DeathSpank TOV: keyboard problem (MAC)

[Tobigheri]

Hi,

I'm playing (mhhh... trying to play :( ) TOV on my MAC (iMac i5 27' early 2010) and I found a bug that is going to drive me creazy and is wiping all fun i'm getting from this awesome title:

TOV sometimes doesn't recognize the right keyboard layout and mess up with Keyboard bindings / Settings

More detail:
Some times (no all times but the most) TOV (immediatly after the game start) doesn't recognize the right keyboard layout . I mean: the key setting menu doesn't show any change but the game start recognize the "W" key as "Z", the "Z" as "W", the "M" as ".", the "3" as " ' " and so on... messing everything. Pressing "W" to go forward and nothing happen... pressing "Z" and deathspank move forward.
I found these value trying to re-set the binding on keyboard setting menu... Selecting "forward" (with "W" value set and shown on menu), pressing "W" on keyboard but on screen I got "Z". If I save these new value everything start working fine (pressing on keyboard "W", he recognizes "Z" but now "Z" is set to be "forward" and it's ok...) except for the number "3" (and 4) that i can't rebind with the new value.

Even stranger (and worst) is that sometime TOV recognize the right keyboard layout.

Obviously i tried switching task and using tons of other software (textedit, mail, word processing, finder, chat, even the steam chat on overlay, ... everything) and everything work fine: when I press "W" they show "W", not "Z" (and viceversa).

I have a (standard) extended MAC USB keyboard (Italian layout). Multiple check on keyboard system setting and everything is right.

Trying to close and restart TOV doesn't solve the problem (if happened)... Reset of the iMac and there are some chances that he recognizes the right layout.

Please help, cause I use a lot the keyboard and I can't play without :(

Is there anyone who got similar issues?

Bye,
t.

[Hothead]

Is there a way you can test in English layout to see if it is an international settings problem? Also,try creating a new game. The layout is saved in a game save so trying that may help eliminate options and narrow down the issue. We have not heard of this happening before in our bug reports.

[Tobigheri]

Is there a way you can test in English layout to see if it is an international settings problem?


I don't have a english layout usb keyboard to try but I can change the system settings and switch to english layout. Some keys would change but "qwerty" should remain the same.

Also,try creating a new game. The layout is saved in a game save so trying that may help eliminate options and narrow down the issue.


I can try but I not sure it's a savegame problem... These key "swap" happen also without loading any save: starting TOV -> settings -> controls -> trying to bind some key just to try and you found keyboard layout messed up.

We have not heard of this happening before in our bug reports.

It's really a strange bug... I can add another info: I downloaded the MAC version immediatly at launch (14-15 dec) then I started playing for 1 - 2 hours... and everything was fine. Then, a couple of day later I started again steam and Deathspank automatically downloaded and added DLC. After that the bug showed up.

Maybe some mess with the DLC?

Thx,
t.

[flava_clown]

I can try but I not sure it's a savegame problem... These key "swap" happen also without loading any save: starting TOV -> settings -> controls -> trying to bind some key just to try and you found keyboard layout messed up.

from what i understand, the settings are stored in the savegame. which means if you start DS:ToV and go to the settings, they might be wrong, but once you load a savegame your should have the settings you want.

however what you describe looks like a bug in the game itself, coz the W key is on almost all keyboard layouts on the same place. only Z and Y are switched on some layouts.

have you tried to "verify the integrity of the game cache"? (steam -> library -> games -> DS:ToV properties -> local files -> verify integrity of game cache)

[Tobigheri]

Is there a way you can test in English layout to see if it is an international settings problem? Also,try creating a new game. The layout is saved in a game save so trying that may help eliminate options and narrow down the issue. We have not heard of this happening before in our bug reports.

Tested US layout: same bug

Tested new game: same bug

Tested "verify the integrity of game cache" (as told Flava_clown): test ok but same bug.

Now it seems is always present... I can't play with the right layout... Worst thing is the "1","2","3" and "4" are not recognized at all (except "3" is " ' ") and I can't use them.

Is there something I can try?

Everything else is working fine... switching task during game and keyboard layout is the right one.

:-(

Please help :(

[Hothead]

1, 2, 3, and 4 are pre-programmed for the belt slots only--that is by design.

Do you have another keyboard to try? Just trying to rule out something wacky like that. If we had heard of this issue before obviously would not be asking this.

