NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

[CDowns430]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

How about you just "accidentally" let it and patch 2 slip out on the retail servers....mistakes happen....doesn't have to have your name tied to it...

I couldn't if I wanted to - the servers are controlled by Sony and the option doesn't show up until the patch has been approved. Also, it would definitely have my name tied to it as I'm currently the only person with the ability to submit patches on the team

Can't blame you for trying though

[hud519]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

Thanks a lot for the info, and I along with others appreciate you being here to answer questions. I am looking forward to the patch!

I second that.

[servo75]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

What the hell is taking Sony so long??? How long does it take to certify a patch? Does this mean we have to wait until next Tuesday if it's not up by tonight?

[kestrel]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

The certification process basically is:
1. Our internal guys test it
2. EA central QA (CQC) tests it
3. Microsoft/Sony (3rd Party) tests it
4. MS puts the patch up/Sony tells me I can put the patch up

Step one doesn't take very long usually because our guys are committed to our game. CQC takes a little longer usually because they also have to worry about other EA titles. 3rd Party takes even longer than that, because they have to worry about every single title on the platform.

I won't discuss what the small issue is right now, and trust me, you don't want me to. Ask me again in a couple months... you'll laugh, I promise. I will say it was a PS3 only type of thing, so it wasn't a factor on 360.

The fact that our guys, CQC, and Sony have all looked at the patch already means they won't need to be as extensive with it when it comes back through. We're trying to leverage the fastest possible turnaround with Sony by playing the "360 already has it" card.

The second patch should still be on schedule for both platforms.

Thanks for the reply. Thanks also for taking the time to do this; despite what's going on here, I do appreciate being kept in the loop. Would I like more info? Sure. But I also appreciate what you (and OMT) are giving.

I'm guessing, from your responses (you and OMT), that these kinds of things are placed in some kind of queue, such that when one patch or game is certified, the group (whichever it is) moves on to the next item. Or is there some sort of prioritizing that goes on (I ask this because some have claimed that certain games' patches came out quickly when compared to NCAA's patches, and I realize that there can be other factors involved, such as work volume)? It seems there may be a combination of the two, since you are letting on that the renewed certification process for PS3 patch 1 should not take as long (did it jump to the front of the line because it was mostly certified once before?).

Again, however, I'm curious about the timing of things. Perhaps the queue situation will lend an answer to this. Why did this small issue come to your attention on the expected day of the release of the patch? Was Sony not ready to certify it and told you about it as soon as they found it? Or did they sit on this until they would have otherwise been ready to certify it?

What is EA/Tiburon's relationship with Sony (this goes to the conspiracy theories stating EA hates Sony or Sony hates EA)?

Thanks again for being here to talk (and listen) to the consumers...well, these consumers!

[OMT]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

Thanks for the reply. Thanks also for taking the time to do this; despite what's going on here, I do appreciate being kept in the loop. Would I like more info? Sure. But I also appreciate what you (and OMT) are giving.

I'm guessing, from your responses (you and OMT), that these kinds of things are placed in some kind of queue, such that when one patch or game is certified, the group (whichever it is) moves on to the next item. Or is there some sort of prioritizing that goes on (I ask this because some have claimed that certain games' patches came out quickly when compared to NCAA's patches, and I realize that there can be other factors involved, such as work volume)? It seems there may be a combination of the two, since you are letting on that the renewed certification process for PS3 patch 1 should not take as long (did it jump to the front of the line because it was mostly certified once before?).

Again, however, I'm curious about the timing of things. Perhaps the queue situation will lend an answer to this. Why did this small issue come to your attention on the expected day of the release of the patch? Was Sony not ready to certify it and told you about it as soon as they found it? Or did they sit on this until they would have otherwise been ready to certify it?

What is EA/Tiburon's relationship with Sony (this goes to the conspiracy theories stating EA hates Sony or Sony hates EA)?

Thanks again for being here to talk (and listen) to the consumers...well, these consumers!

We weren't aware of the roster bug until the game was released and Fairdale and CDJ reported the crash. We reproduced it by reordering 116 depth charts, but since they had only gotten 40 teams in we guessed there was another way to get to the bug.

We found it in the EA Locker, but Fairdale and CDJ didn't think they used the locker. So we fixed that bug and went looking for bug #3. We had no luck so we gave them each a call.

After talking to them for a while, they both remembered at some point going into the locker before crashing. This would explain why they crashed earlier than when we got. It took about a week to get the patch out the door and then 3 weeks to get it approved, so that is why you are seeing it now.

Games that have patches on release day means that the dev team found bugs they wanted to fix so they were able to get the patch done and approved before the street date which is generally about 2 months after you final the game.

