FFXIII Demo Fills 5GB Of HDD Space

It's an ongoing debate that always returns when yet another game with a huge required install comes around. But in this case, it's merely a demo...

That awesome Final Fantasy XIII demo that shipped with certain versions of the Japanese Blu-Ray release of "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children?" It seems it takes up over 5GB of space on your PlayStation 3, and this has caused a minor uproar of sorts: if the demo takes 5 gigs, what might the final game take...? Some of the more critical are bringing up specific quotes made by Square-Enix in the recent past, where they talk about using the PS3's HDD to their full advantage. Somebody once asked them to provide a number; i.e., exactly how much space will be used for a required install, but S-E said that hadn't been determined yet. Now, we know there are many who always call this a non-issue, as they just tell everyone to go out and pick up a bigger hard drive. Well, that's always an option, of course, but it quickly eats into Sony's claims of the PS3 being worth more for your money. The Xbox 360 version of FFXIII may span about 73 discs or something, but it's the PS3 owners who may have to worry about available HDD space, and a new hard drive isn't that cheap.

We're not sure where you stand on the issue, but we do have to admit, 4 and 5GB installs can eat up a whole lot of space very quickly. Obviously, we shouldn't infer too much from the demo in the first place, but when it comes out that an hour's worth of gameplay takes up 5 gigs...well, people are gonna talk.

Related Game(s): Final Fantasy XIII

4/16/2009 Ben Dutka

Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter

Comments (99 posts)

Toggle Scrolling | Reload Comments

King James
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:14:27 AM
Reply

5GB!!! WTF S-E!

0 up, 1 down

King James
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 12:40:41 PM

I don't care how big/small your Hard Drive is...5GB install for a demo DISK is unacceptable.

A direct download demo?...sure why not. But for a disk install on an HOUR LONG DEMO???!!!...A DEMO???!!!! Get off the cocaine S-E.

The S-E comedy routine continues. Wonder what their next joke will be...

Last edited by King James on 4/17/2009 12:42:04 PM

0 up, 0 down

tanner1
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:14:38 AM
Reply

Get over it, hdd r cheap, i payed £40 for 250gig internal sata. If not delete old data, demos or vids. If installs improve the load times or run of the game then im 100% for them

4 up, 1 down

Mystearica
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 8:44:26 PM

VERY true and I dun mind getting a giant harddrive... But - you know I have cable internet with Cogeco... and yes it is CABLE (and only cable in this city)! They limit my EVERYTHING (upload/download) to 60GB.... so pretty much I'm always POOF no internet and I can't have that. Honestly the last thing I need is something bigger than 10GB or something to download

0 up, 0 down

Akuma07
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 1:43:04 AM

you shouldnt have to micromanage your data just to play a new game.

im willing to go 10GB but anymore and this game is a no buy for me.

my ps3 is 60gb 'entertainment' machine as far as im concerned, not a FFXIII player.

and in these economical times, not EVERYONE can afford to buy a new hard drive just because of one game.

1 up, 0 down

fundando
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:14:58 AM
Reply

I'm sure they'll just do like metal gear and have you install in blocks.
If not who cares I got hard drive space.

Last edited by fundando on 4/16/2009 11:15:30 AM

0 up, 0 down

piratedrunk
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:17:04 AM
Reply

I'm not too worried about it.. I can't see the final product taking up much more than that unless it is on multiple blu-rays.. which would be awesome anyways. I will clear space for this game if I have to.

0 up, 0 down

www
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 1:57:06 PM

"multiple blu-rays"??????

how's that possible,it should fit on a 50GB dual-layer blu-ray disc.

0 up, 0 down

N a S a H
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 12:58:01 PM

If it's small enough for 360 DVD's then we'll never need multi/layered Blu-ray discs.

0 up, 0 down

JofaMang
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:18:29 AM
Reply

I bought a brand new 5400rpm 320gb for my laptop (compatible with ps3) a few weeks ago for $75 Canadian. Sure it is 75 dollars I wouldn't have to shell out for my ps3 if it came with a larger HD, but it is far more bang for the buck than upgrading to the 160gb drive (unless you absolutely need the Uncharted bundle, which I can totally understand, <3 Drakes)

Either way, they can't consider breaking the limit imposed by the 20gb models presence in Japan.

