Post-launch ModNation Racers patch will improve load times

by Andrew Yoon on May 15th 2010 5:00PM

If you have any interest in Sony's upcoming ModNation Racers, you've probably already read our review (and entered our giveaway). You're familiar, then, with our biggest grief with the early review code: obnoxiously long load times. Apparently we weren't the only ones to notice. According to Chuck Lacson, associate marketing manager at SCEA, developer United Front Games is "looking into further optimizing the game via a post-launch patch."

That should be good news for those already sold on Sony's "Race, Create, Share" motto. The rest of us, though? We'll be able to download a playable demo in the next PSN Tuesday update, May 18. The demo will include one track, playable in both single player and split-screen modes. It will also offer creation tools -- and, best of all, any tracks you create and share in the demo will be available in the full version of the game.

Source

Tags: demo, modnation-racers, patch\n, psn, scea, sony, Sony-Computer-Entertainment-America, united-front-games

Reader Comments (51)

Although I'm a big proponent of the "Don't release till you're done" philosophy, it's good to know that they are fixing it at least. The game itself looks fantastic. Can't wait till it comes out.

Based on an interview I read on another site, the load times are a consequence of allowing people to build custom tracks, cars, etc... as they felt people would be more angry over having to download a car/skin/track before they could play a level online with their friends. Therefore according to the interview, they said they made the game so that all that is shared in online matches are instructions for the remote ps3's on how to construct the track, etc on their machine locally, thus minimizing the amount of information downloaded. Not saying this to defend anyone, but after reading this explanation, it doesn't sound like this is a result of faulty/crappy code but trying to avoid bandwidth concerns.

Unless I'm very mistaken, level data probably doesn't take that much space. Unless of course it has custom skins with incredibly high-res textures. You can save the coordinates, dimensions, and angles of hundreds of objects in a simple text-like file with delimiters to make separation later easy. This file would take, oh... 2 seconds to download? If that.

I don't know how this game works though. Custom objects and textures may be included in the deal, which may take more time to load.

You bet there are odd textures, the game feautures a fully-functional terrain editor. Adding noise definitely racks up the polygons.

Are there people that let slightly longer loading times decide their purchase? Impatient much? I played the beta, and I've heard the load times are the exact same which is to say, not terrible. Like PSP time loading, so not quick, but not near as long as people act like.

It's not like it's been getting bad reviews or anything.

The long loading annoyed me, but I played the beta every day that I had it, which shows just how little of an issue they are. Any patch is welcome but the game stands up fine on its own.

I need to go on record as one that does allow long load times (and, on another topic, long cutscenes) to dictate my purchase. Basically, anything that takes time away from the actual gameplay is something I'm against.
Like many, I purchase more games than I could ever possibly finish. The reality for me is that I have precious few game hours in any given week, and I don't want to sit on the couch looking at a load screen (or a system update screen) any more than I possibly have to.
- MNR has been the top game on my radar for months, but after reading multiple reviews bitching about the load times...I'm no longer a day one purchaser. Too many other quality games out right now.

I had six minute load times on Midnight Club on PSP - frustrating at first but tolerable - I doubt this is any bigger deal than disc swaps.

I agree Caharry. I'm glad UFG is taking the time to look into it, though, rather than overlook it. I commend them for that, at least, much as I did SEGA for Platinum Games' oversights.

So it's Platinum Games fault that Sega used their code and messed up the port?

I also guess it's my fault I sell a gun to someone who uses it to kill someone else so instead of the person who used the gun to kill someone I go to jail instead.

Nice.

You kind of missed the entire point of my post, Debikul.

My emphasis was on companies, UFG and SEGA, taking the time to fix post-release mistakes, not the faults they, UFG and Platinum Games, committed.

Wait, you're talking about Bayonetta, right? Didn't Sony make the patch for the game that SEGA ported to ps3? Not that I'm arguing against your point in any way, just that the companies are a little off. Platinum made the original game (which I hear runs beautifully), SEGA made the mistakes in their port, and Sony fixed them.

@cleric:

Load times of the beta killed it for me. I loved the actual game to bits, but the long loads were frustrating ... and only got more frustrating the more I played. I only accepted it at all because it was a beta, and was sure it'd get fixed for the final product.

The news that loading isn't any better actually changed this game from "Personal GOTY contender" to "I'll maybe rent it..."

good to hear

This reminds me of the one 360 Avatar racing game that was suppose to come out a long time ago? Does anyone remember the named of the game? It was suppose to be a free Arcade Game, with pay to buy items.

ah cool thanks for reminding me =)

Yep it got delayed because ModNation blew it out of the water so they had to reconsider it.

