Drive Club is a pretty fun game, and the new patch that adds in dynamic weather effects make it look rather incredible. Still, sentiment towards the game is resoundingly negative. The reason for that it is that two months after launch, the game still doesn’t quite work as it should. Things are mostly up and running, with challenges now online. If I were Sony and Evolution Studio’s, I’d be pretty embarrassed about the whole thing. And they are, considering DriveClub was meant to be a launch title.
Speaking to IGN, Sony’s UKL Boss Fergal Gara said that both Sony and Evolution Studios were terribly embarrassed about the whole thing.
“It’s a disappointment,” he said about the games perpetual issues. “When you lay your soul out as being ‘4ThePlayers’, then what you certainly don’t want is games that are not fully ready. It certainly wasn’t any ill-intention on behalf of the team. It’s ambitious as a game; they’re as embarrassed as we are and all you can do in those situations is say sorry.”
Those waiting for the promised PlayStation Plus version may be waiting for quite a while. Sony and Evolution want to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.
“We apologise to any players affected and are doing our damndest to make things right. So that’s what we’ve been doing and the game is pretty near-complete now. We don’t want to introduce the PS Plus Edition until we’re confident the servers can take the load. Unleashing it on the millions of PS Plus users is the next step, but we want confidence in the capacity and concurrency figures. I’ll say again: we apologise and are trying to sort it, and we’ll hopefully learn from it so we see it less in future.”
As much as we all hate them, we may be set for more delays in future – as publishers start realising that they’re better than releasing broken games that need streams of patches before they become playable.
“[Delays] are always frustrating, and it’s certainly never our intention to sell a false promise,” he says. “You work with the best information available at the time. It’s the right decision to delay but, of course, to delay and then have issues is certainly not ideal, but it’s better than releasing a broken game.
Here’s a look at those pretty new weather effects. It’s beautiful.
Last Updated: December 11, 2014
Corrie
December 11, 2014 at 10:37
We don’t want to introduce the PS Plus Edition until we’re confident the servers can take the load.
So in other words until the game doesn’t make any more money, seriously that’s just outright lying and false advertising on their end, similar to the PS vita ad case that the people won this falls under the same, I don’t own a PS4 but can see that people were fooled into believing this.
Hammersteyn
December 11, 2014 at 10:43
They should shed the load on the servers. You know? Loadshedding :p
HairyEwok
December 11, 2014 at 10:44
We pros at that. They could hire our Eskom CEO for that, but then again i think he’ll be over qualified.
Corrie
December 11, 2014 at 10:53
Bonuses all year round
We’ve been having it
Corrie
December 11, 2014 at 10:54
Sorry at the moment my mind is being shedded or is it meant to have a load on it I dunno all know is its off please try again :p
Skyblue
December 11, 2014 at 23:56
Hue hue
Sean Carbutt
December 11, 2014 at 11:06
LOL. Funny thing, Polyphony Digital managed to get their online sorted from day one? Like is said in an earlier post, Driveclub was my worst by of the year, because of the non existent online aspect
CAE9872
December 11, 2014 at 11:17
If PS+ Edition is “free” then no money being made anyway. And in truth they only just got the challenges system up and running after like 2 months. So as bad as this has been for all concerned, I don’t think they trying to make a quick buck now. Those of us that did already buy, paid for that part. And the free DLC is great and all but doesn’t make up for a shocking launch for them.
Hammersteyn
December 11, 2014 at 10:42
“the game is pretty near-complete now” so they admitted to releasing an unfinished game? For shame.
HairyEwok
December 11, 2014 at 10:43
Nothing new there. Wonder if others will also kind of at least admit they released a game incomplete (Assassins Creed) cough cough
ToshZA
December 11, 2014 at 10:48
At least they admitted it.
Sageville
December 11, 2014 at 13:01
One of the few industries that get away with delivery incomplete products….
