Suppose you found a bug in a game that rendered a console unplayable? Suppose it was something akin to the original Myth II Uninstall problem where it basically formatted your hard drive, only worse?
There was a game that was released in the last 10 years that had a peculiar issue toward the end where you could crash the title just before one of the end bosses by doing a manual save just as it was autosaving.
If you did, it caused the console kernel to overwrite itself, rendering the entire unit non-functional.
After causing this to happen once, I was asked to replicate the issue in front of people who made a lot more money than I did. After sixteen hours of play, I, again, saved while the game was autosaving, and watched with everyone else in the room as the screen turned black and the console shut down. Attempting to boot it up didn’t even result in an error screen, it would just power on and then shut back down.
(To me) “You can do this every time?”
“If I want to, yeah.”
(To a marketing guy) “How long until we’re supposed to ship?”
“We’re supposed to go gold in a week.”
(To a developer) “How long would this take to fix?”
“We’ll have to rewrite the entire file structure. Weeks, at least. Probably months.”
Suppose you found a bug in a game that rendered a console unplayable? Suppose it was something akin to the original Myth II Uninstall problem where it basically formatted your hard drive, only worse?
There was a game that was released in the last 10 years that had a peculiar issue toward the end where you could crash the title just before one of the end bosses by doing a manual save just as it was autosaving.
If you did, it caused the console kernel to overwrite itself, rendering the entire unit non-functional.
After causing this to happen once, I was asked to replicate the issue in front of people who made a lot more money than I did. After sixteen hours of play, I, again, saved while the game was autosaving, and watched with everyone else in the room as the screen turned black and the console shut down. Attempting to boot it up didn’t even result in an error screen, it would just power on and then shut back down.
(To me) “You can do this every time?”
“If I want to, yeah.”
(To a marketing guy) “How long until we’re supposed to ship?”
“We’re supposed to go gold in a week.”
(To a developer) “How long would this take to fix?”
“We’ll have to rewrite the entire file structure. Weeks, at least. Probably months.”
AntimatterDevo Was RightGates of SteelRegistered Userregular
so either he gets the job here or he and the girl meet somewhere else
or they somehow aren't coworkers
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FramlingFaceHeadGeebs has bad ideas.Registered Userregular
Nah, he's getting the job here. They said the guy he was going to interview with was a Mr. Credenza, and that base64 stuff from the about page said something about a credenza for one of the characters. Either he gets this job, or it's all a profoundly elaborate ruse.
Also, note to self: Do not manually save during an auto save
ever.
you're = you are
your = belonging to you
their = belonging to them
there = not here
they're = they are
These people tell us of their torment so we can feel better, Quid.
If you feel bad afterwards then their suffering was all for nothing.
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ASimPersonCold...... and hard.Registered Userregular
Hard to feel bad about this one. Dude was probably going to get fired and its not conceivable to fix every bug.
I don't know the game or code in question so I won't make any statements on how easy this would've been to fix or work-around (the latter of which is likely what happened, but again, speculation).
Hard to feel bad about this one. Dude was probably going to get fired and its not conceivable to fix every bug.
I don't know the game or code in question so I won't make any statements on how easy this would've been to fix or work-around (the latter of which is likely what happened, but again, speculation).
I would think when said bug is going to cause a console manufacturer to crawl up your ass with lawyers and explode said ass you'd want to fix it.
But presumably this is EA we're talking about so who knows
I have a podcast now. It's about video games and anime!Find it here.
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Dark Raven XLaugh hard, run fast,be kindRegistered Userregular
"If you did, it caused the console kernel to overwrite itself, rendering the entire unit non-functional."
Khee righst.
Something of that magnitude got released? I mean, yeah, "Do not turn off while saving" - we know that. We've known that since we were 4. But "Do not save while saving"?
"If you did, it caused the console kernel to overwrite itself, rendering the entire unit non-functional."
Khee righst.
Something of that magnitude got released? I mean, yeah, "Do not turn off while saving" - we know that. We've known that since we were 4. But "Do not save while saving"?
"Yo dawg.."
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NogsCrap, crap, mega crap.Crap, crap, mega crap.Registered Userregular
if it only happened at that one particular save point - couldn't they like
disable to start button for 1 minute or something? or move the save point a few minutes back in gameplay?
Nah, he's getting the job here. They said the guy he was going to interview with was a Mr. Credenza, and that base64 stuff from the about page said something about a credenza for one of the characters. Either he gets this job, or it's all a profoundly elaborate ruse.
Also, note to self: Do not manually save during an auto save
Would it really have been that hard to fix? Theoretically, at least, couldn't they have just set the manual save to check if it was autosaving at the time and postpone the manual save if it was?
After seeing hearing enough stories like this over the years, this is why I don't really give a shit when game companies cry over second hand sales. When they can decide it's better to ship a game instead of fixing a console breaking bug because it suits their bottom line, or forcing overtime immediately followed by mass layoffs as soon as the title ships, they don't really have much wiggle room to expect goodwill.
Would it really have been that hard to fix? Theoretically, at least, couldn't they have just set the manual save to check if it was autosaving at the time and postpone the manual save if it was?
This is what I was thinking, there are any number of quick fixes they could have done to make sure this never happens.
Hard to feel bad about this one. Dude was probably going to get fired and its not conceivable to fix every bug.
I don't know the game or code in question so I won't make any statements on how easy this would've been to fix or work-around (the latter of which is likely what happened, but again, speculation).
I would think when said bug is going to cause a console manufacturer to crawl up your ass with lawyers and explode said ass you'd want to fix it.
But presumably this is EA we're talking about so who knows
That's pretty presumptive of you.
