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Report: Super Smash Bros. Wii U error code bricking systems
A memory-corrupting error reportedly stemming from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is rendering some Wii U consoles unusuable, multiple sources claim. Users experiencing Error Code 160-0103 report a number of related issues, ranging from data deletion to unplayable games. In some cases, a related error message (160-1710) persists even in the Wii U's Data Management menu, requiring the console to be shipped to Nintendo for repair. "There is a problem with the system memory," the error message reads. "For help, make a note of the error code and visit support.nintendo.com." A specific cause has not been determined, but many users report experiencing the issue after turning the system off and back on again after a Super Smash Bros. for Wii U session. Issues related to Error Code 160-0103 were infrequently reported prior to the release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and a reliable solution is not yet known. Joystiq has reached out to Nintendo regarding the error message, but has not received a response. [Update: A Reddit post clarifies that the problem is not exclusively caused by Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, citing previous user experiences with Hyrule Warriors, Mario Kart 8, and other Wii U games. Faulty flash memory chips are suspected to be at fault, though a consistent, proven cause remains unknown.] [Image: Trippy12345ify]
Hear the Glitch soundtrack in concert
How many of you like to talk about Glitch? Wow, that many? That's great, but please quiet down for right now; there's time to talk in the comments. It's not a question you need to answer out loud. Besides, if you're super enthusiastic about the memory of the game, you have an opportunity to experience a slice of it for yourself in concert. To celebrate the release of Glitch's soundtrack, a concert is being held on January 24th, 2015, in Toronto. Tickets are $20, and all proceeds go directly to the musicians taking part in the concert. As of this writing, the planned attendance isn't high, but we're pretty sure that will change as more people get wind of the concert. Can't make it to Canada in the middle of January? The Glitch website still offers free downloads for many of its music tracks.
Fox loses his head in Super Smash Bros. glitch video
Something strange is going on in the world of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U...in this one bugged copy of the game, anyway. Player Terrence Boykin has taken to Miiverse to post screenshots of misshapen Marios, Yoshis, and Zero Suit Samuses, but the newly-released video above is the real kicker. What's with King Dedede's face? And where did Fox's head go? What's happening here, and why? WHY!? [Video: Nintendo / Terrence Boykin]
Assassin's Creed: Unity title screen crash workaround: remove your friends
Assassin's Creed: Unity has been plagued with bugs and glitches since launch, and developer/publisher Ubisoft has already issued several patches to combat the game's problems. Still, not all the kinks have been ironed out. For example, if you're experiencing crashes at the main menu, according to a recent posting to the game's live updates blog - which details fixes and workarounds as Ubisoft discovers and releases them - you can blame your friends. "We have discovered one of the issues that may cause the game to crash at the main menu after pressing the CONTINUE button. This issue affects all platforms," Ubisoft wrote on its Unity update blog. "For players who haven't experienced this issue, we highly recommend you take the following steps to prevent a crash: Do not add any IN-GAME RECENT PLAYER as a GAME CONTACT. If you already have GAME CONTACTS ... remove them." Ubisoft writes that a fix is in the works. In the meantime, in the city of Paris, we are all strangers. [Image: Ubisoft]
Devs pull problematic Alien: Isolation patch from PS4
Following reports of glitches caused by the recent 1.02 update for the PlayStation 4 iteration of Alien: Isolation, developer Creative Assembly has pulled the patch from the PlayStation Network. "We've discovered an issue with the latest patch (v1.02) for Alien: Isolation on PS4, where some users are having difficulties with playing Mission 5," reads the studio's forum notice. "We're currently working with Sony on a fix and will have that available as soon as possible." While there's no word on a new, functional update, Creative Assembly urges anyone who updated to 1.02 to roll their game back to 1.01. For those playing Alien: Isolation from a disc, this is as simple as deleting the 1.02 patch from their console, but those using a digital version of the game will need to delete the game itself (making sure not to delete game saves in the process), then download the whole thing again, along with the 1.01 patch. [Image: Sega]
Glitched Sonic Boom speedrun clocks in at under an hour
