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 started playing a few months ago and noticed last month after spending several hundred dollars on upgrades and speed up etc, that my ships(Jelly) was getting beat way to easy. I have since started keeping a lot of screen shots where the battle log shows my ship being lowered in strength/ attack/defence about 1 or 2 times for every 5-6 battles. Sometimes back to back. I have. A jelly at 60,000 strength but losing to weaker ships. Once I review the logs I can show where the game drops my strengths to 6000 attack/5000/ health instead of what I have paid for around 25/35% higher amounts.
I have spent more than I would like to admit and I was wondering if I was the only one who noticed what Scopely is and has been doing to its customers it’s not right I would gladly join the class action lawsuit please contact
In game player spent money dont mind joing lawsuit if contacted
Who can we talk to about refunding our $$ not including the time waisted
I Have also spent 1000’s of usd on this game and have seen the resources I believed i purchased not received. There also seems to be no way to get refunded by scopely.
I have spent in the realm of 10,000 usd, and am just now finding out about the pack value differences.
I’ve been frustrated with the shielding issues, game glitches, and the lack of response in handling any kind of recompense for their issues.
I have been playing the game for almost a year now and I have lost in game resources due to glitches occurring for which I paid good money. I have had my shields mysteriously go down and been raided by players who wiped me out so that I had to re-purchase the resources to get back to where I started. The Scopley response is always evasive or non-existent.
Yes … I lost nearly 800M in resources a couple days ago, after months of activity / spending / raiding / etc – and METICULOUS SHIELDING. Due to a shield glitch where my shield fell early. Plus, ZERO notifications and borked combat log.
I’ve been told the logs only track the last 30 or 50 items … but, it showed me killing 2 hostiles hours before, then, magically the first “attack” on my base from the logs was a survey ship with a full load and ZERO battle log details.
Other alliance mates have been drained due to similar shield glitches with absolutely ZERO support from tickets and customer support. It’s infuriating to lose (what could literally be hundreds of dollars) in minutes – due to an aspect of the game just “magically not working correctly”.
Just had this same issue this morning. My Defeat from survey ship being the first attack on my station. Lost millions. And I had just set an 8 shield an hour before
Yes I have spent 100’s if not 1000’s on this game. I am sickened knowing I have been mislead. This is real money we’re talking about and they can’t fork out virtual goods as they should be?
Yes I have made several purchases which just teased/lead you to make more without any real benefit. It is a shame a PVP game forces you to spend endless money and impossible to earn it.
Proof is now in YouTube. I will send link and have been robbed compared to other server players