1 up, 0 down

Alienange
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:09:20 PM

Where'd you get a 320 for 75 bux? That's really good.

0 up, 0 down

somethingrandom
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 12:36:37 AM

You can get a 320GB at 5400rpm off newegg for $75. $112 for 7200rpm, or $137 for 500GB.

0 up, 0 down

daus26
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:24:41 AM
Reply

I don't understand why they are using the HDD as much as they are, with the capacity that a blu-ray disc can hold. Are they saying that even 50 gig of maximum space is not enough that they have to have us install at least 5 gigs of space to play it?

If this holds true, then I can only imagine the 360 to have at least 5 discs. But even then, they still would have to have some kind of install too right? Or will the 360 have some kind of compressed data?

Something is going on here that needs to be fixed. Having us to install files this big pretty much makes the blu-ray's 50gig of capacity useless.

0 up, 0 down

JofaMang
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:30:06 AM

There is a considerable performance gain from HDD installs as the access and loading time off the HDD is much better than off of optical drives, BD or DVD.

I would rather have an optional install (like SFIV) than mandatory, but optional installs prove how much faster the HDD can be (again, reference SFIV)

Last edited by JofaMang on 4/16/2009 11:30:22 AM

0 up, 0 down

BTNwarrior
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:31:03 AM

Well lost odyssey had 4 disks so this wouldn't be the first time they had to do this.

0 up, 0 down

DIsmael85
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:32:26 AM
Reply

Ben I would have to argue the case on a new Harddrive, I bought a 320GB harddrive for my PS3, for only 89.99 off of newegg.com. Honestly, I understand the article, and I understand the pain, but as a guy who upgraded, I could care less if the game was a 20GB install, I have so much free space, thanks to Sony allowing me to upgrade, that I can help but not care. Sorry folks for those of you who are in worry, but be thankful that Sony didn't make it proprietary with the harddrive and allows you to upgrade it.

1 up, 0 down

Mornelithe
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:35:28 AM
Reply

320g SATA2 HDD FTW. Thank God for easily upgradeable HDD's in the PS3, eh? Would hate to have a console that had like..I dunno, proprietary drives that were exceedingly expensive. That just sounds asinine.

Morne

3 up, 0 down

photo K
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 9:57:13 AM

I did the same. 320gb HDD, its wonderful. Thank you Sony.

0 up, 0 down

rell
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:41:10 AM
Reply

Thank God I don't own a 360, I would hate to have multiple disk and have a 20gig hdd. M$ sucks.

1 up, 0 down

coverton341
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 3:04:25 PM

Multiple disks and a 20GB HDD does suck. I love Lost Odyssey but every time I have to change discs I have to uninstall the last disc install the new disc and then play. I could just not install the game to the HDD but then it sounds like a jet engine taking off behind my TV. The install to HDD was a good idea and I like it I just hate that upgrading the HDD in a 360 costs me a full day of pay.

1 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 9:05:49 PM

Hell, I remember playing 4-disc games,
like Wing Commander for one.

And I also remember playing another PS1 game that had was 5 discs long(the name escapes me right now though).

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:46:26 AM
Reply

The demo (PS3 specific) takes 5GB? Good god, how on earth are we expected to believe that porting the game to 360 will have no effect on the PS3 version and that there won't be any difference between the two. As you point out Ben, it'll need several DVDs on 360 if the resources required for a single hour of game play take 5GB.

I really hope I am wrong, but I am suspecting that the 'full fat' PS3 specific version of the game will arrive in Japan, and then some months later the rest of the world will be treated to the re-implemented and ported semi-skimmed version that can be ported to the 360. If that turns out to be the case SquEnix will have lost any chance of regaining any of the respect they have squandered in recent year.

Like I said, I hope I am wrong, but it feels more and more that the version of FF XIII released outside Japan may be the same on both PS3 and 360, but may not be the same as what is released in Japan.

5 up, 0 down

Nynja
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:56:00 AM

I can only see one thing SE might do with the international version; less FMV sequences. The more FMVs they have, the more voice translations required. If they simply cut out these scenes, then they would save money all around.

Would SE do this to their high profile title? Doubt it. The Japanese PS3 version is nearing completion. The only thing left to do for the US/Europe versions are localizing. While they translate all the text and voice acting to English (which will probably take a very long time) they will port the 360 version. If they include all FMV sequences in the 360, it'll take at least 5 DVD9s.

