darkSpyro

Ok, I can't play SW until Christmas, it's the kids Christmas present (for the big kid too), so now I have a dilemma. I have been in contact with Activision about some of my characters losing experience/upgrades/gold/hats in Giants, the one I spoke to them about was one of my Stealth Elf's. Anyway they came back with these suggestions:

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Dear Activision Customer,

I understand that you have an issue with your Stealth Elf retaining experience and gold.

It sounds like one of two types of corruption that can potentially occur. Either corruption with the files on the console, or corruption within the toy itself.

In both cases, unfortunately the best option is to delete the data and try again, either the data off the toy, or the data off the console.

We recommend first trying to delete the data off the toy (easier to replace than a game save file) by going into the toy options and resetting the progress there. Once reset, you can try the toy in giants and see if the progress is saved correctly. If that were to fail, we'd need to look at going into the Wii Data Management, finding the Giants data and deleting it all.

If you are able to give these options a try and let us know if there are any issues, it would be appreciated.

So here's my problem - I reset Stealth Elf, didn't help, was still losing data. I have 100% completion on both Hard and Nightmare modes so I am not really keen on deleting Giants and starting all over again. Yes I have saved a back up of the Save Game File, but I was hoping it was a problem with the portal and that the new SW portal would fix the problem.

Does this seem strange that it would be a Game Save File problem, given that it only seems to affect a few characters and not all of them? Or have I just been lucky that it hasn't wiped the other ones yet?

What are your thoughts, should I wait and check the new portal and see if that helps or bite the bullet and delete? I want to play Giants between now and Christmas, but not if it's going to delete my skylanders experience.

Also I am going to upgrade to a Wii U, but I assume if it is the game save file, simply copying it across isn't going to help if the file itself is corrupt.

Do you have Spyro's Adventure? Try them on that.

You should give them some advice: anytime QA finds a bug they should delete their source code and start over.

But--try a different game, different system (if possible) or a different portal. Also, the wired portals are better in terms of not losing data than the wireless.

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Do you have Spyro's Adventure? Try them on that.

Yeah tried them on that and they work fine, never had a problem with them losing data - which unfortunately makes it look more a game save issue than a portal issue.

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You should give them some advice: anytime QA finds a bug they should delete their source code and start over.

I like the way you're thinking.

I have tried both my wired and wireless portals, it doesn't happen on SSA only on Giants, so looks like I will need to delete. Seems odd though that it's not affecting every character.

The fact that it's only affecting specific character tells me it's a problem on that character. I have one specific character that refuses to show the MAX gold. I'm sure something's horked on the data but I don't want to reset it. You might have to in this case. As an FYI there are tools out there to backup your character so if it doesn't work you can restore it without re-investing the time.

Problem is it's happening to a few different characters and they only have this problem with Giants. I use the same characters in S:SA and they never lose anything. There are about 6-8 that occasionally lose some upgrades or experience. Others haven't lost anything - yet.

In my opinion, to confirm whether or not it is a game save problem, try starting a new save file in Giants, the putting the character in. If the character save, then it is a problem with the file. If it doesn't save, then it is a problem with the disc, and you might need a new one. After all, scratches or smudges on discs could cause problems like this.

Quote: kaosmumishot

Problem is it's happening to a few different characters and they only have this problem with Giants. I use the same characters in S:SA and they never lose anything. There are about 6-8 that occasionally lose some upgrades or experience. Others haven't lost anything - yet.

As zookinator said---do you have the game on another platform to rule out disk related issues? I'm not buying it per se, but it's a shot outside of resetting. Also, definitely try a new save file (keep what you have) and see if the problem goes away.

Quote: GhostRoaster

You should give them some advice: anytime QA finds a bug they should delete their source code and start over.

i agree the lazy activision developers should program it properly. we cant have bugs, it just ruin the whole game for people.

Quote: zookinator

In my opinion, to confirm whether or not it is a game save problem, try starting a new save file in Giants, the putting the character in. If the character save, then it is a problem with the file. If it doesn't save, then it is a problem with the disc, and you might need a new one. After all, scratches or smudges on discs could cause problems like this.

Good advice Zook. No reason to burn your bridges with your current progress when you should be able to start another game file to test. Perhaps even take your disc to a friend's Wii to test it that way as well if the new save file doesn't work.

