PS3 News: Mandatory Install Debate Returns With Vampire Rain PS3

Mandatory Install Debate Returns With Vampire Rain PS3

Earlier this year, the mandatory installs started to pile up for the PlayStation 3. Games like Devil May Cry 4 and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots made headlines with their big install requirements, and now, this week's Vampire Rain: Altered Species causes the debate to begin afresh in many game forums across the Internet.

According to GamersPlatform, Altered Species sports a 3.8GB required install, which will take about a half hour to finish. The game is scheduled to launch on September 2 (perhaps to officially arrive on store shelves on the 3rd), and for some, it's a highly anticipated survival/horror - or action, depending on the categorization - title. It wasn't that great on the Xbox 360, but the developers have promised a greatly enhanced version for PS3 owners, so perhaps there's hope. But back to the mandatory install...many are worried that with this growing trend, their hard drives will fill up very quickly, thereby forcing them to buy a HDD add-on. The previously default PS3 model included a 40GB hard drive, and if you installed all three games mentioned in this article, you'd already be close to 10GB taken up. On the other hand, the new default model has a 80GB hard drive, and Sony will introduce a massive 160GB version for the holidays, too.

So what's your take on the mandatory install issue? Or would you rather call it a non-issue? Do you think it will have any affect on those still considering a PS3 purchase? Of course, one has to remember that not every game has a mandatory install, and in fact, very few do. But it seems like every time one shows up, everyone starts talking again...

Related Game(s): Vampire Rain: Altered Species

8/31/2008 Ben Dutka

Email this to a friend!
Put this on your webpage or blog:

Become a Video Game Designer

Comments (Beta)

AceTatsujin
Sunday, August 31, 2008 @ 10:09:29 PM
Reply

If you have the 40 or 60 gig models, you can just purchase a 2.5" HDD 250 Gig for no more than 80-90 US dollars. Very cheap deal, tons of space and nothing to complain about.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, August 31, 2008 @ 10:16:02 PM

I wouldn't say that to a 360 fan...an extra 80 or 90 bucks would essentially mean the PS3 is $100 more than the 360. It's not a good argument to make. It's BETTER to say people won't need that, not with the 80GB and 160GB PS3s coming out.

Agree with this comment 2 up, 2 down Disagree with this comment

eLLeJuss
Sunday, August 31, 2008 @ 10:30:57 PM
Reply

Well.... i have the 40 gig, and with all the vids and demo's i have on my ps3. Its filled up already. i just erased some of my demos to install gt5 prologue. =(. i guess i need to buy that HDD your talking about.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

BigT_1980
Sunday, August 31, 2008 @ 10:50:36 PM
Reply

I don't think I will get the game because it sounded like the game came straight form the April issue of GamePro in the LamePro section. As far as the topic of discussion I rather utilize the hard drive then to have to wait an excessive amount of time for it to load off the disc. You know it would be a slap in the face of Microsoft if the game was actually good on the PS3. Especially since Microsoft Publish the XBOX 360 version of the game. They can improve the game play but the story and dialog are pretty much hopeless.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Zapix
Sunday, August 31, 2008 @ 10:54:01 PM
Reply

I stick to my current feelings on the topic and side with the 360 in this case. Unless it's exclusive, I'm likely to get it on the PS3 to avoid possible installs, DLC content, and still to this day for the very fact, my friends list on the PS3 is tiny. I like online gaming with friends, and the PS3 gets its a** kicked sideways by the 360 where online gaming is concerned. Single player, yes, the PS3 dominates, but this install stuff is silly. 360 4TW sadly.
My 80gb has about 20gb left, and while I can uninstall games, I don't feel that I should have to install/uninstall/reinstall. I'm random, I pick up games on a whim, put them down just as fast, could be hours, months, days, minutes, that I play or don't play.
As for this game, I know too little to have any thoughts at all.
Last edited by Zapix on 8/31/2008 10:55:41 PM

Agree with this comment 0 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

Advent Child
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 1:36:54 AM

Im sorry Zapix but I have to seriously disagree with you here. I own both consoles and play online on each and I really don't see the 360 beating out the PS3 in any large gap you seem to think there is. Also I own around 80 games that have installs and saves on my PS3 and with my original 60gb model I still have plenty of room and really don't expect it to run out even remotely soon. On the other hand trying to put game videos and demos on my Xbox 360 can be a problem since just after my game saves are over I have like around 11gbs of storage left. To me the harddrive install insue is a non issue. Now vampire rain on the other hand is also a non issue, I mean have you seen the gameplay? Why make a PS3 game that looks like it should be coming out on the PS2? The graphics look atrocious.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

aaronisbla
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 7:10:54 AM

Last i checked, ( and i play games online often on my friends 360 ) both systems play online games quite equally.

