Don't give up guys !!!
The distributor was absolutely no help at all and eventually just ignored me (typical). Here's what he had to say :
Hello Ross,
I work for RED ENTERTAINMENT DIST, and we support Activision in the region.
I would like to see if I can help you regarding your concern. First off, being the exclusive distributor, I have some concerns of my own as we did not supply the Middle East with the hardened edition.
First I need to get some information about your purchase.
- ·Can you tell me where you bought the product?
- ·Date of purchase?
- ·What was the offer?
- ·Where is your PSN/Xbox Live account registered? i.e. UK?
- ·What is the age rating? PEGI, ESRB, CERO, BBFO?
Can you brief me on what your exact error is or send me the error message you received?
The Media Council will have nothing to do with any errors you receive.
I have also attached below the official press release from Activision regarding Elite – not all features are available for the Middle East which was part of our decision not to distribute this version of the product.
Hopefully helpful link:
http://activision.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/activision.cfg/php/enduser/home2.php
Thanks
Tristan
Tristan Irons
Marketing & PR Manager
Mobile: +971 56 696 9417
E-mail: tristani@red-me.com
Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
I purchased it from a local shop in Abu Dhabi about a week after the game’s release. I paid 680 AED for it. My PSN is registered as UAE. Age Rating = PEGI.
When I place my Elite 1 year premium membership code into PS Store; it says the code is invalid. I assume because the content is not in my store. Now I also have made a uk Store and there I can see the content in it. Would you not agree how stupid it is then – that I am able to download the content from my one user but not the other one that I have all my stuff on EVEN though we live in the exact same country just we have different stores – it shouldn’t make a difference. I am also moving countries so it is unfair that I have to still be subject to the UAE’s rules + regulations.
May I ask why the Premium Service was never allowed here; most of the content that I want that is included within the Service is the free DLC; which I know is perfectly acceptable content ?
Please help me & there are also many other people who have the same problem from the UAE. Problem is I never knew the service wouldn’t work here & in buying the Hardened Edition I have pretty much already paid for it but now I cannot get what I paid for.
Please help us find a way to redeem the service ? If The Media Council never forbid it; can it not just be placed in our stores ?
I look forward to your reply.
Regards,
Ross Holder
Hi Ross,
With many games these days, region settings are associated with the product/DCL codes. So for example, if you have what we call a parallel product (merchandise taken from one country and sold in another) the registration/DLC codes will not normally work.
Parallel product in the Middle East is a challenge that we have no power to remedy.
The only course of action is to hold the retailer accountable for selling a product not officially obtained for sale – in an effort to have an exclusive, the retailer only hurts their long term business by not being able to provide after sales service to their customers (you).
Demanding a refund from the retailer at this point may be your only course of action outside of creating an account associated with the region where the merchandise is officially sold. If the UK account works, it may be your only other option.
Your PS3 may also locate your IP address, automatically giving your location.
Have you spoken to the retailer regarding your problem?
I can only assume that the premium service is not available because the product was not available for sale in this region, again, this is something to take up with the retailer.
With respect to the PSN Store, I cannot comment. Only a representative from Sony can answer your questions.
My apologies I can’t help more, I hope this sheds some light on the situation.
Hi,
Again, the premium service and the Hardened Edition are separate items. Even if the Hardened Edition was not available for sale here; that should not mean that the service not be available for purchase/download in the Store.
For example if I were to live in the UK and have bought the Hardened Edition from the UK but I was previously living in the UAE and had set up my store there; then I also wouldn’t be able to redeem my code. The way this works is unacceptable.
Point is; it matters not that the Hardened Edition was not available for sale here; that should not determine whether one can download the premium service.
Again as a customer I would like to know why the Hardened Edition & the Premium Service was not made available here for the game’s launch. The distributor must have information on this.
Last year as I am sure you are aware; the hardened edition was sold here and all DLC came to this region. Hence, why was it not the same for this year ?
If no valid reason can be given; then this is a very serious matter; as the game’s company is discriminating against the Middle East and it’s citizens. There was demand for the product and still no one has given me a reason why it shouldn’t be allowed.
Can you please provide more information on this matter ie. why was the Hardened Edition & why was the premium service (again both being separate items) not made available to the UAE ?
Comments below.
