Get your shit together TTG!!! - open letter to TTG -

edited September 2012 in The Walking Dead
As a paying customer I'm starting to get really pissed at you guys of TTG.

Don't get me wrong, I know that bugs are part of games, but what you are delivering here is just beyond my understanding.

- Corrupt savegames
- even after a full replay and re-Install savegames not as they are suppossed to work
- buggy ingame menu's (resolution goes back to 1024x768 after completion of an episode, ie Ep. 2, sound settings not as I set them before)
- entirely bugged game decision overview (see image below)
wtf.jpg

I mean wtf TTG?! Can't you even handle the simple task of creating proper savegame files?!

Protip: get rid of your "Testers" and hire players to do the job. They seem to do more than your playtesting staff, who probably just klick through the game like zombies and don't bother to deviate from that and thus don't figure out the bugs that most players encounter (probably mostly because real players at some point regret a decision they make, hit Escape on their keyboard and abort to main menu to load from the last checkpoint to do it again - but hey, guess what - that's not even possible because the menu then says ALL EPISODES are "COMING SOON", so they have to shut your #&§%&# game down and restart it to be able to do so..)

In other words: GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER TTG!! Or disappear from the gaming industry once and for all. Jeez...

ps: hey, don't get me wrong, I like your game but this sh!tty programming has to go. pardon my french but naturally I'm pissed to have to play though this sh!t over and over again... am I right or what?! [looking at other players]

EDIT: just found another bug. see images below.

wtf2.jpg

wtf3.jpg
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Comments

  • edited September 2012
    Your image doesn't load for me. Was that on purpose? *cough*
  • edited September 2012
    it's a stat screen with the default 50% and bugged choice text with 'decision1 etc'

    maybe if the op was tech savvy his computer wouldn't be a p.o.s

    i reckon it's all down to fragmentation and old drivers and probably needs replacement parts..
  • edited September 2012
    Your image doesn't load for me. Was that on purpose? *cough*

    The error must be on your end. Works fine for me, both preview picture and the link.
  • edited September 2012
    I'm sorry to hear you're experiencing a lot of these problems. There are plenty of potential fixes on the site you can try. I'll admit, none of them worked for me, but you'll never know until you try.

    However, your demeanor is a little uncalled for. Yes, it's true these are issues that need to be fixed. Yelling or insulting won't win you any favors. I know your pain. I've ran through the gave two full times only to lose my progress each time. Just take it in stride. I've simply deleted the game in the hopes that the next release will fix some of these issues. When the final episode is out and these issues still remain, then I may not be so understanding. But for now, just sit back and wait. It's all we can do.
  • edited September 2012
    The self-censoring always amuses me.
  • edited September 2012
    Constructive criticism goes a lot further....
  • edited September 2012
    Cyreen wrote: »
    The self-censuring always amuses me.

    Not to sound like a grammar-nazi but it's "censoring", from censorship.

    And I do it because I don't want to give any admin the excuse to delete my post while at the same time I can express my pain with this game...
  • edited September 2012
    NoHobo! wrote: »
    Not to sound like a grammar-nazi but it's "censoring", from censorship.

    And I do it because I don't want to give any admin the excuse to delete my post while at the same time I can express my pain with this game...

    "Telltale get your act together" didn't sound good then?
  • edited September 2012
    Your image doesn't load for me. Was that on purpose? *cough*
    NoHobo! wrote: »
    The error must be on your end. Works fine for me, both preview picture and the link.
    And there we go, don't we?
  • edited September 2012
    NoHobo! wrote: »
    Not to sound like a grammar-nazi but it's "censoring", from censorship.

    And I do it because I don't want to give any admin the excuse to delete my post while at the same time I can express my pain with this game...

    Actually you're right, that is what I meant. Roll around in it and enjoy it, it doesn't happen very often.

    Self-Censuring would have been correct only if you were prepared to admit some of the error was yours, censure meaning judgment or condemnation.
  • edited September 2012
    NoHobo! wrote: »
    Not to sound like a grammar-nazi but it's "censoring", from censorship.

    And I do it because I don't want to give any admin the excuse to delete my post while at the same time I can express my pain with this game...

