Ashes Cricket 2009 v1.1 Progress Update

[Kabooka]

Hi Guys,

Just a quick update then to let you know what I'm up to, so you don't pop your tops . It's actually quite a lot of work getting the same patch running on consoles compared to putting out a patch for PC. Without boring you with too much detail, the main reason why is that the 2GB file that I can easily modify and patch on PC actually lives on the optical drives on consoles (ie. read only so unmodifiable). Because the patch cannot exceed 4MB for Xbox 360 updates (because of the non-HDD Arcade console), this also means the final patch has had to be much smaller than Open Beta 2 although it HAS got all the changes, just stored more efficiently, which was the hard part.

Beyond this there are specific requirements and caveats that just don't exist on PC: it's not something we can simply chose 'to put out' instantly and there's actually more work involved than you might realise! Anyway, the patch is now running nicely on consoles against the retail disks, but we're still not quite ready to submit for certification. I promise you we're not sitting on a finished patch just to psyche you guys out, it just takes a fair amount of work to produce!

The patch will be released as soon as we're able to I assure you, but there's still QA and certification to go through. The mid-October take was a prediction made back before we'd released Open Beta 1 (I believe), but of course we did more in response to feedback from the closed and open Betas. This is good, with your help we?ve improved things more than we could have hoped, but that does mean the date needed to move out slightly.

We cannot give you a definite date just yet, all we can do is keep you updated on the progress. At the moment it's release is obviously still weeks, rather than days, off but we ARE in the process of wrapping it up.

Oh by the way, if you're Melbourne based and have played the PC Beta, PS3 or Xbox 360 versions a *lot* (so you know what to look for), send me a PM if you're willing and able to come in to West Melbourne and give the game a good play on Sunday on Xbox 360 and PS3 to help make sure they're doing everything the PC version is. You'll need to be familiar with playing it with a controller rather than keyboard of course.

Anyways, back to it, I've obviously still got work to do .

Cheers,

-Rob.

You Sir.......... are a Scholar & a Gent !

 

[pcfan123]

You Sir.......... are a Scholar & a Gent !

Here here! Thanks to all the Trannies

 

[alfa_beta]

we were keen to take on feedback and in response deliver improvements where we could for everyone who purchased Ashes Cricket 2009. Our view on this is that by showing you that we care and by proving that we're keen to improve Ashes Cricket 2009, we hope that then, you'll be more likely to stick with us for any future titles.

This is the first time I am seeing anyone (EA, codies etc.) come out with a patch for a cricket game. Cricket fans would keep that in mind when the next version comes out. Personally I found the game a bit too arcadey since batting dominates bowling way too much for my liking in the game, but am willing to give the game another chance whenever a new title comes out based on effort made by codies & TG to improve the game by releasing the patch.

 

[x Punjabi Killa]

Alfa beta I don't think patch is going to fix this issue.

I am just wondering whether these bugs have been fixed or are going to be fixed in the patch:

1. Fielders at the boundary are almost never able to field cleanly. Then tend to drop it every time and concede an extra run.

2. Fielders diving unnecessarily conceding extra run around the ring or not fielding cleanly.

3. When running between the wickets there are times when both batsmen are running to the same end but don't get run outs.

4. Lag issue with fast bowlers. They are almost unplayable when there is a bit lag.

 

[FAZ007]

Yeah, since we're now at the 16th of October, you'd have to think so.

Can you please let us know when the patch goes in certification. So we can have some idea when the patch for consoles will actually release

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Sure, that'd be easier for us, right? However, we were keen to take on feedback and in response deliver improvements where we could for everyone who purchased Ashes Cricket 2009. Our view on this is that by showing you that we care and by proving that we're keen to improve Ashes Cricket 2009, we hope that then, you'll be more likely to stick with us for any future titles.

It would be great if more companies showed this level of aftercare for their product, well played TG! Rest assured: since you're the first company to really nail a cricket game for ten years and you don't just take the money and run (hello, EA Sports) I would imagine many people here would stick by you for future cricket games.

One quick question: are you making any gameplay fixes at all in the final patch? For me, the main remaining issue is the AI's tendency to go aerial when a shot that stays on the ground would be safer and most likely get them the same runs.

 

[Giggs11]

Yes the main issues eft seem just to do with the ai just little tweaks that need to be made.

But are some people still finding batting on hard waaay to easy??

is hard difficulty actually hard??

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Yes the main issues eft seem just to do with the ai just little tweaks that need to be made.

But are some people still finding batting on hard waaay to easy??

is hard difficulty actually hard??

Well in my opinion, if you don't play yourself in a bit, you're going to be making very low scores.

 

[coolz_hari]

Actually we are extremely impressed with the response from you.

Edit : Will you release separate patch for online buyers of PC?

 

[DarkBoyBlunder]

Actually we are extremely impressed with the response from you.

Edit : Will you release separate patch for online buyers of PC?

Cheers guys . Yep, and they'll be released at the same time as the patch for the retail DVD.

 

[jan52]

Cheers guys . Yep, and they'll be released at the same time as the patch for the retail DVD.

Can you guys do something(update) to stop pirated version to be played online.I feel bad because I paid 50 for the game and my friend who just downloaded free of the internet can also play online ,Its not fair.Also the new patch improved game alot and thanks to transmission and codies for the great support

 

[barmyarmy]

I'm sure they'd love to be able to do something about the piracy issue but unfortunately it's too big a problem.

 

[pcfan123]

Piracy seem to be a very regional issue too. I wouldn't even know where to go to buy a pirated game here in the US. I never even knew it was possible to pirate ps3 games.

Shame that the region specific pricing did little to deter the pirates. This willl only discourage other developers from releasing in specific regions.

Surely there has to be a way to stop pirates from playing online?

 

[papalazarou]

Can you guys do something(update) to stop pirated version to be played online.I feel bad because I paid 50 for the game and my friend who just downloaded free of the internet can also play online ,Its not fair.Also the new patch improved game alot and thanks to transmission and codies for the great support

What are you talking about, feeling bad. You're looking at the situation from the entirely wrong point of view. You did the morally right thing to do (legally buying the game) and should feel far more proud of yourself for doing so than your friend (let alone helping support the developers). Theres a more important ethical question at work here than who paid what!

 

[Cheweydog_aust]

Can you guys do something(update) to stop pirated version to be played online.I feel bad because I paid 50 for the game and my friend who just downloaded free of the internet can also play online ,Its not fair.Also the new patch improved game alot and thanks to transmission and codies for the great support

The patch will stop them for awhile Pirates, I just hope no one makes a cracked exe for the new patch btw this is just the PC version right ?

maybe have the same as RP07 starforce protection or have CD key for each disk & u can only make 1 - 3 usernames online only

even have something like punkbuster for ppl cheating

anyway u will know if they have a pirate version because the new patch wont work for them

BTW well done ROB & transmission, this is the best cricket game in a long time , it would be great to have 2 vs 2 online IDEA I love the runouts when 2 r on the same team its great fun realistic

cheers