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The Rise Of Bugs In Console Games

Posted by simoniker on from the not-the-armorines-kind dept.

Thanks to GameSpy for posting a column discussing the increasing prevalence of serious bugs and glitches in console titles, especially in relation to several of this summer's 'blockbusters'. Singled out are Enter The Matrix: "Even if you enjoy the game.. you can't ignore the fact that all three console makers let Atari have a 'get out of final approval free card' when it came to testing...", as well as the new Tomb Raider title: "AOD froze up on me at least half a dozen times... Lara fell through invisible gaps in the street, walked through invisible gaps in walls, and refused to walk up stairs that she was supposed to be able to climb." What's to be done when, as the author says, "judging from the sales of these... titles, enough of you guys just aren't punishing the companies for releasing sub-par products to make a difference"?

3 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. Re:too much pressure to rush to market? by Mike+Hawk · · Score: 1, Troll

    This is not insightful, I'd prefer to mod it naive. The complexity of modern games means there will be some bugs. Everyone here has been saying how great Blizzard is for waiting to release, but have any of their products not required a patch? I think they all have. Didn't Diablo II have a huge problem when it came out that had the potential to burn up a user's CD-ROM? I can quickly browse the Blizzard support pages and find lots of wonderful bugs that the game was shipped with including crashes, progression blocks, etc. There is one right now that states if your character dies while holding a throwing potion, the character file can become corrupted! Oh perfect Blizzard, we don't care because we follow you like sheep. What short and selective memories we have here! In the particular cases of the games mentioned in the article, yes the movie deadline played a big role, but to think that postponing a game until all the "bugs" (which many times are features the user just doesn't understand) are worked out is a good idea or even possible, is naive.

  2. Re:Probably due to a couple of factors: by ae0nflx · · Score: 0, Troll

    Ah yes, the illustrious SMB3 saved game glitch that let you access the BIOS and install Linux, how could I forget it...

    All it took was a few drops of solder.

  3. Re:Thanks, dude! by BTWR · · Score: 0, Troll

    oh! I get it! because I used a descriptive phrase after the title (the nude patch...), and because you're so genius, I was of course being redundant! Thanks! And brilliant use of the brand-name "Range Rover!" You're right! "Nude Raider" DOES sound a lot like like "Range Rover!"

    Tell ya what... I have a neuroanatomy exam coming up. You're such a GENIUS, I was hoping maybe you could help me study.

    Seriously... I can't stop laughing and wiping away the tears! Nude Raider = SUV!

    FUCKING BRILLIANT!!!