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[Madflavor]

(Reminder to check your volume before watching these)

Oh sweet audible nostalgia. Bring me back to more simple times.




The fuck happened? It's like everyone just gave up during the 8th gen, although credit to the Series X/S for having something decent. Console start up sounds used to give these machines such character. I guess it's not a big deal really, but they don't make em like they used to.

Anyway which one is your personal favorite?

 

[Makki]

PS One wins, since you get not just one but two chimes!

 

[DaichiChan]

Because of smartphones, everyone wants the system to run like a Ferrari and everything needs to start in a second, switch between games, turn on turn off console etc.

 

[ReBurn]

PS One wins, since you get not just one but two chimes!

I love the first PS startup so much.

 

[YCoCg]

The fuck happened?

Apple happened when they decided that all future UI designs should be "minimal" and every damn company followed that over the years, so now instead of a brand and identity that's curated for the device we now get flat, minimal, black and white, basic font with maybe a solid colour here and there.

 

[BadBreathOfTheWild]

Modern TVs can take so long to boot up that if turning both TV and console on from a controller you’re lucky to catch the last half second of any intro.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Because of smartphones, everyone wants the system to run like a Ferrari and everything needs to start in a second, switch between games, turn on turn off console etc.

As it should. I did my time in loading screen land, no more of that nonsense.
Get that Bink video logo out of the start of the game and put it buried in the end credits where it belongs.
Now its heath and content trigger warning along with every producer and patreon who gave a dollar to make the game.

Apple happened when they decided that all future UI designs should be "minimal" and every damn company followed that over the years, so now instead of a brand and identity that's curated for the device we now get flat, minimal, black and white, basic font with maybe a solid colour here and there.

Now I can pull out my Apple iPhone and play a game while all the identity nonsense splashed across my TV.

 

[Harkonnen]

PS1, PS2 and GC startups, so much memories...
Everytime I hear one of these intros, it's tied forever to one game; PS1/FF7, PS2/Silent Hill 2, GC/Zelda Windwaker.

 

[Loomy]

Most people use rest mode, so when they turn the system on, they go straight to the game. The UX expectation is to be taken straight to the game. The question then becomes "is it worth designing a whole elaborate startup animation that people will probably only see once?"

I think both the Xbox and PS startups this gen are very good for what they are.

 

[begotten]

It can't be beaten

 

[nial]

I don't know, I loved the PS4 startup myself. Though, I always felt that it missed a "Sony Computer Emtertainment" text at the beginning.

 

[ShirAhava]

Xbox One X was the last good one we had

 

[Jinxed]

Psx was the best, hearing that again.. damn

 

[Imtjnotu]

Nothing scarier than starting your PS1 at midnight with your TV volume at full blast as a kid...

 

[consoul]

PS One wins, since you get not just one but two chimes!

PS2 had the same. First one for console boot-up, second one for disc authentication.

PS1 is more iconic though. The two just fit together beautifully.

Did you know? The PS logo that appears when booting a PS1 disc is actually a fully three dimensional polygon model, despite the fact that it only ever gets rendered from one angle. I discovered this back in the PS1 era and was even able to hack different simple 3D models into the startup. Blew my mind when I discovered it was an object with actual depth.

 

[Dacvak]

It can't be beaten

My favorite part of this startup is if you press start and select at the same time, it makes a little “beedoh beedoh” sound, then you can press A I think to bring the logo back with a little chime.

But my all time favorite has got to be GCN. PS1 is also phenomenal.

 

[Crystal Winters]

The PS1, PS2, Gamecube, Wii, Xbox and Xbox 360 had the best start ups.

 

[DoubleClutch]

It’s akin to a loading screen. I like them, but there’s basically no need for them.

 

[March Climber]

It’s akin to a loading screen. I like them, but there’s basically no need for them.

Most people use rest mode, so when they turn the system on, they go straight to the game. The UX expectation is to be taken straight to the game. The question then becomes "is it worth designing a whole elaborate startup animation that people will probably only see once?"

Because of smartphones, everyone wants the system to run like a Ferrari and everything needs to start in a second, switch between games, turn on turn off console etc.

I feel like modern day startups can still exist, but they have to match the speed of modern day consoles, meaning they have to be fast and snappy as well as unique.

For example this could be a modern day Nintendo startup:



Modern Sony:



or this



Modern Xbox(26 seconds in):



That way you still get the console identity with a punch to it. If anyone here works in any of the big three, steal this idea and use it.

 

[wowbaggerBR]

PS One wins, since you get not just one but two chimes!

I would pay Sony top dolar to download a 4K version for my PS5.

 

[Hypereides]

Blame the grey and joyless nature of corporate culture for that. Its no longer allowed to be playful, inventive, memorable or stand out.

In regards to Sony, PS1 and PS2 were amazing. Truly sounded like you were being warped into a new dimension. Early/original PS3 intro was okay, but anything else after has been flat and empty in a sense. Sony used to have a well defined and expressive identity. Now its just bland.

