Incident: Graphical Slowdown Issue in Final Fantasy Tactics iOS Port

Published Date: 2011-08-08

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident of graphical slowdown in the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics happened in June 2011 [7310].
System The system that failed in the software failure incident reported in Article 7310 is: 1. Mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics for iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4, specifically suffering from graphical slowdown during gameplay. [7310]
Responsible Organization 1. Developer Square Enix [7310]
Impacted Organization 1. Gamers who purchased and played the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics by Square Enix were impacted by the software failure incident [7310].
Software Causes 1. Graphical slowdown during gameplay due to a single flaw in the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics [7310].
Non-software Causes 1. Hardware limitations of the iPhone 4, such as processing power or graphics capabilities [7310] 2. Potential issues with the touchscreen controls or other hardware components of the iPhone [7310]
Impacts 1. The software failure incident of graphical slowdown in the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics made the game nearly unplayable, affecting the overall user experience [7310].
Preventions 1. Thorough testing and quality assurance: Conducting extensive testing on various devices and configurations could have helped identify and address the graphical slowdown issue before the release of the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics [7310]. 2. Prioritizing user feedback: Taking into account user reports and feedback regarding performance issues, such as graphical lag, and promptly addressing them through patches or updates could have prevented the software failure incident [7310]. 3. Transparent communication: Providing clear and accurate information to users about known issues, potential fixes, and planned updates could have managed user expectations and reduced frustration related to the software failure incident [7310].
Fixes 1. Changing certain settings in the options menu as suggested by some gamers [7310]. 2. Waiting for a patch from the developer, Square Enix, to fix the graphical issues [7310].
References 1. Square Enix's Facebook page [7310] 2. Personal experience of the writer at Wired.com [7310] 3. Reports from other gamers who experienced the same issue [7310]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization (a) The software failure incident of graphical slowdown in Final Fantasy Tactics on mobile devices has happened again within the same organization, Square Enix. The article mentions that similar problems with graphical lag were present in the PSP remake of Final Fantasy Tactics, and Square Enix had claimed to have fixed the issue for the mobile version but had not actually done so [7310]. (b) The software failure incident of graphical slowdown in Final Fantasy Tactics on mobile devices has also been reported by multiple gamers who experienced the same issue. Some writers did not encounter lag on an iPhone 3GS, while others on an iPhone 4 did experience the problem. Additionally, various gamers suggested potential fixes in the options menu, but these tweaks did not resolve the issue for everyone [7310].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the article. The article mentions that the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics suffers from graphical slowdown issues that plague every action in the game. This issue is attributed to a flaw in the development of the iOS port of the game by Square Enix. Despite the developer claiming to have fixed the graphical slowdown, the problem persists, indicating a failure in the design phase of the software development process [7310]. (b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is also evident in the article. Users and reviewers reported experiencing graphical slowdown while playing Final Fantasy Tactics on their mobile devices, indicating a failure in the operation of the system. Some users suggested changing certain settings in the options menu to potentially fix the lag issue, but these tweaks did not resolve the problem for all users, highlighting an operational failure in the user experience of the game [7310].
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system, outside_system From the provided article [7310], the software failure incident related to the graphical slowdown in the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics can be attributed to factors both within the system and outside the system: (a) within_system: The article mentions that the graphical slowdown issue plaguing the game was not unique to the mobile version, as similar problems were present in the PSP remake. Square Enix had claimed to have fixed the graphical slowdown for the mobile version but it was reported that the issue persisted despite their statement, indicating an internal system issue within the game itself. (b) outside_system: On the other hand, the article also notes that some players did not experience lag while playing the game on an iPhone 3GS, suggesting that external factors such as the specific device being used could also contribute to the performance issues. Additionally, the attempts by players to change certain settings in the options menu to fix the lag, which did not work, could indicate external factors influencing the system's performance.
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions, human_actions (a) The software failure incident in the Final Fantasy Tactics mobile version was due to a non-human action, specifically a single flaw causing graphical slowdown that affected the gameplay experience [7310]. Despite Square Enix claiming to have fixed the graphical slowdown issue, it persisted in the mobile version of the game, impacting the performance during battles and making the game nearly unplayable for some users. (b) Human actions were involved in attempting to address the software failure incident. Some users suggested changing certain settings in the options menu to potentially fix the lag issue, but these tweaks did not resolve the problem [7310]. Additionally, Square Enix was contacted to inquire about a patch to address the graphical issues, but the developer did not respond by the time of the press.
