Killzone: Shadow Fall may not be the best game on the PlayStation 4, but it undoubtedly ranks among the best looking. It seems that not everyone’s quite so keen on the first-person shooter’s uber-clean depiction of the future, however, as Sony is being sued over the next-gen exclusive’s graphics. Only in America, huh?
The suit, filed by a particularly antsy Californian resident named Douglas Ladore, claims that the platform holder lied about the game by advertising that it would run at 1080p. Now, the release does run at the aforementioned resolution, however it uses a trick during multiplayer to maintain image quality and boost the framerate to 60 frames-per-second. It’s such a cheeky solution that no one even noticed until months after release.
Digital Foundry eventually cracked the code, though, concluding that the online mode runs at 960 by 1080, rather than the usual 1920 by 1080. Guerrilla Games, who made the game, later wrote an incredibly in-depth blog post about the process, describing in detail how the solution works and why it employed it. Alas, the lawsuit claims that the Japanese giant’s marketing materials – which haven’t been adapted – are “nothing but fiction”.
And so, the case is seeking $5 million in damages for negligent misrepresentation, false advertisement, unfair competition, and fraud in the inducement. Fascinatingly, the suit was filed by law firm Edelson PC, who long-time readers will remember taking Sony and EA Games to court over a free copy of Battlefield 1943.
To be honest, if the clearly very bored company had tried to sue the PlayStation maker over Killzone: Shadow Fall’s terrible free falling segment, we reckon that they’d probably have a case. In this instance, we’re sort of hoping that a squad of particularly angry Helghast soldiers have a stern word with everyone involved.
[source polygon.com]
Comments 42
What has this world come to. Sweet baby jesus
KillZoneSF is an awesome game. Awesome games shouldn't get sued.
Seriously!!? this is just sad he should be ashamed
Probably an Xbox fanboy doing it. See what I did thar? Muahahahaha
@get2sammyb
That was my reaction too.
You know what makes it even worse? In the lawsuit he said he purchased the game in May 2014, which is like 2 months after Guerilla Games already clarified the rendering technique used in the MP mode.
(here it is, the whole thing is just hilarious: http://www.scribd.com/doc/236080145/sony-case )
I never could get into these games.. I don't know why I keep buying them haha. I don't think I've finished one since the first one.
Well, I finished the first killzone game that came out on the PS3 and the horrible controls and the way GG stuck up for those rubbish controls turned me off the game and I know I'm not the only one either. Those controls actually scared me from purchasing any more killzone games, I just won't support that game. I'm actually close to not supporting the company as is since they can't admit when something is crappy. "oh, it simulates weight" all I have to say is, get the @#$@ outa here with that crap. BAH! o.O
Graphics don't bother me that much and if the gameplay and elements in the game are good, then a lack of story doesn't bother me either. The main thing that does bother me is crappy controls, I can't stand bad controls because there really isn't any reason to make bad controls for a game. delays with the analog or analog acceleration or whatever else is just bad and it doesn't simulate a damn thing. I'm still pissed about those rubbish controls and the "turkey" that designed the controls that way. cripes. I really have no words other then harsh ones to explain how ticked I get at bad controls.
@Demi_God i suppose i and many other people know nothing for liking the controls, eh?
Amusingly, for something to be designated as '1080p' it only needs to have 1080 as it's horizontal resolution while it's vertical resolution can be anything. Rendering every third frame as 960x1080 as Shadow Fall does, is still 1080p. If the person starting up this lawsuit had looked into HD standards beforehand, they wouldn't be looking like a goyt right now.
@Demi_God Lol
That's really messed up tho. I think Sony can actually feel that 5 million going away due to their financial situation.
This is crap. Suing over something as trivial as resolution astounds me.
Now if the game had claimed it could cure cancer or increase penis size then he might have a leg to stand on.
Simply ridiculous.
Pathetic. Hope they rot.
Hate bogus lawsuits
@viciousarcanum You can like whatever you like, but don't try to spin this. crap controls are crap controls. Even if people like them, it doesn't make them any less crap. Also, if you are going to tell me that they simulated weight like the developers said, well....I won't even both trying to debate you at that point because it's pointless. All I can say is that those controls didn't simulate weight, so there. lol
Now with bad controls aside and getting to the point of the article. I hope those people end up having to pay Sony's lawyer fees because this whole thing is stupid.
Bahahahahaha.
No life loser
WOW! How dare someone sue sweet innocent Sony! He and his legal firm deserves to be attacked and slandered by poorly written articles all over the world.
If a corporation misleads then they deserve all they get and that applies to Sony as well. Not as if Sony haven't use lawsuits to bully smaller companies before. Hopefully we see something similar happening in Europe.
Typical dumba$$ American. There's far more important things we could be focusing on in this country. I can't tell how many times I've seen marketing slogans declaring a certain game 'the best' only for me to play it and hate it. Guess I should file a lawsuit since that could be considered misleading.
People like this weasel are an embarrassment to us all (American or not). Stupidity has no color, race or region, and spans the globe. Find something meaningful to protest about, not a stupid game spec. I hope he walks away with nothing but a lawyers fee.
I knew sueing was the norm in the US but this is feckin' unbelievable...
Gotta love him just for his pure cheek.
