Eden 'can't promise' PS3 Alone in the Dark fixes for 360
by Randy Nelson 
{ Sep 12th 2008 at 9:00PM }
Remember all those new features Eden is working into the PS3 release of Alone in the Dark? Oh, or how, upon announcing them, the developer also said they'd be arriving as a patch for the Xbox 360 version? Now the tune has hit a sour note, according to MTV Multiplayer.
Game designer Emile Morel says that Eden is, "Trying to do a patch," but that "it's technically complicated," saying that, if anything, the control and camera fixes will be implemented; don't expect the new subway chase sequence in the PS3 release to show up. There's evidently also an issue with the actual estimated size of the patch not sitting too well with Microsoft.
So now it's not only a case of if the patch will happen but when. Morel says that the decision to patch or not to patch might actually depend on the success of the PS3 version, and that the team probably won't get around to working on it until the release for Sony's machine goes gold.
Game designer Emile Morel says that Eden is, "Trying to do a patch," but that "it's technically complicated," saying that, if anything, the control and camera fixes will be implemented; don't expect the new subway chase sequence in the PS3 release to show up. There's evidently also an issue with the actual estimated size of the patch not sitting too well with Microsoft.
So now it's not only a case of if the patch will happen but when. Morel says that the decision to patch or not to patch might actually depend on the success of the PS3 version, and that the team probably won't get around to working on it until the release for Sony's machine goes gold.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Vol @ Sep 12th 2008 9:15PM
Hmmm.. maybe MS doesn't want developers rolling out 1 GB patches on the service.. don't know.. just a hunch.
anonim1979 @ Sep 12th 2008 9:31PM
So put new sequence(textures,sounds,etc) as optional free DLC.
And essential patch - few MB in size - containing only "exe" with camera and control fixes.
----
"So now it's not only a case of if the patch will happen but when. Morel says that the decision to patch or not to patch might actually depend on the success of the PS3 version, and that the team probably won't get around to working on it until the release for Sony's machine goes gold."
As they should. AFTER PS3 version come out - they should work on those framerate problems that were delay cause, not worry about X360 patches right now.
http://kotaku.com/5012105/alone-in-the-dark-delayed-for-ps3
EMOruffino @ Sep 12th 2008 9:35PM
great... now i just have to get the game... lol
zuburi @ Sep 12th 2008 11:56PM
lololol hilarious! Well played, sir!
J @ Sep 12th 2008 9:43PM
I read ign's preview of the updates, and it does look promising. I've always wanted it, but complaints about the controls and other stuff changed my mind. If most reviews of this version are at least an 8, I'll definitely pick it up. However, since resistance 2 will be releasing in the same month, i may postpone my purchase even later.
The next game I'm looking forward to is silent hill 5, and motorstorm 2. I played the demo, and it's sick. The bike handling feels much better. deadspace, socom, littlebigplanet, fallout 3.
Holy shit, 5 anticipated games releasing in one month. What the fuck. While august and september have been so empty. Why do they do this?
Ace T'Ken @ Sep 12th 2008 10:13PM
And the patch for the PC version will be out... when? I'd go pick up a copy for the game if they released one.
mirage @ Sep 12th 2008 11:48PM
Hey Eden don't waste your time. I wouldn't have bought it anyways.
jose @ Sep 13th 2008 1:09AM
Why they don't pick up the wii version and bury it along with those of ET games on the dessert.
Evan @ Sep 13th 2008 3:38AM
Another reason not to buy it. I don't see how they expect 360 users to pay the same price for a broken game.
At least with BioShock you can get it on 360 for less than 30 bucks now and it was out for so long. It doesn't hurt as much to see a fuller featured BioShock come out on another platform.
FSK405K @ Sep 13th 2008 4:50AM
Games that are better on PS3 than XB360: 1.
ANTCEP @ Sep 13th 2008 6:14AM
obvious troll is obvious
Metal_Gear @ Sep 13th 2008 6:21AM
Yes, the PS3 version is better but to be fair... it is Alone in the Dark. Its like saying:
"haha, you picked up a dog turd and it was still wet, I picked this turd up and it was dry so I am ok"
Fact is, you still picked up a dog turd.
kamikaze135 @ Sep 13th 2008 6:33AM
hmm
Bass Masterson @ Sep 13th 2008 7:50AM
Alone in the Dark had a demo. It also had copious pre-release coverage pointing out the same flaws you are. Nobody put a gun to your head and said 'buy it'.
Seriously, it amazes me that in an age when everyone bitches about 'the same game over and over', they turn so violently on any new ideas that just don't work. They tried a lot of things in this game, and while many failed it's still inventive and, at times, fun. And at least they're trying to fix the problems.
j.howlett @ Sep 13th 2008 8:03AM
i'm pretty much survival horror -ed out but the dvd chapter skipping feature has me a little curious
WilhelmThe1st @ Sep 13th 2008 9:23PM
It shouldn't. The game is very easy, and not only is skipping past a part unnecessary, but it doesn't help you in the least, as you lose all of your items that you have collected and have to search around for everything again.
