Capcom offers DIY fixes for Dead Rising text issues

by Ross Miller { Aug 17th 2006 at 9:25PM }

Capcom, while aware of the issues players are having reading Dead Rising's text on a standard definition television, have not promised a patch. Instead, they gave 1UP the following makeshift fixes to help you read the text:

Adjust the settings on your TV or monitor
Try using component cables instead of standard composite
Setting the TV to widescreen ratio (even though you may not have a widescreen TV) may help in some cases

... are you kidding us? The company in the past has been good with the quality control. We're surprised they didn't test the gore fest on a standard definition set, but we'd be surprised if the developer wasn't scrambling to make an update. Don't let us down, Capcom.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Dr.Swiss @ Aug 17th 2006 9:30PM

Wow, I don't even own this game nor the system it's on and I'm shaking my head at Capcom about this as well.

"Okay, this is how you fix it, okay? You gatta go on your knees and go up to your TV, okay? Now you just gatta squint real hard, okay? Does it work? No? Uhh, that's all we got."

Nick @ Aug 17th 2006 9:33PM

Dr Swiss: That's actually what I'm having to do to read what Otis keeps telling me. Damn janitor and his tiny...speech.

Jhongerkong @ Aug 17th 2006 9:38PM

Don't mean to nitpick but...

"...we'd be surprised if the developer if they weren't scrambling to make an update."

A little error. Kind of ironic in a post about text issues.

James Sorensen @ Aug 17th 2006 9:39PM

dont worry

lost planet > dead rising

Yem @ Aug 17th 2006 9:49PM

So, this time.. can anyone confirm whether this is a 50Hz only issue, or is it equally bad on a 100Hz CRT?

triptogn @ Aug 17th 2006 9:57PM

How about a fix for all of the people with disk read errors only with this game while they are at it?

1up_clock @ Aug 17th 2006 10:00PM

WHAT.

radjago @ Aug 17th 2006 10:03PM

Why don't they just say what they mean?

1. Throw out your old TV.

2. Purchase an HDTV.

(We screwed up.)

kftgr @ Aug 17th 2006 10:08PM

@James
I remember the Lost Planet demo also having tiny text at times. It's been too long since playing that to remember exactly where, but it exists.

@Ross Miller
Should really use a different picture as it's a misleading representation of what the text looks like on an SDTV.

Quaddw @ Aug 17th 2006 10:12PM

I've had a 20 inch panasonic tv for a while now, and although I have looked into getting an HDTV, I cannot really find a set whoes price meets my budget(under 700 Can't see spending any more than that) as well as it having good quality. Yes I could get one and I wouldn't mind it either, but issues such as text size could have easily been prevented. They need to patch it becuase as of now all I can do is run around hitting zombies with stuff. Yes I can follow the arrow, but when you do that, sometimes you end up infront of a jeep with 4 inmates in it with a gun, and you are only carrying a piece of 2X4. Hope they fix it soon :/

xMDKx x36Ox @ Aug 17th 2006 10:13PM

that is the lamest excuse i have ever heard from a company to weasel out of acually doing work and fixing the problem. Learn that most people have a standard definition tv and the very elite few have a HDTV.

reebo @ Aug 17th 2006 10:14PM

That's a really said response to the problem. I own neither Dead Rising or a 360, but Capcom's "solution" really pisses me off. They screwed up, they should fix it.

reebo @ Aug 17th 2006 10:15PM

"that's really a said response..."

Or "sad". >_>

MetalD @ Aug 17th 2006 10:21PM

No surprise here. I see this being standard for games in the near future, besides Wii. Why even get an HD console if you don't have an HDTV? Get the Wii. I do have an HDTV and plan on purchasing Wii along with one of the other consoles eventually. The TV I bought cost $2399 and lags on 720p, so I guess if I do get a 360 Im F$#ked on this game. Either blurry or lag.

You have to be rich to play "mature" consoles in 2006. HaHa.

