Joystiq

Bungie not concerned about Destiny's always-on connection requirement

Mike Schramm — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:45:00 EST

In a new Mail Sack blog post, developer Bungie has responded to concerns about its always-on requirement for Destiny, the studio's upcoming multi-platform shooter. The developer says it's not worried about a SimCity-style server outage for Destiny when "the massive onslaught of players" arrive on launch day because it's dealt with high-demand in the past.

"This isn't our first rodeo," the post reads. "Bungie is no stranger to anxious mobs of players who rush home after a midnight launch and put our best-laid plans to the test." Bungie says it plans to "focus on some less frightening but equally important challenges" for now, worrying about release day problems at a later time.

Elsewhere in the Sack, there's also a question about whether or not the alien races will be playable in the game, and Bungie mysteriously teases that it's "barely scratched the surface on the character and customization options." When graphic designer John Stvan is asked to tell a tale about playing the game, he says he once "loaded a build, shot a gun, killed a dude." Sounds riveting!

Bungie not concerned about Destiny's always-on connection requirement originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ni no Kuni PSN EU download not working, being republished

Sinan Kubba — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:30:00 EST

European PS3 owners who pre-ordered Ni no Kuni on PSN are still waiting for the game following download issues. Although the game, out today in Europe and Australasia, can be downloaded, when you try to play it a message appears saying it isn't installed properly. PlayStation Europe says it's republishing the game onto PSN now, and hopes to complete the process by afternoon time over there.

The PSN issues in Europe follow the debacle on the US side with pre-orders of the Wizard's Edition, which left many customers with cancellations. The issues threaten to overshadow what's generally been a very well received game, one which we doled out four and a half stars to in our review. We felt the Studio Ghilbi and Level-5 collaboration is what made the game tick, saying that "one without the other might have been good, but together they've created a superb role-playing game for this generation to savor."

Ni no Kuni PSN EU download not working, being republished originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vita launch issues in Japan result in apology, software update [update]

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST

For us suckers in North America, the PlayStation Vita is still just a distant object of desire. For the Japanese, though, the Vita is already a couple days into its life, but apparently it's got some ... issues. Our tech savvy brethren at Engadget are reporting that some users are experiencing "software bugs, unresponsive touchscreens and complete system freezes," resulting in many taking to social media to voice frustration.

Sony, as it turns out, is listening, already issuing a software update and penning an apology letter. The video above showcases some of the Vita's problematic issues, and it should at very least help you to sympathize with your Japanese equivalent's frustration. The letter, well, it's in Japanese, and it's kinda non-specific, so you may wanna skip that part. Regardless, with any luck, said issues will be ironed out by the time Vita arrives on US shores on February 22. Here's hoping, anyway.

Update: Sony UK counters this report and others, saying the company, "can't find any evidence of widespread glitches."

[Thanks Gerry!]

Vita launch issues in Japan result in apology, software update [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Homefront PS3 patch met with poor reviews; stats reset unaddressed

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:55:00 EST

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]

Homefront PS3 patch met with poor reviews; stats reset unaddressed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit PC patch to bring law-breaking bugs to a stop

Mike Schramm — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 04:00:00 EST

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit's dev team has been combing the code of the game for some additional features and bugfixes, and both of those are set to peel out in the title in a patch next week. The patch should lay down an EMP on issues with multi-core CPUs, pop a spike strip on some runaway rain and snow effect issues, and set up a roadblock for a few other crashes and problems, stopping them in their tracks.

One issue that won't get fixed: the obsession born from the game's Autolog feature as you tryto beat your friends' times by just a few more seconds. The developers have decided that it's a personal problem, so you'll have to patch yourself on that one.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit PC patch to bring law-breaking bugs to a stop originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: APB (Day 4: Cards on the table)

Mike Schramm — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:46:00 EST

Review Diary

This is the final part of a four-day review diary about the first MMO from developers Realtime Worlds, APB.

One of the hardest parts about reviewing an MMO is that the genre takes full advantage of being online and persistent. Because players need to log in to an updated client every time, developers can quickly and relatively easily push out new bugfixes and content with regularity. Realtime Worlds has already released one patch post-release for APB, and while I've talked about certain issues with repetitive gameplay and earning customization levels, both of those issues can be fixed with updates if the developers choose to do so.

So the final question in reviewing an MMO isn't necessarily if you should buy this game today or not. It's: Does the game offer enough promise to invest your time and attention? Future plans included, out of all the games you could spend your free time on, is APB capable of rewarding that investment with a quality experience?

Continue reading Review: APB (Day 4: Cards on the table)

Review: APB (Day 4: Cards on the table) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2K responds to BioShock 2 Metro Pack DLC complaints

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:28:00 EST

Joystiq has received numerous reports from BioShock 2 players who have been unable to play the new multiplayer maps since purchasing the Metro Pack DLC last week. Elizabeth Tobey, senior manager of interactive marketing for 2K, has responded to this issue on the 2K forums. It's not a glitch, but a design choice: 2K has not yet created a DLC-only online multiplayer playlist.

