Remember when you got your birthday present and you didn't get batteries? And you had to go down the shops and then put them in? I used to think that was annoying.
So my boy has a birthday, and he's got a combined birthday and Christmas present, and his sister will be using it, as will ...uh, I. For years to come. It's a Playstation 4 Pro. (yeah, yeah; it's expensive but I've thought it through)
Step 1: Unwrap.
No clam-shell packaging! Hurrah!
Step 2: Plug it in.
Power. HDMI. Done. Works.
Step 3: Turn it on.
Setup a user. Easy.
Aaaaaand now we descend into hell. Note that this is the edited version and I've left out all the to-and-fro.
Step 4: Start setup
Connect to Wi-Fi. Typing using a controller sucks, but is manageable.
Step 5: It's alive!
"There is a required system update". Urhg. Download. Install. Luckily quite small.
Step 6: Play the Game!
Overwatch. This requires a Playstation Plus account to do anything. Nope. : (
Step 7: Setup a PS Plus account.
Pick a username. Taken. Another. Taken. Another. Taken. All the while typing using a damn controller letter-by-letter. **** it; add numbers to the end. Password. Nope; not good enough. I beg to differ. I can't. Try another we're sure to forget now. Aaaargh.
Step 8: Verify PS Plus account.
Ugh. Go to other room. Startup up PC. Log in. Can't because I've set parental controls. Log in as me. Kid checks his email. Can't as he forgot his password. Get password reset to my account. Reset password. Nope; not good enough. Again I ... ugh, OK. New password he is going to forget. Log in as him. Verify the PS Plus account.
Step 9: Log in. Again.
Hurrah! It works.
Step 10. 40 minutes later - Play the Game!
Nope. "A required update must be installed." It's 12GB! Estimated download time 6hrs.
Addendum: Luckily I caught the machine turning itself off and cancelling, entirely, the download. Now setup to not do that.
I am so, so sick of user accounts and passwords and updates.
I feel your pain. Went thru all that last Xmas, with an XBox360 so son could play new version of Call of Duty game. None of the previous games required internet connection but this did.
In addition to all that sh!t, we then had to delete all previous games' data and plug in extra storage. Account setup failed again and again and after 2 days of that crap - new game unable to be played in its entirety (small microscopic print tells you that apparently the version they make for older consoles does fk - all compared to the full game) arrgghhhhh
One very upset 11 y/o and dad thinking that C.O.D could be good training for what he'd like to do at the Microsoft head office. 
Update: Update downloaded.
I'll just test the game, make sure it works now...
Error: WS-37269-7
huh?
Perhaps I haven't setup PlayStation + properly? I'll just go there...
Error: WS-37269-7
Internet search shows it happens quite a lot - to everyone at once.http://community.us.playstation.com/t5/Consoles-Peripherals/ps4-error-ws-37269-7/td-p/44436502/page/3
Bring back Atari!
Lesson learnt: Don't buy games that require the internet.
Ha! novice
Wait til you have to set up computers for everyone
Then when they come out and tell you they've crashed and you have to get them fixed so they can do their home work (look at arsebook)
I don't know if this'll help much, but any USB keyboard can be plugged in to a PS4 to make typing easier
Thank your lucky stars you didn't buy an Xbox. Requires internet constantly to play games, requires constant updates of 10+ meg and games take 2+hrs to load/update
Select to expand quoteSubsonic said...
Thank your lucky stars you didn't buy an Xbox. Requires internet constantly to play games, requires constant updates of 10+ meg and games take 2+hrs to load/update
That's why I got my kid a PS4 and only play games requiring no connection.
Get your kids outside and off the video games ! I was never allowed them ( computer for homework only ) growing up and now Im super greatful i know how to appreciate the outdoors instead of being a nerd !
Select to expand quoteok said..
Get your kids outside and off the video games ! I was never allowed them ( computer for homework only ) growing up and now Im super greatful i know how to appreciate the outdoors instead of being a nerd !