[Hothead]

Also, try moving your save games out of the directory because the game will always load the last save by default for the 'continue' game option. With no saves present, start again and see if the problem persists with a fresh new game save where there are no other save slots used.

[Tobigheri]

1, 2, 3, and 4 are pre-programmed for the belt slots only--that is by design.

Do you have another keyboard to try? Just trying to rule out something wacky like that. If we had heard of this issue before obviously would not be asking this.

:( No. Do you think it could be a keyboard hardware problem? If that shouldn't be on every software?

Also, try moving your save games out of the directory because the game will always load the last save by default for the 'continue' game option. With no saves present, start again and see if the problem persists with a fresh new game save where there are no other save slots used.

Tried to DELETE the local files, downloaded again, moved the savegame out (and unchecked the steam cloud sync) then:

- Started the brand new downloaded Deathspank TOV (I noteced he remembers the video settings)
- Started a new game -> SAME BUG :-/

:(

Tried then also the old savegames from cloud and the bug is always there...

The only think differs from the times when the bug wasn't here is the DLC. The first run was without the DLC. (About DLC: i found notes in game about the DLC. I pick up but reloading i found them again, and again, and again... also using teleport... the notes respawn)

The "only" real big problem are the 1,2,3,4 keys... Without them is impossible to play without being frustrated :(

Any ideas?

thx,
t.

[Hothead]

Given your video settings were saved means that your prefs.ini is sticking around. Try deleting it. Sorry if you already mentioned this but what version of the OS are you running?

[Tobigheri]

Given your video settings were saved means that your prefs.ini is sticking around. Try deleting it. Sorry if you already mentioned this but what version of the OS are you running?

Where can I find prefs.ini ?

Isn't (it's not even hidden) in Application Support/Steam/SteamApps/common/deathspanktov nor in Application Support/Steam/userdata/ tree.

About Os: I'm running Snow Leopard 10.6.5

[Tobigheri]

I tried unplugging real keyboard and using the OSX virtual onscreen keyboard to set the bindings via mouse and see what happens.

Clicking "W" on the onscreen keyboard -> Deatshpank TOV recognize as "Z"... and so on... same behavior.

:(

[Tobigheri]

About this problem the real issue is that I'm unable to use the "1","2","3" and "4" keys... without them is impossibile to play :(

I tried with the numpad but it doesn't work. It seems is recognized like "NUMPAD 1" (and so on...) and not with simple "1",...

Please help me.

I would like also to know if there is someone how's playing Deathspank TOV on MAC cause it seems there's no one but me out there :(

t.

[Tobigheri]

Hothead, guys... someone can help me?

:(

Even a "dirty trick" to rebind the "1",...,"4" keys in order, at least, to play!

Thx,
t.

[Tobigheri]

UP :(

Please, let me play this game... again: at least HOW can i rebind the "1".."4" keys??! Maybe in prefs.ini but HOW?

thx,
t.

[MathieuFROG]

Similar problem here.
Keys 1 to 4 don't work anymore. I'm on a french MacOS X system. Using the american keyboard on MacOS don't work neither.

[Hothead]

Looking into it. Thanks guys.

[Tobigheri]

Looking into it. Thanks guys.

Any news?

Have you replicated/found the bug?

thx,
t.

[Hothead]

Here is where we are at:

"After further testing:

- I changed the system to Russian and I could not map any keys correctly, every time i would press a key to configure the game couldn't recognize the key, nothing would happen, after unbinding a key the same issue would happen, could not map any other keys, none of them were recognized, if you left the keys as default and didn't do any of the above the game would play as normal, as soon as you start trying to change keys the game wouldn't recognize any keys on the keyboard. This also happened in French language.

- When I switched the system back to english/canada/US I could do the above with no issues all keys were recognized when mapping to different keys"

[Tobigheri]

Here is where we are at:

"After further testing:

- I changed the system to Russian and I could not map any keys correctly, every time i would press a key to configure the game couldn't recognize the key, nothing would happen, after unbinding a key the same issue would happen, could not map any other keys, none of them were recognized, if you left the keys as default and didn't do any of the above the game would play as normal, as soon as you start trying to change keys the game wouldn't recognize any keys on the keyboard. This also happened in French language.