FalseProphet @ Aug 17th 2006 10:21PM

I just finished the survey they gave me:

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/5176/deadrisingeo0.png

Great, now maybe in the next coming weeks, I might be able to enjoy the game I bought.

MysticGenie @ Aug 17th 2006 10:35PM

I tell you one thing. Had Microsoft omitted the HD suppport from Xbox 360 and make it as SDTV-only console, I guarantee you we wouldn't be having discussion about the text issue with Dead Rising in the first place!

Quaddw @ Aug 17th 2006 10:37PM

Oh no you don't. That HDTV belongs to me! Also, if the 360 was meant to just be an HD console, then they wouldn't have bother offering the option on the AV cables for standard. Not that I'm saying it isnt meant to be HD, but if they are going ot allow that possiblity for someone to use a SDTV instead, third parties need to atleast make sure its going to work for both especially in a game like this...

MSH-Hitman @ Aug 17th 2006 10:38PM

This is my only beef with the game...and crappy survivor AI, but when I have to get within 4 to 5 of my tv to even read the tiny, tiny, text...something is wrong.

Sure I plan on getting an HDTV, but I don't exactly have the money to buy a 600 to 700 dollar tv right now.

5ftassassin @ Aug 17th 2006 10:44PM

Quaddw: and for any one else who's been looking for an HD setup. I'm using Dells older 24" lcd with component input; it's no Sony XBR but it still looks damn good. The new Dell 2407 24" LCD has component inputs on it and still kicks ass. I think it has a better response time; I don't think youll find a cheaper set up than that with better quality. Head on over to http://www.dealnews.com for a coupon code that chops the price down to $704. Can't beat that, not even some of the cheap $500 rebate shit beats this monitor.

Mike @ Aug 17th 2006 11:03PM

Don't know if anyone else is experiencing this, not quite sure why it happened either.... I went into the clown battle for like the 3rd time in a row now and this time I could not damage him at all... some sort of glitch?

Jeff @ Aug 17th 2006 11:08PM

"I've had a 20 inch panasonic tv for a while now, and although I have looked into getting an HDTV, I cannot really find a set whoes price meets my budget(under 700 Can't see spending any more than that)"

Ummm, I bought my HDTV for $559 *two years ago*.

Pretty much *any* HDTV will be better quality than what you have, and by a wide margin. So I don't see what you're waiting for.

MikeG @ Aug 17th 2006 11:21PM

I don't like the "widescreen" fix. For one, you have to change the setting just to play DR. And then the screen is all squashed. It makes all the characters tall and skinny. Not good enough!

Azraelkans @ Aug 17th 2006 11:22PM

guys. whats all the fuss about? Obviously they are patching it, just not in the immediate future. meanwhile they are trying to offer some solutions, is not so easy to just go in and change the text font of a fully compiled and tested game you know? they actually have to restest it again to ensure no other bugs popup due to the fix. (its the same with any program)

Besides
a.-You dont really need the text that much IS AN ACTION GAME! (about killing zombies no less) not an RPG
b.-if you really need the text, go and get the free guide at gamefaqs all the text is there.
c.-you are reading THIS in a monitor. go and buy the VGA conector PRESTO instant HDTV no $1000 needed.

Capcom is a company with outstanding support if this in an issue they will solve it (since they have received a lot of complaints most probably they will), you have to realize theres a majority of HDTV and Composite TV's in Japan where this game was produced.

I have the slight feeling people complaining about this issue dont even have an xbox 360 they just want to bash in this error as much as possible.

Now go and keep hacking zombies. they arent going to just die by thelselves you know?

Bored @ Aug 17th 2006 11:23PM

They forgot another two step solution to the problem.

1) Shave your palms
2) Please place your coke-bottle glasses on the bridge of your nose.

chudgoo @ Aug 17th 2006 11:31PM

One thing I sort of find amusing is that the same people with SDTVs that are complaining about Dead Rising are the ones first in line for a PS3...

Do any of you really think that the situation will be any better on PS3? Given higher resolutions to use, developers will probably start to increase text density and other HUD items until you have no choice but to upgrade to HD. Unless you get a Wii, that is...

