Japanese Publishers Stress PS3, Patching

[gljvd]

This i don't like , this thought should be no where near anyones minds

PC gamers are going to love this one. Wada also pointed out that, with permanent online connections, it's possible to update game software. "Game makers have, until now, incurred great cost during development for debugging," he said. "Perhaps we can reduce this cost." Wada suggested that, thanks to the availability of software updates, developers won't have to work so hard to find the zaniest bugs. Wada didn't use the word "patch," strictly, but if he were a native English speaker, he might have.


http://ps3.ign.com/articles/716/716890p1.html

[woundingchaney]

The issue could definetely go both ways, where as I would love to see dev time go down I dont want it at the expense of a tuned title. Also this would surely only apply to strictly online games as many gamers may have not have an available internet source for their PS3s.

[DC_613]

Yeah would suck for people not connected to the net having a buggy game.

[gljvd]

Its not just that , I hate how on the pcs the day of release the first thing I have to do is download a patch to get the game up and running.

I really don't want to be playing the new God of war and get 80% compelte and there is a bug that prevents me from going foward.

I know this isn't what they meant. They meant smaller things could be passed buy to get the game out on time. But u never know what they will miss if the debug time is shortened

[woundingchaney]

Its not just that , I hate how on the pcs the day of release the first thing I have to do is download a patch to get the game up and running.

I really don't want to be playing the new God of war and get 80% compelte and there is a bug that prevents me from going foward.

I know this isn't what they meant. They meant smaller things could be passed buy to get the game out on time. But u never know what they will miss if the debug time is shortened


I completely understand about the PC statement, its not so much the newer games for me but when I dont play a game for a month or so then want to get back on BF2 (or whatever), hell I have to download 10 patches (LOL thats ridiculous).

[gljvd]

yup , its worriesome when the head dude at square says something like this haha

[LaLiLuLeLo]

This is exactly what I (and I assume all others) don't want; The online network to become a vehicle to make unfinished games okay for release. Screw that noise. The online platform is for new fun extra content! Not for you to release shoddy games just to 'fix' them later! Get it right the first time! This is one of the reasons I prefer console gaming over pc, if this is what it means to blur the the console/pc line, then you can count me the hell out.

[woundingchaney]

Honestly Lale. I think that both consoles and PC are becoming better by incorporating strong points of each platform, I dont ever think that they will ever completely mimmick each other.

[ddaryl]

well if this becomes the mentality of developers then I won't be buying games @ $60 until all the patches are done. I'll pay $20 for a game that's solid but needs patching.

If Dev's have to spend months debugging and acrueing great costs then that's what they need to do. Or they can pay me to debug, but I'm not paying for buggy ass shit

[MasaC]

The comparison to PC games being patched isn't completely fair. PC games must run on a great, great variety of hardware configurations and patching to fix hardware incompatabilities is practically inevitable.

On PS3 on the other hand there is only one hardware configuration to consider for games (what Sony calls "the PS3 meta platform) which basically is the 20 GB-version. Patches will be bug fixes and additions to the games. I believe there will still be thorough bug testing required to comply with the TLC but maybe not to the insane lengths as with PS2 games.

[VG Aficionado]

The ability to patch a console game isn't necessarily a totally good or totally bad thing. When it's about saving time and money with shorter betatesting periods, the implications can be really bad. When it's about solving minor issues or improving performance or adding some interesting features, the implications can be just good. However, in the case of home consoles, I think patches will be useful for anything but improving performance significantly.

For instance, we all have heard the issues with COD2 and DOA on 360 about the games erasing gamesaves when they didn't have to. It's simply wrong and awful to release a game with such a flaw. There's no patch released afterwards that would make me think I'd want to buy another game made by the same developers. Boiling Point for PC, released last year, was a game which seemed to have skipped a couple of months of polishing and the first gamers were almost forced to become betatesters.

