So I've had a 60Gb PS3 since January (love it) and have had no issues with it whatsoever - until the day the Heavenly Sword Demo came out. I was downloading it in the background and playing Ninja Gaiden Sigma. I was in Chapter 4 and noticed some really bad framerates and tearing. I kind of chalked it up to the download but ever since then, I still get the same bad framerates and tearing in Ch. 4 (haven't made it very far since then) and on other games like the Darkness and GRAW2 demos.

Am I the only one with this problem? Watching Blu-Rays and DVDs are fine (well, actually I had one freeze watching Hot Fuzz and it completely hung the machine - I had to hard restart it) but the game issues are really bugging me - it's like taking a step backwards.

I haven't read any framerate issues being known with NG (quite the opposite in fact) and I know because Darkness and GRAW2 are demos, they're not perfect but am I alone with this problem? Any suggestions?

PS. I'm running in 1080p to a Sony KDS-50A2000.

I run NGS in 1080i, and slowdown is extremely rare for me -- I only catch a hint of it near the top of the entry stairs of the monastery (facing the altar), or when a ton of enemies are on screen at the same time (it usually takes at least 6). And on the few occasions where I do see slowdown, it's very minor and short-lived.

Tearing is a little more frequent, but I've never found it distracting. Certainly nothing on the level that you seem to be describing. And I haven't had problems with the Darkness or GRAW2 demos, either.

Have you checked your PS3's vents to make sure they're not clogged with dust or anything? I've heard that heat problems can lead to performance issues...

- Jer

Some PS3 games have some really awful framerate problems. People blame it on bad developers or lazy ports, but I see it too often to just chalk it up to programmers intentionally not doing their best. Its more a problem with the PS3's design itself and simply put, too many people here allow it to go by blaming the developers instead of Sony.

Some PS3 games have some really awful framerate problems. People blame it on bad developers or lazy ports, but I see it too often to just chalk it up to programmers intentionally not doing their best. Its more a problem with the PS3's design itself and simply put, too many people here allow it to go by blaming the developers instead of Sony.

Yeah, I'm kind of tired of the lazy developers line. Unless you're a developer yourself and have worked on a PS3 title that hasn't encountered the issues everyone else has, you should keep your mouth shut. We're still in the first year (now that it is almost over) of PS3 titles. Things will get better just as they did on the 360. Developers are finding the PS3 difficult to program for. Sony keeps trying to work with them to make it easier. Hell, even other developers (Insomniac) are willing to lend a hand. The help is there, developers need to be able to take advantage if they want to.

Realize, most of this help came a bit too late for the first gen of games, but I think gen 2 on the PS3 is going to be something very cool.

There will always be some form of slowdown or tearing in most games. Developers often push things too far going for the look they want. Whos to say what is the best choice but you can remove everything that makes your framerate drop or you can leave it in and have some slowdown. Seems the majority of developers are willing to have their games slow down now and then to keep the overall look they intended.

I'm halfway though NGS and have had no frame rate or tearing issues at all (60" SXRD XBR2 display). It does briefly pause to load mid-game however, which may be the cause of your "frame rate" dip.

And yes, of course there are lazy ports. Ubisoft holds the dubious crown to many PS3 owners as the king of lazy ports. It's been often said that programming to the 7 SPUs is difficult to maximize what the PS3 can do, and lazy ports are the least likely to try and tackle the issue head-on. Darkness/GRAW demos are ports but I haven't seen any tearing (some frame rate sluggishness at times).

I only had tearing on the PS3 with the Heavenly Sword demo (developers say it's been fixed), and my games in general when I had the XBR1 HDTV, which allowed only 1080i input before displaying in 1080P. If tearing is a problem for you (no one else reports this as a general problem), it is likely your TV. Perhaps it needs to be checked out.

Well, the problem keeps getting worse and worse. Im on chapter 6 now and everytime I run upon a group of enemies, it happens. In addition, it's now doing the "loading" thing in the middle of fights as well, so I'm in a combo and all of a sudden, it pauses to load.

I have the game installed on the hard drive - is it possible that with downloading videos/demos, etc. that it got corrupted or something? I just can't believe that it ran like butter in earlier chapters where the walls of the building were on fire, yet the city levels are choking it.

Your machine clearly has problems. Send it in to be checked out becuase that doesn't happen on mine nor any of my friend's PS3s.

Well, the problem keeps getting worse and worse. Im on chapter 6 now and everytime I run upon a group of enemies, it happens. In addition, it's now doing the "loading" thing in the middle of fights as well, so I'm in a combo and all of a sudden, it pauses to load.
I've never seen anything like that happen, and I'm most of the way through my second playthrough.

I have the game installed on the hard drive - is it possible that with downloading videos/demos, etc. that it got corrupted or something?
I guess that's possible. Trying blowing away the game data (but not your saves!), and more importantly check the game disc itself for scratches or grime. Also, make sure your PS3's vents are clear and that you're not using it in an unusually hot area.

Good luck...

- Jer

Yeah, I'm having framerate issues....with every cross-platform game!!

And yes, of course there are lazy ports. Ubisoft holds the dubious crown to many PS3 owners as the king of lazy ports.

There are no such things as "lazy ports." The same people who made the game for the 360 and PC, also make it for the PS3. They don't suddenly become lazy.

Instead, they do an analysis of how much they can spend to make the port, based on their expected return from game sales. They aren't to spend more to develope the game than what they are going to make on the game when they sell it. That has nothing to do with being lazy, and everything to do with the difficulty in programming, and the installed player base.

Your machine clearly has problems. Send it in to be checked out becuase that doesn't happen on mine nor any of my friend's PS3s.


Lovely - I guess I'm part of the 1%. I'm not going to hate on the PS3 though, it's a great piece of equipment - just hope they are quick servicing it. I'll try erasing the game data first or even playing off the disk. I just hate to be without it. :(

I am getting some slowdown in hardmode.

It only happens when I face the monster with a bunch of eyes, and two of the cat enemies are on screen, and the monster is throwing out those green bubbles.

Lovely - I guess I'm part of the 1%. I'm not going to hate on the PS3 though, it's a great piece of equipment - just hope they are quick servicing it. I'll try erasing the game data first or even playing off the disk. I just hate to be without it. :(


I wonder if there is something you can do locally to resolve your issue. Maybe try turning off the wireless ethernet? Is there some way to defrag the drive?

I havent tried any troubleshooting on the PS3, so I am just throwing out suggestions.

I wonder if there is something you can do locally to resolve your issue. Maybe try turning off the wireless ethernet? Is there some way to defrag the drive?

I havent tried any troubleshooting on the PS3, so I am just throwing out suggestions.

Any suggestions are more than welcome, the last thing I want to do is send it off - I'll try turning off the wireless - in the time this has happened, I've used 2 different routers and the problem is still there. I don't have the media server active - but like I mentioned - the problem began when I was downloading and playing at the same time so maybe it is related to it trying to connect. I'll erase the game file and reinstall (or play off the BD and see if that helps).

I guess I need to pop in a game I've never had issues with like Motorstorm or Resistance and see if it happens there as well or if it's limited to NG.