(for the record, I accidentally ended up going HD when I bought a set of Dell 2405FPWs (24" LCDs). Something like $800 each...Intended to use them for computer displays -only- but after getting a 360 I noticed that they had composite inputs! Very nice monitor for the price, BTW...1920x1200)

aribus @ Aug 18th 2006 12:51AM

I think this is one of the problems of putting hard drives in consoles. Developers are more likely to ship an unfinished product with the intent to patch it later.

aDub @ Aug 18th 2006 4:36AM

I have been enjoying Dead Rising for about a week now. I play on a standard definition 27" with component cables that were included with my premium pack. I can read the text just fine, but it is small - the picture above looks horrible and really does the game injustice - I couldn't imagine that same tv setup displaying any game well.

I am more annoyed that Capcom didn't have full voice over treatment. I remember reading a GameSpot preview for DR that stated that the version they previewed was a near complete build and that it only really lacked voice acting, noting that the lack of voice made it more difficult to keep track of game objectives.

I can only imagine that the recording of the thousands(?) of lines of dialog would have pushed the release date to Fall/Winter and Capcom may have wanted to capitalize on the summer drought instead.

Unfortunately they were probably made the right choice. Maybe they could release a version with full voice later for a discounted price and rename it Dead Rising:Complete? I mean come these guys sold us Street Fighter 2 on XBLA (both my roomate and I paid for the $10 download) and how many different versions did they make of this game? But then what about Nintendo and countless Yoshi/Mario/Wario/Luigi/Zelda/Metroids? or Sega Virtua Tennis/Fighters/On/Racing, and don't forget Sonic... [/end rant]

pickassoreborn @ Aug 18th 2006 4:54AM

I can understand Capcom's lack of a patch for this - I work on game GUI/front ends and it would be quite a nightmare for them to adjust the font - it could well break a lot more than it fixes. Whenever creating anything with a typeface, I make damn sure it's legible before commiting to it, for altering any typeface's size part-way through development (or even after development in this case) is a major headache.

Stevo @ Aug 18th 2006 4:56AM

I have played Dead Rising on a 17 inch portable (SD obviously) television using scart into a VHS recorder and the standard RF lead from there to the TV. Hardly an ideal set-up yet I had no problems at all with the text.

I strongly doubt the veracity of your screenshot, Joystiq.

KingOfGods @ Aug 18th 2006 7:32AM

http://www.buy.com/prod/ViewSonic_VX2025WM_20_1_Widescreen_TFT_LCD_1680x1050_800_1_8ms/q/loc/101/202310998.html

This is a great monitor. is has vga and dvi imputs so you can have the 360 and your pc connected at the same time. you can switch between the 2 at a touch of a button. I recent'y bought it and the games look great. Everything is clear and I have no prob reading any text.

$329.99 (I paid 350 a 2 months back) for a high def 20.1 inch wide screen monitor is a really good deal.

This isn't the first 360 game to have this problem but it's funny that it's getting all the attention. Fight night suffers the same problem when trying to read text.

boots @ Aug 18th 2006 7:33AM

Nintendo is going to be laughing all the way to the bank for having the only non-HD requiring games.

benjamin @ Aug 18th 2006 8:40AM

>Try using component cables instead of standard
>composite
I don't use this expression often, but LOL. Seriously. I honestly laughed out loud when I read this. Why would I be using the composite cables in the first place if I had component hookups?

@#28 & Others Above:
This is definitely why I'm excited about the Wii and not the PS3. I made the mistake of thinking that SD support would be present with the 360, so I'm not going to make *that* mistake again.

benjamin @ Aug 18th 2006 8:46AM

And while I'm thinking about it, I've got a DIY fix too. Maybe Capcom will add it to their list:

Ask your grandma about the big glass 'magnifiers' they used to use with their newfangled TV sets. Ever seen one of those? They're like the little screen magnifiers they used to sell for the brick-style Gameboy.

