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Rage (Xbox 360)
Rage Will Look Worse on 360 Due to Compression
Rage Will Look Worse on 360 Due to Compression
ShackNews - July 31, 2008
Submitted by apujanata (14935) at 7:50PM PST on July 31, 2008
id's Rage (PC, PS3, 360, Mac) will look worse on X360 due to the compression needed to fit the game's assets on two DVDs, John Carmack revealed at tonight's QuakeCon keynote. The royalty fees to include a third disc in the Xbox 360 version would be so high that it simply isn't a feasible solution. He hope Microsoft can make a concession. He also said that neither Doom 4 or Rage will be digitally distributed online.
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1Mr_Cynical posted on Rage (Xbox 360) at 10:24AM PST on August 2, 2008. RE: Rage Will Look Worse on 360 Due to Compressionbids
1apujanata posted on Rage (Xbox 360) at 6:54PM PST on August 1, 2008. RE: Rage Will Look Worse on 360 Due to Compression@lstormy10,
Is the price for digital distribution lower than retail ? What is the advantage and disadvantage of digital distribution vs retail for brand new whole game (NOT DLC / add-on / new chapter / new campaign) like Rage or Doom 4 ?
The only advantage that I am aware of is faster speed (to play game, if you have very good internet connection), saving money on gas (if you have unlimited subscription), and the disadvantage of possible crack by hacker (CC info), no printed manual, no nice shiny physical Disc (backup to DVD always result in ugly standard DVD).[ Oracle ] [ Level 30 ] [ Rank: 14935 ]bids
1lstormy10 posted on Rage (Xbox 360) at 5:42PM PST on August 1, 2008. RE: Rage Will Look Worse on 360 Due to Compression@apujanata,
That's not my point. My point was that there is a large number of PC gamers that are more likely to pick up the titles if they are offered via digital distribution also.[ Oracle ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 294 ]bids
1apujanata posted on Rage (Xbox 360) at 5:01PM PST on August 1, 2008. RE: Rage Will Look Worse on 360 Due to Compression@lstormy10,
Not everyone are willing or have the right internet connection bandwidth to download 10 - 18 GB (assuming 2 DVD of either DVD5 or DVD9) of data, when then can just pick up the CD and have a nice, printed out manual.[ Oracle ] [ Level 30 ] [ Rank: 14935 ]bids
1lstormy10 posted on Rage (Xbox 360) at 8:29PM PST on July 31, 2008. RE: Rage Will Look Worse on 360 Due to Compression@apujanata,
I find it rather stupid not to offer Doom 4 or Rage via digital distribution when they come to the PC.
Digital distribution is constantly growing in power on the PC compared to retail and honestly, the games would probably acquire more sales if sold both at retail and via digital distribution.
Not to mention the fact that id Software already offers titles from their back catalog via Steam (arguably the strongest digital distribution platform for games on the PC right now).[ Oracle ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 294 ]bids
16apujanata posted on Rage (Xbox 360) at 7:50PM PST on July 31, 2008. Article: Rage Will Look Worse on 360 Due to Compressionid's Rage (PC, PS3, 360, Mac) will look worse on X360 due to the compression needed to fit the game's assets on two DVDs, John Carmack revealed at tonight's QuakeCon keynote. The royalty fees to include a third disc in the Xbox 360 version would be so high that it simply isn't a feasible solution. He hope Microsoft can make a concession. He also said that neither Doom 4 or Rage will be digitally distributed online.[ Oracle ] [ Level 30 ] [ Rank: 14935 ]
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Digital distribution allows for more impulse buys for gamers. Many of the gamers that I play with in online games supported through Steam will often purchase titles via Steam on impulse more so than if they had to go and drive to a store and buy it.
In addition, no worries about how many times you can install the game because you download it anywhere and install it (as in the case of Steam). One of the other large advantage of digital distribution is that you do not have to put the disc into the drive to play as with most retail versions of PC games - not a large thing, but just something annoying leapfrogged by digital distribution.
There is also the pre-purchase factor where you can actually download a game before its release date and then once its release date comes, the game is playable - no dealing with pre-orders, shipping, or etc. You never have to worry about whether a store has a title you plan on purchasing if you utilize digital distribution either.
In addition, as digital distro platforms expand, they add more exclusive services such as auto-download and installing game patches/updates whereas many PC games you have to manually go into the game or to the game's website and download a patch/update. There is also upcoming new features through services such as Steam where settings and saved games can be stored on a server where they can be accessed from anywhere you play the game.
I have also noticed that there tends to be price discounts on digitally distributed titles more often than with their retail counterparts because of lower costs of not needing to ship the boxes and more.
Currently, this growing preference of digital distribution is mostly confined to PC gamers due to the lack of digital distro on the consoles.
My original point was why cut out another possible way of selling copies of their titles? Putting Rage and Doom 4 on a digital distribution service would be easy and would just create another place where gamers can pick-up the games. It has never made good business sense to restrict where a consumer can buy something. (I found this case to be especially odd due to id Software's existing partnership with Steam.)