No Dead Rising text patch

Capcom rules it out.

Capcom has ruled out patching Dead Rising on Xbox 360 to increase the size of the on-screen text, despite complaints from people playing the game on standard-definition TVs.

"Dead Rising was optimised for HD and we offered some suggestions for SD TV owners," a spokesperson for the US arm of the company told 1UP.

"[But] due to the amount of text and size of the patch necessary to change the text, a patch isn't possible for this issue."

That's a bit of a shame for those of you without the requisite equipment. Dead Rising uses some pretty titchy fonts for its radio messages and mission details, but it appears as an unreadable blur on most non-HD TVs.

Comments (85) Latest comment 5 years ago

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  • #1 5 years ago

    Yeah, buy an HDTV poor people!
  • Tonka #2 5 years ago

    Well, if you dont have an HDTV and all that.
  • justsomeone #3 5 years ago

    too right Capcom - let them eat cake!
  • Kiigan #4 5 years ago

    Even with an HDTV, the text is still tiny.
  • HairyArse #5 5 years ago

    /wonders if they'll patch Dead Rising and implement a better save mechanic...
  • Stormflood #6 5 years ago

    No Bean Sizing sex thatch?

    /squints
  • space_ace #7 5 years ago

    bastards
    it's why i gave up still life on xbox
  • McBradders #8 5 years ago

    Perhaps Capcom can give me a few hundred quid towards my new TV instead?
  • JesseC #9 5 years ago

    All those people who are playing DR on a small telly but own a larger SD set should hook it up to that. I was playing the game in my bedroom, on a crappy little thing, and I got tired of squinting at the screen. I hooked up the 360 to my 36" set to see if it was any better.

    It was.

    The text is perfectly readable.

    Note to Capcom: How about a patch that shuts Otis the **** up?
  • Steroyd #10 5 years ago

    Oh how nice of them to leave the low HDTV adopting Europe pissed off.

    Do the Japaneese have an agenda against Europe or something!?!
  • morriss #11 5 years ago

  • Keso #12 5 years ago

    "due to the amount of text and size of the patch necessary to change the text, a patch isn't possible for this issue"

    Surely it's just the case of changing an integer, then increasing the size of the text boxes…?

    I’m sure they’re still happy to take the money of unsuspecting standard TV owners, maybe they should indicate on the box that it is not designed for them.

    Oh, and not everyone can rely on Mummy and Daddy to buy them a HDTV... ;)
  • Darkedge #13 5 years ago

    "Even with an HDTV, the text is still tiny."
    are you blind? as you must be - it's perfectly fine. Oh and I bought my HDTV as I'm not supported by parents like most people here it seems. Oh yeah I must be in the 360 demographic - 25-35 year old with disposable income... durr
  • rinoaMW #14 5 years ago

    i found it ok on a standard 32" flat screen.

    Im still gonna get a HDTV soon though...

    EDIT: Oh! but what about a patch to sort out the bloody pathfinding?
    Edited by 1 at 13/09/06 @ 10:16
  • Whizzo #15 5 years ago

    Note to Capcom: How about a patch that shuts Otis the **** up?

    Most annoying thing in a game for a long time, fine have the moron "talk" at you but not being able to fight at the same time makes me wish there was a smash Otis in face with sledgehammer option.
  • #16 5 years ago

    I wish you peasants would stop bitching.

    Get a job, buy a new telly, move on.

    Or sit closer to the screen \o/
  • morriss #17 5 years ago

  • rinoaMW #18 5 years ago

  • groovychainsaw #19 5 years ago

    It worked fine on my old SD 32"... but even better on HD 32"
  • nickthegun #20 5 years ago

    The very minimum is a good (not beko or any round goldfish bowl shit like that) 28" Widescreen running through the RGB socket. My friend and I have the 32" and 28" inch version of the same Panasonic, both connected via RGB. I can just read the text on mine (32";) sat closer than I normally would and he can *just* make out the text sat a few feet away, but sometimes it appears too quick to read as it takes a second to get your eye in. For example, escort missions seem ok, but it took him ages to do the photo challenge as he kept missing instructions.