Just get one of those, sit a few feet back and enjoy your jumbo, massively fisheye version of Dead Rising. Call it...I dunno, Zombo Vision or something.

Hell, I should get some, paste some Dead Rising clip art along the side and sell them on eBay. :rubs hands together maliciously:

Todd @ Aug 18th 2006 9:36AM

I'd be willing to return this game in order to make a statement. Otheriwse I'd tell others to simply rent the game until a "fixed" version is produced. There's no reason people should have to settle otherwise.

nick @ Aug 18th 2006 9:52AM

I'm on a standard 30" TV using composite, and have been playing Dead Rising for almost a week, and have not experienced any problems reading the tiny text-- but the text is certainly small. I seriously believe the picture with this article was made purposely blurry for emphasis. My text is not blurry at all or totally unreadable.

Mullan @ Aug 18th 2006 10:06AM

I have a fix for anyone in the UK with an SDTV. Buy an RGB SCART cable, the picture quality is far better. I cant read the text in dead rising unless i use it. Make sure your TV supports RGB first before you buy one though.

RyanV @ Aug 18th 2006 10:41AM

i think that #7 has the right idea. High def sets are pretty cheap now. your best bet is to bite the bullet and get a new TV.

KR @ Aug 18th 2006 10:49AM

"Nintendo is going to be laughing all the way to the bank for having the only non-HD requiring games."

Yeah, because this text issue is a console-neration defining moment in the industry's history.

Mountain out of a molehill. Annoying problem? Yes. Detrimental to the XBox 360? Not in the least.

Frankly, Dead Rising wouldn't have gotten nearly the attention it has gotten if it were not released during the summer drought.

SuicideNinja @ Aug 18th 2006 12:09PM

I can't believe this is such an issue.

These must be the same people who aren't impressed with the graphics, yet they are using an SDTV? Come on. When the PS3 comes out, are people going to knock it because they have an outdated television with a crappy composite connection? Complain about the graphics when we're useing around half of the optimal resolution is asanine.

When I first got my Xbox 360, I had at least an flatscreen CRT SDTV with component input, and everything looked fine (when I got my HDTV, everything looked fantastic). Component is a definite improvement, but I don't think many people's non-HD televisions have that input. Even going S-video might help a bit.

What a strange time. We are in a threesome of "wars" between television formats, disc formats, and console choices.

Scott @ Aug 18th 2006 12:18PM

For actual pictures of the problem go here: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1088168

From Hardocp.com:

"To be fair to Capcom, the game only supports 480p/720p/1080i so that is what it was tested at. At 480p the text is readable. At 480i, which is not supported, using the standard yellow composite jack the text looks like ass. While that is no excuse, I am just explaining why the game was only tested at supported resolutions. And yes, you are right, Capcom should fix this.

Top picture 480i with composite video (yellow), bottom is normal text."

codemule @ Aug 18th 2006 12:48PM

I play on a 27" SD TV (crappy 6 year old Magnavox) and Dead Rising's text is completely readable. No problems at all.

I think the screenshot Joystiq is using is completely fabricated in my experience.

As for Capcom, if they patch it for people having problems great. Either way it won't come overnight and what they've done is suggest some fixes in the interim.

Relax.

cringer8 @ Aug 18th 2006 1:06PM

LMAO @ people saying "Joystiq's screenshot looks worse than the real problem"

It's a Photoshop job, you morons. It’s an exaggeration. They used the "add noise" filter on the image and "blur" filter on the text. That's all. It's a joke. Hahahahahahaha.

MrTroy @ Aug 18th 2006 1:36PM

What's Photoshop?

PayTheMan @ Aug 18th 2006 5:07PM

You have faith in Capcom's customer service? The small population of gamers that played Steel Battalion: Line of Contact (the online game of the huge controller mech simulation) were forced to get better connections if they wished to play due to Capcom's lack of fixing the game's net code.

Another case where Capcom prefers to take the money-saving route and just tell the gamers to "get used to it."

