Bought a Console for Your Kids Present? Plug It in and Update It Now!

spackbace on 21/12/2016 - 20:43
Last edited 21/12/2016 - 20:43

This is to all the parents out there taking advantage of the current console sales going on, who are putting one under a tree

Please, unless you're blessed with NBN, pull it out of the box, plug it in, set it up, install some games, check for updates, then put it back in the box. Your kids will thank you immensely for it!

Most games will need an update straight out of the box, and the console itself might need one. If a game needs an update, they're normally the same size as the bloody game itself!

This way, on Christmas day, when the dust has settled and your stomachs are full and the kids get it out of the box, you're ready to go, no fluffing around.

Gaming Game Console Microsoft Sony

Comments

  • shrek4 on 21/12/2016 - 20:53
    +91

    +1 to this.

    We didn't do this last year and took about 11 hours to do all the updates on a very slow internet connection.

    Was a sad day!

    • Kangal on 21/12/2016 - 21:37
      +30

      I remember the days before the Xbox 360.
      You could just plug in your console and game.
      Be it an Xbox, Gamecube, PS2, PS1, N64, SNES, NES, Sega Genesis, Atari…..
      Literally can go from cold boot to playing a game in under 3 minutes.

      You need to put some updates on the console as soon as you open it.
      Now you need to update all online games.
      And update even offline games.
      Push updates to your controllers.
      Update your camera accessories.
      And update to even watch a movie.
      …. and after all that…
      ….the game has to download itself into your Internal Storage/Hard Drive.
      Whole process can take a Full-Day.

      And not to mention any games you buy online.
      They might download into your console at a stupidly slow rate.

      • cheapisgood on 21/12/2016 - 21:47
        +6

        If you don't connect to the internet the first time, then no updates :P

        • Scrooge McDuck on 22/12/2016 - 14:51
          +22

          Plug and play was one of the major draws of console gaming.

          Now you might as well just have a PC.

      • aoeueoa on 21/12/2016 - 22:04
        +7

        Well, they were also the days where they said smoking was OK.

        • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 02:36
          +3

          Yeah, I miss those days. I know a guy who had mental health issues a few times and he reckons some people in health care can't even tell if it's day or night because they aren't allowed to go outside for cigarettes anymore. They don't speak to others in the courtyard because no one is allowed to go and smoke. They just sit in their rooms by themselves. It's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.

        • OzzyOzbourne on 22/12/2016 - 09:13
          +5

          @voolish: it's weird that only smokers would be allowed to go outside anyway. What about non-smokers?

        • stonkered on 22/12/2016 - 20:01

          @OzzyOzbourne:

          They can, he us just saying g they don't go out anymore, and end up having a chat, because they arent allowed to smoke.

        • onionstick on 23/12/2016 - 02:59
          +2

          @OzzyOzbourne:

          Yeah I always found this weird, have been a smoker and a non smoker. While a non smoker if I just went outside to chill for a few minutes regularly each day during work I am sure someone would give me a talking to :O

        • [Deactivated] on 24/12/2016 - 03:17

          @OzzyOzbourne: What about them? I'm not saying we should infringe their rights, just don't infringe mine.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2016 - 23:46

        SNES SA1 chip games were the best. The cartridge had a coprocessor that was 3 times faster than the SNES itself. Downside was $150 games…equivalent of $300+ today?

      • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 10:31
        +1

        Three minutes!?

      • catbarf on 22/12/2016 - 13:01
        +2

        This is why i love my Wii U over my xbox one atm. Whenever I turn on the XO is HAS to update for something and can take up to an hour (usually 20 minutes). Wii U turns on and straight to Netflix!

      • centrelink on 22/12/2016 - 14:44
        +1

        please sir, get off my lawn

      • Ninjassmileinthedark on 22/12/2016 - 20:46
        +3

        Remember though, if you already have a console and are just putting in the game to update it before it is given on xmas, the game will be visible on the playlist if the kids play the system before xmas morning. Careful not to give away the surprise.

      • username1 on 23/12/2016 - 09:24

        Back in those days, companies didn't need to bother to maintain their software, they just made it once and shipped it regardless of bugs or errors because it was too late.

      • SaberX on 23/12/2016 - 17:05
        +1

        I agree. I don't mind if it's additional game items or major patches but ideally old games were made so they worked from the start! it just shows rigorous testing isn't done or quality control. Not to mention what bugs me the most is they give you dribs and drabs of a game. "DLC". You can't even buy online games, and resell them.

