GDC 2011: David Jaffe Feels Boot-up Times On Console Games Are Too Long

Speaking at a panel at GDC, David Jaffe not only talked about how he felt games had too many updates and day one updates shouldn't be needed -- he also talked about how he feels games take forever to get you into them. He said that from the second you put the game in the console to when you actually start playing it takes way too long.

[NewMonday]

I agree totally, Sony should listen to this man, especially about the sleep mode.

[MoeThirteen]

The continue option I can get behind. Also I'm not hating on the makers of the game, but I don't see why your logo needs so much time on my screen especially if there are a lot of chefs in the kitchen. I just wanna play.

[Rocker2791]

Console boot ups are actually the reason I favor PC gaming. With the PC, if I want to play a game, I make maybe two clicks and BAM I'm in the game. With the console I have to boot the console, navigate the dashboard, then sit through the game sponsor screens, and finally wait for the game to load.

As Jaffe mentioned Brotherhood, I am reminded why I stopped playing the multiplayer in the first place. It just took too long to get into a match and get the game going. This is something that I love about games like Black Ops for instance. I can boot up the multiplayer exe and from there if I have my classes set up all I have to do is pick a server and I'm in.

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

Hummm... Not. You can just turn auto start on, so you just put the disc in and the game starts. You still have to watch developers and engine tools logos, but you have to watch it on PC too unless you are messing with database stuff (i.e. not the way it were designed to be used).

And actually, some of the worst boot up times on recent games are from PC games. Just look at anything Maxis. The matter have little to do with platform. The discussion is about devs putting way too much stuff between you and the game.

[xDSJxPyro]

While load times are getting a bit longer it seems, games like Grand Theft Auto IV are a thing of beauty. I remember dreading the bridge crossing in previous games. I hated those load zones.

Now with the ability to install HDD, they are getting better, but with things like Blu-ray which have low read speed for the time being at least, I don't really mind it.

[MGRogue2017]

Call of Duty Black Ops loads up pretty damn fast..

It's amazing how you can get into a full-on MP firefight & be playing within minutes..

[CaptainMarvelQ8]

yes,because a century old eninge with low quality graphics and simple mechanics take no time time load on this generation's consoles

[NeloAnjelo]

COD will die if this ever happens, as it's a patch fest. This is why this, which Jaffe proposes won't happen.

[user858621]

agreed, when a turn on my console a wana see the menu right away, I get it im running a ps3 or 360 you dont have to keep telling me everytime I boot up!!

[Belasco]

And it goes through every company. Havoc, Bink, then whatever middeware, then the actual developer.

[CaptainMarvelQ8]

of course,because every company feels proud showing it's name on their creation

also it makes people know the company and buy it's products fast (if the game is good) that way they become more recognizable

[theonlylolking]

MW2 is super fast.

[Belasco]

Yeah, set a stop watch to Demons Souls boot up and he has a good point.

[NoobJobz]

The one that bothers me but really has nothing to do with loading times is Killzone 3 and the directions for Move. Anyway to skip it? I don't have Move, so I don't want to see that everytime I start up the game.

[gamingisnotacrime]

i have the move and find it annoying

[gamingisnotacrime]

now is mandatory to manually start the game and then the boot up crap. yeah is too long

[NoobJobz]

It still does have that option I think. I switched it from automatic start because that annoyed me.

[DlocDaBudSmoka]

that option is still there, just have to turn it on.

[gamingisnotacrime]

it starts when the disc is inserted, but not when the disc is inside the console at the moment of boot up

[DlocDaBudSmoka]

i bitch about this every time i fire up my ps3 to play something, anything. why are these damn logos here when i just wanna play. keep that shit within the credits where it should be.

[palaeomerus]

Does he want to go back to expensive cartridges that cost a lot more than an optical medium ? IS he predicting that flash will get really cheap? Is he just bitching about the wind?

[snakebite36]

Am I the only person that doesn't care how long games take to boot up? It's such a silly thing to complain about.

[NeloAnjelo]

On one hand I agree as it supports lazy and lack luster development. Last Gen developers had to focus more on quality control and really stress test their games before release. There was no fix after release.

However, if a serious bug or broken gameplay mechanic is affecting the game then it should be patched... Years ago you'd be stuck with this. However, some games have excessive patching for things that probably could have been fixed before launch.