Soulcalibur IV HD install size: 2.85GB with 2MB+ saves
by Alan Tsang 
{ Jul 9th 2008 at 2:00PM }
Despite earlier reports of a mandatory hard drive install of more gargantuan proportions, a scan of the back cover of the Japanese version of Soulcalibur IV shows much more reasonable requirements. The mandatory install itself will be 2,850MB or 2.85GB while a save file will start at 2048KB or 2MB. Obviously, the more characters you create, the more space it is going to take up on your hard drive. Does this seem more reasonable to you guys? Do you still mind sacrificing some HD space for faster load times? Or still hoping developers eliminate them altogether?[Thanks, Emophia!]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
stargateheaven @ Jul 9th 2008 2:06PM
still hoping developers eliminate them altogether
there is no excuse. I don't care about faster loading. a prime example is Burnout paradise. No install, a huge open world, great graphics, custom soundtracks.. etc. everything is possible. i dont want to install any more games thank you!
Senecal @ Jul 9th 2008 2:16PM
20gb HDD eh? I would actually prefer an option of total installs for these games... I love to flip through play a lil SSHD, oh wait maybe I wanna go back play some lemmings, hmm, no ima bang out some Commando! Yeah, all without scratching flippin or making a mess of my game colections.
massive_98 @ Jul 9th 2008 2:21PM
One thing you have to remember about racing games is that the amount of information that needs to be loaded is relatively small. If you look at PS3 racing game demos, they are some of the smallest (file sizes) on the PSN.
Paul (PSN: heypaul) @ Jul 9th 2008 2:22PM
Uncharted's another prime example. No install, yet no loading.
I'd prefer developers take the optional install model - no upfront installation required, but if you play enough that shorter loading times are desireable, you can install some content.
reson8er @ Jul 9th 2008 3:08PM
I really don't mind installs, but Uncharted is absolutely amazing form pretty much every standpoint.
I'm eagerly awaiting Trophy support so I can run through my 5th playthrough :)
hedpe @ Jul 10th 2008 12:33AM
uncharted is a sick game. period. love me some uncharted.
Laruku @ Jul 10th 2008 1:27AM
it's optional for the UK version... so i would imagine all other version being the same... cheers...
http://www.videogaming247.com/2008/07/09/soul-calibur-iv-ps3-install-is-optional-on-uk-code/
Senecal @ Jul 9th 2008 2:07PM
I prefer installs. I would rather install than wait for the blueray to load every damn fight....
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jul 9th 2008 2:12PM
I'm pretty dissapointed by all these damn installs when the 360 versions have no installs and perform quite well.
I did have the 360 and PS3 versions of GTA4 and did notice the pop-in is much better on the PS3 but not worth the 4gb in size.
What is the reason here? Some I hear is for superior load times over 360 version and others say the Blu-Ray drive is slow compared to the 360's DVD drive and so these installs are needed. : (
Nate @ Jul 9th 2008 4:52PM
the blu ray drive is actually faster than the xbox dvd drive - the misconception comes from the fact that there is so much moreinformation on a blu ray disc a lot of the time. even if it were twice as fast (its not), if your loading 4 times the data it is still going to be slow.
On the main topic though, its silly to have a mandatory install. Your limited on how much space you got. What happens once I fill up the hard drive with installs, I'm going to have to delete games? Possible I guess, but a pain.
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jul 9th 2008 2:12PM
I'm pretty dissapointed by all these damn installs when the 360 versions have no installs and perform quite well.
I did have the 360 and PS3 versions of GTA4 and did notice the pop-in is much better on the PS3 but not worth the 4gb in size.
What is the reason here? Some I hear is for superior load times over 360 version and others say the Blu-Ray drive is slow compared to the 360's DVD drive and so these installs are needed. : (
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jul 9th 2008 2:12PM
I'm pretty dissapointed by all these damn installs when the 360 versions have no installs and perform quite well.
I did have the 360 and PS3 versions of GTA4 and did notice the pop-in is much better on the PS3 but not worth the 4gb in size.
What is the reason here? Some I hear is for superior load times over 360 version and others say the Blu-Ray drive is slow compared to the 360's DVD drive and so these installs are needed. : (
Paul (PSN: heypaul) @ Jul 9th 2008 2:24PM
I hear you're pretty disappointed by all these damn installs.
