THQ Asks for Patience With Metro 2033 Achievement Woes

[Andy Chalk]

THQ Asks for Patience With Metro 2033 Achievement Woes

THQ is asking for patience as it continues to struggle with the Ranger Pack DLC for Metro 2033 [http://www.amazon.com/Metro-2033-Xbox-360/dp/B002V16T0Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1282751859&sr=1-1], which prevents Achievements from being awarded after it's installed.

Problems with the Ranger Pack first came to light the day it was released, August 3, when gamers complained of issues with Achievements after the expansion had been installed. After a couple days of digging, Microsoft [http://www.thq.com] rather than with Metro 2033 itself. More than three weeks later, however, a resolution remains elusive.

"We understand some people are still experiencing issues with Achievements unlocking in the Metro 2033 Ranger Pack DLC," the company said in a new statement sent to Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/thq-asks-for-patience-as-it-tries-to-solve-metro-2033-dlc-achi/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Fjoystiq+%28Joystiq%29]. "We are currently working with Microsoft to ascertain whether this is due to a code-related issue with the DLC itself, or an error in the Marketplace process whereby the DLC was added to Xbox LIVE Marketplace before the new Achievement data was added - this exact issue has happened to other games in the past, but we need to be sure that this is what's happening here."

"We realize this is frustrating for those of you who have been waiting to enjoy the Ranger Pack DLC, and we ask for your patience as we try to pinpoint the exact issue and solution."

THQ also tried to deflect some of the swirling unhappiness by dragging Microsoft under the bus with it in a recent Twitter post. "The update was fully tested by our QA, and passed Microsoft's own certification... So we were surprised to see there was an issue," it wrote.

I have no idea how long fixing something like this would normally take, but three weeks and counting seems a bit excessive. On the other hand, as a fan of Slavic shooters I find it vaguely comforting to know that even one as refined and well-received as Metro 2033 still has the ability to bring sudden, inexplicable weirdness to the North American videogame market. So thanks for that, guys. Don't ever change.


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[the_pleasure_is_mine]

They only found out in the last few days that it was affecting everyone.

I got this email from them.

Hello James,

I'll copy-paste the message if you don't mind as I have received three
messages from different people on the same subject.
I have just read through the Xbox360achievements forums and quite shocked
that this achievement problem is experienced by everyone. Previously we were
aware of the problem that just few people cannot see the new achievements
and presumably there is a workaround (the one with gamertag reload that
doesn't seem to work). I was not following the status of fixing this
problem, and cannot really find out now, as it is an Independence day
holiday here in Ukraine. I'll try to find out what's going on and possibly
speed up the process, when I'm back at the office tomorrow. But THQ might
not be happy if I tell you something they don't want to tell.

Best regards,
Dmitry

I trust 4A games. They made a great game and they seem quite devastated the DLC is so badly glitched.

I can be patient, I have other games to play in the meanwhile.

 

[Worgen]

at least they seem willing to acknowledge the problem and keep people in the loop about it

 

[snowman6251]

So the problem is just that people can't get achievements?

Are they really that important? I mean they should fix it sure but if people aren't playing this because of achievements (assuming they want to in the first place) that seems kind of silly.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

So the problem is just that people can't get achievements?

Are they really that important? I mean they should fix it sure but if people aren't playing this because of achievements (assuming they want to in the first place) that seems kind of silly.

Most of the complaints have originated from the Metro forums and X360A.org

If you didn't know x360a is a boosting community... I haven't played Metro because firstly I am an achievement whore and I like my achievements to unlock. Secondly because my friend has Metro and I need to get it back.

It is silly but achievements are important to some people and they want it fixed.

 

[Sebenko]

Are they really that important? I mean they should fix it sure but if people aren't playing this because of achievements (assuming they want to in the first place) that seems kind of silly.

They shouldn't be. Metro 2033 is not the sort of game that should have achievements.

 

[Jared]

They still not fixed that yet? ...Hope they do soon as I want to get that DLC

 

[Alon Shechter]

They're angry at themselves for not giving us perfection.
I like this company.

