From Software is Having Trouble Porting Dark Souls

[The Wooster]

From Software is Having Trouble Porting Dark Souls

The PC release of Dark Souls is coming with all its bugs and performance issues intact.

While the petition to get From Software's excellent die-em-up, Dark Souls on to the PC kind of implied that PC gamers were willing to play the game warts-and-all, some hoped that the port would fix some of the title's glaring performance issues. Well, that won't be happening. Mostly because From Software doesn't have a clue what they're doing.

"To be completely honest, we're having a tough time doing it due to our lack of experience and knowledge in terms of porting to PC", From Software's, Daisuke Uchiyama, told Eurogamer. "First we thought it would be a breeze, but it's turned out not to be the case. We're still developing right now - we're crunching right now."

Uchiyama apologized for the performance problems in the first game, namely the ridiculous slowdown present in certain areas, but confirmed that the PC release would suffer from the same problems, despite stronger hardware.

"In terms of the PC version, the quick answer is no, [we won't be fixing the frame rate problems]," he said. "Because we wanted to get the PC version out as soon as possible, it's more strictly a port from the console version. We haven't been able to step up into doing any specific optimization for PC."

"However, in exchange for that, we have prioritized adding new content for both original players and new players."

The new content, which should take experienced players around 10 hours to complete, contains three new areas, four new bosses and a handful of new weapons. While the content comes with the PC edition of the game, it's going to be sold to console users as DLC. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/117559-Prepare-to-Die-with-Dark-Souls-Console-DLC]

The most depressing part of this is that, from what From Software has said thus far, it's testing the waters with this port. While Dark Souls was an amazing game, flawed though it may be, the idea that From Software may be basing its future platform decisions on the sales of a rushed, poorly optimized port, is infuriating.

Source: Eurogamer [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-06-07-from-software-having-a-tough-time-porting-dark-souls-to-pc-frame-rate-issues-remain]



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[Dryk]

Swallow your pride and get help guys

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

That's not a good decision on their part. PC gamers can be VERY picky about performance (I should know, that's how I am) and are not going to be happy with a poorly-ported game that has issues, whatever the game's pedigree.

 

[Supernova1138]

Yup, it's GTA IV all over again. Everyone go out and grab the fastest CPU you can get, OC it by at least 25% and get a GPU with at least 2GB of video RAM, then maybe you'll see acceptable performance.

If they can't do a decent port themselves, either outsource it to someone who can, or don't bother at all. The PC platform has seen enough porting disasters.

 

[chadachada123]

While it does suck, I'll still be getting it because, as FROM admitted, they're new to this stuff.

They're a Japanese developer that has never developed for PC before. I doubt that, should they make a PC version for their next Souls game, there will be nearly as many issues as this time around.

We'll have to see, eh? Besides, if it's anything like Skyrim, mods will fix most of the issues pretty quickly.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I can't say that I see the issue here. Yes, the performance issues are not a good thing but, as the article states, the desire of the ravenous masses was supposed to just be about getting the game on their system of choice. That's what they are getting included extra content that console players did not get originally, and will not get without paying extra.

 

[burningdragoon]

That's disappointing news. I hope the end result is still net positive at least.

How often do games ported to PC end up better in the first place?

 

[Doom972]

It's common practice to let developer studios who specialize in porting to do this sort of work (Demiurge, Nixxes, etc.).
I guess they'll release a poor port, it won't sell well, and everyone will say that PC-gaming is dead or blame it on piracy.
Once I read the sentence - "Because we wanted to get the PC version out as soon as possible", I knew I won't be buying it on launch.

 

[Rad Party God]

Apologizing before the game even comes out? not a good sign, I guess I'll do the smart thing of not buying it in the first place and I don't care what a bunch of japanese pricks say about the PC not being feasable and blaming all to piracy, I'm sick of shitty ports and I definitely won't be buying this, unless they do something about it and optimize the game with post launch patches (HA!).

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

That's disappointing news. I hope the end result is still net positive at least.

How often do games ported to PC end up better in the first place?

yeah this.

not to mention they are being openly honest about it. had this been EA, it would have came out something like this:

"Oh man, this port is going to be completely awesome, new content, perfect, works smooth with amazing performance, looks better than realistic, and has more emotion and engagement than any game ever made!"

OT: I'm 90% sure i'm still going to get it, and hopefully...well, probably, there will be some nifty person out there who patches/has a fix for some performance issues, otherwise i'm sure my rig will be able to handle it. Plus as long as it's only some Frame rate drops here or there, I won't have too much of a problem with it.

(Hell, kotor 2 is one of my favorite games of all time that I've completed more than 20 times with different mods running each time, you bet your silly ass I can get around some "technical problems")

 

[teebeeohh]

while this sucks i can appreciate that they are being up front about it, so people who really hate bad ports can avoid it. i just hope they adapt the controls for K/M because my pad broke a few weeks ago and i can't be bothered to get a new one.

 

[The Mighty Stove]

Eh, I already have the 360 version... I wanted the smooth frame-rates...
Hearing this news, dunno what I should do...
I appreciate From Software because they actually make decent-great games.

 

[Cybylt]

Not sure how much of an issue this is in the end since it just means the PC players will be dealing with the same things anyone else who ever played the game had to deal with, plus unlike the rest of the community you guys have the option of modding to better optimize later on.

The frame issues in Blight Town didn't stop it from being a massive success and the people asking for it had to have been aware of that.

 

[lacktheknack]

Agh! I'm still going to buy it, I did sign the petition saying I would.

Baby steps, baby steps...

 

[Rednog]

They were already going to be insanely hard pressed to meet the august deadline just porting the damn thing over, but then came the outcry about GFWL basically forcing them to redo the net code...yea it wasn't absolutely doomed from the get go.

 

[Carnage95]

As disappointing as the news may be, hopefully the PC gamers are able to fix the issues themselves through unofficial patches or something.

 

[venn2011]

LOL, I guess this was to be expected. I had a feeling something was going to be bad about the PC port.

And I think it's bit immature to blame FROM about this. They admitted this is their first time doing something like this and apologized. Give them a little break.

 

[Weaver]

I really wanted it on PC just to alleviate the slowdown. It was that bad at times.
If I can't get that, I'll probably just stick to my PS3.

 

[shintakie10]

The most depressing part of this is that, from what From Software has said thus far, it's testing the waters with this port. While Dark Souls was an amazing game, flawed though it may be, the idea that From Software may be basing its future platform decisions on the sales of a rushed, poorly optimized port, is infuriating.

I agree so very much with this. Its like we're stuck in between a rock and a hard place. I want them to continue portin their games to the PC because it is my platform of choice for gamin. However in order to do that I have to willingly buy a rushed port that will probably lack every single feature that one would expect in a pc port. Not only that, but it will have all the bugs that the original had and given that it is a pc port from people who haven't done one before, will probably have a whole host of new and excitin bugs to go along with it.

Either I buy this knowin it'll have tons of issues, but hope they fix them in future ports or I dont buy it and risk them never portin again.