GTA IV Overloading Console's Cache - Causing Freezes

XBF Writes: "...GTA IV now overloads the cache and causes a lock-up (freeze). So now, instead of saving load times and providing a seamless experience, Rockstar has forced some machines to crash while attempting to load from the cache.

The solution: Rockstar needs to release a patch that limits the strain on the RAM right out of the gate. Can they even do this? Who knows? ..."

The problem, originally reported to only effect the 60gb PS3, now is showing up on Xbox 360s as well.

[red_ring_of_death]

ps3 ver is the best

@Mr Blings :online will be fix in no time
this is bigger than some online play
fu@k you
you grow the fu@k up

[Mr Blings]

both versions are having this problem sh*t head. The ps3 version is also getting a online issue as well, meaning crashing games and not being able to connect at all. i have all the consoles and am not a pimple faced fanboy with no friends and whos never had his willy wet before, such as yourself. grow the F*ck up. both consoles have different strengths and weaknesses and both versions are bound to play slightly different.

[ravinshield]

i feel sorry for all ya ps3 fangirls crying about gta. oh well back to the superior version of GTA

[CViper]

Maybe everyone on BOTH sides will learn from the lessons that overhyping teaches.

[cloud360]

yet this game got 10's BEFORE ITS RELEASE....

ded,ded,deh

[ActionBastard]

Well said.

[d3l33t]

i find very little truth on this article. how can one assess memory management without the proper tools?

[cloud360]

i think becuase Edge and Gamer tm didnt review GTA4 early they must probably intending to give it a low score?

i think the scores will keep getting lower and lower after this day. remember what happened to Super Mario Galaxy. Best game of all time my rectum fried ass

[KidMakeshift]

My problem is with the visuals

I have the PS3 version and it's fuzzy and jagged as hell. I'm playing it in 720p on a 42". All the reviewers gave this game a 10 in the graphics department because of the artistic detail, but I can't even really appreciate it because everything is so muddy, jagged, and blurred.

I know everyone is going to disagree, but come on. Saint's Row came out 2 years ago and so far that game has been more of an enjoyable experience than GTA4

[vgn24]

Both PS3 and Xbox 360 have so many different architectures out on the market right now, developers can't make a perfect game that pushes the hardware's limits without causing an error on one of the SKUs.

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

This is actually incorrect. The consoles on all sku's should have the common specification on the 360. On the PS3 on the other hand, the actual machine on the different sku is different as the 20GB does not actually have Wifi.

The bottom line is you are more likely to run into problems with different parts i.e. Nintendo Wii's read error on Smash Bros Brawl. In this case, the cache should be the same across all sku's of the console. This is a mistake in the design decision and should have been caught in QA (or maybe they did, but did not fix it). Remember TTWO is strapped for cash and need the profits now otherwise they would have released the game this Christmas instead.

The more dangerous thing is when console manufacturers change the internal parts to reduce cost etc... this could introduce errors that is impossible to check in advance i.e. PS2 slim or PSP slim.

[vgn24]

You're saying that changing chipsets (albeit to do the same functions) makes the architecture the same? My friend, you need to take an engineering class.

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

I am an Electrical Engineer & Computer Science graduate from one of the ranked top 3 engineering school in the US so I do know a little about computer architecture.

Anyhow, what I'm saying is the SKU is not related to the internals of the machine itself i.e. what chip it used or what DVD drive is in it. The SKU only reflects the features of the machine, i.e with or wihtout hard drive, wifi, wireless controller etc.

SKU stands for stock keeping unit and is there for retail stores and warehouses to keep track of different products. It is not there to denote if the 360 has a 65nm chip in it or a different video scaler.

To answer your implied second question, yes changing a chipset do affect the compatibility of the console if the chipset is not identical in specification, but this is something that has been done for a very long time. All major console manufacturers has done this.

In this case, although the source is somewhat questionable, if true is certainly a developers fault.