I think there's room for both, in fact if you're doing enough physical with them you (all) need the downtime cos you're (all) worn out.
Typical weekend day for my kids would involve a trip to beach or river in the morning, then home for a swim in the pool. Lots of physical stuff, then inside by 11 latest as the sun gets strong. After an early lunch some relax/screen time which could include games or apps, family movie, etc. Then after 2ish it cranks up again with a bike ride somewhere maybe, or a bushwalk, or something else fun, physical & outdoors like flying kites or kicking a ball in the park or something. After all that they get half an hour of tv while we cook dinner. They pretty much fall asleep by 7 most nights because they're so worn out.
I'm not scared they'll turn out nerds. Quite the opposite, they need computer skills in the future, and most of the games they play are educational and even the ones that aren't help with fine motor skills, concentration, memory etc.
/this is why I don't get time to kite any more 
Select to expand quoteSubsonic said..
Thank your lucky stars you didn't buy an Xbox. Requires internet constantly to play games, requires constant updates of 10+ meg and games take 2+hrs to load/update
I'm a generation behind (PS3 currently, a few Xbox 360s before that) and I'm considering which to get now that I can't really get current games any more.
I moved to PS3 because I got really sick of the advertising on the xbox home screen, paying $50+ per year for a premium sub just to have things like foxtel video ads pushed to your living room with no control.
I also didn't want to be forced into all the social stuff, I don't want a cheesy avatar, etc. But you can't decline.
Moving to PS3 I found the whole experience much more geared to adults, and a breath of fresh air.
Much more muted advertising, no autoplay vids, no crappy tile system, nicer colours, less garish overall, and no cheesy social/kid stuff like compulsory avatars.
However...
PS3 update system is so broken in comparison.
360 - updated itself periodically at 2am or something. Every so often a game would require an update.
PS3 - every month or so it just won't work.
You don't find out till you load up game or netflix or whatever and it won't work. "you need to be logged in to PSN" error.
Back out, try to log in "you need to update to log in".
Back out of that, search menus to find system update.
Choose update now.
Read T&C page. Manually choose agree.
Manually check the restart after update box.
Wait for update to download.
Wait for update to install.
Wait for reboot.
Wonder why all that didn't happen at 3am without your intervention like it did on xbox...
Then you reload game/netflix and now that needs an update.
wait for download
wait for update
wait for reboot
/now it's bed time
Select to expand quotekiteboy dave said...Subsonic said..
Thank your lucky stars you didn't buy an Xbox. Requires internet constantly to play games, requires constant updates of 10+ meg and games take 2+hrs to load/update
I'm a generation behind (PS3 currently, a few Xbox 360s before that) and I'm considering which to get now that I can't really get current games any more.
I moved to PS3 because I got really sick of the advertising on the xbox home screen, paying $50+ per year for a premium sub just to have things like foxtel video ads pushed to your living room with no control.
I also didn't want to be forced into all the social stuff, I don't want a cheesy avatar, etc. But you can't decline.
Moving to PS3 I found the whole experience much more geared to adults, and a breath of fresh air.
Much more muted advertising, no autoplay vids, no crappy tile system, nicer colours, less garish overall, and no cheesy social/kid stuff like compulsory avatars.
However...
PS3 update system is so broken in comparison.
360 - updated itself periodically at 2am or something. Every so often a game would require an update.
PS3 - every month or so it just won't work.
You don't find out till you load up game or netflix or whatever and it won't work. "you need to be logged in to PSN" error.
Back out, try to log in "you need to update to log in".
Back out of that, search menus to find system update.
Choose update now.
Read T&C page. Manually choose agree.
Manually check the restart after update box.
Wait for update to download.
Wait for update to install.
Wait for reboot.
Wonder why all that didn't happen at 3am without your intervention like it did on xbox...
Then you reload game/netflix and now that needs an update.
wait for download
wait for update
wait for reboot
/now it's bed time
The main thing that bugs me about it, I'm not a consistent gamer. Usually I just wanna play a game for an hour before bed on occasion. etc.
