5 Things Gamers Don't Have to Put Up With Anymore

Things that gamers had to deal with in the past they no longer have to deal with now.

[badboy776]

Memory Cards

[pedrof93]

OMG.

[shivvy24]

hey i miss memory cards , the days when you save a game and take it to your friends house and play the game together ! lyk dis if you cry evertym !

[SilentNegotiator]

@shivvy

You can do that with USB now. And that isn't proprietary so it isn't overpriced.

[wagnus]

"Console Expansion Packs" lol nintendo.

[komp]

Batteries in controllers?

[theWB27]

Controllers still have batteries unless you have some alternate controller that runs on air. Controllers before batteries were still wired and ran off the power of the system.

[RioKing]

Microsoft says hi

[FullmetalAlchemist]

Xbox One controller still uses AA batteries
http://kotaku.com/is-it-too... its in the last bullet point.

[theWB27]

@Rio and Fullmetal
The DS4 still uses a battery. 3.7 V lithium-ion battery that's built in and rechargeable. It was a joke at the comment of controllers still using batteries as if some don't.

So in essence...controllers still use batteries. The ones that don't..were wired. Like we used before the 360 introduced wireless controllers as a standard on consoles.

[Krew_92]

*Non-rechargeable batteries.

(Without need of purchasing any attachments/accessories...)

[RioKing]

@theWB27

haha I know that DS1,2,3,and 4 all technically use batteries, hell most devices out there do!

But I meant removable ones where you go to your local store for more. Where I work Microsoft sells two "official" versions of their controllers; one for $49.99 (I believe) that uses removable batteries, and a $64.99 one that has a built-in rechargable battery...just like the DS3 (but more expensive, of course)

:D

[mrmarx]

paying for wireless adapters

[DragonKnight]

theWB27: The 360 didn't introduce wireless controllers as a standard on consoles. Wireless controllers are as old as Atari 2600.

[s45gr32]

I don't miss that at all. If that's what you mean if not well my bad

[LKHGFDSA]

ahhahaha yeah f***ing Wii and Xbox still using them.

[jeffgoldwin]

Using AA sized rechargeable batteries is definitely a benefit with ms/wii (plus the also have battery packs that fit in that slot too, so you have choices). All batteries slowly lose charge capacity after hundreds of charge cycles. Imagine if you told someone they couldn't replace the batteries on a power tool, lol.

Always better/cheaper to replace batteries vs a new controller/cell phone/power tool w/e.

[andrewsqual]

Old pc dvd style trays. Like the one on the Fat PS2 and ..... Xbox 360.

[Krew_92]

Yeah I understand. Every time I open my original PlayStation 2's disc tray it vibrates, surprised it still works even from 2002.

[mydyingparadiselost]

Memory cards are still needed on handhelds. We've only come oh so far...

[meganick]

They're only needed on the Vita, which are overpriced. The 3ds has some built-in memory, and they all come with memory cards, so you don't really need to buy another memory card unless you really want to.

[thechowderp]

@meganick
the 3ds doesnt need memory cards because the games are memory cards

[Firan]

What?! Where is your data? Where is it saved? There's no memory card...

Damn, your skills have improved. Or rather, your hardware.

- Psycho Mantis

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

I read it in Mantis voice. Classic.

[Heisenburger]

I love Otacon's moment during the return to Shadow Moses.

I love not having to switch discs.

[killacal13]

Seriously, who disagreed with this comment? like.. what do people disagree with in it? ohh never played MGS4 huh ?

[arronax-1]

I bet it's been a LONG time since anyone even heard of those two words.

[AceBlazer13]

remember having to leave my tv on over night if i wanted to beat a game and hope no one turned it off and beating games in 1 run or at least try

[FlyingFoxy]

It became irritating running out of space on those, Dreamcast's VMU was the last great memory card though.

[Infamouskat]

The Vita uses Memory Cards...

[Speider]

Yeah. Thank the internet gods for cloudsaves.

[Goldenarmz]

I remember way back on PS1 days with memory cards, i had Xenogears saved on it, made it to the last disk. And my sister ended up throwing it out. All those hours wasted cuz of a dumb memory card. I do not miss those days.

[Lwhit6]

Someone unplugging the controller when you're playing.

