Braid Development

A Temporary Fix for the Demo Mode Bug

36 Comments

(This is the bug that happens if you try to run Braid from a different console than the one you bought it on, and it thinks it’s the free version instead of the full game).

As comment poster Seth said:

SUCCESS!!
Using Infininja’s advice, I used the license migration tool on xbox.com. Once that was done, I booted up Braid but it was still a demo, well, you have to delete the game and re-download it. Now it runs in full/bought mode!

Wooohoo!

Also, Rob Crippin says:

I have another workaround for the bug…

Let the game start up normally then hit the start button to go to the menu. Go down to “Unlock Full Game,” press A, then just hit B (doesn’t have to be done quickly) to back out of the Dashboard menu. The “Unlock Full Game” option disappears. After that, go to “Exit Game” and then to the sign-in screen to get your save back.

It sounds complicated but it’s safe and only takes a few seconds. It works for me, anyway.

We’re still working on a permanent fix, but that will take some time; even after I fix the problem locally, we need to go through another certification process.

36 thoughts on “A Temporary Fix for the Demo Mode Bug”

  2. Thanks for the info (and such a great game). I experienced the bug and my save games were deleted (including the backup autosave). I simply don’t have time to go through 36 puzzles again. I REALLY want to play the rest of the game. I’m guessing I have no other options…

  3. License Migration followed by re-downloading Braid from Account Management worked for me. Note that you can’t start Braid until this process is complete, or it won’t work.

    Thanks for working on the fix! 🙂

  4. aaah, so it is a known bug!!
    it’s a shame. i bought braid purely on the basis of the beautiful art style on the opening screen – before even playing a single level.

    sadly, ever since that first hit my game hasn’t been saved, and i’ve not returned to it since. :-((((

    i’ll definately give these work arounds a whirl as i really wanna get past world 2. great job.

  5. How about just enabling savegames to be loaded in trial mode?
    Seems a simple enough permanent fix.

    Doesn’t solve the ‘Xbox thinks it’s trial version’ issue, but could fix the ‘you lose your save’ part…

  6. Braid on XBLA is not allowed to load or save games when in trial mode, or else Microsoft will fail it from certification.

    It’s a stupid rule, because trial mode would be more effective at convincing people the game is good if they could save their game and come back to it.

  7. Oh, yeah… I forgot about it :/

    How about 3 savegame slots(would also help the other problem for the meantime, as you could keep backups), no default autosave?
    Autosave would only be enabled after a save.

    This is a bit more complicated… But could work.

    Or, as the problem seems to be the versions changing from trial to full ingame, require the game to reboot to unlock the full version. (seems alot more complicated though)

    I hope things do work out, this is one of those games you just love in a strange way that makes you care about it XD
    I also hope you get inspiration for more puzzles asap (I read that interview). Even a small single-world add-on would be very welcome (even if not for free. something good is something worth paying for. BTW, $15 is NOT a high price 😉 ).

  9. I found another bug. This one completely bricked the game.

    I played through in one stretch to world 6, had 4 pieces remaining to get. Turned off the console, came back 12 hours later, when the game opens it has my lil guy standing next to the world 6 puzzle in the entry world, but I can’t move. No controller actions repond at all except the xbox button, which works fine and gets me to the usual xbox menu stuff. Music is playing, animation appears to be going, but I can’t move or do anything.

    Hitting the xbox button then back out gets me to the game menu, but I can’t move or select anything there either, so it’s impossible to even restart the game from scratch.

    No other games appear to be affected.

    I note that the first time this bug seemed to happen, the symptoms were slightly different, when I went into the xbox menu, everything was responding very very slowly, pressing the button would respond 4 or 5 seconds later, animation appeared very jerky (animation of the xbox menus). I powered the console off, then back on, and reached the continuing scenario described above.

    I deleted the game and am now trying to re-download it.

  10. phi: That one sounds strange and I have never heard of it before from anyone else.

    Is it possible that you had a second controller with another profile signed in, and the game was using that controller?

  11. The following works every time for me:
    Load up the game,
    Press the guide button, then x to sign out,
    Sign in again.

  12. I only have one controller 🙂

    Deleting and re-downloading the game resolved the issue completely. I cannot begin to guess what the problem may have been, but perhaps you could put an FAQ or something on this site with a few of the problems people have noted and the solutions? I tried the delete/download out of sheer desperation and it’d be a pity if someone else hit the same issue and couldn’t complete the game because they didn’t think to try it.

  13. Every now and then I’ll take my Xbox HDD round to my mate’s place and plug it into his 360 to play XBLA games.

    Like folks have said, Braid comes up as the demo version even though others work fine as the full version. Here’s how I fixed the problem:

    1. Start up the game
    2. Go to the menu
    3. Go down to “Achievements” and select it
    4. The game will turn into the full version and your save will be there.

  14. Braid isn’t the only game that does this. Triggerheart Exelica does it as well (and they haven’t fixed it that I know of). It’s odd that some games have this problem but others don’t.

    I really hope this gets fixed soon because I’d really like to be able to take Braid with me when I go to friends’ houses.

