EA Stuck in the Sand on Existence of a Second Tiger Patch - RaychelSnr's Blog

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EA Stuck in the Sand on Existence of a Second Tiger Patch Stuck

Posted on July 12, 2013 at 04:10 PM.

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Typically, the era of game patches for console games has worked out for consumers with large issues being fixed in a timely manner and everyone winning with a better product at the end of the day.

However, for customers of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 -- not only have fans of the series been left with a worse game than when they bought it after a patch this past Spring, but they also see no hope in sight of a resolution to their numerous complaints.

It all started after the first patch was released with your clubs resetting to the default clubs after every match in head-to-head and Legends mode. After every match, you have to go back into your clubs and set them again -- a tedious headache for active players of the game.

Other issues such as disappearing putters, match search being broken and live weather still not working right within the game are also at the top of fans hit list with regards to just the online modes -- some fans have said features like Country Clubs are impossible to play with because of the issues which are driving people from the game.

Add into that problems with the game's career mode scoring system and presentational issues which still haven't been ironed out and you have a big mess on your hands.

One has to wonder if EA's lack of a Tiger game next year has anything to do with the lack of support for this year's title, reportedly with most of the assets for Tiger moving to next-gen development.

Fans are frantic on EA's official Tiger forum, demanding answers for the timing of a new patch (if any) to fix the issues which the first patch appeared to have created. One fan who bought the game said he exchanged his PS3 copy three times before getting a version which worked and even then he had to avoid applying the patch because the game would freeze often if he did.

While you can still play tournaments, career and country clubs with little issue -- large portions of the game require major workarounds in order for it to be played as intended. Historically, EA has rarely given much support to Tiger post release in terms of patches, usually releasing one in the late spring to fix launch issues -- but this may be a time the company needs to make an exception.

With the series taking a year off this next year, and with so many issues present with the game either left unfixed by the first patch or created by it -- EA needs to release something to help move Tiger 14 forward in lieu of the series' absence for a year.

Fans of the series have said they have tried calling and e-mailing to inquire about the existence of a second patch, with no answers from EA.

One EA forum user questioned EA in a dramatic fashion in early June on the official Tiger forum, "It is virtualy unplayable. When will there be a patch that makes this a playable game?"

Currently that is the last post in a thread about the first patch, with no direct answer as to the existence of a second patch.

Sean Wilson, on the Tiger forum, came closest to saying there would be a second patch -- but never actually confirmed it:

"That being said, I still do not have official approval from upper management to release a second patch, but nobody has said to me it's not going to happen. In fact, initial inquiries have been favorable. The plan now is to get these fixes completed and tested fully and at that time I will seek official approval. Can I guarantee a second patch, no, because it's not completely in my hands as I've stated previously. But I honestly feel it will happen. "

Why EA upper management, the scapegoat in Wilson's message, would decline to issue a sorely needed second patch while testing is underway to fix issues is a mystery in every sense of the word. It has now been a month from Wilson's message about testing for a second patch which didn't exist, and there has been zero additional news on if a second patch is coming.

For now, Tiger fans have to wait to see if a second patch ever comes and, if so, how effective it might be. For now, we will be waiting with the rest of you for a fix for what amounts to the last sim golf game available for current generation consoles.

I have put in a request for clarification from EA...I will update this post if/when I hear anything.

EDIT: EA has declined to comment on a second patch at this time, stating Sean's post is the latest comment the company has.

Have you trudged through the issues in Tiger 14 or are you done with the title until a patch is released?

Comments

# 1 Richzilla @ Jul 12

LOL...The game is far from unplayable....when people say that kind of stuff they just loose credibility. Yes the game has a few issues however I have put in a ton of hours with the game and have more than gotten my money's worth. The game has a ton of replay value and is one of the best Tiger games we have had in years.

# 2 Real Talk @ Jul 12

At the end of the day the precedent has been set by THQ. They may have went out of business but EA won't. The patch has went the way od the UFC undisputed 3 Patch. It will keep being talked about and demanded but it will never come. We bought it so they already got their return investment. A patch is of no concern to them.

# 3 mike24forever @ Jul 12

Credibility? With who? This game has issues just like any other video game, but unplayable? Absolutely brutal blog, again. This game plays the best game of golf on a console that we've had, even better than my beloved Links! The new sim setting, outside of the camera view is a thing of beauty.