Discussion: NCsoft Expands with New Game Cards

OK. Here's another question:

I am currently paid through the end of 2008 with Time Cards on both of my accounts. If I get one of these cards, when will the Jet Pack go into effect?

Immediately or after the first of the year when all of my other time has run out?

The jet pack goes into effect immediately for 30 days.

I just got one (a birthday gift from American_Valor) and put it into play, and it's working just fine. My account is prepaid up for the next 5 or 6 months.

Now... Sexy Jay has to make us some back costume options of backpacks or our characters Jetpack and Jetpack Envy are going to be really sad when our jetpacks go away.

Will Fry's Electronics be carrying the City of Heroes Card?

Ok...
It is bad enough, that a costume piece asked for for literally Months, and one of the most popular requests from Jay's Thread for new Costume pieces, is being available to people who have never played the game before, but only available to the rest of us for more money, but then, you make it temporary....?!

OK, it is a travel power...
What stops you from making it an inventable costume piece!
What is stopping you from giving it to all toons as an option when they hit 14th level. (Or even prior as per the Veteran wings)
What stops you from giving your LOYAL CUSTOMERS what they asked for?!
I really would like to have one of these jetpacks as a animated costume piece (see Wings, and Jetboots, even the Jumpboots and capes!)!
Please, make these available as a costume piece, and if they HAVE to be for more $, make it availble through the NCSoft store as per the Wedding Pack.
Thank you for your time and attention in this matter...
Sincerely,
Elvnsword

I went shopping for one today. I don't know what sort of deal you struck with the companies for this exclusive, but I don't think you're getting your money's worth. Both of these were in West Des Moines, Iowa, which may not be a real urban center, but both stores are fairly representative of other targets and best buys I've seen around the country, so it may apply elsewhere.

First stop, Target, it's a normal Target, not one of their SuperTargets, I may look at one of them next time I hit the theaters (there's one along the way). They've got an area for video games, look through them, no luck. Well, there's an area for specialty gift cards, like iTunes cards. No luck. Console games? No luck. I ask someone, the guy I spoke to doesn't know what an MMO, but looks it up, doesn't find it. He flags someone who works in the computer games area, never heard of the game cards. So either they aren't at that Target, or they're really well hidden.

So, I try Best Buy. Reasonably well-stocked store, been around for a long time. Decent computer games selection, even has a good vs. evil copy of CoH, but no new game card (and no time cards). I check consoles and iTunes gift cards, no luck. Someone asks to help, hasn't heard of it, calls over someone who works in video cards, hasn't heard of it but knows where game cards in. Takes me to this small panel on the back of the aisle furthest from the door, and it's there. So yes, those who know about it and go looking and aren't easily discouraged can find it...but nobody's going to stumble upon it. If you've got any special deal with them...they may not be living up to their end of the bargain. They don't even have it on the impulse hooks near the checkout area (I checked).

But, I did get one, applied it, and a few minutes later, got the jet pack. It's under inherents, not temp powers. Looks cool. Nice and big. If we ever get backpack costume options, this one is a nice one to start with. I did notice that there's nothing in the description of the jet pack that it ever expires, no countdown to "expires in 29 real-time days" or even "will expire after 30 days", so might want to add that to the detailed description.

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I had a situation a while back where due to Server problems with my bank, the Debit card I was using showed an incorrect balance, If it weren't for having the cash to purchase a Game Time card I wouldnt be able to access the game (NCSOFT still won't take that card for Subscription even though it's a Visa logo'd card.0

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You MAY want to check with your bank and with Visa customer service. It's my understanding that anyone who takes Visa cards is required to sign an agreement to take ALL Visa cards. I used to be a retail store manager and I've never heard of not taking certain cards while taking others. If there was an issue with your bank, and your balance was not credited properly, perhaps your bank's customer service department can write a letter to the NCSoft billing department explaining that the issue has been resolved. If MY bank screwed up like that, I'd be after them to make it right.

Alternately, you CAN get a bank debit card reissued under a different card number for the same account, if there have been problems with it. Most banks don't even charge, but will deactivate your old card and reissue you the new one by mail within a few days. All you have to do is request it and tell them there's been a problem with that card number. That should get you a new number that NCSoft doesn't have on its list of problem accounts.

Hope some of that helps.

I've looked in about 4 different Targets and 3 Best Buys in the Washington DC area and had absolutely no luck finding one of these.

I'll have to check the 'small panel on the back of the aisle furthest from the door'

[ QUOTE ]
I've looked in about 4 different Targets and 3 Best Buys in the Washington DC area and had absolutely no luck finding one of these.

I'll have to check the 'small panel on the back of the aisle furthest from the door'

[/ QUOTE ]

Ask for help. I never would have found them without help.

They couldn't find it when I asked for help. I went up and down every single aisle. I finally found them near the kids toys on hangers mixed with iTunes cards (separate from the main iTunes card racks).

Thanks!

