There will be no fix for a bug that corrupts save files in Phil Fish's XBLA platformer Fez because Microsoft insisted on "a ton of money" to test a new patch.
Developer Polytron released a Fez patch in June, but Microsoft pulled it after reports of corrupted save files from a small number of players. In a post on the Polytron blog, Fish admits that no fix is forthcoming.
"We're not going to patch the patch," he writes. "Why not? Because Microsoft would charge us tens of thousands of dollars to re-certify the game. And because, as it turns out, the save file delete bug only happens to less than one per cent of players.
"It's a shitty numbers game for sure, but as a small independent, paying so much money for patches makes no sense at all."
Fish doesn't specify the sums involved - though Double Fine head Tim Schafer claimed earlier this year that console patches cost $40,000 - but whatever the precise figure, he's fully aware that, had he released the game on PC, he'd have been able to fix any issues with Fez without charge.
"Had Fez been released on Steam instead of XBLA, the game would have been fixed two weeks after release, at no cost to us," he continues. "And if there was an issue with the patch, we could have fixed that right away too!
"Microsoft gave us a choice: either pay a ton of money to re-certify the game and issue a new patch (which we all know could introduce new issues, for which we'd need yet another costly patch), or simply put the patch back online.
"It wasn't an easy decision, but in the end, paying such a large sum of money to jump through so many hoops just doesn't make any sense."
To that end, the pulled patch, which fixes a host of bugs including framerate issues, is now back online. It can't have been an easy call for Fish to make, knowing it would attract attention and prompt allegations of ignoring player needs for the sake of his bank balance. But we think it's the right decision.
Microsoft's patch system made sense when Xbox 360 launched in 2005; we didn't know any better. In 2012 - as games continue to become services, where the first release merely lays the foundations for a constant flow of content updates - it seems positively archaic and sorely out of touch. Microsoft has the best online ecosystem of any of the platform holders; for users, the patching process is as painless as it gets. For developers - especially smaller indies - it's a different story.
There's an argument, too, that Microsoft's certification process - which justifies the patch fee, and is the reason updates typically take four to six weeks to make it from the developer to the end user - should have picked up the save file bug in the first place. Developers can, however, save money by doing the testing themselves, though they face a further fee should a title update fail certification.
Either way, it's clearly left a sour taste in Fish's mouth: the man who once insisted that Fez was a console game, designed to be played on a sofa with a pad, is now counting down the days until he can release it on other platforms - specifically, one assumes, Steam. "But hey!" Fish tweeted last night. "Only a few months left [on] our XBLA exclusivity."
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16According to VG247 (though the quote doesn't show up here), Fish also claimed that he had to pay Microsoft to be allowed to launch the game in the first place. Which is a bit strange: HE had to pay THEM to be exclusive to their platform? Why on Earth would he have agreed to that?
This just sums up why I despise Microsoft as a company (and of course the fact that their gung ho approach has almost destroyed my hobby).
Almost destroyed your hobby? Presumably because your mind couldn't cope with the sheer horror of the situation.
Yes the Xbox generation of games have been incredibly poor. Thanks to Microsoft, gone are the days when we could unlock items in our games for our hard work (such as horse armour) and we have to pay for them now. Gone are the days when developers could take positive risks and be more creative. If it does not involve guns or killing then it might as well not exist. Did anyone see Microsofts presentation at E3. Need I actually say anymore. They are a disgrace of a company that they would punish gamers in ways such as the one just outlined by Edge.
It's not really all that long ago that interesting games have been released on Microsoft's consoles. Mirror's Edge, Enslaved, Super Meat Boy, Trials Evolution... all sterling releases in the Xbox generation. The Xbox 360 has seen a ridiculous amount of top tier games across its history; indeed, myself being a games player since the days of 8bit has seen the 360 as the pinnacle of gaming so far. PS3 owners may dispute this but generally if we're not willy waving about our favourite console, this generation has seen games that previous generations simply could not muster. I've been a long time player of chiefly Amstrad CPC, Super Nintendo, PC and Xbox 360 - and have to say the 360 has offered the best gaming I've experienced on any one machine.
Microsoft are being rather greedy and/or selfish when it comes to this particular Fez issue, and they need to change their ways to prevent too many developers getting cold feet over producing content for their console, but to regress this current topic to an attack at Microsoft's releases is just puerile. Stop being so elitist and enjoy the games! If you can't (and I'll wager you've had your fair share of fun this generation) you're only spoiling things for yourself. If you truly haven't enjoyed the output for this console, you need to take a good long hard look at yourself, because you're unbelievably hard to please.
I think it is difficult to argue that there have not been many great, high quality, games on the Xbox360 platform over the years since it launched, but I have to say that in the last couple of years, there has been less innovation (lower risk titles are more common), although one could say the same about PS3.
