Leaked Xbox Dashboard Video Demonstrates Installed Games, Faster Load Times

October 8, 2008 2:16 PM

The latest leaked video of the upcoming Xbox 360 dashboard update highlights the ability to install games to the hard drive and the reduced loading times that ensue. [videofeature]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc9tzrK5IbU&ap=%2526fmt%3D18[img]/extras/faylor/360_game_install_prev.jpg[/img][/videofeature]

Though games will stream off the hard drive after installation, players will still need to have the proper game disc in their console for copy protection purposes.

Slated to arrive this fall, the free system update known as the New Xbox Experience includes a revised interface, Netflix streaming, customizable player Avatars, support for optional game installs, and more. Thanks to Kotaku for the heads up.

Chris Faylor

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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JasonReece

 reply
October 8, 2008 2:22 PM

I guess that's obvious but what's the point? Are load times really that bad on some games? I was thinking about upgrading to 120GB drive but if you still need the disc then fuck it.
- derelict515
  
   reply
  October 8, 2008 2:25 PM
  
  What's the harm? You can have better load times if you want, it's nice in some games. What else will you do with 120gb besides HD movies?
- quadalupeupe
  
   reply
  October 8, 2008 2:26 PM
  
  i HATE loading screens on consoles, so annoying have to always watch the stupid made by this company crap each time the game loads...
  
  For example Battlefield bad company, great game, love it but i do not love having to watch the stupid GRENADE/DICE/FROSTBITE and hopping to 3/4 button presses after that to finally get into a Multiplayer game :(
  - TrptJim
    
     reply
    October 10, 2008 9:12 AM
    
    That may have nothing to do with load times. If you noticed in the video, those annoying screens didn't change.
    
    In many of the PC games I own, I have to delete/rename the intro video files so that they get skipped when I start the game.
- thejm4n
  
   reply
  October 8, 2008 2:32 PM
  
  No more DDE (dirty disk errors). Fucking consoles.
- Sailor of Fortune
  
   reply
  October 8, 2008 2:38 PM
  
  The reason for the disc is prove ownership either through purchase or rental.
- kodt
  
   reply
  October 8, 2008 2:39 PM
  
  Well I knew they would not let people play without the disc in the drive, and from the video the loading time does not appear to be significantly faster enough to warrant the purchase of a larger drive. If it was twice as fast I would consider it.
  
  Still, a nice feature.
  - DinK
    
     reply
    October 8, 2008 3:19 PM
    
    Well this is just one game, plus a dev will make a lot of assumptions when they're loading stuff if they know it's coming slowly off an optical disc.
    
    Maybe they're doing a lot of decompressing of files or something that wouldn't be necessary if they knew you were going right from the HD.
    - FalseGod
      
       reply
      October 8, 2008 3:35 PM
      
      This will not change unless they start adding specific logic for installed versions. They will still have to make it work as well as possible on non-HDD installs since it is optional.
- xsoulbrothax
  
   reply
  October 8, 2008 2:49 PM
  
  Not having the disc drive spin up would keep it a LOT quieter, FWIW.
  - SilverSnake
    
     reply
    October 8, 2008 3:12 PM
    
    This is the main reason why I want it. Loading times reduction is just a bonus.
- usedillusion
  
   reply
  October 9, 2008 2:32 AM
  
  BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD ABUSE THE FEATURE IF YOU DIDN'T NEED TO HAVE A DISK. YOU GENIUS