Pokemon Game Boy Advance Update

herrvinny writes "As a followup to a previous Slashdot Games article, the upcoming Pokemon Colosseum GameCube game will download an update to a Ruby/Sapphire Pokemon game to fix the internal clock." Pokemon players in the US who want their games patched without buying a new GameCube game can take their carts to EB World or GameStop stores to receive the update. There's also a "special gift" distributed with the patch that requires an open party slot.

Kudos

[redune45]

I know Nintendo fanatics will likely be upset about Nintendo admitting their fault. But personally I'm glad that the company is admitting they made a mistake and are makeing the steps to fix it.

Especiallly the fixes that don't need any puchase at all. Big move for the big N. Way to go!

Re:Kudos

[FlipmodePlaya]

I think it's downright noble. I can't think of any console game an update was released for, with a few exceptions. Some XBOX live games get them, but the XBL service is practically a PC thing, anyway. I recall some games, like GT2, being rereleased because of horrendous bugs. Nothing like this, though... was there?

Re:Kudos

[MBCook]

I've been a gamer for a LONG time. The only things I can think of are things like companies giving you new discs or carts (this was SNES or PS1 era) when a real percentage of defective carts were released. Things like a game didn't work with a specific series of PS1s for some odd reason so you could get a new disc.

As for games that actually got patched (as opposed to the media they're on being bad) I can't think of any. There have been many games that have major problems. Donkey Kong 64 had major bugs IIRC. Enter the Matrix was supposed to have major bugs, and there are many games that are just PATHETIC (there was an episode of X-Play the other day that had a trucking game that I just had to laught out loud at. No collision detection, you raced against an oppontent that never moved, and there was no sound AT ALL).

Basically, major bugs either prevent release and get fixed, get released, or the game is released and then the bug is discovered. I can't remember any games ever getting patched.

And I agree with you guys. The fix is free, easy to get, gives you a bonus, and it's for a bug that most people would never encounter (because most people aren't still playing the game unless they have started a new game which negates the bug).

Nintendo has always been a stand-up company to me. Most companies these days would say "oops", or deny it, or ignore it, or already knew about it before the game shipped. Nintendo finds a bug that won't effect most people and they make it RIGHT.

Re:Kudos

[Afromelonhead]

there was an episode of X-Play the other day that had a trucking game that I just had to laught out loud at. No collision detection, you raced against an oppontent that never moved, and there was no sound AT ALL.

You're probably talking about "Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing," which was mentioned [slashdot.org] back in January here on Slashdot. From what I've seen of the game, it truly is one of the buggiest/worst games of all time, leading to its staggering 4% [gametab.com] rating at Gametab.

Re:Kudos

[Cais]

Didn't SOCOM 2 get an update a while back? I've been unable to use my PS2 lately, so I haven't gotten a chance to check it out.

Re:Kudos

[GregoryD]

Now if they would just admit that the Nintendo Entertainment System hardware was flawed and give everyone who purchased a new one :)

Re:Kudos

[Anonymous Coward]

What was the flaw with the NES? Other than occaionally having to blow on the connector, what was wrong with it?

Re:Kudos

[buffer-overflowed]

Why would they be upset?

Nintendo has always been quick to fix things if they're broken. They've always given excellent support as well. Hell you could still get replacement parts(or repair work done) for the NES from Nintendo of America itself(cheaply too) up until very recently.

So it's basically just par for course. Nintendo hasn't been a group of bastards since the NES days. :-P

"Special Gift"

[Anonymous Coward]

It's Jirachi. It'll be the focal point of the next movie cartoon. Move along.

Not Jirachi

[WorselWorsel]

You get a jirachi and the berry fix from the disc you get for pre-buying Pokemon Colosseum. You get a shiny zigzagoon if you go to EB or Gamestop and patch your game in the store.

Yes, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

when will they fix the save flaw in the original Excite Bike?

very cool way of doing it

[Roman_(ajvvs)]

You have to admit, putting a patch for a game on a different platform into a game is unique as far as I know. And I can't think of any other gaming hardware company where that's possible. Neither Sony nor MS have any peripheral components that communicate like Nintendo with its GC/GBA connection.

The way Nintendo did it sounds a hell of a lot cooler than the standard "would you upgrade your DirectX" you get with PC games.

Usually they just don't tell anyone...

[Anonymous Coward]

Seriously...Hell FF6 has some nasty bugs in it during its first run release...Most of these were later cleaned up during ongoing cart manufactor runs, but no one said anything... My favorite was the "Play as General Leo" bug...I could repeat it without using a game genie...(Note it was less playing "as" him and more of a nasty glitch that replaced your one of battle characters sprite with Gen Leo.)

special gift!

[consolidatedbord]

There's also a "special gift" distributed with the patch that requires an open party slot.

NEW SUPER CHINPOKOMON????

Re:special gift!

[Cais]

Interesting note, chinpoko is Japanese slang for penis. I'm sure Matt and Trey knew this when they wrote that episode...

Bug or Upgrade?

[kmhebert]

I wonder how the bug fix will work. Considering the emphasis Nintendo is currently placing on GC/GBA connectivity through the link cable, I would not be surprised if they had planned this during the development of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. That way, if you want to keep planting berries, you have to buy Pokemon Colosseum! Pretty diabolical?

Re:Bug or Upgrade?

[josh glaser]

No, because you can get the fix free at stores.

Anyhoo...how "less diabolical" of a way would you suggest? Trade in for a new cart...and lose all your Pokemon? (They're on like 350 now, aren't they?)

Uh-huh.