        I miss the old days of buy a game and it's yours. Sell it and its theirs. Now you go to buy a second hand destiny or something (taken king pack) and it comes with a label that they can't guarantee all the expansions are there.

        Stupid, and in fact means we're paying more than ever for games now. And as far as I'm aware you don't even have the old ps1 /ps2 days of piracy to compete, yet you have to buy games now and then pay just as much for additional "DLC" and "Expansion packs"

        Gaming has changed :(

      • ajee123 on 23/12/2016 - 17:25
        +5

        Member when you didn't need to update things? Oooooh I member!

        • ThadtheChad on 23/12/2016 - 17:57
          +3

          'member Chewbacca? I 'member.

        • lemonato on 23/12/2016 - 19:07
          +3

          @gearhead:
          Yeah I 'member, 'member Ghostbusters?

      • neonlight on 24/12/2016 - 08:06

        That's the advantage of the older consoles.

    • laurence on 24/12/2016 - 16:32
      -1

      lol console noobs, PC MASTER RACE

  • itajac on 21/12/2016 - 20:53
    +2

    What if it's a 2nd hand console (xbox1)? .I'm genuinely wondering, as the only time I bought him a new console was more than 6yrs ago (wii).

    • scrimshaw on 21/12/2016 - 23:06
      +3

      Xbox's need service pack updates from time to time, just like a computer. They run Windows 10 (Core) after all, you just don't realize it.

      The latest update was 14/12/2016 so if your xbox hasn't been switched on since then, it will require an update.

      Games also need updating so whatever games you bought, they require patches.

      • Slippery Fish on 21/12/2016 - 23:10
        +3

        Not if you set it to offline mode before install.

      • itajac on 22/12/2016 - 08:32

        Thank you Scrimshaw. Oh crud!, I will have to update the xbox and a heap of games :/

  • Savas on 21/12/2016 - 20:55
    +3

    what if you don't have internet?

    • StewBalls on 21/12/2016 - 21:17
      +55

      Let's hope Santa brings you a badminton set then… ;)

      • Savas on 21/12/2016 - 21:19
        +5

        Like I am not even joking, I mean it's the reason I didn't ask for one

        • StewBalls on 21/12/2016 - 21:23
          +7

          It's actually a very fair question, and somewhat esoteric knowledge not really made explicit by console makers…I wholeheartedly agree, it makes it extremely difficult for non-tech savvy customers.

        • rompastompa on 21/12/2016 - 23:00
          +5

          @Savas I literally can't believe you don't have internet..

          (I agree though, I have ADSL1, which is basically no internet+1.5)

        • Savas on 22/12/2016 - 07:13
          +1

          @rompastompa: I would love to have ADSL!!!! Can only get dialup so I guess you are quite right.

        • StewBalls on 22/12/2016 - 09:29
          +4

          @Savas: One of our properties has a TP-Link MR-200 4G router running through Ovo, providing VOIP & internet, it is fantastic, quite literally 2x faster than my own crappy ADSL; and with the drops in price for these types of service, this might be a viable option for you! :)

        • giles on 22/12/2016 - 11:27
          +1

          @Savas: Dialup… ouch!

          Are you rural/regional, or just in a really poorly serviced metro area?

          Is there any chance you have Optus mobile coverage? I notice they have wireless broadband plans at $80/month for 200 GB. Potentially even faster than ADSL, and at a comparable price
          http://www.optus.com.au/shop/broadband/home-wireless-broadba…

        • Savas on 22/12/2016 - 20:03

          @giles: Haha thank you. It's a rural area. While we get Optus mobile coverage, but that plan doesn't seem to be available for us.

        • spackbace on 22/12/2016 - 20:16
          +1

          @Savas:

          There's a few wireless providers as well. In-laws live in suburbia, but on their 1 single street they're on either side of the range of the exchanges, so no ADSL for them (not even ADSL1, just nothing!). So they had to go to wireless internet which thankfully is now a financially viable option (wasn't a few years back)

        • Savas on 22/12/2016 - 20:19

          @Spackbace: Sorry what do you mean by wireless?

        • spackbace on 22/12/2016 - 20:24
          +1

          @Savas:

          Like Vivid Wireless etc. I posted a deal for the company the in-laws uses but stuffed if I can find it lol

        • Savas on 22/12/2016 - 21:33

          @Spackbace: The coverage for that seems limited, I don't understand why.

