One of three things will happen when Xbox devs run out of DVD9 space.

What's the big deal with DVD9? It's like 8 GB right?

That's amazing.

That's like a couple million Super Mario 64's in one disk right?

Err... second one and third one I suspect.

Though MLB2k8 or some other sports game like that did have content as DLC afterwards.

FF 7 and MGS1 were on like 3 disks yet that didn't stop them from being great gamesMad_Rhetoric

Yes it did. When I had to switch discs, I stopped playing and never found out that Solid Snake has fisticuffs with Liquid Snake on top of Metal Gear Rex, which Solid has destroyed, and then Liquid Snake died from foxdie after a thrilling chase through a tunnel.

The Xbox 360 only has roughly 7GB space on it's DVD9. So far, it hasn't been much of a problem, and most games have fit on the disks just fine; however, what will developers do when their game is too large to fit onto a single DVD9.

Solution #1: Cut features and release them as downloadable content, charging extra for the content.

It is probable that this has already happened with two games, Grand Theft Auto IV and Gears of War.

Gears of War pushed the limits of the DVD9, so CliffyB announced that many online levels will be free for download. They ended up costing money, but eventually became free after a few months.

After playing GTA IV, I am also fairly confident that the game had some features stripped pre-release, and those features will eventually be showing up in future downloadable content. Of course, this will cost money once again. Microsoft wants a return on their 50 million dollars.

Solution #2: Multiple disks

Multiple disks is a good solution for linear games, such as most RPGs, but isn't a good solution for sandbox type games. A game like Oblivion, Mass Effect, or GTA IV would have a hard time disk swapping, because you are free to roam anywhere, and do missions in whichever order you please.

I would imagine that some games will try splitting the single player and multiplayer onto different disks, and that may be a solution as well.

Solution #3: Reduce the quality of the audio to that of a Youtube video.

Audio is one of the most space-consuming areas of modern videogames, and quite a number of games have lots of audio, especially games with heavy dialogue. The audio quality could be reduced in games where multiple disks wouldn't be as acceptable of a solution, and the games will begin sounding like youtube videos.

Don't believe me? Many playstation 2 games did this last gen, including GTA: San Andreas and Final Fantasy XII. Go back and listen to those games, then listen to youtube. Yeahhh...

AmyMizuno

Umm...they've already release multiple discs and they've had to cut out a few things from games. And 3? Do you know what bit rate is? Games are released in 5.1 surround sound....hardly YouTube quality. Good try though, it's been a while since I've seen a 360 bashing thread. :roll:

[QUOTE="Willy105"]

What's the big deal with DVD9? It's like 8 GB right?

That's amazing.

That's like a couple million Super Mario 64's in one disk right?

AmyMizuno

They don't "reserve" a part of the DVD...you're thinking of the HDD which they reserve space on.

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"]If people are too lazy to switch discs, they have much bigger problems than whether or not to get a game.AmyMizuno

Cross a bridge, switch a disc, it's not a major thing yeah? Instead of just the quicky loader, you need to swap discs. Seems easy enough.

If people are too lazy to switch discs, they have much bigger problems than whether or not to get a game.Andrew_Xavier

Well getting up to switch discs is a very dangerous thing, on your way to the console, you could trip and break your leg, or get attacked by an antloin or a rabbit baby seal.

There is no problem with DVD this generation, disc swaping works, and would work until the generation is over with.

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"]If people are too lazy to switch discs, they have much bigger problems than whether or not to get a game.AmyMizuno

The same way you would switch it for any other game.

For GTA, it would be especially easy considering very few missions are repeatable. The cities could be redundantly stored on each disk, while mission cutscenes, audio, and data related to the story are split over multiple discs.

Oblivion would be a little harder, but it can be done to extent considering certain enemies simply stop appearing after a certain level, or areas can just be split into regions much like Morrowind split the islands into different discs.

I cant comment on Mass Effect since i havent played.

Believe me, there are simple solutions to almost eveyr game type to fit it accross multiple discs with mininmal hassle to the player.

why switch dvds if u can eliminate it by the use of blu ray?

yes, we have to move on, if u dont want, go back to betamax

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"]If people are too lazy to switch discs, they have much bigger problems than whether or not to get a game.Chaos_HL21

Well getting up to switch discs is a very dangerous thing, on your way to the console, you could trip and break your leg, or get attacked by an antloin or a rabbit baby seal.