Interestingly, if it says on the retail box it runs at 1080 and it doesn't, its braking British trading standards rules - and I'm presuming outher contries trading rules too. It's false advertisement and your entitled under British law to return it for a full refund, even if you've opened the packaging. In a weird way this may do some good for games as it could convince developers not to constantly make false claims about their games.
Could as well sue M$ for saying 'everyone says they have the best exclusives'.
On a more serious tone I wonder if the 'gamers' on the internet are aware that they are privileged (with all whats going on in the world) and should enjoy and share their passions in a light hearted way instead of trying to stir mud and whine REPEATEDLY like spoiled children making the gaming community on the internet look appalling and actually hurting it.
@get2sammyb This is just a stupid frivolous lawsuit seeing as the game is 1080p as there is 1080 horizontal lines of vertical resolution, as soon as Sony use this the case will be laughed out of court. They could try to argue full HD (silly way of describing it) 1920x1080 but honestly I think they'll lose regardless.
What a joke. At least it can run 1080 unlike some curtain consoles can to with ease lol
@N711 I have to agree with everything you have just stated.
I got Killzone: Shadowfall packaged with my PS4 when I got it at Christmas but only got around to playing it last week. It didn't rock my world but it was solid enough and very pretty. Whether the controls are bad or not is a matter of personal taste not a case of their being a right or wrong view point...I think they're fine. I also like the feeling of weight that the game has. That's my opinion and it's just as valid as those who don't like the controls. The law suit is ridiculous but in these times I wouldn't be surprised if it gains traction.
The bulk of the game - i.e. the entire campaign - is true 1080p. The multiplayer, from what I've read of the trickery, also qualifies as true 1080p, because that's what the final output is.
If he wins, MS are open to a crap-ton of similar lawsuits, since they've claimed that all Xbone games are 1080p because they're upscaled.
As for KZ controls... they're fine. Any decent gamer can adapt easily. KZ2 was actually the best as far as I'm concerned - a real sense of weight and momentum, with none of that sprint/stop dead/turn on a sixpence CoD crap.
This is why our courts are so backed-up. Lawsuits are to make a person "whole" again after incurring "damages" to their life/liberty/property, NOT for acquiring wealth or financial stability. The issue is if he lost anything by playing the game = nope! Weak sauce
If that whiny b*stard gets any money out of this ridiculous case, then I'd better get some of that too. Hell, EVERYONE who owns a PS4 should get money. He thinks he deserves it because he was neurotic enough to discover a slip up like that? Screw that. This is Amurica, and we deserve money for doing next to nothing for real work.
It's stupid crap like this that makes me ashamed to be an American. -_-
@Gamer83 I am for one American and i agree with you! this is r*tarded, they must be bored. America is always greedy and thats why i hate this country.... guess that says a lot bout me huh? lol
right, no other country in the world is greedy. ugh what a dumb argument, really now. It's just him, the little twerp that is suing, how am I the only few that gets this. o.O
Two things get to me about this bullsh*t lawsuit:
1) How many people defend this in the comments of the original polygon article. Seriously, f*ck you guys.
2) Guerilla invented new technologies to create a game that graphically took my breath away (spent ages staring at the small details). Not just the frame buffer stuff, but the dynamic animation technology and the AMAAAAZZINNG MADDR audio (play the game with good 7.1 headphones or a sound system to hear the awesomeness). They are nothing short of geniuses in their field and some cockface thinks it's his right to sue them.
Really get sick of living on this planet sometimes...
@Gamer83 I know. 5 million dollars? That's BS. 5 million dollars over a technicality that he probably didn't even notice until reading Digital Foundry. I don't really care that Mario Kart 7 was marketed as running 60 FPS in 3D in both SP & MP, despite a rare drop rendering multiple explosions and occasional kart lag. If I could sue Nintendo over that, then America has no hope in its justice system. Maaaybe Aliens: Colonial Marines, but this? Ridiculous.
tbh I know nothing about this case. I will say that if indeed its not actually 1080p by definition and GG have deceived (no matter how big or small) then they definitely deserve whats coming to them. Consumers are manipulated enough as it is, we sure as hell don't need to be lied to and we sure as hell shouldn't be sticking up for a company who is doing it to us.
Murica
@eLarkos agreed.. But still outrageous asking 5 million, I feel asking for a simple refund may have been a more reasonable reaction...
@voodoo341 You are so anti Sony that I really wonder what your agenda is on here. Everything so far is you complaining about Sony, this is sony's, that is Sony's fault, To many indie titles are Sony's fault, 3rd party AAA games not coming out within your calender is Sony's fault, etc etc. You won't even do the smallest of research to look up if the lawsuit is even legit, you completely disregarde everyone elses point unless it's in the way of whatever it is your trying to accomplish on this website.
You are exactly like the Grinch. HAHAHAHA I had to read your previous posts to see if you had a post that had anything positive and even if you say a minor positive, the next sentence is you bashing the company again. It is entertaining though because of the fact that you even bought a system that you didn't like right off the bat, now that's funny.
@Demi_God could be worse... I could be cyber stalking someone, blindly defending a multinational company that I've no link to what.. so.. ever, name calling, making assumptions and pretending I'm intelligent.
@voodoo341 You might as well go for the whole shebang.
@Madd_Hatter401 That would hardly deter them from doing it again though.
This guy is just rediculous. ... the Game still looks great to the other 2 to 3 million KZ owners. .. this 1 guy is just seeking the way way out! OVERULLED!!! Get out of my court room!
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