What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

[ODogg]

Well after owning all three systems for awhile now I think one of the smallest items that was updated on the new systems, and a feature I rarely hear anyone laud as being noteworthy, is the utter speed at which you can get in and out of games now and updates and installs occurring in the background.

I used to rarely play games unless I knew I had a good amount of time to play, which meant I really never gamed during the week as I just didn't have time...but now, since the systems are so quick to boot up and get into a game, especially the Xbox One, that I find myself gaming much more often in smaller chunks.

For example, before you had to switch inputs, turn on the console, wait for 35-40 seconds or whatever for the console to boot, put in the game,wait 20 more seconds, usually download a patch, etc and it was a good 5 minutes before you were gaming. Now you simply can resume your game on the PS4 nearly instantly or tell your Xbox One t go to a game and it loads and you are gaming inside of 1 minute, sometimes less...

Now in the grand scheme of things, 1 minutes versus 5 minutes is not all that much difference but the truth is that psychologically it makes a world in my slit second decision between firing up a game of Forza or watching an episode of Duck dynasty...

Truth be told I'm now gaming about three to four times more than I was on last gen and when I do play the last gen I really notice just how slow everything seems.

To me this feature of "immediate gaming" has turned out to be by far my favorite thing about my next-gen systems and I'm kind of surprised I don't hear more people talking about it.

P.S. I love my PS4 but I now see why Microsoft was coming from with the concept of the One in regards to TV and gaming being on the same input and having instant switch... It's pure genius and will lead to a lot more gaming I think because of the accessibility...

[Jkhogfan]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

I agree with everything you said. I love the instant gaming and the tv integration more than I thought I would.

[m1ke_nyc]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

Agree with you 100%. You can enter and exit games in the matter of seconds. And if you have digital titles its basically instant on X1 for switching via voice and your talking bout 5 seconds tops on PS4. However i expected load times in game to be a little faster.

[TheBadazz]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

Yea I like watching the Bulls game. At halftime "Xbox go to Killer Instinct"! Then after a while "Xbox snap to TV". If game is on "Go Full Screen"

[ODogg]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

Yea I like watching the Bulls game. At halftime "Xbox go to Killer Instinct"! Then after a while "Xbox snap to TV". If game is on "Go Full Screen"

I know....I love it, no more boring half times to put up with!!

[metalmilitia623]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

The best part is people who have had their PCs hooked up to their TVs have been able to do this for years. Yet somehow we all seem to have forgotten that all this stuff being toted as "new" and impossible to do prior to this gen of consoles is just ridiculous.

Now I'm not trying to come off as some sort of PC elitist but PC has always been the king of multimedia platforms. It is very clear that M$ knows this and is trying to sort of make the XBO into a PC of sorts.

The thing I don't understand is why it seems like everyone doesn't know that PCs can do it all. I mean I'm sure almost all of us use one in some way or another every day to talk to people, watch videos, read news and even play games. Now "games" can mean web based games, retail games, indie games or whatever.

I think part of the problem is people don't see computers as a way to play games but as something to do work on when in fact it can do both which is something I'd love to see you do on your console. Plus on PC you can fluidly switch between open programs much like M$ is doing with the XBO and switching from games to TV.

On my computer I can go from playing a game to watching a movie to watching TV flawlessly and without even requiring a remote.

So in short, (sorry for the rant) what you're saying is the best thing about the new consoles is something that has been possible on PCs for years.

[mgoblue]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

The best part is people who have had their PCs hooked up to their TVs have been able to do this for years. Yet somehow we all seem to have forgotten that all this stuff being toted as "new" and impossible to do prior to this gen of consoles is just ridiculous.

Now I'm not trying to come off as some sort of PC elitist but PC has always been the king of multimedia platforms. It is very clear that M$ knows this and is trying to sort of make the XBO into a PC of sorts.

The thing I don't understand is why it seems like everyone doesn't know that PCs can do it all. I mean I'm sure almost all of us use one in some way or another every day to talk to people, watch videos, read news and even play games. Now "games" can mean web based games, retail games, indie games or whatever.

I think part of the problem is people don't see computers as a way to play games but as something to do work on when in fact it can do both which is something I'd love to see you do on your console. Plus on PC you can fluidly switch between open programs much like M$ is doing with the XBO and switching from games to TV.

On my computer I can go from playing a game to watching a movie to watching TV flawlessly and without even requiring a remote.

So in short, (sorry for the rant) what you're saying is the best thing about the new consoles is something that has been possible on PCs for years.

How do you switch without a remote? Did that require a streaming card to run your cable through the PC? Just wondering on your setup....I've done HTIB's in the past and none of them were as easy to manage as a DVR (for instance)

It's probably improved since then, I'd just wonder if the experience is quite as good for the non technical types. My wife can manage the Xbox One just fine with the voice or controller. She's not as great on the PC when it comes to changing audio settings or anything like that....

