Anyone who read my other thread will know I qualified but was unable to attend due to being disabled. I have been very disappointed with the lack of response since then.
I contacted Brian Ekberg, GINFINITY, posted on Twitter. I did this because I wanted to voice my opinion on how it was wrong to only include prizes for those able to attend the Forza RC at Le Mans. I haven’t recieved a single response from any of them. Im especially disappointed with the Turn 10 community manager.
What is especially irritating me isn’t the lack of a prize but the lack of communication. At no stage did the organisers contact me to help me get to Le Mans because I could of done if a carer was allowed to accompany me. I haven’t recieved one single email from anyone!!
I am very tempted to contact a big gaming website such as Eurogamer highlighting my treatment and sending them a copy of the messages, emails I have sent to the organisers. I may do this because I want advice because I am sure disabled people cannot be discrimnated against even in Esports events.
Having said all of this if I was Daveyskills I would be even more annoyed. Disconnected in the qualifiers with no restarts. Apparently happened to a few people!!
I can understand T10’s policy on communication from a business perspective, but ignoring such a plea for help/assistance on a matter like this is a disgrace. I hope your voice gets heard.
thats straight up [Mod Edit - Abbreviated profanity, profanity and profanity that is disguised but still alludes to the words are not permitted - D] how they dont respond, but this post will get edited in no time!!! i got an email saying that they are working on prizes for those who couldnt attend from forza travel… this was almost 2 weeks ago!! i really hope they make this right!!! tell your story on twitter!
Did you ask if they could accommodate you in your invitation email? I know that they’re accommodated wheelchair users in the past and stated that they would work with anyone who’s disabled if they’re notified. If you had a fully paid spot I’m sure they’d be extremely accommodating.
I didn’t recieve the intial invitational email like everyone else did. After several days I emailed Forza RC@compass and asked why I didn’t recieve this email. The next day I recieved an email with an attached form to fill with vast irrevelant questions. I read all the questions and at no stage did any of them ask if you had any disabilities or need assistance. So instead I didn’t fill in the form and emailed them again stating my problems with travelling. This is when all communication finished.
I also filled in a support ticket to GINFINTY over a week ago stating my grievances. I only recieved a reply yesterday and it said “If you wanted to go they would of provided assistance”. Who on earth wouldn’t want to go to Le Mans for free with the chance of winning a cash prize!! if they wanted to provide assistance why didn’t they offer this to me in the first place.
My other gripe is how this competition was organised with regards to the prizes. Only offering cash to those who attend is wrong. One of the main reasons I love online gaming is because I can express my competitive spirit from the comfort of my own home. Prior to my disabilities I used to be a very sporty person who participated in playing Football, Ice Hockey, Basketball. Playing Forza has become a sport for me.
Finally I am still very annoyed Brian Ekberg has not contacted me. I haven’t contacted anyone else just yet i.e Eurogamer or even Microsoft. However I shall be taking this matter further. I feel sickened that someone who went to Le mans because I was unable to has walked away with $500!
Firstly, the questions are mandatory to fill out for attendees so in the future events, make sure you do complete those so we have information to talk about on stream :).
Next, I’m really surprised that the communication ended there. From what I see on the points, you didn’t qualify for a fully paid spot so it would be up to you to get there on your own. This could have been one of the biggest issues. Once you got to the event, you’d be fully accommodated but it would still be up to you to get to the meeting point just like the rest of the partially paid attendees.
We have taken note of the prize structure and will be working to improve it.
Lastly, not everyone who raced at Le Mans got a prize either. It was the top 48 who got prizes.
Hopefully these issues will be resolved in the future but keep in mind, the program is still young and growing. We’re constantly working to improve every aspect as much as possible.
I think the saying is, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I have faith the issues you’ve experienced will be rectified.
Ivor- It’s a shame you weren’t able to go, BUT, you did say that you would be unable to travel to the event when it was announced. Admittedly, getting around at the event would’ve been challenging at times due to the terrain, but not impossible. I don’t know the timeline of things of when you contacted Brian or whomever else you sent messages to, but, I think had you sent a message immediately, stating your circumstances, I think something could’ve been arranged. The Forza Travel team staff are 100% amazing and they would’ve done everything in their power to assist you. If you did do that, well, something’s not right with that, and that’s really unfortunate.
However, the prize money thing was not a guarantee, and you’re not entitled to that. Like Evan said, only top 48 received cash prizes, minimum being $575. 49th-65th did not receive a prize, apart from having their lodging and food costs covered, which in itself really is a prize.
The thing about the prize structure is, where do you draw the line? Only those who made it to Le Mans actually received a cash prize from S3, which was a change from S2 but in line w/ S1 (granted those who made the weekly showdowns in S1 got prizes). Alright, well, what about the people who finished >17th in the S2 Consolation Cup and Elite Cup Rounds from S2? They didn’t get anything, either. From this season, what about the people that finished >200th? They made solid efforts, what about prizing for them? No matter what solution you pick, there will be people on the cusp frustrated that they didn’t get anything.
Just checked the timeline. I didn’t get the email with the form to fill in until 6th June. I replied the next day stating my problems with travelling. This is when the contact ended.
I could of made the journey if for example my brother was able to come along and push me around in the wheelchair and provided general assistance with my travel. However at no stage did anyone offer this to me and like I say I never heard anything from anyone since the 7th June.
I understand the points you both made and I probably should of been more assertive in asking for help. However the delay in recieving the email with the form to fill in didn’t help. I still maintain the grand finals of future competitions should remain online giving everyone the opportunity of competiting from the comfort of their own home.
Nobody is probably reading these threads anymore but as the weeks have elapsed the so called Turn 10 community manager Brian Ekberg still hasn’t replied to my message. I am rather funny when it comes to good manners and Brian should of least had the courtesey to reply to me.
This silence is generally what has annoyed me over this farce. Fair enough rules are rules and if prizes were only available to those who attended then I have to accept that. However I do not accept the way I didn’t get the email like everyone else did to fill in the form. No attempt was ever made to assist me to get to Le Mans and nobody from GINFINTY or the travel organisers ever reply to my messages. The only time I heard from GINFINTY was when the event was well and truly over and I found the message rather insulting!!
Finally it was rumoured that those who were unable to attend would recieve the goody bag i.e T Shirt, bag etc. Well I personally haven’t recieved anything or heard anything about this goody bag.
I am still considering my options and whether to share my experience with others.
Thanks for letting us know about your issues. I apologize for not getting back to your personally in a quicker manner.
I’m not certain why you did not receive either the initial invitation e-mail/form at the same time as everyone else or follow-up e-mails after your initial outreach. I will check with the teams on our side and see what I can find out.