Perhaps it’s my borderline OCD, or perhaps it’s simply a desire for everyone to get the most out of what they buy, but when I see people pick up a brand new PlayStation 3 or an Xbox 360, I’m compelled to ensure they’ve also got a HDMI cable. And a high definition television. And broadband. And an extra controller.
Although this is a far more socially acceptable exchange when it’s with people I know, I have to really force myself not to do it when I see someone I don’t know splashing their cash. The questions run through my mind: do you know it’s only got composite cables? Do you know that game you’re buying needs a hard drive?
It’s not just the consoles themselves, either – when I see people buying a game I’ve poured dozens of hours and over a thousand words into telling the world it’s terrible the urge to grab the generic shooter out of their hands and stamp on the disk, instead showing them something half decent. Ignorance, you see, is hard to deal with.
Some people are blissfully unaware that the game they’re playing on their expensive 50 inch plasma is running in 576i. They won’t get it, and – frighteningly – might not even be able to tell the difference when you show them. It’s like the people that watch 4:3 formatted television stretched out to fill their widescreen TV sets. Totally unaware.
Finally, and the blame for this lies squarely at the feet of the manufacturers, but the number of people I’ve spoken to that don’t know you can buy games online, be that via the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace or even the likes of Steam. Where did you get that game? On the Store. What? What do you mean?
It’s probably just me, but this sort of thing baffles me. When I get something new I have to dive into every single options screen, fiddle about with every single setting, to make sure it works the way it was intended. I spent hours calibrating my TV, my PS3s are set up perfectly, and – yes – I do have an extra controller. Or two.
You?
Apnomis
Completely agree, it’s the cross we must bear for being technologically enlightened. It pains me to think about how the ignorant masses utilise technology, not just consoles but everything.
It’s not even that it’s the ‘older generation’ either and that eventually everyone will have an almost natural awareness of technology – I know people in their mid/early twenties that are complete technology retards…
3shirts
Same here. I have mates who are younger than me, we are talking early 20s, who couldn’t even tell you what model their phone is! For me, almost everything I buy (and not just technology) is an investment out of which I want to get the most value. I spend time and effort researching the right one for my budget and needs and then time getting the best from it.
.
If I don’t understand something about it I will endeavour to learn. When I bought my HDTV back in 2005 I didn’t know much about TVs so I learned about contrast ratios, refresh rates, resolutions, HDMI etc so that I knew what I was looking at. I then read several reviews of the models in question.
BrendanCalls
When it comes to games I draw the line, Im not going to interrupt on what game someone pick up, however with Hardware its a bit more acceptable. I would always advise someone on whats the best setup for their console but then who are any of us to tell them how to enjoy their console.
Sometimes Ignorance is bliss, take Kotick for instance, some of my mates dont know who he is so he doesn’t annoy them, I read his lunacy on TSA and he annoys me, My mates are ignorant but happier, LOL!!!
stefhutch20
I helped my neighbours set up their online account when they got a PS3. That was 7 months ago and they haven’t been online since. Some people just don’t know what they’re missing out on.
STILLCANTTHINKOFAGOODPSNNAME
did you set it up so it logs in when you turn it on
Kennykazey
I also have a need for getting the most out of what I have, spent alot of money om my ps3 for the best possible settings (1080p and 5.1 sound of course).
The Mysterious Phantom Bear
If I’m going to lay down money on anything I research it inside and out.
People who visit my house are always asking why my TV and sound system is so much better than theirs. I then spend time enlightening (or boring them).
The thing is, like has already been said on this topic, most consumers buy blindly and as long as it works and it keeps up with the Jones’s then they’re happy.
stonyk
one time I was buying some generic shooter when the store guy was telling me NOT to buy it because ther was another game coming out much better that I would prefer. Made me really angry the ignorant ****….
Unfortunately it turned out he was correct!
Severn2j
I had this exact conversation last night with my brother in law, when we played PixelJunk Shooter.. He totally loved it, but was dumbfounded when I told him I bought it off the PS Store. He didnt know you could buy actual games off there.
STILLCANTTHINKOFAGOODPSNNAME
“When I get something new I have to dive into every single options screen, fiddle about with every single setting” guilty
Mason_Mk
Im like that with the PS3 itself. I gop through the whole XMB, discovering every little feature and setting it to my preference, downloading every app avaliable, making every section useful.
Then i see my friend’s PS3’s, i have to say ‘why haven’t you got any pictures/music/videos, why are you using 2.1 surround sound on your 5.1 system, have you even tried life with playstation or the photo gallery?
Also get annoyed when people don’t buy games off the playstation store because ‘they’re probably not that good’. Then they laugh at me for playing Flower, which is one of the greatest games on PS3
MXZ
I have:
PS3
1 Controller
old SDTV
No HDMI
so im hardly expericening HD gaming but soon i will have a new HD TV so i can truly enjoy my games
E8_BALL_
untill mid 09 id been ps3/sd
uponconnecting ps3 to my new hdtv (LG1080p 42″), it felt like i had a ps4 for about a month
enjoy MXZ, you’ll love it