[Mason Nevitt]

Now, the saved data file correlation is perfectly real and my thread is not concerning that, but contrary to what people are claiming, this game doesn't just have issues with larger saved data file sizes. No matter how far you are into the game, this game has fps issues on the PS3 and the saved data file correlation simply exacerbates and spreads the issue. It has been proven by both lensoftruth's and DigitalFoundry's digital anolyses that the PS3 version inherently suffers from a fluctuating fps whereas the 360 version does not.

This is a clear and ominous indication that the game engine is, from the very onset, not as well optimized for the PS3 as it should be. Now, in the less demanding areas, where it fluctuates between 25 and 30, it is still not really stable or a smooth 30 fps as some falsely claim, but it is relatively smooth, if not a bit choppy or sluggish, occasionally, but then in more demanding areas such as the fog-covered marshes near solitude, the fall forest, the area surrounding Morthal, inside cities, and inside many interiors (usually dungeons with any shred of size, lighting effects, and/or mist effects), the framerate never reaches 30 at all and seems to fluctuate somewhere between 15-25 because the game engine was already scraping the bottom of the barrel and struggling even in less-demanding areas.

This game is not as well-optimized for the PS3 as the 360 regardless of any saved data file issues and it has lag regardless of those, as well. Longer play-times and larger saved data files are only further proof of Bethesda's negligence and they only serve to take the issue to an unplayable level, for many, but then I wonder why people don't seem to recognize this. Perhaps they misdiagnose this inherent lagging as being a part of the saved data file issue, but it isn't and if it isn't brought up, specifically, as being inherent, we're pretty much stuck with it.

There is not a single person here who has a stable framerate on their PS3 version of Skyrim regardless of saved data file size and that is a fact. Whether they choose to dismiss the very noticeable impact this lack of optimization has in the areas mentioned or not or simply don't seem to perceive the reality is beyond me, but I've conducted tests and video anolysis sites and groups have conducted tests. "Lag" is inherent to the PS3 version and if someone isn't having these issues in the areas I mentioned, I'd very much appreciate video proof because as of now, there is none. Please comment on what you think of this or if you've noticed it or not.

[Chris Johnston]

I have to agree. Even though I rarely suffer those 'unplayable' lag spikes, I still notice that in many areas my FPS is less than ideal (and it feels like the game is a bit sluggish). It fluctuates a lot; this version is definitely a poorly made product.

[Jennifer May]

I have been saying this all along. Those who claim that the game ever ran smoothly are living in a dream world. Now there's no denying that it gets far worse the further you progress, but the frame rate is never adequate. It was the very first thing I noticed when I reached the open world. When I reached the fall forest area around Riften, which was my first destination after Riverwood, I began to wonder how this title was allowed to ship. It was clearly not finished.

[RAww DInsaww]

I have been saying this all along. Those who claim that the game ever ran smoothly are living in a dream world. Now there's no denying that it gets far worse the further you progress, but the frame rate is never adequate. It was the very first thing I noticed when I reached the open world. When I reached the fall forest area around Riften, which was my first destination after Riverwood, I began to wonder how this title was allowed to ship. It was clearly not finished.

I was crushed when I went to the fall forest for the first time. It just isn't enjoyable because it's so sluggish in there and I spent the entire time waiting for Skyrim's release with wide-eyed anticipation for that beautiful area.

[Da Missz]

I think you're correct. After my first char became unplayable about 100hrs in, I created another one which I am playing atm about 60hrs in and the fps in the majority of the places I travel is fine, but as you said there is some fluctuation. However, the lag becomes very apparent when travelling through fog-laden valleys or dungeons and other taxing areas.

[Richard]

You're probably right about the lag being an all around PS3 port flaw, but the save file bug is what makes the game completely unplayable after it reaches a certain size. If they fix the save file bug, then at least the lag will be diminished to a point of nearly not noticing it. I'm fine with a lag spike every now and then, but if, after I play for an hour, I start teleporting around and can't tell what's going on in a battle on the world map, it's game breaking.

Either way, I believe these lag inducing issues should be treated as priority cases in the next patch, even more so than the Civil War glitches. It gets THAT bad on larger save files.

[Rachel Tyson]

Agreed. There are innumerable situations where fr drops off.

Furthermore, while the lag is a real problem, I never see pop-in discussed here. I am constantly noticing everything from NPCs to buildings pop in.

I also have noticed textures missing and sometimes entire objects have missing them.

