My PS3 was working perfectly. I even beat GTA IV without any crashing in the single player. After replaying the game to try out the alternative ending, my PS3 crashed with blinking red lights.

I started it up again, to retry the game and it crashed yet again, this time without even loading the intro. Now, the PS3 shutsdown (blinking red lights) randomly.

I have the 60 GB PS3 which is known to have this problem. I just find it strange that everything has worked out okay until now. I haven't done anything provocative to my PS3 (last thing i installed was Qore and Battlefield).

Be careful guys, especially for GTA, its hazardous to the system. I thought it couldn't happen to me, but oh well.

I'll try and reinstall and see if it still happens. Hopefully its just a save game corrupt file.

This post has been edited by OmniAtlas: Jun 10 2008, 08:27 PM

I thought the 60GB was the best PS3? the 80GB had software BC emulation, but the 60GB version actually has the emotion engine built inside.

Good luck. I hope it's nothing serious.

Actually I read somewhere that the 20GB and 60GB models from Nov - Dec 06 are most susceptible to this blinking red lights issue. Anyway doesn't blinking red lights mean that it's overheating?

aiks. dont scare me. mine is one of the earlier models. ps2 hardware. so far ok ler.. gta4 doesnt crash on me no matter how long i play.

okay guys, it wasn't a heat issue, b/c i was blasting the a/c and it would still crash.

I got it working again. I simply deleted the installed files (game data), reinstalled and its okay now. so somehow gta iv must have screwed up those essential files. strange huh.

hopefully nothing else happens.

And a game like that managed to score 10 points.

lol 10/10 coz its on x360

And rockstar claims its the ps3's fault not theirs lol

So, it's okay already? I think can close the thread.

i bet rockstar paid those reviewers very good. cuz a game that scored 10/10 doesn't make me feel for replaying after I cleared it once.
To be honest, stored my copy of GTA4 in the collection rack after i cleared the game and I hardly touched it again. well, a few rounds of MP and i'm tired with it.

it's totally over-rated. It has to be at least, like San Andreas' volume (minigames, map variety, shop variety, buying cribs...) in order to gain 10/10. If only they made this game PS3 exclusive, they could have expand the game better with Blu Ray.

i bought GTA 4 on the very 1st day..and yet im still at 8% of the game..really don't have the mood to play it.. im down with the overhype..

hope it wont crash my system when i decide to play it again

thats a rule of thumb

haha that happened to me with ace combat. it happened to my roomate with assasins creed, but i thought that game was superb.

well for me, I think numbers shouldn't determine how much we like the game. You can't quantify feelings that accurately. Can u go around giving number ratings to girls and decide to marry girl A over girl B because one person score 8.9 and the other 8.8 ? Not me.

GTA IV still holds number 1 spot in my games library. Depends on my mood though.

I thought I'm the only one who don't really enjoy this game.

I agree GTA San Andreas is more entertaining. I was really excited when I got the game in my hands but after a few missions it bored me.

Let's be extra careful when buying the next GTA.

I'm sorry to say that I too think that GTA4 is a slight let down. I really can't feel for Nico the way I felt for the San Andreas protagonist. San Andreas is definitely way better because I actually felt ownership of the gangs and the story of betrayal hit harder. Or maybe I'm just egoistical because I could sculpt the look of my hero anyway I like... major muscles, tattoos, hair cuts, blink blink...

Man... GTA4 is just repetition gameplay and the MP is whatever la. Still, I'm going to hold on to it just the same cause its GTA man...

Someone mentioned ace combat being a let down... ace combat for ps3 got meh? I love that series jeez.

lol, true.. i think this game memang is overhype.. only game so far that made me wanna play till the end are a handful. god of war series and cod4. and ofcourse RE series.

I think GTA IV has the best storyline compared to the rest, even san andreas. Way, way better acting. I never felt so involved with the story as I did with the other games. They did a great job putting in the choice of how the story proceeds in a very subtle way. I find all the gangsta thing in san andreas just a little too pretentious.

I give GTA IV a 9/10 ; it could have been so much more. I really wish they worked on the interiors -- the streets were great, but if they had more enterable buildings it would really build upon the illusion that this was a living breathing city.

Don't know whats up with every magazine out there giving it a 10/10; rockstar must have bribed them seriously.

