Capt. Couch
Wake me... When you need me...
- 331
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- United States of America
- Seen May 30, 2009
Okay, sorry for the REALLY long post, but this is something my friends and I have debated about for the longest time...
This has been a rumor which has floated around for what feels like an eternity, and Konami has already denied claims of an Xbox 360 version of Metal Gear Solid 4 on multiple occastions. Considering a few new system features of the Xbox 360, wouldn't you think it's possible? I'm not suggesting that it will happen (though I think it might be a wise choice on Konami's part), but merely suggesting the possibilities considering the limitations and potential of the Xbox 360.
A major thing (and most likely the main thing) to consider in terms of the Xbox 360 is the limitations of the media it uses: only DVDs. Even DVDs with the largest avaliable capacities of 8.5GB are simply dwarfed in comparison to the PS3's Blu-Ray disc with the maximum capacity of 50GB on a dual-layer disc. A thought though: you could always just switch discs with when you were prompted to, right? Wrong. With the way that Metal Gear Solid 4 renders cutscenes in real time, it would be cumbersome and impractical to switch discs because you would more often than not be required to swap discs at an inconvenient time, and if you didn't have the required discs, then you're screwed. Anybody remember the good old days with the original PlayStation?
There are multiple solutions to this problem, some being logical and others being downright absurd.
One solution to consider: why not lessen the graphical quality of textures and sound so it would fit on one disc? The simple answer: no. Konami developers have commented on how it was difficult to fit all the content on one single dual-layer Blu-Ray, and to reduce the entire TOC from 50GB to 8.5GB for one disc would only mean that the game suffers a tremendous loss: the high-definition graphical features would fall from peak 1080i beauty to absolute crap, with the quality prediction being at about mid N64 to PS2 quality. Be honest here, no respectable gamer would want that!
The loading from multiple discs idea has already been dished out, which leaves a last, and probably most logical, solution for this dilemma: data importation. The most recent update to the Xbox 360 system features a function which allows data to be imported to the Xbox 360 hard drive. Therefore, multiple discs still have the potential to be used, but they will not be used to load data in-game and will instead be imported to the hard drive to keep virtual properties of the Blu-Ray disc: high capacity and real time-loading cutscenes. Real-time loading properties will still be able to be kept because of how much faster data is read from an HDD than a disc and because of the capacity of the hard drive, it matches and even exceeds the capacity of the Blu-Ray dual-layer disc with modern models.
While this seems like the best idea (at least in my humble opinion), one solution leads to more problems.
The main problem which stems from this idea is the lack of HDD space, considering the much smaller capacity held by older Xbox 360 hard drives and the possible lack of space simply due to the fact that DLC, original Xbox emulation files, and save files add up over time and your hard disk space gets smaller and smaller. Therefore, an idea would be to bundle an offer for a hard drive at a discounted price with the game because it would only prove to be an inconvenience for those who wish to play the game and are required to buy a hard drive at full price, which would only result in grumbling gamers and reduced profits. Seeing how the 60GB model would be the most easily marketed modern-model hard drive for the Xbox 360, an optimal price would be around $35, about less than half the standard price. You'll receive 50GB for the game and an extra 10GB for the optional DLC if any is released. Not only that, but Konami will profit from game sales and Microsoft will profit from HDD sales due to MGS4 being one of the most wanted games on the Xbox 360. Both companies involved will win.
Another issue is the updates to the new Xbox 360 system menu to allow importing of games to the hard drive, for not all owners have Xbox Live. The solution is simple however: bundle an extra disc for the update.
In short, I guess it is possible, but what do you think?
For those of us who are impatient, I guess we'll just have to pick up a PS3, but hey, I could imagine a future Xbox 360 bundle with the game, a 60GB hard drive, microphone, and a themed faceplate to go along with it.
This has been a rumor which has floated around for what feels like an eternity, and Konami has already denied claims of an Xbox 360 version of Metal Gear Solid 4 on multiple occastions. Considering a few new system features of the Xbox 360, wouldn't you think it's possible? I'm not suggesting that it will happen (though I think it might be a wise choice on Konami's part), but merely suggesting the possibilities considering the limitations and potential of the Xbox 360.
A major thing (and most likely the main thing) to consider in terms of the Xbox 360 is the limitations of the media it uses: only DVDs. Even DVDs with the largest avaliable capacities of 8.5GB are simply dwarfed in comparison to the PS3's Blu-Ray disc with the maximum capacity of 50GB on a dual-layer disc. A thought though: you could always just switch discs with when you were prompted to, right? Wrong. With the way that Metal Gear Solid 4 renders cutscenes in real time, it would be cumbersome and impractical to switch discs because you would more often than not be required to swap discs at an inconvenient time, and if you didn't have the required discs, then you're screwed. Anybody remember the good old days with the original PlayStation?
There are multiple solutions to this problem, some being logical and others being downright absurd.
One solution to consider: why not lessen the graphical quality of textures and sound so it would fit on one disc? The simple answer: no. Konami developers have commented on how it was difficult to fit all the content on one single dual-layer Blu-Ray, and to reduce the entire TOC from 50GB to 8.5GB for one disc would only mean that the game suffers a tremendous loss: the high-definition graphical features would fall from peak 1080i beauty to absolute crap, with the quality prediction being at about mid N64 to PS2 quality. Be honest here, no respectable gamer would want that!
The loading from multiple discs idea has already been dished out, which leaves a last, and probably most logical, solution for this dilemma: data importation. The most recent update to the Xbox 360 system features a function which allows data to be imported to the Xbox 360 hard drive. Therefore, multiple discs still have the potential to be used, but they will not be used to load data in-game and will instead be imported to the hard drive to keep virtual properties of the Blu-Ray disc: high capacity and real time-loading cutscenes. Real-time loading properties will still be able to be kept because of how much faster data is read from an HDD than a disc and because of the capacity of the hard drive, it matches and even exceeds the capacity of the Blu-Ray dual-layer disc with modern models.
While this seems like the best idea (at least in my humble opinion), one solution leads to more problems.
The main problem which stems from this idea is the lack of HDD space, considering the much smaller capacity held by older Xbox 360 hard drives and the possible lack of space simply due to the fact that DLC, original Xbox emulation files, and save files add up over time and your hard disk space gets smaller and smaller. Therefore, an idea would be to bundle an offer for a hard drive at a discounted price with the game because it would only prove to be an inconvenience for those who wish to play the game and are required to buy a hard drive at full price, which would only result in grumbling gamers and reduced profits. Seeing how the 60GB model would be the most easily marketed modern-model hard drive for the Xbox 360, an optimal price would be around $35, about less than half the standard price. You'll receive 50GB for the game and an extra 10GB for the optional DLC if any is released. Not only that, but Konami will profit from game sales and Microsoft will profit from HDD sales due to MGS4 being one of the most wanted games on the Xbox 360. Both companies involved will win.
Another issue is the updates to the new Xbox 360 system menu to allow importing of games to the hard drive, for not all owners have Xbox Live. The solution is simple however: bundle an extra disc for the update.
In short, I guess it is possible, but what do you think?
For those of us who are impatient, I guess we'll just have to pick up a PS3, but hey, I could imagine a future Xbox 360 bundle with the game, a 60GB hard drive, microphone, and a themed faceplate to go along with it.
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