Gearbox admits Borderlands PS3 friends list glitch, fix coming 'as quickly as possible' [update]
by Randy Nelson 
{ Oct 21st 2009 at 5:20PM } 
Update: That was quick! Gearbox's Steve Gibson sends along word that the dev has already fixed the problem: "We are very pleased to report that using PSN friends lists with the game should now work properly for all PS3 customers. The fix has been released invisibly and should work automatically for all PSN users on the PS3 platform. No special action is required by PS3 customers to apply the fix - just play the game and you'll find that everything works fine now. We thank you all for your patience and for making us aware of the issue!"
Original: There's been a bit of a kerfuffle on the official Borderlands message boards over the PS3 version of the freshly released "RPS" not displaying players' online friends properly. In fact, it's reportedly keeping a lot of folks from being able to buddy up altogether. Fortunately for them, Gearbox dev staff have taken notice of the S.O.S. thread and are working on a solution.
"We've identified the problem and are working on a fix," Gearbox software engineer Scott Velasquez wrote in response to nearly 200 posts detailing the issue. Velasquez also noted that "the friends feature was heavily tested by Gearbox and 2K. However, this particular issue we found could have never manifested itself in our or 2K's test environments."
Gearbox is hoping to fix the problem before the game launches in other territories -- which, in Europe's case, is tomorrow -- with Velasquez promising that "We are doing everything we can to get this problem addressed as quickly as possible."
Original: There's been a bit of a kerfuffle on the official Borderlands message boards over the PS3 version of the freshly released "RPS" not displaying players' online friends properly. In fact, it's reportedly keeping a lot of folks from being able to buddy up altogether. Fortunately for them, Gearbox dev staff have taken notice of the S.O.S. thread and are working on a solution.
"We've identified the problem and are working on a fix," Gearbox software engineer Scott Velasquez wrote in response to nearly 200 posts detailing the issue. Velasquez also noted that "the friends feature was heavily tested by Gearbox and 2K. However, this particular issue we found could have never manifested itself in our or 2K's test environments."
Gearbox is hoping to fix the problem before the game launches in other territories -- which, in Europe's case, is tomorrow -- with Velasquez promising that "We are doing everything we can to get this problem addressed as quickly as possible."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Oct 21st 2009 5:25PM
Great. I`m buying the game on Friday and there is already a glitch.
At least they caught on quickly enough and are not afraid to admit the issue.
Filthy Assistant @ Oct 21st 2009 7:59PM
If you don't expect glitches from Gearbox games I just don't know what to tell you.
THE HEAVY @ Oct 21st 2009 5:26PM
Poor single system owners :(
Having the best of both worlds makes life easier.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Oct 21st 2009 5:28PM
How does that make ANY sense?
What about the people who own all of the systems and chose to buy the PlayStation 3 version because of their friends or their own personal preference?
Don`t start a console war here.
To quote The Matrix: `Not like this.`
xbox420king @ Oct 21st 2009 5:30PM
So you buy the same game for both consoles?!
HippoHero @ Oct 21st 2009 5:29PM
You bought two copies of the same game?
Orchard Pear @ Oct 21st 2009 5:31PM
Head on over to the Gearbox forums and you'll find that the 360 version didn't exactly roll off the line in tip top shape, either.
Give it a rest. Not everything is about the "console war."
Ordeith @ Oct 21st 2009 5:33PM
Just that people who own both HD systems tend to buy multiplatform titles on the system they work and look best on, and that is almost always the 360.
So multi-system owners can just get the best version of every game instead of worrying the only version they can get might be the gimped one.
xxLUANCHYxx @ Oct 21st 2009 5:35PM
Oh don't worry. I bet he only has a Wii. Lol
Vidikron @ Oct 21st 2009 5:38PM
Well, it does help from time to time. I recently had a friend in from out of town for a weekend and we wanted to play MUA2 in local co-op. But, alas, my 360 went RRoD on Friday when we started to play. So we just went out and got the PS3 version and got to enjoy the game over the weekend.
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 5:39PM
Some can't afford more than one console or don't want more than one console. Its certainly nice to have more than one console, but some can't have it all and have to make do with what they got. IMO, the PC, PS3 and 360 are fine as sole systems, I don't feel that way with the Wii however but that is just me. Just like Orchard Pear hates us PC gamers. : )
Orchard Pear @ Oct 21st 2009 5:54PM
I don't hate you guys, RKN. I'm really just jealous that I don't have the patience to build my own uber-rig. =/
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 5:59PM
Seems kinda funny Orchard Pear you'd say your jealous and want to build a gaming PC rig and yet say this just earlier today.
