Modder Fixes Dark Souls PC Port in 23 Minutes

[A Satanic Panda]

These "issues" were well known before the game ever came out. You guys all have the option to not purchase something if you find it to be of poor quality. But the PC community demanded this game, and they got it. Now they're complaining that the game is substandard, despite there being no actual standard.

Maybe next time specify instead of "please make this game on PC," you mean "please make this game using these exact parameters." The PC community has done nothing but complain since the announcement that they would get what they asked for.

Arkham Asylum, Arkham city, Assassin's creed games, and any number of action games do not have those problems and work fine on PC. THAT is the minimum quality paying customers expect. You'd be saying something too if your console game had instructions for keyboard and mouse pop up or not have it optomized for console hardware, resulting in poorer performance than expected and gamers would not accept that from a PC port. So all your points mean nothing when complaints are legitimate.

I think you quoted me wrong bro.

 

[Oskuro]

Thing is... Porting is hard (Speaking from experience here). We don't know the details of how the project is structured internally, yet I'm willing to guess that in order to meet the original console deadline they probably made a lot of hacks and patches (As is common in software development) that messed the codebase enough to make PC porting more time (and money) consuming than they first anticipated.

Consider that a UI to set up system options is rarely necessary for console games, so it is plausible it was impossible to code in a decent timespan. That's why many ports have the configuration tool outside the game (as a launcher).

I just hope FROM Software handle this graciously, and learning about how this user fixed the issue, try and make a patch (even if they just copy what he did and package it as a free downloadable patch).

Seeing how they already made the effort to port a popular game to an underperforming market, I have some sympathy for them.

 

[Nurb]

I think you quoted me wrong bro.

sorry about that.

And this is the problem I was talking about when the first news about the graphics problems arrived.

There is no excuse that developer don't know that. The only explanation is laziness. Buying the game and rewarding the developer for their laziness is the worst thing they can do. Maybe From Software will do better in their next game/port, but if the game is successful, it will only tell other developer that it's OK to give us bad ports as long as the game isn't complete crap.

Or it could be that not every PC is a liquid nitrogen cooled machine sent straight from Zeus? They had to tone it down to make sure that more people could actually play it. To me this is no different then the HD mods for MineCraft, or the Improved Textures mod for Skyrim.

1024x720 resolution and a max of 30 FPS was good for 1998. Your point there would have been acceptable 14 years ago, but there's no excuse now.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

The speed at which these threads devolved into taking cheap shots the other side is embarrassing.

 

[Louzerman102]

1024x720 resolution and a max of 30 FPS was good for 1998. Your point there would have been acceptable 14 years ago, but there's no excuse now.

This post will sound a lot like I am defending the game ( I agree that it's a bad port) however;

1024x720 - Bad
30 Fps - Bad
keyboard/mouse integration and use of 360 symbols - bad
GFWL - lazy, bad

expansion pack (Artorias) developed along with the port - good
openly admitting the frame rate/display problems before release - good
charging less than full price - good
the quality of the game to begin with - good (PS3 for me)
no stutter in blightown - Fuck yeah!

never ported a game before - understandable
30 fps frame rate hard coded meaning mods at 60 fps play the game at 2 seconds to 1 IRL - requires complete engine rewrite - understandable (this was on durante's neogaff forum did not confirm)
GFWL net code the same as Xbox 360 net code meaning no multi-player code rewrite - lazy definitely, understandable

use of usb connected xbox360 controller sidesteps the keboard problem - extra money but worth it

the .dll mod from durante day one - helped a lot, possible lazy/stupidity on From Software

the game being built for console with computer not even an after thought - important point

If From Software had waited to tell the frame rate and resolution until the initial reviewers found out I would be calling for their heads on pikes, however I think they handled themselves properly considering the product they delivered.

 

[Valok]

1024x720 resolution and a max of 30 FPS was good for 1998. Your point there would have been acceptable 14 years ago, but there's no excuse now.