Quote: tobby

Quote: GhostRoaster

You should give them some advice: anytime QA finds a bug they should delete their source code and start over.

i agree the lazy activision developers should program it properly. we cant have bugs, it just ruin the whole game for people.

Let me be clear. The developers and testers worked very hard for this game.

I'm ok with bugs...people aren't perfect. What I'm not ok with is the head in sand approach from the Activision management and fanboys that the bugs aren't impacting gameplay when clearly it is and it's frustrating people. I'm also not ok with a "no patching" policy given the number of platforms and amount of time they had to develop and test this. I'm also not ok with suggestions from support that basically involve data loss without understanding the customer's root cause. Bottom line is if their support is going to be lackluster then they need to wear their big boy pants and endure the negative feedback they are receiving...I'm hoping they will change their approach for the next game.

My suggestions:

• Have a patching priority to remove critical or gameplay inhibiting bugs post release.
  
• Develop tools to help support diagnose and troubleshoot problems related to the figure, data and portal. What's so hard with a data figure CRC check utility, diagnostics, etc?
  

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In my opinion, to confirm whether or not it is a game save problem, try starting a new save file in Giants, the putting the character in.

Sounds like a plan but how do I do that? Do you mean save the existing one onto an SD card so I can reinstall it later, then delete the one on the wii and start a new one, or is there a way to start a new one without deleting the old one off the wii?

Skylanders Giants has multiple save files. Just go to the File Select Screen(when you click the Story Mode button) and if you look below your other file, there should be other bars labled "New Game". Click on one of those, and it should start up a new save as if you were a new gamer.

Quote: tobby

Quote: GhostRoaster

You should give them some advice: anytime QA finds a bug they should delete their source code and start over.

i agree the lazy activision developers should program it properly. we cant have bugs, it just ruin the whole game for people.

Why don't you try developing a complicated game without any bugs.

So I will ask something that no one seems to be asking yet. Is this happening to people with the wireless portal or a wired portal?

Quote: WickedRogue

So I will ask something that no one seems to be asking yet. Is this happening to people with the wireless portal or a wired portal?

I'm assuming since this is the Swap Force section only the wired portals need apply here.

It's a wired portal. I have a wireless one as well I might try that.

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Skylanders Giants has multiple save files. Just go to the File Select Screen(when you click the Story Mode button) and if you look below your other file, there should be other bars labled "New Game". Click on one of those, and it should start up a new save as if you were a new gamer.

Ok, sorry didn't know that's what you meant. It happens on all 4 saved games and one of those I reset from time to time to give me more treasure chests for when I am upgrading new skylanders.

I think trying the other portal might be the go. It just seems strange that it happens on Giants but not Spyro's Adventure. I use the same wired portal for both.

Quote: kaosmumishot

It's a wired portal. I have a wireless one as well I might try that.

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Skylanders Giants has multiple save files. Just go to the File Select Screen(when you click the Story Mode button) and if you look below your other file, there should be other bars labled "New Game". Click on one of those, and it should start up a new save as if you were a new gamer.

Ok, sorry didn't know that's what you meant. It happens on all 4 saved games and one of those I reset from time to time to give me more treasure chests for when I am upgrading new skylanders.

I think trying the other portal might be the go. It just seems strange that it happens on Giants but not Spyro's Adventure. I use the same wired portal for both.

Older wireless portals don't work with Swap Force, or did I miss the hack meeting?

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Older wireless portals don't work with Swap Force, or did I miss the hack meeting?

No I meant I would try the wireless one on Giants. If it's a portal problem then the new Swap Force one will hopefully fix that.

Yeah, the wireless portals tend to have glitches involving figures saving or resetting. I think that switching to the Swap Force portal will work. Besides, it is compatible!

Quote: zookinator

Yeah, the wireless portals tend to have glitches involving figures saving or resetting. I think that switching to the Swap Force portal will work. Besides, it is compatible!

I stopped using the wireless Portals in SSA. I have yet to run into this problem. So that is why I brought up the question. Battery's dying in a portal can corrupt a figure so I just don't risk using the wireless ones.

An update for those who are interested or might be experiencing the same problems. I purchased another Skylanders Giants starter pack yesterday to see if a new disc and portal would help. Everything seemed to be going better, I did all but one of the heroic challenges with my Polar Whirlwind but then after playing skystones I checked again and it was showing only half of the challenges as being complete.

