Incessant Patching/Updating

TelePaul · 10-09-2011 2:26pm #1

It seems that any time I've wanted to play my PS3 of late, its been subjected to a system update or a game patch. Got Resistance 3 yesterday, 673MB patch needed. I haven't the best internet connection in the world and it'll take me at least two hours to download.

Is it so hard to get games working fully by launch date?

gizmo · 10-09-2011 3:30pm

While I'll agree the PS3 firmware upgrades are annoying since they're not incremental, the game specific patches are a necessary evil in the industry today.

In the case of Resistance 3, the game went gold about a month ago, around the same time the beta started if I remember correctly. Bearing this in mind, I think it's safe to assume this is multiplayer portion of the game tweaked with the feedback gained from the beta period. Given the improvements that probably went with it, as well as the fact that it wouldn't have been necessary for those not wanting to play the multiplayer side of things, I think it's fair enough.

TelePaul · 10-09-2011 4:22pm

gizmo wrote: »

In the case of Resistance 3, the game went gold about a month ago

Ah, didn't know this, thanks.

gizmo wrote: »

Given the improvements that probably went with it, as well as the fact that it wouldn't have been necessary for those not wanting to play the multiplayer side of things, I think it's fair enough.

I guess there must have been quite a few changes, given the size of the patch.

gizmo · 10-09-2011 4:35pm

TelePaul wrote: »

I guess there must have been quite a few changes, given the size of the patch.

When you see patches that size they're not going to be small changes or tweaks, even if there's a large number of them. We're talking new game modes and their accompanying assets, such as new character models, weapons, sound effects and UI items.

Varik · 10-09-2011 4:35pm

gizmo wrote: »

While I'll agree the PS3 firmware upgrades are annoying since they're not incremental

it's had incremental updates for over a year.

gizmo · 10-09-2011 4:40pm

Varik wrote: »

it's had incremental updates for over a year.

Really? Wow, serves me right for not turning the thing on more than twice since God of War III.

Josey Wales · 10-09-2011 5:59pm

The problem that the Resistance 3 developers had was that they were due to have their multiplayer beta back in April/May. But the PSN hack happened and it was postponed. Having it only a month ago meant that they had to put all the changes, brought up by the testing, into patches.

johnny_ultimate · 11-09-2011 1:46pm

It's just a badly designed console software wise, or at least inefficiently designed. Developers can managed very significant patches on 360 through updates that literally take seconds - five or less in many cases.

The PS4 definitely needs a more tightly designed OS.

EGriff · 11-09-2011 3:53pm

Popped in New Vegas today to try finish it off before Skyrim comes out. It's in there with about 3 hours now downloading a 296MB update. And that's only part one of two.

I've got 7meg broadband.

Thinking of switching back to xbox, the PS3 is really annoying me lately.

Damien360 · 11-09-2011 8:47pm

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

It's just a badly designed console software wise, or at least inefficiently designed. Developers can managed very significant patches on 360 through updates that literally take seconds - five or less in many cases.

The PS4 definitely needs a more tightly designed OS.

Agree 100% but is the patch system for the 360 a patented method. yes it is the same as PC, but is the console method specifically patented. If so, then PS3 has no option but to do the full file. The argument was it remove issues with corrupted firmware and when it corrupted you could recover it with a full version of the firmware.

Korvanica · 16-09-2011 10:37am

This is my biggest gripe with the ps3...

If you don't play a game for more than a week you are probably gonna have a huge patch for it. Its so annoying, so many times ive looked at my games collection and said,

"you know, i havent played x in ages ill give it a bash because its class"..

Pop it in... HUGE update..

"screw that" - *turns off ps3...

(although the updates aren't so bad for me anymore with the 100Mb line, still annoying as hell though) It was painful when I only had a 1mb line.. 34 hours for a "small" update... small by ps3 standards anyway (200MB)

Varik · 16-09-2011 3:11pm

With Plus you can have the last few games set to auto update and you can set games to auto upload save by setting an option from the XMB on that game. So Sony can control what it uploads and downloads to your PS3 so i can't see why there's not some option to always keep a list of games up to date al la steam.

That_Guy · 19-09-2011 12:32pm

Gran Turismo 5 seems to always have some sort of update anytime I pop the disc in.

eoferrall · 20-09-2011 11:44pm

if it's an old game that you play rarely if it requires an update I just cancel flick off the internet connection on PS3 and back into game, can't check if it has an update with no internet. game away!

raze · 21-09-2011 3:28pm

My main gripe is that patches aren't optional. As eoferrall said you have to pull the connection to quickly play offline. This carries over to companies abusing it. On Fight Night 4 EA released a huge patch, over 200 megs, and it added DLC outfits and new fighters. Adding locked out content isn't what a patch is for, and I don't care if not getting it prevents me playing against someone who has bought the DLC.