No install for Final Fantasy XIII on PS3

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 22nd 2009 at 3:45PM }

If you were planning on making yourself a nice sandwich for your first session of Final Fantasy XIII, it looks like you'll have to make it before you pop the disc in your PS3. According to IGN, director Motomu Toriyama told Famitsu that FFXIII will not require an install on PS3. Furthermore, other than the transition between town and field segments, the game won't feature any loading screens at all. Toriyama stated that loading time was one of the biggest concerns from the beginning of development.

We're sure there were at least a few folks out there looking forward to watching a Chocobo take a smoke break. Alas, it just wasn't meant to be.

Tags: final-fantasy, final-fantasy-xiii, square, square-enix

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

TheHeroesMusic @ Oct 22nd 2009 3:52PM

Gotta Love it

El perron @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:07PM

Meh, I'm just waiting for Versus, I'm not being a fanboy but cmon, this game looks good but versus looks wayyyyy better!

(IRE)Wolfman @ Oct 22nd 2009 3:53PM

Does that mean there won't be one available though?

"will not require an install on PS3"

this could mean, but can be installed to increase performance?

Ashitaka @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:28PM

The PS3 doesn't support that kind of function, me thinks.

Viney @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:03PM

But if there really is no load times running straight off the disc, like they claim, what performance increase is there to gain by installing even if it was an option?

TheManick @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:12PM

What do you mean? I've played PS3 games that have had the optional install to increase performance (ie quicker loading times), Valkyria Chronicles and I'm pretty sure SF4 both have it.

I personally wouldn't mind it having an optional install, but I don't have space issues on my HDD as I upgraded it to a 320gb and any games I no longer play I delete the game data.

KinjiroSSD @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:16PM

Some PS3 games do have an optional install. Street Fighter 4 was one of them and loading matches went from eternity to a few seconds. UT3 was another off the top of my head

Ashitaka @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:26PM

Sorry folks, guess I was wrong, downvote me all you want. It's just that out of the 10 PS3 games I have, none of them have optional installs. My bad to suppose that all other games are like the ones I have.

Lord_von_Punx @ Oct 22nd 2009 3:59PM

lol

mywhitenoise @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:08PM

On the subject of installs, why does Uncharted 2 say it has a minimum requirement of 1000 MBs? There's no install necessary to play it.

Ashitaka @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:28PM

Patches and the eventual DLC.

mywhitenoise @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:32PM

What do patches and DLC have to do with anything? You're not required to install patches or DLC to play the game.

Ashitaka @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:36PM

Well, if your PS3 is connected to the internet and Naughty Dog releases an obligatory patch then you won't be able to play Uncharted2 unless you update.

They may also want the buyer to have enough space so that he/she can later buy the DLC ND makes or so that he/she can make videos and save them in the PS3's HDD.

mywhitenoise @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:45PM

"Well, if your PS3 is connected to the internet and Naughty Dog releases an obligatory patch then you won't be able to play Uncharted2 unless you update."

FALSE. You absolutely DO NOT have to download a patch in order to play, even if you're signed on. Trust me, I've done it before with Wipeout. If you want to play online, then you're required to download and install the patch.

Kodros @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:00PM

It's not for Patches/DLC. I'm guessing that it caches some data and stores it on your Hard Drive.

Copland @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:06PM

This is just a guess but I think Uncharted 2 is using the HDD as a temporary storage.
Why I thought of this is, there is a slightly long loading time when you first load the game. And during that, the HDD led(the orange light) blinks fast for some time.
So I think Uncharted 2 is installing data on the HDD for smooth loading times.
And after that, I think its installing data while your playing and deleting data for stages you have already completed.
So I think its something like a cache.

Ashitaka @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:23PM

"FALSE. You absolutely DO NOT have to download a patch in order to play, even if you're signed on. Trust me, I've done it before with Wipeout. If you want to play online, then you're required to download and install the patch."

You contradicted yourself and proved my point -.-' There are obligatory patches, such as LittleBigPlanet's, and that why I mentioned them.

Anyway, it's very likely that Kodros and Copland's explanation is correct, I guess now I know how Naughty Dog's magic works.

mywhitenoise @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:36PM

"You contradicted yourself and proved my point -.-' There are obligatory patches, such as LittleBigPlanet's, and that why I mentioned them."

How did I contradict myself? Try to comprehend what I'm writing. If you only want to play the single player game, you DON'T need to install any further data. If you want to play online with others, then you're required to install a patch.
Again, single player = not required to install patch (even if youre signed on)
Multiplayer = required to install patch

killdash9 @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:22PM

Copland is most likely correct. The first Uncharted also used the hard drive as a virtual memory device rather than a permanent static cache, according to earlier statements from Naughty Dog.

Ashitaka @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:24PM

You contradicted yourself AND you're wrong.

Like I said, when I boot up LittleBigPlanet, and I am connected to the internet, even if I only want to play singleplayer, I HAVE to download the obligatory patch.

Kinsey @ Oct 22nd 2009 8:49PM

You DO NOT need to download a patch even when your logged into PSN 'unless' you want to play online multiplayer for any game.

When it tells you there's a patch, you can press cancel and the game will just boot up normally but the game won't connect online if you do.

Dropeti @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:14PM

I actually like install times, I don't mind waiting for a couple of minutes before I start playing it anyway... And in the long run I think its better, specially after my PS3 blu-ray lens died playing Infamous.

mywhitenoise @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:26PM

You do know that installs still require the disc to be read by the blu-ray laser, right? They don't actually install the game on there, just some data.