This is why I can't believe Pete Hines or gstaff when they say it will be fixed.

The game seems fundamentally broken on the ps3, just like FONV

[Killer McCracken]

i am encountering that "unplayable" frame rate drop all the time now. i have 160 hours of gameplay clocked in, and if it wasn't for the frame rate drop, i would probably be closer to 200. just now, i let a group of necromancers kill me, because the lagg was unplayable. i literally could not play, by the time my player swung the sword, the necromancer was 10 feet away, and shot enough spells into me, that i needed to use potions. then the frame rate was so bad, that when i went to use my potions, it wouldn't let me exit the menu. i was hitting R1 repeatedly, thinking i was going to go all Rambo on them, and instead i drink all of my strongest health portions.

also, for me, i don't count it in Frames Per Second, it's more like Second Per Frames. i've had it where i get 1 frame a second for 30 seconds before i quit, and i've had it where i get 1 frame every 7 seconds. it is honestly getting very frustrating, and i'm about to stop playing the game altogether. if we don't get a successful update that fixes this major problem, then im going to drastic measures, and will go out and buy Modern Warfare 3.



This is aproxamitely when i started noticing the frame rate problems, and how bad it was.
30 hours: about once a day i would have a slight problem, but i would delete saved data, and it would be good.
50 hours: twice a day it would get a little annoying, but i could deal with it.
90 hours: jumps up to about 5 times a day i recognize the issue, but i play through 3 of the frame rate drops, and it goes back to "normal."
130 hours: noticable frame rate drop, but constant.
160 hours: very noticable loss in frame rate, and feels like i am playing call of duty, and somebody pulled the plug, all you can do is lay down, and hope for the best. also every half hour, to an hour, the frame rate goes out of control, to the point that i have to wait a few minutes, quit the game, and even turn off my console.


i really hope that Bethesda picks up the pace on fixing Skyrim for the Ps3, because i'm starting to get impatient.

p.s. sorry if any spelling, grammar, or anything is hard to read, i'm not the best at typing for long periods of time.

[Heather Stewart]

Good Topic. This problem shouldn't get ignored either.
These moments with down to 15fps feel very choppy and this effects responsiveness of controls as well.
But I fear the only realistic solution to this problem would be a reduction in graphical quality like remove objects or effects to make this scenes less demanding. Proper optimization for the engine afterwards when the game is already released is not very likely.

And while we're at it, please fix this horrible Anti-Aliasing. The image quality suffers so much from this overly aggressive implementation and it's sad when you sometimes can see (for example sometimes at the end of loading times AA is disabled for a brief moment on the floating objects) how sharp textures actually are just to be blurred and loose details during gameplay caused by the AA.
By now I would even prefer zero AA.

[Pawel Platek]

finally a peoper thread about the fps issue and lag...

i believe some people live in some kind of dream world of fheir own, claiming their game not only runs fine, they even go about stating it runs FLAWLESSLY!

yep thats right! no stutter no lag no fps drops unless they are attacked by a horde of enemies and five dragons simultaneously.

some people seem to just not be able to tell the difference between 30 frames and 10...They will keep saying their game runs flawlessly if they are able to move their charachter from point a to point b.

thats why they only will complain when the fps drops to 2-3 frames per second. thats the only time it makes any difference from them.

other than that give these guys a 15 frames per second game that stutters and they are just fine with it... to be hinest I dont know if i want to be as deluded as they are... they obviously dont mind playing a [censored] port...

[Katie Louise Ingram]

Unfortunately, you are right; however, the 360 version also suffers from these framerate drops in those very same areas, the difference being that it drops around - just guessing - 3 to 5 frames. It is noticeable but nothing like the base PS3 version which drops a lot more frames.

It seems that Skyrim in general for the consoles simply isn't optimized; hopefully BS will fix most of our problems with the next update.

[Becky Cox]

I was crushed when I went to the fall forest for the first time. It just isn't enjoyable because it's so sluggish in there and I spent the entire time waiting for Skyrim's release with wide-eyed anticipation for that beautiful area.

The moment I left Helgen to follow that dude I was crushed by the framerate, mediocre graphics and incessant pop-ups of trees and scenery. That's about 10 minutes after the game has started! Even if the game is magically fixed, it's still ruined for me. My memories of this game will be of bugs and hanging out in this forum. Oh, and that ￡40 I wasted.

