The novel idea of letting players earn gold in the Fable II Pub Games on XBLA — gold that can be brought into the game to give your character a good start in life — might turn out to be a problem, now that someone has realized there is a way to game the system into paying big.

The Fortune's Tower card game can be tricked into big payouts, it seems. Find out how after the jump and get saving for extra dog biscuits now before this gets patched.

From Wired:

The game in question is the Fortune's Tower card game, and all you need to do is bet the lowest amount before you deal cards (15 chips), and then immediately hit the left bumper after you select "Deal." This will max out the bet, but the only amount taken out of your pot is the initial 15.

I've been able to replicate this in all of the Fortune's Tower games I've played — you eventually unlock new tables that allow higher bets — as well as in the tournament mode. And yes, I'm racking up quite a bit of gold, thank you.

Get Rich Quick With Pub Games Glitch [Wired Game|Life]

Microsoft is aware of the issues that players are experiencing with the title update to “Ninja Gaiden II” and are currently working to resolve them with Tecmo/Team NINJA. Please stay tuned for a new update. We thank you for your patience!

There is currently no ETA for a new update. Their suggestion for the meantime? Clear your cache and play the game offline. Doing so will remove all game updates and disable the mission mode DLC, but you'll be able to complete the main game without locking up while we wait for further updates. Hit the jump for cache clearing instructions.

To clear cache:

- Go to the system blade and then select memory.

- Press Y on the HD symbol and then press X, X, Left Bumper, Right Bumper, X, X. Once you do this, a message will appear saying: Do you want to perform maintenance on your Xbox 360 storage devices? Select yes.

A relatively simple fix for the issue, and really your only choice if you wish to complete the game before a new patch.

After reaching a certain level of progress — the theory is cumulative laps driven, as it's struck gamers at differing points in their careers — the profile becomes corrupted and freezes the game right at the load screen. There is no other way to play the game except to delete the file and start all over. You can see a video of it here — but it takes 7 minutes to explain what was just said above. There is, however, a swell parakeet whistling in the background.

Of course, using a memory stick and disabling auto-save is one workaround. That doesn't help anyone who had no idea he'd bought a defective game and finds out about this after putting 20 or 30 hours worth of effort into it.

Reader S.H. (who tipped us here) says EA Sports is not responding to forum posts, emails or any calls for help (which the video helpfully points out). No wonder they're putting Peter Moore's face into a boxing game. That'll probably crash, too.

Seriously, EA Sports, why is it amateur hour all of a sudden? What the fuck is the matter with you people?

Addendum: If you're gonna hate on me for the headline, I grew up in Elkin, N.C., 20 minutes from North Wilkesboro, where they used to race twice a year, and on a clear Saturday night I could hear Friendship Speedway from my house. I come by this honestly, friend.

*NASCAR 09 Warning for 360* Back Up Your Saved Profile [Operation Sports forums]

• Sliders are borked. The CPU sliders do nothing. Human sliders affect both CPU and human. Level playing field!
• Online dynasty mode is borked. It sometimes simulates games that have been played by humans.
• Super-sim is borked: Using it to fast-forward through a blowout can add many more plays than would actually happen in the football game, and produce extremely lopsided final scores.
• Kick returns are borked.
• The new player speed model is causing huge problems with pursuit angles by CPU-controlled players.

I have the game but I have not played it intensively enough to discover these issues. But if these issues are on the level and, worse, if some gameplay mechanics are not patchable, then it's an almost unforgivable shame. Especially regarding sliders — how can something like that get through QA? How can the super-sim glitch go unnoticed?

And that's to say nothing of the rosters fiasco, for which EA says a patch is coming soon. The roster editing community is equal parts anxious and furious. Two for-profit sellers have put out files that they say are workable, but there is a good chance EA's patch could invalidate any file that predates it, screwing both the sellers and anyone who bought it.

While not Madden, I've always felt NCAA Football was in many ways a better game, because of the deeper catalog of teams and the richer offseason activity of recruiting. But on the next-gen titles it's been a wipeout, starting with versions that had fewer features than the Xbox and PS2 versions, and today still have nowhere near the level of cinematic detail that made it such an immersive game. Following that with a game that has this many bugs is, for devotees of the series, frustrating to no end.