 

[IAmRei]

PS1 is the best, very nostalgic

I kinda agree if they are lost, because nowadays people urge to play asap and doesn't have patient (fun) as before. unfortunately tho... especially in these days, where everything is instant as much as possible, no character no identity...

 

[Stu_Hart]

PS2 was the best for me. It feels so futuristic and got me pumped when I first got it to start a game.
The current console ones are so UI inspired and lacks the hype. Console start-ups are part of the presentation, and I hope future consoles have it again. They can always give the option of skipping the intros and go right into the game for the impatient players.

 

[Soodanim]

Modern consolescould easily have a startup sound play ASAP and overlap with any UI.

They could also be optional.

The reason they aren't there is because they don't want to, not because there's something else holding them back.

The PS1's were definitely part of the experience and obviously the king.

 

[Sharius]

tbh, when i turn on my console i expect to jump right into game and play, not sitting around and wait it to boost up, that why i mainly put it in sleep mode, beside i had enough traumatize from PS2 boosting screen already, i don't really need more

 

[VeganElduderino]

Ps1 wins it was epic

 

[Team Andromeda]

Nothing beats the Japanese Saturn start up. Trust those muppets at SEGA Europe to change it.
The Pal Mega-CD start up was epic too and made better use of the ASIC and sound chip than 90% of its games. I was so impressed with it back in the day, I even recorded it via my VHS player LOL

 

[Drew1440]

Apple happened when they decided that all future UI designs should be "minimal" and every damn company followed that over the years, so now instead of a brand and identity that's curated for the device we now get flat, minimal, black and white, basic font with maybe a solid colour here and there.

Close, that was Microsoft with their Windows Phone Metro UI. Apple originally championed the skeuomorphic design, later adopting the flat design of Windows Phone.
Facebook also started the flat design with their interface, compared to MySpace where you could apply themes to your profile, Facebook only gave you the option to use blue&white.

 

[Mr Hyde]

PS1 was the best one. I liked GameCube too and Dreamcast. PS5 is boring, if you can even call it a startup. Switch has nothing, it just boots up. Which is great in a way because it takes 2 seconds to get in the game. But it should have the Switch "click" splash Nintendo runs in their Directs.

 

[Davevil]

almost 20 years ago , modify PSP intro

 

[jufonuk]

I still like the original Xbox. “Fuck Ton. of noise” start up.

Yeah switch just shows the logo and no sound.

Love the old style noise at boot up. Set the tone

 

[Cakeboxer]

N64 is my favorite.

 

[intheinbetween]

Honestly, NEO GEO is my favorite one since you watched it both at the arcades and at home:

 

[tamago84]

psp startup was really nice..enjoyed the config options with colors

 

[DanielG165]

They’re a lost art for a reason. SSDs coming to console kind of eliminated the need for super extensive or flowery boot up sequences. The One X had the last “cool” boot up, and since I always just shut mine down completely after each session, I get to see it I turn the machine back on.

The Series consoles have pretty elegant ones.

 

[ClanOfNone]

Honestly, NEO GEO is my favorite one since you watched it both at the arcades and at home:

My favorite as well. Plus, it announces how badass it is. 330 Mega Power! Pro Gear Spec!

I would’ve killed to own one of these as a kid. When I learned the price of the system I calculated how many lawns that was gonna be to mow.
Then I learned the individual games cost $200 and I gave up the dream.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

PS1 is top nostalgia and seriously, the way a CRT’s speakers made it blast was really a “now you’re playing with power” moment.
Dreamcast was very, very relaxing. I loved it.
GameCube was joyous.
PS2, coming from PS1, was terrible. Cold and eerie, like your cat landing on random piano keys in the middle of the night. Also, I’m sure that red “wrong disc” screen made many a therapist’s fortunes.

 

[Holammer]

PS1 and Neogeo are the classics.

Games too had them, this one usually meant you were about to have a good time in the 16-bit days.



Capcom's looked ok, sound kinda bad and they failed to use it consistently too.

 

[Paasei]

Funny how I can instantly play the little tune of the PS1 and PS2 in my head and I have to listen to the PS3 first before I'm like: Oh yeah! That's it!"

 

[Ceadeus]

Steam Deck is a good one. You can even get new startup video of your favorite game and whatnot.



But yes, after the 6th and 7th gen, the fun console startup went missing.

 

[Punished Miku]

I almost never turn on the console without wake up now, but the Xbox one is actually not bad.

It's more than just console startups though. It's Wii shop, 3DS shop, Wii U, the music and visuals of the PlayOnline FFXI log-in, the visual style of old Windows even. It's optimism and tech-utopianism.

The Y2K aesthetic: who knew the look of the year 2000 would endure?

From fashion and architecture to music and art, the optimism and techno-utopianism of the early 2000s found its way into every element of design

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