Aspyr and Stubbs the Zombie Can Lick Me

The BBQ Pit
1

I am back from my semi-annual migration to the US. A good time was had by all.

I went to the Tyson’s Corner (VA) Apple Store to see what was to be seen. I got a copy of a couple of games, including Stubbs the Zombie. Got back here and crammed it into the hard drive. It crashes on launch.

So I sent a note to Aspyr. Their reply is below.

WTF? I bought it in an Apple store. It had an OS X logo on it. No warning it would not work. Heck, if I have worry about my video card, I might as well have a PC.

==Here is their reply:==

Hello,

 I am sorry to inform you that Stubbs is not supported on your machine. The x1600 card is not

supported by Stubbs. We do apologize about this but one of the many reasons it is not supported on
the x1600 card are issues such as the ones you are having.

Thank you for choosing Aspyr media,

Aspyr Technical Support.

2

Paul, you got rule #4.

1st line of technical support. – Hum, It works on my machine.
2nd line - You (your system) must have screwed something up.
3rd line - Try reloading your operating system, then reboot.
4th line – It doesn’t work with a older (widget). By a new (widget)
5th line – Why not buy our upgrade, that problem has been fixed.
Can I help you with anything else? Thank you for calling tech support?

3

Buy a new (widget) (buy) :o

4

You know they’re no good when they don’t even have a support forum, only a mere ticket system . . . Writes off Aspyr and Wideload for future games

5

This strikes me as vaguely (or maybe not so vaguely) circular: We don’t support it on that machine because it breaks. It breaking is one of the reasons we don’t support it.

6

Unfortunately, this isn’t specific to Aspyr. A while back I bought an Intel-based Mac Mini and – at the same time as part of the same purchase – bought Myst IV. When I got home and got everything set up, I went to set up the game. It just wouldn’t. I’d go to start the set up program and nothing happened. At first, I thought it was my ignorance of Macs, so I went googling. Nope, turns out the installation program for the game just didn’t work on Intel Macs. Period. Now, I did find some helpful posts on a forum about how to “hand install” the game, because the game itself apparently would run fine.

At that point, however, I noted that the game requirements on the side of the box noted it was both a Mac and PC CD, so I said to myself, fuck it, and installed it on my PC.

7

Unfortunate about your experience with Stubbs. It was a really fun game. How many games are out there where one of the enemies is a barber shop quartet. Singing a really good four part harmony to boot.

8

Yeah, I’m not trying to rub it in or anything, but Stubbs was one of my favorite games of all time.

9

Barber shop quartets? They deserve to have their brains eaten.

I have just posted my complaints on Amazon in order to blow off steam and to warn others. I feel a bit better now.

10

If it doesn’t work with a specific video card, that should be listed on the requirements section of the package. Other game vendors often list the video cards that they support on the package. Some video cards are just too slow or broken for a particular game to run properly.

11

Mine is too new.

I regret to report that there are a couple of reviews on Amazon saying the fool thing does not work. But I bought it in the Meat World, and so did not see them. Bummer.

12

Damn, thanks for your warning. I was actually considering buying it, but I also have an X1600 card.

Or is the problem specific to Mac machines with X1600 cards?

13

Why don’t you try it?

14

Today I loaded Medal of Honor War Chest, the games failed to load. Like Stubbs, they are copyright 2005 by Aspyr. I sent them an enquiry, I expect no good news in reply.

All in all, they seem to be dumping their old games before they become completely obsolete.

Wonderful.