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Final Fantasy XIII won't include forced installs on PS3! photo

It seems that you can't have a major PS3 game these days without it forcing data onto your hard drive like some kind of terrible date rapist. It wouldn't be so bad if the PS3 wasn't slow and sluggish about everything it does, but unfortunately it is. Luckily, however, one of the biggest games of the generation is not so big that it feels the need to clutter your HDD. Final Fantasy XIII is install-free!

According to IGN, the Square Enix development team has worked hard to eliminate the need for an installation, and has added that load times are kept to a bare minimum, only occurring in the transition from the world map to a town area. Everything in the game's open world section is said to move "seamlessly."

Forced installations can be annoying, and considering I've seen games do it and still have lengthy loading times, I'm not sure there are any considerable benefits. Fortunately, it seems that with a little effort and actual development, you don't need the installation. We'll have to see just how smooth the loading is when Final Fantasy XIII arrives next year, but if it's as good as they say, then it pretty much exposes the HDD installation as bunk used by lazy developers.


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56 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:08
Chronic Logic
Isn't it ultimately better though to have the game installed with the game disc in the tray, even if the developers made the game installation-free?
necrozen's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:11
necrozen
Good news but don't see why most people haven't upgraded their HD. It's like 80 bucks! Skip one game and you're almost there. The install took me all of 10 minutes (not counting backup). And this was a year ago, prices are probably better now.

Still it's good to have the choice either way.
Zulu's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:11
Zulu
Forced install to a hard drive is what rape is to a women. Sony has no morals. Thank god for you Sqaure Enix. You are a light of righteousness in a dark world of wasted memory.
Dangsterr's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:13
Dangsterr
Why are people against game installs? the game loads faster..... and you can get a huge hdd for cheap...
Steel Brotha's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:14
Steel Brotha
@ Chronic Logic
There's probably going to be an option for install if you want to.

@ Zulu
Sony's not the one that forces installs,lazy developers are.
Br0th3rGr1mm's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:16
Br0th3rGr1mm
Date Rape is a myth...Jim was asking for it and KNOWS he wanted it.
Carlton Banks's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:19
Carlton Banks
I love when people who've never coded, call a dev lazy. Hahaha.
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:19
Sexualchocolate
Hey Zulu, Sony doesn't install that shit, the 3rd parties do. I'm looking at you Capcom and you Ubisoft. 5+ gig for fucking Endwar?! WTF?!

Think about this one lazy porters - Big mandatory installs MAKE ME TRADE MY GAMES IN! I delete the game data for any game I haven't played for a while, then after not being arsed to re-install i trade in.

Everytime I buy a game with a big install i will sooner or later let someone else buy it cheap with 0% of the sale going to you.

Take a leaf out of Guerilla's book of Squeenix's and I'll likely keep your game and next man will need to buy a copy from you too! No-one minds tha 18mb install file, but the 5gb one is going as soon as possible.

My HDD thanks you.
XGC TheDude's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:20
XGC TheDude
I thought that the reason that they had those installs is because of the reading speed of the blu rays and that it speeds up the process. I personally don't mind it that much I haven't had any extremely long or space consuming downloads. That being said I it is cool that they are working around it in many of the new games.

@ZULU Cmon man it is too early for that kind of crazy oooOOOO Sony is the devil!!!!
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:21
Xzyliac
YAY! Oh wait I'll be getting the 360 version. No installs AND we forced you all to have to wait longer.

BWAHAHA! ONCE AGAIN MS RUINS FUN FOR EVERYBODY!

*sigh* But I really hope I get a PS3 by then.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:21
Chronic Logic
Raping someone during a date is a major mood killer.
Zulu's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:23
Zulu
@everyone