Skyblue
December 11, 2014 at 23:54
could you imagine Boeing selling an aeroplane without wings… oh wait, snap
Sageville
December 12, 2014 at 09:49
“We’ll patch that once you’re in the air”…
Jaded_Reprobate
December 11, 2014 at 10:49
So here’s a strange concept… instead of constantly delaying games, and annoying your “most valued” customers… how about setting realistic launch dates…
Surely it can’t be that difficult… and maybe, just maybe some of us are starting to get tired of this “polishing” story that keeps getting pushed around
Kikmi
December 11, 2014 at 10:55
PREACH BROTHER
Jaded_Reprobate
December 11, 2014 at 11:34
defo’s a brother……….. the last time i checked anyways
Mandom (Umar)
December 11, 2014 at 10:56
Yeah, if only it were this easy. As a developer we have little to no say most of the time
Jaded_Reprobate
December 11, 2014 at 11:43
but that’s the problem… publishers don’t seem to realize the damage they are causing by setting these unrealistic goals… i for 1 don’t take any launch dates seriously anymore… i can’t… because between unfinished games being launched and delays.. i just don’t know when i’m actually going to get to play the finished game…
and as a result… i’m not buying games at launch anymore… i would now rather wait for them to hit the bargain bin… that way i know the game will most likely be complete…
this causes the developer to lose money… now i understand that i’m just 1 person and in the greater scheme of things, my purchase makes no difference to them… but i have seen more and more people starting to adopt the same approach… and that in the long run is going to cause huge damage
Mandom (Umar)
December 11, 2014 at 12:14
YUUUUUP! Publishers, while yes they need to make money, need to realize that the quality VS time does affect sales and its more evident now than ever. Not to say devs have no hand in it all but when timelines hit , hooo boy, sometimes you don’t have time to care about the quality of the code
Willem Swanepoel
December 11, 2014 at 12:51
Try to explain this to an Accountant LOL HAHAHAHAHA … good luck.
There is only one thing an accountant understand … and it is not the value in technology or quality or making sure the future product is nice and shiny …
HvR
December 11, 2014 at 11:01
How deadlines are determined at most development companies.
Project planning with accurate phase ends and deadlines and launch dates.
Sales and marketing demands a launch date next week (mostly based on believing their own bullshit), management compromise goes for date in between.
Developers get blamed and laid off when date is missed or when faulty incomplete product gets shipped.
Brady miaau
December 11, 2014 at 11:07
Um, yes, pretty close. But quite often the “Project planning with accurate phase ends and deadlines and launch dates.” section of it also fails to deliver something. six weeks, no problem. Yeeees. Engineers, hey? Love them, hate them, you need them.
Sorry, HVR, not attacking you or even engineers. Just sharing my exp of two different firms.
BUT you are right about shifting the goal posts and so forth. I am now in a position where I straddle both camps, so I sort of get it, understand the need to shift the post because of market or other reasons. AND then the dev team is blamed for not being on time.
Also, do not even begin on Scope Creep. When Directors say change, you must change.
HvR
December 11, 2014 at 14:33
I’ve have missed my fair amount of deadlines sometimes due to bad planning on my part sometimes to factors outside my control.
But my description I’ve seen at a lot of places (luckily not my last or current place of employment) as standard operating procedure and the Driveclub debacle and incomplete buggy AAA games on an annual release cycle is the typical result of these practices.
Brady miaau
December 11, 2014 at 15:11
Oh, yes. I was not being entirely fair. Each company has their own way. Read some horror stories on embedded.com about just this
Market does drive the bottom line, though.
Rock789
December 11, 2014 at 10:54
I’m a racer and I LOVE racing games – pretty much my favourite genre, followed closely by RPGs (the role-playing kind, not the rocket-propelled kind). And I quite like the look of this game. But, honestly, I’m completely put off it by this whole launch debacle! So glad I didn’t pre-order… Sad that they messed it up so completely… And because of that, about the only thing that would draw me in is the free PSN version. So guess I’ll be giving this game a skip then…
Skyblue
December 11, 2014 at 23:55
Too much honest in there, respect
oVg elfroot slayer
December 11, 2014 at 11:05
I never liked clubs.