[gololo]

"This is actually incorrect. The consoles on all sku's should have the common specification on the 360. On the PS3 on the other hand, the actual machine on the different sku is different as the 20GB does not actually have Wifi."
Dude...by the same logic...doesn't the 360 has different specs specially when it comes down to hdmi then? check your logic my man

[GunShotEddy]

Some fanboy reported that it doesn't happen on Xbox 360s?
http://xboxfamily.net/xbf-f...

The site this article came from has people reporting the error. It's not just on one console brand. This shouldn't be a fanboy issue. It sucks for anyone, but it is happening on both consoles.

[vgn24]

lol@ the fact that people disagreed with you for saying it sucks for anyone this happens to. Not sure who would want this to happen to either console except an extreme fanboy who only owns one console.

[Nostradamus]

PS3 has mandatory install.

Just dont install it if you have the 360 version and you should do fine.

[juuken]

Nostradamus, that's inaccurate. Last time I checked, the 360 did not have an optional install.

[Vip3r]

The sooner Rockstar released a patch for both systems the better. I think more beta testing was required but I guessing this should be able to be fixed easily and soon.

[EZCheez]

I've got a 60Gb and it plays just fine.

Seriously though, there is nothing different between the 20, 40, and 60Gbs that are involved with running a PS3 game. Remember, I said a PS3 game.

EDIT-Whoever disagreed please show proof and I will gladly eat humble pie.

[Ri0tSquad]

No problems at all. BTW, is it just me or does this game have a lot of jaggies? I seen both the PS3 and 360 version and they both had almost the same amount of jaggies (seen less in PS3).

[EZCheez]

I've got a 46" 1080p TV and I'm still not the right guy to ask about jaggies because I'm honestly never looking at anything like that.

I for one think the graphics look great considering the scale of the environment. A lot of people tend to forget how different it is to display a corridor with some bad guys to kill in comparison to a city street with bustling life or sometimes even more of the town (say an elevated view). I for one don't know for a fact HOW it is different, but I can't think they work the same at all. If that were the case GTA4 would be using the Unreal engine.

[Marceles]

I still have yet to play it on my 60gb...50 more mins of work and I'm done. I hope I'm one of the lucky few this doesn't happen to

[Peekay]

this either. They say it's overloading the console's cache. Wouldn't that happen to all of them then? Sounds like a load of bollocks to me.
I have a launch 60g. Played the game last night for two hours without a hitch. It's a dream. I love the game. =D

[JoelR]

hmm same thing for me
60 gig
no freeze up... Oo

[TechWiz]

I played the game last night for 6 hours straight. I had only one crash at the end (in which I shut down and went to bed). It only happen when the game was about to go to a cut scene, and my character was hit by a truck. I really didn't think much about it last night knowing things like this do glitch. Hopefully this will be the only problem. I'll report back if it happens again. If not all is well.

[Faztkiller]

I have been playing gta4 60gig ps3 since 2:00am after launch no problem yet.

[v1c1ous]

:(

edit: yup, definitely its GTA4.

i just popped in geometry wars while playing music from my laptop on the 360 and sending messages AND having like 1000 enemies on screen for 5 minutes straight.

*sigh*

[EZCheez]

Do 2 red lights mean?

[BigBoy2000]

it also means a lot of things. You can look up what it means on http://www.llamma.com/xbox3...

My brother's 360 did the same thing and it meant that the heat sync screws weren't tight enough. Touchy little biotch I suppose.

[v1c1ous]

means that it's way too hot.

i did turn off the AC and the room is slightly hot, but it doesn't matter with other games :/

[Blackmoses]

I haven't had one single problem with this game. Installed in like five minutes and I played for about four hours after that and was just amazed by the detail of the game. I read all these articles and reports and I don't understand how everyone is seeing this problem. Launch 60 Gig model and I bought the Special Edition version of GTa IV, which really isn't any different than the regular retail version. It just has all the cool swag packed in. Still no problems...11% into the game and I'm dogg tired!!!