Something I noticed with the demo vids, even the real-time cut scenes are using voice. They could save space if they left these parts to just text.

This'll probably be the 2nd 360 game to require an install (remember FFXI). They may install the full game data and run all the FMVs off the discs.

One thing is for sure, they will compress the hell out of that game for the 360.

I would have to say the only thing PS3 owners should be upset about is the added delay caused by waiting for the 360 port to complete.

1 up, 0 down

LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:19:05 PM

Never thought of that one before, maybe SE will try to keep it underraps so no one finds out that the Japanese FF13 is much better than the American and Euro one, haha. It'd be quite the blow though and I don't think SE would want to put themselves in anymore crap then what they're already in.

0 up, 0 down

Nynja
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:46:53 AM
Reply

I just ordered my import copy today... anyone know if the bluray movie will include subtitles? Man I hope so.

0 up, 0 down

DIsmael85
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:01:19 PM

The blu-ray is fully voiced in english buddy. So no worries.

0 up, 0 down

Nynja
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:14:12 PM

REALLY?! That's a huge relief! Just one question, how did you find out?

0 up, 0 down

LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:20:40 PM

I think PSX did a article on it, but yes it has everything it needs on it, due to the fact that they already had access to both set of voices previously due to the movie being out already. But yeah, full dub, full subtitle, full HD :P

0 up, 0 down

Nynja
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:31:22 PM

Makes sense. Thanx!

0 up, 0 down

telly
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:54:53 AM
Reply

I am really, really curious how this is going to pan out on 360. Five gigs FOR THE DEMO? They are going to have to compress the hell out of this game for it to fit onto a few 360 DVDs!

0 up, 0 down

crapreviews
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:14:58 PM
Reply

i dont see the problem. i got 240 gigs to spare lol

0 up, 0 down

Robochic
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:19:24 PM
Reply

That doesn't suprise me, i think this game is going to take up a lot of HDD but whatever as long as the game is worth that space i'm cool with that.

2 up, 0 down

dveisalive
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:23:12 PM
Reply

This is getting ridiculous. So I guess the final build is gonna have a 20gb install? WTF the Demo is 5 gb?????????????? I think they should put the whole thing on the blueray PERIOD! I know that the installs are really for faster loading times and all, but I wish they optimize it on a dual layer blueray disc or something. Cause I dont feel like paying for a 100gb hardrive and UP. I could of got more PS3 games for the price of that. Plus Im running out of room on my 60gb. So no Demo for me!

1 up, 1 down

LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:28:33 PM

Can't be more than 15-18gb :P since that's the ps3's 20gb limit area.

0 up, 1 down

LimitedVertigo
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:23:19 PM
Reply

If you pay more than $89 for a 500 gig 2.5 HD you're getting ripped off.

1 up, 0 down

LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:26:57 PM
Reply

You can get that Black Cloud PS3 bundle right now for only 649.99$ + shipping.. :P lol look how epic it is, http://image4.play-asia.com/640/8c/pa.150493.2.jpg & http://image1.play-asia.com/640/8c/pa.150493.3.jpg

0 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:27:38 PM
Reply

For those of you lobbying for the hard drive, adding $75 - $95 onto the price of a PS3 isn't helping Sony's position, no matter which way you slice it.

Personally, I hate this whole "install onto HDD" stuff. I just want to play the damn game.

5 up, 2 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:32:52 PM

I'm with you Ben, I shouldn't HAVE to upgrade just to play some games, unless maybe I have tons and tons of info already on there. It's dumb to say "well I don't mind I have X gigs left" because not everyone does or wants to upgrade yet since I could get a couple games for the price of that hard drive and enjoy them quite a bit more.

0 up, 1 down

Nynja
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:37:23 PM

I agree, mostly. I like having the option (key word: option) to install the game. If it'll help load times and it's a game that I know I will be playing for a while, then I want shorter load times. Although, the mandatory short installs from Insomniac games aren't so bad.

What irritates me is the issue of running out of space and having to delete game data just to make room for the next new title. Then if I ever want to pop that old one back in, I have to wait for the install. Anyone with a large game library will know that even 160GBs can get eaten up pretty quickly. Glad I've dished out the dough for a 320GB. Now maybe I won't have to worry so much...