Coldness @ Sep 13th 2008 9:58AM
Yes! That's how it should be! Why we, PS3 owners, get stuck with DVD-quality games on BDs? They should develop multiplatform games on the PS3 first, then port it to the X360. Fact is, PS3 is much more powerful than the X360 and we have much more extra room for our games, so we it's a fair bet!
Arann @ Sep 13th 2008 10:48AM
So, your argument is that developers should spend more time and resources developing a game for a bloated system, and then spend yet more time and resources downgrading the game for other platforms so they can release an obviously inferior version, leaving those (presumably larger) install bases ticked off?
Yeah... that makes sense.
Dropping an extra bundle of cash on a machine with shiny new technology doesn't mean you're guaranteed the best selection of games. Sony outpaced the tech curve and their library has suffered somewhat because of it. The whole installing-games-on-a-console thing doesn't help either.
As a consumer, the only worthwhile quality I see in the PS3 is the Blu-Ray player. Then again, I don't want to pay $25 for my movies.
Coldness @ Sep 13th 2008 12:51PM
It isn't Sony's fault for making a better console than Microsoft! And yeah, from PS3 user's perspective, it makes a whole lotta sense!
Installing games isn't much of a problem or an issue for that matter. Installing takes usually around 5 mins. That's not a huge price to pay for the obviously higher quality games PS3 can offer!
Also, it's not PS3's problem that developers are too lazy to design for the system.
ihateemo @ Sep 13th 2008 2:15PM
"it's not PS3's problem that developers are too lazy to design for the system."
Actually it is. If developers are "too lazy" because of the complex nature of the technology then the PS3 is always going to get the short end of the stick. From a processing standpoint the PS3 is far more powerful, but development-wise many people have complained that the PS3 is just not user friendly.
So, uh, there.
Coldness @ Sep 13th 2008 2:22PM
But as a developer, would you and I want for our games to be everything it could be? Wouldn't we look for a powerful enough console to support our needs? I know you'd jump the gun and note that most developers are content with the X360 capabilities, but that just doesn't quite cut it for me :(
Coldness @ Sep 13th 2008 2:23PM
*wouldn't
j.howlett @ Sep 13th 2008 3:10PM
since multiplatform is now the norm why not just have the lead console be the ps3 since i've read that developers have an easier time moving from ps3 to 360. that way ps3 owners don't get a broken game and 360 owners get to keep adding to their achievements and stay with live. the money is there for developers even though perfomance wasn't always on par, lets see how much better it can be
Coldness @ Sep 13th 2008 3:22PM
@ j.howlett:
Amen brother! Now someone finally sees through my eyes! We, PS3 users, should have the "full" game, rather than the "skimped" down version!!
paquitito @ Sep 13th 2008 5:49PM
Actually, it really isn't quite as simple as you suggest. I am a project manager in software development. When we are building a web application, we are fully aware that each browser has its own limitations and advancements that the others do not. However, the budget only allows for the development of one web portal, so we develop for IE since the majority of our clients use it. It would be nice to have extra money to build tailored versions of our modules for the major browsers, but that simply isn't realistic. Not only would it take longer to release our product but it would be far more costly to produce.
While I don't work in gaming, I know that it can't be much different. The budgets would increase drastically and the release schedules would suffer. More people have XBOX 360s than PS3 at the moment, and it is highly doubtful that PS3 gamers would simply not buy a game because it's the same version as the 360, so it is far more cost-effective to make one version and port it to both systems. It has more to do with money than anything, and I'm already not a fan of spending $60 on a new release.
ChomskyKnows @ Sep 13th 2008 12:52PM
how many ppl patched the game already by using...ebay?
it's funny that the game is so bad that the patch is ginormous...
ihateemo @ Sep 13th 2008 2:13PM
I'm glad I played the demo first. The graphics are great and the atmosphere, whilst not as intense as something like Resident Evil 4, was still fun.
But the controls. And the camera. And the one-hit deaths. And the CONTROLS...ugh! If they patched it I would have made it my next purchase. As it stands, no fracking way.
Clinton RRoD sept.3 @ Sep 13th 2008 4:14PM
all thats some bull shit but 2 bad i dont care about this game
paquitito @ Sep 13th 2008 5:56PM
I agree with you there. Unfortunately, I bought it before trying it, and while the concept is great, I had to stop playing because the CONTROLS were unlike anything one could get used to. I can't believe the game made it out of QA the way it is.
I was very pleased to hear that a patch is coming out. I could care less about a subway chase...just fix the controls!
j.howlett @ Sep 13th 2008 6:57PM
in this situation if you build for ps3 first porting isn't a problem and doesn't cost alot and the result is like burnout paradise. if you build for the 360 the porting is harder cost money to get right so they cut corners and you wind up with inferior product on ps3. from what i've read the quality and cost benefits go with starting on the ps3. it means better product for everyone with the least effort and cost. EA made enough money off ps3 to see they had the audience and took the steps to improve going forward.