PS2 Demo Disc Can Kill Your Memory Card (Update from SCEA)

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

Found while hitting the links for TZ News: a PS2 demo disc can erase your memory card (http://www.latimes.com/business/custom/cotown/la-fi-erase1dec01,1,5730717.story?coll=la-headlines-business-enter). Apparently, it has something to do with a preview for "Viewtiful Joe" by Capcom. The game itself will not have the glitch.

-- Ed/Ace

[The Dork Knight]

Yeah, I was (un)lucky enough to play the Viewtiful Joe 2 demo on my PS2. :sad:

TDK

[Tommy Lawson]

I know it's small consolation to the gamers who may have lost thousands of hours of gameplay time through the reformatting glitch, but SCEA is now offering one free game if you possess the disc.

-Tommy Lawson

------------------------------
From GamesIndustry.biz
http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=5829

SCEA to replace defective demo discs with free games
Tom Bramwell 09:02 07/12/2004

Goodwill gesture aims to pacify gamers robbed of save game data by a demo disc glitch

Sony Computer Entertainment America has offered to replace defective PlayStation Underground demo discs sent out recently in the USA with a free PlayStation 2 game, according to reports, following widespread condemnation of a bug in one of the demos which deleted Memory Card save game data rather unceremoniously.

The PlayStation Underground disc featured a demo of Capcom's Viewtiful Joe 2, recently released on PS2 and GameCube in the US, which would wipe clean any Memory Cards inserted at the time - much to the despair of PS2 owners who hoped to get a glimpse of one of the most anticipated beat-'em-up games of the year.

When it emerged that the disc destroyed save data, SCEA issued an apology and advised users not to play the demos with a Memory Card inserted. However now it seems that the higher-ups have decided to distribute free games as well in an act of goodwill to the consumer.

The list of games covers a number of genres, and some of the games are distinctly new. The full list comprises Athens 2004, ATV Offroad Fury 3, Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec, Hot Shots Golf Fore!, MLB 2004, Parappa the Rapper 2, Sly 2: Band of Thieves and Wild Arms 3.

American gamers affected by the problem - or simply in possession of the PlayStation Underground disc in question - are being encouraged to contact SCEA (1-800-345-7669 via phone), who will then supply an address to send the disc to. The company is safeguarding the scheme against opportunists who might exploit it by limiting it to one game per PS2 serial number.

[Beat]

Free Sly 2?

That makes it almost all worth it...

[Chad Bonin]

... where can I find this disc?

[Behonkiss]

*Whacks head repeatedly*

I threw it away. I threw it away. I threw it away...

[Shnay]

I still have the disc, and I think I'll take advantage of this. So, what to get?

I remember liking the first ATV Offroad Fury game, but I played the demo for the third one and it felt really boring (maybe that's how the series has always been, though). I'm not a fan of the Gran Turismo games, so that rules that out. Hot Shots Golf is always fun, but I'm not sure how much I would play it. I've beaten Sly 2 already. I loved the first Parappa game, but I heard that the sequel was kinda lackluster. Wild Arms 3 also sounds like a very average RPG, but I haven't played a new console RPG in awhile, so I was thinking about going with that. Anyone have any comments on the games to choose from before I make my decision?

[Mad Monkey 7]

Which demo disk is it? I got the holiday one, but Viewful Joe 2 is not on it. The recent Playstation Magazine demo disk also doesn't have Joe 2 on it, but the magazine says it does.

[The Dork Knight]

The demo disc was a free gift from Sony's Playstation Underground. Not the Sony Playstation magazine.

Ya know, losing my GTA and SmackDown! saves kinda makes it all worth it just to get a free copy of Parappa The Rapper 2...

TDK

[Master Moron]

I still have the disc, and I think I'll take advantage of this. So, what to get?

I remember liking the first ATV Offroad Fury game, but I played the demo for the third one and it felt really boring (maybe that's how the series has always been, though). I'm not a fan of the Gran Turismo games, so that rules that out. Hot Shots Golf is always fun, but I'm not sure how much I would play it. I've beaten Sly 2 already. I loved the first Parappa game, but I heard that the sequel was kinda lackluster. Wild Arms 3 also sounds like a very average RPG, but I haven't played a new console RPG in awhile, so I was thinking about going with that. Anyone have any comments on the games to choose from before I make my decision?

Athens 2004-Never heard of it.

ATV Offroad Fury 3-I can't remember which one of these games I've played, but the one I played was pretty boring.

Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec-These games get really boring. And they're too long.

Hot Shots Golf Fore!-This games might be your best bet, I don't like how they Americanized parts of it though.

MLB 2004-Not a fan of baseball games, but if I were making this decision, I might go for this game simply for a change of pace.

Parappa the Rapper 2-Might be interesting, I've only played the first one.

Sly 2: Band of Thieves-Well, you already have this one...

Wild Arms 3-Well, the second one was one of the worst rpgs I've ever played, if that's any indication of how the rest of the series is...

[Keiichi]

Wild Arms 3-Well, the second one was one of the worst rpgs I've ever played, if that's any indication of how the rest of the series is...
While it was'nt as great of the first one WA 2 was'nt that bad. 3 was almost as good as the first one but final hours of the game felt unnessary and that it should have ended earlier.

[The Dork Knight]

I called up Sony earlier today. Another one of the games they are offering is Jak 2.

TDK