Temporary Fix Issued for MLB 2K6 Freeze Problem (Xbox 360)

[fitbabits]

As first reported by Evil Avatar reader WiredUp Solutions (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/member.php?userid=4255) in this thread (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11587), some people have been stung by gameplay freezing problems on their Xbox 360 copy of MLB 2K6. 2K Games have now released a temporary fix for the problem.

Thanks to TeamXbox (http://www.teamxbox.com).

...our dedicated 2K Sports QA team has tested and confirmed two work-around methods for those consumers who are experiencing the "freeze" issue:

1) Remove or disable the HDD

or,

2) Load three different Xbox 360 games to the main title screen of each game then load Major League Baseball 2K6 on Xbox 360. All three Xbox 360 games must be completely different before loading Major League Baseball 2K6.

While we realize that these measures may seem unconventional, our 2K Sports QA Team has tested both methods and both will remedy issues that are causing the Major League Baseball 2K6 "freeze" issue on the Xbox 360. Again, we truly apologize for any inconvenience to your playing experience.

Please stay tuned for more updates. Thank you for your attention.
I have to ask - if the 2K Sports QA team are so "dedicated", how the hell did this ship with the problem in the first place?

[The Letter 3]

They forgot the third solution, don't buy their buggy game.

[kokyunage]

I know I'm going to be flamed for this, but what the hell...

Is it me or do Microsoft consoles have more game stopping bugs than any other prior consoles. Yes, now they can patch through Live but still...a game should not be released in this type of shitty condition. While PS2 had it's fair share of game issues I think the Xbox/Xbox360 is a whole another level. Come on Microsoft, get a better fucking certification process.

On that note, I pretty much expect the PS3 to be the same (worse than PS2 -- along the same lines of Xbox) since they will use the "release now, patch later" mentality. They didn't have that luxury with the PS2.

[bapenguin]

3 games? Sounds like their game cache gets f'd up somehow since the HD has reserved slots for...3 games.

kokyunage - FYI the certification process for consoles games does not require any kind of Q&A on a game to that level. It's usually to check for things like correct console overlays, and other minor things. Not in detailed game bugs.

[TrackZero]

Is it me or do Microsoft consoles have more game stopping bugs than any other prior consoles.

It's you.

No, seriously though, the problems with the 360 games and their harddrive cache issues are showing up quite a bit. Whether this is a problem with the way the developer utilized the drive, or the system software itself, well, beats me, I'm sure we'll find out in time. Though I've sure it's only a matter of time until MS patches the 360 (through live or new machines) so that it clears the cache every time the machine boots, that's an easy fix.

As for the original Xbox, I never had any issues with the 50+ games I own on it, so I'll assume my "Microsoft consoles" you were just refering to the 360.

[WiredUp Solutions]

The weird thing is for me, and I have played over 10 games without a problem, is that the problem is gone! Which is a relief for me, but I did not do anything different, I just decided to play the homerun derby one night and see what happens. I played about 4 of them and then I decided to give the game itself a try and since then I have not had any freezes anymore. Maybe the homerun derby fixed the problem!!! HAHA

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

kokyunage - FYI the certification process for consoles games does not require any kind of Q&A on a game to that level. It's usually to check for things like correct console overlays, and other minor things. Not in detailed game bugs.

That's incorrect actually ... there is a one week process in which they not only check for Technical Requirements (as you mention), but also for major bugs as well. If any are found, they are reported to the publisher, and are usually forced to correct any major bugs (This is why DoA was delayed as much as it was).
The publisher sometimes may request a waiver, which would then place all responsibility for any damages to that publisher, versus MS. This is common for all 3 console makers.

[bapenguin]

That's incorrect actually ... there is a one week process in which they not only check for Technical Requirements (as you mention), but also for major bugs as well. If any are found, they are reported to the publisher, and are usually forced to correct any major bugs (This is why DoA was delayed as much as it was).
The publisher sometimes may request a waiver, which would then place all responsibility for any damages to that publisher, versus MS. This is common for all 3 console makers.

Right...that is why I said "detailed game bugs"

Though I would venture to say this bug is a pretty major bug as it seems to apply to quite a large user base.

[Inverarity]

Funny, I played a few rounds of MLB 2K6 without trouble, then had my first freeze yesterday after playing a number (3+) of other 360 games over the weekend. Now it's freezing all the time. Just the opposite of what's indicated above, which implies to me that the fix is only temporary and the cache corruption may recur.

Back to the store with it- it's a small place and I'm a good customer, so maybe I can get a "buggy piece of garbage" exemption on their return policy.

[jacktion]

kokyunage - FYI the certification process for consoles games does not require any kind of Q&A on a game to that level. It's usually to check for things like correct console overlays, and other minor things. Not in detailed game bugs.

Wow, I would have to completely disagree. The console game Q&A process usually spends months looking for things exactly like this. Or at least they used to. I have heard that QA budgets are being cut back for the 360 since they know they can let customers test it for them and then patch it.
It does seem like I have heard about more game-stopping bugs and console breakages with the 360 than ever before. I am not sure if it is just cause the 360 is so advanced or if it is is so half-assed.

[Franjo]

2k makes some buggy games. But I still believe they make the best sports games. I've lived with tons of bugs throughout the NHL2k series and now with NHL2k6, a lot of major bugs are gone..(some still exist). So basically wait until MLB2k9 for 360 fitabits and you should have a pretty bug free game. lol.

[fitbabits]

2k makes some buggy games. But I still believe they make the best sports games. I've lived with tons of bugs throughout the NHL2k series and now with NHL2k6, a lot of major bugs are gone..(some still exist). So basically wait until MLB2k9 for 360 fitabits and you should have a pretty bug free game. lol.
OMG! Franjo called me fitabits. Someone hold me back. ;)

[JazGalaxy]

My brother is experiancing freezing with Oblivion.

