Earlier today NeoGaf posters started a topic about a ton of bugs in the 360 port of Bully, which went on sale only yesterday. People have been reporting frame rate issues, frequent freezing and skipping audio. I have also heard that some of the games hang-ups can only be solved by starting a new game.
A few hours after stories of the incomplete game circulated throughout the whole of the Internet Rockstar’s issued this statement:
"We have just become aware of the issues people are having with Bully Scholarship Edition on Xbox 360. It appears that some older 360s are experiencing framerate issues, freezes and other problems. You have our word that we never experienced any of this in QA – in any of our offices or at Microsoft. I am horrified, and we are now working around the clock to rectify this situation. Thanks to Neo-Gaf for bringing this matter to our attention. We love our games and put a huge amount of energy and care into making them all that they can be. We would never shove anything out the door – we never have and never will. We apologise [sic] to everyone affected for the inconvenience. Respectfully, Sam Houser"
This is inexcusable. You’re telling me that your office and Microsoft’s office (no joke intended) tested the game and everything was all peachy? And I don’t buy for one second that only "older 360’s" that are experiencing these issues, considering many people experiencing the freezing are using Elite models. There is nothing in these mystical newer Xbox 360’s that makes them run better, faster or longer.
It’s 2008. Problems like this shouldn’t happen. If there is a problem with your game, own up to it. Sam Houser seems to have tried, but at the last minute decided to place the blame on old hardware. Why not just say ninjas snuck into all the stores and replaced all the working copies with broken ones. Bad form old boy, bad form.
