DVD vs CD for Computer Games

Coffee Warlord · 03-16-2005, 01:57 PM

I'm seeing more and more games coming out with DVD releases. Now I hear that Silent Hunter is DVD only for the time being.

As one who does not own a DVD drive for my computer, and as one who has not had any particular desire to pick one up...how many of you actually own one? I'm curious if I'm just way behind the times, or release formats are moving ahead of consumers.

Calis · 03-16-2005, 02:00 PM

You're way behind the times.

Seriously though, I'm all for the move to DVD and away from having 6-7 CD's.

The move hasn't happened for that reason though, not everyone has one. I think you're safe for a couple more years.

MikeVic · 03-16-2005, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

I'm seeing more and more games coming out with DVD releases. Now I hear that Silent Hunter is DVD only for the time being.

As one who does not own a DVD drive for my computer, and as one who has not had any particular desire to pick one up...how many of you actually own one? I'm curious if I'm just way behind the times, or release formats are moving ahead of consumers.

I currently have one. I don't know about where you live, but you can get a DVD Burner for $100Cdn, and I bought my DVD-ROM over a year ago for $60Cdn.... so they're not expensive. I'd prefer DVDs to 4 CDs anyday.

Draft Dodger · 03-16-2005, 02:07 PM

heck, you can get a DVD-ROM for $25. all 4 PCs I've owned (going back to '99) have had them. I like to have them just in case, but I'm not even sure I have one title on DVD yet. Manufacturers are still gunshy about biting the bullet.

MikeVic · 03-16-2005, 02:09 PM

Heh. As I was looking for the price of a DVD-ROM right now, I came across this on the local computer seller's website:

Colossal PDF File

Of all words to use to describe the giveaway.... and why a scooter with a computer? Heh.

gi · 03-16-2005, 02:28 PM

I loved getting Pirates on DVD. Easier to install and manage with only one disc.

Marc Vaughan · 03-16-2005, 04:25 PM

FM will be remaining CD only for a bit yet - we'll only go DVD when we can't fit everything onto a single CD ...

finkenst · 03-16-2005, 04:54 PM

Yay, marc...

wait.. I have a dvd burner in this computer. WHat do I care??

jeff061 · 03-16-2005, 04:55 PM

Yeah just bought one for $25.

Hell you can get a damn good DVD burner for $80. No reason not to be able to read DVD's in this day and age.

TazFTW · 03-16-2005, 04:59 PM

I've had a DVD drive in my computer since I had a Pentium 3 450 mhz (4 or 5 years ago). In the one I use at school, I have a DVD drive and a DVD burner.

sabotai · 03-16-2005, 05:00 PM

I've had a DVD-ROm drive for quite awhile now. Since 99 I think. I think all computers come with DVD-ROM drives now as part of the basic setup.

My vote goes to you being way behind the times.

Daimyo · 03-16-2005, 06:02 PM

I bought a dual layer DVD burner from newegg 3-4 months ago for ~$50... I'm sure you can find similar deals now.

http://www.newegg.com/app/manufact.asp?catalog=5&DEPA=0

Draft Dodger · 03-16-2005, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

FM will be remaining CD only for a bit yet - we'll only go DVD when we can't fit everything onto a single CD ...

that certainly makes sense. while I'd love to see the multi-CDs give way to DVDs, no need to put it on DVD until it's necessary

21C · 03-16-2005, 06:46 PM

This is much the same scenario that occurred with the advent of the CD. I remember games coming on 5-10 floppy disks.

[curmudgeon mode] I remember using a Commodore Amiga with a single disk drive and having to constantly swap disks just to play a game. I thought it was great when I bought a second drive to avoid the disk swapping.[/curmudgeon mode]

Pumpy Tudors · 03-16-2005, 08:08 PM

The only problem that seems to come up with games on DVD is that the discs aren't really as universally compatible as the CD games are. I've read about tons of people having issues installing the DVD editions of Pirates! and The Sims 2, for instance. We installed the DVD version of Pirates! on my wife's laptop, and it was tricky. Her DVD drive didn't like the disc so much. We finally got it installed after a couple of tries, though, and everything has gone fine with the game since.

daedalus · 03-16-2005, 10:42 PM

My girlfriend (our house's resident Sims 2 addict and expert) said that a number of people reportedly had issues with the DVD version of their game, as PT said. Until that's well and properly solved, I'd rather have the option of reverting back to CDs.

