SWOS pulled from Live Arcade

By Tom Bramwell Published 19 December, 2007

Codies working to fix bug.

Sensible World of Soccer was released on Xbox Live Arcade earlier - and then taken back down again after it became apparent it was horribly broken.

"It has come to our attention that an incorrect version of Sensible World of Soccer was made available on Xbox Live Arcade...which has since been taken down," Codemasters Online Gaming said this afternoon. "This version incorrectly disconnected users that attempted to connect to Xbox Live."

Oops. "We are currently investigating the issue and will have a correctly functioning version of Sensible World of Soccer available soon."

"Any users that have already downloaded Sensible World of Soccer will need to delete their copy of the game and download it again when the correctly functioning version is available in order to enjoy online play via Xbox Live. Following this process does not incur any additional charges.

"Please look out for the fully functional version of Sensible World of Soccer soon. We thank you for your patience."

So that's the statement. We'll let you know when the game's back up there. In the meantime, you could always play Tempest, which was the other Xbox Live Arcade release. Unless it blows up your 360 or something.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (92) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • DB2k #1 4 years ago

    dunno what the hoo har is about this game. I think a lot of people have very rose tinted spectacles.. and are going to be rather disapointed.

  • imamazed #2 4 years ago

    It was never that great anyway!


    *hides*

  • Psychotext #3 4 years ago

    Playing this now... it F*CK*NG ROCKS.

    ...and I usually wouldn't go near retro games with a bargepole.

  • Zomoniac #4 4 years ago

    Complete bollocks. If it was finished and working and they 'accidentally' put the wrong version up then swapping it for the right one would take a matter of seconds. It'll be days if not weeks before this is back up, because it doesn't work, no version works.

  • bengray66 #5 4 years ago

    It was the difference between the cool people (who played and loved it) and the not cool people in the 90's.

  • McBradders #6 4 years ago

    Ack, no!

  • Uncle_Fishboy #7 4 years ago

    Load of old tit wank if you ask me

  • bad09 #8 4 years ago

    @ DB2k,

    it may not look all shiny and next gen but gameplay is core to games (strangely) and SWOS has loads, it was a great game! Personally though, I always liked Kick Off 2 more, bring that to live!!!

  • miiiguel #9 4 years ago

    I really don't like retro, kitsche, and any old memorabila "pretend to be cool old stuff" (e.g.: playstation brand), but SWOS is so much fun, it should be taxed or something.

  • L42yB #10 4 years ago

    @Zomoniac - Could be plausible. All the games get certified before release (even arcade games) and I think the cert team would have spotted an issue that stopped everyone from connecting to Xbox Live...

  • sanctusmortis #11 4 years ago

    FIFA 95 please, EA- back to isometric glory that's actually fun!

    Why is it EA were only good on cartridge?

  • GamerAddict #12 4 years ago

    I agree with the comments about why it was there and it was "allegedly" the wrong version. From what I can gather, it was taken down around 10:30-11ish this morning, around 4-5 hours ago........so where's the "correct" version that will have passed certification anyway???

  • TiredRiver #13 4 years ago

    This is a joke.
    Some have it and some don't.
    Broken ? How can a certified game be broken ? How stupid do you have to be not to notice something so fundamental. It baffles me and now I am Sensi-Less over Christmas. Lets face it - had the problem been simple it would have been already fixed. This is utter bollocks.

  • T-Bag #14 4 years ago

    I grabbed it before it was removed and can confirm it is bloody brilliant. It's most definitely the Amiga 96/97 code and plays exactly the same. But with updated graphics it looks great too. I'd have bought this as a full price game. Been playing it almost non stop for the last 5 hours.

    edited to say - best game of 2007
    Edited by 1 at 19/12/07 @ 15:37

  • mikew1985 #15 4 years ago

    whyyyyy?? I can't believe it took them this long to actually get a *broken* version of the game out the door.

    Damn! i'm just sad cause now i can't even get the single-player game. Stupid work taking up all my time :(

  • TiredRiver #16 4 years ago

    Trust Codemasters to f**k it up.
    They haven't coded a decent game since Micro Machines.
    Codemasters indeed. More like Codeidiots.

  • Banksy #17 4 years ago

    Are the players/teams updated to reflect the modern game? Or is Tomas Brolin still going to cost £5.5m (or was that Martin Dahlin)?
    Edited by 1 at 19/12/07 @ 15:45

  • T-Bag #18 4 years ago

    It's the 96/97 database/teams. But presumably due to licensing issues the vowels have been changed on player names. You can work out who most of them are supposed to be. Backhom for example, Figo becomes Fugi etc.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #19 4 years ago

    Bollocks! Forgot to download it this morning. Christ knows when it's gonna be available now. I'd have been content playing the broken version for the time being.

