• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Installing a game off 4 CDs...

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
The worst game media wise that I can remember is Lands of Lore III. 4 CDs, and you had to insert different discs for different areas during game play. You could easily hit 4-5 "please insert disc X" screens in ten minutes (and as much as ten minutes primarily because it took a while to load after the CD was inserted... if it only took a second, you could hit more like 15-20).

AND, they didn't go sequentially in order. It wasn't like "Oh sweet, I'm moving on two disc 3... that means I'm half way done with the game!" Various areas were apparently stored on various discs. You could jump from disc 1 to disc 3 (IIRC) just by going to a different area of the starting town, and then jump to disk 2 by going outside. Finally, you'd hit disc 4 by visiting an essential cave which wasn't very far outside of the town exit.

I loved Lands of Lore 1 and 2, but 3 was just annoying to play. The graphics weren't much better than #2 either.
 
I've always wondered about something. In certain games you'll require to insert the cd 1 into your system again after the last cd's installation is complete. For example, lets say the game has 5 cds in total and once your done with installing from the 5th cd the installation process asks you to re-insert disk 1 again back into your system. The moment you re-insert cd 1, the installation completes in a magical second and your ready to play. What does this re-inserting of the first cd do?
 
Originally posted by: Sam25
I've always wondered about something. In certain games you'll require to insert the cd 1 into your system again after the last cd's installation is complete. For example, lets say the game has 5 cds in total and once your done with installing from the 5th cd the installation process asks you to re-insert disk 1 again back into your system. The moment you re-insert cd 1, the installation completes in a magical second and your ready to play. What does this re-inserting of the first cd do?
Click to expand...

I always thought it was just to make sure you put cd 1 in before it started the game.
 
I always buy DVD versions over games whenever possible. In fact multi-DVD installs may soon make Bluray useful.
 
I remember there were usually CD and DVD versions of the game and the DVD version usually cost more. I bought the CD...WTF would I pay you more money to save you money on packaging?

Sure its annoying when installing...but I just don't install any one game often enough for that to be something worth paying extra for.
 
Originally posted by: coldmeat
Originally posted by: Sam25
I've always wondered about something. In certain games you'll require to insert the cd 1 into your system again after the last cd's installation is complete. For example, lets say the game has 5 cds in total and once your done with installing from the 5th cd the installation process asks you to re-insert disk 1 again back into your system. The moment you re-insert cd 1, the installation completes in a magical second and your ready to play. What does this re-inserting of the first cd do?
Click to expand...

I always thought it was just to make sure you put cd 1 in before it started the game.
Click to expand...

I suppose its also possible that the developers have the system do the "final build" or update to the executable for the DRM on the theory that crackers would have to run the whole long ass install to test that portion.
 
FF7 was a few CDs for the PC install. Installing Alone in the Dark of disks was a long process. I remember having a bundle of disks that were rubberbanded together.
 
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Originally posted by: coldmeat
Originally posted by: Sam25
I've always wondered about something. In certain games you'll require to insert the cd 1 into your system again after the last cd's installation is complete. For example, lets say the game has 5 cds in total and once your done with installing from the 5th cd the installation process asks you to re-insert disk 1 again back into your system. The moment you re-insert cd 1, the installation completes in a magical second and your ready to play. What does this re-inserting of the first cd do?
Click to expand...

I always thought it was just to make sure you put cd 1 in before it started the game.
Click to expand...

I suppose its also possible that the developers have the system do the "final build" or update to the executable for the DRM on the theory that crackers would have to run the whole long ass install to test that portion.
Click to expand...

This might be the very possible reason. I've also seen this happening while installing some older games.
 
Age of Empires 3 is not really a "newer" game, it's 4 years old...

The last game I bought that came on CDs was the first DoW, and that was a long time ago
 
in my day we had to install games off of 20 floppy disks! :frown:

but seriously, the answer is because while just about *everyone* with a desktop pc or non-ultra portable laptop has a cdrom, not everyone has a dvd drive (though that's quickly changing)
 
Originally posted by: BFG10K
I always buy DVD versions over games whenever possible. In fact multi-DVD installs may soon make Bluray useful.
Click to expand...

And blu-ray drives are quite cheap so it sounds all good.

Something like Age of Conan which is an absolute monster once installed would be a perfect candidate.
 
Originally posted by: loki8481

I think Phantasmagoria was like 8 (whether or not is actually *needed* 8, idk, but like each disk was 1 chapter)
Click to expand...

As per wiki they needed so many cds for Phantasmagoria to accommodate the massive amounts of video generation.
 
Originally posted by: Sam25
Originally posted by: loki8481

I think Phantasmagoria was like 8 (whether or not is actually *needed* 8, idk, but like each disk was 1 chapter)
Click to expand...

As per wiki they needed so many cds for Phantasmagoria to accommodate the massive amounts of video generation.
Click to expand...

The first one had 6-7 CDs and they duplicated data across all the disks to cut down on disk swapping. Each day (chapter) was a seperate disk so you just had to have that days disk in the drive until you moved on to the next day then swap to disks.

On a side note, it was a pretty fun game.
 
Originally posted by: hopeless

The first one had 6-7 CDs and they duplicated data across all the disks to cut down on disk swapping. Each day (chapter) was a seperate disk so you just had to have that days disk in the drive until you moved on to the next day then swap to disks.

On a side note, it was a pretty fun game.
Click to expand...

Ahh. Never got around to playing it. Does it work on XP?

 
FSX Gold is 3x DVDs O_O

I have like 10 steam games that together add up to a ~46GB backup file. takes FOREVER to reinstall all those games.
 
Originally posted by: Sam25
Originally posted by: hopeless
The first one had 6-7 CDs and they duplicated data across all the disks to cut down on disk swapping. Each day (chapter) was a seperate disk so you just had to have that days disk in the drive until you moved on to the next day then swap to disks.

On a side note, it was a pretty fun game.
Click to expand...
Ahh. Never got around to playing it. Does it work on XP?
Click to expand...
I never had the chance to try, loaned it out years ago and it didn't make it home. 🙁
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top