Before, there couldn't be any A (crash) bugs or minimal B (logic) bugs because you couldn't do anything about them once a game has shipped. The mentality has changed now that consoles have hard drives. Publishers and Developers still don't want to have A or B bugs but will let them slide because they can be fixed during the final testing and manufacturing phases. That's why you have patches available on the first day.

The reason why are deadlines and money. Companies don't have the luxury of releasing a game "when it's done" like Valve or Blizzard. There are contractual, seasonal, and hardware launch deadlines that will cost publishers and developers if missed. Miss a contractual deadline and you owe the other company money. Miss a seasonal or hardware deadline and you loose out on revenue. Just exceeding a deadline costs additional money within the company for more development.

Besides, games are so complicated now that it is impossible find or address every single bug. Here's a crash I found and was able to replicate.


Uncharted 2: Among Thieves by bullyrabbit, on Flickr

The fact that it's easy to find (just by playing the game) and repeatable means that there had to be an internal tester that found it. They probably let it slide because someone decided that it wasn't important enough to address. Or the bug was so complicated to fix that it was best to ignore it.

As for the whole DLC thing (Streetfighter VS Tekken), I agree that anything on a disc should be accessible. CAPCOM issued a statement addressing their decision. It makes sense from a development standpoint; all the assets are available so it makes coding easier.

I'm not excusing what they do. I personally don't like Day One patches or DLC either. Unfortunately that's just the way things are done now.

Edit: "Not enough time" isn't always a reason for DLC. Some DLC might actually be planned to be DLC. The idea now is to give a game longevity. It also generates more revenue.

ok, you guys convinced me to just play FFVII again. I'm going by the gamestore today to grab a ps1 memory card reader so I can bring my old saves over to my ps3.

"Companies don't have the luxury of releasing a game "when it's done" "

they have for the last 30 years so I call BS it's just another case of somebody not wanting to do their job or companies milking money where they should be supporting their supporters, as far as stating games have gotten too advanced hence full testing is imposible I would just like to state in 1980 pacman was probably viewed as a bit more mindblowing (as a piece of technological work)than we would view the next left for dead etc, just had to rant as essential content for gameplay being DLC is BS and the internet should not be mandatory to play a game out of the package

Ff IX was my shit. I enjoyed x as well. But nothing else after that. I'll still run through x every now and then when I'm bored. And I was playing 7-9 on my psp before I broke it. Tactics was great as well. A similar game I enjoyed was Jeanne d'arc for the psp.

Pfft. Old saves? Gotta start fresh!

ha, I have an old save right at the end so that'll be fun. then probably start over again. I love the excitement of chocobo racing so I gotta get down on that.

Yeah, I'm also going to add that Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was a great game FF too! It was joyful, and gameplay was intense/expansive.

Also wish Square would release another Front Mission on a portable system. Those were great.
Or revisit Vagrant Story. Such an underrated Square game...

Saints Row 3 what you know about snatching hoes!? Rental in my opinion, picked it up from Redbox.

I did not dislike FFT:A, but I didn't wanna marry it the way I did FFT. FFT:A2 I did not really like.

Vagrant Story sucked up so much of my time. I think it was the first game gaming had gone to DISCS that both fascinated me and severely frustrated me. I don't think any of my friends ever played it, though

I'll wait till it goes on the sale bin. Hopefully by that time I'll have a new PS3.

This is an entirely different situation. Capcom has all of the data in the game for 12 additional characters that are not selectable. They are not day one DLC, and probably will not be available until this Fall according to most sources. Basically the paid download will be able to 'unlock' them without actually downloading all of the character data to any storage device, in a sense. It's already there, you just have to pay to use it. Kind of an odd way to go about things. I'll purchase them regardless, because I am a fanboy, but I can understand a backlash.

I grabbed Borderlands today for the whopping price of $17. I enjoyed the trailer for the upcoming sequel so I figured I would give this one a shot. Pretty fun so far, but nothing earth shattering.

Has anyone out there played much of it?

Yeah played all of it and all the DLCs....it's a great game, even beetter if you can coop with someone you know!
It's fun anyway, can't wait to see the 2 out!

This is pretty much the same thing Epic did with all the weapon skins and a few maps and characters for Gears of War 3. I get why dev teams are doing it, but I still think its pretty messed up for the fans.

Did you pick up the GOTY edition? Definitely worth it if so. If not, then its still not bad cause XBL has the DLC for sale still I think. Best one is General Knoxx's Secret Armory.

Like Luca Jong Il said, its a great game when playing coop with friends or fam. Hell, me and Maddie have probalby played this game over like 4 times already, and its still that much fun. Definitely can't wait for the sequel. It's probably one of the only games I'm anticipating to come out this year.

I don't have the game but, I'm guessing someone was able to unlock the locked characters. Usually, dev will put it on disc but not the complete code. This is so when you purchase the DLC, it cuts down on the download time. This is also to prevent this situation where someone finds a way to crack the game so you can play the locked characters/weapons/levels/etc.

I'm hooked on Mass Effect 3 Co-op Multiplayer. I haven't even bothered with the single player missions yet. It's hard getting the teamwork happening in silver and gold with randoms. Anyone out there want to add me on psn look me up - GoldenArmKid

edit - Finally Diablo 3! 15/05/12

^^^^^

Totally agree, played the hell out of Borderlands and the II is looking pretty amazing.

MEGA MAN!!!

(that is all)

I always like your which video games are you currently playing posts lalo. I really need to get back to playing Mega Man X.

Neutopia

Still Gears3...
Hitting level 100, and moving on with life.

Mass Effect 3 the graphics are incredible! 12 hours in so far!

MW3...who grabbed Collection 1 and wants to do some spec ops missions with me on XBL?

Since I have no PS3 now...I'm back on that most evil of evil games known as WoW, with an old guild on Blackrock/Horde. SKP!
I started up a new toon a few weeks ago and am at the late 40's.