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So is it true that soon 360 games will be limited by DVD capacity?
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So let me get this straight...
UT3, a PC game released on DVD, is being blown up to fit on Blu-Ray for the PS3, and then has to be compressed and downsized to fit back on a DVD for the 360?
No.
This argument is perpetually skewed by both sides of the console spectrum. It has been said already, so I won't get into it too much, but the main reason for big file sizes is not "raw code" or the "length of the game." It is because of 2 things, and 2 things only - audio and video.
And, much like Blu-Ray movies vs HD-DVDs, extra audio is what is taking up the bulk of the space.
Do I need massive, uncompressed audio files in multiple languages? I don't, and I don't think most people do.
In today's gaming world, you'd be hard-pressed to find any game that takes over the size of a standard dual layer DVD.
In the future, however, I predict we will be seeing these extra audio tracks and whatnot as downloadable content. We are already seeing it with the downloadable maps and other content.
The bigger issue is the 360's lack of a guaranteed hard drive, as developers cannot simply assume they can "dump" cached data there. That will limit the 360 far before the DVD format does.
UT3, a PC game released on DVD, is being blown up to fit on Blu-Ray for the PS3, and then has to be compressed and downsized to fit back on a DVD for the 360?
No.
This argument is perpetually skewed by both sides of the console spectrum. It has been said already, so I won't get into it too much, but the main reason for big file sizes is not "raw code" or the "length of the game." It is because of 2 things, and 2 things only - audio and video.
And, much like Blu-Ray movies vs HD-DVDs, extra audio is what is taking up the bulk of the space.
Do I need massive, uncompressed audio files in multiple languages? I don't, and I don't think most people do.
In today's gaming world, you'd be hard-pressed to find any game that takes over the size of a standard dual layer DVD.
In the future, however, I predict we will be seeing these extra audio tracks and whatnot as downloadable content. We are already seeing it with the downloadable maps and other content.
The bigger issue is the 360's lack of a guaranteed hard drive, as developers cannot simply assume they can "dump" cached data there. That will limit the 360 far before the DVD format does.
RagingBITCH
Lifer
How is it not a constraint? Of course its going to limit capacity...this was debated in a thread not too long ago. Cartridges gave way to CD's which gave way to DVD's which will give way to an even larger medium which will give way to an even larger medium, etc.
HD-DVD is only guaranteed to be compatible with dual-layer discs (30 GB). Kojima has already said he needs the 50 GB disc for MGS4.
(Blu-ray can go up to at least 100GB and still be compatible)
However, doing so would change the structure of a lot of games. Devs use those videos to hide what's happening in the background.
purbeast0
No Lifer
"making" ... as in, it's not complete yet, as in it doesn't have 100% of the content yet.
he can estimate all he wants, but the fact that MGS1 fit on 2 cd's, MGS2 was on a DVD5, and MGS3 was on a DVD5, I call shens that he needs 10x the space the PS3 version, especially with the textures looking as lackluster as they currently do.
tatteredpotato
Diamond Member
Well he probably NEEDS to have 32 Lossless audio tracks as well.
Haha...for real.
Now let me ask this...even if DVD limits capacity down the road...couldn't game devs just put the game on more DVDs? Sure, you'd have to get up and...change a DVD...but heaven-forbid we get up off our fat-asses for 10-seconds while we change a disc.
Or am I wrong?
The majority of the space is probably going to go towards the audio. I remember him saying in an interview that they were doing 7.1 with detailed sound effects for everything.
And if they're still going for simultaneous world release, it's going to have to have both language tracks on there.
As already said, that works for linear games but doesn't for more open games (sandbox, in particular or the PGR issue).
MikeyLSU
Platinum Member
depends on the game. In a very linear game like Final Fantasy, that works just fine. But in a game like Grand Theft Auto I believe the developers said they could not do everything they wanted becasue they had to make it fit the lowest common denominator(XBOX 360). They can't have you swap DVDs everytime you enter and exit an island so they just had to cut in other areas.
onlyCOpunk
Platinum Member
You also must take into consideration for the fact of PS3, that the games are region free. Meaning for some games they don't have to bother "customising" the game for that specific region. Instead they just dump everything on and let the user choose.
Also as HD becomes more mainstream adopted more people will begin to care about their HD content and it will become more important. But for now better safe then sorry I guess.
Could you imagine the FF series without FMV?
Me neither.
The point about disc switching is that you didn't mind switching after every 20 or 30 hours of gameplay. That's multiple sittings for many people. Switching a game every 7 hours would mess with the immersion aspect of the game. I remember plenty of times in FF where you'd get so caught up in the game when you went to switch discs it was just like "Whoa."
Then see MikeyLSU's posts (which is the most important part of the actual argument, the shorter games argument is a far distant secondary argument).
I'm not saying it's a problem with the 360 yet, but I think of it like the expansion pack for the N64. When it gets to the point where certain games need it, you're going to have to pay for the HD-DVD addon. Hopefully, it'll be bundled with a game for $80 total or it'll only be a $40 or $50 add-on.
That's a good point - region-free games, that is - I guess it's a good thing there's only a handful of 360s out in the wild in Japan.
As far as HD content - I think it already is mainstream as far as PS3/360 games go. Content can be output in HD through the game engine. If actual HD video is required, which is probably the case for say, a Final Fantasy game, then it's not unheard of for these games to span multiple discs. Still, I wouldn't say it will "limit" the 360 the same way I wouldn't say CDs "limited" the PS1.
Lost Odyssey for the 360 is set to span 4 DVDs. I don't think that hinders the game - and surely the game won't cost any more. HD video and the ton of audio it is supposed to have is just really, really big.
That being said, Microsoft will never, ever, ever have games which require the HD-DVD drive. They are already hurting from dividing their console market with hard drives, they will not segregate the community further by requiring a HD-DVD player.
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