Some developers are starting to whisper about the fact that the use of DVD storage on the Xbox 360 is finally leading to capacity issues. A dual-layer DVD is capped at about 9GB of available storage per disc, and with the PlayStation 3 sporting a Blu-ray drive that is able to handle discs with a capacity of 25GB to 50GB; it is easy to see how developers can start to feel cramped with the max of 9GB on a standard DVD. The problem is that when you know you have all of that extra storage available on the PlayStation 3 platform, it is becoming harder to make the cuts and reductions in content necessary to strip down to only a 9GB max capacity. This is why quite a few of the recently released Xbox 360 titles, such as Mass Effect 2, are arriving on two DVDs. Some even require an installation of the second disc onto the hard drive.
Capcom is the latest developer to feel the pinch with its upcoming release Lost Planet 2. While the first game fitted on one disc, the second game required significant cuts in order to fit within the capacity limits of the Xbox 360. It is still undecided if the game will be one DVD or two; but the material that was cut will likely be changed into some sort of DLC content to be released at a later date.
With no potential help for this issue on the horizon, one has to wonder how developers are going to be able to curb their creativity in order to make it fit on a 9GB disc. In the end, it is just a limitation that consumers and developers will have to live with. It could be worse, as no one ever thought that a single game could take up 9GB, let alone 15GB; and now with 50GB possible, we have to wonder who will be the first to claim they are out of space with the Blu-Ray format.
Will this lead more developers into making games for the PS3 with the greater capacity, or will the developers just adjust and release games on two or three disks on the Xbox?
I think it’s a problem, but not one developers are willing to make their games exclusive to the PS3 for.
Might Microsoft jump into the next generation sooner rather than later?
I think Microsoft seriously need to take this into consideration sooner rather than later
I think it’s definitely an issue they need to address immediately but will be a high priority for their next gen. As for now, games like Mass Effect 2 on two discs seem to be doing just fine.
I agree, i have nearly finished Mass Effect 2 and the disc swapping isn’t a major issue but i still think it is a problem that microsoft will have to solve on their next console.
I see this as a problem for them and us. One reason it a problem for MS because devs want to have a complete game they set out to achieve. But games like Lost planet 2. Gamers are probably going to be mandatory to pay for the “extra content” that was removed from the game due to lack of space. But doubt this will really hurt Microsoft, since what Seventy7 and Schme just said is true. Many people don’t care for two disc.FF13 which comes in 3 disc, idk how will fans reacted to it but doubt it will be terrible.
Another media storage larger than bluray is needed, pronto!