So I think based on this it's not a portal or disc problem (wasted $ on new starter pack) and my only remaining option is to delete the save file (goodbye 100% completion in Nightmare Mode) and start again. And if that doesn't work, well then it just means that Giants is unplayable for me and I wasted HUNDREDS of dollars on it.

I don't think you've done a good job of explaining how the problem is happening.

So, you've 100% Nightmare mode in Giants? So, it sounds like everything is working fine at some point...now you're losing stuff? Did you start playing Swap Force when this happened? I ask since you are posting in Swap Force section.

I haven't heard too many communicated problems for Giants losing data; in fact I've played it for HUNDREDS of hours and not experienced it personally. It sounds like you've spent a good amount of time on it...there's some information here you're not relaying.

BTW, Activision cares not you spent hundreds. Personally, if I see anything like this when I start playing Swap Force, it will be my last game in the series. I've answered and responded to every forum message (big surprise no one from their support has answered) to no avail.

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I don't think you've done a good job of explaining how the problem is happening.

So, you've 100% Nightmare mode in Giants? So, it sounds like everything is working fine at some point...now you're losing stuff?

Everything was working fine for months. I've played for more hours than I care to remember given I completed 100% in Hard and Nightmare mode not counting upgrading characters and just generally playing the game with my boys. Then about two months ago we noticed that some characters were losing money/upgrades/experience/quests/heroic challenges etc. We first thought it was just a dodgy character or two but it has happened to a lot of characters. But when we use them in S:SA we have NO problems at all. They keep their gold/experience etc in S:SA, then we put them back into Giants and collect gold, buy upgrades and then randomly they lose some data again. Like I say I tried a new portal and new disc but still have the same problem.

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Did you start playing Swap Force when this happened? I ask since you are posting in Swap Force section.

No I have Swap Force but I won't be playing Swap Force until Christmas day. But there were two reasons for posting this in this section. The main one was to ask people's opinion about whether or not this could be a portal problem which would be saved by using the new S:SF portal when playing Giants. I thought if others had experienced the same problem in Giants and found the new portal helped eliminate the problem that I would just wait and not play Giants again until I could use the new portal.

The second reason is that I am curious if this is still happening in Swap Force. I know I am not the only person having lost data problem in Giants, although I wonder if it's only other Wii people who are experiencing this problem in which case a change of console might fix the problem. So if others are having the same problem in S:SF then I would know to steer clear of it.

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I haven't heard too many communicated problems for Giants losing data; in fact I've played it for HUNDREDS of hours and not experienced it personally. It sounds like you've spent a good amount of time on it...there's some information here you're not relaying.

Like I say it's only in the Giants game not S:SA and I spent HEAPS of time on there before I noticed this issue. And I am aware of others having the same problem and not knowing why. I wasn't intentionally withholding information, just trying to keep my post brief.

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BTW, Activision cares not you spent hundreds. Personally, if I see anything like this when I start playing Swap Force, it will be my last game in the series. I've answered and responded to every forum message (big surprise no one from their support has answered) to no avail.

Yes I am well aware of Activision's willingness to flog their golden goose to death and then move onto the next thing rather than nurture it and help it grow for many years to come. That they seemingly ignore the fact that the hundreds of dollars they've made from me could turn into thousands over the years. But hey, perhaps they know more about it than I do and think that regardless people will get bored with Skylanders and move onto something else so they are trying to milk it while they can. Personally I think they will kill the game well before its time. Shame for us fans.

I'm with you on the whole -anymore problems and that's it, no more Skylanders for me. I don't mind minor glitches here and there but Giants has become unplayable now. I spend hours upgrading new characters to enjoy their new powers only to find that they loose those powers and I have to start all over again. I have a few characters that I have really put the hours into and I don't dare use them in Giants in case they get wiped. So for me if I can't get Giants working correctly Swap Force will be it for me. I have invested in 3 games now I expect all 3 to keep working. If they don't then I won't be taking the risk on Skylanders 4 and giving the Activision crooks more of my hard earned. I have sewn the seeds now with my boys that this might be our last. They seem surprisingly ok with that.

Oh and I appreciate you jumping on here and commenting and trying to help. I have read quite a few of your comments on other posts which seem to come across as a bit abrasive to some. Personally I like the frankness of your comments. Makes the forum more interesting in my opinion.