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
There getting even worse They a have a bot answering customer complaints.The biggest rip off in the history of rip offs.If i buy a pack today it will be something ive paid for over and over again since i started playing.Paying 100 euro for literally nothing because thats what you get.NOTHING.Theres a reason why a company makes it impossible to actually talk to a person.So i still play but no more buying.They are scum.Only way to sort them out is if everybody stops buying,but thats not going to happen is it.Also the game is now quite boring and becoming more and more a PTW BY THE DAY.
The game is a money pit for the company. With events you complete and then pay to open this events prize. I purchased packs but have since stopped due to you have no protection for what you buy. Some packs promise results like faction packs but in reality you do not really have a chance at getting what you want from them.
I’ve been playing on and off since 2019, and their deals have gotten worse and worse. $99 for a pack stating you will get everything you need for a ship only to find out it’s not even a quarter of what’s needed. They never answer customer service or respond to emails. They have a pretty good racket going.
I agree completely with all the comments above. Because of scopely poor practices I have pretty much backed off the game. I refuse to spend anything on it. You don’t get what you pay for truly. As stated about one game pack vs. another, and I have been in contact with their customer service on more than one occasion in regards to paying for a particular virtual good and didn’t receive it. All scopely did was give me a ticket number and ignored me. I have even forwarded them screen shots before and after the purchases to show that I was not getting what I paid for and I took screenshots for days to allow for all the lag and crash in the game.
I’ve probably spent close to $100k on this game in 3 years. I would love to join this class action.
I live in NJ and would like to be one of the lead plantiffs.
This game is only for the real rich rich people, I have made complaints to their customer service support, they never answer.
The game is rigged worse then a carnival attraction. Ridiculously overpriced even if you actually got what they advertised. The fact it’s rigged further by all the “chance” bs. Better luck buying scratch tickets.
I’m also having the same issue w scopely. Paid for stuff then it was later devalued.
STFC uses vague, confusing and inaccurate labeling in their event descriptions. STFC indicates the % chance of obtaining items, but STFC number generator is weighted in favor of STFC. I have repeatedly ask for information on how upgrades are calculated. STFC indicates that the % increases are based on “Base Values.” These base values are never revealed and appears to change with each upgrade. It is the same way with damage bonuses, they never seem to be consistent and STFC has refused to show how these bonuses are calculated. I have to spend more now than what I spent when I first started to achieve the same goal. STFC’s algorithms are weighted and slanted in STFC’s favor. The closer you get to reaching the next level, the less of the required resources and material you get. STFC uses the word “chance” in many of the packages that are available for purchase, but these chances are not truly random, but are weighted in STFC’s favor, requiring more purchases to acquire the needed items. STFC uses the rotating help staff tactics to delay, confuse and ignore request. I was told that I needed to read the fine print, which is vague and unclear. There is no glossary of terms, examples of how things work or detailed instructions for the game. A player has no way of verifying his game play, actual combat strength or mining abilities.
I have purchased a few of the packs. The game is a money pit. The higher your level the less you get than a starting player. If you buy resources you easily get farmed by higher level players resulting in $99 plus tax just given to the game for no reward. The faction packs are alot worse because you hope to get more from them but in reality you have less odds and can actually have worse chances. The newest issue is you play the event and need to buy to complete so no reward. It is like a lottery in many ways but with less chance to win.
Where do I sign up scoply has the worst customer service and never fixes any of the problems and has double billed me atleast 7 times