NCAA 09 Plagued with Bugs [AOL Fanhouse]

Yes, some folks in Europe had bad key codes in their boxes, which they are taking care of. Yes, Funcom wasn't prepared for the massive influx of players and so not everyone go into the early start, which led to some understandable grievances. The buddy code system has been postponed until they get the severs stable for the paying customers.

I'm also aware that this sort of shit is going to happen, and there is nothing we can do about it.

Look, Funcom has done an admirable job so far with the game, considering their only other real MMO is Anarchy Online, which has been running for years with three servers (one in German, if I remember correctly). For a company going from running a game with tens of thousands of players to suddenly having to contend with 400K+ players they are doing a good bit better than most other companies would.

What really gets me is the conspiracy people, who have somehow made issues with the game into plots that effect them personally. The buddy codes aren't activated to force players to buy the game before they know how "horrible" it is. The forums require a registered copy of the game so you have to buy it to see anything.

My favorite? When folks point out that the forums are filled with negative comments, and that no one is enjoying their giant failure of a game. Perhaps the only people who feel they need to use the forums right now are the people with technical issues? I'm too busy leveling up my Bear Shaman (ding 31!) to bother hopping onto the boards to drop a friendly letter of thanks. I assume there are more out there like me.

We do get it, though. Big MMO launches are going to have problems. It is the nature of the beast. I don't particularly see the need or use in having someone write 20 paragraphs to me about how they are beta testing the game on us because they have to tweak the servers when the main population arrives. This happens in every MMO, whether or not you choose to remember.

Calm down. Relax. If your issues get resolved, they get resolved. If they don't, you might have picked the wrong game. Either way, we are well aware, and we will update you the moment Funcom or Age of Conan begin biting the heads off of live infants.

I know some of you will be disappointed that I am not fervently taking up the anti-Funcom banner, but an MMO like Age of Conan is a different experience for everyone, and in the end the only experience I can go off is my own.

A little history here. If you make it past board No. 255 (I forget which key this is). a subroutine error crashes the game, splitting its screen into one-half playable and the other garbled. Its algorithm is looking to draw a fruit that doesn't exist. This creates a perhaps unintentionally finite gameplay experience. It probably was a good thing. Every pattern has a hiding space where Pac-Man can pause, untouched, while the gamer takes a pee (or, snicker, a dump), eats, or does whatever. That's been a part of Pac-Marathons since day one. A truly infinite Pac-Man could lead to world records limited only by hardware integrity, probably going nonstop for months at a time.

Hodges fixes that, and offers proof of his work. Assuming you know how to go in and apply the patch yourself, voila, unlimited Pac-Man. (I guess he didn't include the ROM to avoid the copyright hassle). Of course, to get there you either have to use a MAME warp cheat — or know the patterns up to the 9th Key, memorably invoked in Buckner & Garcia's hit "Pac-Man Fever" and included with the liner notes.

Pac-Man's Split Screen Level Analyzed and Fixed

Microsoft apologizes for any inconvenience and is investigating the matter in full. But since these problems remind me a lot of the US roll out of Video Marketplace, I'm guessing they won't be permanent.

Microsoft confirm problems with UK Video Marketplace [via n4g]

Mass Effect WTF [Flickr]

"We recently discovered a bug on the US version of Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction that some of you may encounter the first time you boot the game," Insomniac community manager James Stevenson told Shacknews. "With specific amounts of free space on your drive, you may see a screen that tells you have insufficient space to create game data even though there is plenty of free space on your drive."

Minor Glitch Halts Ratchet & Clank PS3, Simple Workaround Solves Issue [Shacknews]

Ninja Bee: Now with Extra Ninjas!

Band of Bugs latest expansion adds extensive downloadable content

Orem, Utah - October 15, 2007 -NinjaBee, a division of Wahoo Studios and a leading independent developer of Xbox LIVE Arcade titles, announced yesterday its newest expansion pack, Ninja Sticks of Fury, for the Band of Bugs title. With this new expansion pack comes a new shadowy character, new achievements and a bigger challenge than anything that came before it.

The new campaign is set in a new desolate and mountain area beyond the known Insect Kingdom. Featuring a new unit class, players guide a ninja named Vail who leads a group of mercenaries while a mysterious group wreaks havoc across the snowy wasteland. The ninja adds a new level of strategy to Band of Bugs, forcing players to think in new ways.

Band of Bugs has gained popularity for its innovative level editor, which allows any user to create unique content for their friends and the community. Ninja Sticks of Fury adds a brand new unit and a winter tile set to the editor allowing level designers to push their creativity to the limit. The Snowy environment is not only available in the editor, but will automatically enhance select existing maps already in the game, adding new variety to old favorites.