GTA IV still crashes my PS3 btw, but this time only in multiplayer, lol.

well, I, somehow, need to agree with your point.
after i've cleared GTA4, I played back my PSP's Vice City Stories and guess what, I turned off my psp after 2 missions lol.

except the graphics and environment of the game, I do felt VCS acting is way too crappy.

My full salute to GTA4's voice actors (especially in car conversation, I do think GTA4 has the greatest volume in dialogs), and I like Little Jacob's Jamaican English, but still, it's not my 10/10 game.

The first GTA which contains some moral point, gay or not?

---

Added on June 8, 2008, 12:27 pmYeah, same experience here, not only GTA4, i found similar problem in Army of TWO too.
It's a connection problem.

This post has been edited by cRazYee: Jun 8 2008, 12:28 PM

thanks for the heads up guys. i dont think im going to buy gta4. .probably will rent it if i have the time to play. but mayve it is not worth kept.

i just played GTA3 and its clones -san andre, vc, and vc stories... turned them off after a couple of missions too.. sucks.

PS3 just crashed again in single player mode. This was AFTER installing the patch. It was okay before the patch....wth is going on!!

---

Added on June 8, 2008, 4:24 pmmy PS3 is now officially fu*ked. it doesn't even turn on now. I'm going to call bernard. this is ridiculous.

This post has been edited by OmniAtlas: Jun 8 2008, 04:24 PM

wah.. let us know wat benard said after man. hope its jus the HD. somthin that is easily replaced.

Yea. CJ is the better protagonist to me and I'm not even black. The storyline in SA is better from the start, it kept me playing.

The MP is fun at first but now less and less people are playing.

If you don't like San Adres you better don't get GTA4. SA got more things to do, in other words, wider gameplay.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=288359

yes, some US 60GB owners also face the same problem. very weird that a software bug can cause system lock-ups on certain models like that

Just called him, he suspects its the LAN port and it was the lightning that struck it so he recommends that everyone use WIFI.

I don't think it was that problem -- i think it was GTA IV because I had NO problem running other things before and it would only crash like this while playing GTA IV.

now my ps3 is gone and it will not turn on. It goes RED -> YELLOW then back to -> red light.

He suggests I take it back to singapore to fix. anyone have any idea how this process goes? ninja? anyone have any clue? i am in dire need...argh.

No more crashes in GTA4 after the patch for me.

Going to Singapore just to fix one PS3 is quite expensive I think.

Wait...if the lightning struck your network card I think you should still can turn on the PS3. Unless the lightning struck other parts also.

I have family that go down to singapore quite frequently and have cousins there working as well so that is not a problem.

i talked to bernard and he said it is better to go to singapore because you can get a replacement within one week. Some of those that send in locally haven't even got their PS3 back after 8 months!

i'm not too sure if my ps3 is the singapore or hong kong version though. It came with a warrenty card labelled with "Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong Limited" ; yet in the PS3 the RSS connects to the Singapore feed.

Does anyone know how to check for sure? Serial number? I'm not too sure if singapore will accept a Hong Kong PS3.

This post has been edited by OmniAtlas: Jun 8 2008, 05:17 PM

weird,,, a game can screw up a console? that's worse than Xbox 360 RROD man

You can check the model no of your PS3 from this list that Vorchiel provided

Geez I do hope you get to do a RMA of your ps3 soon

That's why, I really really don't understand how this game can score 10. It screw up your machine too. Seriously bad coding.

Okay, I just called Sony Singapore and they said they can repair it. They said it will be done in about 1 week, so I just need to bring it into their service repair center. Hopefully they will fix it and all be good.

Stupid GTA IV disc is stuck in the machine though.

---

Added on June 8, 2008, 6:25 pmHeres a video of my failing PS3:

Still trying to figure out how to embed youtubes, but heres the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efHALkyDH64



This post has been edited by OmniAtlas: Jun 8 2008, 06:37 PM

Probably because the statistical percentage of this happening to your PS3 is low, and therefore an aberration?

This post has been edited by Schattenjeager: Jun 8 2008, 06:27 PM

Well if Omni was a critic, he finish playing the game and submitted the score for the game THEN only his PS3 started to crash, how could he change his published score?

Right?

if it really IS due to GTA IV then it should have happened to everyone here who played GTA IV. I wouldnt be too quick to place the blame on GTA IV. =\

The problem is its been known to have occurred on the 60 gb launch PS3's (i.e. the system I have) -- so you guys that have later versions, or the 40 gb *might* be safe.