Now its a matter of time till the actual patch releases.

Will it improve fun times?

15% more fun per hour?

Fantastic news. The developers seem pretty committed to leave a good, lasting impression and have at least figured out a way to improve what must be one of the bigger issues this game has.

this will improve the small chance i will purchase this post-launch.

You just had to let everyone know that you're a dbag didn't you?

Oh how I wish Rare made Banjo Kazooie like this before these guys. Now if they make a sequel to N&B, but similar to this game, they will be called imitators.

I hate long loading, Hopefully the patch will convince me to buy it.

why did joystiq delete the 1st post?

I could've waited with the longer load times. But hearing that they'll most likely fix them makes it even better. I was sold on this game from the first time I saw gameplay trailers of it months ago.

loading times in the beta were extreme in some cases, accepted this due to beta, hope when they say there are long load times that they're not as long as they were, this game needs to have a good start!

I think it's because you put up a linke to a .WMV file, which is capable of launching a link to a malicious site. Even if your link wasn't bad, it was still a potential risk.

Worst loading I have ever seen in a game was Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex. Load time just to get to the credits, load time to get to the menu, load time to select your save file, load time for the video, load time for the stage, load time after you died and reset.

20 seconds of loading for the title screen, 20 seconds of loading for the select save game screen. 20 seconds of loading for the video, 20 seconds of loading for the stage select screen, 45 seconds of loading just to get into the stage. 20 seconds of loading when you died and restarted. 20 seconds of loading when you beat the stage, 45 seconds of loading to get back to the stage select, 20 seconds of loading for the save game screen, or whatever. It was ridiculous. It was so bad when they rereleased the game they noted "Improved load times".

What about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBkhh7n017o ?

Oh my god, that's hysterical!

LOADING....

"Hey!"

LOADING....

That's kind of like Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex. You load to get to the damn credits, you load to get to the title screen, you load for the video, you load to get to the damn SAVE GAME SELECT, you load to get to the stage select, you load for the video, you load for the stage, you load to get to the pause menu, you load to exit the damn stage, you load to see the damn video, you load to get back to the stage select.

Here's a sample. It just shows one load screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJzpMMbtyWU&feature=related

Star Wars the Force Unleashed had some pretty terrible load times too. As soon as you hit select it would have to load to get to the upgrades menu. That is stopping me trading in my copy and buying the extended one that came out. Although with ModNation load times don't bother me at all. In fact, I just pre-ordered it today.

Guitar Hero IV and reskins is incredibly annoying when it comes to loading. Loads intros, then loads the menus, the loads the song and save data, and then when you are ready to play, it takes forever for the song to load too. Not only is there plenty loading screens, they all take foreeeever.

They fixed that in Guitar Hero V, load times are short and sweet now.

How it is more secure? I embed a link to a site with a virus in a .WMV file, upload it to ImageShack, and link it. You click it, you can get infected.

Whether or not you put an embedded link into it doesn't matter. They can't risk leaving links up like that.

Really, Its not as bad as some make it out to be.

Ever played Sonic 06?

Sorry, didn't notice the link above me.
Hey.

hey

I'm still divided over whether I should play RDR while waiting for the patch or get MNR first day anyway. I've got some nifty mod & track ideas and I'd like to be the first to post them.

They should at least put something fun in the load screen. Like a jumping Sackboy in LBP. Jumping is fun =P

I wouldn't havebeen able to stand the LBP load times if it wasn't for that, never got boring.

Great! I was looking forward this game, now it just made me want it even more!

I played the game or demo or whatever it was at Best Buy. Twas interesting and kind of fun but I think I'll go with Split Second for my next racing fix. I'm not into all that customization stuff so it doesn't really intrigue me since that's ModNation's huge focus.

I don't think long load times would deter me from getting this, but the quicker the better I suppose.

I'm really excited for this game, definite day one purchase, so this is good news.

Its just a shame that the load times had an impact on review scores before the game launched

Funny that the people who are complaining about load times are the same people using a PS3.....the SAME console that takes 1 hour to download the demo and 15 minutes to download and install a f'n PATCH! Seriously.....as a owner of both a PS3 and an Xbox 360, the Xbox DESTROYS the PS3 in this regard.

My point is....if you own a PS3 then you should know better than to expect ANYTHING quickly.

I think this needs to be bumped and reviewed. I downloaded a patch and it is still taking forever load in between game events/modes. :(

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Post-launch ModNation Racers patch will improve load times

Reader Comments (51)

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