Gamers Unite!

[Gerry Helmet]

I'm pissed off with the recent glut of games released which contain major software bugs, this year has been especially terrible so please read below and add anything you feel would be relevant and if your as pissed off as me then join this facebook group I just set up.

Facebook Link

I'm not saying this is the answer, but I think its a decent stab at starting something to make companies listen to consumers. I would be happy with the government saying if a game/software is released and within 2/3 months of release a major bug is discovered consumers have the right to return for a full refund up to 12 months after purchase. Or something to that effect. It might be you can do that already........

They make millions and release sub standard products, its got to change

This year's software release in the build up to Christmas has been busy
again. Another tradition which has continued this year has been the
release of titles which contain major software bugs. As with any product
consumers should be confident when purchasing it has been thoroughly
tested. Initially I'm suggesting that software developers & their
publishers have to sign & agree to a software development policy which
would essentially act as a license to release software in the UK.

This policy should explicably state what standards should be adhered to
when producing software and where it is found that developers/producers
have broken these standards trading standards or another suitable
government body should be granted the power to issue fines and/or
customer compensation These Standards should include but not be limited
too

* A proportionate number of hours test vs. time to develop
* Where the software has an online element an estimate of
forecasted user uptake and evidence should be available on request of
appropriate stress testing
* Where bugs are missed in testing and subsequently released and
indentified by consumers companies should immediately issue an estimate
of the fix to be released. A penalty structure should be in place to
ensure that developers met these estimates within an agreed tolerance
* Companies should ensure that all users whether connected to the
Internet or not are able to access the updates which correct significant
software issues
* Companies should ensure that they have appropriate
infrastructure to keep consumers updated on progress
* Where companies utilise a website, such websites should display
a predefined number of their latest releases with an indicator on
whether there is a software problem associated

This list is not definitive and should be reviewed on a regular basis.
Implementing these regulations would ensure that consumers in the UK
have confidence when they purchase any kind of software or devices which
rely on firmware to function as designed. It would also protect
companies from consumers returning products en-mass where problems have
been identified post release as consumers would know that all companies
have to adhere to the same regulations.

edit * edited out the contact MP on reflection it was a silly idea

[Dirty Sanchez]

I think you're bang on. The economy is in a mess, the benefit system is out of control and our games should be a priority for my MP.

Sorry, but I think you are barking. Plus Facebook is for fannies.

[merf]

I think you're bang on. The economy is in a mess, the benefit system is out of control and our games should be a priority for my MP.

Sorry, but I think you are barking. Plus Facebook is for fannies.

I'm really glad you said that as I was thinking exactly the same, including the FB bit to.

Grow up, boo hoo, my games have bugs, write to the companies, moan on fora fine but don't waste the time of MPs who in between fiddling their expenses have a bit of work to actually do that is probably higher priority.

[Gerry Helmet]

Its a gaming forum, and its been something which will get worse and worse.

The amount of complaining people do on game website's about bugs/glitches is incredible, and fortunately this is not as complicated as any of the problems above. Yes the benefits are borked and the economy is a bit fecked, but this is still something which needs sorted even if it is low on the list of priorities just now.

I would have done a No 10 petition but there currently shut down.....

[Gerry Helmet]

Just to clarify, its not just games general consumer software and electronic equipment which is released with fundamental firmware problems.

And facebook is a bit naff, but I'm limited as to how to gather support

[Dirty Sanchez]

With the widespread integration of downloadable firmware/software updates the manu's have already got a viable route to support the customer.

I can't see the issue tbh, software is increasingly complex at a steady price point. It stands to reason that faults will creep through.

[Rep]

Just to clarify, its not just games general consumer software and electronic equipment which is released with fundamental firmware problems.

It's clear from your post just how ignorant of the topic you are, without even the basic fundamental understanding of the software development life-cycle, I'm speaking for general consumer software on that one.