And all this 360 version or PS3 version being better. Give it a rest!!!!
Get the game for the console you feel more comfortable with. All this comaprrison crap is getting real old some a year and a half later. Who cares...really?!

[red_ring_of_death]

because its Bullsh!t
im at %49 of game
there nothing wrong with the ps3 ver
besides the online is down thats it

[Jamegohanssj5]

I hope we get a patch in about 1 hour. I want to be able to get out of this car and kill some people. I can complete the first driving part, but, then here goes the lockerooo.

The Genius has spoken.

[Baka-akaB]

LOl fanboys should be happy , the game is identical on both platforms , even to the craptacular aspects of it :p

[xboxftw]

been playing for past one week no probs at all.

[power of Green]

Where's the proof the samething is happening to the 360 on the scale of the PS3 if at all beyond normal issues that don't get as much attention as GTA4 will cause.

Not buying the 360 having the same or the amount of actual issues the PS3 is having with this title.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Agreed. Someone trying to pass this off as some mutual loving console problem. FUNK THAT! The 360 community is very vocal if there are widespread problems and the 360 forums are talking about how much they are loving the game not about freezing or anything like that.

Overloading the cache seems like BS. You can clear the cache on your 360 easy with a key sequence on the controller.

[Baka-akaB]

Lol "trying to pass it on the same scale" ? You dont even got a fricking scale to compare with , to begin .
The news fell at the same same about errors on both consoles ... for all you know it might be clear that it only affect a few pressed units for the consoles , and you'd have been acting like a fanboy douche for nothing

[Kleptic]

Crab...idiot...they are talking about processor cache...not HDD caching, obviously there wouldn't be widespread problem with that on the 360...it isn't required...

a common occurance of a game freezing is related to overloaded processor cache, in which the memory just hangs...and everything needs reset...

I am sure it is patchable...AC was doing the same thing, and it ended up being OS related, and Sony patched it within 3 days...

[Chubear]

This is by "Xboxfamily.net"? Wow, who approved this thing. lol

[GunShotEddy]

The same guys who reported the Wiimote style controller for Xbox 360 back in December. What do these guys know? lol

[Chubear]

Interesting. How the hell was this approved?

[beans]

As soon as I popped this game in my console melted and the freaking power in my tiny village went down for up to an hour!

[Lord Vader]

ROFL ROFL ROFL

[zerolinkgannon]

What about people who have no internet connection?? Owned anyone..? >.<

[Gorgon]

How about a patch for the Xbox 360 Arcade with no HDD?

[Baka-akaB]

owned by yourself then ...
Though i'm sure they are more numerous than we'd guess , you got no business owning a next gen console (wii included) without the net , even for solo games .

[Nostradamus]

Im sure the arcade owners are laughing at you right now.

Since they cant install, they have no caching problems. The load times maybe a couple of seconds longer, but hey, atleast its not freezing up like the mandatory PS3 install does.

[Gorgon]

NOSTRADAMUS:

guess I shoot myself on the foot, heh? LOL

[Nostradamus]

Im probably wrong anyways, it was just a thought.

But the arcade owners can play GTA4.

[SEAN1617]

the game is the most over hyped mediocre game ever

[ApocalypseShadow]

and i got it last night and everything was fine for 3 hours.then this morning before going out to lunch,i caused a little mayhem,went back to niko's home to lay down in the apartment and the game froze during saving.

it kept my money,but the screen kept hanging there saying don't turn the system off.well...if it's froze,what else am i going to do?

about to play it now.but it's funny,i can play exclusives like GT5 and uncharted and get no problems,and when i play multiplatform games like conan(actually like this game but it kept freezing on the last boss-no finger prints or scratches-clean system) or gta4,i get "ISSUES".

multiplaform reminds me of EA's broken game mentality.they had better fix it if my game continues to do this.once was enough.

megaton...................

