Title Installing...Please wait....

[Something Amyss]

I just wish the HDD size for consoles was a bit bigger, or that I could install my own, but last time I checked, Sony didn't want me doing that.

I think, I can't actually remember if you can hook up an external HD, or install a bigger internal one.

Sony made it a marketing point for both the PS3 and the PS4. The only issue is making sure your new HDD fits in the carriage.

Microsoft, on the other hand, make their HDDs proprietary and expensive.

 

[Seracen]

I'd rather installs than long loading times. What irks me is when I have to suffer through both. In the current gen, that issue is compounded by the game having to verify your saves via servers, which adds to the loading time, and renders your save unplayable if you can't connect.

 

[FPLOON]

Not really... However, if the physical game copy doesn't come with a physical game manual to read while the installation is going through, we're going to be having some problems up in this "businitch"!

Then again, I mostly do those kind of game installation shit while I'm asleep at night, so that could be just me not caring as much as I should be... (I think I'm part of the problem!)

 

[Shoggoth2588]

So Escapist peeps; do you mind installation discs? The waiting part sucks donkey but once you get to the sweet happiness that is playing the extra shiny game, it's worth it....right? Would you prefer these discs to go away and just let you play a "less shiny" version? What do you think of these time sinks that are installation discs?

Now where's my 3DS? I need a game to play while I'm downloading a patch to play a game...

(Again note; this is a console complaint. I'm sure you PC guys are sitting tall right now laughing about how you've had installation discs forever)

As far as I understand, PC gamers need to download AND install games onto their hard drives...depending on the game that is. Anyway, this is what made me go from PS3 back to 360 a couple years ago (I since switched back to PS3 when Microsoft turned into Micro$haft): It seemed like all of my PS3 games took X amount of minutes-to-hours to install themselves onto my hard drive. It was worth the wait for games like the Mass Effect Trilogy (which I just got for my birthday) or Just Cause 2 but other games that require installation only to turn out bad are just a slap in the face...after a much slower slap in the face...on Slapsgiving...

Anyway, I've mostly noticed this with the PS3. The Wii U hasn't been as bad. Yeah, there have been system updates that took some time but didn't have to wait for my Wii U games to install. Even if that does have to install though, like Tippy said, there's always the 3DS.

 

[Headsprouter]

I really don't mind.

There's plenty of other things I can do to entertain myself while I install a game. Anyway, think of it as a load screen that you'll only see once. A load screen to end (well...shorten) all load screens.

There's only one thing that slightly bugs me. On the 3DS, when you're downloading something, there's this frivolous animation of bauble-like objects dropping into a...something. Why not just a simple bar? And don't call storage space "blocks" give me the exact measurement of bytes!

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

The future of games is actually downloading them digitally and/or just installing the whole game disc. Separate play and install discs are a mostly Xbox 360 exclusive oddity (though some PC games used to have them before needing a disc in the tray to play a game became the most heinous sacrilege).

I am rather surprised you've only just noticed this though. I suppose I shouldn't be since the oldest game I can think of which does it is Halo 4 but still. Anyway, wouldn't you rather have an install disc to wait on when you first get the game as opposed to having the game suddenly interrupted by needing to switch discs? I know I would.

There's only one thing that slightly bugs me. On the 3DS, when you're downloading something, there's this frivolous animation of bauble-like objects dropping into a...something. Why not just a simple bar? And don't call storage space "blocks" give me the exact measurement of bytes!

Loading bars are generally meant to inform you as to how long the download (or installation, delete, or whatever other operation) is meant to take, but generally speaking the computer has absolutely no clue. As far as a user is aware there's no reason the operation should be anything but a fairly smooth and continuous flow of data so it's annoying to see a bar filling a large portion then doing nothing for a bit and so on. That's why "working" animations are more fashionable, it makes people feel like things are proceeding as they should despite not actually giving any information.