My main concern about the current generation of consoles, and I do think it is a common issue across all three of them, is that they are still stuck in the 2000's frame of mind when it comes to hosting games for download on their services. There is too much "curation" in my opinion, limiting choice for gamers and preventing many developers from getting the exposure they need. I think Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony all need to seriously re-think their online strategies, if they are to remain competitive and compelling in the years to come. This means opening up to a lot more games and being a lot more open to new business models including free to play. it also means biting the bullet when it comes to digital download, and actually charging realistic and competitive prices for games, rather than the often bloated prices currently being charged (£44.99 for Fifa on PS Vita download?!).
Maybe the Ouya console will be the disruptive force to bring about the needed changes from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony?
Honestly all of you make valid points. Like Baby, I have been greatly disappointed in some of the releases to come out in the last few years. It seems like more and more re-treads and re-hashes and re-makes.
Now back on topic, what surprises me is just how far M$ is behind the curve on this generation of software. They have a lot of hurdles in place for anyone not named EA or Ubisoft to release updates, although I've heard the same of Sony. This doesn't cut it anymore.
Maybe it is just me but I personally preferred games when they were more cerebral and had clever level designs, something which is lacking on Microsoft's console. There have been some exceptions this generation such as Portal and Dark Souls (multiplatform games may I add, Just like the ones you mentioned) but in general you do not have to "think" much when you play games any more. I have played several games this generation that I have enjoyed and I am not a fan-boy of an particualr console. I own all 3 consoles, both handhelds and a PC for gaming and since Microsoft has become the leading force in "hadcore" gaming the quality of challenge and clever level design has really dropped in the AAA titles, in my opinion. I personally believe that games such s Gears of War are very lazily designed: run, shoot, hide until your health comes back, something which seems to be the norm in most games these days. Even games such as the Elder Scrolls revolve around completing repetitive quests over and over. I do however agree that there have been some phenomenal games via Microsoft's download service such as Shadow Complex, Limbo and Fez (what a game),
This has all rather gotten slightly off-topic. The types of games released these days might be lacking a little freshness in the major blockbuster releases, but this article isn't about them. It's about Fez, one of the new and rare titles of imagination, and of Microsoft's archaic roll-out process.
Microsoft have not really put much effort into developing their release process, thinking that what has been working so far can continue to work. Instead, they've ploughed efforts into making the dash a more general media based device, and kept a stellar solid online service. The proliferation of titles arriving on other platforms that are arguably easier to get released on should be concerning Microsoft, and I'm not sure it is. Or if they are, they're proving too much of a dinosaur to move very fast in making changes. Mind you, they're probably putting any planned changes to their certification process, through their certification process, and that could take months!
On top of the dash updates and Kinect emphasis, perhaps they are distracted by future hardware plans, and perhaps they're planning on introducing major changes to their processes at the same time. If so, I just hope it's not leaving it too late, and seeing all developers jump ship before such new and swifter channels open up.
I don't hate Microsoft, there's no point hating Microsoft; they're just not firing on all cylinders, is the problem.
Fish released Fez as an exclusive on Microsoft's console and it has been a substantial enough of a hit to make Microsoft a profit. I can't help feel that because of Microsoft's greed it is the gamers who are being punished by them again and I honestly hope that talented indie developer's jump ship and release their games on a more open platform. I personally always try and avoid buying games through Microsoft's download service and will purchase them elsewhere unless of course exclusive games such as Fez are released through their platform.
It appears greedy, and I agree we can blame Microsoft for any raw deal the devs or us punters get. I also side with your idea of avoiding a Microsoft download purchase in order to punish them where they feel it... perhaps enough people doing so would force a wind change.
Count me out though, I'll still buy their wares if it's the right price. But I'll wave at you on the picket line as I pick up my latest title.
To clarify, this June patch included significant game updates in addition to a corruption issue. Since M$ wants lots of money to issue a new patch and finds the flawed patch within its quality standards, Poly is reactivating June's flawed patch.
Microsoft bent over backwards last gen with the original xbox to secure developer support. Now they have 'Made it' they see no need to keep developers and loyal fans happy any more.
Business as usual back at M$ HQ...
Their entertainment division is still losing money despite the fact they bleed everyone for as much as they can.
It's a doomed platform, imo.
The sales figures since release beg to differ...
But I agree, MS are just being greedy and backward in their approach on this issue.
And, what happens when the 360 is replaced by an entirely new console?
Backwards compatibility isn't something MS or anyone else is bothered with, so does this mean bye bye XBLA games collection and all the titles you have spent money, classics and otherwise?
Or will there be some sort of legacy mode?
Will they have an off site system running the games and your home console just offering the control and video, like Gaikai?
So, no more offline XBLA gaming for you?
No true ownership, just a licence to pay for so you can access your games and hope no one takes them down.
Bad times to be a gamer