Square Enix: 'One Blu-ray may be insufficient for next-gen'

[garyopa]

Their next-gen engine uses CGI assets on real-time



According to a Square Enix dev, next-gen games may be too big for a single Blu-ray.
Luminous engine allows assets from a CGI video to be carried directly over a real-time demo.

Remember that impressive next-gen Final Fantasy tech demo that Square Enix showed off back at this year E3?

Well, is seems that S-E's Luminous Engine, allowed for assets from a CGI video to be carried directly over to the real-time demo.

Because of that -Yoshihisa Hashimoto, chief technical officer at Square Enix- said that, even with a massive 50GB capacity, Sony's Blu-ray format could be an issue...

"That's what we're expecting to do," he said. "For the backgrounds used in this - the mountains, the houses - we are using exactly the same assets as are used in the Visual Works CG version."

"Of course, it's too massive of a data to use in a game as-is, but I think the look and feel will probably remain. If we had time, we could've compressed the data even smaller. We didn't have time to do that, so we just used the same master data - but it can definitely be reduced."

When asked if storage space could be an issue with Blu-ray discs (which currently store 50GBs of data), Hashimoto replied, "Yeah, that could be a challenge. There's a possibility that just one Blu-ray may not be sufficient.

"We have to really consider the mechanism of compressing the data carefully," he said.

So, time for Holographic Discs, perhaps?

NEWS SOURCE #1: One Blu-Ray may be insufficient for next-gen Square (via) CVG
NEWS SOURCE #2: Square-Enix Luminous studio interview (via) RPGSite

Our thanks to 'Gauss' for this news item!

[WoIverine]

I think a 50gb blu-ray will be just fine, especially if each region has it's own version of the disc instead of cramming every region's game on the same disc.

[JonathanD]

I think a 50gb blu-ray will be just fine, especially if each region has it's own version of the disc instead of cramming every region's game on the same disc.

I agree, if pirates can cram an entire 1080P movie in 4-8GB's then surely they can figure out how to put a game inside of 50GB's....

If they need more space than that, they need to figure out how to use less video and put more game on the disk.

[Captain N1]

stupid square. compress your videos. 2 hours of video can be compressed to 4-8 gigs. and besides whats wrong with a multi disc game.

[Battlefield]

Did Square say this week that they would stop make big games anymore and go for smaller ones? How the hell do they need more than 50.GB then?

Besides.. Some Xbox 360 games is up to 4 discs in a standard cover...It cant be hard to fit 2 discs in a PS3 cover then.

Do i remember wrong, or did MGS 4 come on several discs? (I own MGS 4, but i never played it so i dont remember).

[Anil8tr]

CGI masking a lack of gameplay is insufficient for next gen SE.

[Xenogears V]

Multiple blu ray or pass to Holographic Versatile Disc.

[Ahmed_p800]

stupid square. compress your videos. 2 hours of video can be compressed to 4-8 gigs. and besides whats wrong with a multi disc game.

Re-read the article...carefully this time!

The good thing is, they don't have to create 2 different kinds of assests, for in-game and CGI, just one would be enough to use in both, I think that should help cut the costs of making games!

[Diztructor]

I agree, if pirates can cram an entire 1080P movie in 4-8GB's then surely they can figure out how to put a game inside of 50GB's....

If they need more space than that, they need to figure out how to use less video and put more game on the disk.

your post has flawa

1) a 1080p movie doesnt have game code and engine code.
2) a 1080p movies doesnt have models and high quality textures and mapping

i think next gen will easily fit on a 50GB disc, if not, 50GB isnt the only size Blu-Ray offers, but compressing isnt a good idea

1) if its compressed the console has to decompress the files which then adds to its loading times (and we all hate loading times)
2) compressed texture quality never looks as good as its raw format (compare to HD game remakes or console vs High End PCs)
3) Audio compression again isnt as good as its raw format

next gen systems should be able to handle all this on a 50GB disc, only near the end of the consoles life should devs need to start compressing as theyre reaching towards the new next gen games, youll know high budget games will be requiring more space.

[MadonnaProject]

one word. compression.

[rmorris003]

Quad layer is coming (128gb), they can just use that or triple layer which is 100gb.

[Diztructor]

or dual sided blu ray optical drives with discs that are 175GB daul sided discs

[Signa]

Aren't 2-disk games still acceptable? Seriously SE, if your game is 101GB, YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG!

[Diztructor]

Aren't 2-disk games still acceptable? Seriously SE, if your game is 101GB, YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG!

how are they, you not realise that games are requiring larger discs?

remember when games started on tapes and floppy discs, then to cartridges to cds, then to dvd, then dual layer dvd to blue ray, im sure this evolution chain of gaming media formats kinda proves the point made.

[billysastard]

how are they, you not realise that games are requiring larger discs?

remember when games started on tapes and floppy discs, then to cartridges to cds, then to dvd, then dual layer dvd to blue ray, im sure this evolution chain of gaming media formats kinda proves the point made.

i doubt 101gb will be needed for 99.9% of games until the assets in them are uhd by which time redray or holodiscs should be around at a viable price (or multilayer br). that said honestly, who cares if you have to swap discs?