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The software failure incident in the article is not attributed to hardware issues. The article specifically mentions that the graphical slowdown issue in the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics is a software problem. It states that Square Enix had claimed to have fixed the graphical slowdown for this version but had not actually done so, indicating a software-related failure [7310]. (b) The software failure incident in the article is attributed to software issues. The article highlights that the graphical slowdown problem in the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics is a software flaw. Despite attempts to address the issue through settings tweaks, the problem persisted, indicating a software-related failure [7310].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) non-malicious (a) The software failure incident described in the article is non-malicious. The issue with the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics causing graphical slowdown was not due to any malicious intent but rather a flaw in the game's performance on certain devices [7310]. The problem was acknowledged by the developer, Square Enix, who claimed to have fixed the graphical slowdown for this version but it persisted, indicating a non-malicious technical issue rather than a deliberate act of harm.
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) unknown (a) The software failure incident related to the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics was not due to poor decisions but rather due to a flaw in the game that caused graphical slowdown issues. The developer, Square Enix, had claimed to have fixed the graphical slowdown for this version but it was reported that the issue persisted despite their statement [7310]. There were suggestions from gamers about changing settings in the options menu to potentially fix the lag issue, but these tweaks did not resolve the problem in the tested copy of the game [7310]. The intent of the software failure incident was not linked to poor decisions but rather to a technical flaw causing performance issues.
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) accidental (a) The software failure incident in the article is not attributed to development incompetence. The issue of graphical slowdown in the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics is acknowledged by the developer, Square Enix, but they had claimed to have fixed it before the release. However, the problem persisted despite their statement that the graphical slowdown had been addressed [7310]. (b) The software failure incident in the article is more aligned with an accidental failure. The graphical slowdown issue in the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics was not intentionally introduced by the developer. It seems to have occurred accidentally, as Square Enix had stated that they had fixed the problem before the release but the issue persisted, indicating an unintentional introduction of the problem [7310].
Duration temporary (a) The software failure incident in the article is temporary. The graphical slowdown issue in the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics is described as a flaw that causes brief bouts of graphical slowdown during gameplay. This issue occurs every time a character performs an action, such as swinging a sword or casting a spell, leading to the game slowing down for a second or two. Despite efforts by some users to fix the lag by changing settings in the options menu, the problem persists, indicating that it is not a permanent failure [7310].
Behaviour other (a) crash: The software failure incident described in the article is not related to a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. The issue mentioned is graphical slowdown that affects the gameplay experience but does not result in a complete system crash [7310]. (b) omission: The software failure incident is not related to omission where the system fails to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). The issue mentioned is specifically about graphical lag during gameplay, affecting the smoothness of character actions, but not about functions being omitted [7310]. (c) timing: The software failure incident is not related to timing where the system performs its intended functions correctly but too late or too early. The issue mentioned is about graphical slowdown during gameplay, affecting the real-time experience, rather than a timing-related problem [7310]. (d) value: The software failure incident is not related to a failure where the system performs its intended functions incorrectly. The issue mentioned is about graphical slowdown during gameplay, impacting the smoothness of character actions, but not about incorrect functioning [7310]. (e) byzantine: The software failure incident is not related to a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. The issue mentioned is about graphical slowdown during gameplay, causing hiccups and slowdowns in character actions, but not about inconsistent behavior [7310]. (f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident described in the article is related to persistent graphical lag during gameplay, specifically affecting the smoothness and real-time experience of character actions in the game. Despite efforts to address the issue through settings tweaks, the problem persisted, indicating a performance issue rather than a complete system crash or omission of functions [7310].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence delay, theoretical_consequence The consequence of the software failure incident described in the article is primarily related to the theoretical consequences and potential impact on users' experience. The article discusses the graphical slowdown issue in the mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics, which makes the game nearly unplayable due to brief bouts of lag affecting gameplay [7310]. The consequence falls under the category of "theoretical_consequence" as it discusses the potential negative impact on user experience and gameplay due to the software failure.
Domain entertainment The software failure incident reported in Article 7310 is related to the entertainment industry. The incident specifically involves the mobile version of the game Final Fantasy Tactics developed by Square Enix. This game is a classic strategy role-playing game that was originally released for PlayStation in 1998 and later remade for the PSP in 2007. The mobile version of Final Fantasy Tactics experienced graphical slowdown issues, making the game nearly unplayable due to hiccups and slowdowns during gameplay [7310]. The article highlights that the game is a deep and entrancing experience that is sorely lacking on mobile platforms, emphasizing its significance in the entertainment industry.

Sources

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