This post will sound a lot like I am defending the game ( I agree that it's a bad port) however;

1024x720 - Bad
30 Fps - Bad
keyboard/mouse integration and use of 360 symbols - bad
GFWL - lazy, bad

expansion pack (Artorias) developed along with the port - good
openly admitting the frame rate/display problems before release - good
charging less than full price - good
the quality of the game to begin with - good (PS3 for me)
no stutter in blightown - Fuck yeah!

never ported a game before - understandable
30 fps frame rate hard coded meaning mods at 60 fps play the game at 2 seconds to 1 IRL - requires complete engine rewrite - understandable (this was on durante's neogaff forum did not confirm)
GFWL net code the same as Xbox 360 net code meaning no multi-player code rewrite - lazy definitely, understandable

use of usb connected xbox360 controller sidesteps the keboard problem - extra money but worth it

the .dll mod from durante day one - helped a lot, possible lazy/stupidity on From Software

the game being built for console with computer not even an after thought - important point

If From Software had waited to tell the frame rate and resolution until the initial reviewers found out I would be calling for their heads on pikes, however I think they handled themselves properly considering the product they delivered.

Pretty much this, guess we're done here.

 

[Nurb]

These "issues" were well known before the game ever came out. You guys all have the option to not purchase something if you find it to be of poor quality. But the PC community demanded this game, and they got it. Now they're complaining that the game is substandard, despite there being no actual standard.

Maybe next time specify instead of "please make this game on PC," you mean "please make this game using these exact parameters." The PC community has done nothing but complain since the announcement that they would get what they asked for.

"poorer performance than expected"

So it is entirely miserable simply because it doesn't meet your non-industry standard specific conditions?

The games you listed were intended for PC release anyway. Dark Souls wasn't. PC Gamers whined till they got it.

Yes, that "non-industry standard" is a bad thing. Other games released with similar issues would get the same reception in reviews and reflects badly on them as a company.

PC gamers were trying to throw money at them and were giving legitimate complaints, but paying customers won't accept any old shit slapped together by people just wanting the money. I'm very sorry that you're wrong.

 

[Comando96]

I think someone should be offered a job

Or a lot of people should lose theirs...

... or both xD

 

[RadioactiveMicrobe]

Does anyone know if From Soft have commented on the news about the fix? Because I'm curious what they have to say for themselves when someone manages to fix in 23 what they couldn't do in several months time.

Do we know he got the game at release and not a leaked copy a few weeks in advance?

Do we know his fix fixes the problems on all configurations? I know he had some time before that. But he's not going to say he got a leaked copy, is he?

Honestly, throughout the PC gamers asking for this port, FROM said it wouldn't be pretty. They are a console-central developer, and they're working on other games. The fact that PC gamers are angry about this is just a bit silly. That's like asking Bungie to port Halo 3 over to PC while they're in the middle of their new game, then being all shocked that it isn't a good port.

 

[ResonanceSD]

I'm still never buying a game from them ever again because of this. Not the game's quality, the fact that they gave in to those entitled jerk PC Gamers.

Um, what?
Really, as console gamer I am seriously confused as to why PC gamers can't ask for ports of games. Sure some are a little elitist, but you have to understand that consoles are using 6 year old hardware. PC gamers just want their games to be in 2012 not 2006.

this is the first time I've ever seen someone who's a console fan see our point! Thank you!

And to the guy you quoted, what's the issue? PC gamers aren't allowed to ask for ports?

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

It's admittedly not encouraging when a PC modder is able to fix some of your game's core issues in under a half hour though. It gives the impression that you really didn't know what you were doing.

That's what From Software has been saying all along. They admitted from the start that they were not familiar at all with PC development and were basically playing it by ear in order to give PC gamers the port they wanted.

 

[Stripes]

PC gamers should have known what they were asking. What From did was good enough given the circumstances (You cant expect them to drop tons of money on entering a market they have little to no experience with in any way) and PC gamers should live up to their promise. If they dont then they will be sending the wrong message. If you refuse to buy the game because someone fixed a problem with it then you are ridiculous. From do not have experience with the PC, if you dont buy the game it will stay that way.

 

[Ignatz_Zwakh]

And...why doesn't this guy have a job in the industry yet...? I mean, other than his possibly not wanting one?

 

[Sangreal Gothcraft]

Glad to have the game on PC....but..Now if only they can fix it's Many issues that are holding back this fucking superb game. Bought it for PS3 and got it for PC because i want to support Namco.

 

[Jobbie]

PC l33tist since 1993 and proud of it. This has been the norm for PC gaming over the years and this certainly is not a new idea. Console games pre-internet launch suffered for the inability to patch anything that wasn't polished. Some people was left with nothing but a broken game. Of course post internet/storage devices on console systems, the player is still left at the mercy of the developer.