Personally I've never experianced more glitches than with the PS1/PS2. My pS1 would regularly delete my savegames, especially when playing any Square games.

[Bubby]

The funny bit of it is these so called "workarounds" were posted on the 2klive mlb2k6 board by the fanboys. If you want a good laugh head over there (http://2ksports.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=70) and watch the fur fly.

Operation Sports has a forum (http://forums.operationsports.com/vBulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=49) dedicated to the game also.

[DudeWheresMyXbox]

Wow, I would have to completely disagree. The console game Q&A process usually spends months looking for things exactly like this. Or at least they used to. I have heard that QA budgets are being cut back for the 360 since they know they can let customers test it for them and then patch it.
It's actually not as simple as that.

While game developers can patch on Xbox 360, it costs them tens of thousands of dollars per patch (MS charges).

Given the likeliness of modern games to be developed under extremely rushed conditions, I'm willing to bet this was a test-filed bug in the MLB bug database that someone decided wasn't worth delaying the product over. Happens all the time for lots of games (you virtually never ship with no bugs, just the bugs that you can live with).

[Salesmunn]

Developers are so stretched out right now then they have to test everything TWICE thanks to the *** dual-SKU? It's amazing that more games aren't screwed up.

[Grimmjow]

It's actually not as simple as that.

While game developers can patch on Xbox 360, it costs them tens of thousands of dollars per patch (MS charges).

Given the likeliness of modern games to be developed under extremely rushed conditions, I'm willing to bet this was a test-filed bug in the MLB bug database that someone decided wasn't worth delaying the product over. Happens all the time for lots of games (you virtually never ship with no bugs, just the bugs that you can live with).

yeah but who knows maybe the time it takes for QA to research the bug and the ntest a fix for it may cost more then jus a lil patch, maybe devs are jus trying to save money :D

[mig]

These are the same bullshit "fixes" reccomended for NHL 2k6. Which by the way, has the EXACT SAME problems. I wouldn't be so angry with 2Ksports if their hockey game wasn't so good. This only happens with the 360 version, and yet 2Ksports refuses to acknowledge the problem, blaming it on "user error".

[Cyrano]

This game was originally scheduled to be reheased in early April. Then it was delayed until late April. Then suddenly, the release was changed back to early April. Clearly, the developer knew they had a month's worth of bugs to fix, and somebody forced them to release the game early. I have no problem with whoever made the call to release the game in its current condition having to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a patch on Live.

Read any review -- this game is filled with bugs, and not just the freezing one (which is obviously the worse one). For example, in game after game, I listen to the announcer tell me that players like Derrick Lee hit no home runs last season. I really think if the developer had been given the extra weeks to fix things up, the game would have turned out fine.

[Franjo]

OMG! Franjo called me fitabits. Someone hold me back. ;)

My online apology fitbabits!


2k has these issues, you get used to them. They deliver on gameplay but when it comes to presentation, or bugs it can't match EA.

Even if Im playing a game of hockey, My team is on a 6 game winning streak (as the graphic states on the screen), then the announcer goes on to say I'm on a 4 game winning streak. There will be lots of issues your going to notice and I agree, more time should be spent on these things.

At some point they just want it on the shelves. They know the issues exist or they can't find them. (I hope its the 1st case cause an idiot can find these bugs)

If 2k took say 10 guys from the 2khockey.net forum, got them to test the game I guarantee that they would be able to pinpoint and replicate a lot of issues. Hey, if your inhouse guys who are being paid money to do it can't find this shit, give it to some fanboys who will do it for free and want to help in making the best game possible.

[Rangoth]

Seeing as I do not play sports games I didn't really care when this was announced.

Regarding the whole "MS quality control sucks" or however you wish to put it, that is a rotting pile of monkey CRAP! Stop jumping on the Bandwagon people, both Sony and Microsoft have had games on their systems that were crap as far as Q&A. Best advice? Speak with your money. Wait to see if a game is buggy, if so don't buy. Refuse to be a beta tester for games that ship but then DON'T WHINE WHEN THEY TAKE LONGER!

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

Right...that is why I said "detailed game bugs"

Though I would venture to say this bug is a pretty major bug as it seems to apply to quite a large user base.

you confuse me with your fancy speak

[Sl1pstream]

OMG! Franjo called me fitabits. Someone hold me back. ;)


Poor fibatits. :o

So one of their solutions is to buy three other games, just to load their game?

[devicelimit]

2k has these issues, you get used to them. They deliver on gameplay but when it comes to presentation, or bugs it can't match EA.


Except that for NHL 2K6 they didn't deliver on gameplay either as it still has a rediculous number of hax and cheap 'always' goals. Hopefully EA makes a better NHL game. Unfortunatly the bar is set so low by NHL 2K6 that EA won't even have to try.

[Cyrano]

I don't have any proof at all, but this has "developer asked for more time to fix lots of known problems and publisher forced it out the door" written all over it. I would have been more than willing to wait until the end of April. Hell, it's the only baseball game allowed on the 360; everyone would have had to wait. I just hope Major League Baseball notices how the company it gave the exclusive rights to fucked up.

[bjornbarspingvinen]

Yeah, NHL2k6 has amazing gameplay, but there´s also a reported freeze in that version, so MLB is no exception. It´s a shame, 2k should really invest in a better(more personell?) QA team. THey should really hire some die-hard fans from the 2khockey.net forum. By the way, I think they hired WWTC from 2khockey to test their game and give input.