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
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Due to server problems i didnt know I open refine chests and got finally a massage “failed” and option to open chest was there but I lost my 2 stars. I got so annoyed so bought a 50eur pack and same here it just stopped after i confirmed payment. No pack was open and no items received. Bank had took my money but nothing in the game. Got 0 help from support or a refund.
Bigger issue is that players actually use some kind of cheat to win events (they get huge scores without really getting any power on) and same time u can see players mining in dark space in systems which require warp 56+ to get in with ships of warp 40. Tried myself and could not do with higher lvl warp.
Also there is huge fraud with refinery and they even admit it. Improving refinery should increase amount of resources u get from it and quality of what u get, but it does not. Every patch they change the output and one month u get up to 80 or 90 uncommon units from 3 chest and other u struggle to get 50. Before i extended refinery (have +1 bounght so its 4chest) i was getting up to 120 units. And that number i have not seen ever after. So when i bought 4 chest refinery i actually started getting way less resources from it. And often only uncommon or like 140 uncommon and 10ish common. So u are pretty much forced to either pay big for packs with ress u need or stop play game.
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Have a ship and crew that has been stuck or is a ghost ship in the game that can not be used. Scopely has been made aware of this for almost a month now. I have sent them numerous tickets and emails on this issue and they have not done anything to fix the issues.
The fact that they charge $99 for resources that you effectively need to advance in a reasonable amount of time, something people will relent to paying after investing weeks if not not months of their lives into game play. It’s an inherently addictive game, and while that in itself isn’t a crime, they way they use it get strong-arm players to pay irrational amounts of money to be remotely competitive is downright diabolical.
Before a merge between 2 servers i told I would not loose anything I had when the merger happened I had lost 2 refinerys when I questioned this was told that is how it is they stole from me and lied
I have had several ships loose power after a recent upgrade on the game and even had screen shots to prove it! One day my ISS Jelly was 5.5 mill and after the overnight upgrade, 5.1 mill, with the exact same crew, upper and lower! I thought it was a glitch – like so many other glitches but was wrong, apparently!
I contacted Scopley and I simply asked to have my ships put back to the power they were before the upgrade and was told (after a month of arguing) – there was no power loss and that it was the crews that were different!
I’ve played this game now for almost 3 years, spent a ton of money and know how the crews and mechanics work with this game but was denied and basically told to go away… these Scopley assholes are way too much!!
Where do I sign up for this class action?
I also have purchased items within this game. As stated, the value of the goods change with every update. I have also had the value of my purchases decrease in value and function due to recent server merges. These appear to be of no use other than getting people to spend more money if they want to play and enjoy the game after the merge.
I have also spent plenty of money and seen the devalue of not only the items sold by scopley but the in game currency is also affected by there fraudulent practices..