Band of Bugs was released in June, 2007. It is available on Xbox LIVE Arcade as both a free trial and as a full game for only 800 Microsoft Points. It supports 1-4 players in co-op or in multiplayer versus modes and also supports the Xbox LIVE Vision camera. One of the few turn-based tactics games available, Band of Bugs provides gameplay deep enough to be satisfying to established fans of the genre, but friendly enough to appeal to casual gamers. Currently, the game has fifty levels, 3 map packs, 2 additional campaigns, and also features a level editor allowing gamers to design custom scenarios and play them solo or over Xbox LIVE with friends.

Now the 2K forums are alive with the sound of angry, as more gamers verify the problem on their PCs and 360s, with one of the latest posts as of this writing confirming that the screen clipping appears on the 360 retail version as well.

Shoddy, shoddy work 2K. People invest in widescreen display solutions to see more, not less. 2KB's Chris Kline was even asked specifically if widescreen would display additional image as compared to 4:3 in this thread here.

You will see more in widescreen. We use a different projection matrix; there is no squashing or stretching of the image involved.

Would this be enough to keep you from purchasing BioShock? I'm still on board, but then I feel I have a certain obligation to pick up and play one of the biggest titles of the year. Hit the link below to read the full 2K forum thread, filled with disturbingly rational discussion and cool heads. Seriously, it's almost spooky.

Widescreen messed up ... [2K Forums - Thanks Saiwen!]

BECOME A WINNER WITH BAND OF BUGS NEW EXPANSION PACK, RED KINGDOM

New story, new characters, new challenges and one huge contest await gamers

Orem, Utah - August 8, 2007 - NinjaBee, a division of Wahoo Studios and a leading independent developer of Xbox LIVE Arcade titles, announced today its newest expansion pack, Red Kingdom, for its Band of Bugs title. With this new expansion pack comes more content for the level editor, leading to Ninja Bee's own "Design a Level Contest."

Red Kingdom moves the action from the Western Kingdom to the Southern Kingdom, and adds two new troop types - artillery and cavalry - and ten exciting new missions. The Southern Kingdom's arid desert comes to life with new main characters with special powers and a higher level cap. Players will be happy to see new Achievements have been added, as well as new cinematics which further the saga. The game can be enjoyed single player or co-operatively as well as in multiplayer battles.

Band of Bugs gained popularity for its level editor, which allows any user to create unique content for their friends and the community. Red Kingdom pushes the editor further by adding in desert tile sets and items such as stone huts, rock formations and more cactus types than any Bug needs. To make sure these new levels get seen, NinjaBee is hosting a contest for level editors. Once gamers have designed their entry level, they only need to post a description and screen shots to the user forums at www. NinjaBee.com. Members of the forum will vote for their favorite levels and NinjaBee staffers will take the top 3 levels with the most votes, play through them and select the number one level. Winners will get 4,000 Microsoft Points and a special edition NinjaBee tee-shirt. All levels are due by August 16, 2007. Contest rules will be posted on www.ninjabee.com.

Band of Bugs was released June, 2007. It is available on Xbox LIVE Arcade as both a free trial and as a full game for only 800 Microsoft Points. It supports 1-4 players in co-op or in multiplayer versus modes and also supports the Xbox LIVE Vision camera. One of the few turn-based tactics games available, Band of Bugs provides gameplay deep enough to be satisfying to established fans of the genre, but friendly enough to appeal to casual gamers. The game has fifty levels, and also features a level editor allowing gamers to design custom scenarios and play them solo or over Xbox LIVE with friends.

Band of Bugs is a turn-based strategy game that puts you in the shoes of a young insect named Maal who finds himself in the middle of a war between his land and an army of evil insect enemies. The gameplay is the standard grid-based map battler that takes height and positioning into account. Unlike many strategy games, however, BoB has been dumbed down and simplified for the casual market...and you can't dumb something down for one group without disappointing the other, and quite frankly I am a bit disappointed.

It's not that Band of Bugs is a bad game. Not in the least really. The graphics are nicely stylized, and for some reason I found the music incredibly catchy. It's just that when I got down into the meat of things I found that it was mostly exoskeleton with just tiny edible bits inside. Delicious, but not nearly as filling as I would like.

Kids...don't eat bugs.