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 1:13:35 PM

Definitely.

I have no problem with optional installs - I'd be happy to install most any game data as I have the space - now - but if I was still limited to 40GB I'd spend more time trying to decide what to removed from the HDD than playing the darned game. With an optional install, I can play the game either way, and if I want better load times I can run the installation - at a time of my choosing.

The other option is caching frequently used game assets. Caching bits of the game to a semi-permanent game cache is kind of like a stealth install. If it's handled right, the cached data persists until the space is needed by another game.

However, the mandatory 20 minute 5GB installs are annoying and tie up too much space on already crowded 40GB HDDs.

3 up, 0 down

www
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 1:59:16 PM

I hate mandatory installs too.

3 up, 1 down

Mornelithe
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 2:17:55 PM

No offense Ben, but it's called a job, and many of us PS3 owners have one. Which means, expendable income, which in turn means the ability to purchase items of our choosing. As sentient beings with said expendable capital, it seems fairly obvious that upgrading a multimedia gaming machine to a larger harddrive for pennies on the gigabyte, is a wise and well thought out decision. As opposed to purchasing a 120g proprietary drive from 'other' sources, at a severe markup.

Morne

1 up, 1 down

Jackyl
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 8:30:46 PM

I agree a game for a console shouldn't require an upgrade. However, like with the old Playstations you either have to delete old saved files to make way for new ones or buy another memory card.

With that in mind the 20GB PS3 should not need an upgrade just to play the game so in my opinion the install better be less than what would be able to fit on there. It really shouldn't take up more than 75% at max.

1 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 9:43:00 PM

Ben,
Damn, I got to agree with you there!
I just got my PS3 & WOW, what a shocker I was in for.

I'm used to the "tray, then play", but now with almost every game out of the 17 games I bought, I had to wait,.......& wait,......& wait some more for these LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG winded installs.

And forget about me D/L'ing demo's from the PSN, a 1200MB one took me over 8 hours to download, then more time to install that one too. And then, I finally try to play it & it says that I can't play, cause I'm going to need some upgraded files.
WTF, I'm glad my hair already went pre-maturely white years a go, otherwise I could wound up with a serious case of instantanious male pattern baldness.

I never would have believed that my 756 DSL just wasn't going to be up to snuff. And I can't afford higher broadband right now.
That is....unless of course, I can find some used broadband on Craigslist or Ebay, LMAO

And you can quote me, when I tell you that these damned installs are "slower than a centipede without snowshoes, in a Artic blizzard" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I WANNA PLAY TODAY & NOT HAVE TO WAIT TILL TOMORROW, DAMN IT!

Last edited by BikerSaint on 4/16/2009 10:00:00 PM

0 up, 1 down

Jackyl
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 2:32:57 AM

There's a poll topic for you. Do your readers mind lengthy game installations on the PS3.

Options could be something like this.
A) I'm primarily a console gamer and I do mind lengthy installation times on the PS3.
B) I'm primarily a console gamer and I don't mind lengthy installation times on the PS3.
C) I'm primarily a PC gamer and I do mind lengthy installation times on the PS3.
D) I'm primarily a PC gamer and I don't mind lengthy installation times on the PS3.

I'd fall under C.

0 up, 0 down

SplendidBlended
Saturday, April 18, 2009 @ 8:14:34 PM

Ben, I completely agree with you on this.
As much as I love good quality, there comes a point when things just get ridiculous. A game is supposed to be... well, a GAME. Something fun to to play. With my tiny little 40GB PS3 I'm not even sure I'll be able to play this. And, even with are fast internet speed, this will take FOREVER to download.
I work part time at a library. I'm seventeen. I don't get any money from my parents... so, how am I supposed to afford a whole new HDD? I mean, the PS3 is already an expensive item...

Last edited by SplendidBlended on 4/18/2009 8:16:36 PM

1 up, 1 down

DIsmael85
Monday, April 20, 2009 @ 11:45:48 AM

This does help Sony's case, you see they give you the ability to upgrade your harddrive. Would you rather spend 150 bucks for a 120GB harddrive for the Xbox 360? Or 89 bucks for a 320GB harddrive for your PS3. Sure it's a minor setback, but think of it this way, in the end who has to worry about installs? Not me.