        • giles on 22/12/2016 - 23:05
          +1

          @Savas: So strange… I just checked my own address (metro) and it said I'm not eligible either.

          Interestingly, I checked the Braidwood IGA, and it said while Optus home wireless broadband wasn't available, Optus DSL was. Did it give you that option when you tried?

          If you are keen on pursuing it (and being on dialup, I imagine you would be!), I'd suggest asking them to work around the initial eligibility check. In a technical sense, you should be able to access the network, as you have coverage.

          I'm now wondering whether there are other business rules that shape eligibility, like network capacity or backhaul.

        • Savas on 23/12/2016 - 00:41

          @giles: Ah haha interesting. I appreciate that, probably time to look into it again.

          I am starting to wonder with the Optus broadband if we can still get it, just at the 5/1 Mbps service.

      • AussieDolphin on 22/12/2016 - 23:49

        Hahahahaha

      • sal78 on 24/12/2016 - 01:01

        pmsl we bought a badminto set! 4 racquets for $15 from big w

    • Slippery Fish on 21/12/2016 - 23:11
      +1

      Read my comment above

      • Savas on 22/12/2016 - 07:12

        Thanks!

        • Adz81 on 22/12/2016 - 08:36
          +2

          Ummm… I tried running my XB One straight out the box and it demanded an update (about 1gb, had to run it though my phone's data).

          Games will still ask for an update, Fallout 4 wants me to download 2.5gb, but I keep ignoring that bit.

    • AlanHB on 22/12/2016 - 09:35
      +7

      We've got a product for that, it's called the XBox 360

    • iridiumstem on 22/12/2016 - 20:16
      +1

      Fortunately we have a product for people who aren't able to get some form of connectivity, it's called XBOX 360.

      Sorry, that quote from MS gazillion years ago, when they tried to have XBONE to require internet connection all the time somehow popped into my head.

      EDIT: Someone beat me to it by 10 hours. Oh well. I don't know, it feels like modern consoles need to be connected internet all the time. I guess that's how the tech evolved, but eh, I miss PS2 era.

    • The Alphanumeric on 23/12/2016 - 09:15
      +3

      Then how are you on Ozbargain?

      • Savas on 23/12/2016 - 09:35

        ???

        • Kangal on 23/12/2016 - 15:41
          +4

          Through the Power of Friendship!!

        • The Alphanumeric on 24/12/2016 - 14:52
          +1

          You said you didn't have internet!

        • Savas on 26/12/2016 - 22:13

          @KKCD: Hahaha! Just cellular data

    • MrSammyMcG on 24/12/2016 - 19:13
      +1

      Just hope your game is single player and doesn't have any performance issues on the vanilla game. So something that isn't AC Unity, Just Cause 3 etc.

  • Doggiie on 21/12/2016 - 21:01
    +3

    I feel that I remember seeing this last year…

    • dylanando on 21/12/2016 - 21:07
      +4

      Me to, But it's a great heads up!

      • Doggiie on 21/12/2016 - 21:20
        +7

        Yup! Saving a life is better than none!

        • Doggiie on 21/12/2016 - 22:13
          +2

          Don't see why I would get downvoted because of this comment… Someone just really dislike saving a life?

    • spackbace on 21/12/2016 - 21:21
      +8

      Yep, did this PSA last year too :)

    • Denn31 on 21/12/2016 - 21:51
      +3

      Phew, here I thought I was having deja Vu lol

  • StewBalls on 21/12/2016 - 21:17
    +17

    This advice needs some sort of front page sticky or something, it cannot be understated how necessary this is with the current gen of consoles being so closely tied to dem interwebz…

    It took me 4 days on an average to mediocre ADSL2+ connection to get my XB1 & a few games fully updated prior to Xmas last year, and a lot of those just wouldn't work without the update, even disc versions. :/

  • xoom on 21/12/2016 - 21:46
    +3

    Yes this. Upgrade as much as you can as nothing will frustrate a kid more than a present they cannot use right away.

    • neonlight on 22/12/2016 - 23:06
      +1

      Make sure you label the present all updates done ready to play….hope they understand what it means. Should be old enough to know…

  • Slippery Fish on 21/12/2016 - 23:13
    +2

    Please change your post op to suggest they put it in offline mode, the games still need install from disk which takes ages but no net required.

