Homefront PS3 patch met with poor reviews; stats reset unaddressed
60
Kaos Studios responded to reports of "freezing" issues and other bugs in Homefront by pushing out a patch for the PS3 version of the game last night at approximately 8PM ET. In its announcement, the developer claimed that "far fewer issues" had been reported in the Xbox 360 version, though a title update was in the works nonetheless. Additionally, a "small hotfix" was released for the PC version yesterday, to be followed by "a patch with full change-list in the near future."
Following the update's release via PlayStation Network, a few worrisome comments began to appear below the announcement post. "I thik [sic] they broke the game," observed one commenter complaining of lag. "I hadn't had any lock up problems till this update, now all it does is lock up making the game unplayable for me," posted another.
"I too have lost my rank (PS3)," reads a more alarming comment, "I was rank 24 and i played a game and noticed i was back to 2." This issue of reset player ranks and XP appears not to be an unintended side effect of the patch, but rather an ongoing issue since the game's launch earlier this week, acknowledged by Kaos yesterday afternoon. "We are aware of the buggy leader boards and stat tracking issues and it is being addressed in an upcoming patch," promised Kaos' Dan Matlack in response to one of the many, many forum threads on the issue.
While the stats reset bug was not addressed in last night's update, Kaos' patch notes did highlight the introduction of "several fixes for reported freezes." In the main "PS3 'Freezing' Issues" thread, posters have reported mostly failed results. In the "Multiplayer Status Update" thread, similar complaints about freezing have appeared following the patch's release, in addition to reported server connection and party system failures.
Still, some forum-goers remain optimistic: "great patch, the only problem im still having is my ps3 is freezes usually after every other game," posted a cheery St0rMiN_X_NoRMaN.
[Thanks, Gwynne]
Following the update's release via PlayStation Network, a few worrisome comments began to appear below the announcement post. "I thik [sic] they broke the game," observed one commenter complaining of lag. "I hadn't had any lock up problems till this update, now all it does is lock up making the game unplayable for me," posted another.
"I too have lost my rank (PS3)," reads a more alarming comment, "I was rank 24 and i played a game and noticed i was back to 2." This issue of reset player ranks and XP appears not to be an unintended side effect of the patch, but rather an ongoing issue since the game's launch earlier this week, acknowledged by Kaos yesterday afternoon. "We are aware of the buggy leader boards and stat tracking issues and it is being addressed in an upcoming patch," promised Kaos' Dan Matlack in response to one of the many, many forum threads on the issue.
While the stats reset bug was not addressed in last night's update, Kaos' patch notes did highlight the introduction of "several fixes for reported freezes." In the main "PS3 'Freezing' Issues" thread, posters have reported mostly failed results. In the "Multiplayer Status Update" thread, similar complaints about freezing have appeared following the patch's release, in addition to reported server connection and party system failures.
Still, some forum-goers remain optimistic: "great patch, the only problem im still having is my ps3 is freezes usually after every other game," posted a cheery St0rMiN_X_NoRMaN.
[Thanks, Gwynne]
Reader Comments (60)
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:02PM sammo21 said
Just 1 of the many problems I noticed. Good thing I rented and didn't buy this game. Possibly 2011's Medal of Honor, but we've still got a lot of year left.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:03PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said
Glad I only spent $1.50 to rent it, beat it, and take it back the same day.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:33PM PercyChuggs said
@Ezio Auditore da Firenze You must have at least enjoyed it somewhat if you were able to play through the entire thing in a day. Usually if I dislike a game, I don't bother to finish it.
Reply
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:04PM Dirty said
This game is a hot mess. So much drama around it.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:11PM Ospov said
I'm sure this isn't helping sales at all...
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:11PM Cadattack123 said
Ugh i am having so many problems with the game freezing ... Join a game run for 30 seconds and it freezes FML ... thank god i got it through Gamefly
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:22PM Helghast102 said
@(Unverified)
What
What
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:22PM (Unverified) said
Do you guys have a personal vendetta against the game or something? Every story I read about the game from you is 100% negative. KAOS is working on the stats issues, and continuing to fix issues related to server space, etc.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:33PM PointlessPuppies said
@(Unverified)
Jesus, someone pissed on your cereal this morning? I haven't seen this much butthurt since my GameFAQs days.