-------------
"Now, now. Be nice to the PC gamer.
You'd be upset too, if you were on the decline, despite your best, most desperate struggles to stay relevant in today's gaming world."
-------------
But then again, we can say all sorts of things when we are emotional and angry. Consoles and PCs are fine and I really hope PC gaming never dies, I hope for the industry to get better in the future.
eeeeeeeeeeefe @ Oct 21st 2009 7:37PM
Not really, the Xbox version is an even bigger glitch-fest. However Joystiq won't report that, as that makes the wage payer (Microsoft) unhappy...
eeeeeeeeeeee @ Oct 21st 2009 7:40PM
Not really, the Xbox version is an even bigger glitch-fest. However Joystiq won't report that, as that makes the wage payer (Microsoft) unhappy...
crazyCarl(PSN: xSlim-JimX) @ Oct 21st 2009 9:13PM
having both systems FTW!!!!
DeepFriedSushi @ Oct 21st 2009 11:33PM
@eeeeeeee
where exactly did you hear that? the game runs perfectly on the 360, and even reviews have been stating it. Borderlands runs on UE3 which is a 360 eccentric engine. I sincerely hope that you're not just creating false rumors just to troll.
dreadnought1 @ Oct 21st 2009 5:29PM
The only explanation for these, every once in awhile issues, on the PS3 is that the testing just wasn't done properly which is a real shame. It's been made quite apparent that the system is easily capable of handling something like this. How such a cooperative heavy game went gold like this is beyond me.
xbox420king @ Oct 21st 2009 5:31PM
People like co-op maybe?!
Hedgeson @ Oct 21st 2009 8:39PM
Going gold = reaching market.
He's surprised a Co-op game came out with a Co-op specific bug.
Don't downvote him, he was just confused...
RJ Clarke @ Oct 26th 2009 1:17PM
I think people underestimate how much co-op play is desired in the gaming industry.
There really isn't anything more fun than going through an entire game with one, or more friends....it's a shame too...because there is always so much potential...
Kevin949 @ Oct 21st 2009 5:30PM
Now if they will fix the sound bugs on the PS3 version I'll be a happy camper! :)
Orchard Pear @ Oct 21st 2009 5:37PM
Damnit, Dread. =/
Orchard Pear @ Oct 21st 2009 5:37PM
Sigh, nevermind. I fail.
MysticFalls @ Oct 21st 2009 5:31PM
[banned]
Orchard Pear @ Oct 21st 2009 5:33PM
And you've proven yourself to be made up of just as much shit as you assume the PS3 to be made of. Which, I'm going to assume, is a lot.
Congratulations.
el serpiente @ Oct 21st 2009 5:33PM
^ = sprinkles
dreadnought1 @ Oct 21st 2009 5:36PM
please see Uncharted 2
Orchard Pear @ Oct 21st 2009 5:36PM
^ = confetti
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 5:37PM
Sprinkles, you forgot to make your account private, your slipping dude!
MysticFalls @ Oct 21st 2009 5:43PM
[banned]
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 5:44PM
You are such a silly little 24 year old monkey. : )
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 5:47PM
Actually don't bother to make your account private, it'll be banned by the end of the day, I'd instead think of a silly new username and email account you'll have to create to come back on here. Probably also go to another public library to use their computers as well. ; )
MysticFalls @ Oct 21st 2009 5:48PM
[banned]
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 21st 2009 5:52PM
Sprinkles, you really have to learn subtlety.
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 5:53PM
I wonder why your the only one that calls me these silly little names when nobody else does? Do you know something everyone else doesn't? Are you better than all of us Sprinkles, are you some kind of a 24 year old prophet less immature than posters here half your age who trolls a website for 1.5 years?
Hey, maybe we should listen to you one day and throw away our PS3s and PCs!
I think you just had a hard day at Best Buy Sprinkles, poor little monkey baby.
Vidikron @ Oct 21st 2009 5:53PM
Actually, as far as platforms go, RKN is outnumbered on this site with his support of the PC platform, so I'm not sure you can fairly claim he's just going along with the crowd.
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 5:57PM
He's hardly said anything accurate or true with every one of his accounts. He's just pulling things out of his ass, literally.
I seriously believe he has some mental problems, I'm not the only one who thinks so.
MysticFalls @ Oct 21st 2009 5:58PM
[banned]
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 21st 2009 6:00PM
You should update your username to include all of Sprinkles' names for you, RKN.
