patches?
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Well it's not a toaster, if that's what you mean.
Occasionally game makers will update their products by a patch. If one find's that objectionable, then perhaps they should sell their 360 on the ebay, because I don't think it's going to stop. I personally prefer support after a product has shipped, but I understand that others don't.
Well it's not a toaster, if that's what you mean.
Occasionally game makers will update their products by a patch. If one find's that objectionable, then perhaps they should sell their 360 on the ebay, because I don't think it's going to stop. I personally prefer support after a product has shipped, but I understand that others don't.
Unfortunately as games get more and more complex, patches are going to be needed.
In previous generations, games that did have bugs usually COULDN'T be patched at all so you were SOL if it was one that erased your save or wouldn't let you progress, etc. At least now you are given the ability to (and you don't have to except if you want to play online in a Live enabled game). Also patches for games on consoles in general are a lot more stable as in you don't get the case where a PC patch might hose the NVIDIA people, or such and such sound card, etc.
In previous generations, games that did have bugs usually COULDN'T be patched at all so you were SOL if it was one that erased your save or wouldn't let you progress, etc. At least now you are given the ability to (and you don't have to except if you want to play online in a Live enabled game). Also patches for games on consoles in general are a lot more stable as in you don't get the case where a PC patch might hose the NVIDIA people, or such and such sound card, etc.
It's nothing to be concerned about. The Xbox 360 patches are very infrequent and they're very small in file size (it always takes me less than 30 seconds to download the patches on a 10mb/s cable connection).
Now, there are also game patches that are released by the game studios. For the games that I own, the patches have been good because they either fixed bugs or improved gameplay or both. Of course, there are some game patches that may cause issues but I haven't come across those.
To answer your question, I've had my 360 since Feb 2006 and I think there were around 3 Xbox 360 patches since then (most of which added features).
It's nothing to be concerned about. The Xbox 360 patches are very infrequent and they're very small in file size (it always takes me less than 30 seconds to download the patches on a 10mb/s cable connection).
Now, there are also game patches that are released by the game studios. For the games that I own, the patches have been good because they either fixed bugs or improved gameplay or both. Of course, there are some game patches that may cause issues but I haven't come across those.
To answer your question, I've had my 360 since Feb 2006 and I think there were around 3 Xbox 360 patches since then (most of which added features).
When you think about it, the patches are actually a *good* thing, in that they can address major game issues dynamically over time. This is particularly important for multiplayer games, where cheating, exploits, and balance are all issues over time, but is still useful even for strictly offline games.
Think about all the bugs reported in Knights of the Old Republic II... Some of them were minor, but some were pretty nasty; if a patch had been able to be released to correct just a few of the larger bugs, the perceived quality of the title probably would have been a good bit higher.
Think about all the bugs reported in Knights of the Old Republic II... Some of them were minor, but some were pretty nasty; if a patch had been able to be released to correct just a few of the larger bugs, the perceived quality of the title probably would have been a good bit higher.
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Patches are a problem if developers use them as a crutch to release unfinished games to be patched later.
This hasn't really been the case with the 360, and as stated patches are pretty transparent and oftentimes offer new functionality and content.
This hasn't really been the case with the 360, and as stated patches are pretty transparent and oftentimes offer new functionality and content.
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563 Posts
if it's a patch for a game it will install when the game starts (assuming you're connected to Live). It will tell you there's a patch available and ask if you want to install it. It will download, install, and restart the game.
If it's a system update it will ask when you turn the machine on.
Both will prevent you from being on Live if you don't update.
If it's a system update it will ask when you turn the machine on.
Both will prevent you from being on Live if you don't update.
Consoles all have higher QA than PCs because MS, Sony or Nintendo have to approve the game before it ships. On PCs MS doesn't run through every program that gets released just to make sure it is good code. Pc developers can put out much buggier games than console makers which is why pc games get so many more patches.
Consoles all have higher QA than PCs because MS, Sony or Nintendo have to approve the game before it ships. On PCs MS doesn't run through every program that gets released just to make sure it is good code. Pc developers can put out much buggier games than console makers which is why pc games get so many more patches.
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I understand that.
Having the ability to patch games later makes it a concern, though.
I understand that.
Having the ability to patch games later makes it a concern, though.
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563 Posts
Yes, just a concern. Until there are games blatantly released unfinished that require frequent patching, it's just a concern.
I've never heard of anyone having any problems with corrupted patches. This isn't analagous to WoW in any way.
If your hard drive becomes corrupted then you'd replace it and redownload the patches. Losing your saved games would be a much bigger problem then having to repatch a game. Again, it's pretty painless and happens automatically.
Yes, just a concern. Until there are games blatantly released unfinished that require frequent patching, it's just a concern.
I've never heard of anyone having any problems with corrupted patches. This isn't analagous to WoW in any way.
If your hard drive becomes corrupted then you'd replace it and redownload the patches. Losing your saved games would be a much bigger problem then having to repatch a game. Again, it's pretty painless and happens automatically.
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1,029 Posts
Funny but there are MANY other devices that are updated and patched these days.
TIVO
HD DVD Players
BLU Ray Players
Smart Phones
Universal Remotes
I'm sure people can name a few more.
Get used to it
Funny but there are MANY other devices that are updated and patched these days.
TIVO
HD DVD Players
BLU Ray Players
Smart Phones
Universal Remotes
I'm sure people can name a few more.
Get used to it
?
Here's what I do:
1. Insert game
2. Play game
If the game requires a patch, and I am connected to XBL (which is always, even if I am not officially 'signed in' yet), it asks 'do you want to download the patch now?' and I select 'yes.' It then downloads the patch and restarts the game, and so then I
2. Play game
If there is a dashboard update, it asks 'there is a dashboard update available; do you want to download this now?' and I select 'yes' and it downloads the patch and restarts the dashboard.
?
Here's what I do:
1. Insert game
2. Play game
If the game requires a patch, and I am connected to XBL (which is always, even if I am not officially 'signed in' yet), it asks 'do you want to download the patch now?' and I select 'yes.' It then downloads the patch and restarts the game, and so then I
2. Play game
If there is a dashboard update, it asks 'there is a dashboard update available; do you want to download this now?' and I select 'yes' and it downloads the patch and restarts the dashboard.
First, I have to say that is a great sig line - which I will now commit to my memory.
Second, all you do is put in your game and play it. If there is a patch, it is really simple. You don't install, register, or authenticate games like you do on a PC. Just put it in and play, the 360 takes care of everything for you.
First, I have to say that is a great sig line - which I will now commit to my memory.
Second, all you do is put in your game and play it. If there is a patch, it is really simple. You don't install, register, or authenticate games like you do on a PC. Just put it in and play, the 360 takes care of everything for you.
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