Game_playa @ Jul 9th 2008 2:45PM
LOL paul
The Aggie CEO @ Jul 9th 2008 2:50PM
its due to the slower read spead of the BD drives........
dubwise @ Jul 9th 2008 2:51PM
*inserting Airplane reference*
I just want you to know we are all counting on you.
*/insterting Airplane reference*
deaftly @ Jul 9th 2008 5:13PM
Wow the Trifecta! Good work
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jul 9th 2008 2:14PM
Darn commenting system, please delete these extra posts. : (
lobotomies4free @ Jul 9th 2008 2:18PM
I'm glad they're making use of the hard drive. I just wish the OS had the option to manage the installs on it's own. Imagine if it just filled the hard drive but copied over the least used install when you needed the space AUTOMATICALLY. just an idea
faffyface @ Jul 9th 2008 2:38PM
cool
stevend1038 @ Jul 9th 2008 2:21PM
The benefit of installing on a PC was you could change things (modifying), but you can't exactly do that on the PS3. Come on! Bring on the user modifications!
Even though I know that would be really hard to do. And a computer would probably be required but still lets be able to make use of the install and let users add their own flavor of modifications! That would really make installing worth it.
(btw, it will probably never happen but I can dream)
Gervin @ Jul 9th 2008 3:51PM
I thought Unreal on PS3 let you load MOds?
Anyhow, MOD support for installed games is "supposed" to be coming.
I for one, wish I could do a complete install for games so I don't need any BD's. I just installed my 320GB drive, and have plenty of space available.
nihillasohen @ Jul 9th 2008 2:22PM
I would prefer elimating installs, but the truth is that this is a quick fix to lack of knowledge on PS3 developing. I'm sure that slowly, games will do away with installs. Loading will get faster (fingers crossed). But for now i'm ok with the installs. I think that developers realize installs have a negative response from most customers which means that this will be fixed sooner than later.
Vcize @ Jul 9th 2008 4:13PM
Except that we're seeing MORE games move towards installs as time goes on, not less.
nihillasohen @ Jul 9th 2008 10:15PM
Your seeing more cross platform games have installs except for MGS4 which is probably the only exception which is a huge game that is pushing the tech so early in the PS3 life cycle. Most of theses games have been in production longer than the PS3 has been out. So that is how they port these games that are built on 360 to PS3. Two drasticly different machines to code for.
NotSafe4Work @ Jul 9th 2008 2:23PM
I'm all for HDD installs, though I come from a PC background. They should be faster and if they aren't it's down to bad development and poor use of cache data.
Developers are still learning the PS3 architecture and constantly pushing the capabilities. Once they crack the multi-threaded process of reading the disc, HDD and cache simultaneously we can all bask in the glory of why we chose a PS3 over an XBOX360 :)
Mark @ Jul 9th 2008 2:27PM
This is exactly what a HDD is for, to make the game faster an better. Consoles without a standard HDD will suffer...
deaftly @ Jul 9th 2008 5:16PM
They aren't much faster if not even comparable to 360's load times. Its that fancy smancy bluray drives fault.
Arnon @ Jul 9th 2008 10:32PM
I thought HDD's were made to store information >.>
faffyface @ Jul 9th 2008 2:39PM
I agree
faffyface @ Jul 9th 2008 2:39PM
yep
Jbkiller1 @ Jul 9th 2008 2:55PM
I hope they give the choice in the future at least I know there are ways around it I remember reading about the new middleware by CRI File system that can cut the load times of blue rays from 22 seconds to 9 seconds.
Dan @ Jul 9th 2008 2:34PM
From all these installs its starting to look as Sony made a booboo with the blu-ray drive speed. Its obvious the loading is the biggest concern and the drive just isnt up to par.
You can bet that in next model redesign ( which is gonna happen obviously) new drives with faster read speed will be used to help offset the installation phase we're seeing right now in games.
Though for now personally I have no problem with installations. I simply delete the game data for games I beat already anyway once Im done.
Gervin @ Jul 9th 2008 3:55PM
I think I heard that as BD drives get faster, the Sony drive is firmware upgradable, and may support higher speeds.
I may be wrong though.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 9th 2008 9:35PM
It's not a hardware problem, it is a problem with developers not doing the right thing.
I can play Burnout:Paradise off a disc, but not Hot Shots Golf? The only answer there is lazy developers.
McWeen @ Jul 9th 2008 2:35PM
I don't think they are any faster though. MGS4 had forced installs and I still had to sit through noticable load times. Installs should be optional or worked around.
