Will cloud storage replace large HDD in future consoles?

With the advent of cloud technologies, and the introduction of the cloud concept to the masses via iCloud, does it make since for future consoles to use the cloud as it's primary means of storage?

This SHOULD reduce production costs for consoles, since it may be able to ship without a HDD at all, or a very small one at the most.

This only makes since to me, since it's only a matter of time until cloud gaming completely replaces hardware anyway...replacing the traditional HDD could be the first step.

I certainly hope not.

Call me paranoid, old-fashioned or what have you, but I am still not confident in Cloud Storage or computing.

I doubt it much like cloud computing and game streaming the benefits are completely outweighed by the cons such as internet speeds and lag.

With the advent of cloud technologies, and the introduction of the cloud concept to the masses via iCloud, does it make since for future consoles to use the cloud as it's primary means of storage?

This SHOULD reduce production costs for consoles, since it may be able to ship without a HDD at all, or a very small one at the most.

This only makes since to me, since it's only a matter of time until cloud gaming completely replaces hardware anyway...replacing the traditional HDD could be the first step.

xxxLUGZxxx

I would not want iCloud to replace a hard drive. Currently even the fastest internet connection would be too slow for loading games.Hard drives aren't expensive and have more bandwidth than the fastest internet connections.

In two gens from now i guarantee it will, right now, the technology is not there to be profitable enough.

Yes, totaly agree. I can't wait to see when the servers went fubar and the users go nerd rage and start to tear some companies apart.

The next consoles will certainly make use of cloud features, much like this gen has started to (saved game files). As for anything larger than that, I doubt they will anytime soon.

I see no tangible reason why cloud storage would replace HDDs...SSDs on the other hand, will replace HDDs.

no because the game install would need to be streamed

Reduce production costs? Replacing HDDs with cloud storage for all your devices merely replaces the one-off cost of the HDD with an ongoing cost of bandwidth and server maintenance for the cloud. Additionally, you completely alienate non-broadband having users. Lastly, net streaming isn't as fast as streaming from an HDD, so the main benefit of installing data to an HDD is lost completely.

I really hope not.

What if my ISP break down or even in maintainence? I can't play my game saves!

Well for Saved Games, I would like it.

It works well with Steam.

I can hop from one PC to the next and I won't have to work all the way back up to where I left off again.

I can go with Cloud Saves.

Cloud Gaming in General however I won't like.

If I had a 1 gigabit symetrical line, and they area close, and they can download 1 gigabit and upload 1 gigabit to me, then sure. Until then, hell no.JigglyWiggly_

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]If I had a 1 gigabit symetrical line, and they area close, and they can download 1 gigabit and upload 1 gigabit to me, then sure. Until then, hell no.WilliamRLBaker

Aka university internet, speedtests I get around 1 gigabit on download and 500 megabit on upload, but the bottleneck is probably the speedtest servers or somewhere in between.

i dont like cloud storage, i should be able to have my files in my hdd

Who thought up the term cloud anyways? What's wrong with web or Internet?rpgs_shall_rule

You know, "they" did:). Really, the general public has an unsafe view on the internet. What is safer than a nice fluffy cloud with an angel on it...guarding all your pr0n?

With the advent of cloud technologies, and the introduction of the cloud concept to the masses via iCloud, does it make since for future consoles to use the cloud as it's primary means of storage?

This SHOULD reduce production costs for consoles, since it may be able to ship without a HDD at all, or a very small one at the most.

This only makes since to me, since it's only a matter of time until cloud gaming completely replaces hardware anyway...replacing the traditional HDD could be the first step.

xxxLUGZxxx

What's really the point though. Unless you're someone who is on the go a lot and you want to access your stuff from different places. Most of us aren't.

I don't really see how off-site storage benefits gaming, I can see it benefiting work related data (as a back up) which could be lost and stolen.

[QUOTE="xxxLUGZxxx"]

With the advent of cloud technologies, and the introduction of the cloud concept to the masses via iCloud, does it make since for future consoles to use the cloud as it's primary means of storage?

This SHOULD reduce production costs for consoles, since it may be able to ship without a HDD at all, or a very small one at the most.

This only makes since to me, since it's only a matter of time until cloud gaming completely replaces hardware anyway...replacing the traditional HDD could be the first step.

amaneuvering

I think there will always be that physical form of storage though, in one way or another. I doubt large companies making tons of money want money/records stored on some other companies service.

[QUOTE="xxxLUGZxxx"]

With the advent of cloud technologies, and the introduction of the cloud concept to the masses via iCloud, does it make since for future consoles to use the cloud as it's primary means of storage?

This SHOULD reduce production costs for consoles, since it may be able to ship without a HDD at all, or a very small one at the most.

This only makes since to me, since it's only a matter of time until cloud gaming completely replaces hardware anyway...replacing the traditional HDD could be the first step.

amaneuvering

Hard drive space is pretty cheap now. 1TB for ~$60. Now try transfering 1TB of data over the Internet and see how much that'll cost you.

No, the HDD isn't just there to store data, it's there to cache it up for use ingame (well... sometimes). Until latency and bandwidth are great enough, it's not currently viable to store large amounts of data on a cloud. Would need ~800mbit/s+(100mbytes) internet to compete with an hdd with 3ms latency.

Also uploads, on my cable modem with ~32mb down only has 3mb up (I wish internet wasn't measured in bits, it's really 4mbytes|375kb/s) aren't at all viable.

A cheaper, purchasable cloud storage that is an optionable place for people who have strong enough internet speed? Yes.

[QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"][QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]If I had a 1 gigabit symetrical line, and they area close, and they can download 1 gigabit and upload 1 gigabit to me, then sure. Until then, hell no.JigglyWiggly_

Aka university internet, speedtests I get around 1 gigabit on download and 500 megabit on upload, but the bottleneck is probably the speedtest servers or somewhere in between.