GTA Online Runs Into an Online Roadblock 102
Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "CNET reports that Grand Theft Auto Online, the biggest entertainment release of the year with more than $1 billion in annual sales, is having some trouble getting the gamers online. The title, which launched on game consoles Tuesday morning, is experiencing server issues that have locked out some gamers and made it difficult for those who have gotten in to play the game. Fifteen million people purchased the game when it was released last week — and any number of them could play online when that 'perk' becomes available on October 1. 'At a conservative estimate I would expect about two million players to log on to GTA Online within the first 24 hours,' says Keza MacDonald, UK games editor for IGN.com, the video game and entertainment site. 'Rockstar has never done an online game of this scale before, so they are totally unproven in terms of their network infrastructure.' Rockstar, the game's creator, said that it was doing all it could to buy and access servers to accommodate what was expected to be massive demand for its online title. Meanwhile Twitter is abuzz with complaints from gamers who say they can't get into the service."
Re:Bunch of dopes, these gamers (Score:5, Insightful)
Agreed. When you only pull in a billion dollars in the first three days after launch, you can't afford to go all-out in preparation of your online component just to make sure you maintain good-will and enthusiasm for your company's product and reputation going into the future.
Re:Newsworthy? (Score:5, Insightful)
Sheesh, you kids...
The problem is it's too cloudy today. Half a bajillion people trying to play on one server and it won't work?
Back in the day when we were playing Quake we ran our own servers, and QuakeSpy (later GameSpy) made it easy to find and connect.
But back then we actually BOUGHT games rather than renting them. DRM killed gaming for me (and company servers are indeed DRM).
I miss it. The corporofacists ruined it for me.