It took speedrunners less than 24 hours to crack open Sega's Wii U action game Sonic Boom and produce an hour-long playthrough thanks to a game-breaking glitch discovered yesterday. The current world record, achieved during Twitch streamer Parax0's fourth-ever playthrough of the game, clocks in at 51 minutes. Following Sonic Boom's launch on Tuesday, fellow Sonic series speedrunner DarkspinesSonic discovered that players can chain special attacks by pausing the game in between button inputs. Since Knuckles' special attack launches him into the air, this quirk allows players to take flight and bypass the majority of the game's content by skipping cutscenes, breaking level boundaries, and entering areas long before they should become accessible. The glitch also triggers curious scenes like the one pictured above, and sometimes renders level geometry invisible. It also crashes the game occasionally, so try it at your own risk. It makes for a very entertaining playthrough, however. Nice work, Knuckles. [Image: Sega]
Ubisoft now working to fix Assassin's Creed: Unity issues
Following a rough launch earlier this week, Ubisoft wants to assure fans of Assassin's Creed: Unity that the development team is working to patch the game's many glaring technical issues. Just how glaring are these issues? According to the analysts at Digital Foundry, though it appears exclusively on new hardware, Assassin's Creed: Unity performs worse than its prior-generation predecessor Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, while featuring more graphical glitches (see the faceless abomination above) and relatively frequent crashes. Despite the controversial decision to display the game at 900p resolution, Digital Foundry finds that Unity struggles to maintain a steady 30 fps framerate, and that crowd scenes often plunge the game as low as 20 fps. Though Digital Foundry plans to investigate Unity's shortcomings in more detail over the next week, the analysts diplomatically state that "there's certainly the sense that both console versions of the game aren't running at their best." As for Ubisoft's plans to fix these problems, the publisher claims it is currently working on an update to fix a number of specific glitches discovered by players, including protagonist Arno Dorian falling through the game world and getting stuck inside hay bales, and the game crashing without warning. Ubisoft is also investigating the performance issues outlined by Digital Foundry, though it has yet to offer word on any fixes that might be in the works. [Image: Ubisoft/King_Anesti]
Everybody's gone Sparrow surfin' in Destiny
At first, I was a little disappointed that a Destiny video titled "Sparrow Surfin'" didn't use Turtles in Time's excellent Sewer Surfin' as a backing track. It only took a few seconds before my initial impressions changed to pure delight, however. Watch the clip above and you'll see why. A newly discovered glitch in Bungie's multiplayer FPS allows players to ride atop Sparrow bikes and other vehicle types without entering the default riding animation. This, of course, has amazing consequences when paired with character dances and gestures. Make sure to watch the whole video -- the ending is perfect. [Video: Freke Out / Bungie]
You probably won't outlive this 136-year Smash Bros. ban glitch
Harsh, Nintendo. We know ledge-camping is considered unsportsmanlike, but being banned from Super Smash Bros. for 3DS for 136 years, like some unfortunate Reddit users have experienced, seems a bit extreme. Okay, so the 136-year ban is actually a glitch and not a purposeful sentence, but it stinks all the same, especially since there is (as of right now at least) apparently no way to fix it. The glitch can be avoided however, since it seems to be happening only to players who quit online matches early or excessively target an individual in the game's four-player For Fun mode. So, don't be a bully, don't rage quit, or if you're really worried about this happening to you, just don't go online at all, basically. Reddit user "rstevoa" theorizes the glitch is caused by the game's code counting ban time too low, which would in turn cause the code to loop around to the highest number of seconds it can assign to a ban. Of course, that's just a theory - who knows what dark sorcery actually goes on at Nintendo? [Image: Nintendo]
PSA: Here's one possible fix for PS4 Rest Mode issues
