Patch 1.01 Release - Xbox 360 and PS3

[HB_Glen]

Hey Guys,

So we have made mention previously that we have been working on a patch for Rugby World Cup 2011 and we were aiming to have it out prior to the release of the game. We were informed today that the Xbox 360 Patch Version 1.01 should go live on Friday August 26th. At this point we don’t have a definitive date for the PS3 patch as it is currently in submission but we will let you know the date when we know more information on that.

Here are some of the issues that we have addressed as part of this patch:

- Improvements have been made to the CPU decision making logic at the end of games particularly when behind on the scoreboard.
- Addressed an exploit around losing lineout throws close to your own line, particularly when thrown to the back and intercepted by bringing the throwing teams line up to the goal line when line outs are taken within 15 metres of the goal line
- Winning a lineout close to the opposition line with a throw to the front often led to easy push over type tries from a maul. We have made it more difficult to push as the attacking team in this scenario and as the defensive team you have more chance of preventing the push over.
- Addressed the exploit that allows you to constantly put up and unders into the air and catch them with minimal effort to advance down the pitch on all difficulty levels.
- When attempting to take an up and under or attempting to catch any high ball and dropping it forward, you would regularly not be called for a knock-on. We have now addressed this bug.
- Drop Goals no longer count if the ball has just been played from a scrum or from any free kick until the following phase. You can still attempt the drop goal but the points won’t count.
- Particularly on the Hard Difficulty setting when playing with weaker teams it was incredibly difficult to maintain possession at a ruck. We have played around with the balancing at the breakdown and it should make the ruck breakdown less frustrating and minimize the instant turnovers on Hard with weaker teams, whilst still maintaining the difficulty
- Reduced the angle at which you can maneuver the kicking arrow for conversions and penalties to reduce the chance of exploiting penalty kicks by moving the arrow far left or far right and putting no power on them and running over for an easy pick-up try.

These will be the most noticeable changes as part of this patch. We are continuing to watch for your input on the forums and are continuing to fix issues that you are encountering where we can.

We are aware of the issue around the high tackle 50 metre penalty shot issue and things such as Stephen Ferris having the incorrect skin colour which are issues that we are definitely looking to address in a later patch. Our intent was to address what we could prior to the game hitting shelves. Rest assured though we are taking notice and intend to address these and some other issues as soon as we can.

Cheers,
Glen

[fraserdavidson]

I have found a couple of times that passing the ball backwards over the dead ball line leads to a 22m drop out to you, rather than a 5m scrum to the opposition.

[TRF_Getofmeland]

Cheers Glen, So I am guessing you guys are busy whilst Alastair is jetting around the UK and Ireland... He gets all the fun ;-)

[HB_Glen]

We are definately still in the Rugby frame of mind here
As to whether AJ is having fun - well... he might have met Stephen Ferris today so that may not have been so fun.
Otherwise I'm sure he is having a blast

[HB_Glen]

I have found a couple of times that passing the ball backwards over the dead ball line leads to a 22m drop out to you, rather than a 5m scrum to the opposition.

In this event where were you located when you threw it over the dead ball line and had you actually retrieved the ball in the in-goal? or perhaps were you in the field of play when you passed the ball over the dead-ball line?

[AdlieCarter]

Can you guys do anything with regards to the players "bunching" and the ball coming out too slow resulting in you losing the numbers mismatch advantage?
Also found that sometimes when you 5 meters from the try line, instead of diving for the tryline, the ball carrier attempts to kick the ball.

[fraserdavidson]

Both times passed the ball back over the goal line myself, losing the ball and having it roll back into the dead ball area.

[CMSeal1]

You need to update it with the world cup squads tbf, Plus some of the players are majorly overrated for example Flood 90? You're joking right? And thats coming from a Leicester Tigers fan.

[Mario]

PS3 patch incoming? I only grabbed the PS3 version

[HB_Glen]

Hey Mario, no date for it yet unfortunately. Will be posting in here as soon as I know the date though.

[Mario]

Hey Mario, no date for it yet unfortunately. Will be posting in here as soon as I know the date though.

Sweet. Might pick up the 360 version as well then. PS3 copy got some good play around the office yesterday.

[Butterytingz]

so do the drop goals in this game match the real life rules for drop goals or are they just close?

[tomascole]

what is the issue with generic kits for england ireland etc in international test mode?

[Thingimubob]

Nice to see both companies supporting each other
With the up and under glitch, would that count for re-starts too? Had a bit of a tournament with my mates tonight and we noticed that from a restart/up and under it will always seem to be caught by the player that was running rather than the defending player who was standing still waiting for the kick.

[TRF_Olyy]

Bullitt got me with that a few times earlier tonight (the kick off glitch/catch thing)

[Thingimubob]

So you can pre-order online and collect instore?

No, ordered online and was posted to me, guessing it'll be the same for Rugby Challenge

[Thingimubob]

Bullitt got me with that a few times earlier tonight (the kick off glitch/catch thing)

Annoying isn;t it?
Btw, my mate had 2 very close losses playing as Wales against England on Medium, he could not seem to stop England scoring when they went for the cross kicks. Anyone know a decent way of defending them?

