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The point of this topic is to discuss Nintendo’s obsession with loading times and whether it is justified.
As we all know, Nintendo decided to opt for loading times over cost and storage on the N64. This is the only reason I can see for having large, bulky, expensive cartridges with limited capacity. As everyone all knows this was also one of the main reason why the N64 lost to the PlayStation.
So, was this justified? Well, personally I think not, but a lot of people argue. One of the main and sometimes only points my Ninty friends say about the PSone is they hate the loading times. It spoils the game and they prefer the N64 with no loading times. In my opinion this is just desperately seeking an argument, but maybe they have a point. I must say one of the best things I enjoyed about owning an N64 (yes, I had one and yes, I enjoyed it). The thing was, some of the loading times on the PSone were virtually unnoticeable. For example, I was amazed at the loading of GT and GT2 considering what huge games they are. Similarly, the loading of GT3 is virtually non-existent. On the other hand, some of the loading times on the two Sony consoles are atrocious: Driver, TimeSplitters and Quake 3 anyone? Now, I admit this does spoil the game a little bit but does it really warrant the drastic action of keeping cartridges? After all, this is what caused the rift between Square and Nintendo.
The truth is, loading times are a fact of life, and Nintendo are just going to have to live with it.
Now, despite the disaster with Square, Nintendo still haven’t learnt their lesson and have gone and done it again, but this time is goodbye GamePaks and hello Optical Discs. Now, the problem is slightly rectified with the larger storage but they’re still a third of the PS2’s 4.3gb at 1.5gb. At least this is better than the original 4% of the PSone’s CDs. Yes, that’s a twenty-fifth.
I’ve been trying to research the GC’s optical discs, and the information’s surprisingly sparse, so here’s what I’ve found out: The discs are basically DVDs with a few modifications, so there’s no change there. The difference is they are only 8cm in diameter, which means not only are they smaller they are cheaper. Personally I don’t see the point but there you go. Apparently this is supposed to decrease loading times because the laser has less distance to travel but PS2 developers could just use 8cm of the DVD instead. The discs will come in standard DVD cases which also means you can fit two in one box, but I still fail to see the point. One more thing about the Optical discs: For the first time ever Nintendo will be able to provide decent sound and FMV onto a game. This was previously impossible because of the limited capacity.
Now, these brand spanking new optical discs may have very quick loading but I don’t see anything special about them. As far as I am aware all DVDs are dead quick to load. Both Dead or Alive 2 and the OPS2 DVD cover discs are insanely quick, even the demos. I think that this is because there is a higher transfer speed on DVDs because the tracks are closer together and a DVD laser can read much quicker. Slow loading times on the PS2 CDs are also to become a thing of the past when developers start efficiently using the PS2’s resources and 48x CD-ROM drive.
OK, to sum up: The optical discs are smaller, both in size and capacity, cheaper and faster to load (allegedly). DVDs are much larger, both in size and capacity, a little more expensive and just as quick to load (probably). So what has Nintendo gained from these discs? As far as I can see, nothing. They are cheaper but you need more. They are quicker to load but that needs proving and personally I doubt it. They look nicer – wow. That’s not strictly true though. These discs are impossible to copy, so all you would-be pirates out there will have to find someone else to target.
But that’s what they said about GD-ROMs, isn’t it?
As we all know, Nintendo decided to opt for loading times over cost and storage on the N64. This is the only reason I can see for having large, bulky, expensive cartridges with limited capacity. As everyone all knows this was also one of the main reason why the N64 lost to the PlayStation.
So, was this justified? Well, personally I think not, but a lot of people argue. One of the main and sometimes only points my Ninty friends say about the PSone is they hate the loading times. It spoils the game and they prefer the N64 with no loading times. In my opinion this is just desperately seeking an argument, but maybe they have a point. I must say one of the best things I enjoyed about owning an N64 (yes, I had one and yes, I enjoyed it). The thing was, some of the loading times on the PSone were virtually unnoticeable. For example, I was amazed at the loading of GT and GT2 considering what huge games they are. Similarly, the loading of GT3 is virtually non-existent. On the other hand, some of the loading times on the two Sony consoles are atrocious: Driver, TimeSplitters and Quake 3 anyone? Now, I admit this does spoil the game a little bit but does it really warrant the drastic action of keeping cartridges? After all, this is what caused the rift between Square and Nintendo.
The truth is, loading times are a fact of life, and Nintendo are just going to have to live with it.
Now, despite the disaster with Square, Nintendo still haven’t learnt their lesson and have gone and done it again, but this time is goodbye GamePaks and hello Optical Discs. Now, the problem is slightly rectified with the larger storage but they’re still a third of the PS2’s 4.3gb at 1.5gb. At least this is better than the original 4% of the PSone’s CDs. Yes, that’s a twenty-fifth.
I’ve been trying to research the GC’s optical discs, and the information’s surprisingly sparse, so here’s what I’ve found out: The discs are basically DVDs with a few modifications, so there’s no change there. The difference is they are only 8cm in diameter, which means not only are they smaller they are cheaper. Personally I don’t see the point but there you go. Apparently this is supposed to decrease loading times because the laser has less distance to travel but PS2 developers could just use 8cm of the DVD instead. The discs will come in standard DVD cases which also means you can fit two in one box, but I still fail to see the point. One more thing about the Optical discs: For the first time ever Nintendo will be able to provide decent sound and FMV onto a game. This was previously impossible because of the limited capacity.