    So, anyway, like I said, a good 28" widescreen RGB connection is the barest minimum. Otherwise the fault is gamebreaking and you will probably only be able to do the main missions.
  • Mashum #21 5 years ago

    The text is too small even on HD, still decipherable for me on the big telly but still insignificant looking and obviously unreadable for some. The entire mission delivery method is a problem with Otis and his obsessive calls, I don't know if it could be possible for Capcom to patch their way out of that.
  • CountStiltzkin #22 5 years ago

    I hope this does not become an issue with other games released by capcom (or anyone else for that matter). It is very frustrating. The whole point of a console is to standardise the format so all games play the same across the board - why should SD users be punished? For such a superb game made by such a good developer I've been left with a very sour taste.

    Oh and thanks for the advice Mapster...but sitting closer doesn't help a great deal :D
  • smelly #23 5 years ago

    Yes, but it wouldnt be much more than just a font change.

    To be honest, this is fucking shocking if you ask me - and part of the problem of the way that developers make games for the 360 (develop at the high resolution, then the hardware automatically scales down for lower resolutions).

    PC games have been allowing for different resolutions of font for different screen resolutions for years.

    This is inexcusable, i dont care how good the game is. I'm not about to pay a couple of grand for a new tv to justify playing it properly.
  • Stickman #24 5 years ago

    "Oh and I bought my HDTV as I'm not supported by parents like most people here it seems."

    Wow. Can I touch you?
  • morriss #25 5 years ago

    You should let him. Stickman's got magic fingers...
  • IAmBatman #26 5 years ago

    Why does Otis send me text messages on my radio? Or did I switch off the "pay for voice acting you moronic fuckers" option?

    Capcom are the Sony of game design. "It's not broken, it was designed so that the majority of people think it's stupid and fucked."
  • Kiigan #27 5 years ago

    On a 32" LCD at 720p, the text is still too small. It's only conveniently readable if you live in a really tiny flat and ordinarily sit a few feet from the TV screen. Capcom's excuse for the lack of a patch sounds like fucking bullshit to me too.
  • LOLLERS #28 5 years ago

    There is absolutely no reason at all why they couldn't have included a text size option. They're just blindly (lol!) acting as if there's no problem when clearly there is or they wouldn't have needed to put out a statement saying they're not going to do it! The size of the patch is irrelevant, you can download demos of over a gig on Live, a text patch is not going to be very big at all. Sounds more like to me the game is designed in such a way that it can't be patched. Good job Capcom.

    All you people saying there isn't a problem, here's a newsflash for you - Some people may have worse eyesight than you!

    I really like the game and the concept but their ignorant attitude makes me want to return it.
    Edited by 1 at 13/09/06 @ 11:02
  • #29 5 years ago

    I hate poor people, but I hate blind people more.
  • The_Programmer #30 5 years ago

    "If HDTV was a requirement, why ship the console with standard-def AV cables? "

    Well i'm using the component cable that was shipped with my Xbox360.
  • LOLLERS #31 5 years ago

    btw, what were the suggestions they offered for SDTV owners? Was it sit closer, buy glasses, or buy a better TV?
  • Yossarian #32 5 years ago

    I love the size of the text in HD and hope more games follow suit
  • Retroid #33 5 years ago

    Got a monitor at home?

    Buy a VGA cable.

    INSTANT HD
  • spongebob #34 5 years ago

    I don't like this. And Xbox people are talking that Sony is forcing gamers to buy expensive Blu-Ray technology. Looks like MS is making Xbox 360 owners to buy HDTV. How horrible :)
  • LOLLERS #35 5 years ago

    Yeah, great Yossarian, I think what people are actually asking for is an OPTION to change the text size so they can READ IT.
  • smelly #36 5 years ago

    Got a monitor at home?

    Buy a VGA cable.

    INSTANT HD



    Erm, if i wanted to do that - i'd play games on my pc.
  • #37 5 years ago

    If you can't READ it, then you are either BLIND or POOR and I hate you.
  • smelly #38 5 years ago

    >like MS is making Xbox 360 owners to buy HDTV

    Its not MS - it's capcom.. Although I guesss MS could put in restrictions to insist all text is readable at all resolutions on all games.. Whether or not sony insist on this is another matter too.

  • smelly #39 5 years ago

    @ Mapster - its okay, the feelings mutual - i think you're a tit too.
  • #40 5 years ago

  • Hughes. #41 5 years ago

    Don't they know patches are the future?

