Freelancer on one cd

Thu Mar 04, 2004 1:15 pm by Niquest the Noob

This may have been talked about before, but I couldn't find a topic specifically addressing it.
There is a very good reason why FL is on one cd, and why it could be on 2 or 3 or 4, and be the exact same. Think of other games on multiple cds. A few I know of are Descent 3, Nightfire, and Diablo 2. What do these games have in common? most of their cutscenes are high res movies, and they also have several movies in them as well. This takes a LOT of space. Having CG script takes a lot less space. And that is exactly what FL does. It's only movies are the intro ones. All the cutscenes are CG script, which is small.
I may be dead wrong, but I know that for only a few movies in Diablo 2, they take up a whole CD. When FL was originally planned for multiple CDs they may have planned on making the cutscenes movies instead, which would take alot of space.
What I'm saying is that Maybe they didn't cut a whole lot out of the game, but instead just used CG cutscenes instead of movies. That would save a whole lot of space, with all the cutscenes in FL, probably several CDs worth.
Like I said, I may be wrong, But I think I have a good point.

Thu Mar 04, 2004 1:43 pm by Bri_Dog

I'd rather worry about 1 CD then 3.

Thu Mar 04, 2004 2:26 pm by {MN} Admiral Nazbit

Yeh thats the case with nightfire and Starwars Knights Of The Old Republic

The only major two i can think of right now

The Mercenary Navy - Power Is Everything
Vist The Mercenary Navy Online .

Thu Mar 04, 2004 3:46 pm by Sir Spectre

Personally, I'd like games to start using the DVD-rom technology, so far I have a DVD-Rom and I only ever use it as a CD-Rom, except for DVD copies I make myself.

I'm surprised game companies haven't embraced the DVD-Rom for their games. Full Motion Video could make a comeback. Wing Commander 3 on 4 discs could fit on one DVD now. WC4 on 6 discs, could fit on one DVD!

Trying to squeeze everything onto one CD is also squeezing the potential quality, though it does enhance efficiency. Computers do run better with efficient programs. But I'd still prefer DVD games over CDs.

Sir Spectre

Thu Mar 04, 2004 4:04 pm by Esquilax

I could never figure out why WC4 has 6 CDs, while WC3 has only 4. WC3 seems like a longer game to me. Plus, it seems to have just as many cutscenes as WC4.

Thu Mar 04, 2004 8:02 pm by matt8705

@SS - I agree with the while dvd thing, I used to only use mine as a cd drive but i now use it for burning over stuff to dvd's. Its a great way to clean out files on your hard drive that you need but dont want to take up the space. I've got ove dvd full of music thats zipped up that who knows how many cd's it would take. Its a shame that they cant get the blue laser dvd's off the ground floor. I'd love to get one but its not worth the time for the few amount of dvd's that can actualy use it.

Fri Mar 05, 2004 12:17 am by Eraser

First of all, this started out as a subject that has to do with Freelancer, but it appears that the subject has changed to off topic and therefore i'll move it there to continue

Second of all, i agree with SS on the DVD games thing. I'd rather see games on 1 DVD than on 4 CD's. Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance is a good example. Lots of data, but they put it on 1 high density DVD. I always hated it when you were all into the game as in like WC IV and then all of a sudden you got the black screen and then the message: "please insert disc ...". And WC IV indeed had 6 CD's, so it drove you absolutely mad!

Fri Mar 05, 2004 6:26 am by Sir Spectre

@Esq, WCIV felt shorter perhaps because of 2 reasons: One, the flight was less combat intensive and more strategy or objective intensive; two, there were actually in many cases 2 parallel plotlines you could have taken (in a few cases 3), so unless you decided to take the other plot line, you didn't ever see those scenes.

The best way to play WC4 is play it through once, then play it again right afterwards making alternate choices. The best example is the first choice you get to make. If you help out the beggar at the beginning he gives you info later in the game, if you blow him off, he doesn't tell you anything. But you don't ever see that unless you play it through again.

Sir S

Fri Mar 05, 2004 9:31 am by Cronos

Actually, some companies are now using DVD's instead of CD's. Far Cry will only be available on DVD, so for those that are interested in Far Cry will need to get a DVD Rom if they don't already. Unreal Tournament 2004 will be released with two versions for the costumer to choose; one with two DVD's (first dvd is the game, second dvd is bonus stuff) and the other one has 6 CD's for those that don't have DVD Roms and/or like CD's better I guess.

_______________________
The beginning of eternity
The end of time and space
The beginning of every end,
And the end of every place.

Fri Mar 05, 2004 9:54 am by H.Q. Victor

Some games have files compressed so that a 640mg CD installs a program that can be 1.3 gigs in size. Wait till the get the new lazer DVD running and at a cheaper rate.

Finalday

Habaq Mot / Aspazomai Thanatos / Capere Obitus... /Keith Green\ (1953-1983)

Fri Mar 05, 2004 5:06 pm by Esquilax

SS - Yeah, I forgot about the two paths. That would probably explain it.

I'm going to get an 8x DVD-RW soon. They're damn cheap, and my CD-RW is no longet adequate to make regular backups. I'd wait for HD-DVDs, but they will probably be REALLY expensive for the next year or so.

Sun Mar 07, 2004 11:48 am by H.Q. Victor

This, is one time I am glad that FL is ONLY on one CD. Just scatched mine. I had a problem after reloading all my software, including FL, FL gave me a corrupt file error involving Tobias wav. Finally looked at the cd and it had a small, but deep scratch in it. HAd to go get a replacement

The good side was it was cheaper than the first copy. This is the time I miss archiving my disks, for just such an emergency

Finalday

Hinneh / I / Bo / Mahar... /Keith Green\ (1953-1983)

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