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So, the next generation of consoles will have hard disc drives (HDD) built in huh? Ok, so what does that mean for the purchaser? Do we really need our consoles to have hard drives in?
First things first, will you actually be able to install things on the HDD? This may sound like a silly question, but if the games come on DVD's, which hold 4.5 gig each, you'll only be able to install the one game if it installs all 4.5gig. If you cant install the whole game, whats the point? because the game will still need to access the information on the DVD, which will slow done the loading time of the game, defeating the entire point of installation! A disadvantage, if you can install things on the HDD, is that surely there is a risk of viruses? Do you really want to have to format your X-Box, or install some anti-vrus software onto your PS2?
Ok, so you may able to use it for your save games, again, is there any reason for this? Memory cards have worked, still do work in fact, and whats the saying? If it aint broke.......? Anyway save games cant take up much room because I have got the save files for about 6 games on my DC memory card and the whole thing only has 128kb!
Ok, so you may be able to download things from the 'net and save then to your HDD, fair point. But who will actually use their console to browse the net? I tried it. Once. I was using a control pad and my DC at the time, so it would have been easier to use a keyboard and mouse (which would have cost me around £40 extra), but it's such a pain browsing the 'net on a TV, the resolution is all messed up for a start. Also, surely most people who need to use the internet have access at uni/school/work/home or whatever. As a last resort they could go down to the local library and use that!
The only main advantage to having a HDD is that you can download, and subsequently play, extra levels for games like Q3A and UT. But most servers dont support custom maps, so you wont be able to play these levels online anyway. Also you wont be able to create your own if you cant install things on the HDD.
But the BIG disadvantage I see of consoles having a HDD is that developers can do what they do for the PC, and that is rush a game so its out for a certain release date. If the game doesnt work? Oh, thats ok, Jo Public (who bought the game in good faith) can just download a patch to sort it out. So after paying money for the game, which the developers either couldnt be bothered to finish properly, or were forced to rush by the publishers, we then have to spend more of our own time and money sorting the problem out! This is the only industry in which this happens. When you buy a CD you dont get home to find that there's only 12 of the 14 tracks and you have to download the rest or whatever. At the moment publishers have to make sure the game they release is finished. Ok, you may not like the game, but at least you know when you buy it that it will work, and you wont get stuck at some random point because the CD/DVD hasnt got all the files on it.
People who own PC's seem to have started to accept it now, and I dont want the same to go for next gen console owners as well.
To sum up, consoles dont need HDD's as I dont think you will be able to install onto them. If you can install then that brings along its own problems such as viruses and regular formatting. The only plus point is that you can download new levels for games. But this pales into insignificance beside the threat of unfinished games being released and having to have a huge phone bill resulting from downloading all the patches you will need.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why i dont think next-gen consoles should need, or have, hard drives.
First things first, will you actually be able to install things on the HDD? This may sound like a silly question, but if the games come on DVD's, which hold 4.5 gig each, you'll only be able to install the one game if it installs all 4.5gig. If you cant install the whole game, whats the point? because the game will still need to access the information on the DVD, which will slow done the loading time of the game, defeating the entire point of installation! A disadvantage, if you can install things on the HDD, is that surely there is a risk of viruses? Do you really want to have to format your X-Box, or install some anti-vrus software onto your PS2?
Ok, so you may able to use it for your save games, again, is there any reason for this? Memory cards have worked, still do work in fact, and whats the saying? If it aint broke.......? Anyway save games cant take up much room because I have got the save files for about 6 games on my DC memory card and the whole thing only has 128kb!
Ok, so you may be able to download things from the 'net and save then to your HDD, fair point. But who will actually use their console to browse the net? I tried it. Once. I was using a control pad and my DC at the time, so it would have been easier to use a keyboard and mouse (which would have cost me around £40 extra), but it's such a pain browsing the 'net on a TV, the resolution is all messed up for a start. Also, surely most people who need to use the internet have access at uni/school/work/home or whatever. As a last resort they could go down to the local library and use that!