Not knocking you, just pointing out that ease of use is a big deal unless everyone in your life really knows electronics like we do.

[metalmilitia623]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

How do you switch without a remote? Did that require a streaming card to run your cable through the PC? Just wondering on your setup....I've done HTIB's in the past and none of them were as easy to manage as a DVR (for instance)

It's probably improved since then, I'd just wonder if the experience is quite as good for the non technical types. My wife can manage the Xbox One just fine with the voice or controller. She's not as great on the PC when it comes to changing audio settings or anything like that....

Not knocking you, just pointing out that ease of use is a big deal unless everyone in your life really knows electronics like we do.

I don't have a cable box just basic cable and I just use a PCI tuner card with coaxial input on it and boom. It is a bit more confusing than a traditional set box top but it's not that bad. I only really use it to watch and not record so I can't tell you much in that sense. Mines pretty old but it does what I want and that is allow mt to watch TV without switching inputs from PC to TV.

As far as the simplicity of consoles is concerned it is likely more complex than they are but not by such a wide margin that those that are not as tech literate as we are can still learn it it might take them a little bit of time to figure everything out.

Alls I'm saying is the tech toted as new by the console manufacturers is not as new as they make it sound. Although consoles will always have ease of use going for them due to being produced for the general public.

[Hester]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

Watching a basketball game, and then getting a message that my buddy is ready to play because the One can display notifications is really nice.

I got shocked the other night when I downloaded Tomb Raider. I switched over to watch Kansas, only to get a message that TR was ready to play two minutes and 45 seconds into the game. It was crazy how soon it was ready, and awesome that it let me know.

Over the long haul, Microsoft's strategy to take over Input 1 will pay off for the user and Microsoft.

[metalmilitia623]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

Watching a basketball game, and then getting a message that my buddy is ready to play because the One can display notifications is really nice.

I got shocked the other night when I downloaded Tomb Raider. I switched over to watch Kansas, only to get a message that TR was ready to play two minutes and 45 seconds into the game. It was crazy how soon it was ready, and awesome that it let me know.

Over the long haul, Microsoft's strategy to take over Input 1 will pay off for the user and Microsoft.

Firstly ready to play and finished downloading are two different things. Secondly isn't digital downloading nice? Thank Steam for making it as big as it is.

Again all of those things being toted as made great my M$ and the XBO are things that could have been done on PC for years. Yes they are making it simpler so the general public can figure it out but this isn't new tech.

Now what VALVe plans to do with the steam box and streaming games from a gaming rig to the box plus all the things M$ is doing with their box it is shaping up to be quite the Xbone eating dog.

Now it could end up being a total flop but I just don't see that happening.

[mrclutch]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

Great OP. time is everything for me also. Playing last gen is now kind of like watching live TV without a DVR. Who has time for that anymore?

[pdawg17]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

Firstly ready to play and finished downloading are two different things. Secondly isn't digital downloading nice? Thank Steam for making it as big as it is.

Again all of those things being toted as made great my M$ and the XBO are things that could have been done on PC for years. Yes they are making it simpler so the general public can figure it out but this isn't new tech.

Now what VALVe plans to do with the steam box and streaming games from a gaming rig to the box plus all the things M$ is doing with their box it is shaping up to be quite the Xbone eating dog.

Now it could end up being a total flop but I just don't see that happening.

I have had an HTPC for years yet I have been enjoying the One since I got it. No need to see if drivers are up to date, don't have to set resolution and other graphics settings after installing a game and much easier to watch TV in a PIP while playing a game/watching Twitch etc. especially since I have Directv. Can't think of a way to have my PC integrate with my Directv like the One can.

I continue to use my HTPC for most things (XBMC, gaming) as it does give the best experience overall but I'm very curious to see where Microsoft goes with all of this...

[mestevo]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

Bits and pieces have evolved from and can be done on PC, but you can't put together a PC that does everything the One does without sacrificing something. Price, library, etc. Don't see the point of belaboring the PC point over and over.

[metalmilitia623]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

I'm not saying it's bad or anything like that I'm just saying I'm tired of all these people talking about stuff like this like it is totally brand new tech, and it just isn't.

Although I do believe that the new consoles are trash, but that's just like my opinion, man.

I mean it's great that people are enjoying it but I just get bothered by people thinking something is new when it actually isn't. Kinda like how sports games are the same exact game year after year until the next gen comes along and then they have to upgrade them. Or how about CoD which hasn't changed since 2007.

It's the same sort of idea people think it's all new and fancy and great but it really isn't and it's part of the reason why AAA gaming has totally fallen off.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: What I believe is the BEST thing about the next-gen systems...

You have to keep it in the context for most people, your average person just want something that they can easily plug and play. The next gen consoles do that. So for people who don't come from the world of gaming PC or HTPC, it is new and awesome.

So stop raining on their parade of happiness.