Is the hard drive in consoles a gimmick?

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Bigboi500

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#1 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts
Are they REALLY necessary this gen? Other than providing extra space for saving downloaded arcade games what good are they really? Demos? Not necessary. Saving loading times? Not much of an improvement. Why do people make such a big deal out of hard drives?
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thrones

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#2 thrones
Member since 2004 • 12178 Posts
Do you want a return to memory cards?
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liesandpies

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#3 liesandpies
Member since 2008 • 184 Posts

At least I don't have to pay 30$ for a 32 megabyte memory card now.

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FragTycoon

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#4 FragTycoon
Member since 2008 • 6430 Posts
.
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Scar3

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#5 Scar3
Member since 2003 • 423 Posts

no

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-GhostMLD-

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#6 -GhostMLD-
Member since 2008 • 3282 Posts

The 360 Arcade is perfect if you just want to play games and save them

No online, no marketplace, just game saves. Also no hardrive means no installations that plague the PS3 like a virus.

So harddrives are necessary if u want ells and whistles, but they ARE NOT if u just want to PLAY games.

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Bigboi500

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#7 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts
Do you want a return to memory cards?thrones
What's so bad about memory cards?
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thrones

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#8 thrones
Member since 2004 • 12178 Posts

[QUOTE="thrones"]Do you want a return to memory cards?Bigboi500
What's so bad about memory cards?

Well...they're fiddly, annoying and easy to lose. And they're pretty small so you can't keep tons of data on them.

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SSJ_Nega

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#9 SSJ_Nega
Member since 2005 • 3171 Posts
I think they are really good, though i wish they were all removable like the xbox 360's. I had to buy a flash drive for my PS3, and i have no idea how to transfer data between wii's.
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Bigboi500

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#10 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts
.FragTycoon
Teh oh noes! I guess this thread is going to turn into another one of those geeky picture threads. :roll:
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ttobba07

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#11 ttobba07
Member since 2005 • 2396 Posts
Videos, Pictures, Music(in game or just for listening), Game Patches, and saves. I also don't wanna return to horribly overpriced memory cards for game saving. All in all it is not a gimmick.
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ZimpanX

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#12 ZimpanX
Member since 2005 • 12636 Posts

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"][QUOTE="thrones"]Do you want a return to memory cards?thrones

What's so bad about memory cards?

Well...they're fiddly, annoying and easy to lose. And they're pretty small so you can't keep tons of data on them.

Also the savefiles can be more easily corrupted.

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Bigboi500

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#13 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts
I think they are really good, though i wish they were all removable like the xbox 360's. I had to buy a flash drive for my PS3, and i have no idea how to transfer data between wii's.SSJ_Nega
I just wish they were integrated into the games and gameplay better, instead of just being involved in non-game media shwag.
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FragTycoon

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#14 FragTycoon
Member since 2008 • 6430 Posts

[QUOTE="FragTycoon"] .Bigboi500
Teh oh noes! I guess this thread is going to turn into another one of those geeky picture threads. :roll:

It's a thread about HDDs... really, how much more "geeky" can it get!

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deactivated-598fc45371265

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#15 deactivated-598fc45371265
Member since 2008 • 13247 Posts

[QUOTE="FragTycoon"] .Bigboi500
Teh oh noes! I guess this thread is going to turn into another one of those geeky picture threads. :roll:

Yes indeed.

fail

On-topic. "Is the hard drive in consoles a gimmick?" No, just no.

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xXHackettXx

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#16 xXHackettXx
Member since 2006 • 3560 Posts
Memory cards suck, I wont go back. My harddrive is always full and its good to know all my saves are there so I dont have to go through abunch of memory cards to find my save.
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thrones

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#17 thrones
Member since 2004 • 12178 Posts

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"][QUOTE="FragTycoon"] .FragTycoon

Teh oh noes! I guess this thread is going to turn into another one of those geeky picture threads. :roll:

It's a thread about HDDs... really, how much more "geeky" can it get!

THIS GEEKY:

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Blackbond

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#18 Blackbond
Member since 2005 • 24516 Posts
If the 360 had a standard HDD then the possibilities of storage issues would be much less when they arrive.
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darkslider99

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#19 darkslider99
Member since 2004 • 11374 Posts
No there not. There needed this generation, due to the increased focus on downloadable content.
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Zhengi

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#20 Zhengi
Member since 2006 • 8479 Posts
I actually like the hard drives as long as we are allowed to put in our own hard drives and not proprietary hard drives. The main reason for this is cost. Memory cards are $30 for a small memory card. With that cash, that's enough to get a hard drive with plenty of memory.
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groovdafied

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#21 groovdafied
Member since 2005 • 5012 Posts
[QUOTE="thrones"]

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"][QUOTE="thrones"]Do you want a return to memory cards?ZimpanX

What's so bad about memory cards?