    I'll get ChromeMud to send them an email to explain how great they are.
  • AtomicBanana #42 5 years ago

    I could read it fine on my 10 year old, SD 32" TV. And this is with the crappy non HD cables that came with the 360. You DO NOT NEED A HD TV and NOONE IS FORCING YOU TO BUY ONE.

    *deep breath*
  • Eighthours #43 5 years ago

    "Dead Rising was optimised for HD and we offered some suggestions for SD TV owners," a spokesperson for the US arm of the company told 1UP.

    Binoculars? Microscope?
  • Steroyd #44 5 years ago

    Its not MS - it's capcom.. Although I guesss MS could put in restrictions to insist all text is readable at all resolutions on all games.. Whether or not sony insist on this is another matter too.

    but it's MS's requirement to make all Xbox 360 games start at 720p and then downscale or upscale to 480p or 1080i that's why some of the Xbox 360's launch titles looked either downright ugly or not much different from the Xbox on Standard TV's.

    Not saying that Sony are any better with these terms or conditions, Sony is encouraging devs to hit 1080p afterall.
    Edited by 1 at 13/09/06 @ 11:25
  • LOLLERS #45 5 years ago

    wow, the ignore button is brilliant, it's like killing people! They just go away!

  • Bezzy #46 5 years ago

    Although it SEEMS a trivial change, I can imagine lots of reasons why it's not.

    Most likely, their Font system was rushed, and cellotaped into place, and now it's really not that adjustable - it's rigged to work at just one size. God knows it's not exactly the most enjoyable bit of coding you can do.

    Or perhaps their font is tiny and bitmap based, so if it grows any bigger, it'll just look pixelly.

    Or maybe the developer behind it is on holiday, or left the company, and now his code will take 3 months to decipher?
  • ilmaestro #47 5 years ago

  • gizmo #48 5 years ago

    I just know you work in software development ;)
  • #49 5 years ago

    LOLLERS wrote: wow, the ignore button is brilliant, it's like killing people! They just go away!

    How could you put smelly on ignore? He's so entertaining!
  • bauhaus #50 5 years ago

    Just stop wanking, your eyesite will recover over time
  • Darren #51 5 years ago

    The font size issue should have been picked up and addressed during the testing stage. Surely Capcom test their games on HD and standard definition TVs? It's small even on my 26" HDTV; I can read it fine but ideally it needs to be a little bigger to make it more comfortable to see. What's so difficult about including a larger font for standard definition TV users and a smaller one for HDTV users?
  • myiagros #52 5 years ago

    Its not MS - it's capcom.. Although I guesss MS could put in restrictions to insist all text is readable at all resolutions on all games.. Whether or not sony insist on this is another matter too.


    although i agree this problem is Capcoms's responisibility, it was also clearly missed by MS quality control. Does this mean that neither MS nor Capcom do, or will, test games for SD as well as HD?
  • LOLLERS #53 5 years ago

    What gets me is lots of people are going around saying games need to be made more accessible, to reach a wider audience. Nintendo have dsigned whole consoles around the concept of being accesible to everyone.

    Meanwhile developers are refusing to make small accomodations while developing their games that effectively rule out a large number of people that already want to play their game.

    Darren - yes, If this was on an Xbox they would likely have had comments at submission about unreadable/difficult to read text and possibly have been forced to change it.
  • El_MUERkO #54 5 years ago

    They'd change their tune pretty quick if people started returning the game saying it was unfit for use.
  • #55 5 years ago

    But it's not unfit for use el_muerko, saying it is would just be pedantic.
  • El_MUERkO #56 5 years ago

    i got it for my little brothers, they play it on a 19" CRT in their room, if they cant read the text then they cant do the missions, that suits my definition of shite and the bloke in GAME you hand it back to wont argue, after they get a few thousand returns they'll get on to Capcom
  • yegon #57 5 years ago

    To the SDtv users - are you still using the cables supplied with the 360? I bought an HDtv about a month after the 360, but in the meantime I replaced the supplied scart cable (which was really just crappy composite filtered through a scart connector iirc) with a proper rgb lead and the picture quality was far superior, the text in PGR3 was much crisper for example.
    Edited by 1 at 13/09/06 @ 12:09
  • #58 5 years ago

    Even if you can't read the phone text you can easily to the missions. Just bring up your watch and set the guide arrow to point to the scoop.
  • rinoaMW #59 5 years ago

    @El_MUERkO

    It's an 18 game though - how little is little? I think that it's intended audience can read the font fine - i can with my standard 32".