Andykapped @ Jul 9th 2008 2:38PM
Ill still get this game for ps3 over 360 cause of the controller alone. I cant play fighting games with the xbox contoller
drdre74 @ Jul 9th 2008 2:39PM
How did they do it in Uncharted? It has the one load at the start and you never see it again after that. That game has more going on at one time than a 2 person fighter. There was no install for that either.
Stoo @ Jul 9th 2008 2:47PM
It was very linear so I guess they could easily load the next section while you were playing through the current one. There was a bit of texture pop in after cut scenes, though nothing major.
Personally I don't mind installs, I think some games can benefit from them, while some games don't.
I always think back to GT5 and Forza 2. GT5 has a big install and minimal load times for races, Forza 2 by contrast has no install and the load times are pretty long.
In those games where I am subjected to loading times frequently because each race isn't very long so you flip between menu screens and actual game play frequently I would gladly settle for a large install.
reson8er @ Jul 9th 2008 3:41PM
Iinear or not, there is a LOT of information being pushed in Uncharted, Naughty Dog are to be commended for they incredible job.
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jul 9th 2008 2:55PM
I'd really like DLC for more costumes, weapons, extra things especially for the character creation part of the game. : )
Too bad my PS3 died and I got a 360 for now, I'm stuck with Yoda, I want Vader!
Cameron @ Jul 9th 2008 3:01PM
Since PS3 has become the complete God of systems with the 2.41 update, I have compiled a list of gripes I still have with the PS3....
PS3 gripes: could use newer model dylithium crystals so side affects of time travel would not invoke nausea..
ps3 gripes: Flux Capicator could be made internal and not an add-on accesory
PS3 gripes: physical displacement (transportation) should be accessible through the XMB.
Ps3 gripes: when using PS3 to hack a person's thoughts, the GUI could be slightly improved....
These are just a few, can anyone think of anymore?
cronos12 @ Jul 9th 2008 3:21PM
Hopefully in the next update, your PS3 will up your medication...
The Aggie CEO @ Jul 9th 2008 3:01PM
I dont have a problem with them as of yet.........
I've got like 100GBs left on my 320GB drive
RasenganFury @ Jul 9th 2008 3:37PM
Now im not sure if i want this game. I liked Soul Caliber 2 but I really hate the installs. I personaly dont see what is so great about them. My hdd has only 16gb left on it so im trying to avoid them. I wonder what they did in mgs4 since the load times were still fairly long. Game Developers should learn from Uncharted as it was probably the game that has used the ps3 hardware best so far.
Konchu @ Jul 9th 2008 3:38PM
I personally want these installs to be optional. I can really personally justify them if they can actually make the game better. It just seems on many games its the easy way out to get good load times. And if that was the only way I agree Motor Storms loads were painful but Uncharted, Rachet and Clank TOD and COD4 have shown it can be done.
Carney @ Jul 9th 2008 3:41PM
The only size issue I'm concerned about is the ridiculously large breasts on the female characters.
I don't remember that being the case in Soulcalibur 1 on the Sega Dreamcast. I haven't played SC2 or 3; maybe they introduced that "feature" then.
I wowed my wife a few months ago by showing off my hard-won SC skills from years back when I did one buy-in on a movie arcade SC machine and flipped it, beat the game.
As a result she's pretty cool with me buying SC.
I'm not so sure that would be the case when she gets an eyeful of SC4.
Kodros @ Jul 9th 2008 9:05PM
I'm not sure how to put this nicely so I'll just say it...Get your balls back from your wife.
It's embarrassing to men everywhere that you have to ask your wife's permission to buy a video game that has excessive cleavage.
dave @ Jul 9th 2008 10:11PM
My problem is that the picture above looks like a transvestite with large breasts and extremely skimpy clothing. It's rather disconcerting. It just looks _wrong_.
Carney @ Jul 10th 2008 1:12PM
Kodros, my wife doesn't control my entertainment choices and doesn't try to - there are plenty of things she doesn't like that I am a fan of.
But it would be obnoxious for me to deliberately do something that actively annoys her.
And regardless of my wife, I find this trend annoying myself. I'm no puritan, Ivy in SC1 was shapely, and her outfit was interesting and cool - the overall effect was great. But now they've gone way too far. It's not an outfit as much as a web made of dental floss, and the body is just stupid and off-putting. Nobody over 15 who has seen a real woman would be interested.