***EDIT***

you're not going to believe this, i paused the game to type this message and it sitting on the map screen where it hasmap-brief-stats-controls,et c

THE B!TCH FROZE ON ME 3:41 pacific time.and that a B!TCH?companies are going to force me to just stick with exclusive games.WTH?!now i got to reboot the system......later...........

[gano]

I took the first one back, got my second one and it freezes too. This is
really blowin my high. Can i please play the damn game.

Edit Above: Yea that's how i tested mine. I would pause like that and it would freeze. This is why it's bad to have multi games, Shyt like this happen.

[gEnKiE]

Ive had no problem so far and I have a 60 gig PS3. Been playing it for about 4 hours now...hopefully it stays that way.

[gano]

I think it's the older model 60gig but god i hope they bring a patch,
NOW. I wanna Play the damn thing.

[JoelR]

Gano... mine is a launch 60gig and am 20 hours in with no freezing...

[jackdoe]

That should be something that you catch during QA.

[ApocalypseShadow]

megaton.................

edit:

you're right jack doe,they should have caught all this sh!T in testing.i let you guys know if it freezes again...

[thehitman]

Im 17.44% into the game no freezes no frame rate problems no anything and I own a 60gig and OMG DIS GAME IS DA SHYT 10 WELL EARNED!!!!!!

[gano]

Suck sir.

[ActionBastard]

I saw you online and offline last night/this morning. Was it freezing then? That sucks bro.

[Varsarus]

Look's like both versions have freezing issues.

[gano]

Need a patch. I replaced my copy this mornin, and still have the prob.

[TheFutile]

I was watching TV in the safehouse, "The Men's Room". Bas is hilarious but it effin froze!

I have a launch 60GB PS3.

They better fix this crap.

[599 US Dollars]

LOL. and you droids thought a 5 gig install would help the underpowered PS3? LOLOLOL

[cyclindk]

The same thing happens when I start my car...

[bootsielon]

My 360 got the RROD after it froze, so I decided to exchange it for the PS3 version, and playing seamlessly.

Edit:

Below me, PS3 has as much RAM as 360. Do you know what 360 needs though? Bigger HDD, more disk space, cheaper WiFi add-on, and most importantly... RELIABILITY.

[ICUP]

I have been playing GTA 4 more than 8 hour with no problem, other than couple of glitches here and there. ^__^

[Bathyj]

Now that I've got your attention....

I was just wondering, for everyone who machine froze PS3/Xbox, was in connected and signed in to the internet PSN/XBL ?

Just wondering, I'm over 15 hours in with a launch 60GB and no porblems so far, but I've been offline the whole time.

Has ANYONE been OFFLINE and had it freeze.

[gano]

But like i said i took it back, got a new one and still had the prob.
I dusted it too, it really needs a patch. DAMN CAN I SEE THE LESBIAN SEX TOO!!!!!

[paracardium]

My ps3 was a 60 gig but I upgarded to a 250 gig and works flawlessly for me.Sorry to hear some of troubles.

[Bathyj]

Thats exactly what I have. I still have 100GB free. Maybe some people are close to full and having problems, like to shouldn't let your PC C/Drive get under a Gig of space so it can work freely.

[360 man]

ps3 needs more ram

[Kleptic]

it has the exact same amount as the 360 you idiot...and half of it is server class XDR Ram...unlike the 360...

[Varsarus]

I've been thinking of something with install's.

You know where you see orange lights near the usb ports on PS3, I suppose you know what it is, well it seems that having installations actually AFFECTS performance, you look at COD4, you know the frame rate is butter smooth on the PS3, well, it doesn't have an install, which makes the hdd access indicator do nothing while playing.

It's just that, I was playing GTA IV, data is being loaded from the hard drive?, which is how you see it flashing on the PS3, but it affects performance while playing, when you see the hdd light flashing goes off, while looking around, you'll see the framerate appears to be smooth, but when your driving or such, the flashing comes again, which as I said affects performance again.

I tryed it out on Assassin's Creed which I believe had an install 1.3GB, and it had the same hdd flashing affecting performance stuff.