1 up, 0 down

big6
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:27:54 PM
Reply

LOL!!! It's not a linear distribution in storage space, man...

5gigs for a 1-hour demo *DOES NOT( translate to 25gigs for a 5 hour game... hahaha

It's 5gigs cuz it has to include all the base code and textures and stuff. The actual demo portion is probably just a mere 750megs or slightly more.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:29:21 PM
Reply

Well, I guess I'll be the resident optimist and hope that this is just because this old build wasn't running smoothly and it needed to read certain info quickly off the HDD to function properly.

If that's not the case then 5 gigs per hour of play comes to about 300 gigs for a 60 hour game, and I just don't see that happening. As for 360, they should save themselves the headache and just cancel it. It just doesn't seem plausible anymore, then again it may force people to buy MS hard drives and MS will like that a lot.

2 up, 0 down

LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:34:04 PM

Gotta remember, "SE uses 100% of sony's machine" :P lol, maybe when they say 100% they mean as in, they used EVERYTHING from the ps3, not the ps3's power? But yeah, that 5gb is probably filled with Malicious Coding to make the PS3 processor cry, haha.

1 up, 1 down

Daedusian
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:37:12 PM

@WEWM; haha!, that last line is so true.. =)

Last edited by Daedusian on 4/16/2009 12:37:29 PM

0 up, 0 down

HeXeN
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 1:43:11 PM

no need to cancel it there is nothing wrong with a 20 disc set.Also why isn't it coming to Japan?

0 up, 0 down

Fabi
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:34:30 PM
Reply

I don't care how easy and how inexpensive (yeah right, it's almost the price of a game) it is. I refuse to spend the money. I already have a 500GB external drive that I use to backup my PCs, I'm not gonna buy another HDD just for the PS3.

1 up, 2 down

Nynja
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:41:46 PM

As the prices drop, the extra space becomes worth it. Even without game installs, the drive will fill up with any music, photos, games saves and updates.

Keep in mind some game updates are in the hundreds (of MBs).

0 up, 0 down

coolestaj
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:37:40 PM
Reply

If i'm not mistaken...with these installs its usually the game engine that gets installed to the hardrive. So i don't really see the final copy of the game to have an install any bigger than that.

0 up, 0 down

Ultimadream
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:37:48 PM
Reply

Christ you people will complain at anything SE does. To me it just proves (along with the quality of the demo) they're putting alot of effort into the game and all you people bi*** about it, FOR SHAME!

6 up, 2 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:45:35 PM

I'm sorry...did YOU just call out people for complaining too much?

"...hi, Kettle? This is Pot. You're black."

Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 4/16/2009 12:45:57 PM

5 up, 3 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 1:16:34 PM

Ooooh Burn.

4 up, 2 down

eLLeJuss
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 1:58:15 PM

I agree with ultima =/., all people do is complain at every little thing SE does. If you dont want what they give you then don't buy it. end of story. Some 10-15 minute demos are almost take up two GB of your HDD.. so it kinda makes sense that something almost 5 times long and probably have better quality take up more space than the usual

3 up, 2 down

www
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 2:00:22 PM

LMAO

0 up, 0 down

Banky A
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 5:11:42 PM

Oooooooooooo it's on.

;)

0 up, 0 down

crapreviews
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:51:42 PM
Reply

BEN....

just read it takes up 5gb's on the BD, not the HDD

1 up, 0 down

Yogi
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 1:09:33 PM
Reply

I'm pretty sure a lot of that space is the 'White Engine' or whatever they are calling it now. Therefore it is very likely they would be able to fit the game on 1 dual-layered Blu-Ray disc.

Hell, if they need to they can double disc that shiz, they are squeeeeeenix and it is FF13, srs business.

0 up, 0 down

SaladFingers
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 1:19:29 PM
Reply

IT TAKES UP 5GB ON THE BD, NOT THE HDD.
You really should get your facts straight before you report :/

ALSO, even if the entire demo did take up 5gb of space on the HDD, it is in no way representative of how much the final game would take up (although it will more than likely require an install).

Think about what needs to be installed, such as engine coding. Things such as textures and models for different parts of the game would have to stay on the disc, because they can't make a game take up a good 50gb of hdd space.