  15. Hi,

    Just wanted to post this graphic error that I experienced in Braid last night. My friend told that there aren’t many such errors logged, so thought some of the dev people would find it interesting. Check out the website for a screenshot.

    Best regards,

    Peter Buchardt, Denmark

  16. I hope it is fixed soon. Not to rush the patch, it’s such a great game I want to be able to play it again. My XBox was in for repair when Braid came out so I bought it on my gamertag on another console. My XBox returned and it deletes my saves. 🙁

    It’s like a swift kick to the testes (Braid issue) with a big run up (XBox Red Ring Of Death).

  18. Braid is the best game I’ve played all year. It’s also one of the best games I’ve played in my life.

    Thanks to everyone involved in its creation. The future is bright for indie development.

  19. hello, for me too my game stays in demo mode and i’ve lost all my puzzles parts…please make an update to fix it!!!
    bye

  20. I just got an xbox back yesterday after a red ring, and I’m having this same problem. None of the solutions I see here work, and Microsoft tech support isn’t interested in fixing the problem or refunding me the points.

    Here are the two reference numbers I was given while trying to resolve this issue. Both times I was put into an endless hold cycle for over 40 minutes
    1092733312
    1092735904

    The 360 is my first Microsoft gaming console and with all the problems I’ve had, I not going to buy the successor to the 360.

  21. Thanks Rob Crippin. I was wondering about this, I thought it just didn’t save my game. The trick worked!

  23. This is SO frustrating, half way through Braid , had to send my Xbox due to the RROD, when it got back same problem as above. I managed to get around it as mentioned, but basically choosing the ‘unlock ful game’ option every time, problem is sometimes it would work first time, others, on the 2, 3rd or 4th attempt… so guess what?

    I just for to world 6, exited the game, when I tried to go back, I CAN”T get back into it, I’ve tried maybe 10-20 times, nothing, tried every option in the menu, but even after I unlock the full game (again) all I get is the first screen..

    So it would seem nearly 50 puzzle pieces in, I’ve lost EVERYTHING. My gamer account indicated it through achievements, but that’s all.

    I feel cheated, I spend £7 to play 2 thirds of a game?

    Are there any save games I can use to at least get close to where I started?

    This is the first Xbox Arcade game I have ever downloaded, and I can tell you now it’s going to be the last.

  26. I am really looking forward for a patch. Somehow all of the above doesn’t seem to work for me. I have deleted the game, re-downloaded it but every time I exit the game and re-enter it I have lost my save file. When is the game coming to PS3? Perhaps that build will be more stable.

    I think that the game is so good, I might actually buy it twice! But a fix would be preferred. Any idea on when this is going to happen?

  28. Hi Jonathan,

    Love your game. I just have a problem I was hoping you could address. My girlfriend recently bought braid on my xbox and played pretty far into the game. However, now that she’s going back to school in another city, she wanted to move the game and her save files into her xbox. She did the license transfer with no problems and had a working version of the game back on her xbox. The problem however, is when she tried to load her save files (transferred via memory card), they won’t load even when they are on her HDD. Is there anyway to get around this or will she have to start all over again? If you have the time or if anyone else has a work around, please email me back or drop me a message at http://kotaku.com/profile/NeVeRMoRe666/ Thanks!

  29. Come on, guys.

    Are you serious?? The game is great but I CAN’T play… It does not load any game and it is starting to really bother me. I have tried to download the game again, I have definitely ereased the saved games but I still have the problem…

    You said you would make a fix one year ago. Is really that hard?

  31. Jonathan,

    Thanks for continuing to work this issue. I was just able to fix mine using the license migration tool, but I’m sure there are others with this frustration. It’s like… an unplanned puzzle, perhaps… but not nearly as fun as the rest of the brilliant game.

    Thanks for your efforts,
    Doug

  32. I’ve spent the last 3 days cursing over and over. Finally, I decided to look this problem up on the net and got here. Well… First I tried the press unlock then go back and it worked. But it wasn’t a permanent fix. Then I figured I’d try the license migration. That worked like a charm! Therefore, I consider myself fixed. But I also noticed the license migration tool can only be used once per year. So I hope you guys get a patch out for people who have already used this tool and can’t go through this workaround.

    Kind regards,
    Dan

  33. Using the temp fix where you sign in everytime, takes me an extra 15 seconds but hell, at least I have my game back!

  34. Unfortunately I have this problem too. Suddenly after a long time of Braid working like a charm. Everything vanishes every single time I try to play the game. It’s like it has no memory (now THAT’s ironic!) I need to unlock every time but unlock what? There’s still no puzzle piece left, everything has to be done from the beginning for every time I load the game. Really disappointing.
    Patch?

    Cheers,
    Dimitris

  36. As of today this is still happening to me.

    I don’t mind having my saved game data gone (I’d got up to world 5 I think) but that was over a year ago and I want another full playthrough.

    However the MOST annoying thing is that the links for EVERYTHING on the new version of xbox.com don’t work and just go to an error page with an avatar shrugging.

    I’d happily transfer my licenses and go about my way but it seems the bugs have travelled over to their fricking website now. I’ve tried for 4 straight days and still can’t access xbox.com’s drm page.

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