However, I'd support the idea of releasing a patch in order to block potentially offensive content like the Hot Coffee mod for GTA: SA, or to correct small flaws which will always be there, mostly if we take into account the increasing complexity of next generation games. It's just impossible to release a flawless game, and by releasing a patch that can polish some nuances while not looking like it's a whole different game after being patched or working too differently, I think it could be healthy since people unable to patch the games weren't meant to experience important problems in the first place.

As long as I wouldn't have to feel I paid to become a betatester, patches are fine.

Oh, and how surprising the first thread jvd makes here is such a pessimistic one posed in a negative way.

[cliffbo]

i've been worrying about this for quite a while now. there were some games on a console released recently that had to be modded for one reason or another and it was quite obvious why. hopefully PS3 won't suffer from the same problem having had that extra few months to tighten the code.

[pari]

I guess that is what "Welcome the change" means... LOL just kidding. I have not particularly been enthusiastic about connected console game play it has both good and bad side. Bad side, we consumers being charged for everything recent example being the horse armor and the trend would be all the unlockable content at the completion of the game would become for sale. Like Starocean dungeon available at the end of the game would be for Sale.

I particularly see, the RPG games making a killing off the micro transaction.

[kaphwan]

Developer: "We are implementing a way of fixing bugs that we missed prior to a game's release."

Response 1 : "Wait, this must imply that they're never going to test their games for bugs before they release the game."
Response 2: "No, that's not it at all! It means that they're going to release half the game and force us to download patches!"

Ergh.

[Rubbernek]

This i don't like , this thought should be no where near anyones minds



http://ps3.ign.com/articles/716/716890p1.html

I know it's terrible.

I blame Microsoft - they clearly paved the way for this with the diabolical idea of XBOX Live.

[RavenFox]

Its not just that , I hate how on the pcs the day of release the first thing I have to do is download a patch to get the game up and running.

I really don't want to be playing the new God of war and get 80% compelte and there is a bug that prevents me from going foward.

I know this isn't what they meant. They meant smaller things could be passed buy to get the game out on time. But u never know what they will miss if the debug time is shortened

Amen to that brother or even worst it just wont run. I doubt the God of War scenario would happen but then again remember the GT2 issue.

[Viper]

Two sided issue here.

Good: Shit games can be made better. Good games can be made better.

Bad: Shittier games get released more often and faster. No Internet, no fix.



A quality control environment is still highly warranted to limit the bad. Wada's comment seems to a touch negative but hopefully that's just in the translation.

[chap!]

remeber how sony fanboys made jokes on xbox, microsoft patchbox? it is alright now with sony. damn right with a hdd standard you better beware.

[edoshin]

remeber how sony fanboys made jokes on xbox, microsoft patchbox? it is alright now with sony. damn right with a hdd standard you better beware.

I don't see any sony fanboys jumping up and down cheering about this. It reinforces what everyone has worried about in regards to console games getting released too early because it was possible to patch it later on.

[EvilTaru]

Its not just that , I hate how on the pcs the day of release the first thing I have to do is download a patch to get the game up and running.

I really don't want to be playing the new God of war and get 80% compelte and there is a bug that prevents me from going foward.

I know this isn't what they meant. They meant smaller things could be passed buy to get the game out on time. But u never know what they will miss if the debug time is shortened

With PCs you're dealing with different brands, different configurations and multiple versions of drivers, with consoles you're dealing with a game developed for one set of specs only, so there's already less likely to be a problem, ultimately consoles != PCs, and they will never be like PCs.

Patches allow things to be fixed, in the case of a developer like Ubisoft whose games tend to be shit buggy ANYWAY, they can at least upload things to fix fatal bugs in games like Prince of Persia 2 instead of having people buy the game and having the game bug out near the end and be SOL.

[cliffbo]

I don't see any sony fanboys jumping up and down cheering about this. It reinforces what everyone has worried about in regards to console games getting released too early because it was possible to patch it later on.

yeh, i noticed that too! i don't understand the posters reasoning...

[cliffbo]

With PCs you're dealing with different brands, different configurations and multiple versions of drivers, with consoles you're dealing with a game developed for one set of specs only, so there's already less likely to be a problem, ultimately consoles != PCs, and they will never be like PCs.