0 up, 0 down

BlinkBoy
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 1:28:27 PM
Reply

I do understand people who don't want to put out the cash for a new HDD, but I don't regret putting 500gb in my PS3.

Yes it was bit expensive, but it is one time purchase and investment to make it easier for me in the future.

It is an option Sony made since PS3 in an open system, and not so closed as 360.

1 up, 0 down

Riku994
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 1:55:48 PM
Reply

So I dub thee Unforgiven -_-

Stupid SE, wtf is this?

0 up, 1 down

Mornelithe
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 2:19:55 PM
Reply

By the way folks, complaining about installing games onto a console that has less than a gig of RAM, is a bit silly. You realize they have to have that content immediately available in order to produce it on-screen. And given the lack of RAM in both of the HD consoles, the ability to install is not just an extra, it's a must. Hence the reason why MS went from touting no need for installs, to allowing installs.

Morne

0 up, 0 down

crapreviews
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 2:48:41 PM

i dont understand why they didn't put more RAM in to begin with. i mean RAM is cheap now a days

0 up, 0 down

Mornelithe
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 11:37:49 AM

@ MixedkidBX - Some RAM is cheap. DDR2 RAM is a dime a dozen these days, which the PS3 has 256M of. What isn't cheap, mainly due to lack of a PC version, is XDR RAM from Rambus. Whereas, DDR2 clocks at 700MHZ, XDR clocks at 3.2GHZ. Much...MUCH faster than DDR2. Heck, it's even faster than the DDR3 I have in my PC... 4g of XMS3 DDR3 PC12800 @ 1600MHZ is roughly 150-200 bucks (Corsair). Think about 256M sticks of something that's more than twice as fast.

But, given the price tag on the launch PS3, I would've just bitten the bullet and double the CPU/GPU RAM. Would've provided a ridiculous boost to the PS3's performance abilities.

Morne

Last edited by Mornelithe on 4/17/2009 11:39:46 AM

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 3:53:05 PM
Reply

The game's gonna be 10-20 hours long

0 up, 2 down

Jian2069
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 4:50:24 PM
Reply

how does this work on 360?
thats over half of a DVD, and its only like an hour of gameplay...
also this takes up 5gb of space on the movie's BLU-RAY DISC,,, not hard drive.

Last edited by Jian2069 on 4/16/2009 4:52:19 PM

0 up, 0 down

bebestorm
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 6:57:01 PM
Reply

360 version of FFXIII ..... http://www.andriasang.com/e/blogs/anoop/2009/04/17/ffxiii_x360_box_set/

Last edited by bebestorm on 4/16/2009 7:07:20 PM

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 10:14:34 PM

I heard their boxed set version also comes with a very nice bonus too,
a free forklift ride home

1 up, 0 down

CrazyIrishBoy
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 7:16:47 PM
Reply

Im pretty sure by release blue ray disks will be a good deal bigger, you can put multiple layers on a blue ray disk each layer with a 25 gig capacity, they are making a 1000 gig disk or summat now arn't they so I wouldnt worry.
Also sounds like a ridiculous amount of dvd's.

Last edited by CrazyIrishBoy on 4/16/2009 7:19:55 PM

0 up, 0 down

OEice
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 7:18:44 PM
Reply

All of those who said that HDD's are cheap. Well maybe they are, in America, but in other countries (like Iceland) they aren't so cheap.

0 up, 0 down

photo K
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 10:19:12 AM

you live in Iceland?

0 up, 0 down

OEice
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 7:59:23 PM

Yes

0 up, 0 down

kokoro
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 8:01:02 PM
Reply

I don't know where you people are getting your information from, but muy sources tell me that the actual demo is 5GB in size- not the download space required.

That is the actual demo takes 5GB of the blue ray disc.

0 up, 0 down

The X Factor 9
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 8:05:12 PM
Reply

Oh Ben...stop with this shoddy journalism. This isn't news. This isn't the first game to have an install this large. Nobody complained about Metal Gear Solid 4, Bioshock, or GTA4 taking up the same amount of space...
If you have 60+ GB of hard drive space on your PS3, you'll be fine for a while. I would expect the 360 version to be on 4-5 disks.

0 up, 7 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 8:30:32 PM

If I say it's news, it's news.

You don't have to like it, but don't bother with telling me how to do my job.

