[-PXG-]

The Long overdue controller features thread got me thinking and inspired me to make this thread.

I brought up the notion of having a dedicated buttons that would allow users to make screenshots and record direct feed video. PCs have this, so why can't consoles have it too? Some things should be standard, and not up to each and every developer to decide whether it should implemented or not. Consistency and fluidity are really important. Therefore, something like a screenshot/ video feature should be built into the OS itself, and not available on a game by game basis. However, I thought I'd take this idea further and think about how to integrate this into social media. As many of you know, social media, such as Facebook an Twitter have found their way in our consoles. It's no secret that companies use these services advertising and market research. And hey, people, well, just love expressing themselves too.

Anyway, imagine a more robust social profile on your console. It could either be a port of Facebook, or something different altogether (but still with some kind of FB connectivity). Even though I'm not a fan or heavy user of social media apps myself, I think it would be interesting if a gaming online network (ie, Xbox Live or PSN) had a consistent, fluid and deep integration with today's popular social media. People could take screenshot or record video, upload to their "gamer page" on their console. From there, people on their friends list can comment and share content as well. Plus (assuming it's a similar service, and not FB itself), they could send their content elsewhere. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, email or even to mobile devices via SMS.

Notifications would play a big role too. Current consoles already have a simple notification system in place, but of course, so much more could be done. Small pop ups would appear notifying users on what achievements their friends are earning. This would appear on their profile for others to see and comment. These can be modified, meaning screens and videos can be attached, either initially or later on. Friends could also be informed whenever they buy a new game or download a new demo. Basically, everything anyone does is posted and can be shared with friends from console to console, through other social apps, the web, email and mobile devices.

Sure, some of this already exists, but my main focus is integration into other social media and making everything come together. There are a lot of great features and ideas now, but the main issue is that they exist in their own proprietary bubbles. I'd like to see everything become more uniform and able to function together and collectively, with as little hassle, lag and downtime as possible.

[ConvenientBox]

That would be all fine and dandy, I just want a UX designer to actually design the thing so it's easy to navigate, use and have it run very smoothly.

Ghost updates would be nice, looking at you PS3.

[1-D_FTW]

Recording video hits the framerate hard on PC. And this is on systems a lot more powerful. It wouldn't work with console games that are already being pushed to their limits.

[Schmitty]

Return of the blades

[UnluckyKate]

Recording video hits the framerate hard on PC. And this is on systems a lot more powerful. It wouldn't work with console game that are already being pushed to their limits.

Just Cause 2 PS3 does that seemlessly.

[entrement]

Built in screen and video capture would be nice.

[jokkir]

Recording video hits the framerate hard on PC. And this is on systems a lot more powerful. It wouldn't work with console games that are already being pushed to their limits.

Wouldn't this problem be fixed if the video is being saved on separate HDD? Not sure about this.

[Supreme Stephan]

Letting the console hold multiple discs at once. I hate switching discs, but I love having the disc, package and booklet so download only is not an option.

[1-D_FTW]

Just Cause 2 PS3 does that seemlessly.

No, it's seamlessly integrated into the game. Big difference. OP wants to just brute force it like PCs can do. That takes a lot of extra power. To be done efficiently, it needs to be incorporated into the game engine.

[Goldrusher]

Sony better not ditch multiple profiles like they did with the Vita.

On the PS3, you can switch profiles within seconds. Each profile has its own saves and can be linked to its own online account, with its own friend list. Great for people in the same household using the same console, brothers, sisters, parents, kids, relatives, etc.
Have a friend visiting? Make a new profile and let him/her start a game from the beginning, without messing up your saves or stats.

With the Vita, that is not possible. The only way is to basically reset the system and copy entire backups back and forth through a PC.
Such a hassle and there's always a risk losing precious save files.

[LordPanda]

Wake on LAN.

I'd love the ability to fire off a download request from anywhere to my console at home, have it wake up and download the file and then go back to sleep. OMG why has this not happened yet.

[ponpo]

Built in recording sounds good, though it would just be a flood of shitty videos for every game. Enough of that!

I'd like better messaging systems. PS3 has they weird keyboard lag and no word recommendations on the 360 is dumb. I have to use the 360 iPhone app to message people.

[Retro]

- Mandatory Backwards Compatibility, including DLC and XBLA / PSN / VC content. Kind of a hardware thing too, I guess, but the OS needs to support it. And it's that important.

- Better methods to sort friends lists. I have a huge list comprised of real life friends, GAFers and strangers I met in-game. But they're all lumped together and if I go a month or two without playing, I forget who is who. Being able to place people into groups would be ideal.

If people can change their user names, it should also remember the name you first added them as.

Also, a feature I do not want to see; social media integration into everything. Get your Windows Live Messanger out of XBL, don't add "Like this on Facebook!" buttons to everything, don't fucking display tweets over gameplay. That shit is fine as an app, but integrated into the OS can burn in hell.

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Just Cause 2 PS3 does that seemlessly.

Does it actually record video, or is it recording replay data?

[snoopeasystreet]

Let me access something spotify or last.fm to stream music while i'm playing single player games.