    • spackbace on 21/12/2016 - 23:15

      Better to have a blanket recommendation than otherwise. What if they wanna play offline? Many new games are almost 50% online play. Best to set up xbox live (gold if you have it) and all the necessary updates rather than half-assing it now and having to update later.

      • Slippery Fish on 21/12/2016 - 23:49

        I guess, but I dont have net at home.

    • Adz81 on 22/12/2016 - 08:37
      +1

      Even offline mode, doesn't the XB One need that initial update?

      • Slippery Fish on 22/12/2016 - 08:38

        Im not 100% as my brother did the initial setup, but id assume the s will be upto date or close.

        • Adz81 on 22/12/2016 - 08:40

          Fair point, the One isn't up to date and needs the initial update, since then I've been ok though.

      • silverrat23 on 22/12/2016 - 21:15

        Yes.

        When you boot up the console for the very first time, you MUST connect to the internet to update, otherwise it's impossible to do anything and by "anything", I really do mean anything. There is no way of getting around this.

        If the console is booted up offline instead, it won't do anything at all. It becomes a brick.

        • Dan83 on 25/12/2016 - 07:35

          That's what I thought too (when I got my Xbone I was in the midst of moving house so had no intenet and couldn't get anywhere with my console), but people are saying above that you can put it into offline mode???

        • silverrat23 on 25/12/2016 - 08:49
          +1

          @Dan83:

          You can put it in offline mode after installing the update for the first time.

    • A Banana4scale on 23/12/2016 - 09:55

      The Real LPT is in the comments

  • AlienC on 22/12/2016 - 04:32
    +1

    Next gen consoles you will need to develop the games yourself using the developers start up base pack foundation package… Then another dlc to run it without bugs or problems

  • Nugs on 22/12/2016 - 07:49

    Is Santa expected to deliver it updated?

    • Doggiie on 22/12/2016 - 07:54
      +1

      Santa might have the powers to travel to every house in the world in within 24 hours, but updating consoles is out of his capacity.

      • AlienC on 23/12/2016 - 02:49

        Santa Logic Error 401

    • itajac on 22/12/2016 - 08:37
      +1

      Santa at our house, does NOT gift electronics ;)

      • Ninjassmileinthedark on 22/12/2016 - 20:13

        That's because the good prezzies are from you, right? Father Christmas just gives socks and jocks in my house.

        • itajac on 23/12/2016 - 08:06
          +1

          Lol! Socks n jocks. Kids can have any toy they want from Santa.
          Electronics however are costly and unessential, at their age.I also don't want them to be too disappointed, if they don't get the ipad, xbox or computer they wanted.

  • njm on 22/12/2016 - 08:18
    +5

    Plugged mine in last night, with ADSL2+ which gets speed of about 4MB.

    Tried the wireless update about 5-6 times, each time failing at either 35% or 1%.

    Tried wired update, got to about 40% before it failed.

    Then had to go to the online help and use the laptop to download the update to a USB, then install that way this morning as it took 3 or so hours to download.

    Spent another hour or so updating the console, then the controller wants an update.

    Put in Star Wars disc, which needs update as well. It has been in there for about 1.5 hours and is at 28%.

    • decr on 22/12/2016 - 09:47
      +3

      That's ridiculous :(

      • StickMan on 23/12/2016 - 11:52

        With Xbone you also can't do anything at all while it DOWNLOADS (not installs) the multi-gig system update. That is WTF-crazy.

    • OhNoUShiz on 22/12/2016 - 10:56
      -2

      You haven't include update for your controller…….another 30ish minutes.

  • DiscoJango on 22/12/2016 - 08:53
    +1

    story of my life :(

    xbox one with a whole bunch of games + a crappy adsl2 connection = near impossible to play games

    if i leave it on auto update, it is always updating something, using all my bandwidth leaving the home wireless useless for everyone else

    if i turn the autoupdate off, wireless for everyone in the house is good, but then every time i want to go play a game, i cant because it needs something ridiculous like a 19gb update

    and the way they make some games, you cannot play unless it is updated

  • Choogz on 22/12/2016 - 09:02
    +7

    Just going to point out that you can usually get the console at the MS Store in the city and have them do all the updates and install games for you within 2 hours if your net connection is ADSL2 or lower…

    • stirlo on 22/12/2016 - 09:12
      +1

      That is a really cool service. Wish there was a MS Store in Melbourne

  • ProjectZero on 22/12/2016 - 09:18

    Unless Sony and Microsoft decide that SURPRISE XMAS update is needed… =P

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