Report: Final Fantasy XIII demo over 5GB in size
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Apr 16th 2009 at 1:30PM }
That's an astronomical figure for a demo, isn't it? Downloading a file of that size would take quite a bit of time and would be rather costly for Square Enix, considering publishers have to pay for bandwidth costs on the PlayStation Network. If just an hour of gameplay takes up that much space, how large will the final game be? Looks like Final Fantasy XIII will make full use of that 50GB Blu-ray disc.
What does this mean for the Xbox 360 version? We're certain a large amount of data can be shaved off by utilizing compression (there's a ton of CG, don't forget!), but tackling Final Fantasy XIII's size will nonetheless be an interesting challenge for the Xbox 360 development team.
[Via N4G]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Araskaz @ Apr 16th 2009 1:39PM
I just wish I they would release the US version the same time they release it in JP, instead of waiting for the 360 version to be done. Now I have to either import or wait... and I don't like to do either!
I guess it's the power of money ;)
Mike Sylvester @ Apr 16th 2009 3:48PM
They're not delaying it. Localization takes time. The Xbox 360 version is just being developed concurrently with the localization.
RazLeBoL @ Apr 16th 2009 7:20PM
They did say prior to the 360 announcement that their objective was to release it simultaneously worldwide.
Mitsukai @ Apr 16th 2009 1:40PM
LOLz! I'm so glad I'm probably importing the PS3 Demo :D
drdre74 @ Apr 16th 2009 1:45PM
I have a inside source that told me its going to be a 18 disc game for the 360. lol! Just joking. I'm sure they will work it out. They did a good job with Mass Effect.
lsmedal @ Apr 16th 2009 1:49PM
ahahah thats crazy
when i first heard FFXIII was on 360 i was just wondering how they going to squeeze something like FF onto a 360
i mean... its like trying to put MGS4 on the 360 right?
RPMd70 @ Apr 16th 2009 2:03PM
my thoughts exactly...
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Apr 16th 2009 2:42PM
i remember Kojima saying that they didn't compress anything on MGS4 so they used the whole Blu-Ray disc, they are probably doing the same thing here. if you don't have to compress it, then why do it? i imagine they have some pretty powerful compression techniques so i would imagine it wont take up too many discs on the 360.
i dont have anything to back this up of course but just my thoughts into it.
calvin @ Apr 16th 2009 1:53PM
what does it mean for the xbox 360 version? 15 discs ftw :P
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 16th 2009 2:01PM
most likely heavy compression and 5 disc
John @ Apr 16th 2009 1:57PM
And now we have to wait for them to finish compressing and tweaking everything before we can play it how it was meant to be played: on PS3.
CrzyNick @ Apr 16th 2009 3:47PM
And that's what pisses me off!
I don't care if it goes to the 360 but I want to play it on my ps3 NOW and to have to wait for that half ass system to get it just so I can play it on the system it was meant to be on infuriates me. Why don't the just release it on ps3 when the translations are done and release it on the 360 later?
CrzyNick @ Apr 16th 2009 3:55PM
And that's what pisse$ me off!
I don't care if it goes to the 360 but I want to play it on my ps3 NOW and to have to wait for that half a$$ system to get it just so I can play it on the system it was meant to be on infuriates me. Why don't they just release it on ps3 when the translations are done and release it on the 360 later?
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 16th 2009 1:59PM
ouch... Crazy indeed. I suppose it won't ever be on the PSN for that reason...lol
Araskaz @ Apr 16th 2009 2:03PM
I just wish that they would release the US version for PS3 when they release it for JP.
I mean - goodness... we have to wait for the 360 version now to play it on a PS3.
(yes I'm getting it for the PS3 - it's controller is what I have been using since the PS1 for FF)
Now I have to import or wait... and I hate doing both.
McWilly @ Apr 16th 2009 2:07PM
Well the demo is 8 hours long so I'm not surprised and I heard it's made up of mostly uncompressed data so don't expect the full game to be made up like this. 360 will have 4 discs max (with the help of some major compression though).
McWilly @ Apr 16th 2009 2:12PM
Sry I meant 80 min. 1 hour lol I wish.