I just don't know what will happen if patch 1.4 doesn't fix the serious problems plaguing this game. I'm sure the forums will get flame-worthy with angry users, and then another patch will come, and if that doesn't fix things, what then? I wasn't around the forums for the previous three broken games, so I don't know the pattern, but I assume after a while a heavy silence descends on the forums, as disgusted users just leave. The silence is only interrupted occasionally by the desperate and naive, pleading for help, but their begging is met with more useless platitudes from Bethesda, until one day a mod tells everyone nobody is working on the game anymore.

Is it something like that?

[Stat Wrecker]

I agree that the frame rate on the PS3 version is very poor. I am disappointed I bought the PS3 version as the Xbox version clearly has superior frame rates.

[Leanne Molloy]

Needs to be bumped.

You are always making constructive threads.

[Chloe Botham]

I've been saying for ages that anyone can test this with a new character/game after utilizing whatever autosave clearing/database rebuilding/game data reinstalling method that they so choose by going to the Whiterun Stables, stealing a horse, and sprinting in any direction. The framerate absolutely falls to pieces every single time garunteed.

It doesn't matter if your PS3 is water-cooled with a SSD in it...do the above and the engine just eats it hard.

[RObert loVes MOmmy]

If anyone's played an archer, I'm sure they've run into an arrow shooting problem with the lag.
I can't fire arrows at enemies correctly. Whenever I release R1, the game will lag for a split second, and the arrow just flops to the ground like I didn't even pull it back.

[Sophie Morrell]

Hi, new to the forums but I have been reading them for at least 2-3 weeks now, searching for a remedy to these problems.

This is my gameplay experience.
Now, I don't really remember exactly what the frame rate was like when I had started out, but what I do remember was enjoying the game. I actually enjoyed the game for a long time, even when the frame rate problems became noticeable at around level 7-10. I played for at least 20-30 levels before it got really bad.

Now, I'm level 43 I think, with 210+ hours and 14MB. My game has literally crashed, not frozen, crashed, at least 30+ times. I when the frame rate goes bad is usually when I save and restart the PS3, but it has gotten to the point where it is so bad that the crashes come even when the frame rate problems are not present. I believe the last day I played, it crashed after a couple of hours in front of that fort on the way to Ivarstead (I believe that's the town's name..), so I restarted it. Not even 5 minutes in, I come across the same exact fort and crashed at the same exact time. 5 minutes. No "2-3 hours of gameplay until the game starts acting up" BS, no. 5 minutes in. I was livid. I searched through google and beyond (though I already had before) and I didn't even know what I was looking for. I knew that almost everyone had the same problems. I wanted an answer, some sympathy, something. I got discouraging information about the previous Beth titles, none of which I have played before. I've gotten horror stories or Playstations simply dying from Skyrim overuse. I got what seemed like capitalist propaganda from Bethesda's statements on the issues. I haven't played in a week or more. I'm starting to forget what I had even done last in the game.

I apologize for a lengthy post. I'm holding my self off with other titles such as Dead Island, but I can't deny the fact that when I did enjoy this game, it was the most interesting game I've ever played. What with all these track records, I'm afraid I won't get to enjoy it again; at least not for a long while.

[natalie mccormick]

Hi, new to the forums but I have been reading them for at least 2-3 weeks now, searching for a remedy to these problems.

This is my gameplay experience.
Now, I don't really remember exactly what the frame rate was like when I had started out, but what I do remember was enjoying the game. I actually enjoyed the game for a long time, even when the frame rate problems became noticeable at around level 7-10. I played for at least 20-30 levels before it got really bad.

Now, I'm level 43 I think, with 210+ hours and 14MB. My game has literally crashed, not frozen, crashed, at least 30+ times. I when the frame rate goes bad is usually when I save and restart the PS3, but it has gotten to the point where it is so bad that the crashes come even when the frame rate problems are not present. I believe the last day I played, it crashed after a couple of hours in front of that fort on the way to Ivarstead (I believe that's the town's name..), so I restarted it. Not even 5 minutes in, I come across the same exact fort and crashed at the same exact time. 5 minutes. No "2-3 hours of gameplay until the game starts acting up" BS, no. 5 minutes in. I was livid. I searched through google and beyond (though I already had before) and I didn't even know what I was looking for. I knew that almost everyone had the same problems. I wanted an answer, some sympathy, something. I got discouraging information about the previous Beth titles, none of which I have played before. I've gotten horror stories or Playstations simply dying from Skyrim overuse. I got what seemed like capitalist propaganda from Bethesda's statements on the issues. I haven't played in a week or more. I'm starting to forget what I had even done last in the game.