    You can swear, just don't direct it towards anybody and use it in a demeaning manor.

    Also.

    Bugs are a normal part of games. You also have to realize that Telltale doesn't have a huge QA department like Bethesda, TreyArch, Ubisoft and the such so not all the bugs are caught..so a lot of the times some bugs still get through and another thing to factor is they have to try and launch these games quickly and in an episodic format.
  • edited September 2012
    And there we go, don't we?

    I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a chuckle out of this. :p
  • edited September 2012
    "I'm angry! you can't reach a reasonable release date! I Hate Telltale!"
    or...
    "I'm angry! your game has bugs! I'm entitled to no bugs! I Hate Telltale!"

    either way Telltale loses.

    I for one welcome our new overlords. Telltale has made a great product, and while knowing it takes time to make something good, in the end there may still be a few small bugs under certain circumstances. I think this game is awesome, haters gonna hate.
  • edited September 2012
    Motordead wrote: »
    "I'm angry! you can't reach a reasonable release date! I Hate Telltale!"
    or...
    "I'm angry! your game has bugs! I'm entitled to no bugs! I Hate Telltale!"

    Wait, you forgot the "I'm angry! You killed my favorite character! I Hate Telltale!"
  • edited September 2012
    Cyreen wrote: »
    Wait, you forgot the "I'm angry! You killed my favorite character! I Hate Telltale!"

    Lol forgot that one :P
  • edited September 2012
    IMO, the corrupt savegame issue is much more severe than just a QA group that isn't testing thoroughly. The ones who developed the save module have a severe weakness in their code.

    Almost every game with a save feature prompts you with a warning message at the start of the game that if you see some icon or symbol, then the game is writing save data. At this point, it instructs you to never turn off or reset your console if you see that icon or you may corrupt save data.

    Beyond that time, there should be no action taken by game code to corrupt save game data. In contemporary games, gamers trust that their progress won't be wiped by unexpected bad code. I know some people will say that game developers don't owe gamers anything, but I feel Telltale is violating an implied trust.

    And things are made worse by holier than thou forum members who seem to push the idea of "shit happens deal with it and quit whining."

    I think this is deplorable for TTG to refuse patches on key game flaws. Any other game developer with these bugs would be hung out to dry. Imagine if your Diablo III data, Borderlands 2 (soon to be released), or Mass Effect save states would be corrupt just because "shit happens."

    It is unacceptable for Telltale to use their small studio size to skirt around making a game that can save user data... especially a title that relies so heavily on save states and decisions. If they can't code their save state feature properly, then they shouldn't be in the business of making games since gamers trust that TTG delivered a quality game.

    Plain and simple, their game saving module has bad code in it. Their code should create shadow copies in the event a primary save is rendered useless due to whatever bad programming is causing corrupt saves. This has been an issue since Episode 1 - and the success of their game should have afforded them the resources to assign someone the task of fixing this serious issue.
  • edited September 2012
    holeydonut wrote: »
    And things are made worse by holier than thou forum members who seem to push the idea of "shit happens deal with it and quit whining."

    I'm very definitely holier than thou, so I'll take this.

    First, your post falls under the category of "constructive criticism", minus the part I quoted. You are very entitled to voice your opinion. The part that's a bit annoying to the forum members you are so quick to criticize is that there is an actual "Open Discussion" thread or an "Episode 3 Review" thread (whichever is more applicable) both stuck to the top of the forum, to which these can be posted, because that's generally where they get moved to anyway.
  • edited September 2012
    NoHobo! wrote: »
    As a paying customer I'm starting to get really pissed at you guys of TTG.

    Don't get me wrong, I know that bugs are part of games, but what you are delivering here is just beyond my understanding.

    - Corrupt savegames
    - even after a full replay and re-Install savegames not as they are suppossed to work
    - buggy ingame menu's (resolution goes back to 1024x768 after completion of an episode, ie Ep. 2, sound settings not as I set them before)
    - entirely bugged game decision overview (see image below)
    wtf.jpg

    I mean wtf TTG?! Can't you even handle the simple task of creating proper savegame files?!

