Anybody else addicted to Guitar Hero?

[_Mr. Coffee]

Speaking of Halo, I just got Halo 2 for the PC yesterday. I half regret that I only have a PC instead of a modern console, but I prefer hooking up with my bros and the only thing they have is PC or Wii.

Well, according to Microsoft, the ultimate goal for Live is to have full cross-compatibility between PC and Console games over the Live network. Not sure, but from what I understand they'll be doing this with Halo III when they release the PC version later on after the console release.

As it is, I can check my Live account via the PC, and I can access and use Messenger from ym Xbox. Sony just doesn't even come close to the network gaming ability of the 360 and Live.

[_silentkid]

Remember MiniDisk, Sony Dynamic Digital Sound, Digital Audio Tape, or BETAMAX? All failed against other standards. Sony's got a long and ignoble track record of failure, and by the looks of things, Blu-Ray is going to end up being another.

I have a MiniDisk...I use it to record songwriting ideas when I'm in a hurry. Digital Audio Tape was used pretty extensively in recording studios in the 90's. The VHS/Betamax thing happened when I was a kid. My parents chose VHS.

Also, you're assuming that Blu-Ray will win out against HDDVD. If it doesn't, then in a couple of years you're screwed for new movies, where as I am not.

I didn't say anything about Blu-Ray beating out HD-DVD. I don't buy the movies, I just rent them. I could care less which movie format wins, if either. I don't understand the logic behind your statement that if HD-DVD wins out that I am screwed and you're not...what if Blue-Ray wins out? Wouldn't you then be screwed for investing in HD-DVD? This goes either way.

Ok, so name me one title that will use up all of the space on a Blu-Ray disk? That's the reason why Microsoft hasn't bothered with HDDVD format games... It's not anything to do with capabilities, it's all about finding a developer that can make a game with that much content.

So far there are no titles available that use up all of the space on a Blu-Ray disk. I've heard that Metal Gear and Final Fantasy will be memory intensive. I assume they'll use more space than a DVD. That's just an assumption. As software design progresses, I can envision the designers wanting more disk space for their games. Stranglehold, which comes out next month (I think) will also come with the movie Hard Boiled in HD, all on the same disk.

Steep in comparrison to what? That's the cost of two games and a new controller. Ouch, that certainly hurt my wallet...

Not.

Uh Wayne...you were the one who initially complained about the price of the PS3.

Why bother with a Halo wannabe when Halo III releases on September 25?

The Haze thing was a tongue in cheek comment...

[_Mr. Coffee]

I have a MiniDisk...I use it to record songwriting ideas when I'm in a hurry. Digital Audio Tape was used pretty extensively in recording studios in the 90's.

They were great formats. They had much better fidelity then anything else at the time. But they were also expensive. That's what killed it. That's also what will end up killing Blu-ray if the consortium headed by Sony that owns blu-ray doesn't figure out how to lower manufacturing costs.

Well, that and the porn industry... They're already hopping onto the HDDVD bandwagon.

I don't understand the logic behind your statement that if HD-DVD wins out that I am screwed and you're not...what if Blue-Ray wins out? Wouldn't you then be screwed for investing in HD-DVD? This goes either way.

I'm good to go eitherway. But then, I'm a gadget freak, I like my toys, and I can afford to splurge on new fangled doo-dads and whatchamagiggers. Hell, I still own a friggin' Laser Disk player and movies for it (Still works too!).

My point was, you've put your hidef on Blu-Ray to win. So if blu-ray doesn't win, as the Irish say, "Yoor fooked fer sure, lad..."

But right now, HDDVD is cheaper, both in manufacturing costs and in retail sales costs than Blu-Ray. Ultimately, all format wars get decided by the pocketbooks of the consumers.

So far there are no titles available that use up all of the space on a Blu-Ray disk.

Dude, standard single-layer storage capacity for Blu-Ray is 25gb. Double-layer and it's 50gb. It's going to be a looooooooooooooooong friggin time before any software developer is going to even come close to needed that much space for a game.

I've heard that Metal Gear and Final Fantasy will be memory intensive. I assume they'll use more space than a DVD.

Dude, Oblivion is the largest game in terms of storage needs out there right now. And it doesn't even take up an entire DVD, much less the storage space given by Blu-Ray or HDDVD (anywhere from 5 to 20+ times greater than DVD depending on layering).

That's just an assumption. As software design progresses, I can envision the designers wanting more disk space for their games.

That's a reasonable assumption too. I'm certain in the future, as game developers really learn how to best utilize the system capibilities, games will get a lot more involved. I mean, imagine just how much more information for rendering characters, or enemy AIs, or even the worlds the games are played in would be available for either format?

Uh Wayne...you were the one who initially complained about the price of the PS3.

Sh'ya, Garth... I mean, cost/benifit tells me that right now and for the near future, I'll get more bang for my buck with the 360 than I will with the PS3. Maybe someday the PS3'll have a game that makes me say "we're not worthy", but for now it's pretty much 'exsqeeze me, homosezwhat".

[_silentkid]

Well, that and the porn industry... They're already hopping onto the HDDVD bandwagon.

There are some things that are probably not meant to be seen in hi-def. ;)

I'm good to go eitherway. But then, I'm a gadget freak, I like my toys, and I can afford to splurge on new fangled doo-dads and whatchamagiggers. Hell, I still own a friggin' Laser Disk player and movies for it (Still works too!).