Well...they're fiddly, annoying and easy to lose. And they're pretty small so you can't keep tons of data on them.

Also the savefiles can be more easily corrupted.

Even those off brand memory cards where it supposedly fits 10x more then one memory card. But in order to do it right, you have to push a button on the card itself to to switch to the next board or memory or something like that. THATS GIMMIKY at it's best!

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FragTycoon

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#22 FragTycoon
Member since 2008 • 6430 Posts
[QUOTE="FragTycoon"]

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"][QUOTE="FragTycoon"] .thrones

Teh oh noes! I guess this thread is going to turn into another one of those geeky picture threads. :roll:

It's a thread about HDDs... really, how much more "geeky" can it get!

THIS GEEKY:

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deleted_basic

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#23 deleted_basic
Member since 2002 • 1646 Posts
Absolutely not, it's the future Speaking of gimmicks *ahem* Blu-Ray *cough, cough*
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shoeman12

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#24 shoeman12
Member since 2005 • 8744 Posts
no, mass storage is necessary.
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Bloodseeker23

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#25 Bloodseeker23
Member since 2008 • 8338 Posts

Do you want a return to memory cards?thrones

Heck naw!

I love HDD

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Bigboi500

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#26 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts
 Look out it could happen. :P
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ArisShadows

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#27 ArisShadows
Member since 2004 • 22784 Posts

I find the fact the HDDs are a good way to correct games shipped out that are fundamentally broken, that was unchecked originally. You can always update and fix problems withina game with this method. You always have the ability of adding to the game. I think these two points should be clear that HDD are good addition. Anyways, still a gimmick.

Memory Cards need to be cheaper with all these new HDD additions to a console.

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Frexie

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#28 Frexie
Member since 2007 • 895 Posts

Its not a gimmick, but Sony/Microsoft are abusing it.

M$ is running the lemmings dry with their propietory options: Pay $100 for a measly 20GB HDD or spend nearly $200 for a still-underwhelming 120GB HDD.

Sony? Don't get me started on these required game installations that take up multiple GB's for most games...if 20GB/40GB PS3 owners havent felt the hurt yet, they will soon. In a few months they'll be dropping a Benjamin and then some for a new HDD because the one provided is hardly future-proof if they buy and play games on the regular basis.

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#29 Juggernaut140
Member since 2007 • 36011 Posts
[QUOTE="thrones"]

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"][QUOTE="thrones"]Do you want a return to memory cards?ZimpanX

What's so bad about memory cards?

Well...they're fiddly, annoying and easy to lose. And they're pretty small so you can't keep tons of data on them.

Also the savefiles can be more easily corrupted.

Don't remind me. Memory cards ruined so many saves for me last gen.

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FragTycoon

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#30 FragTycoon
Member since 2008 • 6430 Posts

I'm not sure what kind of local stores you have but here is a link if you wonder how much drives cost.

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InfinityMugen

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#31 InfinityMugen
Member since 2007 • 3905 Posts

[QUOTE="thrones"]Do you want a return to memory cards?Bigboi500
What's so bad about memory cards?

I fird memory cards to be sometimes unreliable. I like the fact that I can back up my data on my external HD etc rather than a cheaply made overpriced memory card.

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Bigboi500

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#32 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"][QUOTE="thrones"]Do you want a return to memory cards?InfinityMugen

What's so bad about memory cards?

I fird memory cards to be sometimes unreliable. I like the fact that I can back up my data on my external HD etc rather than a cheaply made overpriced memory card.

People should know better than to buy off-brand memory cards, just like off-brand controllers. I've never had a problem with Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft cards.
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#33 SpruceCaboose
Member since 2005 • 24589 Posts

My 20 Gig HDD on my 360 is more than 3/4 full, and I have about 10 Gigs taken up on PS3's HDD.

I would say that they are really useful, IMO, since I would hate to be buying 25+ Gigs worth of memory cards.