The Pirate @ Oct 21st 2009 6:01PM
Sprinkles (MysticFalls)...just die...Please? Pretty please?
MysticFalls @ Oct 21st 2009 6:01PM
[banned]
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 6:01PM
I am betting that Sprinkles is just waiting it out until I finally stop posting so he can be the "winner" in the epic battle between both of us. I remember when I went to India last December, had spotty internet access so I wasn't on Joystiq and he comes and posts where I had gone, glad that I was gone from the site.
I'm going to India again this December and waiting for him to say the same thing.
He is very predictable and boring, I'm surprised his boyfriend hasn't gotten bored and/or scared of him and left.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 21st 2009 6:02PM
Someone write a script that detects and deletes any user who uses the words "holier than thou". Simple.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 21st 2009 6:03PM
RKN, give Shashi Tharoor a five for me while you're in India. He's awesome.
RKN @ Oct 21st 2009 6:11PM
Sprinkles had a hard day at Best Buy, so he crawls over here, posts some flame bait and starts a flame war. He managed to completely detail the comment thread, and make it all about him, me, me, me, the feces hurling attention whore instead of discussing the story.
Congrats Sprinkles, your accomplishing something in your wonderful life, its not something to be proud of, but you are doing something, you've made your mark, your infamous baby.
I seriously would want to meet your parents and ask them where they went wrong with you, if you had parents in the first place, in which I give my condolences you poor little orphan boy.
Mr.ESC @ Oct 21st 2009 6:15PM
Why so serious?
pinkranger206 @ Oct 22nd 2009 10:03AM
LOL. There's nothing wrong with the PS3. It's an issue within the game. It wasn't so bad having to play a public game b/c atleast my friend and I could still play, but it was annoying having others jump in/out at random times.
Looks like the issue has been resolved.
Mikey Neumann tweeted: " PS3 friends list issues have been solved on teh server side. You should be able to boot up your game and see the correct list :D Cheers."
Can't wait to finally play in a private game with my friends! :)
jackal @ Oct 21st 2009 6:46PM
MysticFalls (I know it's you, Sprinkles),
Why didn't you come to the neighborhood's box social? Since you abruptly canceled our chess game and opted to not converse as to why the Xbox 360 is equally flawed when compared to the PS3, I assumed it was because you needed extra time to prepare for the night's events; monocle polishing, glove fitting, choosing the right cane, top hat starching, and whipping the town square's shoe shine boy for doing a wretched job all take a fair amount of one's time.
Please forgive my uncouth behavior, but I feel compelled to tell you about the awful service that boy provides. Who do he think he is? I paid him a pittance to give the surface of my dress hoes a mirror reflection only to catch him taking a moment of rest in order to wrap bandages around his blistered hands. When I questioned him, he had the audacity to say, "The bleeding keeps me from grabbing the brush sir." He even had the gall to feign convincing sobs and fear. I don't care if he was an orphan who lost both of his legs at the hip in an industrial accident at the foundry (I swear children have it too easy in this Victorian era of ours), there is no excuse to not provide the services I've paid for. After letting my cane loose on his backside for what must surely have been five minutes, I let him crawl back to the gutter he sleeps in.
I digress. I went to extraordinary lengths (fisticuffs, actually) to ensure our front row spot for the effigy burning (it was, unfortunately, only a mannequin of Bobby Kotick) was reserved and that, when the party eventually migrated to the tavern across the street by the abbey, the barkeep would make sure a bottle of his weakest beer would be available for your enjoyment. Did you lose the invitation? I'm certain one was sent to you. Or, did you take the wrong door at the pub and accidentally wander downstairs to that less than reputable establishment? If you did, I apologize in advance for your growing opium addiction. Don't worry, though; I've heard from a couple of the social dregs slouching away from the den that you can always sell your Xbox 360 for more even more opium provided it doesn't RROD or suffer form an E74. A few have warned that, if you sell them a faulty system, the proprietor will send his bodyguard to physically maim you in some fashion with his saber. While this could simply be a fanciful tale told by a group of quivering drug addicts, there was a disturbingly large number of them missing extremities so there might be an element of truth to their incoherent mumblings.
(if anyone else is curious as to what I'm talking about, the first part of all this is somewhere on the first or second page of my comment history)
Matt @ Oct 21st 2009 7:01PM
You know this MysticFalls dude makes a lot of claims about how crappy the PS3 is, but last time I checked the PS3 didn't have a 54% failure rate.
In anycase, why don't we just come to realize nothing is perfect and go along with our days? Joystiq doesn't have to be everyone's personal battlefield.