If your PlayStation 4 is behaving badly after this week's 2.0 update, Reddit user Nestledrink has a potential fix that may get your ailing console back up and running. The fix is for users who are unable to wake their PlayStation 4s up from Rest Mode. You'll see your console constantly blinking an orange light if you're affected, and your system will be unresponsive if you attempt to power it on or press the PS button on a DualShock 4 controller. If this is the case, Nestledrink recommends powering down the console by pressing the power button for seven seconds, then engaging Safe Mode by holding the power button for another seven seconds afterward. From there, you can select the third option on the screen that appears in order to reinstall the latest firmware update, which should hopefully fix the problem. While the method isn't guaranteed to fix all PlayStation 4 issues, one Joystiq staffer was able to resuscitate their console by following the steps above, and confirms that their PS4 is now back in action. If your PS4 is still unresponsive, try contacting Sony support for further assistance. [Image: Sony]
Nielsen admits a software glitch has been screwing up recent TV ratings
Fist the bad news: No, Firefly isn't coming back. But, if you've ever felt like the ratings system didn't accurately represent the popularity of your favorite show, this might be something to take note of. Today The Nielsen Company issued a statement admitting it found a "technical error that impacts national network television ratings over several months." The problem apparently didn't apply to cable networks or local TV, but given their impact on billions of dollars in advertising, even a small problem can be significant. According to reports ABC benefited from the glitch, which became more noticeable as the fall premieres rolled out. For several days in a row, the network's TV shows always gained ratings between early morning quick estimates, and later more complete reports. The error started on March 2nd, but Nielsen says it will reprocess data going back to August 18th, when the first network fall premiere aired -- maybe next time they'll stick to just counting Tweets.
Destiny player jumps into the game's DLC regions
Do you want to start exploring Destiny's second expansion region? Don't start fretting about tiny details like not having it installed or the fact that it's not out yet. You can go there right now! A video by YouTube user Nowise10 is embedded just past the break and details the exact sequence of jumps needed to climb up some scaffolding, hop into a gravity lift, and wind up coming out in an area that the developers certainly didn't intend for players to explore just yet. Lest you get overly excited, the game does note that you do not have the DLC, and the area is absent of most everything you'd want to find in the region aside from a handful of dead ghosts. If you're the sort to go spelunking before an area is officially released, however, take a look at the video and enjoy a bit of acrobatic exploration.
NBA 2K15's face scan feature unleashes monstrous b-baller horde
When does a dream become a nightmare? It's the precise moment when you try to import your own face into NBA 2K15, apparently. User experimentation with NBA 2K15's new face scan feature has yielded terrifying results, and many models generated by players on the game's first day of release are barely recognizable as human. This Imgur gallery shows what can happen when a promising feature goes horribly wrong. The worst results feature multiple sets of eyes, misplaced mouths, and melted facial features. It's the sort of extreme disfigurement you'd normally associate with the Umbrella Corporation or a Troma film -- only a glitch could prove so devastating to defining traits that we, as humans, take for granted. More examples of NBA 2K15's face-destroying cruelty are collected at this Tumblr page, if you don't plan on sleeping tonight. Or ever. [Image: 2K Sports / Imgur]
Bloodborne alpha glitch reveals unannounced content
Players slicing their way through the alpha version of From Software's PlayStation 4-exclusive Dark Souls follow-up Bloodborne can escape the alpha's boundaries and access not-yet-announced content, the fan-made video above demonstrates. YouTube user "Sanadsk" shows off weapons, armor and locations normally inaccessible in Bloodborne's alpha. Throw a couple of pebbles at the pit shown in the first minute of the video above and the floor will become solid, allowing players to flip a switch and access a gated gameplay area featuring giant pigs, mutated rat creatures, and other hidden content. Players who access Bloodborne's secret area can also battle Priest Gascoigne, a boss enemy who is not normally encountered in the alpha. At one point during the battle, the boss utters the word "Umbasa," which supposedly ties the game to From Software's 2009 PS3 release Demon's Souls. Bloodborne hits retail in North America on February 6, 2015. [Video: Sanadsk / From Software]
Report: Smash Bros. glitch is MASSIVE
A glitch in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, which is currently available in Japan, sees Yoshi go through quite the growth spurt. If you've ever had fantasies of Godzilla in a Yoshi suit, prepare for them to potentially come true in the game's survival mode. Our review of the game called it "the most feature-complete, compelling Super Smash Bros. entry to date." SSBfN3DS is available this Friday, October 3, in North America and Europe.
