PS3 GTA IV online multiplayer went down, back up [update]
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Apr 29th 2008 at 4:30PM }
While we've been playing Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox Live for hours now, our pals over at PS3 Fanboy have had less luck. The gang -- meta moment alert! -- grabbed a cell phone and snapped a photo of the game's cell phone, specifically, the "error" message pictured above, confirming reports that the online multiplayer component of the PlayStation 3 version of GTA IV has not been accessible today (though it was last night, apparently). To be clear, this does not appear to be a network-wide issue; PSN seems to be functioning properly otherwise. Someone go give those Rockstar servers a good hard kick, will ya?
Check out all our coverage of Grand Theft Auto IV!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Mystic @ Apr 29th 2008 4:33PM
Oh god the irony. First the PS3 runs at 630p, now PSN goes down!!! Lots of fanboys eating their words today.
Mr.ESC @ Apr 29th 2008 4:35PM
As much as I like to see fanboys cry (especially Sony fanboys) don't you think kicking a man while is down is sort of wrong?
theturtle363 @ Apr 29th 2008 4:49PM
It's GTA isn't it?
Trev @ Apr 29th 2008 5:01PM
From the article directly fucking above you:
"To be clear, this does not appear to be a network-wide issue; PSN seems to be functioning properly otherwise."
If you're going to troll, don't forget to actually read the article so you don't look like a moron.
theturtle363 @ Apr 29th 2008 5:08PM
says the skrull! He's just trying to trick us!
Trev @ Apr 29th 2008 5:16PM
I am no such thing! Just ask Hank Py-- Elekt-- Black Bo--...
...
*runs for it*
Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 29th 2008 6:08PM
Well, as of 2pm, it was broken. As of 3pm, it's online. I know because I just finished a 2 hour session of multiplayer...
XGM @ Apr 29th 2008 6:20PM
Isn't that like the Wii, having to blow in it to get it working again ? Or like the 360 with a RROD, since we wanted a change from all the BSOD's.
Oh the irony
/sarcasm
Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 29th 2008 7:27PM
Looks like I spoke too soon. Seems to be more of a "only so many people on at once" sort of thing."
Tim The Enchanter @ Apr 30th 2008 10:55AM
Lol @ turtle and trev
@ mystic: Read before you write man. It's just this game. And 360 has it's share of problems. Not online, but there are things to fix there too. Don't turn this into console wars again.
Exo @ Apr 29th 2008 4:35PM
you get what you pay for i guess
x silence x @ Apr 29th 2008 4:47PM
You can't argue that.
Ninjakamster @ Apr 29th 2008 4:47PM
Totally, I'm not going to complain if a free service goes down.
But I'd gladly pay for PSN to have better service up to par with Xbox Live. I'm sure many PS3 owners would too.
jboogie @ Apr 29th 2008 4:56PM
I remember when my xbox live went down maybe 2 months ago for 3 days and I couldn't play any of my games. Guess I got what I paid for then as well. This issue affected a lot of people and was even talked about on major nelson's site.
Go White Sox and Go other Team @ Apr 29th 2008 4:59PM
Put your reading glasses on ladies and repeat after me,
The problem is with R* servers, NOT with the PSN. Once R* gets its dedicated servers back up and running, none of this will matter.
For me, I have only played 1 online game, and until I play more of the single player, I could give to Fernandos about multiplayer server problems less than 24 hours after arguably the BIGGEST game release ever.
but by all means, go ahead and bash the PSN, nevermind that it has NOTHING to do with the online issues for PS3 users. That's right, be just like Fox News and "forget" about facts getting in the way of your bashing.
I am at work, that is why I am on this blog. For those of you PS3 bashers at home, what's your excuse? Did your 360 Red Ring on you again?
See? I can be as lame as you too. Does that make me cool now? Do I get the secret password for Bill Gates's ubber dubber super doooper way way way coooooooler than your gang gang?
copa @ Apr 29th 2008 5:11PM
White Sox, I'll try and do this slowly so you can follow.
RockStar has to build dedicated server infrastructure for the PS3, and not the XBox 360, because PSN does not provide them same level of network services to third-party developers that XBox Live does.