    I'm also suspicious of the "wrong version" claim, but hopefully there's a kernel of truth in it and the "real" version will be along soon.

  • Darren #20 4 years ago

    Sensible Soccer... more like Crazy Ping-Pong! LOL

    Sorry, I dearly loved the game on the Amiga back in 1991 or whenever it came out, it was terrific fun but then football games didn't come any better back then. Now it's horribly dated IMO. Some games are best left remembered and I feel this is one of them sadly.

  • Lebowski #21 4 years ago

    on the Xbox front page:

    "They think the waiting is over. It is now!"

    Salt. Wound. Rub. Done.

  • Banksy #22 4 years ago

    T-Bag: Thanks. That sounds awful.

  • L42yB #23 4 years ago

    @GamerAddict - It's still plausible that the wrong version was put on Xbox Live. Do you really think it is a simple process to get the wrong game down and the right version back up?

    I expect to see the correct code very soon, but not before tomorrow... the code may need to be signed and then pass thru all the other red tape before it goes out. Security is very important to M$ and they are not going to change processes just because someone messed up.

    If the code needs to be changed then the new code will have to be re-certified and then pushed thru all the red tape, so if that is what is happening the game won't be back on Live for at least a week.

    If we see it on Live in the next few days (like tomorrow or the next day) then they are telling the truth and the wrong code was propped.

  • Gurgeh #24 4 years ago

    Maybe it was the in-game advertising that broke?

  • [maven] #25 4 years ago

    bwahaha!

  • twostrike #26 4 years ago

    hahahhaha, this game was put back for months to get the "online right" and when its released it disconnects u from live hahhahahahahahahah, also wheres my money for the borked manhatten map on worms?!

  • IP #27 4 years ago

    All the Sensi hate baffles me. The game still PLAYS brilliantly, even if it doesn't look great.

  • BadBoyBonner #28 4 years ago

    What an absolute fking shambles!!

    I bet it took less time to code the bloody original.

    How difficult can it actually be? Not very is the answer.

  • Zomoniac #29 4 years ago

    Do you really think it is a simple process to get the wrong game down and the right version back up?

    So what's the difference between XBLM and any other big, secure FTP? Removing a 50MB file and replacing it with another one and refreshing? Should be a 30 second job. If it isn't then they have a weird system.

  • spadge #30 4 years ago

    Twostrike - we were under the impression that the points were refunded by Microsoft, only a very small number of people were affected (although it was unfortunate).

  • TiredRiver #31 4 years ago

    Can anyone phone Microsoft and annoy them ?

  • twostrike #32 4 years ago

    hi spadge, to my knowledge i wasnt refunded, didnt notice the points back in my account or no e-mail to confirm.
    all i always hear is it "was only a small number of customers affected" which annoys me cos it shouldnt matter if its 1 or 1000 people affected, i payed for something that dosnt work!!!

  • L42yB #33 4 years ago

    @Zomoniac - You clearly have *no* idea. You cannot possibly compare Xbox Live to some "big, secure FTP" site. All the buerocracy and red tape means that completed, signed, certified game code still has about a days wait before it can go onto xbox live. So even if the "correct" code was ready to put up, we wouldn't see it until tomorrow.

    /is very glad that my NDA expired

  • L42yB #34 4 years ago

    @twostrike - "Any users that have already downloaded Sensible World of Soccer will need to delete their copy of the game and download it again when the correctly functioning version is available in order to enjoy online play via Xbox Live. Following this process does not incur any additional charges"

    Reading is fun, isn't it? ;)

  • snuffsaid #35 4 years ago

    TiredRiver said:
    "Trust Codemasters to f**k it up.
    They haven't coded a decent game since Micro Machines.
    Codemasters indeed. More like Codeidiots."


    It seems to me that it's probably M$ at fault here and not Codies if you read the full press release ( [link url=http://community.codemasters.com/forum /showpost.php?p=3455910&postcount=66 )
    ]http://co mmunity.codemasters.com/forum/s...[/link]
    that makes me think that Codemasters sent them a perfectly working copy and somewhere along the line M$ b0rked it.
    Edited by 2 at 19/12/07 @ 16:36

  • L42yB #36 4 years ago

    @snuffsaid - Tis as I expected... we will probably see it back tomorrow or the next day.

  • Draqule #37 4 years ago

    @Snuffsaid + idiots

    From the sounds of it, your probably right (..not you, idiots). Highly likely this is a problem at MS's end. I would think the sensible (muha) money would be on this going back up shortly.

