Looks like xbox 360 may be showing it's limitations

Sniper123 · 3 May 2007 at 05:06

http://origin.gamesradar.com/gb/ps3...sectionId=1006&releaseId=20060308105930968037

Xbox 360's lack of a guaranteed hard-drive, with some gamers having opted for the stripped-down Core version, and its use of DVD discs, will create limitations in Grand Theft Auto IV's development, Rockstar has acknowledged.

During an interview with Official PlayStation Magazine, Rockstar's creative vice president Dan Houser was posed this question: "On PS3 you've got a guarantee that every machine is going to have a hard-drive and, with Blu-ray, you've got plenty of storage, whereas on Xbox 360 there's no guarantee of a hard-drive and you're working with the DVD format. Does that create limitations?" To which he simply answered, "Yep."

"To be honest with you," Houser continued, "we haven't solved all those riddles yet." Although the difficulties aren't limited to working with Microsoft's console, as he explains that "both [platforms] have enormous challenges" and that "there are problems on both ... both have their own particular pleasures and pains". If anyone can make the most of what's available, though, it has to be Rockstar.

Memphis · 3 May 2007 at 07:50

Nothing particularily surprising there. A fixed hardware specification will always be easier to code for than one that can change. Surprised that they feel they have hit a barrier with DVD media however, given how small previous GTA games have been. I guess it's just Rockstar pushing the boundaries as usual.

dannyjo22 · 3 May 2007 at 07:55

Sniper123 said:
"both [platforms] have enormous challenges" and that "there are problems on both ... both have their own particular pleasures and pains".

Bigpig · 3 May 2007 at 07:58

No Hardrive as standard in the core you might as well have no harddrive in the prem as it's useless for Game Dev. But that is old news and have been said many times

V4NT0M · 3 May 2007 at 08:00

Where did I miss the news that the PS3 hard drive and Blu-ray were limitless?

Zheka · 3 May 2007 at 08:10

During an interview with Official PlayStation Magazine

So what will be in interview with Official Xbox Magazine?

JUMPURS · 3 May 2007 at 08:19

Skyfall said:
Where did I miss the news that the PS3 hard drive and Blu-ray were limitless?

Don't think anyone said they where limitless.

Interesting now Rockstar are saying DVD is a bit tight on space.

The only thing i hope is that the PS3 version doesn't suffer because of it. I have always bought GTA's on the PS and will buy this one on the PS too.

Wonder if any of the missing stuff will be the episodic content MS will have

V4NT0M · 3 May 2007 at 08:28

I was just commenting on their use of language, saying that 'X' creates limitations is different to saying 'X' is more limited than 'Y'. Because neither 'X' or 'Y' are limitless and there are always limits in harware/software.

Kreeeee · 3 May 2007 at 08:30

Does the PS3 version have trouble streaming the world smoothly because of its limited drive speed? I don't see why Rockstar can't make use of the 360's hard drive, I know it would mean a few people can't play the game but surely they'd be better off making a superior game?

Nismo · 3 May 2007 at 08:31

Honestly, who cares?

It will still be a great game on either console. I'm sure the devs will figure it out if there are any problems.

Kreeeee · 3 May 2007 at 08:36

Teletraan-82 said:
Honestly, who cares?

It will still be a great game on either console. I'm sure the devs will figure it out if there are any problems.

I'd rather them use the 360 HDD resulting in an overall better game. Who would actively want a game to be worse than it could be? :confused:

Nismo · 3 May 2007 at 08:38

Kreeeee said:
I'd rather them use the 360 HDD resulting in an overall better game. Who would actively want a game to be worse than it could be?

Most games aren't as good as they could be though, for various reasons.

What I'm saying is that I don't see it as being a problem, for me anyway. I will enjoy the game regardless of 'limitations'.

(I'll just mention I'm in a very grumpy mood this morning as well, so don't take me too seriously :/)

Abooie · 3 May 2007 at 09:19

Kreeeee said:
I'd rather them use the 360 HDD resulting in an overall better game. Who would actively want a game to be worse than it could be?

They can; they can easily code it to look for the HDD and use a cache if present. Bethesda did with Oblivion. If poeple want to save £70 and not get a hard drive and have slightly longer loading times c'est la vie.

Kreeeee · 3 May 2007 at 09:26

Teletraan-82 said:
(I'll just mention I'm in a very grumpy mood this morning as well, so don't take me too seriously :/)

I never do

Nismo · 3 May 2007 at 09:30

Kreeeee said:
I never do

mmj_uk · 3 May 2007 at 09:40

ignore.

McManicMan · 3 May 2007 at 09:43

mmj_uk said:
ignore.

no, it was on dvd5 so less than 4.5 or whatever it is, probably even less than that

Psyk · 3 May 2007 at 12:07

Kreeeee said:
Does the PS3 version have trouble streaming the world smoothly because of its limited drive speed? I don't see why Rockstar can't make use of the 360's hard drive, I know it would mean a few people can't play the game but surely they'd be better off making a superior game?

I don't think MS would let them make a game that requires a hard disk. MS set conditions that any 360 game must follow to be allowed to be released. Being able to work with live, must support 720p, etc. One of the conditions is that a game must not require a hard disk so all 360 owners can at least play it, even if it's better with a hard disk.

I think if it continues to limit developers then it's possible MS will start allowing developers to make games that require a hard disk.

Emlyn_Dewar · 3 May 2007 at 12:18

Football Manager requires a Hard-disk doesn't it?
I think it's time for MS to drop the price of the HD considerably and allow developers to release games that need it.
It seemed good at the time but I think releasing one SKU with an HD and another without was a big mistake.

Psyk · 3 May 2007 at 12:58

Emlyn_Dewar said:
Football Manager requires a Hard-disk doesn't it?

I stand corrected. In that case yes, Rockstar could make a hard disk a requirement but that would limit the amount of people that could play the game. I'm sure if it came down to it, they would rather say it requires a hard disk than make it significantly different to the PS3 version.