[Godmars290]

Now all they have to do is say, "Xbox off".

[RioKing]

you missed an important F-word after xbox

[pixelsword]

Yeah, but if it did that, I'd get one.

[s45gr32]

LoL a lot easier for parents. All they have to say is xbox off bwahahaha.

[GodGinrai]

Blowing cartridges..which actually made them worse.

[jeffgoldwin]

Haha no way some wouldn't work unless u blew the dust out of them.

[WeaseL]

Waiting for demos on magazines

[ramiuk1]

haha yeah i miss that dude.
i miss gamesmaster with p moore.
how fast u can do a lvl on sonic etc.

im 32 and i think i can safely say i grew up in the best gaming era.
james pond-robocod
sonics
marios
zeldas
clayfighters
mortal kombat
f-zero
snake rattle and roll

the list is endless

[levian]

Controller cords dangling from a console sitting on top of a TV.

[levian]

And then someone tripping on the cord and the console falling off.

I lost SO many saves on my SNES because of this.

[Jaqen_Hghar]

a man's dog used to always try and walk between the TV and a man and would always trip on the cords! Though a man was probably a boy then.

[1OddWorld]

They would dangle right in your food or knock over your drink, or some ass hat who didn't watch his step would trip over the cord and yank your console to the floor. My PS2 took a licken and kept on ticken through all the abuse.

[PigPen]

A stick and a button for a controller.

[JussBlazn]

*AHEM*

Fighting games still use a stick and buttons.

[PigPen]

You seem like the only slow person that didn't get that. The Atari had one stick and a one button controller.

[1OddWorld]

Atari 2600

[mydyingparadiselost]

This is a decent list. I'm playing through Breath of Fire III right now and that game makes me realize just how far forward gaming has come. Not being able to save just where ever is a big pain, the battle system and exp. gaining moves slower than a LA traffic jam and I still need the memory card, even on the PSP. Still a great game but gaming has definately become more convenient as a whole.

[TheHybrid]

Now if we could just get rid of disc swapping and add digital sharing

[jeffgoldwin]

DRM would have done that (just needed to load from disc 1 time), but a lot of peeps didn't want it. You can still go disc free if you buy digital though like on Steam.

[RioKing]

I'm curious to see what a list like this one will look like in 10 years...

[Nicholasgliss]

Bye bye loading.....

[RioKing]

ahhh it will be nice :)

[Nicholasgliss]

No more black consoles, beige will be the new standard.

[Jaqen_Hghar]

grey is due for a comeback like Dreamcast and PS1 lol

[killacal13]

Nooo please, black is the new black, and the old one as well.

[webeblazing]

goodbye ingame unlockables, free mp, split screen, adventure games.

[ala_767]

Hell I totally forgot about the memory card!!! Technology does change fast.......

[fattyuk]

Not having a memory card for the ps2......

and having to leave it switched on for weeks at a time as I had the 2nd island opened on GTA3.

And I dont have to put up with scratched disks anymore (thank you blu ray)

[zep]

lol back on ps1 i have no money for a memory card and everytime me and my cousins play tekken 2 i have to play aracde to unlock all the character 1st lol fun times and yeah finished crash bandicoot without saving i don't know about the password cheat back then so i have to do it the hard way

[jeffgoldwin]

"And I dont have to put up with scratched disks anymore (thank you blu ray)"

You mean thank you digital downloads wont get scratched. Blu ray is a bit more resistant, but still will scratch. Hehe it's not some alien alloy.

[ShowGun901]

true, but ive NEVER seen even 1 scratch on any of my +40 ps3 games, and lots of them are used from gamestop... although, I bought a copy of mario galaxy from gs used, got it home and there was enough little scratches in it that it wouldn't play... Blu ray is leaps and bounds better

[jeffgoldwin]

I buy a lot of used games from gamefly.com on dvd format. About 25-30 so far. Each has been in mint condition. I read that they have a resurfacing disc machine that they run them though. Makes sense I guess, not sure if that's true, but I don't see how else they all come with not even 1 scratch on them.

[No FanS Land]

1 joystick first person shooters. how did we enjoy Goldeneye???? Better leave it to nostalgia!

[Horny]

I used the c sticks to move and the analog to look around. Made it so much better that way.

