I've been doing some Google searches and they're turning up forum posts from people with the same problem from as far back as 2006. Seems the "store" is like a yo-yo owned by a kid who eats incredibly sticky toffee. It spends 99% of the time stuck at the top of the string (closed) and occasionally does a brief spin at the bottom of the string (open) before zipping back up and sticking again. Apparently, it's been doing this since 2006, with long periods spend "closed for maintenance". I've been checking back about once every few months since early 2009, and the situation hasn't changed.
One of my Google searches turned up a surprising result, a
Bethesda blog entry dated 27th April 2010, clearly stating the store was back in business again. What happens when I click any of the links? Yep. "The Store is currently closed" and "404 not found"!
I can't believe the DLC links on Bethesda's NEW official website (
http://www.elderscrolls.com/oblivion/dlc) still redirect to the closed store. Try clicking ANY of the "Order/Download now from Bethsoft.com" links (for PC versions) and they're ALL broken, giving "404 not found". Odd thing is, the XBox.com links all seem to work! Considering they've had YEARS to iron out any problems with the store, I think it's clear that they simply don't care about PC Oblivion fans and, for reasons best known to themselves, are deliberately leaving the store closed permanently.
It's for reasons like this that I'll be boycotting Skyrim, at least until I hear GOOD reports about its stability, maybe even until a "final" patch has been released. And by then, Skyrim will be in the bargain bin so I'll buy a copy dirt cheap and Bethesda will see NO profit from it. It's a known fact that lack of support hurts future sales. Buyers tend not to trust a company that "doesn't care" about their products or their loyal fan base.
I've had my fingers burned enough times to know NOT to stick 'em in the flame again! "Once burned, twice shy" as the old saying goes. At least I have more sense than Bethesda, who seem intent on repeatedly shooting themselves in the same foot for years on end. With Skyrim about to be released, do they REALLY want the BIGGEST group of potential buyers (die-hard Oblivion fans) to be seriously p'd off en masse?
Me? I'm voting with my wallet. Skyrim WAS at the top of my "games to buy next" list, but it's now at the bottom. I recently splashed out on a 64-bit quad-core PC with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and a near top-end DirectX 11 video card (Geforce GTX 560) to get ready for Skyrim. However, being a VERY late 64-bit adopter, there are plenty of modern games I've missed out on and can now enjoy until Skyrim lands in the bargain bin. So Bethesda can just wait until I first buy and play through Crysis, Crysis Warhead, Crysis 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Aliens vs Predator, etc.
Happy launch day, because I won't be at the party.
