Dear Playground Games / Microsoft,
Ever since I first saw Forza Horizon 3, I was looking forward to it. A fun mix of arcade gaming,
along with a beautiful looking set of Aussie areas and cars to play with.
At the time of release I wasn't working, but starting a new job in mid October meant I could finally buy the game on the last day of October.
Here is what has happened since then. It must surely be that (in a first world context at least) there is no one around who has gone through more expense, time and effort to be able to play this game...
Buy game from Microsoft PC download store
Two days later the game finishes downloading, finally I can play FH3!
I update my graphics driver ready to play
Game doesn't load
Find out that I need a new CPU as my dual core (despite working on every game I have ever tried) overclocked processor is not supported
Buy Quad Core i5 and install it
Hurrah! I can play the game...
I get through opening race and then the game freezes, crashing my PC
I reboot and try again
The game crashes my PC halfway through race
Try to reboot my PC and it won't start
Use recovery to get PC working
Test CPU and RAM to make sure CPU is okay
Buy backup Hard drive in case of a major hardware failure, and copy all my important files
Try another game to see if it the graphics card/driver (which had previously had driver issues, but they had seemingly been fixed by reverting to an older driver - and the card was now out of warranty)
Game crashes PC to black
PC won't boot
Recovery doesn't work
Buy a 32GB memory stick to try a full recovery
Recovery doesn't work
Try several options, and only likely issue is a failed hard drive
Buy replacement internal Hard Drive
Try to install windows on new hard drive, and it doesn't work
Swear loudly (this may have occurred more times than stated in this piece)
Try swapping SATA cables
Old hard drive immediately boots (seriously, whoever heard of a crash killing a SATA cable!)
Try old game to see if cable was the main issue - game crashes to black
Take out graphics card and start seeing if I can get it tested/fixed by manufacturer
Try onboard graphics card, which works perfectly with no crashes for many many hours
Decide to borrow a friends old graphics card to test
Old card works perfectly for many many hours
Try updating to latest drivers, old card still works
Graphics card supplier agree to send my card to manufacturer to test if a pre-warranty fault existed
Graphics card manufacturer says they won't test it as out of warranty
Numerous emails between myself, supplier and manufacturer
Manufacturer eventually agrees to test, but not repair graphics card
Christmas Eve, and I spot a great deal on a new graphics card and decide that this is a better idea than repairing the old one. Buy card online.
Six days later and not even confirmation of received payment
Phone up and find online orders not being processed until four days later
Five days days later and no confirmation of received payment
Contact supplier and get told payment is there and item will be sent
Finally get confirmation that item will be delivered on the 9th... which is now so long after ordering that my partner won't be home to collect it
Arrange redirect to office
Item now due on the 11th
11th.... item not delivered, but get notification that item will be delivered on the 12th
12th.... get message that item is delayed and will probably be delivered on the 13th
So. In summary.
Two and a half months, $1100 (not including the game), many many many many hours of testing, fault researching, and company chasing after buying Forza Horizon 3... I have STILL not been able to play the game.
Even after that, I am still excited at the prospect that hopefully, HOPEFULLY, tomorrow Australia Post will actually deliver my graphics card, and I will be able to race around Byron Bay in a green Ute.
So Playground games and Microsoft - I just thought you'd like to know the sheer amount of persistence, dedication, time and money that I have spent to play your game... the irony being that I could have bought an Xbox One S with the game right at the start and saved many hundreds of dollars.
As I appreciate your efforts in making a top class game, I hope you appreciate mine in actually attempting to enjoy it.
Regards,
Rob