  • BadBoyBonner #38 4 years ago

    Well after learning from several developers on here about the flaming hoops MS make them jump through for certification - it is quite obvious that the version released would not have passed.

    In addition - is there no test of Live Arcade software prior to release?

    Conclusion - MS at fault.

    **With Codies still getting a massive flaming for pi**ing about and taking an absolute age with the release.

  • GamerAddict #39 4 years ago

    @L42yB - well yeah, i do expect them to get it down and the correct version online pretty damn quick! Since I work in a hosting company, I appreciate it can be a quick process of removing the wrong file and putting the correct one in place ;)

  • BigE0n #40 4 years ago

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

  • SeesThroughAll #41 4 years ago

    What's the bug fuss about it?

    It's actually good that faulty downloadable software can more easily be taken back, fixed and replaced than through retailers...

  • TiredRiver #42 4 years ago

    "Hey Guys,

    MS and Codies are still looking at the problem, and are working on a solution. I'm still not able to confirm the exact nature of the problem or the solution. However this is top priority for everyone at both companies, and we certainly want to have people playing as soon as possible.

    Thanks,
    Mr.Ktat"

    Hardly the wrong version ! A bug indeed. Code-dopes.

  • GordonJ@work #43 4 years ago

    "This version incorrectly disconnected users that attempted to connect to Xbox Live."

    Interesting choice of words, does this mean there's a version which correctly disconnects you from XBL?

  • L42yB #44 4 years ago

    @GamerAddict - Not suggesting you don't know about hosting and such, it's Microsoft's red-tape that I was suggesting you weren't considering...

  • bloke #45 4 years ago

    L42yb is absolutely correct. It's not just a case of swapping one file for another. There's going to be lots of procedures and process to go through.

    Frankly, it's a developer's nightmare and I feel really sorry for Codies on this one.

    If it was a screw-up (as is most likely the case) and somehow an old pre-cert bugged version was put up on the site, there's no way on God's Earth that anyone is going to sanction that a new 'correct' version is put up before lots of people have verified that the new file really, really is the 100% correct version.

    That's going to take a day or so I'd have thought.

    Wouldn't wish this on anyone, especially something as delayed and anticipated as SWOS.

    :-(

  • bloke #46 4 years ago

    Of course, if it wasn't some sort of clerical error with version control, someone in test is going to spend a very long time in the arse-kicking room.

  • TiredRiver #47 4 years ago

    MS would have the certified version already. So there should be no problem if that was the case.
    These people are lying bastards.

  • Drpwnage #48 4 years ago

    BooHoo!

    It should still play brilliantly, Sensi was always about simplicity.

    I cba with today's footy games that you have you wrestling with controllers and waiting while players perform their animations.

    Ping, Ping, Shoot, aftertouch sweeeeeeerve.. GOAL! that's what it's about :>

  • daz_john_smith #49 4 years ago

    This may be a stupid question, but why if it's such a quick fix couldn't they have left the broken version up. Allowing people to download it and at least enjoy single player and then when the fixed code is available bring up the usual update available msg and make them update to the fixed code.

  • CLOSEALDO #50 4 years ago

    Got the trial version thats broke and can confirm its very good......has met my expectations completely...puts PES 08 to shame! ;)

    if live is good and not laggy then this will be the no1 arcade game for me.

    can't wait till i can download the full version.......you lot get all heated up over this....its only a game!

  • L42yB #51 4 years ago

    @daz_john_smith - People who aren't aware of what is going on will get annoyed and complain if they pay to download a broken game. So they took it down to make sure no-one else got the broken code...

  • PatrickEwing #52 4 years ago

    @ Drpwnage, never a truer word spoken, the argument of FIFA vs PRO EVO is borked, they a both over complicated and boring, SWOS is so perfect purely down to two buttons and directional pad. I don't mind waiting till it's fixed.

  • L42yB #53 4 years ago

    @pyrat6 - You shud really go back and read what bloke *actually* said...

  • Collie #54 4 years ago

    It's a pity they weren't so bothered with the Sensible Soccer game they released last year. Wasn't that unfinished too....

  • twostrike #55 4 years ago

    @l42yb hi u stupid cunt, reading is fun, u should try it. my second post was referring to the worms manhatten map statement i made in my first post that spadge replyed to. i hate pricks like you. x

  • pyrat6 #56 4 years ago

    @L42yB

    He *actually* said.

    "someone in test is going to spend a very long time in the arse-kicking room"

    It simply is not possible for anyone in test to be responsible for versioning. Using MS own tools it's not possible to sign off the wrong version of code.