The only main advantage to having a HDD is that you can download, and subsequently play, extra levels for games like Q3A and UT. But most servers dont support custom maps, so you wont be able to play these levels online anyway. Also you wont be able to create your own if you cant install things on the HDD.
But the BIG disadvantage I see of consoles having a HDD is that developers can do what they do for the PC, and that is rush a game so its out for a certain release date. If the game doesnt work? Oh, thats ok, Jo Public (who bought the game in good faith) can just download a patch to sort it out. So after paying money for the game, which the developers either couldnt be bothered to finish properly, or were forced to rush by the publishers, we then have to spend more of our own time and money sorting the problem out! This is the only industry in which this happens. When you buy a CD you dont get home to find that there's only 12 of the 14 tracks and you have to download the rest or whatever. At the moment publishers have to make sure the game they release is finished. Ok, you may not like the game, but at least you know when you buy it that it will work, and you wont get stuck at some random point because the CD/DVD hasnt got all the files on it.
People who own PC's seem to have started to accept it now, and I dont want the same to go for next gen console owners as well.
To sum up, consoles dont need HDD's as I dont think you will be able to install onto them. If you can install then that brings along its own problems such as viruses and regular formatting. The only plus point is that you can download new levels for games. But this pales into insignificance beside the threat of unfinished games being released and having to have a huge phone bill resulting from downloading all the patches you will need.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why i dont think next-gen consoles should need, or have, hard drives.
When it comes to a console, if there is going to be a HD, I'd rather it were external. If I were to shell out the cash for a X-Box, then have it contaminated with a computer virus of some kind, it would really tick me off since the HD is used to run the thing in the first place. With an external, I doubt the OS would be screwed with as much.
Also, let's think about this: The X-Box is going to have an 8 gig HD, which is supposedly going to be used to save games, for the collection of downloads, and for movies. The average DVD holds 4.7 gig. That means it can't even hold two movies, which is useless. As for saving games to it: I can see where Microsoft is going with this, though I believe it's irrational. For every X-Box sold, 30 games need to be purchased for it in order for Microsoft to make any money on this thing. So yes, if people were to actually buy 30 games (which I haven't done since the SNES) for the system, 8 gigs of HD memory might prove useful. Otherwise, it's a waste of space. As for downloading patches and new maps and whatnot (as in UT or HL, even Halo): There are going to be people who buy this system that don't have internet access and won't be capable of adding such things, so Bill and his DreamTeam have just forced them to pay extra for something they don't require.
Here's what a gaming company should do: Offer two packages for purchase when they launch a new system. Let's call one of them the Base Package, which includes the console itself, two controllers (one is just ridiculous when you've got four controller ports), and a demo disc, etc. Then, there could be a Deluxe Package, which would cost more, but include the console, an external HD, two controllers, and a demo disc, etc. Both consoles should be internet capable, either through the purchase of a dial-up modem or a broadband adaptor. That way you get what you want. If you don't want the HD, then just get the Base Package and for a lower price. This is consumer-friendly.
Also, let's think about this: The X-Box is going to have an 8 gig HD, which is supposedly going to be used to save games, for the collection of downloads, and for movies. The average DVD holds 4.7 gig. That means it can't even hold two movies, which is useless. As for saving games to it: I can see where Microsoft is going with this, though I believe it's irrational. For every X-Box sold, 30 games need to be purchased for it in order for Microsoft to make any money on this thing. So yes, if people were to actually buy 30 games (which I haven't done since the SNES) for the system, 8 gigs of HD memory might prove useful. Otherwise, it's a waste of space. As for downloading patches and new maps and whatnot (as in UT or HL, even Halo): There are going to be people who buy this system that don't have internet access and won't be capable of adding such things, so Bill and his DreamTeam have just forced them to pay extra for something they don't require.
