Xbox 360 Oblivion 'benefits from HDD'

[O.D.S]

Forthcoming RPG could set worrying precedent for those without X360 HDDs.

Last week, we reported on how Microsoft was intending to launch two different flavours of it's forthcoming Xbox 360 console. The cheaper of the two packages, known as the X360 Core System, was to come without a hard disk, whilst the pricier bundle, known as the X360 Premium System, would come with a 20GB hard disk equipped, for those of us who earn a little more green than everybody else. It all sounded fairly straightforward to us. You know, in an elitist, my-360's-better-than-your-360 sorta way.

Except that now, developer Bethesda Softworks has gone and thrown a big, fat, shiny spanner in the works by admitting that it's forthcoming RPG, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, will benefit from being played on an Xbox 360 system that's equipped with a hard disk. Which is great news, if you've actually bought an Xbox 360 with the hard disk included. So now we're confused all over again.

'We've known since day one that there would be versions of the 360 without a hard drive, so Oblivion will still work on every 360,' the game's executive producer told PALGN. 'That being said, Oblivion takes full advantage of the hard drive and uses it extensively, so we'd certainly recommend that everyone gets one.'

Understandably, that's one recommendation that sets alarm bells ringing for future Xbox 360 software. This is the first X360 game that PALGN has heard of where the optional hard disk enhances the game in some way (Bethesda refused to specify exactly how the playing experience would be altered with a HDD in place), and it certainly raises questions about the ramifications of other future X360 games requiring the HDD if they're to be enjoyed fully. What's next? Extra levels for HDD owners whilst the paupers amongst us miss out? Less polygons in Joanna Dark's nose? The future's a scary place indeed.

Anyway, we'll be monitoring this situation closely over the next few weeks, so check back for more in the near future.

LINK: http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=2926

[Viper]

The Haves and Have Nots part 1.

[Sendok]

Originally Posted by Viper

The Haves and Have Nots part 1.

sadly..yes

[OutlawAdidas]

damn, must I spend $480 plus just to get alittle extra speed in my load times? thanks bethesda!

[Freeman_JI]

People without the HDD can play ES 4, people with a HDD can play ES 4 with less load times. There is no problem, people who don't have $400US for launch may be able to stomach the $300 price point and still enjoy Next gen games this Xmas, an upgrade to a HDD latter.

[Viper]

$330.00 because you need a mem card to save.

[Freeman_JI]

Originally Posted by Viper

$330.00 because you need a mem card to save.

Ha ha true that, the core will still be expensive but still a fair wack cheaper than the 360

[OutlawAdidas]

Originally Posted by Freeman_JI

Ha ha true that, the core will still be expensive but still a fair wack cheaper than the 360

Not really. You still need the game, and thats 59.99. So in essence, your still paying for the price of the 360 bundle. Face it man, your gettin ripped off

[Freeman_JI]

Originally Posted by OutlawAdidas

Not really. You still need the game, and thats 59.99. So in essence, your still paying for the price of the 360 bundle. Face it man, your gettin ripped off

Your paying a premium to get a hot product thats new to the market. Obviously you don't like the xbox so it's a rip off for you. People who have been waiting years to play ES 4, PG3, Kameo ect THIS XMAS won't see it that way.

360 $400
+ game $59.95 (not confirmed)
= $459.95

Core $300
+ game %59.95
=359.95

I'd don't see your logic you will always pay $100 less for the core.

[OutlawAdidas]

Originally Posted by Freeman_JI

Your paying a premium to get a hot product thats new to the market. Obviously you don't like the xbox so it's a rip off for you. People who have been waiting years to play ES 4, PG3, Kameo ect THIS XMAS won't see it that way.

360 $400
+ game $59.95 (not confirmed)
= $459.95

Core $300
+ game %59.95
=359.95

I'd don't see your logic you will always pay $100 less for the core.

You say that I don't like the Xbox.......I own an xbox. I don't like shady tactics.

Core model -

299.99 plus tax, thats

316 + a game, thats

379.....thats with tax. You have the system and the game, oh but look, you need a memory card.

Thats
$410!! 360 Premium bundle pack = 399.99 + tax = $420. Still less, but a ten dollar difference.

[Freeman_JI]

Originally Posted by OutlawAdidas

You say that I don't like the Xbox.......I own an xbox. I don't like shady tactics.

Core model -

299.99 plus tax, thats

316 + a game, thats

379.....thats with tax. You have the system and the game, oh but look, you need a memory card.

Thats
$410!! 360 Premium bundle pack = 399.99 + tax = $420. Still less, but a ten dollar difference.

Ok obviously your don't like xbox as much as other people do, and or you don't wan't any of the launch games

you still did'nt add a game to the Premium pack, what so you get the core to play games and the premium to look at it. The core is still a fair bit cheaper

[OutlawAdidas]

my point is that in the end, the price od the core is gonna run you the premium, even without a game.

I had my xbox for one thing, and that was a failure..........

[venomv]

The core is a rip-off no matter how you cut it, but thats not the problem I see. If it is like morrowwind how long do you think it would take to fill up a 64 MB memery card, that could be a serious problem. I don't own an XBox, I have never wanted one, if I wanna play Halo I can buy it for PC. But someone out there can surely tell me how much space Morrowwind is taking up on their HD, so what is it?

[Sendok]

I can think of alot of people the core system will appeal to.

My uncle for example is a PGR nut. he got PGR2 when it came out w/the Xbox and hasn't stopped playing it. He plays it a good hr a day.

-He dosen't have a HD TV
-He dosen't need a wirless controller
-He won't need a HD

so it would work really well for him.

[Freeman_JI]

The Core is for the Casuals, However I must say that MS will milk them latter when they find out that they can't do alot off cool stuff without the HDD, and then MS will make a killing on HDD sales.

[HolyPaladin]

Originally Posted by venomv

If it is like morrowwind how long do you think it would take to fill up a 64 MB memery card, that could be a serious problem. I don't own an XBox, I have never wanted one, if I wanna play Halo I can buy it for PC. But someone out there can surely tell me how much space Morrowwind is taking up on their HD, so what is it?

I don't own Morrowind on PC, but a friend does and though I don't know how much it takes up altogether, just his save files are over a meg for each one. Now, when I played Morrowind on my Xbox, I'd sometimes have a half dozen saves just for one character, and some players might have multiple characters of their own and perhaps their friends have characters saved on there, too. While that might not seem like much, I can only imagine how big the save files might be on Oblivion. Morrowind kept track of heaps of stuff, including the locations and stats on the countless items that are littered all over the game world (which never seem to vanish no matter how long they've been there), dead bodies (for a while), what items you've stolen (like silverware from Bob's supper table or a book he had next to his bed), how individual NPCs feel about you (how much they like or dislike you), what items you've sold to which people and the stats on each of those thousands of items, and so on. I can only imagine what all will be tracked in Oblivion.

[raVen]

Bethesda has no reason to not bring this game to ps3 now...

[raVen]

Originally Posted by Freeman_JI

The Core is for the Casuals, However I must say that MS will milk them latter when they find out that they can't do alot off cool stuff without the HDD, and then MS will make a killing on HDD sales.

The casual gamer wants to be able to play the best games which will more than likely be the ones with HD Support... The casual gamer wants to play and go and not be worried with load times... and the casual gamer definately doesnt want to worry about if there going to have to upgrade their console to play a game. Thats where I think sony and microsoft are mistaking the casual gamer. I'm a sony/micro man myself but I appreciate Nintendo for not splitting the market.