    Protip: get rid of your "Testers" and hire players to do the job. They seem to do more than your playtesting staff, who probably just klick through the game like zombies and don't bother to deviate from that and thus don't figure out the bugs that most players encounter (probably mostly because real players at some point regret a decision they make, hit Escape on their keyboard and abort to main menu to load from the last checkpoint to do it again - but hey, guess what - that's not even possible because the menu then says ALL EPISODES are "COMING SOON", so they have to shut your #&§%&# game down and restart it to be able to do so..)

    In other words: GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER TTG!! Or disappear from the gaming industry once and for all. Jeez...

    ps: hey, don't get me wrong, I like your game but this sh!tty programming has to go. pardon my french but naturally I'm pissed to have to play though this sh!t over and over again... am I right or what?! [looking at other players]

    EDIT: just found another bug. see images below.

    wtf2.jpg

    wtf3.jpg

    Had a similar problem on Uncharted 3 with my PS vita, this invisible lady had a conversation with me while holding a medallion (she had already exited the building in the back of a truck) I thought it was hilarious, and it didn't bother me in the least. I didn't have any such problem with TWD (I've never had any problem with TWD actually) even if you did, it's not that big of a deal.
  • edited September 2012
    Had the InvisiDuck glitch, fall thru train glitch, and standing Chuck thru guitar glitch XD
  • shammackshammack Former Telltale Staff
    edited September 2012
    Cyreen wrote: »
    I'm very definitely holier than thou

    What do you mean by that? (Just curious if you're actually a nun or something.)
  • edited September 2012
    Cyreen wrote: »
    I'm very definitely holier than thou, so I'll take this.

    First, your post falls under the category of "constructive criticism", minus the part I quoted. You are very entitled to voice your opinion. The part that's a bit annoying to the forum members you are to quick to criticize is that there is an actual "Open Discussion" thread or an "Episode 3 Review" thread (whichever is more applicable) both stuck to the top of the forum, to which these can be posted, because that's generally where they get moved to anyway.



    There are also several threads in their support forum and the same issue has been discussed in the episode 1 and episode 2 stickies. I don't think there is an absence of opportunity for people to have posted issues with their save states.

    As is the case in every one of these threads, the users who have no problems mock the users who do have issues. These smug users imply that problem gamers should stop complaining of this issue because it's only a game.

    This is exasperated where the only official feedback from TTG has been a statement where they cannot seem to replicate the problem, and the issue affects too small a grouping to warrant resources for a fix.

    Mass Effect 2 did have a significant problem with corrupt save states (on PC and console). But BioWare issued a patch that remedied most of the issues. I won't link to a rival publisher's board, but the thread in the BioWare Social Network reached 16 pages. And luckily for those users, there wasn't a strong message from fellow forum members asserting players with problems should just restart the game and quit complaining.

    Recently, the game FEZ had issues with corrupt save states (Xbox Live Arcade title), the developer claimed to have a fix, but blamed Microsoft for charging too much for patches since game developers are only given 1 free update to arcade titles before a pretty hefty fee is levied. Again, on the FEZ board there weren't many users pushing the "stop complaining" message onto players facing issues with their save states.
  • edited September 2012
    holeydonut wrote: »
    As is the case in every one of these threads, the users who have no problems mock the users who do have issues. These smug users imply that problem gamers should stop complaining of this issue because it's only a game.

    This is exasperated where the only official feedback from TTG has been a statement where they cannot seem to replicate the problem, and the issue affects too small a grouping to warrant resources for a fix.

    In the majority of instances that I have seen on this board, the original poster is generally inappropriately abusive to both Telltale and the forum members. Further, opening a separate thread to rant about a problem, rather than posting in the appropriate place is pretty much an invitation to be criticized.

    Considering the multitude of computer configurations (i.e. security software, drivers, video cards, etc.) that can effect how a game runs, if Telltale is unable to replicate the problem, how can they be expected to patch it? There are a lot users out there without the computer savvy to adequately judge whether their computer is capable of running a game. These same users are often quick to blame the game rather than their own ineptitude.
    shammack wrote: »
    What do you mean by that? (Just curious if you're actually a nun or something.)

    Okay, that gave me the giggles!