I apologize for a lengthy post. I'm holding my self off with other titles such as Dead Island, but I can't deny the fact that when I did enjoy this game, it was the most interesting game I've ever played. What with all these track records, I'm afraid I won't get to enjoy it again; at least not for a long while.

Re-reading this, I guess I didn't really display a point to this post. The point was, I liked the game when I could play it. Even if it wasn't the best performing one, I still liked it. I still wish it performed like it did when I first put it in, even if it wasn't perfect. I don't need it fixed, I'd just like the problems to be whittled down as much as possible so I can play it again and get my money's worth out of it.

[Neil]

I've posted this before and my ps3 is off now (leaving for work soon) and I don't want to bother it at this time but there is a snow covered town, surrounded by brown grass and this town is adjacent to a foggy swamp which causes repeatable lag for me.

Whenever I enter this swamp (ps3) the frame rate stutters. If I encounter a mob in that area the frame rate dips even lower. Outside the swamp, decent fps, inside the swamp, horrible fps. I don't zone out or in.....simply walking into that area causes repeatable lag.


Using the 360, entering that same area, there is no lag at all. However I have encountered some areas on the 360 where frames drop. Overall though the 360 version is far superior in every way so I can tolerate the frame drops. The ps3 version is inferior and the lower fps only add to the frustration of knowing bethesda didn't optimize skyrim for the ps3.


When will developers stop treating the ps3 like a bastard child?

[gandalf]

To be honest, I have had only one lag spike (When I was attaking a fort with the imperial legion) in my whole 40 hours of playing the game, my current save file is 7156 KB. This might be because of the PS3 I own, [PS3 slim; 120G], But either way, I have yet to encounter one "game braking lag" isssue.
Although, this problem might still effect me in the future of my playing time, so I hope a patch is released to combat the problem, but if I encounter it before a patch, I will atleast have Battlefield 3.

[Noraima Vega]

Not sure I understand the technical issues but my game was freezing every half hour or so so I stopped playing.

I would have to reset the game by holding the on button ( couldn't use the PS button to get to the main screen and quit, and ejecting the game didn't help).

When I turned the system on again, I got the usual corrupted file message thing - I kept deleting the game data etc etc. It just got so annoying! Someone told me that I could wreck my machine by continuing to do this so I have stopped playing and am waiting for the next patch. My sense is that the next patch will not likley solve the freezing problem

Interestingly enough, I have only had very minor lag problems ...

At any rate, I do hope these issues are fixable,.

[Charlie Sarson]

I remembered i had an atroshious framerate drop that my ps3 froze ... it was a snowy area ... i can't really remember exactly where ... maybe near the dawnstar sanctuary ... but it was snowing the in the game ... a dragon came, i had giants following me ... i had bandits attacking and i had a few khajits fighting as well ... my ps3 couldn't keep up with it ... and so it froze ... i had to reset it ... i've had other framerate drops in solitude, whiterun, riften even ... but that was the most memorable one for me at this time

I can't say I know much about this technical issue part ... but I know for a fact that my husband can play skyrim on his pc and not have to worry about this type of problem ... he has no framerate drop ... and no problems that I have on my ps3 ((I can't say much about xbox because I don't know who has xbox and plays skyrim))

[jason worrell]

Now, the saved data file correlation is perfectly real and my thread is not concerning that, but contrary to what people are claiming, this game doesn't just have issues with larger saved data file sizes. No matter how far you are into the game, this game has fps issues on the PS3 and the saved data file correlation simply exacerbates and spreads the issue. It has been proven by both lensoftruth's and DigitalFoundry's digital anolyses that the PS3 version inherently suffers from a fluctuating fps whereas the 360 version does not.

This is a clear and ominous indication that the game engine is, from the very onset, not as well optimized for the PS3 as it should be. Now, in the less demanding areas, where it fluctuates between 25 and 30, it is still not really stable or a smooth 30 fps as some falsely claim, but it is relatively smooth, if not a bit choppy or sluggish, occasionally, but then in more demanding areas such as the fog-covered marshes near solitude, the fall forest, the area surrounding Morthal, inside cities, and inside many interiors (usually dungeons with any shred of size, lighting effects, and/or mist effects), the framerate never reaches 30 at all and seems to fluctuate somewhere between 15-25 because the game engine was already scraping the bottom of the barrel and struggling even in less-demanding areas.