[Tucah]

My only OS request next gen is that Microsoft finds an OS and sticks with it.

[The Albatross]

I was thinking yesterday why save systems have not changed since, basically, the Playstation and really before. I was wondering why games still use manual saves or automatic save points... Why not make constant saves at all times, so when you turn off the console at any time, the game is saved exactly where you were -- losing nothing. At the same time you could maintain a 'bookmark' system for manual saves (if you die, or want to go back to a previous point).

I think the saving system in games could be dramatically rethought. It's basically been the same since game saves have existed.

[BlueMagic]

Wouldn't this problem be fixed if the video is being saved on separate HDD? Not sure about this.

No. It's not (only) about the HDD capacity or speed, it's about the amount of work and time it takes the system to copy all the data of every single frame to create a video.

[Muchi Muchi Pink]

Wake on LAN. I'd love the ability to fire off a download request from anywhere to my console at home, have it wake up and download the file and then go back to sleep. OMG why has this not happened yet.

Good call.

My only OS request next gen is that Microsoft finds an OS and sticks with it.

OS != Gui

[-PXG-]

Letting the console hold multiple discs at once. I hate switching discs, but I love having the disc, package and booklet so download only is not an option.

That's a hardware feature, not software :P

Recording video hits the framerate hard on PC. And this is on systems a lot more powerful. It wouldn't work with console games that are already being pushed to their limits.

You might get a slight decrease, but nothing major as long as your PC doesn't suck. I don't have problem recording gameplay on my rig at all.

And yes, I can max out all of my games and record 1080p/ 60fps :)

[Rikkun]

Twitter, Facebook and browser being accessible while I play, with the abilty obviously to turn off every notification (or hiding some people, so that I don't have to see every person in the world going online and offline if I'm just waiting for a friend).

Being light

BC at least for XBLA/PSN

I think this is all I need.

[1-D_FTW]

That's a hardware feature, not software :P You might get a slight decrease, but nothing major as long as your PC doesn't suck. I don't have problem recording gameplay on my rig at all. And yes, I can max out all of my games and record 1080p/ 60fps :)

Give me a break. I realize this is gaf where people have the 10,000 computer with a 2000 CPU, 10 hard drives, and 4 GTX 680s in their rig. But I've seen enough F1 Gaf (many with above average rigs), have to record at 30fps. Don't pull the "not if your PC doesn't suck" card because that's being incredibly ingenuous. And the next gen consoles are going to "suck" a lot more than that.

[Retro]

A Lights on/off mode. Sometimes I'm playing my 360 at night in a dark room and the white-on-white menus are eye-searing. Not sure if that falls under GUI or OS, but... there it is.

[Combichristoffersen]

Custom soundtracks for every game on PS4.

[Muchi Muchi Pink]

A Lights on/off mode. Sometimes I'm playing my 360 at night in a dark room and the white-on-white menus are eye-searing. Not sure if that falls under GUI or OS, but... there it is.

Doesn't your TV support that? Also that's not good for your eyes (Playing in a dark room).

[Curufinwe]

For the love of god let us remap buttons at the OS level since developers are too fucking lazy to put that feature in most games.

[Supreme Stephan]

That's a hardware feature, not software :P

Right, didn't catch that :P

As for software, more remote play functionalities would be nice.

[Retro]

Doesn't your TV support that?

I doubt it, it's not a great TV but it's a hell of a lot better than the one I used to game on (non-HD). I was referring more to something that lets me change the interface style from white to black, not necessarily dim anything.

[-PXG-]

Give me a break. I realize this is gaf where people have the 10,000 computer with a 2000 CPU, 10 hard drives, and 4 GTX 680s in their rig. But I've seen enough F1 Gaf (many with above average rigs), have to record at 30fps. Don't pull the "not if your PC doesn't suck" card because that's being incredibly ingenuous. And the next gen consoles are going to "suck" a lot more than that.

I guess I was too subtle with my fake pretentiousness.

Mine was $1,600. Two GTX 560s, 2500k (overclocked @ 4.2 ghz) and 16 gb of RAM.

Realistically, if the next-gen consoles get enough of a performance upgrade, I could see them being able to record 720p footage (with moderate compression of course) at 30 fps. Maybe with optimization down the road, we could see recorded videos in "1080p". No way they could ever achieve true, loseless 1080p resolution (along with loseless audio) at 60fps, not unless you want to spend $2000 on a fucking console :P

[Magnus]

For the love of god let us remap buttons at the OS level since developers are too fucking lazy to put that feature in most games.

Seconded.

Plus, the ability to hide ALL OS/achievement/friend-list notifications. Let me immerse myself in my games again, please.

[Ein Bear]

NO ADS.

[BadWolf]

Sleep function ala psp.

[AndyMoogle]

Give me a break. I realize this is gaf where people have the 10,000 computer with a 2000 CPU, 10 hard drives, and 4 GTX 680s in their rig. But I've seen enough F1 Gaf (many with above average rigs), have to record at 30fps. Don't pull the "not if your PC doesn't suck" card because that's being incredibly ingenuous. And the next gen consoles are going to "suck" a lot more than that.

