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Six big-name games at launch, and more on the way.

Each of the three next-generation consoles sports a marketplace for downloadable games -- Nintendo's Virtual Console, Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade, and Sony's PlayStation Network -- and each console sports some manner of backwards compatibility to the previous generation.

Microsoft is looking to expand on its previous online game offerings with the Xbox 360's Fall Dashboard Update which is scheduled for a December 2 release. The new update brings with it a half-dozen full-version downloadable original Xbox titles. The UK-based gaming site Computer and Video Games posted an article earlier today and quickly pulled it from their site -- but not before the news had escaped.

According to the leaked article, the first wave of titles includes:

  • Burnout 3
  • Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
  • Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
  • Fable
  • Halo: Combat Evolved
  • Indigo Prophecy
No details were provided with regards to content protection, but it stands to reason that Microsoft will implement a similar manner of DRM to the current Live Arcade games. At a cost of 1200 Microsoft points, approximately $15 USD, the price for a downloaded game is about in line with what one could expect to pay for a used disc from a second-hand source.

In addition to the six games listed above, Microsoft plans to re-release more Xbox content on the Marketplace -- so those gamers who missed out on the earlier adventures of Master Chief will no doubt be able to enjoy Halo 2 after only a short delay.

Digital distribution on this scale does pose two major concerns. One concern is the sheer volume of bandwidth that will be consumed -- in the past, major demo releases have crippled Xbox Live's ability to function to various degrees, and at several gigabytes each, eager gamers downloading a compressed image of a full DVD will no doubt cause a similar impact.

The other concern is the size of these images. Users with the standard 20GB hard drive may find themselves only able to squeeze two or three Xbox games amongst the rest of their demos, videos, and trailers before finding that they're simply out of space.

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How large are Xbox Games?
By m0mentary on 11/13/2007 10:20:08 AM , Rating: 2
Im wondering if the current available hard drives will be enough or if people will start running out of space way too soon once more games become available.




RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By darkpaw on 11/13/2007 10:24:11 AM , Rating: 5
The larger HDD would probably be suffucient, but most people are not going to dish out $180 on that or buy an eliete just for the bigger drive if they already have a system.

What MS really needs to do is allow USB hard drives to be plugged in. With the amount of content they are adding to xbox live, there really needs to be much larger storage options. Go ahead and encrypt the drive even or at least the contents so the can't be pulled up on a PC, but the ability to use any external HDD will be sorely needed.


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By SirLucius on 11/13/2007 10:34:53 AM , Rating: 5
That's something I've wanted Microsoft to do for a while now. I don't want to drop another $180 on a drive when I have tons of spares just lying around. It's one thing I'll say Sony got right. I can plug in any hard drive via USB (just get a $20 case) and I can have as much additional storage as I want.


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By Locutus465 on 11/13/2007 10:52:57 AM , Rating: 2
I'll thrid this.... I've been wishing they'd allow an external HD to be hooked up for a good long while... Perhaps this will finally push them?


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By boredg on 11/13/2007 12:49:59 PM , Rating: 2
actually, I have connected a 500gb external hard drive via usb to my xbox, and it worked fine. in terms of music, videos, and pictures everything was functional. I'm not sure if you would be able to store live media on it though...


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By kelmon on 11/13/2007 11:03:49 AM , Rating: 2
Dream on. Unless another console manufacturer decides to do this to bring about a competitive advantage then it's in all the manufacturers interests NOT to allow you to connect a cheapo hard drive but rather pay more for a branded one that delivers a bigger profit. The tipping point in this is going to be the volume of content available and whether you (the customer) would choose not to buy a drive and content or decide that you really want the content and therefore pony up the money for the drive anyway. If customers don't buy the drives and the content then something will change but if not then it's not in Microsoft's interest to let you plug-in your own spare drives.


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By darkpaw on 11/13/2007 11:08:07 AM , Rating: 3
As the previous poster mentioned the PS3 has allowed swapping the HDD since launch with any off the shelf HDD.


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By kelmon on 11/13/2007 11:16:43 AM , Rating: 5
My bad. Apparently my ability to read isn't great today. It is possible that Microsoft figures that since the PS3 is perceived as being expensive that they can get away with not providing the same drive-swapping facility and can cash-in that way if customers buy the 360 instead. I'm not saying that this is what is going on but if users aren't looking at this as a potential cost of ownership of the 360 when deciding which console to buy then this enables Microsoft to boost their return without damaging the potential of a sale.

This is one thing that really annoys me about the new consoles. The older generations of consoles were much simpler where you only really ended up buying additional controllers; everything else you needed was in the box. With the current generation you practically feel as though you have to read the fine print for each to know exactly what it's all going to cost in the end.


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By SirLucius on 11/13/2007 11:53:23 AM , Rating: 5
Yeah, Sony has provided documentation on how to swap the internal HDD, as well as how to set up an external HDD.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the way Microsoft handles HDD's for the 360. It's similar to how people don't factor in the cost of XBL when considering the console. They can sell consoles without HDD's or with very small HDD's and then charge an arm and leg to upgrade. And people don't even think about it because they're separate purchases that are usually pretty spaced out.