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HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
The GeekOh-Two Crew, OmeganautRegistered User, ClubPAregular
It makes me kinda glad to know that I never saw anyone being treated that way. As I mentioned before, a fair amount of testing was done in house by just anyone and everyone regardless of project or department. But most of that was testing for stuff that would occur as a normal part of play. There was some encouragement to do things and go places that you wouldn't think of doing as a normal part of play, but I believe a lot of the real "try to break absolutely everything" testing was done by people brought in from a temp agency. And they were still treated well.
I did some testing of single player on Portal 2. Go into an elevator room after a test chamber and walk up to the elevator from behind. Notice how the elevator doesn't leave without you in it? Yeah, you're welcome.
BLM - ACAB
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FramlingFaceHeadGeebs has bad ideas.Registered Userregular
Seriously, EA wasn't doing anything that any other publisher wasn't doing, they just made the mistake of hiring a dude with an insanely bitchy wife.
Yeah, something like this I would actually expect more from a smaller studio. Someplace as monolithic as EA I imagine is going to take something like this more seriously.
you're = you are
your = belonging to you
their = belonging to them
there = not here
they're = they are
It makes me kinda glad to know that I never saw anyone being treated that way. As I mentioned before, a fair amount of testing was done in house by just anyone and everyone regardless of project or department. But most of that was testing for stuff that would occur as a normal part of play. There was some encouragement to do things and go places that you wouldn't think of doing as a normal part of play, but I believe a lot of the real "try to break absolutely everything" testing was done by people brought in from a temp agency. And they were still treated well.
I did some testing of single player on Portal 2. Go into an elevator room after a test chamber and walk up to the elevator from behind. Notice how the elevator doesn't leave without you in it? Yeah, you're welcome.
Geek there is a serious game ending glitch you missed.
Once you defeat the final boss and get the ending there is no more single player to enjoy.
It seems like such an oversight.
I have a podcast now. It's about video games and anime!Find it here.
I did some testing of single player on Portal 2. Go into an elevator room after a test chamber and walk up to the elevator from behind. Notice how the elevator doesn't leave without you in it? Yeah, you're welcome.
I can see Geek's resume now. "Totally made sure the elevator in Portal 2 didn't go anywhere unless you were in it."
Is it just me, or are the stories just so over the top horrible that they come off as hilarious?
Either way they're amazing.
}
"Orkses never lose a battle. If we win we win, if we die we die fightin so it don't count. If we runs for it we don't die neither, cos we can come back for annuver go, see!".
>_> I like plain history. I add the embellishments in my head. In the fourth grade I read my entire Texas history textbook, for fun.
You can imagine the Wikipedia binges I go on.
Jephery on
}
"Orkses never lose a battle. If we win we win, if we die we die fightin so it don't count. If we runs for it we don't die neither, cos we can come back for annuver go, see!".
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BroloBroseidonLord of the BroceanRegistered Userregular
I don't think they're being embellished, some of these places are really horrible work environments.
Posts
also in 78 comics from now these two will fuck
jesus
or they somehow aren't coworkers
Also, note to self: Do not manually save during an auto save
ever.
your = belonging to you
their = belonging to them
there = not here
they're = they are
Honestly its not that I'm shocked its that I'm depressed that this sort of thing happens in the industry constantly.
The comic is okay. Really should have referenced Goofus and Gallant what with the live action move starring Will Ferrell and Steve Carrell coming up.
i blame MSPA
If you feel bad afterwards then their suffering was all for nothing.
I don't know the game or code in question so I won't make any statements on how easy this would've been to fix or work-around (the latter of which is likely what happened, but again, speculation).
I would think when said bug is going to cause a console manufacturer to crawl up your ass with lawyers and explode said ass you'd want to fix it.
But presumably this is EA we're talking about so who knows
Khee righst.
Something of that magnitude got released? I mean, yeah, "Do not turn off while saving" - we know that. We've known that since we were 4. But "Do not save while saving"?
"Yo dawg.."
disable to start button for 1 minute or something? or move the save point a few minutes back in gameplay?
PARKER, YOU'RE FIRED! <-- My comic book podcast! Satan look here!
I am now terrified of autosave.
This is what I was thinking, there are any number of quick fixes they could have done to make sure this never happens.
That's pretty presumptive of you.
How'd you arrive at that conclusion? O_o
As for the comic, I sense a new recurring character introduced!
I'd assume this was late 90's before console patches were common and EA was the worst offender of their employees at that time.
Seriously, EA wasn't doing anything that any other publisher wasn't doing, they just made the mistake of hiring a dude with an insanely bitchy wife.
Well at that stage they were also running franchises into the ground a bit more that everyone else.
Other than firing you though stale I think since then they've been stellar!
Satans..... hints.....
I did some testing of single player on Portal 2. Go into an elevator room after a test chamber and walk up to the elevator from behind. Notice how the elevator doesn't leave without you in it? Yeah, you're welcome.
Yeah, something like this I would actually expect more from a smaller studio. Someplace as monolithic as EA I imagine is going to take something like this more seriously.
your = belonging to you
their = belonging to them
there = not here
they're = they are
Geek there is a serious game ending glitch you missed.
Once you defeat the final boss and get the ending there is no more single player to enjoy.
It seems like such an oversight.
I can see Geek's resume now. "Totally made sure the elevator in Portal 2 didn't go anywhere unless you were in it."
Either way they're amazing.
"Orkses never lose a battle. If we win we win, if we die we die fightin so it don't count. If we runs for it we don't die neither, cos we can come back for annuver go, see!".
and is boring
You can imagine the Wikipedia binges I go on.
"Orkses never lose a battle. If we win we win, if we die we die fightin so it don't count. If we runs for it we don't die neither, cos we can come back for annuver go, see!".