[OMT]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

What is EA/Tiburon's relationship with Sony (this goes to the conspiracy theories stating EA hates Sony or Sony hates EA)?

I don't know really. We don't do anything on the dev team out of spite towards a console manufacturer though.

[doctorhay53]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

I don't know really. We don't do anything on the dev team out of spite towards a console manufacturer though.

gamers do though

I just needed to find a way to put that 'smiley' in there. I think its the best ever.

plus, gamers really do..

[kestrel]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

We weren't aware of the roster bug until the game was released and Fairdale and CDJ reported the crash. We reproduced it by reordering 116 depth charts, but since they had only gotten 40 teams in we guessed there was another way to get to the bug.

We found it in the EA Locker, but Fairdale and CDJ didn't think they used the locker. So we fixed that bug and went looking for bug #3. We had no luck so we gave them each a call.

After talking to them for a while, they both remembered at some point going into the locker before crashing. This would explain why they crashed earlier than when we got. It took about a week to get the patch out the door and then 3 weeks to get it approved, so that is why you are seeing it now.

Games that have patches on release day means that the dev team found bugs they wanted to fix so they were able to get the patch done and approved before the street date which is generally about 2 months after you final the game.

I think you misunderstood me. I wasn't questioning the timing on correcting bugs, but on Sony finding the issue in the patch.

I understand reproducing problems can be difficult to near impossible. Anyone who has had a nagging car problem that a mechanic couldn't repair should understand that.

I'm not sure if you or anyone on your "side" would know this, but did Sony sit on that "small issue" until the expected release day of the patch (Tuesday), or did they find it Tuesday? In other words, did they let CDowns430 know right away?

It almost sounds like I'm trying to find a way to blame Sony for this...I don't know, maybe I am.

[kestrel]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

I don't know really. We don't do anything on the dev team out of spite towards a console manufacturer though.

Heh, I should have pointed out that this wasn't meant as a jab at either EA/Tiburon or Sony, but at the conspiracy theorists.

[warhorseballa06]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

We weren't aware of the roster bug until the game was released and Fairdale and CDJ reported the crash. We reproduced it by reordering 116 depth charts, but since they had only gotten 40 teams in we guessed there was another way to get to the bug.

We found it in the EA Locker, but Fairdale and CDJ didn't think they used the locker. So we fixed that bug and went looking for bug #3. We had no luck so we gave them each a call.

After talking to them for a while, they both remembered at some point going into the locker before crashing. This would explain why they crashed earlier than when we got. It took about a week to get the patch out the door and then 3 weeks to get it approved, so that is why you are seeing it now.

Games that have patches on release day means that the dev team found bugs they wanted to fix so they were able to get the patch done and approved before the street date which is generally about 2 months after you final the game.

i mean shoudn't this happen with every game then..i mean what ncaa football 09 ws not even tested for the bugs and glitches upon release and EA automatically assumed it was a 'perfect'...lol u've got to be kiddin me on this one..i think everyone checks their work to see if it's correct, for sure if u kno u are dealing with merchandise that will reach thousands or millions of people...(last paragraph i'm referring too)

[3rdamention]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

I just appreciate the posts from those on the EA Sports Team. I must say that you have shared some of the most honest insite to the patching process and getting it up to consumers.

I will patiently await for the PS3 patch, and continue to enjoy my UCLA Dynasty.

[Daba_Dabs]

What about a patch for the custom sounds? I have sounds until I score a touchdown or go into the second quarter and then nothing for the whole game. I thought it was just the game so I brought it back and got a different copy. I even deleted my music and restore it- so........WTF????????????????

[dagl]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

What about a patch for the custom sounds? I have sounds until I score a touchdown or go into the second quarter and then nothing for the whole game. I thought it was just the game so I brought it back and got a different copy. I even deleted my music and restore it- so........WTF????????????????

I had this problem too, discovered that there was something about one of my mp3's that the game doesn't like and when it gets to that mp3 it doesn't like it won't play the any other customer sounds. If you want to test it go to the custom sounds menu and try to play the mp3, if it won't play it then that one is your culprit and it won't play any of your known good ones either unless you go out the menu and come back in.

The strange thing w/mine is that I can't find anything funny w/the mp3 that it didn't like.

[Daba_Dabs]

IT'S PROBABLY ITUNES FAULT!!!!

[OMT]

Re: NCAA Football 09 Patch #1 Available

i mean shoudn't this happen with every game then..i mean what ncaa football 09 ws not even tested for the bugs and glitches upon release and EA automatically assumed it was a 'perfect'...lol u've got to be kiddin me on this one..i think everyone checks their work to see if it's correct, for sure if u kno u are dealing with merchandise that will reach thousands or millions of people...(last paragraph i'm referring too)

If we didn't test the game for bugs and glitches it would have never gotten through certification.