    I'd rather a patch to fix some of the pathfinding....
  • rinoaMW #60 5 years ago

    @Dravenclark

    Um - Access your watch, press up and down on the scoops, select the one you want to know about, and watch the bottem of the screen. there will be scrolling info on where to go and what to do.

    All major scoop info (that you get calls about) is here. I never got lost or confused with this feature :)
  • UmBongo #61 5 years ago

    This is a shocking trend and MUST NOT CONTINUE. I get the feeling it helps HD manufacturers and as part of the consumer producer process, of which Microsoft is a Giant Gorilla, on one end of the scale:

    you could have a boardroom "make game for HD and sod the SD, legally they cant sue us and they should buy on" = Hitachi - Panasonic - et al with Microsoft all on the Golf Course happy clapping the extra business their companies make each other.

    "or"

    it was shoddy production process inc developer faults of the small text. LOOK at the boxes surrounding the text. The black transparent area can easily fit a larger text font size into it. I have a small 20" Flatscreen new telly and can just about make the text if im quick (maybe i have good eyesight) but i know sometimes i cant and miss it. Im lucky that the TV is quite new and has good brightness etc... but the single pixel text is either a coprorate decision to boost HD sales OR bad developing.

    Simple as.
  • #62 5 years ago

    rinoaMW is right, no-one is missing out because they can't see the scrolling text.
  • nick_f Verified Senior Producer, Microsoft #63 5 years ago

    People should have read the small print *before* they picked up a copy of Dead Rising.
  • rinoaMW #64 5 years ago

    woops sorry Mapster - i missed that you made the exact same point earlier. My bad :)
  • #65 5 years ago

    Yeah, but you explained it better :)

    Just play the game, it's marvellous, I actually dreamt of zombies last night :/
  • SlackMaster #66 5 years ago

    They can kiss my knob... the text is tiny and you litterally have to sit on top of the TV to read it... at £40-£50 and considering that more people have standard def TV's than HD-TV's it shows poor design/forethought from Capcom.

    So basically you either get a HD-TV of forget about reading the text in the game... they can have my copy back, arrogant tw@ts.
  • #67 5 years ago

    Slackmaster, all the text is fine apart from the scrolling phone text, yes?

    If that's the case then the game is still perfectly playable. Just bring up your watch and you get all the scoop details in bigger text scrolling across the bottom of the screen.
  • Stickman #68 5 years ago

    So is a 360 noticably different with an rgb cable over the supplied one then?
  • kangarootoo #69 5 years ago

    I can't believe people are arguing over whether they can see the text or not. If someone says the text is too small to be easily read, then no-one can tell them they are wrong! They can't read it easily compared to every other game they own, end of story.

    Unless, in some bizarre twist on the "my dad is bigger than your dad" theme, you all want to have a wanking contest over who has the best eyesight.

    I just hope non of you work in an opticians.

    "You don't need glasses. Just move the chair forward a bit you lazy c*nt".
  • #70 5 years ago

    Kangaratoo it's not all text, it's just one tiny portion of text and there is a very easy workaround.

    It's the severity of the moaning, you would think that ALL the text in the game was unreadable.

    Like I say, with the simple workaround it's a non problem.

    Also, one last point!

    When the phone rings and the words are scrolling I can't read the words because I'm too busy dodging zombies! So, even I have to go and check what was being said with on the watch screen.

    It's such a non-issue, it really is.
  • LOLLERS #71 5 years ago

    "So is a 360 noticably different with an rgb cable over the supplied one then?"

    Yeah it is better, thats what I have, but it doesn't change the fact the text is still small. I can pretty much read it fine, but my girlfriend can't. I assume that anybody that has less than perfect eyesight also can't.
  • SlackMaster #72 5 years ago

    That is the smallest text to read... maybe one of the achievements to unlock in the game should be eye strain.