The crashing also only happened while playing GTA IV -- i was having fun in battlefield and COD4 before that without any problems.

I think sony also came out with a statement a few weeks ago that there *is* a hardware compatibility problem and will be fixing it by replacing those ps3s.

A week ago I encountered the crashing with GTAIV. Then I logged out of PSN and disabled the auto sign-in thingy. After that it went fine and I reenabled that thing again. But it crashed again. Then I did the enable/disable thing 2-3 times and concluded that my connection suxx on that day because it worked fine in offline mode. On the next day then only I could play GTAIV normally (with PSN logged-in + R*socialclub linked)

My machine is a 60GB JP launch unit.

Mine is 60GB HK, launch unit as well. Safe so far, hopefully.

i crash when quitting Battlefield BC alwiz ...

you're comparing girls to gta?
dude,you ok or not?

I'll be careful vorchiel (I don't know how except by not playing gta iv as often) because mine was freezing for the last few days (see my previous posts above), which i was able to fix by reinstalling. And today within 5 minutes of being in game it just froze my system and I wasn't able to restart. 10 minutes ago I was in call of duty and battlefield fragging people; it doesn't make any sense how software can break a system. And yes I had the latest version of the firmware and yes I patched GTA to 1.01.

Strange...

ahahaha I was just explaining how useless numerical ratings are

Heres some more info if any of you run into the problem. I will be giving them a call through skype later in the week.

----

Update: 5/9/08, 0949 hours.

I just got off the phone with Sandra #47020 with Sony Computer Entertainment of America regarding the continuing lockup/freeze issues being experienced across consoles. She actually had a few interesting things to say, which I will relate here. I will be addressing specifically the PS3 version of GTA 4.

Sandra told me first off that Sony, Rockstar and Take-Two are all fully aware of the existence of the problem. She also confirmed that indeed, there is nothing wrong with my console (60 GB Release model), as a few quick questions regarding its functionality revealed that the problem is not with the hardware. This is confirmed, per Sandra #47020 of SCEA.

Are you with me so far? Great. There's more.

Sandra also indicated matter-of-factly that although they are acutely aware there is a problem, because almost NOBODY is calling SCEA (Sony) to report it, they still haven't definitively identified the source of the problem. Everyone is calling Rockstar and Take-Two screaming for blood when they need to be calling Sony and giving them the details. She indicated the quicker more console owners start opening trouble tickets, the quicker Sony will be able to narrow the problem down to the source. You can quote her on that too. She indicated that they understand our frustration, but that until it's properly reported to the right people, speculation will continue to run amuk and it will just take them longer to identify the problem and put out a fix.

So here it is folks, everyone needs to call SCEA (Sony) at 1-866-345-7669 and report the problem to the Technical Support Department immediately, if you haven't already. They are anxiously awaiting our calls, and after learning all of this, I completely understand their frustration as well. They want to help, but they need us to REPORT THE PROBLEM DIRECTLY TO SONY so they can get a fix out quicker. I want to experience this game just the same as everyone else.

To the XBox360 owners who are also experiencing problems, I'm sorry I can't address your particular issues, but I would strongly urge you to call Microsoft and report it, as I suspect that they are probably experiencing the same problem.

---

Added on June 9, 2008, 3:11 am--

FIX NEWS:

5.3.08 - according to engles08 the problem has been found, he says:

"Just got off the phone with T2 support. The issue that is causing the freezing is actually two separate issues. One is the network problem that the newer PS3's are encountering however the older model, launche units are experiencing an entirely different problem. The launch version of PS3's used a different chip that could run PS2 and PS1 games without emulation. This chip is conflicting with the game code and cause GTA4 to freeze. The T2 representative told me that the fix will indeed not be exclusively in the form of a patch. There will probably be a patch for the issues relating to the network and things that the newer PS3's are facing however.. the older launch 60GB versions and possibly the 20gb, i didnt ask, will require a firmware upgrade that will allow GTA4 to run on the older chip. This firmware upgrade, he said, could be available anytime between tomorrow morning and "as soon as possible" as he put it. The issue is deffinately being adressed and it seems as though they have found what the problem is. So guys lets hope this works and spread this around because this came directly from my 25 minute conversation with T2 support that I just got finished with."


This post has been edited by OmniAtlas: Jun 9 2008, 03:11 AM

um, speaking of blinking red lights, i hav once experienced it when i was playing gt5 and it crashed and all i see is the blinking red lights - just happened on last week, kind of scared got into the same case like mentioned here.....

