Smart idea if you're giving someone a gaming console...

[rmd]

If you're giving someone (particularly a kid) a gaming console (or even some of the games out there, now) as a gift in the next few days, take it out of the box ahead of time and patch it. Not only will you make it easy for the recipient to quickly get to the important business of blowing things up, racing carts, whatever, but you'll also avoid any server-side network issues caused by everyone else trying to download their patches on that day.

Comments

[cz_unit]

Remember when stuff worked out of the box?

[kellyjmf.livejournal.com]

You are a genius.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

It did, but I have to admit the graphics (and some of the gameplay) is better now.

[also-huey.livejournal.com]

Important note: if you have a T-1 speed or slower link, START NOW. Some of the games that have been out for a while have patches in the dozens-of-G size range. Gran Turismo 5 ran overnight here, for example.

[cz_unit]

Wait a minute, there are gigs of patches for the GAMES? Good lord.

[kjc.livejournal.com]

Who is wicked smaht? YOU is wicked smaht!

[also-huey.livejournal.com]

It seems like most major updates to Warcraft are in the half-dozen-DVDs size range.

[also-huey.livejournal.com]

Update: http://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/gadgets-updates/sony-says-online-playstation-disrupted/article1-1300465.aspx

...because 'hackers' is a much more logical explanation than "hundreds of thousands of people all trying to download updates all at the same time", I guess.

[dfjdejulio.livejournal.com]

So, that suggestion turned out to be even smarter than predicted this year, eh?