    I've gotten very bored of the game so may take it back and complain about the text size so I can get something else that won't end up damaging my eyes.
  • kangarootoo #73 5 years ago

    @Mapster

    Oh sure, I'm not disagreeing that its a minor point. My specific issue was that when someone says the text is hard to read, others were saying "no it isn't". No one seemed to be embracing the fact that everyone is viewing the game through a different set of eyes on a different TV in a different room. It just seemed ludicrous for anyone to dismiss the comments of others on the subject without any basis whatsoever.

    Anyway, I agree its a minor problem. As mashum said, that bloody phone ringing situation needs a kick up the pants for sure. When I answer the phone I can't do anything. I CAN'T EVEN JUMP! The only way to get back to the ever more popular activity of "not getting eaten by zombies" is to switch weapons.

    AND THEN when Otis returns once more, with his squeaky ringtone of annoyance +2 (seriously, did they spent a month on the train network recording ther most annoying ringtones they could find), he wastes yet more vital seconds of my life by telling me off for cutting him off in the first place.

    A very very enjoyable game, but in the style of GTA and Hitman (most recent HM release not withstanding), some seriously annoying flaws that test your patience from time to time.
  • smelly #74 5 years ago

    Or perhaps their font is tiny and bitmap based, so if it grows any bigger, it'll just look pixelly.

    All game fonts are bitmap based.. So what if it looks pixelated - as long as you can read it!
  • Mr_Whacker #75 5 years ago

    I have the MS SCART cable and the text is totally readable, but small. You just have to move closer to read it, but lets face it, you only have to read each mesage once or twice and most times I don't play the scoops anyway. Its the constant calls from Otis that annoy me most about DR.
  • Kafeen #76 5 years ago

    "[But] due to the amount of text and size of the patch necessary to change the text, a patch isn't possible for this issue."

    Why does the amount of text matter? We want the size changing, not what it says.

    Change the calls to the font renderer, surely they have a scale in there. Change the actual font its self.

    There's no reason why the dialog actually needs to change, the amount of it is totally irrelevant.
  • Xerx3s #77 5 years ago

    "[But] due to the amount of text and size of the patch necessary to change the text, a patch isn't possible for this issue."

    Either thats complete bull and they are just lazy or they have some very, very crappy method of coding.
  • Tomo #78 5 years ago

    I've read a few comments, but I find this news absolutely appalling.

    There are far, far more SDTV users than HD and they can't be bothered to support the majority?! Dead Rising is the game that makes me most want a 360 and this news is very disappointing.
  • jaydeluxe #79 5 years ago

    When they're asking for €74.99 (over £50) (HMV Dublin), you'd think Capcom would at least make it so you can play the damn game properly. Dead Rising looks like great fun but why so expensive! (Don't just tell me you can buy it cheaper online...)
  • jellyhead #80 5 years ago

    I've asked this before but why isn't there a push to standardise games for "The 10 ft experience"?
    Why are developers still coding for people to sit 5ft away?
    Saints Row is another example of text being presented badly to the player, some of the text is light grey in a tiny font. Tis stupid.

    I hope developers start to sort this sort of thing out soon.
  • MrChuckles #81 5 years ago

    I played the demo, couldn't read it on my old (but pretty big screened) telly and though, i might get it when i get a new telly. I mean, by then i can pick it up 2nd hand and Capcom won't get any of my money at all, so result.

    My telly is just fine for the odd reasonable 360 game (there aren't many) and fine for watching tv shows and films. I ain't paying 700+ quid for a tv the same size just to fix some bloody blurry text.

    And yeah, i don't live with my parents, and yeah i earn more than most of you, and yeah i'm a stingy git.
  • bloodflowers #82 5 years ago

    High definition continues to be nearly the worst thing to happen to console games, ever.
  • Mr_Brown #83 5 years ago

    Its annoying but I'd rather have patch to fix the save points. You should be able to save anytime. Also a patch to switch off your mobile on it...it never stops ringing!! >_
  • UmBongo #84 5 years ago

    If you pay £49.99 you have a right to be upset if you have a smaller non HD TV. Full stop to all the clever-clog bigots trying to act clever on here. If i pay more for my game i expect a better service from them. It simply re-inforces my view that the price point is a rip off for gamers with issues like this.

    The worst ones are those gamers who are making it harder for other,less well off gamers. Imagine the lone single parent mother with 2 kids and simply 14" TV or 19" job with one job working all day to get them a 360, then work extra for the £50 and then having to face problems like this?