    No, I was being facetious, meaning that I could be self-righteous with the best of 'em! :D
  • edited September 2012
    Viner16 wrote: »
    Had the InvisiDuck glitch, fall thru train glitch, and standing Chuck thru guitar glitch XD

    Maybe it's a hardware/ driver issue.
  • shammackshammack Former Telltale Staff
    edited September 2012
    Cyreen wrote: »
    Okay, that gave me the giggles!

    No, I was being facetious, meaning that I could be self-righteous with the best of 'em! :D

    Ah, I see. I should probably stop taking things so literally.
  • edited September 2012
    and there we go, don't we?

    lol!
  • edited September 2012
    I had none of these bugs and never had any problems with savegames whatsoever.
  • edited September 2012
    While I've enjoyed TTG's take on TWD, I've had my share of bugs.
    Some of which I'm amazed have slipped through the QA department.

    It does seem that the QA team have had more pressing matters than to assure the quality of the game. I must say I agree on getting rid of the current one and hiring gamers to do the testing.
    Feels like us gamers already do the testing, only, we paid to do it.

    I must also say, I'm extremely glad they changed the monthly release to a "periodic" schedule. I can't imagine the state the game would be in, if they'd stuck with monthly releases. At least now it's somewhat finishable.
  • edited September 2012
    And there we go, don't we?

    I think you win.

    /thread.

    :D
  • edited September 2012
    Several more issues that i've noticed:

    - The scene where lee is walking back from the place where the blowtorch is in episode 3, he has 2 pistols at one point for a few seconds. In the next scene it's back to normal and he only has 1.

    -When you can talk to christa and clementine, their mouths won't stop moving even when they're not speaking.


    -The entire "in the next episode" trailer for episode 4 was bugged on the PC, the only thing that successfuly loaded for most of the clips in this trailer was lee's character model, and then after half of the clip was done the rest of the scene loaded even though the scene would be almost over.

    -The mouse cursor is still bugged in all of the menus, where the mouse cursor appears on your screen isn't actually where the mouse is being detected, the game thinks your cursor is up to the right quite a bit further away than what it actually is.

    -Minor clipping issues with stuff such as a door clipping through lee in one scene

    -The game is pretty bugged on the PS3 too, apart from the corrupted save files, a friend of mine had to reload the game 3 times because he would not be able to select anything and the game would freeze.
  • edited September 2012
    I got the invisible Duck glitch as well, but overall I seem to have avoided all the bugs you encountered. Sorry, dude, but maybe try to be less caustic in your criticism if you want to be taken seriously.

    Edit: Actually, no, I had some issues with my controller not being detected properly for the first time in the series. Is a Logitech Rumblepad 2. Nothing a quick game restart didn't fix, however.
  • edited September 2012
    Cyreen wrote: »
    In the majority of instances that I have seen on this board, the original poster is generally inappropriately abusive to both Telltale and the forum members. Further, opening a separate thread to rant about a problem, rather than posting in the appropriate place is pretty much an invitation to be criticized



    These same people are often posting in the "trail of tears" and support forums for weeks trying to get help with no response from TTG? It seems evident TTG's support folks are not replying to the forum posts nor emails sent directly to the support department.


    One support guy (username Mike) used to respond - but his comments were usually along the lines of "the issue affects a small portion of our users, sorry." But even Mike has since stopped offering help.

    The angry / rude posts that manifest in this regular forum represent TTG's inability to take care of their customers.

    How would you feel if you dropped money (I don't care how much) with the sincere understanding that you would receive a good product. When the vendor's product doesn't work. Nobody even bothers to reply to your support inquiry. And then you have people with working product telling you to suck it up and deal with it. Seems rather frustrating eh?

    My game works ok - but I still find it alarming how many users are having games not work or save states wiped out. I hope TTG steps up. I've had the little glitches that involve Lee getting stuck, textures/objects not loading, controller issues, etc. I'll attribute these to TTG being "small", but they have no excuse to have a product that is unplayable to many gamers because their save states are getting wiped out. Restarting your game doesn't help those unfortunate players.

