Treyarch Explains COD Patch Procedure

[John Funk]

Treyarch Explains COD Patch Procedure

How does a bug get fixed in a game like Call of Duty, and why does it take so long?

It's no fun to see a bug in a competitive multiplayer game, particularly when it feels like a bug that gives other players an unfair advantage over you. It's probably less fun to be a developer having to fix a bug - especially when millions of people play your game and are screaming at you to fix it five minutes ago.

Perhaps in an attempt to explain to players why bug fixes take time, Treyarch community manager Josh Olin has delivered a lengthy explanation on the topic [http://www.callofduty.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=346952&sid=frl49oobrec76m4pbf8glejg56] on the official Black Ops message board. It's a very interesting look into the development process at a studio producing one of the most popular games in the world - and a good explanation as to why developers like Treyarch can't just immediately fix the bugs you see when playing the game.

From start to finish, the process has four major phases: Gathering information/reproducing the bug, testing the patch internally, getting approval from platform manufacturers and, finally, releasing the patch. The entire thing can take four or five weeks - and considering that Black Ops hasn't been on shelves for even a month yet, that might explain why we haven't seen a patch for any of the game's bugs yet.

So the next time you get killed because of a bug in the game, take a deep breath and remember Mr. Olin's words. These things take time, you know.

(Eurogamer [http://www.callofduty.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=346952&sid=frl49oobrec76m4pbf8glejg56])

Permalink

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

I've never understaood people that get pissed because someone can't cook up a patch in five seconds. They don't understand that not only arte they patching it, but they don't want their patch to talk negatively to another piece of coding...

Shit take time!

 

[Mr. Omega]

It's not gonna stop the bitching, but unlike the last CoD, at least Treyarch is doing something about it. I say take as long as it takes, at least something will get done.

 

[uppitycracker]

I've never understaood people that get pissed because someone can't cook up a patch in five seconds. They don't understand that not only arte they patching it, but they don't want their patch to talk negatively to another piece of coding...

Shit take time!

lol, take a look at the black ops forums on steam. nothing but a bunch of know it all self entitled assholes. sure, i can understand wanting a game to be bug free when it comes out. but when that doesn't happen, they expect immediate results... i'd rather have a patch that fixes things rather that one that fixes a few and breaks 10 more.

 

[runedeadthA]

I've never understaood people that get pissed because someone can't cook up a patch in five seconds. They don't understand that not only arte they patching it, but they don't want their patch to talk negatively to another piece of coding...

Shit take time!

lol, take a look at the black ops forums on steam. nothing but a bunch of know it all self entitled assholes. sure, i can understand wanting a game to be bug free when it comes out. but when that doesn't happen, they expect immediate results... i'd rather have a patch that fixes things rather that one that fixes a few and breaks 10 more.

I think the steam user being vocal on the forums are used to Valve updating their games Quickly and continuously, anything that falls short of that is *Heinous!*.

Of course 4-5 weeks does seem overly slow, is that only on consoles? PC has received a Few bug fixes (mainly for the lag and CPU issues). I'm guessing a large amount of that time is Microsoft and Sony pissing around and Treyarch trying to get the patch through the jungle of bureaucracy.

 

[AlternatePFG]

I've had the game since it came out (for PC) and I still can hardly play it. I got that one glitch that doesn't even let you switch your class items at all.

I understand these things take awhile, but these things should have been ironed out before release. I'm hoping they patch it soon.

 

[SnowyGamester]

Well the Wii version got a patch already...nice to know treyarch has their priorities straight

(not sarcasm)

 

[Timbydude]

I've had the game since it came out (for PC) and I still can hardly play it. I got that one glitch that doesn't even let you switch your class items at all.

I understand these things take awhile, but these things should have been ironed out before release. I'm hoping they patch it soon.

This.

I understand that it takes a while to patch the game, but the PC version was released in an awful state, and despite multiple patches, the issues are still there. They just shouldn't have released it like that, though I'm sure the rush was caused by Activision, not Treyarch.

 

[Adzma]

I remember a time when Publishers weren't all lifeless drones frothing at the mouth about maximising their profit margin and releasing games before they could be properly bug tested, meaning bugs were rare.