Richard Juliano @ Aug 20th 2006 7:50PM

I am disgusted over this issue. Dead Rising is a great game but for this monumental screw up. These illegible captions are not just garnish in the game; they are necessary instructions and I absolutely can not read them; even if I stand in front of my set.

If Capcom can not patch this problem then they need to label the game packaging with a warning, "Not compatible with non-HDTV televisions". Anything less and they are committing fraud. Is there any other way to see it? (No pun intended).

I tried to return the game to Babbage's and they refused my request. Their policy only calls for replacement of the same game if defective. When I explained the situation the store manager said, "I have this game and mine works fine".

So I've stopped payment with my credit card company; indicating that the store is refusing the return. I would encourage others to do the same. There is no better way to send a clear message to Capcom.

Bazooka Duke @ Aug 21st 2006 11:06AM

The text is nigh unreadable in 1080i, too. It's *tiny*. I was pretty surprised the first time I saw it.

champo @ Aug 21st 2006 2:16PM

Good game, but i do agree. damn impossible to see. I have to sit right in front of my TV and then i can read it. It's still blurry on my g/fs HDTV too when i thought i would actually be able to read it.

bayushi @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:31PM

Not to be a lone voice of dissent, but going HD is not going to solve all of your problems... I have an X360 plugged in to a Viewsonic 3250 32IN LCD display.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A4AWOU
I am using component cables and have my x360 set to 720p and widescreen. When I play The Lost Planet Demo, or Dead Rising, I get all sorts of crazy artifacts flying on the screen. Especially during the intro helicopter scene in DR. The 12 ms is not fast enough to prevent visual artifacts!!! Gr.... I am all for upgrading to HDTV but when I can't play a next gen Capcom game on an HDTV because 12ms is too slow, I get angry, Mr. McGee. Oblivion, G.R.A.W., and Call of Duty 2 look great so I am not going to nuke my Viewsonic. I guess I'll have to drag my X360 and connect it to my 19" STV. Blech.

asspants @ Sep 12th 2006 1:24AM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?N=2000190042+4021&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=42

Newegg doesnt have it anymore, but last tax return I used 699 to buy myself an Epson S3 Powerlite projector that supports 480i 480p 720p and 1080i I got a litte mini 15 pin din -> component adapter and was able to hook my xb360 up and enjoy a very nice looking hi-def 8 foot screen. Works with my hidef satelite too.
The link I put up has one or two other projectors that support up to 1080i, for LESS than 750 dollars. I think it was worth every penny. Especially when you compare it to 2000 - 3000 dollar plasma and lcd hi def screens that are half the size.

nevapwnd @ Oct 15th 2006 6:28PM

I am pissed that i cannot see the transmissions from Otis when i play Dead Rising. And so is everybody who ever played the game on a SDTV.

I have a 27 inch SDTV in my bedroom and that should be big enough to read text in any game. BUT NOOOOOOO!!!
CAPCOM decides to be a bunch of LAZY F--kers and push the games release to an earlyer time. Just like any game that is created (at least the good ones) they take thier time to create something players will, not just enjoy, but be able to not have problems with.

Good games = Good AI
Good games = Good Storyline
Good games = ...........FREAKIN READABLE FREAKIN TEXT

How could Capcom not notice this.......and dont say they used big ass wide screen tvs to test the game.......thats bull sh*t.!!!!! CAPCOM is just trying to increase demand for HDTVs....cant u see....they want us to spend money.
(duh)

the only solution i found is switching the setting on your Xbox360 to wide screen. Sure the characters look
tall and skinny but i got used to it after a while.(no excuse for what Capcom says is an "accident".)

or u can go waste ur money on a nice big freakin HD Widescreen TV.

If u just gave up on dead rising because of the text size, then i suggest these other Zombie games:
RESIDENT EVIL 4
RESIDENT EVIL 2
HOUSE OF THE DEAD 3
STUBBS THE ZOMBIE IN REBEL WITHOUT A PULSE

thats all i got 4 now....CAPCOM was bad, good, and now bad again

hate mail starts now

have a nice day