Theory versus reality in gaming
There is a good deal of talk about us being a society that increasingly expects instant gratification, and whether that is a good or a bad thing. While thinking philosophically about the battle between giving in to immediate temptations or holding out for longer-term goals, the focus on the future is probably the right approach for life in general. However, when it comes to gaming, this is not theoretical; we need the experience to feel fluid and flawless. Anything less feels glitchy.
Carry the load
One of the biggest issues developers faced in the earliest days of video gaming was how long games took to load (you would literally watch the system boot up with a tracker on the screen that could take minutes). There was also the issue of the controllers not being sufficiently responsive. This meant there could be long moments between pressing the controller and the game responding.
In the earliest versions of things like soccer team games, this could be the difference between saving or losing a penalty! Retro gaming consoles might have a nostalgic appeal, but the early-1990s playing experience was still pretty sketchy. Even comparatively modern consoles like PS3 and Xbox 360 with disk-based reading could take three to eight minutes for complex titles)
Seconds count
Modern consoles have come a long way, and most games load within 15 to 45 seconds from a cold start. This is thanks to solid-state drive (SSD) hardware, and things are improving all the time. Last-generation consoles (think PS4, Xbox One used hard disk drives (HDD), which were an improvement, but games like Red Dead Redemption and Borderlands 3 could still take up to 4 minutes to load. Solid-state drive (SSD) hardware has changed everything. While the PlayStation 5 does not officially have a five-second rule, the console’s ultra-high-speed SSD and 12-channel storage controller let games load in seconds.
As games became bigger, more resource-intensive, and more detailed, so too did the architecture supporting them. The developers did their best to optimize performance and keep waiting times down, but it was still completely normal to wait for minutes. SSDs have improved all areas of performance, but one of the most noticeable improvements has been reduced load times. Gamers worldwide can now enjoy streamlined, responsive gaming experiences with features like activity cards and streamlined menus.
For most gamers today, anything else would be unacceptable. However, there are plenty of older players who can remember what it was like to have lengthy transitions between different areas of the game. These days, PS5 activity cards are built directly into the console’s user interface and can be seen on the dashboard or when you tap a button on the DualSense controller. These system-level shortcuts, trackers, and guides make the most of the ultra-fast SSD and change the way players can interact with the game.
Cross fertilization
What happens in the gaming world usually has an impact in the iGaming world, and this can actually work two ways. There is a real shared design philosophy and implementation. This is hardly surprising when you think how rapid the action can be in an online casino environment. There really is not time for players to be left hanging around while the game or turn resolves. When it comes to online casino gaming, the experience needs to appear to be instant.
Much of this has been mastered through delivering online casino experiences from cloud-based platforms rather than locally installed software; the delivery hardware plays a massive part in the success. 5G networks and fiber optic cabling create real-time gaming experiences. While this might be expected of video versions of table games and online slots, when you experience it with live dealer games it is truly impressive and feels almost impossible.
When time and accuracy matter
While waiting around for a little bit might be acceptable for highly complex console-based video games, that just would not work in iGaming. Imagine placing your bet on the virtual baize and the roulette wheel starting to spin before the bet is registered. Even worse, imagine if it came to a halt where you had forecast it would, but your bet had not registered (or worse still had registered somewhere else). When you are playing for real money, there is no room for error or complacency.
Most online casino sites are incredibly fast these days, but there are still noticeable differences between them, which is why people tend to have a favorite online casino platform. However, it can be worth taking a look around at independent review sites like Casino Guru. The site offers excellent resources to help players compare games across operators. It is safe to say there can be massive disparity between sites across a wide range of metrics. The site has great filter options that allow direct comparisons between sites as well as a Safety Index score. It also has a list of blacklisted sites (the ones to avoid) and carries out checks to see if sites are fully optimized or have a secure mobile app.
Glitch-free gaming is essential.
Whether playing a ‘heavy’ console-based game or dipping into some online casino gaming, everyone wants their entertainment to be, well, entertaining. That means glitch-free gaming that is fast, responsive, and rewarding. Anything less feels decidedly old-school (and not in a good way). While the advice with online casino gambling is to take your time and think before reacting instantly, this should be done because it is your choice and not because you find yourself facing a loading icon that will not stop spinning.