Patching

[mark_barley]

I suggest you all read the "Readme" with patch beta1a - there are a hell of a lot of bugs fixed.... Many of which are obvious, and honestly if this game had 20 minutes of beta testing, would have been found!

Does anyone else feel that this title was scarecly tested AT ALL, and rushed out - probably to beat the excitement of HL2!!!

I'm disappointed that Atari and Frontier think I have nothing better to do that Beta Test their sloppy, rushed software.

One always expects a few MINOR issues and gripes with software, and patches to fix them; but FUNDERMENTAL bugs and gameplay issues are really taking the pi$$.

The rapid release of a BETA patch (a move which I cannot recall seeing for any other title I've owned), is a frank admission of a seriously flawed item; I just hope that these are "teething problems" and the final stable patch with give us the gameplay we deserve!

It would be nice if Frontier released some themes or bonus rides / coaster designs or expansions to appease the early users, who brought this title based on expectations which, disappointingly - were not met.

Your thoughts?

[lletnek]

the game is a joke and imo one of the biggest screw ups in history

[Malekpour]

Refunding the game tomorrow, well done Atari, you sold out and provided us with a piece of rubbish just for your christmas marginal sales...

[Fluxx]

Originally posted by mark_barley


The rapid release of a BETA patch (a move which I cannot recall seeing for any other title I've owned), is a frank admission of a seriously flawed item; I just hope that these are "teething problems" and the final stable patch with give us the gameplay we deserve!

One always expects a few MINOR issues and gripes with software, and patches to fix them; but FUNDERMENTAL bugs and gameplay issues are really taking the pi$$.





Halo had a patch out before it was even released........:weirdblue

Chaser had 2 patches within a week......:eek:

Painkiller had a patch to enable people to install it within 2 weeks......:eekblue:

Such is the world of PC games.........:lightbulb

[lletnek]

i never had a problem with painkiller and i dont see how there can be a patch to help someone install something as you cant patch anything unless its installed and im sure they werent as big a screw ups as this. surely you have to agree?

[Xzanron]

There are very few games that I have ever played of the box that are bug free.

In all honesty, and to my great irritation, I actually have to say that all the games i've bought under the microsoft banner have been excellent wrt bugs.

Interstingly enough... Frontier the game the company is named for it seems, was extremely full of bugs.

This was before the days of broadband, and internet patch delivery.

I remember buying that game with a patch on the floppy disk already in the box.

Hmm... i've not had anywhere near the amount of problems with RCT3 than some people seem to have, but I have to admit, that the game got a lot easier once i installed the patch.

I can actually make a profit now.. as opposed to just breaking even.

[simon_moss]

As someone who has been involved in beta testing PC Games software (last three version of Tiger Woods Golf) I think developers do now take a view of

"fix as many major bugs as we can then go gold. While we're pressing CDs and printing packaging continue testing and work on a patch"

This has mainly come about as a result of the increase in broadband internet access.

In the days before universal Web access (and I'm showing my age here) games producers had one chance to get it right. If the game had a major bug then users just had to wait for the next version. This meant that a lot of effort was put in to testing before the game went gold and any major bug found between going gold and release would result in the CDs being recalled and the release date delayed.

Now I'm not saying what happens now is right as a 9.3MB file is fairly hefty for dial-up and there are still PC owners without internet access. However at least there are patches now and at the end of the day everyone still has the option of returning the game to the retailer for a refund just as in the past.

Sorry to go on :D

[Jeroenv3]

Originally posted by lletnek
i never had a problem with painkiller and i dont see how there can be a patch to help someone install something as you cant patch anything unless its installed and im sure they werent as big a screw ups as this. surely you have to agree?
I guess he won't...

Just like the other games mentioned, only a minority of players have difficulties. But because people really like to complain on the Internet it looks like everybody has a crashing game. The 90+ (?) percent of satisfied users won't be on these forums if they don't have questions...(dunno the exact numbers of course).
Have you ever seen a forum with lots of players typing "Good job! I installed it and it works! Now I can play Need for Speed!"...if a game has no probs...

[lletnek]

yea but this game has a lot of problems i doubt anyone has got away with no problems at all. id imagine this game is gona be a complete flop. people will be queuing up to take this back id put money on it

[Jeroenv3]

Originally posted by simon_moss
In the days before universal Web access (and I'm showing my age here) games producers had one chance to get it right. If the game had a major bug then users just had to wait for the next version. This meant that a lot of effort was put in to testing before the game went gold and any major bug found between going gold and release would result in the CDs being recalled and the release date delayed.