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Toriko42

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#34 Toriko42
Member since 2006 • 27562 Posts
ARe you kidding? I hope so. I am so tired of paying 30-50 dollars for lame memory cards that hold a confined amount of space. Harddrive saves my life.
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InfinityMugen

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#35 InfinityMugen
Member since 2007 • 3905 Posts
[QUOTE="InfinityMugen"]

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"][QUOTE="thrones"]Do you want a return to memory cards?Bigboi500

What's so bad about memory cards?

I fird memory cards to be sometimes unreliable. I like the fact that I can back up my data on my external HD etc rather than a cheaply made overpriced memory card.

People should know better than to buy off-brand memory cards, just like off-brand controllers. I've never had a problem with Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft cards.

What it comes down to is just conveinience. I mean I would cringe when I would play a game and realize I had no more room on my memory card. With HDD's you save some money in the long run and get more value for your system so I dont think its a gimmick imo.

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Bigboi500

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#36 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts
ARe you kidding? I hope so. I am so tired of paying 30-50 dollars for lame memory cards that hold a confined amount of space. Harddrive saves my life.Toriko42
NOpe. I just have no use for them right now. Either way you go cards and drives are both overpriced.
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#37 GazzaB
Member since 2004 • 27139 Posts
Dont have to manage multiple memory cards, can download plenty of arcade games, movies etc. No, with all the digital content, i think HDDs are necessary. I think Nintendo are fools for not having a HDD for the Wii, with the VC and WiiWare.
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#38 Platearmor_6
Member since 2004 • 2817 Posts

Videos, Pictures, Music(in game or just for listening), Game Patches, and saves. I also don't wanna return to horribly overpriced memory cards for game saving. All in all it is not a gimmick.
ttobba07

So you take horribly overpriced HDDs instead? The 360 has the overpriced HDDs atleast. At £65 for 20GBs, what a joke. You can get an 80+GB smaller external harddrive for less.

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ArisShadows

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#39 ArisShadows
Member since 2004 • 22784 Posts

I actually have several off brand memory cards, they all work perfect since since I got them last gen.

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ttobba07

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#40 ttobba07
Member since 2005 • 2396 Posts

[QUOTE="ttobba07"]Videos, Pictures, Music(in game or just for listening), Game Patches, and saves. I also don't wanna return to horribly overpriced memory cards for game saving. All in all it is not a gimmick.
Platearmor_6

So you take horribly overpriced HDDs instead? The 360 has the overpriced HDDs atleast. At £65 for 20GBs, what a joke. You can get an 80+GB smaller external harddrive for less.

I was mainly talking about ps3s hdd. I swapped mine for $130 for a 7200rpm 160gb HDD.

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M8ingSeezun

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#41 M8ingSeezun
Member since 2007 • 2313 Posts
HD = Convenience >>>> Memory Cards = Inconvenience
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goodlay

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#42 goodlay
Member since 2005 • 5773 Posts
Play the Wii, then you'll realize hard drives are very useful.
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maverickx04

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#43 maverickx04
Member since 2004 • 1223 Posts
If you ask me, developers are not taking advantage of HDD like they should. Even the first Xbox saw minimal improvement over its use. I think its largely due to the fact, that its not standard across all hardware. Unless SONY, Microsoft and Nintendo have a similar implemention of an HDD, in their hardware, Developers will always treat it as optional hardware.
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darkmagician06

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#44 darkmagician06
Member since 2003 • 6060 Posts
good luck downloading that 1gig demo without one
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deactivated-5e0e425ee91d8

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#45 deactivated-5e0e425ee91d8
Member since 2007 • 22399 Posts

i'm sorry but memory cards were great when that was the choice...but i refure to go back -.-

they were tiny, easy to lose, overpriced and small in space. hard drives don't have these issues beyond overpriced (buying seprate 120gig 360 harddrive is stupid)

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Bigboi500

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#46 Bigboi500
Member since 2007 • 35550 Posts
good luck downloading that 1gig demo without onedarkmagician06
On dial-up? :? :) :D :lol:
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GodLovesDead

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#47 GodLovesDead
Member since 2007 • 9755 Posts

Is this thread a joke?

1) You don't have to spend $30 on memory cards anymore.

2) You don't have to worry about "blocks" and if you won't have enough blocks to save when you need tomost.

3) Never have to remove previous progress anymore. I can now return to my rentals that I bought recently and continue from then.

4) I can download HD movies and arcade games.

Hell, the hard drive is my favorite feature in consoles right now.

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dewmandew7

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#48 dewmandew7
Member since 2005 • 4152 Posts
Seeing as many downloadable games on the PS3 are over half a gigabyte, then no.