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GTA IV PS3 patch due today News

PlayStation 3 News by Tom Bramwell

7 May, 2008

Rockstar and Sony plans to patch the PS3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV today to improve the multiplayer experience.

Speaking to Eurogamer, a Sony source explained that the patch would help by "reducing the loads on the servers at GameSpy and hopefully the completely random hangs that some users have seen".

PS3 owners who bought GTA IV last week have had to endure problems connecting to the multiplayer service almost from day one.

What's more, some reported random crashes, for which Rockstar suggested that erasing game data and reinstalling as a possible solution.

This week, UK chart monitor Chart-Track reported that 926,000 copies of GTA IV were sold during its first week on sale here - with 413,000 of going to PS3 owners.

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Comments: 1-50 of 54 Next →

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el_pollo_diablo
07/05/08 @ 10:51
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The words "completely random hangs" suggest that they've not identified the cause.
Pedrolot
07/05/08 @ 10:54
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But if they have not identified the cause, how can they hope to repair the issue?
Dizzy
07/05/08 @ 10:57
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"reducing the load"

That means they took some stuff out. Stats?
keyboardmonkey
07/05/08 @ 10:57
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Hard Drive installs ftw!
steoc4
07/05/08 @ 10:58
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Haven't the hangs been identified as rockstar social club stuff? I'm sure I read that somewhere but could have been rumour.

I was getting them at one point, I disconnected from PSN, and it was all good. I then reconnected and never had the issue again.

Not a single problem with multiplayer either once I opened the relevant ports on my router (which was info I had to get from an internet forum so I can see why a lot of people would still be having problems)
reality_cheque
07/05/08 @ 11:01
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Played a little MP last night with my friend to test our connection settings out, and I think the fact that I left dinner cooking for 20 minutes longer than I should and had the missus shouting at me speaks volumes about how much fun I was having.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 07/05/08 @ 11:01
redneon
07/05/08 @ 11:02
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@Dizzy:

Not necessarily. Chances are they've optimised the code and are therefore not running unnecessary code which may have been running previously.

Or, they could be packing the data into larger packets to send to GameSpy rather than sending constant streams of smaller packets.

Obviously I'm just speculating but both of those are alternatives to chopping stuff out ;)
Fodder
07/05/08 @ 11:02
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What about the problem where the game won't load unless you're signed out of PSN? Will it fix that too?
dragz
07/05/08 @ 11:04
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How is this patch being delivered? I hope Sony/whoever are aware that a number of users can't even load the game if we are connected to the internet in any way.
Beano
07/05/08 @ 11:05
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Maybe I've just been very lucky, but haven't had any lockup and have played GTA4 on PS3 for 40+ hours while connected to PSN :)

Multiplayer have also been up for the last 3-4 days for me.

But RockStar Social Club is not updated with stats (the site still claims I haven't finisted the story) ... maybe that's what they are talking about?
Edited 1 times, most recently on 07/05/08 @ 11:07
X201
07/05/08 @ 11:06
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@dragz
The standard update routine works at game boot level, long before any code or save data has been loaded.

JHuxley
07/05/08 @ 11:18
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Maybe I've just been very lucky, but haven't had any lockup and have played GTA4 on PS3 for 40+ hours while connected to PSN :)

Multiplayer have also been up for the last 3-4 days for me.


Likewise, Beano.

Well, at least Rockstar have been relatively quick to issue a patch for those effected. A game of this size & scope you'd expect a few issues here and there...it's how quickly they're dealt with that matters.
hobo57
07/05/08 @ 11:19
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think i'll ignore installing this patch until its been out a week or so - as I've had no hangs or crashes during single player.
yegon
07/05/08 @ 11:23
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No problems here and I've been really hammering the single player. US launch PS3 with UK GTA.
TagemandBagem
07/05/08 @ 11:25
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I haven't had the freeze issue since launch day. I just hope they fixed MP so when you disconnect you aren't thrown back into single player. That, for me, is it's biggest error.
Psychotext
07/05/08 @ 11:35
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@swam: £50 now? Keeps going up.
zedzee
07/05/08 @ 11:36
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@ reality_cheque:

What did you cook?
chrisjm
07/05/08 @ 11:40
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£50, you was robbed.
£30 easy, £25 if your lucky.

everyone knows free broadband isnt as good as good paid for broadband. online gaming isnt any different.
Dizzy
07/05/08 @ 11:45
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Sometimes I wanne un-ignore swam :)

Must resist!
JHuxley
07/05/08 @ 11:51
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@chrisjm

Mmm? Tell that to the hundreds of thousands of PC gamers playing Team Fortress 2. For free.
jlaakso
07/05/08 @ 11:52
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The "game won't boot with an internet connection on" thing is the kind of crap I really don't want to deal with on a console. I spent several hours looking for a solution on launch day.
redneon
07/05/08 @ 11:54
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@swam:

Jesus Christ. Can't we go a single fucking thread without some fanboy flame baiting?
Edited 1 times, most recently on 07/05/08 @ 11:54
kopykatt
07/05/08 @ 11:54
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Mmmm...must use my amazing brain powers to deciphere this problem...Rockstar not checking everything thouroughly...trying to get game out to shelves...stop ea takeover...too may users on first few days.
Seriously though, how often is this happening with new games now? Online was apparantly invented for patches.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 07/05/08 @ 11:55
Artemus
07/05/08 @ 11:57
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Only way I can play online at the mo is to host the games. Anything else and I get disconnected shortly after joining.
Schiraman
07/05/08 @ 12:00
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I suffered badly from the freezing bug a few days ago - there was no apparent reason for its onset, it just started locking up every few minutes no matter what was happening on-screen. Deleting and reinstalling the install data seemed like the natural solution TBH, and since then things have been fine (touch wood).
Widge
07/05/08 @ 12:12
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i just premptively disabled net connection, no problems at all for me
yupyup
07/05/08 @ 12:16
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This is lolling.
Schiraman
07/05/08 @ 12:17
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@Widge

I'm not convinced the freezing has anything to do with net connections, I think you've just been lucky - I've not played any multiplayer at all, and I suffered from the freezing bug. The fact that uninstalling and reinstalling the game fixes the problem suggests to me that it's something to do with the way the install data is used.
Widge
07/05/08 @ 12:18
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I dunno, mine wouldn't load once... after disconnecting, loaded fine and absolutely no issues inbetween... so have just done that from now on. Been playing MGO for online kicks in the meantime.
betahoven
07/05/08 @ 12:44
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I could be wrong, but my theory for the disconnections from multiplayer sessions is that the game isn't using UPnP properly to open the ports it needs. This would explain why it seems to work when you're hosting, and why manually forwarding ports helps. Should be easily fixable in a patch.
chudders
07/05/08 @ 12:46
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Heh. It's obviously something to do with the PS3s vastly inferior online service and the difficulty developers have with coding for the machine.

Ste105
07/05/08 @ 12:48
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yeah i had to delete my saves and install data for the game on PS3 , after it crashed trying to connect to a multiplayer game.

I'll wait for the patch before i try again
Ste105
07/05/08 @ 12:50
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How do you update a game on the PS3?.....sorry i just got one on the for this game
Beano
07/05/08 @ 12:52
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Usually you just start the game and it prompts you to download a update. Some games do have in-game patch download when you go online.
X201
07/05/08 @ 12:53
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@ste
Just start the game, PS3 detects that there is a patch available and stops loading the game and ask you to download it
Ste105
07/05/08 @ 12:56
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nice one X201 / Beano .... thanks
Edited 1 times, most recently on 07/05/08 @ 13:46
symmetry
07/05/08 @ 12:57
#37
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I'm not having any problems with the game at all, and I'm always connected.

But then I did buy it for 360 :)

/runs
miiiguel
07/05/08 @ 13:07
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There's another thing regarding "free lunch" that annoys me. Take this example, in my work we have the possibility of having an almost free meal, as the board gives some money to the catering company, but the food actually sucks. We complain, and for an answer we get "oh, ok..., it's not that good, we admit, but it's very cheap, so you shouldn't complain!". What the heck! I want it to be good, and if that means that I haev to pay more so I can "complain/have a proper meal", please do charge me!
Edited 1 times, most recently on 07/05/08 @ 13:08
el_pollo_diablo
07/05/08 @ 13:11
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Of course, a million people all trying to download the same patch at the same time will cause a totally new problem, but I'll keep schtum about that for the time being...
Beano
07/05/08 @ 13:19
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"There's another thing regarding "free lunch" that annoys me. "

But in this case, the free lunch is just as good as the expensive lunch.

Only downside, the free lunch arrived a few days late for some guests.
sonmi451
07/05/08 @ 13:29
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never had a problem with FREZZING
JediMasterMalik
07/05/08 @ 13:31
#42
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Thank god
kopykatt
07/05/08 @ 14:09
#43
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Oh my god, do fanboys live in goldfish bowls or what. GTA 4 has caused plenty of problems on the 360 as well, including everything from freezing the console to an increased risk of the red ring of death. Yes I own both consoles,I just dont understand fanboyism.
BadBoyBonner
07/05/08 @ 15:09
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Never mind - which system has such and such little glitch - can't they patch BOTH the Multiplayer interfaces - even when it is working 100% it really is quite poor - and sort out the ability to join your mates on-line - which has been a feature since day one in any game - and stop dropping back into single player - so annoying - actually made me go back and play COD 4 for a bit.
Edited 2 times, most recently on 07/05/08 @ 15:11
JDub
07/05/08 @ 15:14
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/ignores mem
ElNino9
07/05/08 @ 15:36
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fanboislol
Psychotext
07/05/08 @ 15:58
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@kopykatt: Playing the thing increases the chance of RRoD... you don't need GTA for that.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 07/05/08 @ 15:58
Widge
07/05/08 @ 16:10
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THIS IS A COMMENT WRITTEN ENTIRELY IN CAPS
Cyclone
07/05/08 @ 17:05
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It'd be nice to see a patch that gives the option of free aim with the classic controls in addition to auto aim. I know you can turn off auto aim, or aim will firing but it's not quite the same. They could map it to L1; there's no real need to have two buttons that perform the exact same function.
gizmo
07/05/08 @ 17:51
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ps3lol

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