My main problem is that I'm more of a strategy RPG fan, which takes your basic strategy game and adds in leveling units, in-depth weapon creation, experience point strategies and the like. Band of Bugs here goes the opposite direction. You have a predetermined amount of units and you must keep one or more alive until the goal is reached. That goal can be as simple as defeating all of you enemies or a little less mundane, like trying to collect eggs while defending your egg carrier unit. Sometimes the objectives are interesting, but when all your turn consists of is moving, attacking, and then trying to face the location you'd take the most damage from otherwise, it gets a little boring, and boredom leads to frustration, which leads to I'm not having fun with this Game anymore.

There is plenty to do in Band of Bugs, but if you're a real strategy game fan I would warn you from doing any of it. There's a level editor so you can share maps with folks online, as well as online modes which I tried to join but failed to find any sort of game playing...not really a good sign.

If you are interested in the strategy genre and want something light to start with, then Band of Bugs could very well be worth the 800 Microsoft Points. It does have a certain charm, and though the challenge can be a bit erratic at times it is a solidly built game. Just remember as you're playing that it's only the tip of the strategy iceberg and you'll be fine. Michael Fahey

Ninja Bee's turn-based bug strategy game hits the Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday. I had a chance to play with an early build back when it was entered in last year's Independent Games Festival. While the game seemed fun, it didn't do a whole lot to differentiate it from any other turn-based strategy games... besides the bugs that is. Hit the jump for the press release. Brian Crecente

Band of Bugs" Storms onto Xbox LIVE Arcade This Wednesday

The third Xbox LIVE Arcade title from NinjaBee, "Band of Bugs" builds on the success of their previous titles, "Outpost Kaloki X" and "Cloning Clyde", and delivers quality gameplay in a unique setting. "Band of Bugs" is available for download beginning Wednesday, June 20th at 9 a.m. GMT (2 a.m. PDT).

"Band of Bugs" is a fun, strategic diversion for fans of tactical gameplay, while the unique animations and environments in the game make it a fun, approachable title for newcomers as well. "Band of Bugs" is one of few turn-based tactical strategy games available on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Players will enjoy unlimited variety in their gameplay choices with the Xbox LIVE Arcade's first ever free built-in level editor, which they can use to create custom maps and play with friends over Xbox LIVE.

Available worldwide, "Band of Bugs" can be downloaded for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone.

Game Features
• Choose to play through a story-based campaign, stand-alone missions or skirmishes
o Story-based campaign: Action and adventure in a single-player campaign story! Follow the adventures of young Maal as he leads an elite team of bug warriors to protect the kingdom from evil insect enemies.
o Stand-alone missions: Try your hand at one of these unique single-level scenarios. These short battles include a background story, unique events and custom goals.
o Skirmish: Test your skills on a variety of individual maps, including custom maps designed by the player with the in-game editor! Select a game type (Elimination, Capture, or Escape) and choose to control any party in the battle to demonstrate your superior tactical skill.
• Four unique multiplayer modes for up to 4 players either locally or over Xbox LIVE, including:
o Elimination: The first team to lose all the bugs in one party loses the battle!
o Capture: Capture (or defend) a strong point.
o Escape: Reach an escape point, or stop the enemy from reaching it.
o Mission: A unique scenario with custom story, events, and goals.
• Challenge friends to Spider Hunter, a more relaxed game that allows up to 8 people to join and leave on the fly!
• Use the game's built-in level editor to design your own custom scenarios for play against others over Xbox LIVE (a first for an Xbox LIVE Arcade game!)
• Xbox LIVE Vision camera support in all Xbox LIVE multiplayer modes.
• Mystery leaderboard where players earn points for items they are not told about - Players can check the board and figure out what will help them get to the top of the leaderboard!
• Earn up to 200 Gamerscore and 12 Achievements.

More information is available at http://www.xbox.com/games/livearcade.

The team behind Xbox Live Arcade entry Outpost Kaloki X, the indie Ninjabee, is hard at work on their next XBLA effort Band of Bugs. The title is self-described as a "fast playing, accessible, tactics strategy game" and scheduled to hit the Xbox 360 sometime in 2007. The dev team went the YouTube route for their first gameplay trailer, showing off how the Independent Games Festival finalist plays, but starts with the embedded level editor. Killer app? Oozing with sex appeal? Not really, but it looks like a solid, strategically satisfying casual entry.