Here's what a gaming company should do: Offer two packages for purchase when they launch a new system. Let's call one of them the Base Package, which includes the console itself, two controllers (one is just ridiculous when you've got four controller ports), and a demo disc, etc. Then, there could be a Deluxe Package, which would cost more, but include the console, an external HD, two controllers, and a demo disc, etc. Both consoles should be internet capable, either through the purchase of a dial-up modem or a broadband adaptor. That way you get what you want. If you don't want the HD, then just get the Base Package and for a lower price. This is consumer-friendly.
> The hard drive that is coming out on the PS2 isn't for saving your
> games
> i's for downloading the old games for the PS when the
> internet access for the PS2 is out
Though it is a possibility, that is not its primary purpose.
> games
> i's for downloading the old games for the PS when the
> internet access for the PS2 is out
Though it is a possibility, that is not its primary purpose.
Yep they do but orginally i wouldn't want one memory cards are cheaper.
> The hard drive will let us save loads of data and
> files. Something that Nintendo and Sony have both failed to
> realise!!!
Not exactly... there is a HD/broadband add-on coming for PS2. It's not an 'afterthought' as it has always been planned, but being built-in might have been an advantage. Still, being an add-on means upgradeability. Question: would opening Xbox to increase HD space invalidate the warranty?
> files. Something that Nintendo and Sony have both failed to
> realise!!!
Not exactly... there is a HD/broadband add-on coming for PS2. It's not an 'afterthought' as it has always been planned, but being built-in might have been an advantage. Still, being an add-on means upgradeability. Question: would opening Xbox to increase HD space invalidate the warranty?
Memory Cards are like unlabeled CD-R's you never know what is on them, this is the trouble w ill will all be having...except those of us with an X-Box. The hard drive will let us save loads of data and files. Something that Nintendo and Sony have both failed to realise!!!
The fact that the X-Box has a hard drive might be a big selling factor, or even one of many, that Microsoft uses to promote the machine. I don't think that it will be able to combat a video-clip of Mario or Snake BUT if he puts it in the right advert it might...just maybe!
The fact that the X-Box has a hard drive might be a big selling factor, or even one of many, that Microsoft uses to promote the machine. I don't think that it will be able to combat a video-clip of Mario or Snake BUT if he puts it in the right advert it might...just maybe!
> First things
> first, will you actually be able to install things on the HDD?
I think you've got the wrong end of the stick here. The HDD will not function in the same way as a PC - i.e. you won't buy a game and install it to the HD. The game will still run from the disc, but you'll be able to save info from the game to the HD. Hence you won't really need the massive HD's that you can get for PC's; anywhere from 8 to 20Gb should be more than enough.
> A disadvantage, if
> you can install things on the HDD, is that surely there is a risk of
> viruses?
Possible, but probably less likely than on a PC. All discs come through highly resctricted channels anyway, and your average virus-writing cretin is unlikely to have the cash to purchase the necessary development kit. Probably the most likely source of a virus would be through the internet connection, but a 'normal' virus more than likely won't run on a console (though the similarities between the Xbox and PC may provide a route, I suppose).
That said, though, these scumbags always seem to find a way, so security will be an issue.
> Ok, so you may be able
> to download things from the 'net and save then to your HDD, fair
> point. But who will actually use their console to browse the net?
True, but the main reason for online funtionality is obviously primarily for playing games. The web browsing is an added extra which - had it been omitted - would have drawn many complaints. Similar, really, to the DVD player on the PS2; it may not be the best, but if Sony had released a console with a DVD drive and not given it the ability to play DVD movies, they'd have had many more complaints than they've had about the relative quality of the playback. In short, in both cases, it's not the best way of doing it, but it does the job.
>But the BIG disadvantage I see of consoles
> having a HDD is that developers can do what they do for the PC, and
> that is rush a game so its out for a certain release date. If the
> game doesnt work? Oh, thats ok, Jo Public (who bought the game in
> good faith) can just download a patch to sort it out.