- When I switched the system back to english/canada/US I could do the above with no issues all keys were recognized when mapping to different keys"

Good! So you can replicate it. When do you plan to patch the game (or give us some "workaround" non requiring to change the system global preferences) ? I bought in preorder and I really would like to start playing it :(

[Tobigheri]

Here is where we are at:

"After further testing:

- I changed the system to Russian and I could not map any keys correctly, every time i would press a key to configure the game couldn't recognize the key, nothing would happen, after unbinding a key the same issue would happen, could not map any other keys, none of them were recognized, if you left the keys as default and didn't do any of the above the game would play as normal, as soon as you start trying to change keys the game wouldn't recognize any keys on the keyboard. This also happened in French language.

- When I switched the system back to english/canada/US I could do the above with no issues all keys were recognized when mapping to different keys"

Do you have any news or a plan to fix it?

:(

[Hothead]

Yes there are plans to fix it. I don't have an ETA at this time.

[Tobigheri]

Yes there are plans to fix it. I don't have an ETA at this time.

To be honest I’m little surprised by all this story.

This bug seems affecting (correct me if I'm wrong) every MAC with system settings non-US/Canada, so: I don’t want to discuss about testing policies and quality, but I would like to know – at least – if I can reasonably hope to play on my MAC in the near future or give up and simply complain – errrr… - myself (?) about a wrong purchase.

Thanks in advance for you time,
t.

[Hothead]

Not sure what you mean by 'all this story.' We plan on fixing it. I don't have an estimated delivery time at the moment. We appreciate you bringing the issue to our attention. Thanks.

[Tobigheri]

Not sure what you mean by 'all this story.' We plan on fixing it. I don't have an estimated delivery time at the moment. We appreciate you bringing the issue to our attention. Thanks.

First of all: I don’t want to start any sort of “flame”, “complain” or “whining thread”.

With ‘all this story’ I mean I’m a bit surprised you can’t give an ETA at this time. This bug is known and is something very close to a bug preventing to play your game at all. What I'm telling to myself is that probably your sales of TOV for MAC and specially for MAC systems outside US/Canada region are not so “big” (important? Strategic?) to set the priority of solving this bug at a minimum level to define an ETA.

I preordered this game (I enjoyed Deathspank 1 on WIN PC platform before) and I’m in from the first day TOV was ready to be downloaded so I honestly didn’t expect to be forced to wait an unknown amount of time even if the bug is so “serious” and possibly “wide-spread” (probably/maybe not too “wide” cause the sales discussed above). I prefer to face a long ETA rather than a “how knows”.

I appreciate your work, I’m only writing down my thoughts.

Thx,
t.

[Hothead]

No problem and thanks for the detail. The issue is we own the IP and developed the games but EA is the publisher. A current fix available for PC users for a different problem is available unofficially through us ie. no official patch there either. We hope to be able to do the same with this mac issue but we don't know if that will be possible yet. We can move faster than EA can patch as they have an involved process and they have their own criteria and timeline. We can't force them to patch it right now so the current thinking is to gather all issues that need addressing and fix them all at once. This is why there is no ETA. If it helps, we are hoping to have something official by end of Feb and something from us directly if possible before then. Probably not the time frame you were hoping to hear. Thanks.

[Tobigheri]

No problem and thanks for the detail. The issue is we own the IP and developed the games but EA is the publisher. A current fix available for PC users for a different problem is available unofficially through us ie. no official patch there either. We hope to be able to do the same with this mac issue but we don't know if that will be possible yet. We can move faster than EA can patch as they have an involved process and they have their own criteria and timeline. We can't force them to patch it right now so the current thinking is to gather all issues that need addressing and fix them all at once. This is why there is no ETA. If it helps, we are hoping to have something official by end of Feb and something from us directly if possible before then. Probably not the time frame you were hoping to hear. Thanks.

Hi. I'm still here stuck with this issue. Now is March so, do you have any ETA for the patch or something from you guys directly?

I would like to (re)start playing TOV :D

Thx.

Bye,
t.

[Tobigheri]

Hi. I'm still here stuck with this issue. Now is March so, do you have any ETA for the patch or something from you guys directly?

I would like to (re)start playing TOV :D

Thx.

Bye,
t.

Any hope to have a small answer from Hothead? Once very supportive and now is vanished :confused: :(

bye,
t.

[Tobigheri]

Any hope to have a small answer from Hothead? Once very supportive and now is vanished :confused: :(

bye,
t.

Still no patch, still no answers... It's going to be a sad story :(