By the way, if you search the Bestbuy site for 'Incomm', the card maker, you can then search by zip code to see if they are in stock at your store.

Success!!!

Man. I went to the Super Target in Berkeley (/Albany) CA at the end of July and again yesterday, and in both cases I searched around for a while and could not find them, and asked for help and the clerks had never heard of them nor could they find them in the computer. (How's that for a run-on sentence?)

The one "City of Heroes" item they could find in the computer was the GvE edition, and it's listed as "discontinued" so they don't carry it any more.

(QR)

I was at the Local Best Buy near me yesterday , Looked over the Entire. the only NCSoft Items I spotted were 1 G-vs-E Box, 3 Tabula Rasa Boxes, and "version 2.5" (DVD Style Case, Corporate Marked, Lineage, CoX,Dungeon Runners, TR) none of the new Cards ANYwhere and of course the help was less than.

I found them in Target hanging from hooks along with iTunes, Disney Games, etc. All sorts of game and entertainment cards.

My local Best Buy has them prominently displayed along with similar game time cards and gift cards. It's in the middle of the walkway; you have to pass them (though not neccesarily look at them) on your way from the front of the store to the back, if you walk in the door and head immediately to the software section.

The Rite Aid near my house still doesn't have any. They have a nice gift card endcap display, but nothing from NC Soft.

Went looking for these over the past few days as I wanted to send codes to some friends. Not a one at any of the Targets in my area. Finally found some at Best Buy. Now I just wish I'd picked up one for myself so I could check out the jetpack.

These are a great way to get friends to try CoH. I hope our Targets will carry them soon.

Did you ask someone at Target? Because I found them in an ODD place at the Targets in my area.

The weren't hung up on any endcap like normal Timecards would be. They were stacked on a shelf with a ton of other types of game cards, between the Music and Video sections.

I live in Australia.
I normally pay by game time cards.
My account is paid up until January 09.
My boyfriends account has expired, and I went to try to buy him a game time card, thinking I could find one. I was hoping he could join in the halloween event this week with me.

However, I cannot find game time cards for sale in my town anymore.
I rang EB Games (the place I always buy the game cards from), to be advised "we do not stock these anymore, they have been discontinued".

So then I looked up the PlayNC store to try to find another shop. I got excited when I saw Target on the list. I rang my local Target store, only to be advised "we do not stock them".

I checked for other shops, including Best Buy, Wall Mart, Rite Aid, Fry's, Wal Mart, Amazon and Future Shop -- however, NONE of those operate in Australia. Some do ship overseas, but (a) I want to pay with cash and NOT a credit card, and (b) even if I could pay by credit card, I would be waiting up to 12 weeks for the game card to arrive.

Also, the new paypal option that PlayNC is using does NOT include Australia. But thats irrelevant anyway, as I already said, I wish to pay by cash & walk away with the card in my hand.

This is really frustrating for me and I feel as though Australia isn't important enough to be a part of the COH community.

In the meantime... if stores can't stock the cards here, then I guess in January, my account will expire... (And no, I wont be giving my stuff away :P)

What is really sad, I can't play with my partner and it's making me feel really awful.

I'm hoping a red name actually notices my issue and might follow up with marketing as to helping the non-credit card Australians to be able to play the game.

I would advise you to PM Lighthouse directly about this, CaffeineAddict.

Triumph: White Succubus: 50 Ill/Emp/PF Snow Globe: 50 Ice/FF/Ice Strobe: 50 PB Shi Otomi: 50 Ninja/Ninjistu/GW Stalker My other characters

I'm about to send a PM to Lighthouse to tell him of my dilemma.

Also -- I rang QV Software International, who could not find anyone but EB Games to stock the software (which is silly as EB Games have discontinued the time cards). QV also suggested I contact Harvey Norman, I did, and they also do NOT stock the game time cards. I also tried DickSmiths' Electronics, & another local computer shop and none of them stock these and will not order them in for me either.

Somene said Toys-R-us stock them, however, we don't have that store in my town, and I would have to make a 9 hour return trip, plus fuel and accommodation to buy 1 card (which is out of the question).

All I want is a shop in my town where I can buy this game time card. Why is it so incredibly difficult?

EVERY single store that I contacted asked if I wanted a World of Warcraft time card. How come WoW has their cards stocked EVERYWHERE that I try, yet I cannot find a single PlayNC card? Is NCSoft trying to put themselves out of business, or just not interested in the Australian market? This game is rated T for teen, I was advised at the start that I could buy time cards with cash at a store and didnt have to use a credit card. Now I am stuck with a game that in January I will not be able to play as I can't buy the time cards. And my partners' account has already expired and he can't play either. I'm not sure how things work in the US, but in Australia, the "teen" market don't have access to credit cards, they tend to get an "allowance" and have to buy things with their own cash. This is pretty much cutting off that chunk of the market and I am completely puzzled as to the logic.

Yes I know I am venting, but I am beyond frustration & am almost ready to give up.