Skyrim, Bethesda, and the BBB : V

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:33 pm

According to the Better Business Bureau, Bethesda Softworks (aka ZeniMax Media, Inc) has an official rating of an "F". Anyone think this is due to the PS3 issue with Skyrim? Or is it due to the issues with Fallout 3? Or is it due to the issues with Fall Out New Vegas? Or is it due to the issues with Rage? Or is it a combination of every single recent Bethesda game?

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:48 pm

Well, is it Bethesda Softworks or ZeniMax Media? They are two different entities.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:08 pm

Well, is it Bethesda Softworks or ZeniMax Media? They are two different entities.

Listed as the same on the BBB. Guilty by association?

» Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:24 am

You got a... link or something? I'm willing to believe that but not without proof.

(Side note: I don't actually know how the BBB works, it's all wizardry to me.)

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:52 pm

Zenimax is the parent company they own a lot more than Bethesda

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:46 pm

I dont see where this matters, as 1) they sell millions of copies and 2) what company does better honestly?

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:27 pm

Thought I was in General Discussion for a sec.

So what does F mean? I am not sure how to take it since the OP didn't explain what the F means.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:30 am

Zenimax is the parent company they own a lot more than Bethesda

It's a common misconception that Zenimax is some maniacal global imperium, it was founded by Bethesda to expand their brand.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:32 pm

Zenimax is the parent company they own a lot more than Bethesda

I would totally post a link, but I got in trouble for "cross-site trolling". Just look it up. BBB. Bethesda Softworks.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:53 pm

And here was me thinking that you was talking about the Big Brother Brazil reality show (Our BBB)

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 3:15 pm

Does the Better Business Bureau make games? If not they can go and build their self esteem somewhere else...

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:07 am

Thought I was in General Discussion for a sec.

So what does F mean? I am not sure how to take it since the OP didn't explain what the F means.

"F" is the worst possible rating you can receive. In academic terms it means Failure.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:18 pm

Ok, so its http://www.bbb.org/washington-dc-eastern-pa/business-reviews/computers-dealers/zenimax-media-inc-in-rockville-md-3729/#reasonrating which is the parent company of Bethesda Softworks (Publishing arm) as well as Zenimax Online Studios, id Software, Bethesda Game Studios (the developers of Skyrim), Arkane Studios, Machine Games, and Tango Gameworks.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:07 am

Does the Better Business Bureau make games? If not they can go and build their self esteem somewhere else...

I don't know what their process is but you clearly don't know who they are.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 3:03 pm

Does the Better Business Bureau make games? If not they can go and build their self esteem somewhere else...

No they don't make video games. They do however report on the professionalism and quality of companies. The "F" for Bethesda is well deserved.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:52 pm

Weird.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:21 pm

http://www.bbb.org/washington-dc-eastern-pa/business-reviews/computers-dealers/zenimax-media-inc-in-rockville-md-3729/.
It seems like this rating comes from consumer ratings though, and it's not very likely that people are going to report a wonderful job to the BBB. There are 37 complaints over the last 3 years, considering the millions upon millions of customers, that's actually not a bad record.

And like I said, when's the last time you reported something to the BBB when you had great service? Exactly.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:18 pm

(Side note: I don't actually know how the BBB works, it's all wizardry to me.)

It works just like forums do...the vocal minority sets the tone.

From the Wikipedia article on the BBB:

"The Better Business Bureau gathers and archives information it receives about businesses, both locally and nationally. It is unknown what vetting or verification process the BBBs use with the information they receive from consumers and other businesses, or if there is a verification process."

I think the part in red about sums up their validity.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:50 pm

an F? for what?

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:13 pm

No they don't make video games. They do however report on the professionalism and quality of companies. The "F" for Bethesda is well deserved.

The only problem they seem to have is that Bethesda's games are buggy. So what else is new?

Video games are more an art than any other type of consumer product.

» Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:00 am

"The Better Business Bureau gathers and archives information it receives about businesses, both locally and nationally. It is unknown what vetting or verification process the BBBs use with the information they receive from consumers and other businesses, or if there is a verification process."

That seems kind of arcane.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:18 pm

After seeing this, I'm never buying a game from them again. Hah! Very funny this is. I couldn't be happier with the business they've been doing with me.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:58 pm

You guys realize that this isn't a brother in arm to add to the fight against Bethesda and it's buggy games, right?

The BBB takes in complaints from consumers and then rates them in accodance to the business.

So, being as it might be deserved since their games are buggy....it's not like they take notice or anything.....basically it's just the same thing as here. A bunch of gamers complaining.....or whoever is complaining.

I know this b/c I registered once to complain about Charter Communications.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:58 pm

http://www.bbb.org/washington-dc-eastern-pa/business-reviews/computers-dealers/zenimax-media-inc-in-rockville-md-3729/.
It seems like this rating comes from consumer ratings though, and it's not very likely that people are going to report a wonderful job to the BBB. There are 37 complaints over the last 3 years, considering the millions upon millions of customers, that's actually not a bad record.

And like I said, when's the last time you reported something to the BBB when you had great service? Exactly.

And interestingly, it looks like 26 of those complains were resolved, 1 was resolved according to the BBB but not the customer, 5 had no response, and only 5 were handled unsatisfactorily according to the BBB.

So of 37 complaints over 3 years, the vast majority were resolved to everyone's satisfaction, and 10 were either ignored or unfixed.
That uhh... really doesn't sound so bad to me. At all.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:54 pm

Another side note...the BBB can be kind of worthless as a gauge, both negative and positive. Like was mentioned, 37 bad reviews in 3 years gave them an F. Out of however millions of customers that may be. But even just a couple, valid or not, would give them an F, unless they were responded to by the company, in which case they could just as easily have an A with the same 37 complaints, no matter how valid, as long as each 1 is disputed.

As far as them deserving an F? Absolutely not.