McWilly @ Apr 16th 2009 2:13PM
I think I'll shut up now
JuanDHexen @ Apr 16th 2009 2:21PM
What???? ROTFL
lsmedal @ Apr 16th 2009 2:14PM
actually now that i remember it depends what this demo is for
isnt FFXIII ps3 exclusive in japan?
its only being made for 360 in north america?
im sure that has something to do with it
that or you know... alot of compression lol
itbekevin2010 @ Apr 16th 2009 2:15PM
@chris
dual layer DVDs are 8.7 Gbs and you said 5 so take 5 x 8.7 what do you get?? 43.5 GBs of data, thats not heavy compressing to me.
Hynad @ Apr 16th 2009 2:45PM
You count that wrong.
Sure a dual layer disc is 8.5, but unlike the PS3 version, the 360 version will have to include many of the same data on every discs unless they don't care about the player swapping discs every 10 minutes between locations.
So yeah, heavy compression is required.
devilmaker @ Apr 16th 2009 2:47PM
But don't forget, each disc would need to still contain some of the same stuff. Such as character design, textures, all of the logic and code. Thats still quite a bit of essential stuff that needs to go on before the 'new' stuff can make its way onto the disc. The only way to get round that is with an install. Too bad not all 360's have HDDs :p
heypaul @ Apr 16th 2009 2:52PM
Yeah, you can't just do the math straight like that. The engine, main character models and commonly used art/sound assets will have to be on every disc. To put it into perspective, FFVIII took, what, four CDs? If they didn't have to duplicate any data, it likely would've fit on three, if not two CDs.
It's going to be a big challenge dividing everything up for a multi-DVD release. I just hope it doesn't hold back the North American PS3 version, since Square has committed to a simultaneous multiplatform release over here. With news like this, though, I wouldn't hold my breath.
itbekevin2010 @ Apr 16th 2009 3:32PM
completely forgot about it AH my bad people :)
-Jad- @ Apr 16th 2009 3:37PM
Actually Xbox360 DVD are 7Gb cuz more that 1Gb goes to security and anti-piracy protections and that kind of stuff.
QUOTE:
In a double-layer DVD for Xbox 360, 7GB is usable by a game. The transfer rate of the DVD drive is 15MB/sec max, 10-12MB/sec average. The seek time is 115ms, switching layers takes 75ms. Loading 512MB data takes 34 seconds.
So, there u have it pal'
ymmv @ Apr 16th 2009 4:46PM
Dual Layer DVDs are indeed 8.7GB but you don't seem to realize Xbox 360 DVDs only have _7GB_ disk space.
bubugalu @ Apr 16th 2009 2:17PM
this fact is irrelevant... because most demos span only less then 20 minutes, plus most of that 5 gigs is just data and resourses aka character models, area textures, Particle effects, etc. stuff the console takes and reuses data from. so its definitely just the CGI squeenix is known for that spands most of that 5gigs. No biggy, it doesnt relate to 360 version = 9 disc. LOL, man that would be expensive for squeenix! Paying royalties.... that gata suck. But who knows, its just probably guna be 3 disc only... whatever. more people get to play = Win Win 4 gamers!.... except in Japan...
JuanDHexen @ Apr 16th 2009 2:19PM
why not Japan?
bubugalu @ Apr 16th 2009 11:34PM
oh, i just ment japan not having a 360 version is all, alot ppl got a 360 in japan for jrpg's... hence if it was 360 also being sold in japan then alot of those people wouldnt have to buy a ps3 to play it... but whatever im just sayin.
JuanDHexen @ Apr 16th 2009 2:17PM
I doubt it will even fit in one Blu-ray so maybe 2 disc set which would equal 10 disc for 360.
Angel Mass @ Apr 16th 2009 2:17PM
According Wikipedia: "The demo will see a limited release, subject to the initial shipments of the Advent Children package.The demo, however, is not reflective of the final product as it was created using an old build of the game."
kbomb1upc @ Apr 16th 2009 2:22PM
Didn't the developers for the game Rage complain about the 360's size issues. They said they had to cut some of the game so it could fit on the 360 and would look worst on the 360. Its going to be bad if Square cuts out parts of the PS3 game just so it would fit on the 360.