11 up, 1 down

Gabriel013
Monday, April 20, 2009 @ 1:30:40 AM

Oh The X Factor 9, stop with the shoddy generalisations.

I complained. I complained about every last one of those big install games.

Last edited by Gabriel013 on 4/20/2009 1:30:56 AM

0 up, 0 down

Mornelithe
Thursday, April 30, 2009 @ 10:59:53 AM

X Factor 9 - Ben loves his shoddy news, I took him to task for his 'rumors of price cuts' articles that he loves posting.

Morne

1 up, 0 down

The X Factor 9
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 8:06:34 PM
Reply

Speaking of the 360 version...anyone else speculate that a HDD might be REQUIRED to play the game?

0 up, 0 down

Jackyl
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 8:32:13 PM

Possibly, I remember on the PS2 you had to upgrade the console to play certain Final Fantasy games.

0 up, 0 down

JofaMang
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 10:34:10 PM

That was FFXI, which was not a standalone single player game. It was an MMORPG, which by nature, requires the ability to have major patching for stability and balance, as well as expansions for longevity.

A hard drive was required to play the game (as well as being connected to the internet). I never played it myself, but I had heard that external USB Flash drives and HDD would work. I know that a flashdrive worked for patches to Socom.

0 up, 0 down

godsman
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 8:52:51 PM
Reply

Ben, can you confirm if that 5 gigs are installs or on disc data. Although it makes sense that its not an official game disc, so probably that 5 gig is mapped directly on the PS3 hard drive to play.

One problem with xbox version is that, each dvd must be able to be play individually when inserted into the console. Programming that could've been written once in a blu-ray, will need to be written in EACH dvd when ported to xbox. There's actually a lot more repetitive data than we would think. On top of that the developers have to pay microsoft for each dvd more than 2 per box. I say 4 will be the max in the end, with a hell lot of compressing

0 up, 0 down

JofaMang
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:00:33 PM

Yeah, the math could make for some astounding possibilities:

If FFXIII utilizes a 50gb BD without redundant data tracking, it could mean a seriously ridiculous amount of discs for the 360, depending on the size of the actual game engine data (as opposed to FMVs, Textures, and other surface information) as that data would have to be present on every single DVD9.

So if we assume a worst case scenario of a fully utilized dual layer BD and Identical quality, we can see how bad this might get for the 360 version (or the ps3, if you believe SE when they say both versions will be identical quality):

If X = Game Engine Data
(50 - X)/(8.8 - X) = Total discs needed for the 360.
0.5gb Game engine = 6 (6.0) DVD9
1.0gb Game engine = 7 (6.3) DVD9
2.0gb Game engine = 8 (7.1) DVD9
4.5gb Game engine = 11 (10.6) DVD9
6.0gb Game engine = 16 (15.7) DVD9

With heavy compression of textures and lower quality FMVs, a lot of that fat might be trimmed for the 360 version, but then Square would be lying about both versions being identical in quality, UNLESS THEY ARE GOING TO CRIPPLE THE NON-JAPANESE PS3 VERSION with the same compression and lower quality FMVs to keep MS happy about console version comparisons.

Do you think that 50million R* got paid by MS was JUST for the DLC?

1 up, 0 down

crawdaddy
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 9:13:57 PM
Reply

I think all the developers need to quit designing the games so they have to be installed on the HDD. Most of the massive games that I have played, play and load just fine without installing them on the HDD.

2 up, 1 down

BikerSaint
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 10:17:20 PM

Yup, what you just said!!!!
And I'll second that emotion!

1 up, 1 down

shadowpal2
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:34:15 PM
Reply

WOW...so ok ok ok. The game takes up 5gb on the BluRay disk - relax, chill, give Ben a break. Now...5gb...for an 1 hour and 15 minute demo is quite impressive I have to say. But...RPGs...aren't they at minimum...20 hours? Am I looking at 2 BluRays?? - to fulfill this game. Either way, I think it'll be a pretty sick game.

Still don't believe the whole using 100% of PS3's power bullshit though. But the graphics did look great during that Tuesday night live stream footage of the demo. And it was at low resolution too! It just looked so smooth and neat. And the demo is like the Alpha version. Right now it's almost 80% completed so...who knows.