Again, the premium service and the Hardened Edition are separate items. Even if the Hardened Edition was not available for sale here; that should not mean that the service not be available for purchase/download in the Store.
Anything to do with the PSN Store needs to be addressed with PSN directly.
For example if I were to live in the UK and have bought the Hardened Edition from the UK but I was previously living in the UAE and had set up my store there; then I also wouldn’t be able to redeem my code. The way this works is unacceptable.
Point is; it matters not that the Hardened Edition was not available for sale here; that should not determine whether one can download the premium service.
Bottom of press release
* All features AND AVAILABILITY are subject to change. SOME FEATURES MAY BE RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN COUNTRIES ONLY. AVAILABLE FEATURES MAY ALSO DIFFER BETWEEN COUNTRIES. SUPPORTED LANGUAGES AT LAUNCH ARE ENGLISH, FRENCH AND GERMAN. SEE CALLOFDUTY.COM/ELITE FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE FEATURE SET, COUNTRY AVAILABILITY, AND SUPPORTED LANGUAGE INFORMATION.
Last year as I am sure you are aware; the hardened edition was sold here and all DLC came to this region. Hence, why was it not the same for this year ?
What DLC are you not getting? I am not aware of any DLC available yet.
Tomorrow should have some on Xbox Live only.
If no valid reason can be given; then this is a very serious matter; as the game’s company is discriminating against the Middle East and it’s citizens. There was demand for the product and still no one has given me a reason why it shouldn’t be allowed.
Can you please provide more information on this matter ie. why was the Hardened Edition & why was the premium service (again both being separate items) not made available to the UAE ?
Premium service may be available in the future, SEE CALLOFDUTY.COM/ELITE FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE FEATURE SET, COUNTRY AVAILABILITY, AND SUPPORTED LANGUAGE INFORMATION.
Hi,
The DLC for PS3 will be made available very soon on PS3, sometime after it’s release on Xbox, and then even though I have the Hardened Edition I am not going to be able to download it because I cannot activate my service !
If the DLC is made available for UAE and I have to purchase it separately; I will be EXTREMELY angry/frustrated.
Again, you stated “not all features are available for the Middle East which was part of our decision not to distribute this version of the product.”
NO features are available for the premium service; Why ? I have tried asking Activision and THEY told me to contact the UAE to see why it is banned here. You then told me that the UAE has nothing to do with it. SO Why is it not available here : I am aware that it isn’t; but WHY ?
Surely it is possible then, as to me it seems that there is no reason why it can’t be made available because I still have NO reason, to contact the developer being the distributor saying that customers of the UAE would like the service. It can then be placed in our store and the problem is solved.
There is only a few countries that the service is not available in; and each of them will have a reason for it. If the UAE is ok with this service; then it SHOULD be made available to purchase/download even if some features are restricted.
Again; the fact that the Hardened Edition was not distributed, is obsolete. The service is a standalone service that customers should be able to purchase/download.
Please could you find out if the premium service can be made available here; as customers REALLY want it & there is a high demand for it.
Regards,
Ross Holder
We don't distribute DLC/online service. Please use the customer service link I sent in previous email.
Thanks
Hi,
I have already tried them and they told me to contact my own country.
If you have a partnership with Activision (being the distributor) surely you can just explain to them that customers here would like the service desperately and that it is allowed in the UAE. All I want is for Activision to place the premium service in the PS Store UAE so that us customers can buy/download it.
Who else must I contact ? No one can give me an answer and no one is willing to help us customers....
Ross
I am told that the service works except for the cash prizes.
If you attempted to activate your premium service on the UAE account (IP specific) with a UK code, it won’t work because the Hardened Edition was not made available officially.
This is something you need to take up with the retailer.
http://www.callofduty.com/elite/whats-included
The retailer really doesn’t have anything to do with this as the Hardened Edition is not the problem. The problem is that the service IS NOT working at all (The premium one) & I don’t know why ?
The premium service is available in all countries contrary to popular belief as my friend who lives next door to me has the premium service because he has a uk store account. BUT he lives in the exact same place AS ME !
Now I understand what everyone is saying; “it isn’t available”, however at this point in time I would like to know why it isn’t available which the UAE supposedly has the answer to (as they restrict certain content).
Why can Activision not make the service available ? This is really frustrating....