[isarai]

Tripping over controller cords, the happening was like watching your life flash before your eyes when you're about to be part of a car crash.

the component cables slowly but surely separating further and further down the cable till you end up with three separate cords that meat at one end.

Proprietary AV cables, so they won't be a pain in the ass to find when these consoles are old.

Scratched discs, Blu-ray discs are scratch resistant, you'd have to go out of your way to scratch one of these babies.

[fattyuk]

I'll have to admit.... the original Xbox did well with the snap cords on their controllers! But then shafted you for a DVD playback kit!

[Relientk77]

Wired controllers lol

I love wireless controllers, its just so convenient

[Xof]

I love how Nintendo's version of a wireless controller is "plugging a wired controller into a wireless controller."

[BosSSyndrome]

Or... yknow... the gamepad.

[s45gr32]

That doesn't make no sense

[Xof]

I was referring to the Wii. The Nunchuck, Classic and Advanced controllers all have wires you plug into the (wireless) Wiimote.

It's silly.

[mrmarx]

i used wired on xbox 360 tired of replacing batteries plus its lighter

[TotalHitman]

I remember when wireless controllers was a big deal at the start of the 7th generation. Good days.

[clarkdef]

Awesome article, really refreshing to read something that isn't flamish... Hey who thinks N4G should create an extra tab for non flame news?

[mgszelda1]

Password screens, or only what lives u earn or have from the start to finish the game. I'll tell u what i do miss. Unlocking stuff like weapons and costumes by doing something hard, instead of earning a digital trophy or paying $10 plus for dlc

[s45gr32]

I am glad I am not the only one that remembers free unlockables like remember trying to get the boutique key for resident evil 3 nemesis to change Jill Valentine costume.

[Dogswithguns]

It's the other way around, PS2 is better than anything, no need DLC period!!! ...no need to put up with loginggin either... enough said.

[wenaldy]

RF/ Coax cables.
Multitap.
Network adapter.

[ShaunCameron]

I miss cartridges. No loading times. Everything flowed seamlessly from one part to the next.

[SpinalRemains138]

JUSTIN BAILEY
?????? ??????

or

007 373 5963

I think it's safe to say we don't have to worry about writing down our save game passcodes anymore.

Those were the days. Passcodes for certain progression points.
I'm pretty sure every gamer wrote it down wrong at least one time out of hundreds if they were in a hurry or what have you, and had to resort to an older code. That sucked.

[BosSSyndrome]

The arcade mentality was lost with the NES.

[Tetsujin]

I'd say PS2 era; Ninja Gaiden, Bionic Commando, Mega Man 1, and a ton of other NES games were harder than the arcade games themselves.

If anything I'd say NES is what brought difficulty modes, however I wouldn't say Arcade Mentality was lost during that time.

[BosSSyndrome]

I say that because that's when games were not solely about points and getting the high score, but rather having fun playing the game and the adventure. Final Fantasy, Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Mega Man, Castlevania, etc. all started on NES. Maybe I just have a different interpretation of what the "Arcade Mentality" is.

[ShaunCameron]

I say it was lost once the industry made the transition to 3D. The PS1/N64 era. Because the 16-bit era still boasted Super Ghouls & Ghosts, Contra 3, Mega Man 7, SMB: The Lost Levels, etcetera.

[s45gr32]

I believe it was at the middle or end of the PS2 era that arcade mentality ended not during the nes.

[bigboss716]

Yeah thats right :D

[bigboss716]

None of that Memory Card stuff.no more wired controller unless u have the option of getting that.i wouldn't buy a wired one again lol

[Samuel-Rodrigues]

Solid Snake: "Gaming...has changed."

[flamehaze42]

I hate autosaves and prefer local gaming or solo. I only play online for practice.

[SpinalRemains138]

Blowing into cartridges and subsequently rusting the contacts. Lol.

[ShaunCameron]

The funny thing is that the 16-bit era cartridges were so durable that it eliminated the need to blow into them.

[Tetsujin]

Channel 3 or 4

Batteries in cartridges dying

Waiting on the next Nintendo Power for the 3 digit code from Star Tropics.

[SpinalRemains138]

Waiting for the next Nintendo Power! Love it. Haha good stuff.