It makes me laugh when someone says such and such online gameplay is much better, but the only prove they normally have is " i have more friends on this system than the other"....Anyways

Zapix, this has been noted many a times but honestly, if the 360 had a HDD in all 360s, trust me, those mandatory installs like for GTA4 would be there also. Maybe its the way gamers are nowadays, but since when is smoother/ faster loading for video games provided thru installs a "bad" thing?

Besides GTA4 and Fallout 3, anything else 360 gets as far as exclusive DLC?


Last edited by aaronisbla on 9/1/2008 7:13:35 AM

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Deleted User
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 @ 12:47:53 AM

no but thats plenty enough haha

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

watchit
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 12:58:55 AM
Reply

I have 200gb hard drive. I don't mind installs at all. I would like to see more, doesn't matter mandatory or not I would install full game if I could. Ben I would gladly say to any xbox fanboy I spent $80-$100 for a 200-300gb hard drive, instead of spending $180 for the 120gb xbox hard drive, which xbox is going to installs too. It's so easy to upgrade ps3 hard drive.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

watchit
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 1:00:35 AM
Reply

I meant 200-320gb

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Gabriel013
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 2:12:30 AM
Reply

From what I've picked up from those with more knowledge than me, the installs are needed to get the load times to the same level as the 360 so although I hate them, I guess they are necessary.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Nelo Sympozium
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 6:25:55 AM
Reply

Who's buying this wasn't Monster Madness promised like this but still it sucked. I don't think Vampire Rain we be all that great. I'm already pissed of at Microsoft for not including built-in Wi-fi and crappy HDD for 100 british pounds. Now what's with all these Xbox 360 games coming to PS3 stop it already

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

timster118
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 6:50:30 AM
Reply

A 250Gb HDD price is around $90 now and will continue to drop in price. I upgraded my PS3 because I want to take advantage of the movie and TV show content on the Playstation Store.

Game installs are not a problem now. I like them if it makes the game run/load better.

P.S. you can turn your old HDD into an external storage unit for $7.00.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Minishmaru
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 8:34:01 AM
Reply

I just have my external WD my book hard drive that i use for my pc and ps3. Works great without having to swap hard drives

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

pavlovic
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 9:11:13 AM
Reply

I just upgraded my HDD to a 250GB, it costed me like $110 USD here in Mexico, and I'm very pleased with it.

So mandatory install are not a problem for me anymore (at least for a couple of years since my 60HDD lasted almost 2 years). But it's clear that with the downloadble full games like Warhawk, GT5P, Socom and Burnout, everybody will be needing larger HDD.

And the sweetest is that you can buy the HDD that you like the most, and don't have to buy a HDD from Sony directly coff 360 coff.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Daedusian
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 11:48:22 AM
Reply

I think it's a pretty big issue eventually and I guess right now for some that play a lot of games but I'll be buying an upgrade sometime soon, I hope. Don't really need it now but I will eventually that's for sure, especially if this keeps up.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

MetalHead08
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 1:20:33 PM
Reply

i personally dont mind the mandatory installs. its not a really big deal to go and get a few hundred gig harddrive and stuff. now what i dont know is this, would the game be as good or better with or without the mandatory installs? how does it effect the game?

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

watchit
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 2:09:08 PM
Reply

metalhead quicker load times and less wear on blu-ray driver.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

TEG3SH
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 3:37:41 PM
Reply

who cares????? u have a hard drive use it,and if someone cant wait for a 30 min install then he needs to get a life pronto. As for piling up, delete the install and if u wanna play it again wait for another half an hour ,not the end of world seriously....

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

firehahahahaha
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 4:03:20 PM
Reply

I think the installs are a good thing, and when you're done with a game you can just delete them. Now should they be mandatory? I think it really depends on the game. I know Soul Calibur 4 and Unreal Tournament 3 have optional installs which is really great, but a huge game like MGS4 would just be horrible if you didn't install it, so that probably needs to be mandatory...
Last edited by firehahahahaha on 9/1/2008 4:03:42 PM

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

packiepa
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 4:18:36 PM
Reply

I have a 320gb hard drive installed on my ps3 and i already have 48 gb used up on it so the 60 gb default would not last long more.. 80gb and 160gb wont even be sufficent enough for the hard core gamer.. You would still end up having to upgrade at some point!!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

robinhood2010
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 4:56:47 PM
Reply

If I'm not mistaken, the standard Xbox 360 game with a what, 20GB harddrive? And the majority of PS3 owners have at least 40GB, few have 20GB. So there is a bonus there instantly.