    She has no say if her kids want it so forget the smart-ass comments. Funnily enough theres a lot of people like her in the world...
    Edited by 1 at 13/09/06 @ 18:11
  • SlackMaster #85 5 years ago

    Seriously, Lol... No lone mother on a budget buys their kids a 360... I'm pretty sure of that, but I do agree that when you're paying premium for a game you expect more... For Capcom to basicially turn around and say they can't be arsed to sort out the text issue they must have noticed from play testing you begin to think this whole premium bollox for 360 games is a rip off.

    I'm seriously considering taking the game back now because if I have a wireless controller I don't want to have to be sat on top of my tv to read the text, I want to be able to sit back at a distance, get comfortable an play... seriously this game give eye strain.

  • morriss #86 5 years ago

  • dk_rare #87 5 years ago

    Buy a HDTV or buy a Wii
  • Fatallyflawed #88 5 years ago

    What a drawn out thread over the size of pointless text which like Mapster says is unreadable on HD because you are too busy dodging zombies. Just bring up the watch and select the target, it is just that simple.
  • Stickman #89 5 years ago

    They give 360's away with benefits now.
  • haowan #90 5 years ago

  • Hangman #91 5 years ago

    None issue - SDTV owners should have bought a proper RGB SCART cable by now anyway. the image clarity and sharpness is so much higher than the standard lead.
    This is what makes me laugh - people spend £300 on a 'super console' and then play it with the worst connection possible on grandma's TV. I work in a shop and the amount of 60HZ only games we have returned is borderline daft, buy a TV that wasn't made before 1995 will ya.....
  • UmBongo #92 5 years ago

    I have a official SCART cable to my flatscreen 20" TV and i can just read it, but it is still shoddy.

    The fact the games are 50quid so you PAY MORE and expect a better service on bad game design bugs (or indeed the corporate back scratching of Msoft/Capcom/HD manufacturers) it still doesnt change it.

    You know the worse thing the bigots on here get to me for? This will be a benchmark on future issues like this. If nothing gets changed mark my words its a green light to the rest of the publishers to get away with whatever they want.

    Sort.it.out.Capcom
  • Skooch #93 5 years ago

    Bad game design. Period.

    Easy workaround. Period.

    Now lets stop all this moaning....
  • SlackMaster #94 5 years ago

  • DAL9000 #95 5 years ago

    I don't even know why you guys are saying to bring up the watch and select the target. It's even better to bring up the MAP and scroll around looking for blue question marks, which indicate survivors.

    You don't really need to know what Otis is saying in any case. Otis is a jerk. He should choke and die.
  • SomaticSense #96 5 years ago

    At least put some kind of a bloody indication on the box for crying out loud. Oh yeah, but then they can't use the "too much text" (read: can't be arsed) excuse and then would no longer be able to mislead people which could possibly lead to fewer sales as (take note Capcom) MOST PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE HDTVS!!!!

    I'm one of the lucky ones to have one, but the writing is still really small and the only reason I can read it is because of the sharper higher definition picture. If I'd spent £40 on this game without a HDTV and couldn't read the text I'd be contacting Trading Standards to see if they could do anything, as Capcom are making no attempt anywhere on the packing to state that you need a certain piece of equipment to fully utilise the product other than a 360.

    I understand that the whole 'next-gen' thing is high def orientated, but I can't think of a single other 360 game that is so blatently made for a £600+ TV. This never happened with any of the other media formats or steps up in games console generations. The whole pull of consoles over PCs is that all games are equally accessible to all regardless of equipment as long as you have the base system. Capcom seems to be making an attempt to piss all over that.

    And the lack of sympathy from Capcom over the whole problem stinks to honest. It amounts to "Yeah so what, we made it for expensive HDTVs. So either change your settings to widescreen and make the game look fucked, or take a loan out and buy a new TV".
  • tullos #97 5 years ago

    if enough people keep putting forum messages onto especially capcom forums about the text size I think capcom might change their mind. I know alot of people who check these forums to see if a game is any good and if there are a lot of moans about the text gamers might not purchase their game. I know hdtv is another fad which is not catching on in europe as fast as the companies want. Lets swamp the capcom forums with text questions and maybe they will take notice of the people who give them profits.