Reply
Jesus, someone pissed on your cereal this morning? I haven't seen this much butthurt since my GameFAQs days.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:54PM (Unverified) said
@copa Heh, kind of feels like some people want to hate the game just because it isn't Call of Duty or Battlefield.
Reply
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:59PM kentuckyfried said
@(Unverified)
I know, I know! You'd think this game was 2011's Haze.
Reply
I know, I know! You'd think this game was 2011's Haze.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 1:19PM Jack Kevorkian said
@(Unverified) First I'd like to welcome a Kaos employee to Joystiq! Nice tyo have you!
If you guys hadn't hyped up this game so much it wouldnt be in the press nearly enough. I bet it was great when there were daily articles about your sandwich trucks but its not so fun now? Too bad!
Reply
If you guys hadn't hyped up this game so much it wouldnt be in the press nearly enough. I bet it was great when there were daily articles about your sandwich trucks but its not so fun now? Too bad!
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 1:41PM Slight of Ham said
@(Unverified)...Heh, looks like some people working for KAOS can't include a name
Reply
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:25PM (Unverified) said
@Helghast102 I KNO RITE.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:26PM Mehbah said
@(Unverified)
A 7 when it comes to games is a 5 when it comes to anything else. Welcome to the effed up scoring video games press uses.
A 7 when it comes to games is a 5 when it comes to anything else. Welcome to the effed up scoring video games press uses.
Posted: Mar 19th 2011 4:45AM maveric101 said
@Mehbah
ok: they way i see it, a 5 isn't an average. it should be (and is) a middlepoint between the worst game possible (a 1) and a perfect game (a 10). a majority of games a better than that middle point, so the average is higher than a 5.
i understand your reasoning, i just have a different opinion.
Reply
ok: they way i see it, a 5 isn't an average. it should be (and is) a middlepoint between the worst game possible (a 1) and a perfect game (a 10). a majority of games a better than that middle point, so the average is higher than a 5.
i understand your reasoning, i just have a different opinion.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:27PM decrypted said
Did game companies stop play testing and quality control? I'm getting sick and tired of all these games being released, and immediately there are patches and updates needed. PLEASE for the love of the gaming gods, stop porting games to different systems, and then hack it together just to push it out the door and wonder why the game gets crappy reviews. If you can't develop the game with any quality, then don't develop it!
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 1:19PM wallywallas said
@decrypted
Totally agree. I had to turn in my copy of Killzone 3 because the network issues are to the point that just connecting to a game is a chore. Patching the game also made it worse. I was also interested in Homefront, but with people complaining about the same it has put this game of my radar probably forever.
Reply
Totally agree. I had to turn in my copy of Killzone 3 because the network issues are to the point that just connecting to a game is a chore. Patching the game also made it worse. I was also interested in Homefront, but with people complaining about the same it has put this game of my radar probably forever.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:29PM DarkSonata said
@(Unverified)
this actually made me laugh
this actually made me laugh
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:33PM (Unverified) said
@DarkSonata i'm not really defending the game as much as just being sick of all the complaining. did we all really expect a THQ war game to be anything other than just kinda decent? it's suffering from the same problems that nearly EVERY overhyped FPS has had on opening week yet there's this constant press blitz against it. it's a decent shooter with slightly above average multiplayer, exactly what i expected going into it. people are funny the way they turn on a dime against things that just a week ago they were SOOOOOOO sure were going to reinvent the wheel.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:37PM Antilight said
@(Unverified)
That actually made me LOL. You forgot to use the sarcasm font though...
That actually made me LOL. You forgot to use the sarcasm font though...
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:41PM HaVoK308 said
The 360 version experiences horrible lag. One check of the user screen will exhibit red bars for everyone in the game except maybe one or two players. Couple that with a rubber banding effect and various other issues Id say Kaos is off the mark with their comments regarding the 360 version.
Its unpolished mess for the most part.
Its unpolished mess for the most part.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 5:24PM FlashJS said
@HaVoK308
Do you have an open NAT? Or maybe it's where you're located?
I have played it on the 360 and never experienced rubber band lag (I have see rubber banding for BFBC2 though, a game I still enjoy).