It's possible, but IMHO unlikely. The original games will still go through the same testing as they do now.
Also, PC patches work by updating files on the HD. Certainly in the case of the PS2 (which could be a blessing), console games will still need to run from the disc in case the owner doesn't have a HD; so the files will not be patchable, meaning that the game must be bug-free.
> first, will you actually be able to install things on the HDD?
I think you've got the wrong end of the stick here. The HDD will not function in the same way as a PC - i.e. you won't buy a game and install it to the HD. The game will still run from the disc, but you'll be able to save info from the game to the HD. Hence you won't really need the massive HD's that you can get for PC's; anywhere from 8 to 20Gb should be more than enough.
> A disadvantage, if
> you can install things on the HDD, is that surely there is a risk of
> viruses?
Possible, but probably less likely than on a PC. All discs come through highly resctricted channels anyway, and your average virus-writing cretin is unlikely to have the cash to purchase the necessary development kit. Probably the most likely source of a virus would be through the internet connection, but a 'normal' virus more than likely won't run on a console (though the similarities between the Xbox and PC may provide a route, I suppose).
That said, though, these scumbags always seem to find a way, so security will be an issue.
> Ok, so you may be able
> to download things from the 'net and save then to your HDD, fair
> point. But who will actually use their console to browse the net?
True, but the main reason for online funtionality is obviously primarily for playing games. The web browsing is an added extra which - had it been omitted - would have drawn many complaints. Similar, really, to the DVD player on the PS2; it may not be the best, but if Sony had released a console with a DVD drive and not given it the ability to play DVD movies, they'd have had many more complaints than they've had about the relative quality of the playback. In short, in both cases, it's not the best way of doing it, but it does the job.
>But the BIG disadvantage I see of consoles
> having a HDD is that developers can do what they do for the PC, and
> that is rush a game so its out for a certain release date. If the
> game doesnt work? Oh, thats ok, Jo Public (who bought the game in
> good faith) can just download a patch to sort it out.
It's possible, but IMHO unlikely. The original games will still go through the same testing as they do now.
Also, PC patches work by updating files on the HD. Certainly in the case of the PS2 (which could be a blessing), console games will still need to run from the disc in case the owner doesn't have a HD; so the files will not be patchable, meaning that the game must be bug-free.
So, the next generation of consoles will have hard disc drives (HDD) built in huh? Ok, so what does that mean for the purchaser? Do we really need our consoles to have hard drives in?
First things first, will you actually be able to install things on the HDD? This may sound like a silly question, but if the games come on DVD's, which hold 4.5 gig each, you'll only be able to install the one game if it installs all 4.5gig. If you cant install the whole game, whats the point? because the game will still need to access the information on the DVD, which will slow done the loading time of the game, defeating the entire point of installation! A disadvantage, if you can install things on the HDD, is that surely there is a risk of viruses? Do you really want to have to format your X-Box, or install some anti-vrus software onto your PS2?
Ok, so you may able to use it for your save games, again, is there any reason for this? Memory cards have worked, still do work in fact, and whats the saying? If it aint broke.......? Anyway save games cant take up much room because I have got the save files for about 6 games on my DC memory card and the whole thing only has 128kb!
Ok, so you may be able to download things from the 'net and save then to your HDD, fair point. But who will actually use their console to browse the net? I tried it. Once. I was using a control pad and my DC at the time, so it would have been easier to use a keyboard and mouse (which would have cost me around £40 extra), but it's such a pain browsing the 'net on a TV, the resolution is all messed up for a start. Also, surely most people who need to use the internet have access at uni/school/work/home or whatever. As a last resort they could go down to the local library and use that!
The only main advantage to having a HDD is that you can download, and subsequently play, extra levels for games like Q3A and UT. But most servers dont support custom maps, so you wont be able to play these levels online anyway. Also you wont be able to create your own if you cant install things on the HDD.