That's why I'm so happy that my sony PS2 doesn't have a harddrive...almost all games are decent! Wonder what would have happened if RCT3 came out on PS2...(probably nothing since there's only one hardware-setup possible to worry about)

[lletnek]

yea thats the great things about console games and if they get something wrong in the game and its a major screw up ie if atari had released this onto xbox/ps2 in this condition they would be in serious s**t. very few people have internet access with ps2 and xbox as ps2 doesnt have it in-built and xbox is kinda expensive because you need broadband and a subscription. this means that people wouldnt be able to get patches so developers have to get it right when it comes out on consoles. can you imagine if halo 2 was in this state :| everyone at bungie would be stalked and hated forever lol

[stevie_g1]

I would say all games have things wrong with them some more then others and instead of criticising everything bad about the game just look at the pros of it! Look at the graphics for starters big improvement on RCT2.. Things just take time and I have faith in Frontier and Atari and I believe this game will be a good seller and I can safely say my copy will not be returned to the shop!.. For £21 you can’t go wrong! :)

With all those people getting errors with the game I would have a look at your computers and think about re-installing certain components/drivers etc.. cuz with me I got the demo it ran fine, I then got the game installed it and it was fine. It also plays fine with the new patch as well, so I want to say thumbs up to the company’s for this great game :tup: :biggringr

[Fluxx]

Originally posted by lletnek
i never had a problem with painkiller and i dont see how there can be a patch to help someone install something as you cant patch anything unless its installed and im sure they werent as big a screw ups as this. surely you have to agree?

I never had problems with it either.........I was trying to make the point that a lot of games come with patches on release or very soon after.

As to the game being 'one of the biggest screw ups in history', dont you think youre overstating the problem?

As simon_moss says people who cant get it to work can always return it to the shop......:(

[lletnek]

no i really dont think im overstating here they have really screwed this up they rushed a game and released it to early full of bugs that make it unplayable to most. the patch imo didnt work it hasnt fixed the problem of people going on rides and i just think its totally unfair to all the people out there without internet access and who cant fix this problem to play the game when theyve paid for it

[Fluxx]

But in the grand scheme of life, its only a game.

If it doesnt work for you return it, get your money back and get on with your life.

Nearly all PC games require a patch at some point or another, more often sooner rather than later. Its the nature of the beast.

Posting stuff like 'Atari **** and I want my money back' helps no one and just leads to the poster getting flamed.

I realise youre not happy, but other than waiting for the patch or returning the game, theres not a lot that can be done.

[mark_barley]

Originally posted by Fluxx

I realise youre not happy, but other than waiting for the patch or returning the game, theres not a lot that can be done.

That's not really the point, and just an example of the poor "shrug your shoulders" attitude - which propagates the industries attitude to gamers.

The posters on the forum are people who really looked forward to this software - and are upset and disappointed at being let down by fundermental problems - which, lets face it we've discovered after playing the game for a couple of hours - the most basic form of beta testing.

Yes, there are many more people who have the game who haven't posted - but that doesn't mean that they are not frustrated at the buggy software.

When the magazines start reviewing - and commenting - on the software, and the ratings are disappointing then buyers will think twice before buying (there are already negative postings on amazon....). Your loss Atari.

Personally, I have no problems with patches for gameplay issues identified after release PROVIDED THE RELEASE SOFTWARE IS USEABLE (steam still distributes plenty of updates for CS, HL etc YEARS after the games are released!).

But, I remain disappointed that Atari allowed essentially a "work in progress" title to be released; I hope the patches catch up, and eventually give us the game we've paid for.

[Fluxx]

If you are trying to imply that Im 'shrugging my shoulders' at the fact that people have nothing better to do than post here about how the game didnt work, about how they are going to/already have returned it or how much they hate Atari, then youre probably right. :angel:

However the fact that Im writing this at 4.30 in the morning means that I at least show an interest.


If a million people buy the game and 999,991 people get it to work, while the other 9 have problems, which group do you think will post in an online forum the most?

You said....

Yes, there are many more people who have the game who haven't posted - but that doesn't mean that they are not frustrated at the buggy software.

Nor does it mean that they are.

If the game didnt work you do have the option of waiting for a fixed patch. You could also return the game to the place where it was bought. To come here and post for no other reason than to say how upset you are is fine the first time. We really do get the message. I dont personally need people to tell me 50 times that they returned the game/ hate Atari/ think the games rubbish.

If I was in the shoes of someone who couldnt get it to work, I wouldnt keep complaining about it......ITS ONLY A GAME!!!

I have far more important thing in my life than to worry about a game I returned to the shop.

If you want to play the game badly enough, wait for the patch. If not, take it back.


I post on these boards in an attempt to help people with problems, not waste my time repeating myself endlessly.......:frownblue

This is my last word on the subject.

[stevie_g1]

I Agree 100%.. Things Go Wrong In Life And As You Say "Its Only A Game" People Have To Much Time On There Hands! :p:

[masterjedia]

well said flux