Question about PC games in DVD format

[Flightsim]

I recently bought a PC game that was a DVD-ROM, and all I have is a CD-ROM drive on my PC. Obviously, I could buy a DVD drive... but I don't want to buy a drive just for the sake of one PC game. This is the first DVD PC game I have ever seen, but my question is... will most future PC games use the DVD format and is it worth purchasing a DVD drive?

 

[SSlivkoff]

Its deffinently worth it as games have more and more content. Games are starting to ship with so many cds these days it seems only the only practical way to publish games in the future will be on dvds. Dvd players arent too expensive either I would recomend you go pick one up

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Dvd drives are really really cheap.

I have a slot loading one if your interested.

 

[jcovercash]

Might as well pickup a DVD burner. You can get the lite-on ones from newegg for like $40 or so, IIRC.

 

[PatboyX]

i vote yes for dvd drive.
good ones are really cheap, run both cd-roms and dvd-roms and it makes installing large apps/games so much easier.
also: entertainment.

lite on dvd rom at new egg. 25

 

[Frodolives]

You almost have to have one, and will certainly miss some good free content from magazine disks and such by not having one.

If money is too hard to come by I'll bet some traders at our fs/ft forum have older dvd drives that could be obtained in a trade, maybe for some interesting games and/or dvd's

 

[bockchow]

if your buying new go with a dvd burner from newegg, if not grab a cheap dvd drive from the fs/ft forum. the burners are so freaking cheap these days you might as well go that route.

 

[viivo]

Yes, definitely. CDs are finally starting to go.

And it's about damn time. While we've had to pay a premium for the "extra special" DVD editions in the past, Europe has been getting them as the normal release for at least ~3 years.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: viivo
Yes, definitely. CDs are finally starting to go.

And it's about damn time. While we've had to pay a premium for the "extra special" DVD editions in the past, Europe has been getting them as the normal release for at least ~3 years.

No sh!t. I've had a DVD-ROM drive in my PC ever since Creative released their 5X drive.

 

[junkerman123]

I don't think CD's are necessarily starting to go, but a DVD reader (if you dont want to spring for a burner, only $40 by itself), is very cheap. DVD versions of games are handy anyways, no CD swapping, quicker install.

 

[imported_Dimicron]

For instance, EQ2 installed with 2 DVDs... or I've heard 8 CDs (bought the DVD version myself). Silent Hunter 3 only comes on DVD AFAIK.

Another vote for "get the DVD drive"

:beer:

 

[shortylickens]

I am outraged that the software companies moved so quickly from floppy to CD (and this was back in the DOS days!) but they drag their feet with the move to DVD.

Which is amazing, because DVD reader prices dropped much faster than CD readers did. And you have to buy either a $200 video card every two years or a $400 video card every four years just to keep up with the MINIMUM specs on most games. Yet the PS2 had DVD when it first came out.

Its irritating that consoles have pushed the technology faster than the x86 platform.

EDIT: Actually, I feel the same way about floppies. ZIP drives should have been the standard a very long time ago. But piss-poor marketing decisions by Iomega pretty much killed them off.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I am outraged that the software companies moved so quickly from floppy to CD (and this was back in the DOS days!) but they drag their feet with the move to DVD.

Which is amazing, because DVD reader prices dropped much faster than CD readers did. And you have to buy either a $200 video card every two years or a $400 video card every four years just to keep up with the MINIMUM specs on most games. Yet the PS2 had DVD when it first came out.

Its irritating that consoles have pushed the technology faster than the x86 platform.

EDIT: Actually, I feel the same way about floppies. ZIP drives should have been the standard a very long time ago. But piss-poor marketing decisions by Iomega pretty much killed them off.

There is a cost issue you are forgetting. If a dev can ship a title on several floppies cheaper than it can a ZIP, why would they want to use ZIP? Same with CDs and DVDs. For a long time, CDs were cheaper to produce than DVDs, which is why we saw a lot of multiple CD titles with no DVD version. It was cheaper to produce a 3 CD game than it was to produce a single DVD version.

 

[Frodolives]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131410

"End of month special" Liteon DVDrom from good old newegg for $20 shipped. C'mon folks, this is a no brainer if you have no reader

 

[bockchow]

when you can get a DVD burner for 40 it's hard to see paying even 20 for just a reader

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I am outraged that the software companies moved so quickly from floppy to CD (and this was back in the DOS days!) but they drag their feet with the move to DVD.

Which is amazing, because DVD reader prices dropped much faster than CD readers did. And you have to buy either a $200 video card every two years or a $400 video card every four years just to keep up with the MINIMUM specs on most games. Yet the PS2 had DVD when it first came out.

Its irritating that consoles have pushed the technology faster than the x86 platform.

EDIT: Actually, I feel the same way about floppies. ZIP drives should have been the standard a very long time ago. But piss-poor marketing decisions by Iomega pretty much killed them off.

no, the superdisks should have taken off. never had a problem with mine but always would get the zip click on those damn iomegas....

 

[Elcs]

I remember sitting ~4 years ago mulling over getting a DVD drive. BG2 was the only DVD game I could think of and that was still on CD.

I got a DVD Drive when my dad upgraded something and I got the hand-me-down.

The only DVD game I own currently is HL2.

They should have been introduced into more mainstream years ago imo. Having 4 discs for 1 game is annoying.

 

[Kaspian]

Get a DVD burner from newegg. They are cheap righ now. Once you get one you will find other uses for it.

 

[stnicralisk]

Originally posted by: Frodolives
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131410

"End of month special" Liteon DVDrom from good old newegg for $20 shipped. C'mon folks, this is a no brainer if you have no reader

I have this drive. It is fast but a little noisy at first spin. its a great deal at 20 bucks, I got mine months ago with no problems.

Originally posted by: Flightsim
his is the first DVD PC game I have ever seen, but my question is... will most future PC games use the DVD format and is it worth purchasing a DVD drive?

Many games are DVDROM now. Its more convenient. UT2k4 1 dvd versus 5 cds, SC:CT, EQ2, Farcry, etc etc. Whenever a dvdrom is available I get that instead of a bundle of cds. Also it cannot hurt to be able to play dvds on your computer can it?

 

[Sforsyth]

just get a DVD burner, but rember I think most new 16X DVD Writers want a 1.2 Ghz CPU and an older 4X will want something 900 Mhz CPU.

DVD Writers write CDR's to try to get one with Booktype settings so you can change the DVD+R's into DVD-ROM format for more capatiplielity (If you plan on burning movies with it to play in stand alone DVD players)

 

[Glib]

Gawd I hope more game companies release their titles on dvd. What a huge pain in ass to (re)install WoW on 4 CDs. Make my life easier!

 

[BFG10K]

I'm still amazed that people can afford $50 games but can't afford $30 DVD drives.

 

[Thyme]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I am outraged that the software companies moved so quickly from floppy to CD (and this was back in the DOS days!) but they drag their feet with the move to DVD.

You have no idea how badly I wanted to play 7th Guest/11th Hour but didn't have a CD-ROM drive.

 

[rh71]

may as well buy a DVD writer (which obviously reads DVDROMs) while you're at it since the prices are the same these days.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
I'm still amazed that people can afford $50 games but can't afford $30 DVD drives.

haha