But the BIG disadvantage I see of consoles having a HDD is that developers can do what they do for the PC, and that is rush a game so its out for a certain release date. If the game doesnt work? Oh, thats ok, Jo Public (who bought the game in good faith) can just download a patch to sort it out. So after paying money for the game, which the developers either couldnt be bothered to finish properly, or were forced to rush by the publishers, we then have to spend more of our own time and money sorting the problem out! This is the only industry in which this happens. When you buy a CD you dont get home to find that there's only 12 of the 14 tracks and you have to download the rest or whatever. At the moment publishers have to make sure the game they release is finished. Ok, you may not like the game, but at least you know when you buy it that it will work, and you wont get stuck at some random point because the CD/DVD hasnt got all the files on it.
People who own PC's seem to have started to accept it now, and I dont want the same to go for next gen console owners as well.
To sum up, consoles dont need HDD's as I dont think you will be able to install onto them. If you can install then that brings along its own problems such as viruses and regular formatting. The only plus point is that you can download new levels for games. But this pales into insignificance beside the threat of unfinished games being released and having to have a huge phone bill resulting from downloading all the patches you will need.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why i dont think next-gen consoles should need, or have, hard drives.
First things first, will you actually be able to install things on the HDD? This may sound like a silly question, but if the games come on DVD's, which hold 4.5 gig each, you'll only be able to install the one game if it installs all 4.5gig. If you cant install the whole game, whats the point? because the game will still need to access the information on the DVD, which will slow done the loading time of the game, defeating the entire point of installation! A disadvantage, if you can install things on the HDD, is that surely there is a risk of viruses? Do you really want to have to format your X-Box, or install some anti-vrus software onto your PS2?
Ok, so you may able to use it for your save games, again, is there any reason for this? Memory cards have worked, still do work in fact, and whats the saying? If it aint broke.......? Anyway save games cant take up much room because I have got the save files for about 6 games on my DC memory card and the whole thing only has 128kb!
Ok, so you may be able to download things from the 'net and save then to your HDD, fair point. But who will actually use their console to browse the net? I tried it. Once. I was using a control pad and my DC at the time, so it would have been easier to use a keyboard and mouse (which would have cost me around £40 extra), but it's such a pain browsing the 'net on a TV, the resolution is all messed up for a start. Also, surely most people who need to use the internet have access at uni/school/work/home or whatever. As a last resort they could go down to the local library and use that!
The only main advantage to having a HDD is that you can download, and subsequently play, extra levels for games like Q3A and UT. But most servers dont support custom maps, so you wont be able to play these levels online anyway. Also you wont be able to create your own if you cant install things on the HDD.
But the BIG disadvantage I see of consoles having a HDD is that developers can do what they do for the PC, and that is rush a game so its out for a certain release date. If the game doesnt work? Oh, thats ok, Jo Public (who bought the game in good faith) can just download a patch to sort it out. So after paying money for the game, which the developers either couldnt be bothered to finish properly, or were forced to rush by the publishers, we then have to spend more of our own time and money sorting the problem out! This is the only industry in which this happens. When you buy a CD you dont get home to find that there's only 12 of the 14 tracks and you have to download the rest or whatever. At the moment publishers have to make sure the game they release is finished. Ok, you may not like the game, but at least you know when you buy it that it will work, and you wont get stuck at some random point because the CD/DVD hasnt got all the files on it.
People who own PC's seem to have started to accept it now, and I dont want the same to go for next gen console owners as well.
To sum up, consoles dont need HDD's as I dont think you will be able to install onto them. If you can install then that brings along its own problems such as viruses and regular formatting. The only plus point is that you can download new levels for games. But this pales into insignificance beside the threat of unfinished games being released and having to have a huge phone bill resulting from downloading all the patches you will need.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why i dont think next-gen consoles should need, or have, hard drives.