    By the way, if you want to read some "ruder" (is that a word?) user complaints go hit the EA and Ubisoft support boards. In particular the recent Ghost Recon is a huge debacle on the PC and Ubisoft has basically told users with problems to go eff themselves. Big publishers do the same thing as TTG. I guess deep down I was hoping that TTG cared a bit more.
  • edited September 2012
    shit-tyrone-get-it-together.jpg
    is it bad that this is all I could think of trough all of this?
  • edited September 2012
    YADA YADA YADA... always the same with you folks.

    Honestly, I don't mind the invisible Duckie bug or the overview at the end with no data.

    but corrupt savegames is where the fun stops. they had months to fix it. there's no excuses like "but they have a small dev team!". that's nonsense.


    And to you Margus:
    DreadMagus wrote: »
    I think you win.

    /thread.

    :D

    lol what? this isn't your thread, so back off.
    I wrote this because of issues we're almost all having. if you don't have an issue with the game, good for you sweetie! nobody asked for your opinion. /your face :D
  • edited September 2012
    1) I won't back off.

    2) I'll give it to you anyway.

    3) <3
  • edited September 2012
    Cyreen wrote: »
    ...self-righteous with the best of 'em! :D

    This line is about me!

    Seriously, I leave for a day and you guys have a party without me? God, I hope this thread isn't done. This sounds like a great thread.
  • edited September 2012
    Raaaaaaaage!!!!
  • edited September 2012
    holeydonut wrote: »
    These same people are often posting in the "trail of tears" and support forums for weeks trying to get help with no response from TTG? It seems evident TTG's support folks are not replying to the forum posts nor emails sent directly to the support department.


    One support guy (username Mike) used to respond - but his comments were usually along the lines of "the issue affects a small portion of our users, sorry." But even Mike has since stopped offering help.

    The angry / rude posts that manifest in this regular forum represent TTG's inability to take care of their customers.

    How would you feel if you dropped money (I don't care how much) with the sincere understanding that you would receive a good product. When the vendor's product doesn't work. Nobody even bothers to reply to your support inquiry. And then you have people with working product telling you to suck it up and deal with it. Seems rather frustrating eh?

    My game works ok - but I still find it alarming how many users are having games not work or save states wiped out. I hope TTG steps up. I've had the little glitches that involve Lee getting stuck, textures/objects not loading, controller issues, etc. I'll attribute these to TTG being "small", but they have no excuse to have a product that is unplayable to many gamers because their save states are getting wiped out. Restarting your game doesn't help those unfortunate players.

    By the way, if you want to read some "ruder" (is that a word?) user complaints go hit the EA and Ubisoft support boards. In particular the recent Ghost Recon is a huge debacle on the PC and Ubisoft has basically told users with problems to go eff themselves. Big publishers do the same thing as TTG. I guess deep down I was hoping that TTG cared a bit more.

    The folks pretty much expect you not to complain or find fault with the game.

    That's the vibe I pick up. Some complain a little bit much, but even basic grumblings are met with some pretty outrageous rebuttals.
  • edited September 2012
    DreadMagus wrote: »
    1) I won't back off.

    2) I'll give it to you anyway.

    3) <3

    *snip*
  • edited September 2012
    holeydonut wrote: »

    As is the case in every one of these threads, the users who have no problems mock the users who do have issues. These smug users imply that problem gamers should stop complaining of this issue because it's only a game.

    Well, you have here an issue that some experience and others dont. Valid.
    But when someone comes up in here with this crybaby title of a thread and the 1st post is filled with such disgust, like he has never seen a glitch ever in his life or that this glitch is so immensely unacceptable for his $5 what else comes to mind other than:
    1- update your goddamn drivers; or is TTG responsible for that as well?
    2- check the support forums? Unheard of, I know.
    3- unclench; it's $5

    But really, its hard to rally support when you come off as some spoiled 14yr old; demanding to be heard over your $5 purchase.
    "In other words: GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER TTG!! Or disappear from the gaming industry once and for all. Jeez..."
    haha, what adult talks like this and expects another adult to take them even remotely seriously
    disappear from the gaming industry once and for all? haha go watch some Dragon Ball Z or something to cool you down
  • edited September 2012
    NoHobo! wrote: »
    The error must be on your end. Works fine for me, both preview picture and the link.

    The irony of this comment is unmeasured.
This discussion has been closed.