Oops, everyone switch around what I said in your head so it sounds factually intelligent and overall well.
Carlton Banks's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:25
Carlton Banks
Hmm...1 BD or 5 DVDs?
Steel Brotha's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:26
Steel Brotha
@ Carlton Banks
"I love when people who've never coded, call a dev lazy. Hahaha."
I've actually coded C++, Turing, Java.It's a simple high school course. So I guess I can call Ubisoft lazy for a 5+ gig install for EndWar or Capcom for a 20 minute install for DMC 4
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:29
Jim Sterling
I love it when people who have never forced a woman to have sex with them call rapists perverts. Hahaha.
Carlton Banks's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:32
Carlton Banks
@ Steel Brotha
Not really, since you haven't coded for multi core network aware "applications". Java? Haha. They teach that shit in 2nd grade now. Use a custom engine based off mult-tiered algorithims with having seperate layers for each process and then speak. Also, guess the language I descibed programming guru.
dolson's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:37
dolson
About time! Uncharted 2's install was a bitch.
Carlton Banks's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:38
Carlton Banks
I love when people review games they don't beat. It's also funny when they then call themself a gamer. Hahaha.
Fiat Mediocrity's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:46
Fiat Mediocrity
BITCH FIGHT!
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:51
Jim Sterling
It would be a waste of time to fight with someone who he is going to get himself banned for the tenth time. We must be approaching ten by now.
Scion of Mogo's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:52
Scion of Mogo
did I just walk in on a grade school class?
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:52
Sexualchocolate
Was there an install for uncharted 2? - I don't remember it, and i've been too busy playing it to check the game data.
threedee's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:54
threedee
I love hdd installs, no really (no sarcasm here, i really do :D ).

Are there any disadvantages to installs ?
Speed of loading ? Surprisingly only marginal.
Hdd space ? Sure, but its cheap nowadays (excluding 360 :D 60+ quid for 120gb ? nah...).
Wasted time ? Like videogames are not a waste of time already (oh irony, any hobby is exactly that - waste of time, and we love it...)
What i value the most in hdd installs is the peace and quiet it provides. While PS3 is not a bad offender at being loud, xbox certainly is and the only thing prevents me from playing the hell out of crackdown is its inability to install the game onto hdd. It sounds like someone poured half a pound of sand into the drive and then tried to grind knives with that...
BluDesign's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 08:54
BluDesign
I have no problem with forced installs if they actually benefit the speed and flow of the game.

Bioshock loads a lot faster and has less texture pop in on the PS3. I've owned both versions FWIW...

Don't blame forced installs on developers. Blame it on Sony for sticking the PS3 with a slow reading Blu Ray drive. The buffer and read speed of that drive are the reason why you have installs.
CrocBox's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 09:04
CrocBox
I need this inside me already :O
Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 09:08
Magnalon
Know what potential PS3 game could have benefited from an install?

Mass Effect! Oh God the 360 pop-in!
JamnOnTheOne's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 09:16
JamnOnTheOne
"then it pretty much exposes the HDD installation as bunk used by lazy developers."

Speaking as someone actually in software development as my career (chances are most folks with digital cable in the U.S. has used my company's product) it's more likely that the "lazy" projects are dealing with limited resources and a tight/unslippable timeline. If everyone had the luxury of burning company resources on 5 years on developing a title you can do lots of neat things.

I'd love to know how SQEnix got around the abysmal read performance of a Blu-Ray drive to pull it off.
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 09:16
Sexualchocolate
"Don't blame forced installs on developers. Blame it on Sony for sticking the PS3 with a slow reading Blu Ray drive. The buffer and read speed of that drive are the reason why you have installs."

-----------------------------------

Um, your argument is invalid - some developers manage to make brilliant games without forcing a HDD install, others don't. They are lazy. If ALL devs required an install then your point would be valid. (and my horse is a motorbike)
Steel Brotha's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 09:17
Steel Brotha
Wow someone's been banned 10 times here? how pathetic...
Shadowiii's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 09:21
Shadowiii
I'm probably going to install all OVER 9000 discs on the 360 version using the NXE, just to save my poor disc drive and keep that mother quiet.
Is there an OPTION to install on the PS3? Or just no install whatsoever? Because having choices is cool.
Also, using big words makes you cool and competent. Hooray.
Steel Brotha's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 09:37
Steel Brotha
@ JamnOnTheOne
"it's more likely that the "lazy" projects are dealing with limited resources and a tight/unslippable timeline"

Ubisoft, Bethesda and Capcom both are very large companies and even they have both had games that require a 5 Gig install.Hell Devil May Cry 4 took 20 minute to install.
lewness's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 10:05
lewness
*reads article*

...

*reads comments*

...