[Gerry Helmet]

Its about 70% of the UK with access to the internet which is okay but hardly fair to those who can't access the update. Obviously with any product there can be faults, its unavoidable, however where faults are significant and should have been picked up before being released there should be some punitive measures in place.

[Gerry Helmet]

It's clear from your post just how ignorant of the topic you are, without even the basic fundamental understanding of the software development life-cycle, I'm speaking for general consumer software on that one.

Please feel free to enlighten those who are clearly not blessed with your knowledge

[Rep]

The very notion that developers release "buggy and broken software" is delusional. Obscene amounts of money are spent in support after software has been implemented, more than development costs. You can test something over and over again, but it will still break under certain conditions. It's simply unavoidable. Most of the suggestions you make are already in place, like rolling out updates, and update notes. In this generation we're actually better equipped to deal with bugs than ever before, so it has in fact gotten better.

Just out of interest could you list some of these recent bugs?

[Gerry Helmet]

On what games or consumer software?

I get that under certain conditions things will break, and I agree the majority of small bugs are unavoidable and undetectable. I'm more targeting companies which don't fix problems or don't keep customers updated.

Tbh I would be happy if government just clarified that consumers can claim a refund if bugs aren't resolved within a reasonable amount of time

[PeteJ]

Buggy games have been bugging me recently, almost made a thread this morning about it but going about it a different way. Are we just too forgiving?

The very notion that developers release "buggy and broken software" is delusional. Obscene amounts of money are spent in support after software has been implemented, more than development costs. You can test something over and over again, but it will still break under certain conditions. It's simply unavoidable. Most of the suggestions you make are already in place, like rolling out updates, and update notes. In this generation we're actually better equipped to deal with bugs than ever before, so it has in fact gotten better.

Just out of interest could you list some of these recent bugs?

There are a few games released in the past few months that are broken, and not in ways that are difficult to reproduce either. I won't list the all the faults here, but look up F1 2010 and you'll see all the examples you need.

There are two problems at the moment that I see:
I accept that bugs exist and can slip through - some a extremely obscure and won't be noticed by 99.9% of the players (and this has always been the case) - however big-named, big-budget titles are now being shipped with massive game-breaking bugs with the thinking that they'll be fixed later on. Why do we accept this?

Secondly, why did none of the major (and most minor) review sites and magazines fail to pickup what a mess Codemasters had released with F1 2010? These critics all failed in their duty to report the quality of the game, and nobody seems to have picked them up on it since.


I would have felt within my rights to return F1 for being broken, though I'm not sure if the retailer would have complied. As it happens I just shelved it as I await the almighty patch, and at once become part of the problem!

[Rep]

My posts were more in reference to the comments made on general consumer software. As a developer I spend the majority of time fixing code and eradicating bugs, and I'm sure other developers would also take the initial comments as "shoving any old bug ridden **** out there". Coding is the easy bit.

Bugs in games don't really "bug" me, they're usually so small that they end up being enjoyable to spot. The only game in recent years that I personally found broken is Final Fantasy XIV, the player-base received an extra month for free from the developers in response to feedback.

Interesting point about reviewers not picking up and one I agree with, a certain amount of responsibility should lie there. Since I'm not a games developer I can't really comment, are development times getting shorter? As games become more and more complex, effecting the final product.

[nakamura]

To be fair to the OP, two of the biggest games this year have been completely broken by bugs or something else. F1 has the pit bug which I fail to see how that got through and Fifa 11 has no functioning online modes. The 11v11 on the back of the box simply will not work.

[merf]

To be fair to the OP, two of the biggest games this year have been completely broken by bugs or something else. F1 has the pit bug which I fail to see how that got through and Fifa 11 has no functioning online modes. The 11v11 on the back of the box simply will not work.

I agree F1 is quite broken and the worst of the bunch as the single player is stupid in its released state.

I'd argue to say FIFA 11 has no functioning online modes is drivel though, I've played a large number of games 1v1 against my son online without a hitch, its perfect, quite the opposite of not functioning.