Hedon Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Today I am going to discuss the details of the packaging format for "Xbox 360 Games on Demand" and "Play from hard drive" features. The "Play from hard drive" feature allows you to install Xbox 360 games to your hard drive, increasing the game performance. "Xbox 360 Games on Demand", launched in 2009, allows you to download full Xbox 360 games directly to your console without needing a disc. It also gives you the same benefits in regard to game performance. Our 2009 update has generated some buzz regarding the size reduction in our play from hard drive packages that I wanted to explain.All storage media (flash, hard drives, discs, etc) have a layout that dictates where and how the files will be stored. Optical disc drives spin the disc at a constant velocity which means that as the head reads the data from the disc and moves towards the center, the data will be read faster. Xbox 360 game disc layouts are optimized for the reading speeds of optical discs drives and attempt to concentrate the game disc data at the fastest read locations on the disc. This typically ends up creating gaps at the beginning, end, and in the middle of the disc layout where layer 1 transfers to layer 2. When we first released the "Play from hard drive" feature in 2008, we did not do any detection of gaps that can exist in between game code in disc layouts. We started our game copy at the first sector where the game started (skipping the gap at the beginning of the disc) and copied the disc until we hit the last readable sector of the disc where the game code ended (skipping the gap at the end of the disc). During the 2008 release, we decided to not optimize out the gaps that can occur in the middle of the game code in the disc layout.Fast forward to the 2009 release: we went back and examined how much potential space savings we could deliver to customers by removing these gaps that can occur in the middle of the game code in the disc layout. Around the same time, we got the official green light for Xbox 360 Games on Demand project which meant customers were going to be downloading these packages, thus it was even a higher priority to squeeze the image size down as small as possible. We did a bunch of analysis to determine the sizes of these gaps in the middle of the disc layout as well as how we could remove it during the disc image creation process. Since everyone loves data, here is a snap shot of the data that we collected to make the decision whether the code investment to remove the gaps in the middle would pay off: Average Space Saved (MB): 735.38 Max Space Saved (MB):3476.37 Min Space Saved (MB):0 Median Space Saved (MB):453.94 After collecting this data we knew that this would be highly valuable since we would obtain a median savings of 453MB per game for both hard drive space and download time. Since both "Play from hard drive" and "Xbox 360 Games on Demand" use the same underlying technology we were able to make the code change to remove these gaps for both. Games that were installed from a game disc before this release will continue to function. If the user deletes the game disc image and reinstalls the game it is possible that the resulting installed image will be smaller. As is shown above, some games' installed image size will not be affected at all while some games will have a varying range of size savings. Link I gotta wonder which game saved 3gb in this scenario. That is pretty dang cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boifido Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 That's amazing! Too bad i'll have to re-install everything then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupcakes Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 I would love this. I'm just barely skirting by on 20GB but I refuse to pay ridiculous amount for the 120gb and 250gb counterpart when that's released. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spenser.d Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 You guys do realize this is something they've already implemented, right? I believe it came with the NXE update. Regardless the article states these gaps were reduced in a 2009 update. I do remember it being brought up last year at some point that file sizes seemed to be smaller all of a sudden. -Spenser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 Yup, I remember the update coming. I only posted this because it's a new article from the team clarifying the finer points of the install feature (and how it compares with the Games on Demand). Cupcakes 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spenser.d Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Yup, I remember the update coming. I only posted this because it's a new article from the team clarifying the finer points of the install feature (and how it compares with the Games on Demand). Yeah I knew you knew that and it is an interesting article. I just didn't seem like the others knew that the update already happened :yes: -Spenser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupcakes Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Yeah I knew you knew that and it is an interesting article. I just didn't seem like the others knew that the update already happened :yes: -Spenser Erhm, I already knew. I saved Halo 3 to it the day it was released to NXE in 08. I'm referring to the having massive savings in disk space usage. Halo 3 took up 3GB and at that point only left me with 1.5GB to play around with AFTER I deleted a game demo. I deleted Halo 3 to toss up MW2 which uses just as much and with BF:BC2 demo taking up ~1.2GB. Which lead to my comment about only having a 20GB drive. I don't save anything but maps to it so upgrading is not necessary for me.. But still hard to skirt by on 20GB. I just said I would love this for games saved because I prefer to play off HD so I don't have a hovering spaceship (in terms of noise) next to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 Well, just in case others are even more confused....When NXE was officially released in 08, Microsoft made it an option to be able to install games. LATER in 2009, they released a patch to this game install feature that would REDUCE the install size. However, it would NOT affect games that you already have installed. You would have to delete that game install and REINSTALL again to get the space savings benefit from the patch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+InsaneNutter MVC Posted February 5, 2010 MVC Share Posted February 5, 2010 I gotta wonder which game saved 3gb in this scenario. That is pretty dang cool. Raiden Fighter Aces and Raiden 4, the install size of those two games used to be well over 3gigs. After the update they take about 300mb each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupcakes Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 LOL I just checked on size for MW2.. I assumed it was about ~3GB. It's sitting in at a pretty 6.8GB D:. I only have about 956MB of space left too. My days of skirting by are running low I guess, haha :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 Raiden Fighter Aces and Raiden 4, the install size of those two games used to be well over 3gigs. After the update they take about 300mb each. Holy crap! They turned into XBLA games! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
what Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Interesting stuff. I still have about 70GB free on my 120GB drive though :p I kinda outgrew my 20GB drive a while back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apreichner Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 I'm surprised more people don't just follow these guides: http://www.gamerwok.com/archives/786 . And upgrade it themselves. You can buy a 250gb laptop hard drive on newegg for 44 dollars and replace it yourself. A lot cheaper than the 160gb hdd sold by Microsoft for 149.99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 I'm surprised more people don't just follow these guides: http://www.gamerwok.com/archives/786 . And upgrade it themselves. You can buy a 250gb laptop hard drive on newegg for 44 dollars and replace it yourself. A lot cheaper than the 160gb hdd sold by Microsoft for 149.99 I don't want to take ANY chance of voiding my warranty or getting banned whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sethos Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 You can buy a 250gb laptop hard drive on newegg for 44 dollars and replace it yourself. A lot cheaper than the 160gb hdd sold by Microsoft for 149.99 That's news to me ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apreichner Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 I don't want to take ANY chance of voiding my warranty or getting banned whatsoever. You'll void your hard drive warranty because you have to open up its case, but since the hard drive is DESIGNED to be user replaceable (detachable) it cannot void your Xbox360 warranty because you do not open up the console itself. Also, you will not get banned from XBLive because you are not modifying your console and playing unauthorized copies of games. This does not allow you to play copied games illegally. Simply put, you take a hard drive, sign it with the signature of the old one, copy your Xbox partitions, and begin playing. That's news to me ... Yeah it's true... Inside the Xbox360 hard drive enclosure, there is just a standard laptop 2.5" SATA hard drive. If you take it out, you can hook it up to your computer, format it, do whatever you so desire. Replacing it seems to be a bit more complicated a matter, but still doesn't seem that hard as long as you follow the guide closely. And it is definitely worth it to follow the guide instead of shell out so much money. Western Digital Scorpio hard drives seem to work best for the mod. Heres a link to the hard drive on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136387 : 44.99 with free shipping, if you read the reviews on that site, a lot of people actually used that exact HDD for their Xbox360. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 You'll void your hard drive warranty because you have to open up its case, but since the hard drive is DESIGNED to be user replaceable (detachable) it cannot void your Xbox360 warranty because you do not open up the console itself. Also, you will not get banned from XBLive because you are not modifying your console and playing unauthorized copies of games. This does not allow you to play copied games illegally. Simply put, you take a hard drive, sign it with the signature of the old one, copy your Xbox partitions, and begin playing. That isn't to say that MS couldn't push out a patch that detects an unauthorized HDD and ban my console or my live account. They can do anything. I won't take that chance. Yeah it's true... Inside the Xbox360 hard drive enclosure, there is just a standard laptop 2.5" SATA hard drive. If you take it out, you can hook it up to your computer, format it, do whatever you so desire. Replacing it seems to be a bit more complicated a matter, but still doesn't seem that hard as long as you follow the guide closely. And it is definitely worth it to follow the guide instead of shell out so much money. Western Digital Scorpio hard drives seem to work best for the mod.Heres a link to the hard drive on Newegg: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136387 : 44.99 with free shipping, if you read the reviews on that site, a lot of people actually used that exact HDD for their Xbox360. MS doesn't have a 160gb HDD. They have 20, 60, 120 and 250. That is what he was highlighting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sethos Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 MS doesn't have a 160gb HDD. They have 20, 60, 120 and 250. That is what he was highlighting. (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apreichner Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 That isn't to say that MS couldn't push out a patch that detects an unauthorized HDD and ban my console or my live account. They can do anything. I won't take that chance. MS doesn't have a 160gb HDD. They have 20, 60, 120 and 250. That is what he was highlighting. LOL! oh my bad, i didnt even notice i put 160 instead of 120. I thought he was highlighting it for a different reason. I feel stupid now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 LOL! oh my bad, i didnt even notice i put 160 instead of 120. I thought he was highlighting it for a different reason. I feel stupid now. No worries. Don't feel stupid. I have made MANY mistakes, MUCH worse than that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkBlade Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 LOL I just checked on size for MW2.. I assumed it was about ~3GB. It's sitting in at a pretty 6.8GB D:. I only have about 956MB of space left too. My days of skirting by are running low I guess, haha :p Wow I didn't realize MW2 took up that much space...glad I don't use much space except for game installs and the occasional Arcade game lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattmatik Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I had to get a new 360 when my launch console died last week so I just opted for the Elite. Damn, I was missing out with the 20GB HDD. I don't have a massive game library but I was able to install all my disc games and then get Mass Effect via Games on Demand and am not even close to touching the capacity. I wish MS would release more (and newer) games to On Demand. Its so nice to just run through my Game Library and play something. And I'm with AWBrian here. Granted, the hard drives from MS are unnecessarily expensive but getting a ban from Live would really **** me off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayepecks Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 That's news to me ... ZOMG TYPO POLICE FINDZ U!!!!!! :rofl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sethos Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 ZOMG TYPO POLICE FINDZ U!!!!!! :rofl: Settle down Ayepecks, you might pop a vein. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+InsaneNutter MVC Posted February 13, 2010 MVC Share Posted February 13, 2010 Holy crap! They turned into XBLA games! I believe they were originally supposed to be arcade games, however some disagreement with Microsoft ended up with the games been retail releases. Ive not seen any other games shrink as many gb's as them two anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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