They should be able to optimize it quite a bit on a console. Though, recording to the same HDD you're playing the game on, will be far from optimal.

Getting a dedicated screenshot button on the controller shouldn't be too much to ask for.

[ElFly]

Does it actually record video, or is it recording replay data?

I think it's recording replay data, and it only encodes video when it needs to save it. Because it does encode video.

[Redrum_82]

Sleep function ala psp.

I would love that, but a simple sleep mode would not work with a home console used by multiple users (like a family or roommates).

If you leave your console in stand-by mode nobody else could use it without destroying your progress. Same thing would happen if the power went off.

Better use something more sophisticated like a proper hibernation, where all the data is dumped on the hard drive under your user profile.

[~Devil Trigger~]

Direct feed recording and saving/uploading

[NinjaFusion]

Less adverts on Xbox (yeah, right)

More unified features on PS.... oh yeah and not letting games disable features at will. Doh.

[neorej]

One thing I'd love next gen is truly amazing games.
I don't know about you lot, but I don't think I'll remember most games this generation in 10 years.

[Backfoggen]

At the very least a screenshot function. Video would be better but devs would probably kick that out at some point for the extra horsepower.

[Kunan]

Yes this is about the UI, more than under the hood, but...

Some focus mainly. Right now, I feel like I'm greeted with a shit ton of stuff I really don't need to see when I turn on my PS3 or Wii. Make things easily discoverable, whilst avoiding throwing everything onscreen at once. I feel like the feature set is right about where it needs to be, aside from recording and cross game chat (on non-360 platforms).

[Ranger X]

Long ago we had a START BUTTON. That button was putting you in the game in about 1,5 seconds. Nowadays that button doesn't do jack. We need now need a "QUICK START" button. I want that fucking button to be pressed as soon as I boot the game and would bring me right into the action instead of suffering through 15 mins intro + half of the game credits + 20 mins cut-scenes.

EDIT: oh damn, I thought this was the controller thread for some reason. Well, It would be great to have an OS function that automatically skips business names and the blablabla before the title screen. Auto cut-scene skip wouldn't hurt either.

[mediapulp_wes]

Better notification systems for asynchronous play. In an ideal world I don't even want to have to turn on the console to know someone has just taken their turn in a specific game, but I'll accept something as simple as the Wii drive slot LED. In software terms, I want to receive alerts to any device or any software service, so be that via text, via twitter...whatever. I'd also like to be able to queue them up so that I receive my alerts at a set time of day if there are any.

At the end of the day, I want them to encourage me to come back and play a game. Poke me with your virtual gaming cattle-prod dammit!

[eso76]

- take screenshots anytime, that would be cool. taking videos..i'm not sure that can be done with every game.

- x360 did a good thing letting you set preferences in the UI like "always invert Y axis in fps" or "i am hardcore so default to hard difficulty for all games". It appears most games ignored that, though.

- I want GAMMA and BRIGHTNESS adjustable in UI, so i can do it once and for all games.

- Same with sound setup, i'd like to be asked where my surround speakers are. PGR4 did that, it made a difference telling the game your surround speakers were behind you or actually at your sides.

- I am sure xboxnext will develop its social features further, giving players a real page showing his progresses in every game, possibly even posting screenshots (from point 1) every once in a while, or letting you post them yourself.

[Furoba]

I'd like to have my OS as an organically growing garden. Depending on how much you use it, how you use it, which features you use, how many games you have,... the garden changes shape and and features.

If anything, something intuitive and radically different.

[WiiRevolution1]

The 3DS Activity Log in all systems. Such a awesome feature. So far Vita doesn't have it and it seems like it would be hard to add after the fact :( hopefully PS4 and XBox 720 have it.

And a achievements system for Wii U and 3DS.

[mdtauk]

Steam and other third party app integration.

Tweet this, and Share moment functionality when playing games.

Buy this track functionality.

Upload replay to YouTube.

Operate and play games from the Tablet or secondary display.

Mod support for texture packs etc at the OS level.

APIs for apps and games made by individuals and testing on the machine itself.

and other cool ideas people will love...

[Huff]

I really enjoy the iOS, so I hope its similar to that on the tablets that Sony and MS put out for next gen

[snap0212]

Nothing specific but I really wish Sony will step away from the notion that it's a good thing to let the developer decide whether to support a feature or not. They had their chance with Vita, made the same mistake again and I don't really have high hopes for the PS4 being different.

[Skyfireblaze]

I'd like to have my OS as an organically growing garden. Depending on how much you use it, how you use it, which features you use, how many games you have,... the garden changes shape and and features. If anything, something intuitive and radically different.

That is a wonderful idea I second this! And I also hope that Sony stays at their level of customization and maybe even expands on it with the PS4. And Microsoft should lock down theming behind a premium barrier. (Yeah right...) Other than that a general screenshot function would be nice.

[eso76]

i'd also like a notification system and maybe a rss feed about everything system related. when logging in i'd like to be told: DEMO for Sonic Episode x released (click to download) or Arcade game Y released etc.

I should be told when a game gets announced or a trailer is released without having to go to Neogaf/the web. i am not sure why it isn't so yet. News, pictures, videos.