This is not such a big deal for developers like Infinity Ward, who have lots of experience in building and supporting very large online servers, but it is a problem for companies like Rockstar that are getting into this for the first time.
So yes, this is a 'you-get-what-you-pay-for' problem. Rockstar does not have the option to offload a lot of this network infrastructure to Sony's PSN. Each PS3 developer has to build and support from scratch, which is why you get varying levels of online quality going from title to title on PSN.
Go White Sox and Go other Team @ Apr 29th 2008 5:22PM
Wow Copa, thanks for posting 2 loooong paragraphs of absolutely nothing of value. I as most if not all other owners of PS3 consoles KNOW that R* has dedicated servers for GTA4 for PS3, I clearly stated that as have others in my post.
Maybe you should apply for Fox News also since you can evade "certain details" at will.
I realize that R* is going to go thru some growing pains with their 1st online game of this immense scale. But they will get it ironed out, and then PS3 owners will have silkysmooth lagfree online gameplay while your $50 a year Live service will still be laggy because of P2P.
Go White Sox and Go other Team @ Apr 29th 2008 5:23PM
I cannnot count, er 4 paragraphs.
copa @ Apr 29th 2008 5:28PM
"I realize that R* is going to go thru some growing pains with their 1st online game of this immense scale. But they will get it ironed out, and then PS3 owners will have silkysmooth lagfree online gameplay."
Awesome, White Sox.
Just for reference, how long are you willing to wait from launch day to be able to play online, before you would concede that you might be better off with a small monthly fee and a centrally managed infrastructure?
Noshino @ Apr 29th 2008 5:37PM
copa...
"This is not such a big deal for developers like Infinity Ward, who have lots of experience in building and supporting very large online servers, but it is a problem for companies like Rockstar that are getting into this for the first time."
Infinity Ward also had problems running online multiplayer on the 360...
also
"RockStar has to build dedicated server infrastructure for the PS3, and not the XBox 360, because PSN does not provide them same level of network services to third-party developers that XBox Live does."
what are you talking about? what level of network services is that again? this is Rockstar's fault, don't go blaming the PSN for it...or what? you also want to blame XBL when you couldn't play Halo 3?
Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 29th 2008 6:12PM
Well, copa. I would say I was willing to wait for three hours after I picked up my copy. Because as of 3pm, the service went live and works reaspnably well. Several rank 1 or higher players are on right now. I'm still rank 1 though. So how long are we willing to wait? I'd say about 15 hours. Certainly beats the two months of clusterfuck some paid services got. But hey, you got a free copy of Undertow out of it. Well worth the headache.
ill trooper @ Apr 29th 2008 6:22PM
"You get what you pay for"
...but you're still paying. Which is why it's annoying when the LIVE servers start acting foolish, which they do occasionally.
I also recall seeing dozens of POSITIVE arguments for the 'you get what you pay for'/'Whadya expect, it's free!' argument, like when we get levels, guns, or videos given to us, or even a certain LAME underwater shooter when it was given away as an apology.
This is a tough break for the PS3 owners, not good defense for the 'free online.' Sony's really giving second-rate treatment to a great piece of hardware, and now the rest of the world is too. GTA IV seems like a key battle to lose to the 360.
copa @ Apr 29th 2008 6:28PM
@noshino
"you also want to blame XBL when you couldn't play Halo 3?"
Of course I do. Who else would I blame?
@sheppy
"Certainly beats the two months of clusterfuck some paid services got."
LOL. OK, sheppy. XBox Live was down for two months, and nobody has been having problems with PS3 online play for the last couple of hours.
Amazing how effectively you can make your points when you invent your own alternate reality. Also, try dropping an F-Bomb to show you really mean it.
Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 29th 2008 6:45PM
copa, do you ever respond to my points? Or do you just dodge the whole damn thing then clap your hands over your mouth and declare "Ummmmm, he said fuck.... I'm telling teacher?"
This was your comment that I replied to....
"Just for reference, how long are you willing to wait from launch day to be able to play online,"
Here it is. launch day. Servers are working. Online service is completely up. So how long from launch day? The correct answer is... well, it's launch day and it's working. Amazing how that works out.
