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"The New DVD Format"

It’s no new news that current games are on DVD format. I think I’m right in saying that every gaming format (apart from those in the handheld area) now run on DVD-ROMs.

It hit me last week though, as I was watching one of the DVD’s I have in my collection. As ever I picked up the CD, inserted it into my Playstation 2 and I was greeted with the films menu which directed me to all the parts of the DVD. Much like a site-map or a game’s menu. That’s when it hit me – If I was playing a DVD on a games console why couldn’t more game menus be like that I was seeing on a films?

Now DVD menus are all glitz and glammer using special effects and sound to create an atmosphere before the film. You know the kind, fireballs fly out at you, parts of the film is shown. Why can’t this be incorporated in games?

But, it’s not only that I am talking about. It’s about the directions in which the DVD’s menu leads you to which make me wonder why gaming can’t have the same. Some lead you into the making of the film, some an interview with the director of the film and some have cool extras you can just keep going back to. That’s not it though, some DVD’s offer something special and original, unlike anything else and that will become more and more familiar in the future. I like all these little things that give me an insight out of the actual film.

But, do I see them in games? The answer, sadly, is no.

Ok sure you have more things like this coming into games, such as the DVD extra in Metal Gear Solid 2 for example. But wouldn’t you just appreciate the game a lot more if it was put into more games?

You could see how the game was made over the time you had been waiting so eagerly to have a go, you could see what they were doing over that time. You could get a better insight into creating the game and the people behind it, the people that deserve credit yet they don’t get much of it from the players. It’s not just about Nintendo, Sega, Sony and Microsoft you know, there are people behind those names.

Not only are DVD style menus cool, but they should be the future of video gaming. If they have the capability, then why isn't it being used?

Maybe it's the fact that as much space as possible is used for the game itself? Maybe it's because they just haven't thought about it yet or are getting onto it at the moment? I don't know, that's whats to discuss.

Films have set a trend and games should follow it, games players don’t know what they’re missing, the extras the DVD format offer are something that will make you think differently about the game you have been stuck on for 20 hours plus.

I went to look at Digitiser this week and noticed it wasn't being updated reguarly. I use to find it quite good but now the news seems dated, the reviews rubbish (espically all those Gamecube games) and well just not funny anymore.

Monkey_With_Attitude wrote:
> Monkey_With_Attitude wrote:
> Well done Rogue Leader.
>
>
> I mean Lucasarts :-P

Digitiser suck all things bad. There review of this game was so stupid. No wonder they have been limited to three updates a week and stealing stories from ign.

URGH. Giving that game 3/5. URGH!

The only bad thing is if the audio commentry ends before you finish the level (although they're quite long) it doesn't turn the voices back on, although it does put the volume back up.

Monkey_With_Attitude wrote:
> Well done Rogue Leader.


I mean Lucasarts :-P

Whitestripes, that was totally what I was talking about in terms of good quality features. I know every DVD film has commentry now and I never quite thought it would be able to be put into a game. W-O-W

Heh, I really want my copy now.

Now Audio Commentry is something a video game should have, the option to hear from the makers how they created the world you are playing in etc. Excellent.

Well done Rogue Leader.

Res€vilfan wrote:
> So there's more out there than you think:-)

Good :-) It's nice to see some of these features being put into games much more these days, hopefully that will grow in the future and offer more unique features like film DVD's do.

Rouge Leader also has another thing called 'Audio Commentry'. It semi-mutes the music and SFX in the levels and removes the voices. And instead you hear the director of the game interveiwing various people that were involved with the making of that level and how they do it and stuff, its really interesting.

Alot of games do, GT3 was the first to have dvd quality footage in the background and many have followed, As for the extras a couple have had them on disc like SSX:Tricky but most like to have an extra 'making of' DVD like Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid 2, Final Fantasy X and the pre-orders of Code Veronica X (Japanese version only grr)

So there's more out there than you think:-)

ah ha, I thought Rogue Leader had that in it. I haven't got the game yet(though it's coming) but I think I saw the loop sequences from the movie on the actual game menu. They had it on the Phantom Menace game for the PC aswell.

You say that you get some of these 'DVD Extras' when you complete the game...I think thats the best way they can put them in games. Complete the game or a certain amount and you get some candy. Excellent, something to play for :-)

Ye...

Rogue Leader is cool like that.

When you get to the main menu it has a continous loop of actual scenes from the first Star Wars Movie.

It also has a special features thingy with a Teaser trailer and a documentary on the game (which is unlocked after you complete the game I think)

Luigi's Mansion also has a trailer for Pikmin in the options menu.

Its Definitely being incorparted into games now, and with the huge space developers have on the discs they should put more special features like that.

Silent Hill 2 and Resident Evil:CVX both had extra DVDs with special thingy's on them as well I think...