Thanks for the tip, Conor! Michael McWhertor

In preparation for next week's big Burning Crusade release, Blizzard has gone ahead and released the 2.03 patch. Druids and Rogues get talent point refunds, items have been nerfed over level 60 to avoid having them be useful, blacksmithing and leatherworking have undergone changes, and much more. Also included in the patch are world events leading up to the big opening of the Dark Portal upon launch, including invasions and a random raid boss spawning throughout the lands of Azeroth.

So far the patch is pretty damn buggy. The warriors in my guild cannot seem to pull up a target window for the mobs they attack, making them use the 'click and pray' method of fighting. Others have reported their quest logs suddenly going blank.

Say what you will about random group-wiping bugs, I think it is extremely considerate of Blizzard, having made us wait so long for BC, to go ahead and get the horrible glitches started a week in advance. I'd post the full patch notes, but damn they're long this time around. Hit the link for details! Michael Fahey

World of Warcraft Client Patch 2.0.3 (01/09/2007) [World of Warcraft]

What's better than complaining about a buggy game? Making songs and music about a buggy game! Here's a truly brilliant send-up of infested Xbox 360 Saints Row from cabel, the fella behind those funny DS Lite YouTube reviews. Cabel blogs:

It [Saints Row]... has some bugs. The world's most awesome bugs.

So many bugs that I would keep my digital camera on hand while I played the game. And every time I came across a bug — and I came across a whole lot of them — I'd take a short video.

For a long time now, I've wanted to share these bug videos with you, but I wasn't convinced they were quite funny enough. They needed a hot comedy injection, a little something to tie it all together. And then it hit me: musical theatre. What better compliment to the rough and tumble world of Saints Row?

Give this man a round of applause. ROUND OF APPLAUSE. Like I said, brilliant! Brian Ashcraft

Thanks, Alex

Despite Microsoft assertions about the improved reliability of Vista, many in the industry are taking a wait-and-see approach. Microsoft's previous operating system, Windows XP, required two "service packs" issued over a number of years to substantially improve security, and new flaws are still routinely discovered by outside researchers.

On Friday, a Microsoft executive posted a comment on a company security information Web site stating the company was "closely monitoring" the vulnerability described by the Russian Web site. It permits the privileges of a standard user account in Vista and other versions of Windows to be increased, permitting control of all of the operations of the computer. In Unix and modern Windows systems, users are restricted in the functions they can perform, and complete power is restricted to certain administrative accounts.

"Currently we have not observed any public exploitation or attack activity regarding this issue," wrote Mike Reavey, operations manager of the Microsoft Security Response Center. "While I know this is a vulnerability that impacts Windows Vista, I still have every confidence that Windows Vista is our most secure platform to date."

While so far the flaws and security holes don't seem to have anything to do with gaming, it still would suck to buy an upgrade for your system only to have the computer infected with bugs.

Although the operating system isn't suppose to ship to us regular Joes until next month, the corporate customers got an eyeful of the bugs last month when they received their copies. Brian Crecente

Flaws are detected in Microsoft's Vista [New York Times]

But even that wasn't so bad when you compare it to the fact that I didn't know what to do next, and I wasn't finding anything because there was nothing to find. So it was back to GameFAQs' board, but this time there was no solution. Just confirmation that there was supposed to be an item for me to pick up, but due to a glitch in the game it disappears after a certain point. And of course, I'd been diligent and saved my game, meaning I was completely screwed. I'd have to start the game over.

Genji's Game-Killing Bug [Wired Blogs]

And five years after the rest of us became weary of their greed and incompetence, a huge chunk of the NBA Live '07 has wised up and realized that EA blows.

At one time, EA was producing the best titles money could buy and one had little reason to look elsewhere. Now gamers have a sense that if you want the best, it's not EA. Whether it's looking at the NBA 2K series for our basketball game fix, users leaving Battlefield 2 because they feel the problems will never be addressed, or former FIFA players moving onto Pro Evolution/Winning Eleven, it's a sense that we are all sharing. We look at NBA Live over the last few years and we see the same basic game being re-released with new fancy features. The same elemental problems from the last few years are still there, some have been tweaked but the overall issues still exist. While there are plenty of new features, it gives the impression that EA is saying in response to the lingering issues "yeah, well, HEY! Look at this!" Be it All-Star Weekend (a long time wish that EA has in fact fulfilled), superstar moves or dynasty additions. While those additions are nice to have, it is piling on a base that cannot support it. Instead of addressing the underlying fractures, EA is just constructing a new structure on the old crumbling foundation.