    You were saying ??

    (or rather it *should* not be possible. Unless you work for a fucked up company that likes getting things wrong)
    Edited by 2 at 19/12/07 @ 17:14

  • symbiote #57 4 years ago

    Shame that £40 a year isn't going on tighter quality control

  • L42yB #58 4 years ago

    @pyrat6 - Well, actually he said (and you even quoted it):

    "Of course, if it wasn't some sort of clerical error with version control, someone in test is going to spend a very long time in the arse-kicking room."

    The key word in the sentence is *wasn't*.

    @twostrike - Sorry dude, I figured you were talking about the article (SWOS). Can't blame me too much for assuming you were on topic...

  • pyrat6 #59 4 years ago

    @L42yB
    WHAT A CUNT !!!! :-D

    (me I meant - not you ! !)

    Sorry both ... (that's two apologies in as many minutes ... one more and the servers overheat)

    Edited by 1 at 19/12/07 @ 17:25

  • spadge #60 4 years ago

    Twostrike, we'll look into that again then, we have no control on that score (i.e. refunding etc, that's all MS's system). I'd heard they had just refunded it, but I'll double check (this is likely to be in the new year now, since most have finished for the holiday).

  • twostrike #61 4 years ago

    thanks spadge, ill hold you to that! ; ) finished for the holidays already aye. alright for some.

  • Bursk #62 4 years ago

    Is this better than Sensible Soccer 2006 (which I believe got a 9 from Eurogamer)?
    Edited by 1 at 19/12/07 @ 17:29

  • GiantHaystax #63 4 years ago

    lol @ swos 2006 9/10.
    Edited by 1 at 19/12/07 @ 17:31

  • GiantHaystax #64 4 years ago

    on a related note i've just had some spam from microsoft as below. doubt anyone in the arcade testing department will be entering!

    "
    Enter the DesignIT 2008 competition and use your brain to address a number of technical challenges set by a variety of UK charities.
    "
    Edited by 1 at 19/12/07 @ 17:34

  • optimusprym8 #65 4 years ago

    hmm I'll carry on looking for an alien toilet to park some bricks in meanwhile

  • chiz #66 4 years ago

    When's the P.C. version out?

    Next Julaugust?
    Edited by 1 at 19/12/07 @ 17:42

  • mooseman721 #67 4 years ago

    What a bag of shite, how can you release "the wrong version". Utter bollocks.

  • City Sickness #68 4 years ago

    SWOLOL

  • byron_hinson #69 4 years ago

    Considering the cock up was by Microsoft it wasn't Codemasters fault

  • TiredRiver #70 4 years ago

    Nothing Up Yet.
    What gives !?
    The biggest XBLA release TO DATE and the F it up !

    I am baffled and frustrated. I have'nt played Sensi since I sold the Mega Drive for a PS back in 95.
    I relish the propect of playing it online with crisp resolution and I am being fucked around by MS or Codefuckups.

  • Muzakjunkie #71 4 years ago

    If you dont like Sensi Soccer you dont like games, simple as that. And if you disagree, well you can do one. ;)

  • iggypopbarker #72 4 years ago

    if the broken SS06 got 9/10 for being a faster-paced mod of Club Football, a faithful xbox version of 96/97 would surely be about 30/10. did we ever get an answer as to why none of it's 1-player game-breaking bugs were mentioned in that review, or why critical comments were systematically deleted (including the ones PROVING it was running on a heavily modified Club Football engine?)

  • smelly #73 4 years ago

    @TiredRiver: I'm guessing they'll have to submit the correct version through microsoft again. Which could take some time.


    @iggypopbarker: You sound a bit bitter and twisted mate - maybe take a chill pill?

    Ignoring the bug issue...

    Whats wrong with a game using a heavily modified version of another games engine?
    For example Deus Ex 3 is going to use the new tomb raiders engine. Plenty of games use the Unreal engine, etc etc. What's wrong with not re-inventing the wheel?


    Edited by 1 at 19/12/07 @ 23:46

  • George-Roper #74 4 years ago

    @symbiote

    "Shame that £40 a year isn't going on tighter quality control"

    I'd say it's a bigger shame that the amazing, free, Sony online service has sweet fuck all available, full stop.

    A) 40 quid and the very occasional Live game pull/fix/rerelease, with new games being released at a very regular rate

    or

    B) Free and the very, very occasional PS1 game pull/fix/rerelease. I say 'very, very' because PSN would actually have to have, y'know, regular releases in order for Sony to fuck up every now and again

  • OnlyMe #75 4 years ago

    If it wasn't for the bugs, it would be a rather good game. I think it's quite fun. Not 9/10 material though, obviously. I'd give it a 5 or 6 out of 10.