Also for people who can't get into a match, I usually just dashboard and then start up the game again and I'm in. Another tip, similar to AC:B, if you're in a game, don't back out when the game ends so you don't have to wait through the search again.
Aside from long matchmaking times, I am enjoying the multiplayer.
Reply
Do you have an open NAT? Or maybe it's where you're located?
I have played it on the 360 and never experienced rubber band lag (I have see rubber banding for BFBC2 though, a game I still enjoy).
Also for people who can't get into a match, I usually just dashboard and then start up the game again and I'm in. Another tip, similar to AC:B, if you're in a game, don't back out when the game ends so you don't have to wait through the search again.
Aside from long matchmaking times, I am enjoying the multiplayer.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:43PM HaVoK308 said
Oh...it would seem they spent their budget on Marketing rather then game development. I should have know better. Appallingly shot campaign that ended just when it started. And a multiplayer portion where I have been able to enter 3-4 games since its release date.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:44PM adgeuk said
I've not managed to even start a single online game in any of the modes in Europe without my PS3 crashing before the game even starts. I bought the special edition with the multiplayer unlocks, but I might as well have spent the money on sherbet.
You expect the odd issue with launch games, but this is just flat out broken.
You expect the odd issue with launch games, but this is just flat out broken.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:45PM Patricio87 said
it seems no game big or small has enough testing these days. I think with the ease of patching games companies don't need to spend as much time on it.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:47PM Jerk Face said
Cool game, dog.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:47PM BluElement said
@(Unverified) Neither COD nor BC2 were this bad. I recently spoke to a friend of mine who doesn't keep up with anything gaming, but he bought Homefront just because he thought it looked cool. Even he thought the game was terrible, and he was untainted by gaming blogs.
Also, please stop trolling. It was slightly amusing the first time, albeit wrong on every account, but now it's just getting sad.
Also, please stop trolling. It was slightly amusing the first time, albeit wrong on every account, but now it's just getting sad.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:54PM (Unverified) said
@BluElement so sorry. having a little fun. big tears for you. i've ruined your day.
Reply
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 1:01PM BluElement said
@(Unverified) You didn't ruin my day. I was just unsure if you could actually leave a real comment. I suppose if your idea of fun is trolling a gaming blog in all caps over and over again, then go ahead. I'll just go actually play a game or something instead.
The fact still remains, however, that Homefront is on a whole different level than COD or BC2 when it comes to trainwrecks.
Reply
The fact still remains, however, that Homefront is on a whole different level than COD or BC2 when it comes to trainwrecks.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:52PM MarkHawk said
The game runs for the most part fine for me but it takes forever to find a game. How ever my friend has the game and cant get past the loading screen. We tried several copies and it always freezes the console around the Kaos studio logo. It has something to do with his Gamertag as when I log into the same Xbox the game loads up fine... so we played Black Ops last night.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:54PM Khazidhea said
This is just an example of how game developers have gotten lazy over the years. Instead of hiring testers and QC people they let the consumers do it for them. And we pay them for the right to do it.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 1:00PM daevv said
Screw this I'm going back to Haze.
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 1:09PM JUNG GUNS said
I repeat yesterdays theme: "and another one bites the dust-ah!"
Posted: Mar 18th 2011 1:16PM Wensbane said
The multiplayer is great -- I was having a lot of fun with it, to be honest -- but it seems that part of the game has some serious performance issues.
Quite frankly, I just don't have the patience to tweak config files and test different hardware anymore.
If my PC far surpasses a game's recommended requirements, I expect to have a smooth experience. No excuses!
Quite frankly, I just don't have the patience to tweak config files and test different hardware anymore.
If my PC far surpasses a game's recommended requirements, I expect to have a smooth experience. No excuses!
Posted: Mar 19th 2011 6:28AM kentuckyfried said
@Wensbane
This is exactly why I never got into the whole PC gaming thing
(outside of the fact that the last PC I owned was back in roughly 1999).
Reply
This is exactly why I never got into the whole PC gaming thing
(outside of the fact that the last PC I owned was back in roughly 1999).
Featured Stories
Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma
Posted on May 25th 2012 3:30PM







