Xbox Takes the Next Step - Games on Demand

[rubecube]

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/sy...es/default.htm

You can now download full games from the Xbox Live marketplace. I'm really not sure what the benefit to this is other than not needing a disk to play the game. With the biggest HD being 120 GB, how many games could you actually store? Not sure if there is any price difference either.

[Hack&Lube]

Since Xbox 360 games are just on regular DVD and not Blu-Ray or anything, the games are 8GB max (many are smaller). You could theoretically have 15 fullsize games on there.

[mykalberta]

This will also assist in the DVD drives lasting longer, as well as probably the loudest part of the elite system is the DVD drive when a game is in. If you run it from the HD it should lessen the noise factor.

I wonder how GameStop, Bestbuy, Walmart think of this. They still sell the low margin hardware yet this cuts into the high margin game buisness.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Since Xbox 360 games are just on regular DVD and not Blu-Ray or anything, the games are 8GB max (many are smaller). You could theoretically have 15 fullsize games on there.

Ya this sort of thing is cool, but it seems that game sizes and hard drive sizes aren't increasing at the same rate. This will work for current 360 games but I would imagine the next generation of xbox will have capacities like the ps3. Of course games don't need to take up 50 gigs on a bluray disc, but if you give that kind of space to developers they'll just fill it up rendering a digital download pretty much impossible (or at least unrealistic).

I wonder how they would deal with backups?

[GoinAllTheWay]

Isn't there a way to copy entire games off the disc right now? I kinda like having the boxes anyways. Unless it's a cheaper price, I'll still buy games from the store.

[llama64]

This won't take off until Microsoft releases a reasonably priced hard drive expansion.

$1+ per GB is not even close to reasonable.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by llama64

This won't take off until Microsoft releases a reasonably priced hard drive expansion.

$1+ per GB is not even close to reasonable.

Or, at the very least, allow for the installation of retail drives like the PS3 does. You can put a 500GB HD in a PS3 yourself in about 10 minutes...at a cost of approximately $130 from MemoryExpress.

I've been running the new version of Xbox Live for a few days now, and the prices aren't that great. I just bought the Game of the Year edition of Oblivion (original game plus two expansions) for $29.99 brand new at Best Buy (it's the same price at EB and FS too)... but they're selling the original version through Games on Demand for $39.99, plus you still have to buy the expansions separately afterwards.

Edit: Mind you... these might not be the final prices, and there are always going to be price differences somewhere. I just figure that we should pay less since we're not getting an actual disc, case, etc. The manuals will be available for download from the Xbox Live website though.

All-in-all, I'm actually pretty pleased about the update. As much as I rip M$ over Windows, I've always liked the UI on the 360 (old and new version). The hardware could be better, but they are a software company after all.

(PS: Love the new avatar stuffs! Bought mine a cell phone... lame, I know, but whatever. It looks cool.)

[Igottago]

These would be pretty huge downloads wouldn't they? How long would it take to download a typical game? Plus there's always the chance that the download screws up or something. I can't see myself using this method over buying a hard copy of the game.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Igottago

These would be pretty huge downloads wouldn't they? How long would it take to download a typical game? Plus there's always the chance that the download screws up or something. I can't see myself using this method over buying a hard copy of the game.

With my Shaw connection, it takes me about 10 minutes (on a slow day) to download a 1.2GB game demo. So... maybe 30 minutes tops for a full game.

Also of note, they store a history of your purchases. It's set up so you're free to delete any game you buy, since you will be able to re-download it free of charge. I guess that's their response to the small drives. If you run out of space, just delete a game you no longer play. You can download it again another time and all your saves and achievements will still be intact (provided you don't delete them too - and there's never a reason to).

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

With my Shaw connection, it takes me about 10 minutes (on a slow day) to download a 1.2GB game demo. So... maybe 30 minutes tops for a full game.

Also of note, they store a history of your purchases. It's set up so you're free to delete any game you buy, since you will be able to re-download it free of charge.

Ok, a lot quicker than I was thinking. Wouldn't be too bad then.