Patches allow things to be fixed, in the case of a developer like Ubisoft whose games tend to be shit buggy ANYWAY, they can at least upload things to fix fatal bugs in games like Prince of Persia 2 instead of having people buy the game and having the game bug out near the end and be SOL.

yes, your right, the PC gets patched because of the rediculous amounts of PCs with varying specs. no excuse for 360, just laziness and deadlines.

[venomv]

A quality control environment is still highly warranted to limit the bad. Wada's comment seems to a touch negative but hopefully that's just in the translation.

I'm really hoping that Sony, MS, and Nintendo (I'm assuming they will have this, too if nothing is official) will step up and make sure they don't release buggy, incomplete games.

[edoshin]

yes, your right, the PC gets patched because of the rediculous amounts of PCs with varying specs. no excuse for 360, just laziness and deadlines.

And to be clear .. no excuse for PS3 either

[cliffbo]

And to be clear .. no excuse for PS3 either

definately!

[masonite]

i can see it being advantageous to online games, perhaps allowing balance issues to be fixed or tuned up a little, but i cant see it helping offline games. Besides, who decides what constitutes a patch? it'd be pretty easy to market a patch which fixed a few bugs as an "expansion pack" (or "episodic content" ;)) by chucking a few new cars/maps/weapons in there too. its not too much of a problem for me, as long as i dont have to pay for it....

[EvilTaru]

yes, your right, the PC gets patched because of the rediculous amounts of PCs with varying specs. no excuse for 360, just laziness and deadlines.

For something like Prince of Persia 2 it's more of a developer problem with Ubisoft, something with a fatal bug like that shouldn't have gone through Q/A but this stuff happens, so I would rather have them patch it so the game CAN BE PLAYED, rather than never knowing whether replaying the game will give me the same fatal bug near the end and get screwed out of the ending twice, on the other hand, you never know whether Ubisoft would just screw it up even more with a shoddy patch that breaks somethine else in the game.

[venomv]

See, that isn't a problem, if something honestly slips through. What I have a problem with is if they deciede to release an overly buggy game because they know they will be able to patch it later.

[rpgamer_2k5]

Who cares. If we see half-assed games being released, it's better not to purchase them at all. No one is forcing you to purchase those titles and I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of the AAA titles will not be taking that route.

[The_One]

Who cares. If we see half-assed games being released, it's better not to purchase them at all. No one is forcing you to purchase those titles and I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of the AAA titles will not be taking that route. One can only hope...

Wada is from Square, isn't he? So if this thought is in his minds, then who knows what other studio(s) might have this thought too :shrug:!

[rpgamer_2k5]

One can only hope...

Wada is from Square, isn't he? So if this thought is in his minds, then who knows what other studio(s) might have this thought too :shrug:! Woah---Are you telling me that Square-Enix hasn't been producing a series of half-assed titles? Like Grandia III for example.

[The_One]

Woah---Are you telling me that Square-Enix hasn't been producing a series of half-assed titles? Like Grandia III for example.
Okay, okay, I get your point, but I'm pretty sure you get what I mean XD.

[Viper]

Who cares. If we see half-assed games being released, it's better not to purchase them at all. No one is forcing you to purchase those titles and I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of the AAA titles will not be taking that route.
How do we know they are half assesd games until we buy them. Truth be told that only 10% of gamers read reviews before purchase.

[jaxmkii]

Its not just that , I hate how on the pcs the day of release the first thing I have to do is download a patch to get the game up and running.

I really don't want to be playing the new God of war and get 80% compelte and there is a bug that prevents me from going foward.

I know this isn't what they meant. They meant smaller things could be passed buy to get the game out on time. But u never know what they will miss if the debug time is shortened dint you know? MS employs the largest debugging team in the world!... the consumers

[LaLiLuLeLo]

The only difference with them is, we pay them to debug their shit!
Hello mister corporate machine may I please purchase your software so I can report all the bugs to you later on as I'm working on term papers and flow charts?!!! Thank you so much!