At the bottom of the long, open letter to EA by some frustrated fans is a long list of YouTube videos detailing some pretty hysterical NBA Live 07 bugs. Judging by the videos, these guys have reason to be upset... it's hard to believe this got out the door. Florian Eckhardt

NBA LIVE COMMUNITY LETTER TO EA [NBALive.org]

Watch both parts of the absolutely amazing Lost Planet trailer on display at TGS 06. Some of this footage we've seen before, but it gives a great summary of the story, and some fantastic juggernaut mud bugs versus mechs action. Florian Eckhardt

The first production run of the game (the one you have) was pushed out the door early. This was in part to coincide with the release of the Star Wars DVDs Episode IV, V, VI. The good news is that a second production run of the game has been tested and should hit store shelves after the initial stock runs out. However the game is still not bug free, but MUCH cleaner. The Endor Battle level has been tweaked so it is now user friendly. Although if I remember correctly the wireless co-op mode is still crap.

The moles also tell me that the U.S. version is actually far better than the one that hit Europe.

The whole thing is being blamed not on Amaze, but Lucas Arts, who, according to my sources, rushed the game out the door. The bugs were reported, the developers were trying to fix, but Lucas Arts just wanted the game shipped, according to the moles.

If you recall, this is the same excuse used for that abortive ending in Knights of the Old Republic 2.

Now I just need to figure out how to locate the secret second run of the game and try to swap it for the cruddy version I have. Brian Crecente

Let's start the day with indie games!

Jay is Games posts nothing but wee indie games from all over the intertubes, and all of it is worth a look. This one caught my eye just for the description:

Created by Robert Kabwe of Montreal, the game makes use of an engine that creates the illusion of 3D in Flash, and it's very, very good.

You play the role of Nimian Hunter on a mission to feed the beast/god/demon/thing that commands you. Just move the mouse in the direction you wish to travel, lasso in hand, and click the mouse to rope the moving creatures that you find near the bright green beacons. Wait for the lock-on indicator to appear for best results.

I've been playing it in the background for a bit and I'm impressed with it. Very good, if lo-budget, ambience and immersion, and very decent gameplay, especially for what it is. Give it a shot.

I would like to see this game polished up a bit, smoothed out. The graphics are a little jarred together and the sound effects are raw library. This would be highly effective if it had a bit more work put into it, but I can see that being a waste of time for the developer. Eliza Gauger

Nimian Hunter [Jay is Games]

Just what does it take to be a professional QA bug hunter?

"I suggest having problem solving skills, basic PC software skills, some schooling in an electronic field is a bonus too," says Jai Kristjan, who worked in testing for four years before graduating to junior producer, and is now a designer at Vancouver start-up Slant Six Games. "And the ability to do a mind-numbing, spirit-crushing repetitive task for long periods of time."

Another QA tester comments: "Games testing, as a job, is quite possibly the best way to earn yourself 6 an hour. It definitely beats stacking shelves." But what do you have to do for that 6? "Walking into every single wall in a level to find map holes is just one example of a tester's day in pixel hell."

To summarize: according to this article over at Edge Online, the life of a professional QA tester is directly equivalent to being a character in Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, only you can't expect to get drunk on beer mid-shift, pass out, then be granted release from your toils when a bunch of rats eat off your face. Florian Eckhardt

A Bug's Life [Edge Online] (Thanks, Jane!)

William Vitka over at CBS's GameCore has a fantastic feature up on Sony Online Entertainment and the headache know as Star Wars Galaxies. While there have been claims the game was unfinished, SOE president John Smedley told GameCore, "There has never been a release by Sony Online Entertainment that has been incomplete." Yet, Smedley admits the title has had its fair share of bugs.

With the advent of online gaming, bugs have become normalized. Vitka adeptly points out, "If a CD doesn't play the last track, you go get your money back. If the display on your television doesn't work properly, you go get your money back. If a car company forgets — I don't know, the seat belts, you go get your money back." And if an online game is infested, you get a patch. The logic baffles.

The rest of the four-page feature explores in detail how rocky Star Galaxies has been. Things are looking up. There's a new patch that adds new content and fixes old bugs. Unfortunately, there are new bugs as well. D'oh!

Full Story Here [GameCore]

The DS sending scrambled images to my TV [War Pipe]