Brady miaau
December 11, 2014 at 11:06
Except, of course, for the seal club club?
Just a thought and in no way condoning these hideous actions
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
December 11, 2014 at 11:13
DEM WEATHER EFFECTS THO!
HairyEwok
December 11, 2014 at 11:21
True especially night time on a heavy snowfall with lightning. Can’t see jack when driving.
Skyblue
December 11, 2014 at 23:53
Too little, too late. I had weather effects in GTA years ago, when you were still “having issues” with the “fun aspect” of it. ;-PPPPP
Futureman
December 11, 2014 at 11:42
I literally gave driveclub away with the new rugby15 to this kid in my estate, WORST GAMES EVER, total waste of money
Quo Vadis?
December 11, 2014 at 11:52
sports and driving games are a waste of money, I agree.
XenitXTD
December 11, 2014 at 14:31
You get the Ocasional Sport Game thats good but its just so damn rare and when it comes you hesitate until its in the bargain bin and you are prepared to dare it…
Racers… Forza and Horizons 2 are awesome… but The last legend was NFS Most wanted… What went wrong after that…
Seriously all publishers are trying to make yearly games and its only destroying the industry
Hammersteyn
December 12, 2014 at 08:04
I like a good driving game. NFS underground,Burnout and Mototrstorm were the last good ones though.
Skyblue
December 12, 2014 at 00:08
Haha, I perused the 2nd hand section in BT Games Menlyn today. Too many FIFA 14 titles, Destiny, Rugby 15 and too many other “new” games at R599. Attention spans are shortening or games are deteriorating in (replayability/affordability/worthiness) value.
BTW, visit this store, awesome (shameless punting) Will contact LAGZ in the new year with a LG regular offer only Groupon customers usually get offered.
EDIT: oh the reverse LULZ
HairyEwok
December 12, 2014 at 09:09
Were you using a jetpack perhaps when you took this photo. I almost lost my neck now.
Skyblue
December 12, 2014 at 09:21
Haha, I dunno man, late night posting with a couple of Jamesons down is not a good combination. Better?
HairyEwok
December 12, 2014 at 12:35
You sir have now saved countless numbers of necks being snapped off.
RFRacer
December 11, 2014 at 12:00
Next time developers shouldn’t give out a release date too early. I think they should give out release dates when they are confident that the game is near complete and fully working so there would be no disappointment when it comes to hype. Because, the longer the a certain game is hyped, the expectations of people get higher and there is a big chance of dissapointment. Driveclub is a fun game and you can definitely see the work put into the game. It just really had a bad launch.
PsyChoPanthis
December 11, 2014 at 12:08
Sad things is, I WAS keen for this game.
Now i dont really care much :/
Even The Crew let me down a bit.
Here’s to waiting for GT7
Pieter Kruger
December 11, 2014 at 12:40
But Jim Ryan still doesn’t think this damaged their reputation……..
Skyblue
December 11, 2014 at 23:57
No more than broken Match Play in Halo.
Pieter Kruger
December 12, 2014 at 07:58
I agree 100%, but they didn’t take the “we’re invincible and nothing can damage our reputation” stance now did they? How many times have we seen the market leaders in this industry getting over confident and taking a fall because of that(EA, MS etc.). They need to stay humble, just saying…….
Hammersteyn
December 12, 2014 at 08:02
Peta Cougar! No I agree. This game is the first smudge on the PS4 and they will do well to make it their last.
Pieter Kruger
December 12, 2014 at 08:05
Oh, and don’t forget Sony’s stance on EA Vault not “adding value” for their customers…..FAIL!