I also remember a time before Cash in of Duty, but that's another story.

 

[Irridium]

*insert comment about beta able to help find bugs/issues before release here*

More on topic though, I always find it fascinating that people assume that things can be fixed instantly. If you fix a bug, there's a chance it could negatively effect something else, which could do the same to something else if fixed. Its just insane amounts of work and requires time. Be patient dammit.

Of course I can see why they would want a bug-free purchase. Games are expensive. Its natural to assume they would be bug-free. Sadly this isn't the case. However its a joy when you play a game doesn't need a week after release. Reach is the only one that comes to mind though. Almost 3 months since it came out and it hasn't had a patch yet.

[sub][sub]I really hope I didn't just accidentally start another Halo/Call of Duty flame war by pointing out Reach doesn't have or need a patch so soon after release[/sub][/sub].

 

[uppitycracker]

I've never understaood people that get pissed because someone can't cook up a patch in five seconds. They don't understand that not only arte they patching it, but they don't want their patch to talk negatively to another piece of coding...

Shit take time!

lol, take a look at the black ops forums on steam. nothing but a bunch of know it all self entitled assholes. sure, i can understand wanting a game to be bug free when it comes out. but when that doesn't happen, they expect immediate results... i'd rather have a patch that fixes things rather that one that fixes a few and breaks 10 more.

I think the steam user being vocal on the forums are used to Valve updating their games Quickly and continuously, anything that falls short of that is *Heinous!*.

Of course 4-5 weeks does seem overly slow, is that only on consoles? PC has received a Few bug fixes (mainly for the lag and CPU issues). I'm guessing a large amount of that time is Microsoft and Sony pissing around and Treyarch trying to get the patch through the jungle of bureaucracy.

yeah i'd say you're about half right. so many of hte people crying are on almost new forum accounts, though. a lot of it is probably the console crowd with their first e-machine, hearing how PC gaming is so much better, and having never played a CoD outside of MW2 just don't understand why treyarch isn't making their game playable.

also, the cycle is for both console and PC. they mentioned that while one process does not exist (certification) on PC, the variable OS and hardware factor causes the process to last about the same amount of time.

realistically, it's really not that long considering the tedious nature of a lot of it. gathering information and reproducing it in various forms has got to the the most time consuming, but then making sure it doesn't break anything else has certainly got to take some time.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

What kind of glitches are we talking about? Are they only on PC? I've been playing pretty regularly on my 360 and I haven't seen any bugs. Maybe I'm just lucky?

 

[koroem]

It shouldn't have been broken in the first place. Q&A and bug fixing has taken a back seat to cash cow publishers forcing games out the door asap. Activision actively and knowingly screwed Tryarch on this by enforcing the release date whether it was ready or not, but they don't care. The money is being made, now Activision can just sit back and let Treyarch take all the fallout for the shit that follows.

 

[Snotnarok]

I'm still waiting for them to fix the dual core problem. Ya list dual core processors on your product and it gets kicked out the door practically unplayable. I get that making a game is a difficult process but WaW and MW2 sure seemed to run great on my PC.

 

[Delusibeta]

Compare and contrast with Super Meat Boy's PC release. It's the day after the release, and there's already a big patch for it. Not bad considering the development team is two people, only one of whom is doing to coding. Not to mention Arcen Games' "one update per week is a slow week" mentitality to (admittedly beta) updates. Again, we're talking a team of three here.

 

[SovietSecrets]

What kind of glitches are we talking about? Are they only on PC? I've been playing pretty regularly on my 360 and I haven't seen any bugs. Maybe I'm just lucky?

For the most part it is PC. Consoles got patched everything quicker, though it is a lot easier for you guys since it is only one system and thats that.

 

[Worgen]

well first they have to have a money fight, then they have to point and laugh at people who suffer from the bug, then they throw darts at the wall to determine they will fix said bug or leave it for later or never, then they sacrifice a puppy

 

[binvjoh]

Props to them for informing their community like this.

 

[ryai458]

Well I wonder when they are going to figure out the west coast connection issues because we are being boned because of it.