Oh and who cares about Xbox 360...just worry about the PS3 version - as long as they're using it to the max it's good.

0 up, 1 down

JofaMang
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 12:06:08 AM

Its not as simple as multiplying the game data by expected time.

Even if it was, it would be a different formula based on the size of the game engine, and how that single hour is used compared to the full release (ratio of play time to FMV time, different locations and characters(IE texture sets) etc etc.

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 11:35:30 PM
Reply

So what exactly is the issue? PS3 will have a large install and 360 will have multiple discs? I'll take the 10 minute install over getting up off the couch every hour to swap discs. And you're also assuming that the 360 will not have a mandatory install. We'll see about that.

1 up, 0 down

JofaMang
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 12:12:07 AM

I don't see how they could get away with a mandatory HDD install on the 360, as there is no mandatory HDD across the SKUs.

One has to assume that a large percentage of 360s do not have HDDs, considering price has been their main selling point, and the cheapest models do not come with one. To force some owners to buy a proprietary HDD at a ridiculous price to play one game would not go over well. But then again, perhaps that is just what M$ wants.

Last edited by JofaMang on 4/17/2009 12:12:47 AM

0 up, 0 down

Geobaldi
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 12:45:20 AM
Reply

I don't care how much space it takes. My hard drive has loads of space remaining since I don't keep it cluttered up with fifty million games at once. I only play up to three at a time and as soon as one game is finished, off it goes to make room for the next game on the list.

0 up, 0 down

Deadman
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 8:05:56 AM
Reply

Killzone 2 did it without an install base anybody can do it. Is there a misinterpation is this 5gb install base or a 5gb download that can be acessed from the disk? On my copy of Dead Space there are 2 demos both take up a gig each for download on to the system maybe thats what they mean the game has to be installed off of the bd to play on the system and the demo itself is 5gb. For an hour of play is understandable then the KZ2 demo was over 1gb and it was 10-20min of play.

0 up, 0 down

Darthrawn
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 7:03:10 PM
Reply

My copy from Play-Asia just arrived today, and the information here is not quite accurate. There is no required install for the demo (or optional install). And checking the Game Data Utility while playing shows no game data stored in there either. It's likely using the reserved section of the HDD for cache, as many other games do, but there's nothing permanently stored (for the demo at least).

Last edited by Darthrawn on 4/17/2009 7:13:52 PM

0 up, 0 down

KevinCairo
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 7:51:42 PM

Yeah, the joystiq article about this seemed to say more that the demo takes 5gb of space on the blu ray, not that it has a 5gb install.

0 up, 0 down

KevinCairo
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 7:50:44 PM
Reply

Just clear old game installs! It's seriously not a big deal if it makes the game amazing!

0 up, 1 down

rell
Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 9:49:32 PM
Reply

Im curious to know how the final built will turn out when gamers get it in there hands.

Last edited by rell on 4/17/2009 9:49:43 PM

0 up, 0 down

Please login or register to leave a comment.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories cheats	PSP
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas cheats	PS2
Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories cheats	PS2
WALL-E cheats	PS2
Tekken: Dark Resurrection cheats	PS3
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes cheats	PSP
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi cheats	PS2
Test Drive: LeMan's 24 Hours cheats	PS1
The Incredibles cheats	PS2

Playstation 3

Playstation 4

PSP

Playstation Vita

Playstation 2

Playstation

Other

PSX Extreme

Site Stats

FFXIII Demo Fills 5GB Of HDD Space

Comments (99 posts)

Leave a Comment

Latest Updates

Popular Cheats

Recent Reviews

Recent Previews

Popular Sections

Extras

Metro: Last Light review	PS3
Zombie Tycoon II: Brainhov's Revenge review	PS3
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon review	PS3
Star Trek: The Video Game review	PS3
Injustice: Gods Among Us review	PS3
Dead Island: Riptide review	PS3
Defiance review	PS3
Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 review	PS3
Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel review	PS3
Bioshock Infinite review	PS3

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified preview	PS3
Time and Eternity preview	PS3
Ride to Hell: Retribution preview	PS3
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger preview	PS3
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon preview	PS3
Spartacus Legends preview	PS3
Payday 2 preview	PS3
DUST 514 preview	PS3
Dynasty Warriors 8 preview	PS3
Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness preview	PS3