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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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actually the best ones are the sony prism ones. i dunno if u can get them in this country though. my friend bought some back from hong kong.
Yeah, along with the CD and probably the DVD.
They don't have exclusive copyright on them though, otherwise they'd be raking it in!
The best MDs are the Sony colour ones. Funny that, ain't it?
They don't have exclusive copyright on them though, otherwise they'd be raking it in!
The best MDs are the Sony colour ones. Funny that, ain't it?
didnt sony invent the MD?
Or†ega wrote:
> okay i read it, i'm pritty sure the GC discs are more expensive tan
> DVDs.
Apparently they're not because they're smaller but they will need specialist production machinery.
> okay i read it, i'm pritty sure the GC discs are more expensive tan
> DVDs.
Apparently they're not because they're smaller but they will need specialist production machinery.
I was just amazed they didn't go with MiniDiscs. That would have been perfect for them. New technology, bigger storage but still behind the rest of the pack and very expensive.
Of couse, they wouldn't be proper MDs, there would have be something differant about them.
Of couse, they wouldn't be proper MDs, there would have be something differant about them.
okay i read it, i'm pritty sure the GC discs are more expensive tan DVDs.
Erm...the only difference I can really see between optical discs and cd/dvd is that the optical discs will be harder to pirate and harder to tool up for from a manufacturer's point of view.
As for loading times, we're talking split seconds here with the next gen consoles, and particularly for ex-Saturn and PSX owners, loading times aren't and never have been an issue (unless you're really impatient to crack on with FIFA '98 or Driver, the worst culprits out there).
The industry breathed a sigh of relief when Nintendo stated that they'd be losing the cartridge format when developing the Gamecube, but going for the 8cm disc seems a bit crazy when CD's are already available, and when everyone knows that within a few days of the games being released there's going to be pirate versions out there at half the price anyway.
I expect their next format will be an 8-track cassette tape...
As for loading times, we're talking split seconds here with the next gen consoles, and particularly for ex-Saturn and PSX owners, loading times aren't and never have been an issue (unless you're really impatient to crack on with FIFA '98 or Driver, the worst culprits out there).
The industry breathed a sigh of relief when Nintendo stated that they'd be losing the cartridge format when developing the Gamecube, but going for the 8cm disc seems a bit crazy when CD's are already available, and when everyone knows that within a few days of the games being released there's going to be pirate versions out there at half the price anyway.
I expect their next format will be an 8-track cassette tape...
I really think you should read my topic before carrying on with this conversation/argument. Read it now then we can carry on this argument properly.
what u mean done it again? by going for discs that have lower storage space than the PS2 discs? I'm not really sure the main reasons for doing this. mainy to stop piracy, but i think the cons of the optical discs outweigh the pros. They will probably be more expensive than CDs/DVDs, another problem that the N64 suffered.
It's generally accepted that going with cartridges was a disaster for Ninendo, and I can't believe they've done it again!
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