[gljvd]

The only difference with them is, we pay them to debug their shit!
Hello mister corporate machine may I please purchase your software so I can report all the bugs to you later on as I'm working on term papers and flow charts?!!! Thank you so much!


eh , its hard having os's that are used by about 90% of the home market . It makes it the biggest target . It also has the largest amount of software that also comes in conflict with the core of the machine .

I must say though , i've allways had a much better experiance on a windows pc than on a apple pc and lets not even get into the bitch slap that linux is

[woundingchaney]

eh , its hard having os's that are used by about 90% of the home market . It makes it the biggest target . It also has the largest amount of software that also comes in conflict with the core of the machine .

I must say though , i've allways had a much better experiance on a windows pc than on a apple pc and lets not even get into the bitch slap that linux is
I as well prefer the Windows OS to any other OS available for both ease of use and support.

[gljvd]

I as well prefer the Windows OS to any other OS available for both ease of use and support.

Yup , its a bit easy to pick on MS and ignore apple and linux's faults.

Ms has the largest amount of software , alot of it indie and crappy adn some of it big companys that make software full of bloat ware. It also has the most amount of hardware to be compatible with , everyone and thier mother makes hardware for it .

In turn since its so popular , has so many options many write virus's , worms and other crap for it .


My windows xp media center edition runs extremely well , I rarely have any problems , less so than the few power books i have to use at work and more than anytime i spent dicking around with linux... esp since my video cards work with no problems .

[Angeljuice]

They record the ratio for bugs to codes of line independantly.
Windows has WAY more bugs than ANY OTHER OS...FACT

But then I'm sure you know that Msjvd!!

[Rubbernek]

Yup , its a bit easy to pick on MS and ignore apple and linux's faults.

Ms has the largest amount of software , alot of it indie and crappy adn some of it big companys that make software full of bloat ware. It also has the most amount of hardware to be compatible with , everyone and thier mother makes hardware for it .

In turn since its so popular , has so many options many write virus's , worms and other crap for it .


My windows xp media center edition runs extremely well , I rarely have any problems , less so than the few power books i have to use at work and more than anytime i spent dicking around with linux... esp since my video cards work with no problems .


If you hadn't noticed this is a console discussion forum and more specifically PS3.

If you want to preach the good word about Microsoft's busted and insecure PC Operating System (to such an extent people are being advised by security experts to change to Macs (http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=74416&cat_id=582)) I suggest you and your friend send your comments to "Windows XP Magazine".

I'm sure they'll be glad to include them just like those "satisfied customer quotes" you see promoting the latest diet book.

[woundingchaney]

If you hadn't noticed this is a console discussion forum and more specifically PS3.

If you want to preach the good word about Microsoft's busted and insecure PC Operating System (to such an extent people are being advised by security experts to change to Macs (http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=74416&cat_id=582)) I suggest you and your friend send your comments to "Windows XP Magazine".

I'm sure they'll be glad to include them just like those "satisfied customer quotes" you see promoting the latest diet book.


Last I checked I said I enjoyed the MS OS for ease of use and support not because of its bug free nature, nor its security issues.

I know exactly what forum this is and I was adding to a current debate much like you have done yourself (not sure if that was directed towards me).

But hey more power to ya.

[venomv]

The way I see it there is one reason to run Windows, it has the most software, until (what am i saying, it's not gonna happen) that changes I will have Windows.

[satriales]

I used to work as a gamestester. All the major bugs are fixed before a game is released, but sometimes there will be lots of smaller bugs that weren't fixed in time so another version is secretly released a week or two later that has all these bugs fixed. Currently if you buy a game the day it comes out then it is likely to have more bugs than the same game bought a fortnight later.

With patches, the same game would be released (quite buggy, but nothing major) and then instead of secretly releasing a patched version into shops a week later, they just release a downloadable patch. Anyone who already has a buggy game can get a fix for it, unlike now where they would have to return it.

[Viper]

Satriales, that does sound like a better plan but it's a strong middle finger to the people with no net connection. Sure it's corporate perogative but given that everyone HAS the opportunity now to fix their games, with patches not everyone will have that luxury unless Sony/publisher wants to start a sizable return option.