  • Kafeen #76 4 years ago

    I just went to download it. I wondered where it was.

  • Kieran #77 4 years ago

    I was lucky enough to get the download of swos before it was withdrawn. It plays like a dream, the only issue is, it logs you out of Live as the game boots up.

    I've put a quick video of some ingame footage online, I've shown some menu shots, close ups of various dugouts and players, and the hotdog seller and the train that goes by:

    [link url=http://uk.y outube.com/watch?v=VaWk755ixK0
    ]http://uk.y outube.com/watch?v=VaWk755ixK0
    [/link]

    Let's hope the real game comes out today

  • jebus #78 4 years ago

    @TiredRiver "Trust Codemasters to f**k it up.
    They haven't coded a decent game since Micro Machines.
    Codemasters indeed. More like Codeidiots."

    Well technically it's Kuju - they did the coding. But yeah it sounds like a bullshit excuse for Codies missing something as regards bugs. Can't say I'm suprised really.

  • sleepless #79 4 years ago

    jebus

    They haven't coded a decent game since Micro Machines.
    Codemasters indeed. More like Codeidiots."

    Well technically it's Kuju - they did the coding. But yeah it sounds like a bullshit excuse for Codies missing something as regards bugs. Can't say I'm suprised really

    No, it was not Codies fault. Blame shitty MS cert process. The last I heard from Major Nelson, fixed up game should be back on XBL today around noon - Pacific Time.

  • Kimura #80 4 years ago

    Hey, guys, I have to ask you a strange question.

    A friend of mine does not have any internet connection but would like to play the demo of Sensi. Could someone grab it from its HDD and share it somewhere so I could burn it on a CDR for him (I already made so with some demos: it works perfectly)?

    It would be nice cause I don't own the cable that allows to plug a X360 HDD to a computer and my friend only owns a 64 Mb memory card (so the game can't fit).

    That was the weird question of the day! ^_^

    Edited by 1 at 20/12/07 @ 10:16

  • DrDamn #81 4 years ago

    @George Roper
    "I'd say it's a bigger shame that the amazing, free, Sony online service has sweet fuck all available, full stop."

    The 360 Live service for playing games is absolutely far superior and well worth the price. A claim that the PSN has sweet FA shows ignorance of what is actually available though. In terms of downloadable games the PS3 has a comparable variety of *original* content. Stuff like LodoRoco Cocoreccho, Pixel Junk Racers, Warhawk, Super Stardust, Go Puzzle, Pain. The content also tends to be better priced.

  • DrDamn #82 4 years ago

    @Kimura

    Unlikely this is possible, I think downloads get tied to the machine/gamertag in some way. More likely option is that the Official XBox mag will eventually have it on the cover disc. At this rate maybe before it is back and available to download :D

  • bengray66 #83 4 years ago

    * * Important Info on whats going on * *
    (shamelessly stolen from the Codemasters Forums)


    "From what I can make out (from various blogs and emails), M$ had 2 versions and uploaded the wrong one and then lost the master of the certified correct game. Now having to re do the certifaction process. I'm pretty sure that M$ will be calling engineers and developers in to get this sorted as they have ploughed a lot of money into advertising it in the US."

  • bengray66 #84 4 years ago

    quite funny for everyone..... except the people who want to play it :-(

  • Entity #85 4 years ago

    Haha it's even made it onto the bbc website
    Karma for screwing Dizzy >:D

  • smelly #86 4 years ago

    @Kieran : you sound like a codemasters employee ;-)

  • tinners #87 4 years ago

    about as funny as sticking pins in your eyes sockets!! NO.....funnier than that even..... lol x infinity maybe???

    taken these guys all year to finally release it and its broken before it begins....so funny... *massive sarcasm*

    Edited by 1 at 20/12/07 @ 17:51

  • KennySim #88 4 years ago

    Why does the screen ripple when you score?

    For anyone who got hold of the broken version, is there an option to turn that off?
    Edited by 1 at 21/12/07 @ 15:31

  • TitusCrow #89 4 years ago

    damn XBLA they wont let us live! i bought points specially for this >

  • TiredRiver #90 4 years ago

    Now UP.
    And Fixed.

  • SteveB #91 4 years ago

    Yeah back up now. Just downloaded the demo and a great conversion, but seems a lot harder than I remember. Lost about 7 in a row and not scored once !

  • the-fell #92 4 years ago

    I love it, so authentic and without a doubt when taking the price into consideration it's one of my top 3 games on the 360 including full price!