TypeF @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:39PM

i agree with the install to be optional, for example sf4 has the option to do so. Without install the fight takes forever to start and when installed it goes smoothly. I don't know what you mean by the lens scratching, maybe you're being sarcastic i can't tell haha.

Surfaced @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:30PM

he didnt say anything about lens scratching. All laser diodes die after some time. Early PS3s had some cheap Blu-ray diodes to help keep the prices down. A few peoples' lasers thus have already gone. Myself, I got a used 40GB PS3 last year from eBay for $120. It had a dead laser so I replaced it for $60 and my PS3 is humming.

Jason Axelrod @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:18PM

I like installs... at least if they are optional. Given the option, I will install a game to reduce load times and icnrease performance.

Reuben @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:10PM

If you're going to do it if given the option then what does it matter?

Unless we're talking formalities here.

Nobledevil @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:30PM

Maybe Jason means that he'd like the option to install so that he can do it and people who hate it can avoid it?

shadowhowl1900 @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:17PM

can we have an option though? i really like my load times to be minimal unless it is like really small to begin with.

if that so, then kudos to SE.

Fleakitten @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:18PM

Too little too late SE.

TypeF @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:21PM

i hope there's an option to install and increase the speed of the loading time because U2 does not need to install and is sorta slow cuz of it but no biggie

mywhitenoise @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:28PM

haha! You're joking right? Uncharteds load speeds are phenomenal and are MUCH better than even games that have 5GB installs.

TypeF @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:29PM

If you think so then ok. For me is slower than any other game I've played but like i said above is no biggie.

Raider197 @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:33PM

I think he means the loading times when you first start the game up, and the multiplayer games load pretty slow, although this probably isn't due to the lack of installs. Still, it's worth the wait so I don't mind.

TypeF @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:41PM

you know the loading when you see the dagger in the corner? that loading which you see in single player a lot. It takes a while for it to load but like I said no biggie online i can't recall i'll have to log in and play to check lol

Kodros @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:03PM

"that loading which you see in single player a lot"

If you don't skip through the cut scenes, you won't see that at all.

KinjiroSSD @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:21PM

I agree about the loading when you boot up the game however there is zero loading in the single player campaign. I don't know if skipping cut scenes changes that but who in their right mind would skip an Unchated cut scene.

TypeF @ Oct 22nd 2009 6:53PM

Those that beat the game in hard mode and crushing mode in order to get trophies.

Kendal @ Oct 22nd 2009 6:53PM

Really? Long load times in Uncharted 2? There is one when you first start up the game, and that's it unless you play online. Once you start playing the single player campaign though... the thing is seemless. Even if you skip the cutscenes I've never seen a loading time once playing (going through the single player multiple times on different difficulties makes you wanna skip certain cutscenes).

RogueJedi86 @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:22PM

"Furthermore, other than the transition between town and field segments, the game won't feature any loading screens at all. "

How is that a big deal? Didn't FFXII already do that? I don't remember many loads in it either.

CrissCross87 @ Oct 22nd 2009 6:22PM

Because blu ray is known to have slow disc reading capabilities. That is why many ps3 games require install, while xbox 360 doesn't. Although as a 360 owner I try to install every game I own due to 360s being so noisey

AdamJ @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:24PM

An install option would be nice and hopefully is being implemented.

Ashitaka @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:32PM

"We're sure there were at least a few folks out there looking forward to watching a Chocobo take a smoke break."

Ugh, Joystiq, no need to remind me of that. It was the only flaw I encountered in Metal Gear Solid 4, but it's a flaw I really really hate. 5 to 10 minutes to load a different area? Unfortunately, no thank you. I kinda expected more of Kojima :[

Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:20PM

"5 to 10 minutes to load a different area?"

Lolwut? You only have to do it each chapter.

Ashitaka @ Oct 22nd 2009 5:31PM

Yeah, sorry, that's what I meant to say.

Josh @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:34PM

if they really wanted to they could do an optional install. Valkyria Chronicles gives you the option to install if you want, so if they really wanted to, they could. That being said, I'm not really a fan of game installs, I'd rather they just optimized their code to reduce it down or eliminate load screens than eat up 5GB of my hard drive (and if you say just get a bigger HDD, I already have a 320 in there, I just would rather have space for movies, demos, and downloadable games than waste it on installing disc based games like on a PC)

Reefer @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:56PM

If a game can benifit from an install. I'd rather have an option, at least. Killzone 2 could've did away with the hitching between sections with an install. But, too many people whine about installs. so some games suffer because of it. It's super easy and cheap to upgrade your HDD. if your worried about space.

justicefreak @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:57PM

Love it! This is why I read Joystiq...

justicefreak @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:59PM

Whoops, it left out the snip from the main article that made me laugh:

"We're sure there were at least a few folks out there looking forward to watching a Chocobo take a smoke break."

Kira @ Oct 22nd 2009 4:57PM

I like the having stuff installed, because it does seem to help (SF4), but when I play a game, I want to get right into, especially the first time. Being able to install after the impatience to try the game is great (like with SF4). What gets to me is being told that there are no load times when there is a pause between areas. FFXII did have the pause between areas, but not a significant amount of time dedicated to loading. But don't advertise "No Load Times" if I have to look at a black screen for five to ten seconds every five minutes as I go across town. I know it's a minor thing, but it is an annoyance. Also, all load times need some form of entertainment. Keep the music going between areas, tips on the bottom of the screen that aren't the same every time in one area. And if I'm doing the exact same challenge again, why do I have to watch the same loading screen for the first time it loads? I'm looking at you Arkham Asylum! Mirror's Edge had the option of pressing select to instantly go back to the last checkpoint.. Wow, I really need to stop.

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