This post has been edited by jasjas: Jun 9 2008, 03:27 AM

ironic. the one thing that sets the 60GB PS3 a cut above from the rest is the one cause of the hardware problem. At least now we know. But since ur ps3 refused to even start, I hope it isnt anything permanent. Sending it to sony to fix may mean u will get a replacement PS3 that is not the 60GB version since 60GB is discontinued. No spare parts.

well they may have a spare unit stashed in the store room somewhere .. you never know though

wow..so the bugger was the EE chip? this is new..

So GTA4 hates the 60GB model for now... that's a relief for the rest of us "other" variant owners.

Let's hope Rockstar gets it right with the patch/fix soon.

there is a such rules for any electronic brand to keep the spare part at least more than 5 years or u can see them in court.....
same goes to ps3....

Try replacing the harddisk with another new HDD and see if your PS3 boots up.

If you're able to bootup with another harddisk, it is most likely corrupted data in the HDD ?

never knew that! I learnt something today

Okay, so I managed to talk to Sony Singapore.

The way it goes is you take it into their service center, they check what the problem is, and they'll give you a new system because they'll have to ship it back to Hong Kong. So there isn't really a 'service' center in Singapore, everything is done back in Hong Kong. The good part is, the guy I talked to said they'll be able to do everything wiithin one day, and they'll replace it for free.

So if you're ever having a problem, just go to the singapore service center and they'll fix it for you.

---

Added on June 9, 2008, 7:22 pmI told the Sony guy my problem and he said it wasn't a hard drive problem, but a power (?) problem.

This post has been edited by OmniAtlas: Jun 9 2008, 07:22 PM

No harm trying the HDD method dude.

I would like to backup my hard drive though, anyone know where I can get this service done? I don't mine sending my system in because I'll be getting a new PS3 in the end, but my data will be missing of course.

same thing happened to me. Earlier this year, my PS3's wifi cant detect shit. So I sent mine to the service center in Wisma Atria, Orchard Road. The just checked my serial number, went back and brought out a BRAND NEW PS3!So they took mine and gave their new thing. Of course I have to take the thing out of the box, if not malaysian customs will be all over my ass. Placed the PS3 inside my back pack.rode my bike all the way to Tuas.One happy and satisfied customer here. Good to know they dont give refurbished unit all yellowish etc back to the customers. Sony service center ftw!

You can do this by using a software called Norton Ghost and save a snapshot of your HDD image somewhere.

hmm i'm not so sure bout dats...
my friend bought my PS3 in japan since December 2006 & I'd intense playing my unit even wiv pirated DVD...it has been 1 year & 6 month old now since i'd lay my hand on her...
and if its due to the over heating problem...I'm daring anyone to come to my old wooden house here in Kuala Besut to play my console at my house here by noon time & i doubt which one of YOU or the PS3 will be OVERHEATING on the first place...sincerely my house were truly hot at noon time that you can touch the roof above your head by hand...

IMO:
PS3 can endure in an extreamly HOT environment of game play.
Pirated DVD does not effect the machine medium drive. (BD I haven't test it out yet since i didn't own any of it yet)
Some of these died console was due to the defect or faulty hardware. (not all peeps lucky diz day)

P/s: To the TS I hoping that your unit was having a normal game crash. Cheers m8...

---

Added on June 10, 2008, 10:22 ami'd dare it to hate my unit

This post has been edited by monyetbesi: Jun 10 2008, 10:22 AM

Its a rockstar problem. They sent me an e-mail confirming it.

We have carried out a thorough investigation to the causes of the problems you have been experiencing with GTA IV in association with Sony. In order to resolve the issue we would recommend that you contact Sony's local support team directly who have additional information that will resolve your problems.

For Sony's North American support team:

SCEA Consumer Services
1-800-345-SONY (7669) - Careline hours of business - Monday - Saturday 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM PST and Sunday 7:00 - AM 6:30 PM PST

Or contact customer support online using the form at: http://www.us.playstation.com/corporate/ConsumerServices

For Sony's UK support team:

SCEE Consumer Services
Telephone us on 08705 99 88 77 (calls charged at standard BT National Rate) Careline hours of business - 8am to 10pm weekdays and 10am to 6pm weekends and public holidays.

Email customer support at - help@uk.playstation.com


Thank you for your patience and continued support.