I'm a gadget freak too, but most of my gadgets are for writing/recording music. I never had a Laser Disk player but I had one of the first generation DVD players.

Sh'ya, Garth... I mean, cost/benifit tells me that right now and for the near future, I'll get more bang for my buck with the 360 than I will with the PS3. Maybe someday the PS3'll have a game that makes me say "we're not worthy", but for now it's pretty much 'exsqeeze me, homosezwhat".

Nice!! LOL. I'm waving the white flag here. Let's get together, throw back a few beers, and play some Sega Master System. ;)

[_Mr. Coffee]

There are some things that are probably not meant to be seen in hi-def. ;)

Dude, the advent of hi-def porn makes me glad that certain pornographers *coughcoughmaxhardcorecoughcough* are getting shut down by the government for obscenity...

But that's an entirely different topic.

Nice!! LOL. I'm waving the white flag here. Let's get together, throw back a few beers, and play some Sega Master System. ;)

Beer and a round of "Altered States" or maybe some old school pimptasticity of Sonic the Hedgehodge sounds entirely of the win.

[_asbestosman]

I've heard that Metal Gear and Final Fantasy will be memory intensive. I assume they'll use more space than a DVD.

Dude, Oblivion is the largest game in terms of storage needs out there right now. And it doesn't even take up an entire DVD, much less the storage space given by Blu-Ray or HDDVD (anywhere from 5 to 20+ times greater than DVD depending on layering).

Flight Simulator X for my PC already comes on 2 DVDs. On the other hand, I'm not sure that we'll pushing the HDDVD barrier anytime soon. However, if we do I think it'll be from an RPG along the lines of Final Fantasy. I think the only way you could get much more content on a disc is if you put more cut scenes or other such video moments. I'm sure that even Japanese Dating sims would have difficulty trying to fill up an HDDVD let alone Blu-Ray, but then again I could be wrong.

[_Mr. Coffee]

Flight Simulator X for my PC already comes on 2 DVDs.

So I'm not the only flight sim junkie out there... You also have to figure that MS Flight Sim X is loaded with what amounts to damned near every major civil and commercial aviation field in the world along with umpteen bajillion aircraft rendered to the tiniest detail along with controls so realist the FAA has approved the game for use as a training tool for actual pilots.

by the way, What sort of control set up you use?

Right now I'm using Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar FCS and TCS with CH Flight Sim Pedels for rudder control. It's eighty shades of awesome for Flight Sim X, even though I'm still trying to get the hang of it. Also been playing Aces High online. But by far, the primary reason I bought that HOTAS Cougar is for Falcon 4.0: Allied Force. I like to turn and burn...

On the other hand, I'm not sure that we'll pushing the HDDVD barrier anytime soon. However, if we do I think it'll be from an RPG along the lines of Final Fantasy. I think the only way you could get much more content on a disc is if you put more cut scenes or other such video moments. I'm sure that even Japanese Dating sims would have difficulty trying to fill up an HDDVD let alone Blu-Ray, but then again I could be wrong.

I've got no doubts that eventually someone will fill up an entire HDDVD or Blu-ray size disk with a game. Hell, they did it with CD-ROMs right quick, and they're already pushing at the limits of DVD for some games.

[_silentkid]

Hey Coffee,

I was looking up information on the new 65nm chips for the 360 and came across this article. It says that the new Elites don't have the new chips yet, but they should starting this fall. I know you said you had one pre-ordered...if this is an issue for you, you might want to wait until the fall. Just a heads up. I'll probably get one in the fall for Halo 3.

[_Mr. Coffee]

I was looking up information on the new 65nm chips for the 360 and came across this article. It says that the new Elites don't have the new chips yet, but they should starting this fall. I know you said you had one pre-ordered...if this is an issue for you, you might want to wait until the fall. Just a heads up. I'll probably get one in the fall for Halo 3.

Thanks for the heads up, SK.

Though seeing as how I haven't really had any heat related problems with either of my 360s, I doubt it'll be an issue with the Elite either. Besides, I plan on buying a second Elite sometime around november. I was planning on giving my two current 360's to a couple of friend's kids for birthday/christmas this year. Not like I really need three or more 360's floating about, and I figure their kids'll put them to good use.

And it'll keep Mike from sucking up Live time on my bandwidth all the time.

[_asbestosman]

Flight Simulator X for my PC already comes on 2 DVDs.

So I'm not the only flight sim junkie out there... You also have to figure that MS Flight Sim X is loaded with what amounts to damned near every major civil and commercial aviation field in the world along with umpteen bajillion aircraft rendered to the tiniest detail along with controls so realist the FAA has approved the game for use as a training tool for actual pilots.

by the way, What sort of control set up you use?

Nothing fancy. Just a cheap 'ol Thrustmaster Top Gun Fox 2 Pro. No pedals, but you can twist the stick for rudder. I bought is mostly so I could play Combat Flight Simulator 3 against my bros and professional pilot who is my parents' neighbor. Those old combat planes handle differently.

Yeah, it's true. I've got a lot of Microsoft titles. I have connections to people who work there and can get them cheap. Now I have FSX, Combat Flight Simulator 3, Flight Simulator 2004, Halo, Halo 2, Shadowrun, Dungeon Siege 2, Age of Empires III, and Rise of Legends.