I was an early adopter, and if I remember correctly, that magazine was published and mailed out like every 3 or 4 months. When the new issue finally arrived with all the new Adventures of Link and and Metroid tips, it was like a celebration. I remember waiting for every issue like Christmas.

[zep]

i hope region lock will be gone for good screw you nintendo

[maniacmayhem]

I remember when the wavebird first dropped. It was like a revolution in the making. There were wireless controllers before but they were all crap.

[Soldierone]

Friggin cords. I remember accidentally pulling my PS2 off the shelf all the time lol

I got to a point where it just stayed on the ground to be safe.

[DivineAssault]

All those autosaves in games make them way too easy these days.. Having to start over is what made people master those things.. Im playing the Last of Us right now & whenever i get killed, i respawn right where i was before it happened so i can easily progress by changing tactics for that part.. If i had to restart from further back, it would be much harder to memorize the attack waves

[_FantasmA_]

And yet another article where some person who was born yesterday thinks that M$ invented something. M$ did not invent wireless controllers, and they still use battery packs. And no they didn't do console online play, or trophies, or shooters, or motion based gaming first. M$ are followers, but they waste tons of money on spamming and advertising to fool people into thinking they are the default console.

[Benchm4rk]

No MS did not invent wireless controllers I think he was pointing out the fact that Microsoft was the first to implement them as standard for a console. All previous wireless controllers were optional and came with IR sensors to work. The 360 was the first to have it integrated in hardware though they didn't use IR. Sony and Nintendo followed and now we don't have to put up with cords

[Auron]

Well at least we don't have to put up with annoying FULL games anymore, on disc/DLC for the win.......

[Benchm4rk]

Games on cassette tapes. Taking forever to load up. And having to wait for them to rewind.

[cunnilumpkin]

hope about what we DO have to put up with though

day one updates

day one dlc

online passes (expect more next gen, way more, in different forms)

mandatory installs

ads EVERYWHERE

No more color manuals, heck, no manuals at all

bugged games at launch

stupid websites you need to go to for access all the game content

$65 games

heck, give me back memory cards!

[MWH]

I miss the quicksave/quickload feature.

[easternbalboa]

ABACABB

[DxTrixterz]

No dlc and other pre-order stuff. It was good back in the days where you brought a game and you had everything on the disc. Now with most of the games even though you pay full retail price you actually only get half of the game and the other half are DLC that cost like half of the retail price altogether. Also unlockables. I remember in all my PS2 games you actually had to spend some time to unlock content. Now you don't have to do this as just can just buy all unlockables and there you go or even worse making a content that should be unlockable a DLC for a greedy cash grab (example Street Fighter x Tekken 12 characters). Where is the satisfaction in that? Also what annoys me now is whole used games are evil. We need to put all kind of DRM crap to stop it. I don't see a problem. Sure developers and publishers lose hell lot of money but used games were here since beginning of gaming industry and nobody was complaining about them back in the day. Companies are greedy as hell thats all. You want to get rid of used games then either go full digital or make them half cheaper than they are right now. Problem solved.

[Supermax]

Gonna have as many games I can on the hard drive,Xbox play battlefield Xbox play watchdogs,no getting up no disk that's next gen

[Psychotica]

That thing that came with the Atari 2600 that you had to screw to the back of your tv.

[Speider]

Memory cards goodbye. Hard drives and cloud saves, hello.
2-4 player splitscreen is cool. Taking one or more friends online is awesome.

[Knightofelemia]

I remember disc swapping I could be in the middle of Final Fantasy 7 and then a screen pops up telling me to swap discs. With the introduction of Blu-Ray game discs Sony solved that problem no more disc swapping thats one feature I won't miss anymore.

[ramiuk1]

in my village we used to have a games man.
he would tow his caravan to the local shops and in it was full of megadrive,master system,snes games that you could buy or rent.stood outside it talking to the other kids around was ace.
im 32 and for some reason i still have the code VLBB stuck in my head for lvl 4-2 on gremlins on nes.
also the joy when in the local youth club we realised if you had a 2nd pad in you could control the ducks in duck hunt

[tweet75]

blowing into game cartridges (nes), charcters in games looking like people, not colored sqares (atari 2600) (with a few intentional exceptions)