Massively Interview: How Eleven is fighting to bring Glitch back
The Massively staffers were delighted to hear that one of our favorite quirky browser MMOs might be coming back from the dead. Fan projects such as Eleven and Children of Ur, the latter of which is in a playable pre-alpha, are often at an extreme disadvantage with such resurrection projects, as they can lack legality, resources, and access to the original code. However, in this particular case, it looks as though Glitch might be a go for a return, as Tiny Speck has blessed player efforts and released the source code and art assets to help out. Of course, this doesn't mean that there isn't a huge mountain of obstacles to surmount, but if anyone's to do it it, it might very well be the Eleven team. We reached out to Project Lead Jim Condren and several members of his team to get a better feel for where the project is at and when we might be playing Glitch once more.
'Modder' tweaks Destiny to feature infinite ammo
Whether you want to call it a mod, a hack, an exploit or a cheat, the fact remains that the players seen in the videos below the break have found a way to slay moon wizards in Bungie's recently-launched open-universe shooter Destiny with the aid of unending bullets. Before you get too riled up, know that this stunt does not seem to be very widespread. The comments following each of the below videos lack any sort of information on how to accomplish the feat, and most responses left by the people behind these clips are too busy justifying infinite ammo as anything other than cheating to explain how they made things work. "Since I modified the amount of ammo I have in my clip, it's a mod," wrote impressively self-assured YouTube user 0neThatsExiled in lieu of any word on how the game was "modified." Happily, since existing examples do not explain how to duplicate this tweak, it's unlikely that you'll encounter the issue within Destiny before the quality assurance team at Bungie has time to obliterate this unintended gameplay issue. Hopefully these self-described modders are enjoying their brief moment of online infamy. [Image: Activision]
Eleven to revive Glitch with Tiny Speck's help
Glitch. Now, if you have tears streaming down your face because you still find yourself crying every time you are reminded of the late, great crafting MMO, then prepare to go from sobs to smiles. A fan project called Eleven is making waves as a genuine attempt to revive Glitch with former developer Tiny Speck's blessing and assistance. According to the FAQ, Eleven "is a project to get the publicly released Glitch code back up and running; a strictly volunteer effort by 'Glitchen' who want to see the revival of Glitch. We don't have any rights to the name Glitch as a brand, hence our name Eleven (after our eleven giants)." Tiny Speck has also gifted the volunteer team a new product called Slack to help in coordinating the project. The team is working with the released source code from Tiny Speck to create new code to connect the client and server. The project is chugging along nicely, with a testable version of the wardrobe and vanity system available on the website. There's also a housing demo video that you can watch after the break. Getting the Glitch feels yet? You should!