Switch it on, "you need an update" ****! Kinda defeats the purpose. No playing offline with an Xbox.
Select to expand quotehilly said..
My 13 year old set up his Xbox One 
Than you have a problem IMHO
Select to expand quoteKIT33R said...
Pinball machine?
Yes, but there is always something to fix
Select to expand quotekiteboy dave said..ok said..
Get your kids outside and off the video games ! I was never allowed them ( computer for homework only ) growing up and now Im super greatful i know how to appreciate the outdoors instead of being a nerd !
I think there's room for both, in fact if you're doing enough physical with them you (all) need the downtime cos you're (all) worn out.
Typical weekend day for my kids would involve a trip to beach or river in the morning, then home for a swim in the pool. Lots of physical stuff, then inside by 11 latest as the sun gets strong. After an early lunch some relax/screen time which could include games or apps, family movie, etc. Then after 2ish it cranks up again with a bike ride somewhere maybe, or a bushwalk, or something else fun, physical & outdoors like flying kites or kicking a ball in the park or something. After all that they get half an hour of tv while we cook dinner. They pretty much fall asleep by 7 most nights because they're so worn out.
I'm not scared they'll turn out nerds. Quite the opposite, they need computer skills in the future, and most of the games they play are educational and even the ones that aren't help with fine motor skills, concentration, memory etc.
/this is why I don't get time to kite any more
Hey Dave, will you adopt me?
Select to expand quotetheDoctor said..KIT33R said...
Pinball machine?
Yes, but there is always something to fix
I know a guy who makes a very good living restoring these things. Some fetch big bucks.
Select to expand quotekiteboy dave said..ok said..
Get your kids outside and off the video games ! I was never allowed them ( computer for homework only ) growing up and now Im super greatful i know how to appreciate the outdoors instead of being a nerd !
I think there's room for both, in fact if you're doing enough physical with them you (all) need the downtime cos you're (all) worn out.
Typical weekend day for my kids would involve a trip to beach or river in the morning, then home for a swim in the pool. Lots of physical stuff, then inside by 11 latest as the sun gets strong. After an early lunch some relax/screen time which could include games or apps, family movie, etc. Then after 2ish it cranks up again with a bike ride somewhere maybe, or a bushwalk, or something else fun, physical & outdoors like flying kites or kicking a ball in the park or something. After all that they get half an hour of tv while we cook dinner. They pretty much fall asleep by 7 most nights because they're so worn out.
I'm not scared they'll turn out nerds. Quite the opposite, they need computer skills in the future, and most of the games they play are educational and even the ones that aren't help with fine motor skills, concentration, memory etc.
/this is why I don't get time to kite any more
I reckon that sounds like a great weekend for any kid - actually any parent too!
^ ditto this.
Up until soccer season ended Saturday looked like:
- Muay Thai,
- Soccer Game,
- Hip-Hop dancing. (really)
He was pretty exhausted by the end of the day.
And more stuff during the week like soccer training, choir, ...something else I'm supposed to know.
I think in moderation games are good. Almost all are strategic or require some kind of logic. They have evolved a long, long way from Space Invaders. I honestly think they are better than watching TV, although my kids adore Horrible Histories, Operation Ouch, Deadly 60 and Behind The News.
Also, I'd gladly let them play outside with the other kids but there aren't any other kids outside. Ghost town. Weird times and it's like this in other countries too.
Man, some of the things my middle daughter quotes from Horrible Histories freaks me out. Love watching Deadly 60 together though.
Funny but computer literacy is now the norm, my year 7 daughter does all her work on a macbook, every kid in the whole school does. Makes sense though, every person in my company does all their work on a computer.
How about the "new" old Nintendo???? easy to have fun with just 2 buttons and a directional pad! I used to play it all nite specially Zelda 1 & 2..... show my age now!
PS4 and Xbox's are great for kids,
They help improve hand eye coordination and map reading skills. 
Where else in real life can you beat the crap out of a HO with a dildo(GTA). 