In the past people have really only had 3 choices when it comes to consoles. Now it's Nintendo's console, Microsoft's multiple consoles, and Sony's multiple consoles. I still think part of Nintendo's success (ignoring the cheaper price), is that they offer one console. No consumer confusion. You go and ask for a Wii. That's it. No premium editions or models with different feature sets. Everyone gets the same system capable of doing the same things. As much as people like choice, they like simplicity even more.


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By FITCamaro on 11/13/2007 12:16:22 PM , Rating: 2
What about the cost of Xbox Live? Are you going to even attempt to compare Sony's Playstation Home to Live? $45 for 13 months of service is hardly a rip off.


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By SirLucius on 11/13/2007 12:36:00 PM , Rating: 4
Never said it was a rip off and I never brought up Home. The fact is with XBL you're looking at ~$200 over the course of 4 years (the expected life of the console) in additional fees to play online, not to mention the price for continued use on future Microsoft consoles. It's a feature that isn't included in the original cost of the system but that 90% of 360 owners pay for. It's seen as one of the selling points of the system. Like I said before, it's an additional fee that a lot of people don't factor into the cost of the system. If you did and decided it was worth it, that's great for you. I don't care one way or another. Just realize that the 360 isn't as cheap as it's made out to be if you want the full experience.

As for Home, well, I don't have to get Home to play PS3 games online. I do it now for free, and I can do it in the future for free. And Home itself is free. You pay to buy more things for use in Home. I'm allowed to spend as much or as little as I want within the Home system, and Sony has said that there will be free content in addition to content you can pay for.


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By Locutus465 on 11/13/2007 12:56:23 PM , Rating: 1
I guess I see your point if you are an online gamer... Not everyone is though, and you have to admit Microsoft doesn't force you to buy XBL Gold, you can stick with silver if you find the cost of Gold to be not worth it too you. So much like Home it's there if you want it but you don't have to pay for it... I think that's why you keep running into answers like "the cost of XBL Gold doesn't matter"... Because if it really does not cost you a nickel if it isn't worth it too you to subscribe.

I know you are not doing this intentionally, but you are making it sound as if XBL is a gotcha hidden charge that Microsoft is going to quietly stick you with when you buy an x-box... This isn't the case at all, how XBL works is well advertised... Again, I know you're not doing this intentionally, but it is the effect you get when statements like "people don't take into account the cost of...blah". People do know about it, if they want it they can subscribe, if they don't no one is forcing them. So for mom and dad making a choice on which console to buy for their kids, XBL is not going to be a stopping point because they can just refuse to subscribe if they want. On the otherhand, when it comes to the at the register price of the console, there isn't a whole lot of choice other than deciding what packages and accessories to pick up. Comparing the cost of entry of an X-BOX v. PS3, guess which one wins? Throw the Wii into the equation and I'm pretty sure both X-BOX and PS3 are out of luck most of the time.


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By SirLucius on 11/13/2007 1:12:26 PM , Rating: 2
I see what you're saying. I'm not trying to make it seem like XBL is some hidden cost put in place by Microsoft to shaft 360 owners. They're very upfront about it. I guess my only point is that a lot of people seem keen to hype up XBL while ignoring the price associated with the service. If you don't play online then you're right, the 360 is cheaper. But if you do pay for an XBL subscription, the total amount of money put into the system is greater than a lot of people want to admit.


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By Locutus465 on 11/13/2007 1:25:33 PM , Rating: 2
Agreed on all points... I guess next next gen we'll see which stradegy is best, totally broken down with lots of options or monolithic (excluding the outlier, Nintendo). My guess is we'll see more motion sensing from both Nintendo and Sony and probably Sony & Microsoft move more to the middle as far as packages, options and core features, because to be perfectly honest I think the best solution this gen would have been somewhere between Sony & Microsoft... Every console absolutly should have a hard drive (user upgradable is a bonus, kudos sony), while for this gen Forcing any sort of HD Media might have been a bit much... That's just where I stand though, I do realize others feel differently and I do respect all opions in between because there is merit to both stradegies... I just like a bit more balanace, and a bit less damage to my savings acct :(


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By Locutus465 on 11/13/2007 1:26:32 PM , Rating: 2
I'm sorry, more motion sensing from *Microsoft* and sony... It'd be hard for Nintendo to add any more


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By Nightskyre on 11/13/2007 1:29:29 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
guess my only point is that a lot of people seem keen to hype up XBL while ignoring the price associated with the service.


When considering the other consoles, the question is not whether or not people think XBL Gold is worth $50. The question is whether or not XBL's superiority over VC and PS3 Home is worth $50. I've used all three of them, and I can confidently say XBL far surpasses either the PS network or the Nintendo network.

There isn't really a competition. For my $50, it's worth it.

On a separate point, why is Microsoft releasing games that are already backwards compatible? I would think this would be an opportunity for Microsoft to make available games that are not BC from the original X-Box.


RE: How large are Xbox Games?
By Manch on 11/13/2007 1:55:12 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
When considering the other consoles, the question is not whether or not people think XBL Gold is worth $50.
~
quote:
There isn't really a competition. For my $50, it's worth it.


You make an exellent point. Remember:

IE(free) vs Netscape($$$)?

In that particular case the free option (IE) while not as good was close enough that netscape was not worth the money. If Sony or Nintendo come out with a competitive service thats free then maybe the XBL is a hidden cost arguement could be made.

You can look at other exmaples of "pay for service" vs "free". More often than not you get what you pay for. Sometimes the extra is not worth it, sometimes it is.