Said Tobey, "We couldn't assume all players would purchase the new maps, so we made a design decision to unify the player base and make sure no one got split up." In order to play a new map in a public match, explained Tobey, all players in the match must own the DLC (obviously). If anyone doesn't have the DLC, the match automatically reverts to base maps. Tobey noted that the easiest way to play the new maps would be to set up a private match and indicated in a separate thread that the development team is considering the creation of a playlist exclusively for the Metro Pack maps.

In the same thread, Tobey addressed another complaint about the new DLC involving the included Rebirth option, which lets rank 50 players reset their level in exchange for a special mask item. The feature is apparently wiping players' leaderboard ranking and online stats. Tobey assured that the BioShock 2 team is "looking into" the Rebirth issue.

[Via Eurogamer]

Source - 2K Forums
Source - 2K Forums

2K responds to BioShock 2 Metro Pack DLC complaints originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 May 2010 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony: PS3 disc drive errors not a firmware issue

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:52:00 EST

The trouble started with Uncharted and has now reportedly grown to encompass all manner of media fed into the PlayStation 3 disc drive. The comments section of PlayStiaton Blog's Firmware 3.01 announcement has been overwhelmed by user reports of disc drive errors since Firmware 3.00 and 3.01 were released; most commonly, read errors reportedly occur when running Blu-ray games or movies, but in some alleged cases plain old DVDs are not working either.

Eurogamer has reached Sony for comment, and the console manufacturer has disavowed responsibility for the apparent drive failure, declaring it "not an issue with the firmware." In other words, corresponding repair costs are currently placed squarely on the shoulders of the affected consumers.

We will continue to follow this story as it updates. Stay tuned.

Sony: PS3 disc drive errors not a firmware issue originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Firmware 3.00 blamed for malfunctioning PS3 controllers

Xav de Matos — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:45:00 EST

A growing thread on the official PlayStation 3 forum alleges the recent hardware firmware upgrade to version 3.00 has spawned a host of controller connection issues for PS3 users. According to the forum, various wireless controllers -- some users specifically naming DualShock3 model CECHZC2H (Ceramic White) -- are unable to connect to the console. When turned on, users claim the controller LEDs for ports 1 and 2 activate, but the controller remains inoperable.

Users attempting to troubleshoot the problem claim that resetting the controller (through the built-in pinhole reset function) and plugging it directly into the console (via USB) do not correct the error, with one user going so far as doing a complete system restore to no avail. The issue, however, appears to be isolated, but is still a concern for a number of gamers.

Update: Overnight, the issue has spawned an interesting development. Users are pointing out that the problem may be isolated to "knock-off" PS3 controllers. Joystiq has contacted Sony for an update to see if XMB 3.00 targets these fakes or if the controller issue is simply a byproduct of the controllers not being able to catch up with the new firmware.

Firmware 3.00 blamed for malfunctioning PS3 controllers originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The best of WoW.com: August 4-11, 2009

Mike Schramm — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:29:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Online, RPGs, Meta (about Joystiq), MMO

Exciting times in the World of Warcraft lately -- patch 3.2 is out, and with it comes brand new instances, new items to find, and a multitude of changes to make the game more fun. Oh, and don't forget about BlizzCon -- speculation is at a fever pitch with the event just 10 days away, and as you can see from the first post below, the leaks are starting to come already. Here's a sampling of the news you'll find on Joystiq's WoW.com.

News

Cataclysm races leaked
WoW.com reveals the new playable races in the Cataclysm expansion, to be announced at BlizzCon next week.
Player reaction to the 5-man Trial
What did players think of the brand new 5-man instance?
Patch 3.2 Known Issues
Here's what's still broken in the newest patch.
BigRedKitty gets his own gun in Azeroth
Our friend and former coworker BRK gets honored with his own piece of ingame gear.
53 Emblems per day
Want to take advantage of the Emblem changes in the new Heroics? Run this route and farm as many emblems as you can.

Features

Every kind of player's guide to patch 3.2
Not sure what to do in patch 3.2? Let us help.
Arcane Brilliance: Good and bad in patch 3.2
The Mage column examines the pros and cons of what's happening to them in the recent patch.
Insider Trader: Progressive professions
How to move professions forward in the future of the game.
Time is Money: On patrol
Have only a little time but want to make a lot of gold? Join the Troll Patrol!
World of Warcraft Patch 3.2 Mounts guide
The mount changes have affected the game a lot -- here's the rundown of everything that's new.