Yes, I have a DVD burner on the new computer.

sterlingice · 03-17-2005, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daedalus

My girlfriend (our house's resident Sims 2 addict and expert) said that a number of people reportedly had issues with the DVD version of their game, as PT said. Until that's well and properly solved, I'd rather have the option of reverting back to CDs.

Yes, I have a DVD burner on the new computer.

Daed beat me to this point. DVDs seem to have a lot more problems with wear and tear, particularly in cases of write-protection. The sooner we get away from optical media to something less volatile, the better.

SI

03-16-2005, 02:07 PM	#4
Draft Dodger Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Keene, NH	heck, you can get a DVD-ROM for $25. all 4 PCs I've owned (going back to '99) have had them. I like to have them just in case, but I'm not even sure I have one title on DVD yet. Manufacturers are still gunshy about biting the bullet. __________________ Mile High Hockey

03-16-2005, 04:25 PM	#7
Marc Vaughan SI Games Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Melbourne, FL	FM will be remaining CD only for a bit yet - we'll only go DVD when we can't fit everything onto a single CD ... Last edited by Marc Vaughan : 03-16-2005 at 04:25 PM.

03-16-2005, 04:55 PM	#9
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	Yeah just bought one for $25. Hell you can get a damn good DVD burner for $80. No reason not to be able to read DVD's in this day and age. __________________

03-16-2005, 08:08 PM	#15
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	The only problem that seems to come up with games on DVD is that the discs aren't really as universally compatible as the CD games are. I've read about tons of people having issues installing the DVD editions of Pirates! and The Sims 2, for instance. We installed the DVD version of Pirates! on my wife's laptop, and it was tricky. Her DVD drive didn't like the disc so much. We finally got it installed after a couple of tries, though, and everything has gone fine with the game since. __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

03-16-2005, 02:00 PM	#2
Calis College Starter Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Kansas	You're way behind the times. Seriously though, I'm all for the move to DVD and away from having 6-7 CD's. The move hasn't happened for that reason though, not everyone has one. I think you're safe for a couple more years.

03-16-2005, 02:09 PM	#5
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	Heh. As I was looking for the price of a DVD-ROM right now, I came across this on the local computer seller's website: Colossal PDF File Of all words to use to describe the giveaway.... and why a scooter with a computer? Heh.

03-16-2005, 02:28 PM	#6
gi College Prospect Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Berkley, MI	I loved getting Pirates on DVD. Easier to install and manage with only one disc.

03-16-2005, 04:54 PM	#8
finkenst College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: usually sunny SoCal	Yay, marc... wait.. I have a dvd burner in this computer. WHat do I care??

03-16-2005, 04:59 PM	#10
TazFTW Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Honolulu, HI	I've had a DVD drive in my computer since I had a Pentium 3 450 mhz (4 or 5 years ago). In the one I use at school, I have a DVD drive and a DVD burner.

03-16-2005, 05:00 PM	#11
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	I've had a DVD-ROm drive for quite awhile now. Since 99 I think. I think all computers come with DVD-ROM drives now as part of the basic setup. My vote goes to you being way behind the times.

03-16-2005, 06:02 PM	#12
Daimyo College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Berkeley	I bought a dual layer DVD burner from newegg 3-4 months ago for ~$50... I'm sure you can find similar deals now. http://www.newegg.com/app/manufact.asp?catalog=5&DEPA=0

03-16-2005, 06:46 PM	#14
21C College Prospect Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Newcastle, Australia	This is much the same scenario that occurred with the advent of the CD. I remember games coming on 5-10 floppy disks. [curmudgeon mode] I remember using a Commodore Amiga with a single disk drive and having to constantly swap disks just to play a game. I thought it was great when I bought a second drive to avoid the disk swapping.[/curmudgeon mode]

03-16-2005, 10:42 PM	#16
daedalus Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000	My girlfriend (our house's resident Sims 2 addict and expert) said that a number of people reportedly had issues with the DVD version of their game, as PT said. Until that's well and properly solved, I'd rather have the option of reverting back to CDs. Yes, I have a DVD burner on the new computer.

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