have have had. I purchased a Prime research, completed the research immediately after receiving my materials only to have the research reset the next day I logged in. I have submitted 3 tickets on the issue with Scopely and the first 2 tickets I submitted, Scopely techs never even addressed the issue, only talked around the problem and never acknowledging that I had a problem. First time I was told to force restart the game, second time I was told package don’t unlock research, only provide materials. Both times the tickets were closed out before I could respond. This third time, I had a tech named Jacob that said Scopely has reviewed the logs and that I researched a different Prime research. I’ve gone back, and the research they are referring to isn’t even a Prime research item, it’s just regular research and does not require the materials that I used for the Prime research I purchased. I was then told I could believe or not, that Scopely will not be changing anything on my account and then they closed the ticket before I could respond.
I also have made ourschases and it never what your told you are led to believe you’ll get this ship or that power and its always up short. Unleven if you grind all day you never get the needed items so you buy and against uts always short plus as you go higher lvls you get less wjile it cost more in virtual to do anything j in fo you spend and get way less then led to believe never what you thought you’d buy to get what youbeanted
I have purchased in the past and definitely agree with the fact real world purchases never add up to what their value should be and the game is solely designed for the few high money players. Please let me know how to add my name to the class action.
Finally! No bang for your buck at all which only leads to the need to spend more upgrading the upgraded stuff you thought you were buying in the first place. This game has more “Stores” than your local strip mall.
Is this still going on? I want in.
I have spent Thousands on this game. The purchases are for advancement in the game via ship, station, and officer upgrades. After the update for the 3rd borg arc my game became unplayable. Documented and viable issues scopely agrees are an issue and is working towards get the issues fixxed. Issue is the money spent was so that I could maintain advancement so that I could continue to play with my peers. unfortunately, with the game being unplayable for more than 30 seconds at a time. I have now fallen behind other players in my alliance. The purchases made to keep pace are not worth what they were at time of purchase and as I am not able to participate in many events as the people I play with are now on a higher level that I can’t participate in even though my purchase amounts are sigificantly higher than the average spent by others. All of this is well documented on my end and via customer disservice. I live in Ca. Can I put my name in with this action?
I’ve been taken for a ride as well. Online in game purchases are a rip off.