Glitch Wizard is a fun way to make glitchy images and animation on your iPhone
Glitch Wizard creates animated or still images based on a series of pre-set "glitches" you can apply to your photos. You've possibly seen "glitch art" popping up around the web lately, with flickering GIFs of colorful digital weirdness warping ordinary photos. While they may be a passing fad like the Harlem Shake, they require a bit of work to create in a program like Photoshop. Enter Glitch Wizard, which is a simple but polished app that takes your photos and adds glitches and allows some basic animation of those glitches as you sequence the effects you add to the photos. The app is nicely designed with three icons at the bottom on launch: the standard camera icon at the bottom of the screen to either take a picture or use one from your photos. The app opens with a list of featured glitch artwork, which I assume is curated by the folks who make the app. You can get to these later by tapping the star icon. I found this interesting on first launch as a sort of example of what the app can do, but ignored it later. Then there's a grid of the glitches you've saved when you tap the grid of squares icon. To create glitches, grab a photo and you're taken to a composition interface, with an area showing each glitch, a playback button, settings and a series of effects each categorized into four groups. I won't go into each group of effects, as part of the fun of Glitch Wizard is seeing what each one does (and it can be wildly different depending on the image you start with). Suffice it to say there are a lot of options for making truly wild images and animations. Some effects allow you to tweak them, but most are simply applied and can be a bit random, as is the nature of glitch art. Also, you can keep adding effects to further glitch your images. The progression is often really fun to see animated. What I enjoyed was playing around with the effects, then seeing how progressing them would make an animation smoother or weirder. In all, it's just a lot of fun. While I'd like more editing options I realize there's little here I couldn't do in Photoshop with filters. But that's not the point -- this is designed to be quick and fun. You can delete individual frames, but I couldn't find a way to re-order them. You can also change the speed from slow to medium to fast, and set the animation to ping-pong back and forth or just loop. Once you're done you have a variety of sharing options, which I found interesting in their end results. On Twitter, for example, you can post a "native GIF" aka a GIF that Twitter has tuned for consumption on Twitter (and is no longer really a GIF). Although Twitter supports animated GIFs, I found it was easier to share them via this app than pulling them from my camera roll because Glitch Wizard doesn't actually save GIFs to your camera roll. Moving on, Instagram and Facebook posts are converted to videos. The thing about glitches and web video, however, is that compression relies upon sameness from frame to frame (generally speaking). My glitches looked really fuzzy if they were really wacky glitchy GIFs to start with. This isn't Glitch Wizard's fault, and frankly I appreciate the fact that it creates a video versus posting some lame link to a page that will inevitably break years later. Kudos on the sharing options for Glitch Wizard, as it's one of the best models I've ever seen in an app. Too bad Facebook compresses them so horribly. I found Instagram posts to have fewer artifacts and hence more clarity. Yes, you can save your creations to your camera roll, among other options (like tumblr, although one of my GIFs didn't post as animated when I tested it, so this could be a buggy area). My only complaint here is it's too easy to lose your creation. If you don't save to your glitches in the app or to your camera roll, however, your creations are lost forever. Also, it's a little odd that the app doesn't actually save a GIF to your camera roll, but rather an .m4v file. If you pull this onto your Mac you'll have to use another application to convert to GIF. If you want the GIF itself, the only option is to email it to yourself. Glitch Wizard is a simple but fun app that creates crazy glitched artwork from your photos. That's really all there is to it, although it's wrapped up in a great design and works very well. It's currently on sale but I'd recommend it at the full US$1.99 if you enjoy making glitch art.
Good Old Games glitch gave away free games in Linux sale
Getting a good deal in a sale is kind of the whole point, but clearing out a promotion's spread without spending a cent is pretty unheard of. Good Old Games users kicked off its Linux Launch promotion this week, but users that were quick to browse the sale discovered its offerings could be had for free. Members began posting in the GOG forums about a potential glitch, which has since been corrected. A day after the promotion had begun, a forum member posted an e-mail they received from GOG's support staff, which explained that the free games were obtainable "due to a small glitch on our end." While the email explained GOG would remove games the erroneously-free games from a customer's shelf if they so desired, it also stressed that "it's totally cool with [GOG]" if a user would prefer to keep them. Class acts then, all the way around. If you're interested in actually purchasing games from the sale, the Linux Launch promotion will last until 12 a.m. EST Tuesday. Don't Starve, Kentucky Route Zero and Sir, You Are Being Hunted are among the sale's offerings. [Image: Good Old Games]