Hammersteyn
December 12, 2014 at 08:06
I kinda agree there. They can keep the SPERTS games
Pieter Kruger
December 12, 2014 at 08:09
I must admit I’m playing the hell out of Garden Warfare and enjoying it. UFC also being moved to the vault this month makes it 7 games thus far for what, R500 annually? Beats PSN and Xbox Live hands down….
Skyblue
December 12, 2014 at 08:15
Which UFC? I bought the last one with my PS4 but was underwhelmed. Traded it in after a couple of weeks. EA Vault? How does that work and what does it cost?
EDIT: only just absorbed what you said, early. Thanks, will check it out.
Hammersteyn
December 12, 2014 at 08:23
Bought Garden Warfare for R300. It’s silly fun and I’ll play it again once
I’m done with the Dark Below DLC(call the dentist)
Skyblue
December 12, 2014 at 08:03
I agree with you.
Bradley Schultz
December 11, 2014 at 14:24
That and no support for my logitech wheel has me wondering if sony still deserve my support and money.
Brian Murphy
December 11, 2014 at 15:24
Yawn, the funny thing? The only ‘broken’ game, that you could safely say ‘tanked’, is Driveclub. Yet, Halo MCC, Assassin’s Creed Unity, GTA (broken online), Skyrim, Diablo etc… all sold like hotcakes. Either way, I’m getting DC, game looks fantastic and plays just as well. They’ve fixed the issues that happened since launch, not that it matters, I’m only interested in it for the SP anyway 😀
Hammersteyn
December 12, 2014 at 08:05
The problem is as a new IP it needs a flawless launch. Halo and Diablo can get away with shit like this.
Brian Murphy
December 12, 2014 at 14:32
That’s not really my problem, or DC’s problem. That’s a problem with gamer’s. Shouldn’t matter what the IP is, if it’s such a big deal that games be flawless on launch.
Skyblue
December 12, 2014 at 08:25
I only really play GTA and Halo for the SP and they were both fine for that. I got suckered with Diablo 3 on release and still haven’t bought the expansion because of that. There are very few games I now buy on day one due to all the crap us gamer’s have to endure.
Brian Murphy
December 12, 2014 at 14:31
Hilarious double standard then. DC’s SP has worked perfectly fine since launch.
Skyblue
December 12, 2014 at 19:29
I think Drive Club looks stunning but as a PSplus subscriber I was a bit miffed when the free version was delayed. I was also playing Forza 5 heavily at the time and a lot of the reviews put me off the game, imxluding the Lagz review. As for double standards, its easier to fork out R900 for a tried and tested IP you know you enjoy versus a new dodgy one. That said, I haven’t purchased any new Ubisoft game since Far Cry 3 and I won’t for the foreseeable future.
Brian Murphy
December 12, 2014 at 19:34
Considering you are interested in SP only, it IS a double standard. There was nothing wrong with DC’s SP, it was the online functionality that was screwed, and they paid quite the price for it.
Beyond that, if people actually expect the industry to change and really ensure their products function out of the gate, people are going to need to resist the addiction, and say no if part of the game is broken. Otherwise, companies like Rockstar, Ubisoft, Activision, etc… can really just do whatever they please, while raking in money hand over fist and all that’ll happen is smaller studios/new IP will get buried.
As far as the PS+ edition, it’s free, so, I honestly don’t care how long they hold it for. Paying customers should have priority with regards to the functionality of the servers. People complaining about not being able to play free stuff can take a backseat.
Skyblue
December 12, 2014 at 19:44
Which is why I’m boycotting Ubisoft and PS Plus isn’t free. Whatever dude, have a great weekend.
Brian Murphy
December 12, 2014 at 19:53
So you got PS Plus, just to play Driveclub? If that’s the case, then you have a right to be upset. If not, then you’re complaints aren’t really relevant against folks who paid for the game, and for PS+.
Boycott Ubisoft is great, and yet there are still online issues w/ GTAV. So yeah, as I said, double standard.