Now, these brand spanking new optical discs may have very quick loading but I don’t see anything special about them. As far as I am aware all DVDs are dead quick to load. Both Dead or Alive 2 and the OPS2 DVD cover discs are insanely quick, even the demos. I think that this is because there is a higher transfer speed on DVDs because the tracks are closer together and a DVD laser can read much quicker. Slow loading times on the PS2 CDs are also to become a thing of the past when developers start efficiently using the PS2’s resources and 48x CD-ROM drive.
OK, to sum up: The optical discs are smaller, both in size and capacity, cheaper and faster to load (allegedly). DVDs are much larger, both in size and capacity, a little more expensive and just as quick to load (probably). So what has Nintendo gained from these discs? As far as I can see, nothing. They are cheaper but you need more. They are quicker to load but that needs proving and personally I doubt it. They look nicer – wow. That’s not strictly true though. These discs are impossible to copy, so all you would-be pirates out there will have to find someone else to target.
But that’s what they said about GD-ROMs, isn’t it?
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I agree Sonic. If there is someone clever enough to come up with the idea of protection of piracy then there will always be someone who is clever enough to have a way of beating the protection. As for your guess of 7 months, I don't think it will take that long. I say something closer to 2 to 3 months for the GC, same for the X-Box.
fact: GC games WILL be pirated... I currently have a "vote now" topic in the ninty formum asking how long people think it will be before this happens.
My guess: 7 months
Sonic
My guess: 7 months
Sonic
too many people seem to be calling them mini DVDs when they are a completly different thing. The only simularity's are that they hold data and a circular
Wrong there Turbo nut. Although I cant blame you for what you said, as I can see where you are coming from.
The Nintendo Gamecube Disc is Unique, it ISNT a DVD in such but very similiar. It was enhanced, and manufactured to be as such, by the Techno gurus at Matsushita. Therefore giving the idea of it being copied on a mere DVD RAM thrown out of the window.
The Nintendo Gamecube Disc is Unique, it ISNT a DVD in such but very similiar. It was enhanced, and manufactured to be as such, by the Techno gurus at Matsushita. Therefore giving the idea of it being copied on a mere DVD RAM thrown out of the window.
I think that Nintendo will have made there disc's slightly more or less dense to make it incompatable with DVD.
I suppose the the DVD player will allow DVD's for film only.
Nintendo have specially designed these disc's to be pirate proof so it won't be that simple to crack them.
I suppose the the DVD player will allow DVD's for film only.
Nintendo have specially designed these disc's to be pirate proof so it won't be that simple to crack them.
a) Disc. Note the "c".
b) The Optical discs are easily pirateable. All you need is GC mod chip, which usually come out within a year of the console being launched, a DVD-writer (*cough* G4 cube *cough*) and some 8cm DVD discs.
b) The Optical discs are easily pirateable. All you need is GC mod chip, which usually come out within a year of the console being launched, a DVD-writer (*cough* G4 cube *cough*) and some 8cm DVD discs.
GasMask wrote:
> Nintendo are going to be new to disks so they want a new disk,
> Nintendo going to disks is a big help for us because that means
> lower prices, happy Nintendo fans. They don’t want the problem with
> piracy I think because they will lose money and some chipping makes
> your PS1’s mess up, causing a new Playstation to be bought in some
> cases or a trip to see the Playstation doctor which causes a fee
> which causes a unhappy Sony fan. Nintendo are losing true fans at
> the moment and I have also thought about ditching my n64 and getting
> a ps1 because sony had 20 games out for every n64 game but I dusted
> off my beating stick and beat the opposition away. GET A GAMECUBE
> ;)
Although you have some good points, please please please check what you've writen before you post it. My English isn't the best... but better than being unreadable...
Sonic
> Nintendo are going to be new to disks so they want a new disk,
> Nintendo going to disks is a big help for us because that means
> lower prices, happy Nintendo fans. They don’t want the problem with
> piracy I think because they will lose money and some chipping makes
> your PS1’s mess up, causing a new Playstation to be bought in some
> cases or a trip to see the Playstation doctor which causes a fee
> which causes a unhappy Sony fan. Nintendo are losing true fans at
> the moment and I have also thought about ditching my n64 and getting
> a ps1 because sony had 20 games out for every n64 game but I dusted
> off my beating stick and beat the opposition away. GET A GAMECUBE
> ;)
Although you have some good points, please please please check what you've writen before you post it. My English isn't the best... but better than being unreadable...
Sonic
Nintendo are going to be new to disks so they want a new disk, Nintendo going to disks is a big help for us because that means lower prices, happy Nintendo fans. They don’t want the problem with piracy I think because they will lose money and some chipping makes your PS1’s mess up, causing a new Playstation to be bought in some cases or a trip to see the Playstation doctor which causes a fee which causes a unhappy Sony fan. Nintendo are losing true fans at the moment and I have also thought about ditching my n64 and getting a ps1 because sony had 20 games out for every n64 game but I dusted off my beating stick and beat the opposition away. GET A GAMECUBE ;)
Dan UK is right.
DeltaJava wrote:
> Oh, sorry, I meant just the data required before each level. Then,
> once all the data needed for that level is loaded into memory, the
> loading times are non-existent!
BUT there are no loading times whatsoever... one round ends, another begins... instantaneously...
and sould reaver has no levels... its a continuous RPG thing
Sonic
> Oh, sorry, I meant just the data required before each level. Then,
> once all the data needed for that level is loaded into memory, the
> loading times are non-existent!
BUT there are no loading times whatsoever... one round ends, another begins... instantaneously...
and sould reaver has no levels... its a continuous RPG thing
Sonic
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