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Superpoke Players Sue Google

Posted by Unknown on from the that's-my-virtual-purse dept.

mikejuk writes "SuperPoke Pets is another casualty of Google's aggressive spring cleanup... But unlike other users of Google's trashed software, Superpoke users have decided to fight back with a class action. The aim is to recover the money they spend on virtual gold used as a currency to buy clothes for their virtual pets. The total 'amount in controversy' exceeds $5,000,000 — a sum that is credible given that there were at least 7,000,000 users. So if you are considering adding a virtual currency to your app you might want to think of the future."

8 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. 5 mill on virtual pet cloths? by Kenja · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I dont want to live on this planet anymore... But really, unless there was a 'we'll never shut down" clause in the user agreement I dont see the idiots winning this one.

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    1. Re:5 mill on virtual pet cloths? by Ultra64 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "5 mill on virtual pet cloths?"

      averages out to less than a dollar per person.

      what's the big deal?

    2. Re:5 mill on virtual pet cloths? by Kenja · · Score: 5, Funny

      Every minute and every penny Kenja's ever spent has been on something indisputably worthwhile, so he's justified in looking down on these idiots (i.e., meaning everyone but him).

      Hey... history will vindicate me and my collection of porcelain unicorns.

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  2. You can have the money back... by asdbffg · · Score: 5, Funny

    but only if you promise to buy REAL clothes this time.

  3. Only one thing I don't get by Riceballsan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The one thing I don't really get, superpoke had a rabbid insanely loyal fanbase... why didn't they just port it to G+, leave it in the games tab just like all of their other games that can't annoy people who don't use it, and basically have millions of people with a reason to sign into g+ on a regular basis? That being said, I also don't see a single way that the users can even expect to have a shot in a million at this, games with microtransactions shut down, it is a fact of life. That is what you get when you buy image files on someone else's server.

  4. Re:Implications for EULAs? by lostmongoose · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If Google loses, then every F2P MMO that has shut down and had cash shops will have to pay up to the users who bought items and game currency.

  5. Re:Implications for EULAs? by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It would seem to me digital items are provided as a SERVICE, not a PRODUCT. If I get a contract with a cell company, and then my contract runs out (or they go under or something), I am not entitled to get my money back because I was paying for a service and not a physical product (well I may have paid for my phone but I get to keep it if my contract included paying for it). Similarly when I buy a digital item, there is no physical product. I am buying the service of using this imaginary item. The only issue here is when I buy this service for unlimited usage, should I be compensated when the service is stopped? Even if the answer is yes I doubt the full amount will be refunded, because the users got usage out of the "service".

  6. Re:oh, and BITCOIN, beeotches! AHAHAHAHAHAH! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can easily exchange it for beer.

    I'm sorry, is there some other necessary criteria that I wasn't aware of?