[HB_Glen]

Bullitt got me with that a few times earlier tonight (the kick off glitch/catch thing)

Figured we would wait and see a bit on this particular instance. We didn't feel that it was a huge exploit like the Up and Under was but if it does prove to be a major issue for you guys then we will consider looking into this one too.

and yes, I do look forward to giving Rugby Challenge a go myself... just need to get my hands on a copy. Mighty Ape might be the way to go, bought stuff from them online in the past.

[bencedars]

Annoying isn;t it?
Btw, my mate had 2 very close losses playing as Wales against England on Medium, he could not seem to stop England scoring when they went for the cross kicks. Anyone know a decent way of defending them?

setting up a wide defence should help, as although it'll leave centre cover fairly bare, the wide players will have extra defensive cover. it also doesn't help if you've got a big guy like banahan or cueto trying to outleap shane williams lol the man's an absolute rugby genius but he's a tiny little dit and so is leigh halfpenny!

[TVH11]

Well went to midnight Launch in Game Llanelli (its okay i showered once I returned home to cleanse myself of the dirt of scarlet central), Played a few games and overall I'm happy. Everything is similar yes, bad thing= NO! (at least in my opinion)
One alarming fact is that the player models (for Wales at least) are hideous. From close ups I've seen that Gethin Jenkins has hair, Falatau and Adam Jones look immensely similar and Hook well doesn't look like Hook. And no desperate dan chin for Roberts Replays are a little limited, would have liked to have a closer look at players, but with the above names looking as they do, I guess its a good thing .
I'm not one to judge a book by its cover so i do think game-play makes up for it Just :P (Still waiting to see a tidy close up of Shane )

Also to those saying this is RUGBY 08 in HD, no it is not!! RUGBY 08's player models were more accurate SO :P

[Eddie67]

Hey Guys,

So we have made mention previously that we have been working on a patch for Rugby World Cup 2011 and we were aiming to have it out prior to the release of the game. We were informed today that the Xbox 360 Patch Version 1.01 should go live on Friday August 26th. At this point we don’t have a definitive date for the PS3 patch as it is currently in submission but we will let you know the date when we know more information on that.

Here are some of the issues that we have addressed as part of this patch:

- Improvements have been made to the CPU decision making logic at the end of games particularly when behind on the scoreboard.
- Addressed an exploit around losing lineout throws close to your own line, particularly when thrown to the back and intercepted by bringing the throwing teams line up to the goal line when line outs are taken within 15 metres of the goal line
- Winning a lineout close to the opposition line with a throw to the front often led to easy push over type tries from a maul. We have made it more difficult to push as the attacking team in this scenario and as the defensive team you have more chance of preventing the push over.
- Addressed the exploit that allows you to constantly put up and unders into the air and catch them with minimal effort to advance down the pitch on all difficulty levels.
- When attempting to take an up and under or attempting to catch any high ball and dropping it forward, you would regularly not be called for a knock-on. We have now addressed this bug.
- Drop Goals no longer count if the ball has just been played from a scrum or from any free kick until the following phase. You can still attempt the drop goal but the points won’t count.
- Particularly on the Hard Difficulty setting when playing with weaker teams it was incredibly difficult to maintain possession at a ruck. We have played around with the balancing at the breakdown and it should make the ruck breakdown less frustrating and minimize the instant turnovers on Hard with weaker teams, whilst still maintaining the difficulty
- Reduced the angle at which you can maneuver the kicking arrow for conversions and penalties to reduce the chance of exploiting penalty kicks by moving the arrow far left or far right and putting no power on them and running over for an easy pick-up try.

These will be the most noticeable changes as part of this patch. We are continuing to watch for your input on the forums and are continuing to fix issues that you are encountering where we can.

We are aware of the issue around the high tackle 50 metre penalty shot issue and things such as Stephen Ferris having the incorrect skin colour which are issues that we are definitely looking to address in a later patch. Our intent was to address what we could prior to the game hitting shelves. Rest assured though we are taking notice and intend to address these and some other issues as soon as we can.

Cheers,
Glen

Can you guys please explain to me WHY drop goals won't count anymore from first phase ball like a scrum ?

[Eddie67]

I saw this on the xbox update, Drop Goals no longer count if the ball has just been played from a scrum or from any free kick until the following phase. You can still attempt the drop goal but the points won’t count.

Did any of you guys find something wrong with the drop goal system ?

Thanks

[TRF_Olyy]

They're just making it like the real laws of the games

[.me]

Haven't got the game, but the reason you aren't allowed to score from them is becasue this game is meant to be a simulation game, hence having the laws of rugby in them.

[mattday1986]

im pretty sure a drop goal can be taken anywhere from "open play" so this restriction is a bit of a confusion :-S

[TRF_Olyy]

Not allowed from the freekick or directly from a scrum - I wasn't aware of it either until recently, but people have mentioned it on here quite a bit and it's in the laws

[Gillymore]

Don't think you can drop directly from pass from scrum or from first pass from tap penalty.

Any one in Durham area who would be willing to let me memory stick the updates from their 360? (I'm not XBL). Payment method probably wouldn't be allowed on messageboard, so I am willing to make a (cough) donation!

[ChrisHosfield]

When will the patch be going live?

[JH93]

I would love to know if there will be maintenance or something for the online. Even playing a friend very near by has resulted in the match ending due to 'lost connection'

Before I get told that I may not have the correct NAT Type or whatever, all of that has been checked. My connection, my friends connection too, is fairly decent - bar on the game :/

[TRF_Olyy]

I've not had one bit of lag whatsoever, oddly