Also, although Sony claim it is a multimedia hub, the PS3 is primarily for gaming. The majority of people have mp3 players, laptops or indeed PCs for music, videos, movies etc. Save game files do not take up a lot of space on the harddrive, so using the excess space for mandatory installs is not a problem. If you insist on using your PS3 for all other multimedia, invest in a larger harddrive. Xbox 360 fanboys may comment on that, but is it not popular to upgrade computer harddrives for the same purpose?

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

RebelExtrm02
Monday, September 01, 2008 @ 10:47:56 PM
Reply

For the love of god, you don't have to keep the install on your harddrive. When you beat the game, delete it. In the slim chance you come back to play it some more, just put it in and go grab a soda from the fridge. When you get back it'll be time to play.

Out of all of the people that I know who have enough games to worry about this kind of stuff, none of them play all of their games frequently enough to need to leave all the installs on the harddrive.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Deleted User
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 @ 1:11:37 AM

well im sorry but my fridge isnt down the street around the corner up two blocks make a left then a right.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

RebelExtrm02
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 @ 9:33:11 PM

Your smart alec response adds nothing to the discussion of the topic and is completely uncalled for. Please grow up before adding your $.02 again. Maybe you should stick to PC gaming. You'd never a problem with install times or any other obtrusive tasks. *rolls eyes*

Patience is a virtue. If you can't wait 5min of your life for an install for a game that will give back hours, days, and even months of entertainment, you seriously need to reevaluate your priorities in life.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Deleted User
Wednesday, September 03, 2008 @ 12:51:34 AM

What u just said is very DUMB and IGNORANT and u OBVIOUSLY dont play games if u think install times are only 5 MINUTES. please dont make another STUPID remark like that again so your STUPIDITY wont show so clearly. this wouldnt have been a topic if it just took 5 MINUTES U IDIOT!!!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

RebelExtrm02
Wednesday, September 03, 2008 @ 7:06:17 PM

Calling someone an idiot when you can't even form proper sentence or spell correctly doesn't add anything to your argument. It's completely unnecessary.

Assuming I'm not a gamer because I over simplified something as minuscule as a one time install time is ignorant in itself. Do I live and breath games? No. Do I spend every waking moment of my life playing games and verbally harassing people on the internet with a rhetoric so poor it hurts to read it? No. I have a family, a job, and college to absorb most of my time. I also have the patience to wait for an install time that pales in comparison to the amount of time that will be spent enjoying a game. I play lots of games and enjoy every minute of them. I appreciate them for the work of art they are.

When you learn patience, appreciation, respect, and proper communication you can talk to me. Until then I have nothing further to say to you. Neither I nor the rest of the gamers on this forum deserve to be subjected to the language you are presenting.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Deleted User
Wednesday, September 03, 2008 @ 8:36:04 PM

You are a dumb*ss plain and simple. Take your stupid retarded a** back to idiotville and save us all the ignorance you are spreading around!!!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

bamf
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 @ 10:14:50 AM
Reply

You shouldn't have to upgrade your hard drive to play a game

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

RebelExtrm02
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 @ 9:20:34 PM

You don't.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Deleted User
Wednesday, September 03, 2008 @ 12:53:07 AM
Reply

@rebeL And also your maturity shows with your profile pic U F***ING IDIOT!!!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

RebelExtrm02
Wednesday, September 03, 2008 @ 6:47:56 PM

Please leave this forum if you are going to resort to cursing at your fellow gamers.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Please login or register to leave a comment.

PS3 Giveaway

Sponsor



Our Poll

PSXE's Best of the Best: PS2 Action Adventure, Round 1
Devil May Cry
TimeSplitters 2
Your Favorite Grand Theft Auto
God of War II
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Resident Evil 4
Medal of Honor: Frontline
Shadow of the Colossus
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Okami

Previous Poll Results

Latest Updates

Sony And MS Can Ignore Nintendo
10h, 50m ago (48 comments)

X-Play Reveals Killzone 2 Launch Date, Two New Weapons
11h, 16m ago (14 comments)

Mirror's Edge DLC In January, Extra Time Trial Map For PS3
11h, 21m ago (7 comments)

Atari: Future Gaming Generations Won't Use Physical Media
11h, 23m ago (28 comments)

2008: The Year Of The Flop Killer
20h, 36m ago (97 comments)

Popular Cheats

Recent Reviews

Recent Previews