You left out the constant fear of robot ninja attack! Since robot ninjas only attack people standing, remaining seated with a bag of general tao chicken chips and a bottle of red bull is the only safe thing to do :cry:

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"]If people are too lazy to switch discs, they have much bigger problems than whether or not to get a game.AmyMizuno

do it just like shenmue?

[QUOTE="Chaos_HL21"]

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"]If people are too lazy to switch discs, they have much bigger problems than whether or not to get a game.AmyMizuno

Well getting up to switch discs is a very dangerous thing, on your way to the console, you could trip and break your leg, or get attacked by an antloin or a rabbit baby seal.

There is no problem with DVD this generation, disc swaping works, and would work until the generation is over with.

Sure it is not accpeptable for every game, but games like GTA 4 have no problem on DVD9. It is possible for it to work with GTA type games to make disc swapping by going to an airport for a plane to the other city.

If MGS 4 did come to 360 (dont worry, its not going to) wouldnt that take like 5 or 6 discs?

[QUOTE="black_awpN1"]

If MGS 4 did come to 360 (dont worry, its not going to) wouldnt that take like 5 or 6 discs?

AmyMizuno

that would be terrible IMO.

If MGS 4 did come to 360 (dont worry, its not going to) wouldnt that take like 5 or 6 discs?

black_awpN1

2/3 personally. They would compress alot of it, and likely won't bother with 7.1 lossless audio.

I don't know who wrote this but I agree with it and it does a great job of explaining why BR may be the most important part of the PS3 for games.

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:L1pHT9Qo7Y8J:lan-germany.com/Arthur/home/index2.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26do_pdf%3D1%26id%3D69+texture+streaming+eats+up+disc+space&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us

some how I don't think DVD9's space limitation is a big deal this generation. Personally I think both consoles already peaked graphically or very close to it and unless theres alot of pre-rendered video files and uncompressed audio currently available games now can fit in a DVD9 just fine.

theres option #4 as well

4) Have multi-disk release, one install disc and one play disc.

If MGS 4 did come to 360 (dont worry, its not going to) wouldnt that take like 5 or 6 discs?

black_awpN1

compress the audio, get rid of 7.1PCM, and get rid of redundant data files, that should easily cut 50GB down to 2 DVD9s

some how I don't think DVD9's space limitation is a big deal this generation. Personally I think both consoles already peaked graphically or very close to it and unless theres alot of pre-rendered video files and uncompressed audio currently available games now can fit in a DVD9 just fine.

theres option #4 as well

4) Have multi-disk release, one install disc and one play disc.

nohnaimer

How would that work for people who own a core 360? Devs can't make their game require the HDD because it's not a standard feature of the 360...

[QUOTE="black_awpN1"]

If MGS 4 did come to 360 (dont worry, its not going to) wouldnt that take like 5 or 6 discs?

nohnaimer

compress the audio, get rid of 7.1PCM, and get rid of redundant data files, that should easily cut 50GB down to 2 DVD9s

Bu...bu...the 1% of the world who has a 7.1 system NEEDS it.

Solution #2: Multiple disks

I would imagine that some games will try splitting the single player and multiplayer onto different disks, and that may be a solution as well. AmyMizuno

[QUOTE="jdt532"]

I don't know who wrote this but I agree with it and it does a great job of explaining why BR may be the most important part of the PS3 for games.

AmyMizuno

Yeah I know, allot of typos and he was wrong about R&C:Future being 1080p but if you look past those minor mistakes his overall points are dead on IMO.

[QUOTE="AmyMizuno"] Solution #2: Multiple disks

I would imagine that some games will try splitting the single player and multiplayer onto different disks, and that may be a solution as well. Cowmanik

Nah man Kojima is a perfectionist and MGO needs to be teh perfect. Also, We all know that Kojima filled up that whole BD ROM with unique data, not many duplicates to fix load times. BD's read sllooooooww. Unless you have the mandatory install.

one argument i have to make, disc swapping is completely unnaceptable besides in linear games such as RPG's

people wouldn't want to get up during watching a dvd movie and switch disks. why should they have to with games? imagine if we took this strategy with HD movies. who freaking wants to switch the disk every hour rather than have one big disc.

also there is the point that it wouldn't work for some games such as nonlinear rpg's, sand boxes, shooters, etc.

i personally think they should just start releasing games on flash drives, once usb 3.0 comes out, no more loading, and no space limits.