But, if I'm wrong, please correct me :S.

[rebirthofcaos]

ps3 does not need more ram. On the other hand you need more brain

[ApocalypseShadow]

looks like it's acting right.i travelled around the city.first i walked a couple of blocks while it was raining.then i took someones car and took the freeway.then jumped on the train and went to the airport.now i'm back at the carnival place right next to the food stand listening to freekin you(jodeci i think).

seems to be working.but i'd bet it will freeze sometime in the future again.keep getting calls from roman but i want to explore the city a little.found me a "bat" by the way.

it's glitchy but have fun people.

megaton....................

[meepmoopmeep]

man i feel sorry for anyone that has this problem. i've played since last night with no issues (connected to PSN) the only glitch i came across was a cutscene was suppose to load but didn't (once).

[aiphanes]

Dang I really want to play this game...i have over 30 gigs free. It froze on the install screen...

I want a patch...I have a launch day 60 gig...

[Gaara_724]

not had this isue on my or 2 m8s versions of gta4 but i have had an online thing tho its so gay and have anny one knoticed a glitch where youre just standing at the side of a street and people walk infront of u but get reset to where the spaned (a few meters back) and it just goes on and on and on? and the graphics where no where near as goood as the pics where

[highps3]

However everything after the "cache" was sooo not technical nor did he even have a clue wtf he was talking about.

Whatever... Nice to bash R* at the same time jackass..

[vgn24]

He basically says that the idea is to load from the RAM, but when you overload it, you not only cease to provide a seamless experience, but lock up the whole system. Makes sense to most people.

But, again, it's only effecting some people and not all. The story makes it sound more widespread than it is.

[Enigma_2099]

... and this one, in comparison... is getting overlooked.

Can't say I'm suprised...

[Jamegohanssj5]

Hey guys, try freeing up some of the space on your hard drive as I found this to help out a little bit.

The Genius has spoken.

[sovietsoldier]

ya i have to say i have had no problems other then it f*cking up because of my faulty disc drive. im sure patches will come out and fix a lot of thing so just bear with!

[Gunnet]

hey I have a ps3 60 g from launch date, no problem with any games nor GTA IV, I am guessing this problem is higher then the usual game disc problems but some of us are lucky,

I work at Play N Trade, I have gotten reports of freezes on both systems, so fanboys stop trying to make the other system look bad.

btw, the game does have a lot of detail. that why it makes it hard on our eyes so you think the graphics look bad, but just wait until you adjust. or you can lower your res.

[CarnageXB]

My xbox 360 still just freezes at the first cut scene every time.

[navig8or]

Hey, don't know if it will work but worth a try. Hold the A button down while turning the X360 on, that way anything already loaded in the cache will clear. Might help, might not.

[Teh-Venom]

man this S#IT blows! i've been waiting forever for GTA to come out and now i can't play because of the freezing issue! im upset and pissed off @ the same time!

[juuken]

I haven't had any problems yet but I'm going to play today to make sure there's no issue with playing. I hope that the people who have this issue gets to play the game. I had a feeling it had nothing to do with the systems.

[stennexxx]

GTAIV should have been made exclusive first for the PS3. The PS3 has seven processors and the xbox360 has 3. More stuff and more memory could be used to create a better game if Rockstar focused only on the PS3. Third party games will not take full advantage of the PS3 for a longtime because of the xbox360. anyway it is a great game with bugs.

P.S. check out Niko next time you buy a hotdog from the hotdog stand. Move the camera above his head. It will show you the insides of the model. Creepy. But bad modeling.

[socalr6]

Other than not being able to get online until 10 pm pst my copy works fine. I have a Samsung 4065, 1080P. It looks alot sharper when not forcing 1080P and letting it auto dispay @ 720P. Also leave RGB on 'Full" as "limited" is way way too bright.

The 30 mins I did play online was fun. Competing to steal cars then doing a drive-by and wacking your competition is way too much fun.