Blinking red lights is in the manual . Anyways you're lucky you're ps3 seems to be doing great BD failure could also be due to the lense being exchanged from the original by those conman/conwomen sellers. Anyhoo, why tempt fate when you don't need to?

There was another person that had this problem also from playing GTA4 a few weeks back. IIRC his unit was the 40GB one.

This post has been edited by aphrael: Jun 10 2008, 11:51 AM

I don't think that Norton Ghost can recognize PS3 filesystem....

Hi to all the PS3 sifus out there. My frens PS3 have no display at all after turning on. This happen after he play GTA4 for 3hours. Its suddenly freezes(hang) so my fren off it and when he tried to on the PS3 again no picture at all. He just bought it 4weeks ago and update
firmware to 2.30. He also tried to change the hdmi cable or even change
to another LCD tv but also the same when he on the PS3 the light turn to green but no display. Can someone pls advise izzit because GTAIV Many Thanks

try to tun on the thing, hold the power button this time. i think the display reset already.

Isn't it normal fat32

the internal hdd is not FAT32, it's Sony proprietary filesystem ...PS3 only can read external hdd/storage formatted with FAT32 filesystem.

Maybe it could be done if they ghosted the data in RAW format
But.. the image can only be read by that PS3 only. No point of ghosting the image if Sony replaces the system with another unit.

My friend upgraded his HDD to 250GB using Norton Ghost method.

I'll double check again.

This post has been edited by tanghm: Jun 10 2008, 05:18 PM

Yeah, i guess all my data is gone. I'll have to also redownload every freaking program I bought on the PSN.

---

Added on June 10, 2008, 7:20 pmTo answer your question -- PROBABLY, yes. GTA IV crashes and kills the PS3. Happened to me, and its happening to a lot more people out there.

What verson PS3 does he have? The 60 GB or 40 GB version? Sony's policy now is to swap out all 'defective' units, so he should go to Singapore and get it swapped out. This is ridiculous -- I hope someone sues Rockstar for bringing out faulty software.


This post has been edited by OmniAtlas: Jun 10 2008, 07:20 PM

as much as I want to believe you, I'm still finding it hard to place the fault at GTA IV. I do acknowledge the crashes caused by GTA IV, but killing the PS3 outright? ummm... If it truly were then we would be hearing much much more complaints from our forumers.

I did a search at the official playstation boards and found no topics on such a case in the first 3 pages. A search on google shows one other case, but that's it.

you did mention there was a lightning strike in the earlier post. Was there really a lightning strike with ur ps3 connected or was it just an assumption by bernard?

This post has been edited by slickz: Jun 10 2008, 08:00 PM

Bernard assumed it was the lighting strike. The crashing only happened when I was playing GTA IV, not before, and not even while I'm playing another game.

The deal is, it does happen -- theres a thread on the official playstation forums with 263 pages: http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstatio...413808&page=263


If your haven't noticed any problems then count yourself lucky -- most of those affected are the 60 GB PS3. Sony America has also recognized this problem as they are not charging for a replacement -- before it costs 150 USD to get it in to fix but they are now doing it for free on their 'good will'.

BTW, have you beaten the game? My problems only started after finishing the single player.

well i just had my first freeze during my SP run on GTAIV. So i did a soft reset and so far so good though i hope it happen again since i just gotten the console a week ago. I'm using a 40GB btw.

People with problems are also joining these two groups:

GTA IV Freezers (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16122525758
FIXGTANOW: http://www.youtube.com/user/fixgta4now

oh ok. funny I didnt see that thread. Now I'm a little worried. eeek! yeah I have beaten the game.

This post has been edited by slickz: Jun 10 2008, 08:19 PM

Omni you said the SG service centre accepts your HK unit? i was wondering if they accept jp units. I still can send it back to the shop i bought it from but hearing some cases where doing so would take months to get it back irks me abit.

Call the Sony Singapore service department (you can find the number on asia.playstation.com ; go to the support section); they are pretty straight forward and should be able to answer any of your questions.

alright thanks for the info

Well, I'll be sending my PS3 in tomorrow; they said they'll be able to fix and replace it in one day. Lets hope when I get it back again I can still play GTA without it screwing up the system.

Thx for the info bro, by the way my frens ps3 is the 40G model. As for the region of
the game he said its region 2. By the way the gameshop from where he bought the ps3 said
to him that need to wait 2-3months for the warranty exchange in SG. Is it true bro??
What is the fastest and most economical option for him?? Please advice and many thanks