WHOOHOO! FINAL FANTASY XIII!
ChaosTeaCup's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 10:19
ChaosTeaCup
Secualchocolate - Some devs have the benefit of having years and years to make their games that brilliant. First party games are usually going to perform better in all areas. I also hate the lazy dev argument. What makes us intertwats so fucking know-all see-all?
Carlton Banks's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 10:38
Carlton Banks
I've never been banned. Really don't care if I get banned.
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 10:40
SephirothX
I once again bring to light that Jim's blatant trolling seems to be a small violation of DToid's own policies, not to mention compromising his ability to be a good journalist.
ObjectiveBelow's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 10:50
ObjectiveBelow
Don't you mean Data Raped?
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 10:57
EternalDeathSlayer
How the hell is Jim trolling in this article? He's speaking his fucking mind on something.

How is that trolling?
HiddenAHB's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 11:09
HiddenAHB
I'm installing it on my 360, i don't care if it will occupy 12 GB, it makes everything runs softer.
manasteel88's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 11:12
manasteel88
not surprising...when they went multi-plat MS wouldn't have allowed it to be on the console if it needed the mandatory install. I know FFXI had it, but this isn't an MMO. So they applied more resources into getting it to run on a disc.

Kotaku also noted there would be trophy support. Again not surprising since there will be achievement points.
Deadaim's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 11:25
Deadaim
forced installations are one of the best things a game can have. seriously some of you need to cut down your porn collection a bit or something, if you cant afford a gig on your ps3 for ff13 to have shorter load times and run smoother you have awful priorities.

im hoping the install option is there, for us smarties
Holiday's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 11:29
Holiday
Now...If you were ever a PC gamer, game installs to the HD is normal. Half-Life 2 was like 5 DVD discs.
Deadaim's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 11:32
Deadaim
jim sterling, sucks balls.

seriously been here for 2 days and all i see from this asswipe is offensive blogs, that have no insight on the actual topic and are mostly just fanboy juiced rants of idiotic preportions.

do you even play any games? you look like a fucking 30 yr old super nerd who should know EVERYTHING about games, yet you come off as a 10 yr old punk who just got into gaming and thinks they know wtf they are talking about.

seriously its confusing, how the fuck are you so clueless?
the7k's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 11:32
the7k
"Install-Free" is quite different from "No Forced Install". I can get behind "No Forced Install", but I would like an optional one to be in place. At some point, the loading time will very likely become way to much to bear.
ObjectiveBelow's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 11:50
ObjectiveBelow
Why do I get the feeling Destructoid is not for everyone?
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 11:52
Jim Sterling
Deadaim: Thanks for your comment. It all helps to get me paid. <3
fundando's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:50
fundando
I like having the game installed. It is faster and takes stress off the blu-ray drive.
evermourn's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:52
evermourn
I've seen in multiple places on the webs where forced installs are due to a lack of understanding of the PS3 or budget constraints. Other game journalists have said point blank that there really is some laziness involved. Uncharted 2 needs no install and look at the example of visual quality set by Naughty Dog. I think there will be a time where forced installs on my PS3 will go the way of the dodo, just hope is not months before the PS4 comes out.

As for the Jim-haters out there, go sit on your thumbs. This man has the balls to go after anyone or any group of people that gets in the way of good gaming. Keep up the good work Mr. Sterling, the good an decent gamers of this world salute you.
loki d20's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 13:43
loki d20
If a PS3 game needs installs nowadays, then it's either a fighting game that needs it to reduce fight loading or shoddy developers. Installs are definitely the issue with third parties now and not first/second party PS3 games.
RulesTheyDontApply's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 13:58
RulesTheyDontApply
cough* uncharted and uncharted 2 cough* does it hurt that much to ask for help from other devs to find out how they over come there obstacles. i thought people understood you cant tackle the ps3s disk drive and format the same way you would dvd. the whole having to copy the games info twice on the disk to seek and installs are archaic and old arent they? im really curious to see how well square executes this though.
Darksire's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 14:15
Darksire
Uncharted 2 had no install and the loading times were bearable in between levels and non-existant during actual gameplay. Alot of games mentioned with installs on ps3 have been multiplatform and that is just a porting issue as the game was not initially developed on the ps3 and developers don't take the time to fully optimize them for the ps3 architecture. Loading screens can be minimized tremendously with clever programming. I remember Soul Reaver touting no loading on a seamless open world oh so long ago. Go go background loading.
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