The best of WoW.com: August 4-11, 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: WipEout HD crashing for users with large friend lists

Jem Alexander — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors

We're not talking the type of crashing you'd normally associate with WipEout, this is far more frustrating. Since the European PSN Store was updated earlier today we've been hearing reports of people experiencing crashes and game freezing whilst playing WipEout HD. Members of the official European PlayStation forums think they might have the answer. It seems to only be happening to the more sociable PSN users; those with over fifty friends in their friends lists.

There's no word on a fix, other than signing out of the PlayStation Network while you're playing. Obviously, this will prevent you from playing online. PlayStation Forum moderators are looking into the issue as a matter of urgency and hopefully we'll see a solution soon. We've experienced the freezing ourselves (and yes, our friends list is massive, thanks for asking), but an official cause hasn't been confirmed by anything other than anecdotal evidence at this stage.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Rumor: WipEout HD crashing for users with large friend lists originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Are you having technical issues with GTA IV?

Ross Miller — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure, Polls

We've heard about various reports of the technical problems with Grand Theft Auto IV. We're conducting a network-wide poll with our friends at X3F and PS3 Fanboy to see how the Joystiq community has been afflicted with the issues. After voting, please let us know your specific problems in the comments below.

Are you having problems with Grand Theft Auto IV?
	Yes, and I use the Xbox 360
	Yes, and I use the 60GB PS3
	Yes, and I use the non-60GB PS3 (please specify in comments)
	No problem (Xbox 360)
	No problem (60GB PS3)
	No problem (non-60GB PS3; please specify in comments)
	Don't own the game, I just felt compelled to click something

Poll: Are you having technical issues with GTA IV? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: Worst Wi-Fi problems

Alisha Karabinus — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wi-Fi, DS Daily

We all pretty much agree that friend codes aren't exactly Nintendo's best decision ever, but every week after Game Night (which is probably when this blogger does the lion's share of weekly online DS gaming), there are always a few thoughts rumbling around about things that could be better. Being unable to add new friends to Clubhouse Games while in a room, for instance, or the 2-or-4 player restrictions on Tetris. Any other issues you can think of? Sometimes it seems that online multiplayer functions just weren't quite subjected to the same quality control issues. They work well enough, to be sure, but they could easily be better in a lot of cases.

DS Daily: Worst Wi-Fi problems originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Singstar players are unhappy with the state of community features

Jem Alexander — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

We don't usually write about petitions for two reasons. One, they're usually requesting one game or another to be made available on a platform of their choice and, two, because they rarely work. This petition regarding Singstar, however, does highlight some problems regarding the game that we have ourselves noticed since its release.

Singstar has been given pretty good reviews so far (we'll have some in depth thoughts up for you within the next few days), because it has pushed what it did on the PS2 towards new, online, horizons. Unfortunately, the reality of these features, and what Sony promises, don't match up. The Singstar servers for the SingStore and My Singstar Online have been flaky, at best, with frequent time-outs and periods of downtime. Not only that, but Sony promised 350 songs on the SingStore at launch, whereas there are currently less than 100 (though closer to 50).

This wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't text within the game itself which clearly states that there are "hundreds of songs available to download", or if there was some sort of community news update which would let people know what's going on. As it is, people are left in the dark and are getting frustrated.

Singstar players are unhappy with the state of community features originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red Octane responds to Xbox Guitar Hero II guitar issues

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:06:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Rhythm, Business

Red Octane has responded to reported issues with the guitar for the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II. Speaking to Joystiq, Red Octane states, "In regards to the controller, we're currently in the process of having our internal QA and production teams look into this possible issue, and are working to quickly isolate this if there is one. In the meantime, we suggest our fans try to replug in their guitars without holding down any buttons or the whammy bar, and that may help immediately resolve the issue."

In regards to the Target "recall," Red Octane confirms our information that there was and is no recall. The Target street date lock out caused the system to ring up as "Recall for Sale." As things stand currently, there is no recall and Red Octane is looking into the issue of a faulty Xbox 360 guitar controller.

Red Octane responds to Xbox Guitar Hero II guitar issues originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Las Vegas and Midway may tussle over similar catchphrase

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Business

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, owners of the trademarked phrase "Only Vegas," are looking to tussle with Midway games over their attempts to trademark "Only in Vegas." We can't imagine why the LVCVA would think that Midway is dangerously close to infringing on their trademark -- everyone knows that prepositions make everything different.

Surreal Games, a division of Midway, is trying to trademark "Only in Vegas" for an upcoming game where "Las Vegas is in the cross hairs of a powerful corporate boss who wants to turn Sin City into a family-themed destination." There's a lot of chest-beating and posturing around this trademark issue currently. Why doesn't Surreal Games just come up with something more original that doesn't come close to violating a trademark? How about, "What happens on the strip, stays on the strip!" Now that's far more original than "Only in Vegas."

[Via GamePolitics]

Las Vegas and Midway may tussle over similar catchphrase originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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