[FanIn80]

Right, also... the ability to "install" games to the hard drive has been part of the 360 for a while now. I believe it came along with the new UI, but I could be mistaken. I only just got mine for a second time (I got rid of my old one a while back - no games I was interested in).

From what I can tell, the main benefits from playing the game from the HD instead of the game disk are... the system runs quieter, it also runs cooler (the DVD drive generates a lot of heat) and load times are faster (not super-faster, but still faster).

[3 Justin 3]

I hope everyone boycott's this service. Have you seen the prices for these games? Unfreakanbelievable. I can get all of them for under $15 at the store, they want $25-40 for all.

[flamesfan6]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Right, also... the ability to "install" games to the hard drive has been part of the 360 for a while now. I believe it came along with the new UI, but I could be mistaken. I only just got mine for a second time (I got rid of my old one a while back - no games I was interested in).

From what I can tell, the main benefits from playing the game from the HD instead of the game disk are... the system runs quieter, it also runs cooler (the DVD drive generates a lot of heat) and load times are faster (not super-faster, but still faster).

i got my xbox in january, and it had that new UI, which allows the install of the disk onto the HD, requires the Disk to be in the drive but does not run using the drive. I think this is better than downloading online.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I hope everyone boycott's this service. Have you seen the prices for these games? Unfreakanbelievable. I can get all of them for under $15 at the store, they want $25-40 for all.

Really? Which store do you shop at that sells all these Xbox360 games for under $15?

[Human Torch]

Thank god the saves are compatible with disc version saves. I got screwed over when I bought the digital version of burnout on playstation network and had to start over.

Prices are going to be high so they don't piss off retailers.

[Bibtin Tex]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Really? Which store do you shop at that sells all these Xbox360 games for under $15?

Yellow sticker games at EB Games, and with a discount card ($5) you can get games like BF Bad Company, Madden 09, tons of other games for around 10-15 bucks.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Really? Which store do you shop at that sells all these Xbox360 games for under $15?

Go to bestbuy/futureshop, Wal-Mart, EB. Most sell for $20 now (EB has some for $15). Or go eBay. Also, Bioshock and Oblivion (yes 3 year old Oblivion) are going for $40!! You can get them at Bestbuy/Futureshop together as a bundle for $40. Most of the games on Demand going for $30, go for 20 at Futureshop.


Oh, and Australians are paying $100 for some of theirs!

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Go to bestbuy/futureshop, Wal-Mart, EB. Most sell for $20 now (EB has some for $15). Or go eBay. Also, Bioshock and Oblivion (yes 3 year old Oblivion) are going for $40!! You can get them at Bestbuy/Futureshop together as a bundle for $40. Most of the games on Demand going for $30, go for 20 at Futureshop.


Oh, and Australians are paying $100 for some of theirs!

Yeah, I already mentioned that I bought he GOTY version of Oblivion (includes both expansions) for $29. The prices are pretty crazy, I've just never seen anything at EB for "under $15."

EB is probably the worst place on the planet to buy games. Their used prices are often more expensive than the prices for new items at other stores.

Pawn shops are often a gold mine, though. I bought Halo 3 for $20 and Mass Effect for $10 at one a couple days ago.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Yeah, I already mentioned that I bought he GOTY version of Oblivion (includes both expansions) for $29. The prices are pretty crazy, I've just never seen anything at EB for "under $15."

EB is probably the worst place on the planet to buy games. Their used prices are often more expensive than the prices for new items at other stores.

Pawn shops are often a gold mine, though. I bought Halo 3 for $20 and Mass Effect for $10 at one a couple days ago.

Oh I agree, I hate buying at EB. When I traded CoD:World at War in for $40, which was good because that was last month, so the game was out for nearly a year. I saw him re-sticker it as $64.95 used. Like holy crap, I can get it new for $60. The new versions at EB were $5 more. Such a joke.

[HOOT]

I don't like this idea. I think I would find myself buying games just because I could sit on my couch doing so. I usually buy a game from EB play it for a few nights and never touch it again so I could see this getting very expensive.