This game is not as well-optimized for the PS3 as the 360 regardless of any saved data file issues and it has lag regardless of those, as well. Longer play-times and larger saved data files are only further proof of Bethesda's negligence and they only serve to take the issue to an unplayable level, for many, but then I wonder why people don't seem to recognize this. Perhaps they misdiagnose this inherent lagging as being a part of the saved data file issue, but it isn't and if it isn't brought up, specifically, as being inherent, we're pretty much stuck with it.

There is not a single person here who has a stable framerate on their PS3 version of Skyrim regardless of saved data file size and that is a fact. Whether they choose to dismiss the very noticeable impact this lack of optimization has in the areas mentioned or not is beyond me, but I've conducted tests and video anolysis sites and groups have conducted tests. "Lag" is inherent to the PS3 version and if someone isn't having these issues in the areas I mentioned, I'd very much appreciate video proof because as of now, there is none. Please comment on what you think of this or if you've noticed it or not.

I've mentioned this before but as ever there were people who just point blank denied it was an issue for them. Walking through forests and mist in caves brings the frame rate down so much it's uncomfortable to play . I paid for 30fps, I never got it. Anything less than 25fps is simply unacceptable, although in all honesty I'd have to say really Bethesda should have put more of an effort in to have the framerate stay as close to 30fps as possible because even for this generation it's shameful to accept anything less, regardless of the age of hardware.

When Bethesda said the PS3 version of Skyrim was getting "a ton of attention", it was obviously untrue and a clear attempt to calm any uncertainty among gamers who had played other poor Bethesda titles on the PS3.

I'm disappointed. If I don't see significant improvements in 1.4, or at most, 1.5, then I'm going to revive my Bethesda Game Exchange Programme thread, because I don't fancy spending more money for a game I wanted to play properly.

Don't get me started on combat involving several mages...

[Crystal Clarke]

I've mentioned this before but as ever there were people who just point blank denied it was an issue for them. Walking through forests and mist in caves brings the frame rate down so much it's uncomfortable to play . I paid for 30fps, I never got it. Anything less than 25fps is simply unacceptable, although in all honesty I'd have to say really Bethesda should have put more of an effort in to have the framerate stay as close to 30fps as possible because even for this generation it's shameful to accept anything less, regardless of the age of hardware.

When Bethesda said the PS3 version of Skyrim was getting "a ton of attention", it was obviously untrue and a clear attempt to calm any uncertainty among gamers who had played other poor Bethesda titles on the PS3.

I'm disappointed. If I don't see significant improvements in 1.4, or at most, 1.5, then I'm going to revive my Bethesda Game Exchange Programme thread, because I don't fancy spending more money for a game I wanted to play properly.

Don't get me started on combat involving several mages...

I know I'll be very disappointed if I don't see at least some effort towards a fix in 1.4. If nothing, then what the hell have they been doing all this time? You know, besides getting drunk on eggnog and champagne. Happy Holidays, Bethesda..

[hannaH]

I have to say that the OP said it very well and very professionally. I have to completely agree with you with pretty much everything that you have stated.
As far as me and Bethesda games go, I played Oblivion on the 360 and loved it. I played Fallout on the PS3 and loved it.. I don't recall running into many issues except for the occasional music stutter problem. I wouldn't say that we don't recognize it but getting it on the PS3 was my only option as my husband plays it on the 360. I've roamed through these forums quite a few times hoping for any updates for the PS3 version of the game because quite frankly.. it's gotten to the point where I can only play it 10 minutes at a time before the lag drowns me.

I realize that the game has only been out since November, however I think Bethesda's main focus should be getting the game playable for those who can't play it. We all paid the same amount for the game and everyone except for us PS3 players are having a ball with the beautiful game. Instead of fixing backwards flying dragons and little bookshelf problems.. their main focus should be us. I'm sure it sounds greedy but at least everyone else can enjoy the game with a few extra negative quirks and bugs here and there.

At the very least, in the very near future as I feel I have waited long enough to be able to play a game I bought nearly two months ago.. we should be given something for our troubles. The lot of us that DID hold on to the game. I'm not too concerned about that but it would be nice anyways. Bethesda should show true customer service, show the PS3 gamers that they care, and give us TRUE updates that will at least keep us informed with what they are doing. I understand it is the holidays but the customers should get what they paid for, WHEN the game is released.. not two, three, or four months later.