Vincent @ Apr 16th 2009 2:37PM
It doesn't make any sense to compare it like that. Bioshock demo was 2.5gb. It was what... 15~20min? The final game was about 7.5gb. The final game didn't take 1hr only though
itbekevin2010 @ Apr 16th 2009 3:36PM
no dude it was 1.5 GBs
evey xbox 360 game comes out to 7.29 Gbs regardless of its size, i dont know why but thats how it is.
abnfs @ Apr 16th 2009 2:41PM
Sorry for my Noobness, but what is CG means in the article.....(there's a ton of CG, don't forget!),
helghast102 (Valkyria Chronicles and the anime OWN!) @ Apr 16th 2009 3:20PM
it means Computer Generated, usually referred to with "CGI" (computer generated imagery).
basically : cutscenes
abnfs @ Apr 16th 2009 9:27PM
thank u!
ryan @ Apr 16th 2009 7:22PM
the 360 wquill probably be around 5-6 dvds
and as of duplicate data, they only need to include the data relevant to the part of the game in that disc.. if one character you interact with in the beginning of the game and then dont need to interact with him much later in the game like near the end, his chjaracter data wouldnt be needed in the other discs...
besiades what would be taking the most space is the videos... the space the modeks and artwork probably doesnt take as much space compared to the fmv videos...
CrzyNick @ Apr 16th 2009 3:57PM
I hate this.
All we do is wait.
batman @ Apr 16th 2009 4:39PM
maybe ffxIII will come on a hard drive for the x360 o.0
batman88 @ Apr 16th 2009 4:41PM
I mean it could be expensive to put it on a hard drive but won't it be ridicuosly expensive and unplayable(due to swapping discs) if they have to split it into 5-6 dual layer dvds ?
ymmv @ Apr 16th 2009 4:53PM
Lost Odyssey was released on 4 DVDs...
I suspect the 360 version of FF13 will be at least 6 DVDs. If this demo is already 5GB the full game will need at least 50GB. It wouldn't surprise me if FFXIII ships on two dual-layer 50GB Blu-Ray discs.I really, really wonder how SE deals with the space restriction on the Xbox 360 which has 7GB DVDs and the restriction that the game should run on consoles without the HD accessory.
agq0105 @ Apr 16th 2009 6:18PM
I hope that the ps3 version will not be delayed due to the limitations of the 360. Guys, I'll let you in a little secret.... that's exactly what's gonna happen, unfortunately.
gmoya90 @ Apr 16th 2009 9:33PM
well i dont care i got 500gb on my ps3 5gb is noting to me now ^^ went from 60gb to 500gb and intercooler TS is just awesome ^^ am laughting at xbox owners! but u still get FF13 some how ^^
waiting for my demo and movie i pre order since feb 12 gosh am a FF freak since 12 years old ^^ anyways my biggest wish is thay remake secret of mana for ps3 ^^
lol 8 disk for FF13 on xbox360 can you imagen the case for that lol
it will look like a limited edition lol
garnsr @ Apr 16th 2009 11:32PM
What it usually means is that the PS3 version needs to be reined in so they can release games on the 360 too. Hopefully we'll get to a point where the games on PS3 get to use the abilities of the PS3 without having to fit into the limits of the 360.
schuyler @ Apr 17th 2009 12:38AM
I can see it now, Final Fantasy XIII on three disks... or 20 DVDs
mickyimp @ Apr 17th 2009 1:10AM
microsoft is probably gonna make it HDD enabled to save the game on the HDD through multiple dvds?
sc00by_y00 @ Apr 18th 2009 1:34AM
Im just waiting for the usual shit from 360 fans about Bluray being pointless and how much faster their dvd drive etc etc..
Bluray beginning to make sense to you now ? :D
Unknown @ Apr 23rd 2009 1:20PM
Being a 360 FAN for years and owning a PS3 I have always said that game content like this would be the defining point for DVD. Just for loads of different textures types of maps and environments and CG DVD is not and ever will be able to cut it.
IE Fallout 3 amazing game but many repeated textures, No CG
(very little, mostly in game assets). Same for Mass effect, with the always barren worlds no wild life not items. It's because of this limitation the DVD9 will show it's age. Not for FPS. but for RPG's JRPG and such.