 

[Andy Chalk]

It saddens me that I haven't picked up Metro yet. I really, really meant to get it last week but then I ran into Crysis Warhead, which I also really, really needed to pick up, and it was cheaper. So.

Le sigh.

 

[squid5580]

Gee I recall another game that had the same problem. Just a little game called Dragon Age: Origins. And what did they do? Oh yeah

Step 1 remove DLC from marketplace
Step 2 tell people to clear their caches
Step 3 fix and release

But the DLC in question is still there begging to be bought. Ridiculous.

 

[Sebenko]

Are they really that important? I mean they should fix it sure but if people aren't playing this because of achievements (assuming they want to in the first place) that seems kind of silly.

They shouldn't be. Metro 2033 is not the sort of game that should have achievements.

"The sort of game that should have achievements"? Well what sort of game should have achievements?

Metro is a great game anyway, I will get the DLC regardless.

Some other game. Halo. or something.

But Metro 2033 is a story driven game that shouldn't have something so "gamey" getting in the way.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Some other game. Halo. or something.

But Metro 2033 is a story driven game that shouldn't have something so "gamey" getting in the way.

I'm an achievement whore and I have every retail achievement on Metro 2033... I also have no idea what you are talking about.

Metro 2033 was an amazing game and I've played it 4 times. I'm not sure how achievements detriment its story in any way.

 

[Legion]

Did anyone else read the title as "THQ Asks for Patience With Metro 2033 Achievement Whores"?

To be honest this is a bit harsh, while I personally dislike how achievements tend to steer people away from having fun with games, if you are going to release them with DLC you better bloody make sure they work first.

Although to be honest, they shouldn't be allowed to release achievements for DLC or online anyway. The former because DLC should always feel completely optional, not something we feel we have to by to "complete" the game. The latter because not everyone wants online, or has the ability to play it and it means those that are both cannot "complete" the game.

Metro 2033 was an amazing game and I've played it 4 times. I'm not sure how achievements detriment its story in any way.

It depends; if you are engrossed in a game it can be pretty immersion breaking to have a little beep come up with an achievement when you shoot someone in the head or whatever.

I wouldn't say any specific game should not have achievements, but they should be optional in my opinion. On your profile it should be available to have achievements off. Of course they won't though, for the reasons I mention above.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

It depends; if you are engrossed in a game it can be pretty immersion breaking to have a little beep come up with an achievement when you shoot someone in the head or whatever.

I wouldn't say any specific game should not have achievements, but they should be optional in my opinion. On your profile it should be available to have achievements off. Of course they won't though, for the reasons I mention above.

Yeah I understand that entirely. When me and my friend first played Gears of War 2 I wanted to be fully immersed in it. So I turned notifications off.

It's the best you can do, but I suppose if an achievement bothers you then so would people signing in or sending you messages.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

It saddens me that I haven't picked up Metro yet. I really, really meant to get it last week but then I ran into Crysis Warhead, which I also really, really needed to pick up, and it was cheaper. So.

Le sigh.

Crysis Warhead definitely made the explosions a lot better... and Crysis Wars was brilliant.

But still Metro 2033 D: Buy buy buy!

 

[Danpascooch]

this exact issue has happened to other games in the past, but we need to be sure that this is what's happening here

THAT takes over 3 weeks? oh COME ON, that's just ridiculous.

 

[runedeadthA]

this exact issue has happened to other games in the past, but we need to be sure that this is what's happening here

THAT takes over 3 weeks? oh COME ON, that's just ridiculous.

I read that the problem may only be in the RETAIL copy, Metro team and the microsoft testers played the Dev-version.

Seems a bit odd but damn they musta been pissed to fine that.

Ah well, I still love ya Metro !

 

[Infinatex]

Oh noes! Now I can't get my achievements!!! Does anyone really care? I play games to have fun, not for pointless achievements. Maybe if they actually added up for something, avatar unlocks or custom themes at certain levels I'd pay more attention. Without that they are just pointless numbers.