Of course all this is circumstantial because, despite this being only Rockstar's bag, Sony is still taking the hit on this one for some reason which is completely beyond my comprehension. Especially considering about the ONLY game I know of to launch without online hitches on 360 has been GTAIV and Halo 3. And trust me, I know. Three days before Halo 3 launched, my system went out for the fifth time and I sold the returned and repaired unit to a friend (who has since had it die two more times). He told me his Live finally started working again after week eight of the post holiday issues. Last year, they went down but it was only slight, as in a couple days. Meanwhile, remember Emergence Day? I do. Go online, play against Cliffy B and team, if you could connect. Gears of War launched with severe connection issues to the point where Cliffy B had to publicly apologize for it after they finally got it fixed (eight days later).
What does any of this have to do with anything? Basically, free or not, every service is prone to screwups from time to time. Every game launches with issues as well as the day of the patch are becoming all too familiar. Whether you pay for the service or not is irrelevant to this fact because Live isn't exactly running on all 12 cylinders at all times either.
But yeah, we all know... blah blah blah, fuck PS3. All you really have to post around here anymore.
rv @ Apr 29th 2008 7:17PM
Please, can we have peace? This should be a joyous day...
copa @ Apr 29th 2008 7:41PM
"Here it is. launch day. Servers are working. Online service is completely up. So how long from launch day? The correct answer is... well, it's launch day and it's working. Amazing how that works out."
Sorry, sheppy, I was off playing some GTA4.
Anyway, it looks like you got around to noticing that the servers are still coming online and offline, and corrected yourself in the above post.
So, my question was not, how long until you think the servers are going to be back up? I was curious how long they would have to be flaky before you would say that you would rather pay for a centralized service, and not rely on Rockstar to keep everything running?
Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 29th 2008 9:08PM
Well, that's a whole other matter... isn't it.
IF and this is a pretty big IF paying for the service would mean no issues with down time or limited space on the dedicated servers (seriously? 360 runs p2p but NOTHING is in the way of support for that on PS3?!?), I might be willing to pay for the service. Depends upon the price and if they option for free servers still exists. OR if that option would bring with it a standardized headset.
Guess it just depends what the quality of the pay service would be.
Eric @ Apr 29th 2008 9:51PM
Man this thread is annoying. I have all three consoles, had an original xbox + live, had the ps2 w/network adapter etc.
The bottom line for me is that the PSN network flat out sucks. It is not even a shadow of what xbox live has become and it's an embarrassing, gimped excuse for an online service. Oh yeah, it's free.
I have never had significant issues with XBLive - any online service, whether it's your console or home service, is going to have the occassional hiccup but the overall quality and experience of Live is outstanding in its' performance and features.
Again, I own all three consoles. I don't want Home, I don't need a friggin avatar and virtual living space. I want ease of use, and access to my friends online at any time. At no point do I expect Sony to offer the robust video download service I currently get on Live in this console generation. Yeah, yeah they're talking about it but anyone who believes that should hold their breath and wait for Home.
XB Live FTW.
Baldwin @ Apr 29th 2008 4:49PM
Seems like I should get my GTA4 copy for the 360.
MN Guy @ Apr 29th 2008 4:38PM
Nice. I pre-ordered the right version. Off work in 1 hour and going online.
peacebyanymeans (AKA: Moorio) @ Apr 29th 2008 4:38PM
Where are also those PS3 fans who were sure that GTA IV would buckle Live?
A show of hands would do fine. All we want to do it laugh at you.
peacebyanymeans (AKA: Moorio) @ Apr 29th 2008 4:39PM
By "also" I meant "All those".
:\
Ninjakamster @ Apr 29th 2008 4:47PM
All you guys do is laugh at PS3 and its owners, what are you talking about?
colinbell @ Apr 29th 2008 4:50PM
Hmmm...maybe because many more people who bought PS3 version than 360? That would be a likely reason for *Rockstar* PS3 servers to crash (if it had been a PSN issue though then we would give Sony hell - this is not Live, we expect a service that works)
And though it sucks I guess we can give Rockstar a break - after all they made the 360 version much shoddier, poor AI, poor framerates, inferior image quality, popups - they should give PS3 owners the odd muliplayer outage to make 360 owners feel better.
x silence x @ Apr 29th 2008 4:53PM
I think a premium service for PSN in inevitable...
Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Apr 29th 2008 5:01PM
Colin can you get any mores stupider?
"Hmmm...maybe because many more people who bought PS3 version than 360? That would be a likely reason for *Rockstar* PS3 servers to crash"
I think you meant "PSN crashed because more people bought PS3 version than 360 version, and that = PSN crashing. PS Im an asshat."
Great reasoning.
peacebyanymeans (AKA: Moorio) @ Apr 29th 2008 5:04PM
No, I'm not making fun of PS3 owners, I'm making fun of (with added emphasis) THOSE PS3 owners who were saying Live was going to crash like it did in December/January.
Look, if Live did crash, I'd be laughing at THOSE 360 owners too.
UltimateQ @ Apr 29th 2008 5:11PM
I don't own either the PS3 or the 360. But I'd buy a PS3 over a 360 for several factors. The biggest of which it uses Blu-ray and I can use it to play movies. Since HD-DVD is dead. Plus you don't have to pay for Sony's online service. Which is another thumb up for me.
PojoMofo @ Apr 29th 2008 5:11PM
Markez,
The problem with your reasoning is that PSN didnt crash, its R* servers. So your point=fail
PojoMofo @ Apr 29th 2008 4:39PM
Gezuz christ you fucking guys are idiots.
READ THE POST MORONS
It has nothing to do with PSN, its R* servers. Has nothing to do with PSN, or Sony. PSN is fine. This is R* fuck up
Sorry to ruin your ejaculation when you found this thread, but you just make yourself look incredibly stupid
vidGuy @ Apr 29th 2008 4:41PM
Who cares if its PSN or R*, the PS3 online multiplayer isn't working while 360 gamers are blasting it up over MP.
Mr.ESC @ Apr 29th 2008 4:43PM
Yeah we know that so? the PS3 version still sucks and mah Roflcopter goes soi soi soi soi.
(Sorry for that but insulting people just because they offended a console.Chill pills anyone?)
KingOfGods @ Apr 29th 2008 5:04PM
What's your point? The majority of PSN is dedicated servers, so if the dedicated servers aren't up.....you get my point.
PojoMofo @ Apr 29th 2008 5:17PM
no KingofGods, i dont get your point. If R* dedicated servers are down, yet every other aspect of PSn is up, and every other online MP game is running fine, how is this a PSN problem??
copa @ Apr 29th 2008 5:20PM
"It has nothing to do with PSN, its R* servers"
It has everything to do with PSN. Those dedicated Rockstar servers are required for the PS3 game, because PSN won't provide the same level of service as XBox Live.
Rockstar isn't using dedicated servers to support the XBox 360 online play. Those servers are operating out of Redmond.
PojoMofo @ Apr 29th 2008 5:32PM
copa, that doesnt excuse R* for not having their servers running. They chose to have dedicated servers, they could have easily outsourced this to someone who knew what they were doing. Everybody knows that XBL has their own servers and PSN doesnt. Including R*
Zeus.:God @ Apr 29th 2008 5:44PM
Mr ECS, you don't happen to mingle with Ventrilo binds, do you?
Pojo, it is a PSN problem. Whether it's Rockstar's servers makes no difference.
Mr.ESC @ Apr 29th 2008 7:55PM
Who is Mr.ECS and what the hell is a Ventrilo?
Johnny Lasley @ Apr 29th 2008 8:19PM
At least when Joystiq bloggers are dumb, they're predictable.
Ever heard of circumstantial evidence...well the difference between PSN and XBL is just that. You first have to prove to me that a decentralized network is inferior centralized network. I'm sure there are trade-offs, but it doesn't matter.
Sheet happens. It was R* servers this time. I'm sure we can expect more of the same from XBL in the future too.
For once everybody choke your words for a second. We all have something to be happy and excited about. We're playing GTAIV.
SinHarvest @ Apr 29th 2008 4:42PM
This thread will be epic
/popcorn :)
oh and FLAME ON