The 2nd DBP contest has already started, but as a winner team we still don't get any prize form the 1st DBP contest, is that ridiculous?

With the help of some warm-hearted people in this forum I finanlly signed and got the confirmation document from Microsoft on Sep 26, 2007. It is said clearly on the document that the prize will be shipped under seperate cover within 8-12 weeks from Sep 26, 2007. However everything became silent since then.

I waited until Jan 9, 2008 and still got nothing, knew nothing, then I sent a mail to the agent for MS and he told us that he was really apologized and the software should be shipping soon and I would receive equivalent cash for other prizes and also told me to feel free to contact him at anytime. Then it became silent again.

I waited for another 20 days, and I sent another mail asking for progross on the shipmment such as the shipment number or when it would be shipped. But the agent was just ignoring me since then.

On Jan 31, 2008, I happened to tell this situation to Dave Mitchell, he apologized on behalf of DBP team and said he would follow up that matter. Until recently I sent another mail to Dave hoping to know any progress on this matter, because this waiting seems to be endless. Well, I guess he was too busy to see that mail.

Now,  I don't know what say. I feel really disappointed about this matter.  I also wonder that if this is only happend to our team, how about other winner team on the 1st DBP contest? I hope someone will help us this time, thank you!

 

Huling,

HurricaneX Team

I do know there were some other problems especially to folk outside the USA due to the myriad of import and tax laws. However this is clearly not acceptable.

I will escalate this for you... please drop me an email directly at zman@thezbuffer.com so that we can make this happen without boring everyone in the forums.

 

As someone who is investing hours of time developing for Xbla, I would almost have rather never read this.

Hi Huling.  I've made this a priority to drive to resolution asap.  There have been a number of challenges given the complexity of DBP 1's prizes but even so, this has taken far too long.  I will followup with you directly once I get an update on where things stand.

--dave

I wrote Shuggy which also won a top 20 place.

I too have not received all of the prizes that were advertised.  I received an XBox 360 a while ago from Amazon with absolutely no indication it was a DBP prize.  It also wasn't signed which, although not exactly a major issue, is another depressing part of the prize giving.  It's very disheartening that I've had to chase up the prizes repeatedly and to this day I'm still waiting on the copy of Maya and Vista.

It would be nice if this could be sorted out as it's beginning to taint my view of XNA and the DBP competiton.

Regards,

    Dave

 

I escalated your request up to MS also...

I have a long e-mail chain with the marketting group handling the prize distribution for the same thing.

I have received a copy of Vista and the cards for the creators club membership. The Xbox 360 came in with a severe dent in the box and a crack on the base of the console. We filed a report with UPS and the xbox was returned. I am still waiting for a replacement xbox as I am suppose to ship it to another member of the team.

This is the last info I have from the 14th of February:

I am just learned that the Xbox has not shipped. Apparently they are still waiting for one to become available. I received a message that led me to believe it had shipped so I am very sorry to find it has not.

 
Please be assured that I will contact you as soon as I receive updated information on the status of the replacement as well as the Autodesk 3ds Max.

 
Kind Regards,

As for this warm-up everything came in very quickly and have had no problems other than not being able to free myself from work to go to the GDC.

Dave I am forwarding you the e-mail chain.

I've had problems too. I've gotten the 360 (came about when it was supposed to, couple of months after the contest), but I didn't get the CC-codes until a couple of weeks ago, and no Vista or Maya yet. I emailed and asked about it, and Vista was almost shipped except they had received the wrong version or something.

The guys in the XNA Shipping Department better get their act together soon. :P  A lot of people are in this for the prizes... (I'm not -- I just think coding games is fun)

We are also still waiting on Maya. We got everything else though (albeit the xbox was unsigned - again disappointing but not the end of the world). It is unfortunate that pretty much everything in this contest is late, including updates to the web site.

Still, thanks for putting it on at all. I'm sure most if not all the delays are because of legal reasons.

Philip
Sprockets of Strife team

Mate, I hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but unless you bring stronger guns to bear you will get nothing. This isn't a slight on msoft; but just like the machine I had to fight,\ they outsource (this is our benefit from Free Trade Agreements). My machine was Alienware, I, in good faith paid them up front more than 5K via a bank note. After shipping the machine I ordered never arrived!! They were not able to provide shipping documents, reception receipts or anything...and still they "attempted" to maintain that it was my problem, not theirs. This was what I got from their "managers" in S. america"...I dont have any ill feelings for them at all, they, just like our military were doing as they were instructed by their "superiors" haha clowns

1 sent an email to my attorney with my bank stubs and a copy of the online receipt ....I got a call the next day from govt and corp sales dept from alien appologizing and upgrading my order....moral of this srtory...if they are in business they may not be crooked, but an attourney will helo you make sure they arent...call a solicitor and pass him what you got for the contest...let him deal with it, you'll both be happy in the end

 

Just wanted to drop in with an update.  This will get resolved so bear with us.  I will personally be contacting each of the winners directly to help drive full resolution for each of you.  We appreciate your patience (and then some) and you have my word that this will get addressed as appropriate.

--dave