Why Don't PC Games Run On Disc Like Xbox?

[Guest]

I read an article on MS website saying that the ultimate gaming experience,
disc-based games should be "plug-and-play" - i.e. do not force users to
install, let them just play from the disc.

Hmmm... it raises the question. If Xbox 360 can handle all the DX9 graphics
without downloading all the GB-hungry files, why should PC need such
"unnecessity"?

To be honest, I would love all PC disc-based games run without installing,
saves me a lot of GB+++

 

[Andrew]

Hmmm... it raises the question. If Xbox 360 can handle all the DX9 graphics
without downloading all the GB-hungry files, why should PC need such
"unnecessity"?

Because load times from optical media is awful and I for one much
prefer the speed that games load from harddisk's.

 

[Mike Grace]

Isn't this Microsofts intention with Vista or at least XNA?

I am sure I read something about Vista would allow booting of games in the
same way as the 360 etc..

Mike

 

[Jane C]

I would think that the game manufacturers would have to make the cds run in
a similar fashion to those linux live cds, ie no autorun install, just
autorun 'play'. So it won't happen with any existing games.

 

[Andrew]

Isn't this Microsofts intention with Vista or at least XNA?
No.

I am sure I read something about Vista would allow booting of games in the
same way as the 360 etc..

The idea is to start the HD install, and while it is going on in the
background, you can start playing the game, with subsequent load times
being much quicker than you get on a console.

 

[Guest]

Isn't this Microsofts intention with Vista or at least XNA?

I am sure I read something about Vista would allow booting of games in the
same way as the 360 etc..

That is what I would like to see. They can do some disk caching of
somethings from HD with ouThat is what I would like to see. They can do some
disk caching of some things from HD with out doing install like the Xbox. I
have about 50 GB of games and could use some relief. t doing install like
the Xbox. I have about 50 GB of games and could use some reli

 

[Joe Ogiba]

I would like to them add a low cost ($100) 320GB 7200rpm HD to the Xbox 360
and run games without the DVD.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the responses out there.... I do have some thoughts tho...

for example, for the Xbox 360 *without* HD, how does it cache data? In the
512MB of RAM? I mean, the games are from a 18GB+ DVD and all the graphics
textures are getting bigger and bigger... i wonder how the 360 manages to
run without a HD IF as ppl have suggested that the reason for install
is to reduce load times...

360 with HD - i'm not sure if the extra HD improved load times...

and as Teck suggested, caching would be a great time - ie. temp storage vs
permant install... games saves should be permanent naturally...

The only thing it would be nice if the get rid of the permant install
files... game publishers force us to put in the game disc in the drive when
playing, so why not just have temp cache files instead?

 

[Guest]

I guess game publishers wouldn't want that to happen as they want all the
"protection measures" in place. See... the PC does that but you can't run
the games without the disc in drive. so I wouldn't see how 360 would differ
IF your dream came true.

Well of course unless some mod software is in place.

 

[Paul Smith]

for example, for the Xbox 360 *without* HD, how does it cache data? In the
512MB of RAM? I mean, the games are from a 18GB+ DVD and all the graphics
textures are getting bigger and bigger... i wonder how the 360 manages to
run without a HD IF as ppl have suggested that the reason for
install is to reduce load times...

360 with HD - i'm not sure if the extra HD improved load times...

Some games do cache data to the hard drive if you've got one, Oblivion is
one example and it does help the loading times quite a lot.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.windowsresource.net/

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