Criterion on why Burnout online needs HDD

[Zeus]

Criterion has decided to clarify why Burnout Paradise requires a HDD for full online play on 360. They say that they wanted to create a game that was seamless between offline and online play and that they wanted to be able to extend the game with additional downloadable content. However it was not possible for all online players to show off new content when they go online because of the limitations of the 64Mb Memory Unit and its data read speeds. They talked to MS about possible solutions, however one was not available so they decided to use the HDD for full online play.

<center><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/burparhdd.jpg"></center></a>


In the interests of clarity we wanted to let you all know why Burnout Paradise requires a HDD for full online play on 360.

When we envisioned Burnout Paradise we set out to create an amazing open world experience in Paradise City, one that ran at a blistering 60Hz, that featured incredible vehicle deformation and importantly, one that was seamless between offline and online play. We also wanted to create a game that could be extended with additional downloadable content. We've made no secret of this fact and we see it as a great way to respond to how players experience Burnout Paradise by offering new content in the future.

It's important for us that all online players could show off new content when they go online and unfortunately it wasn't going to be possible to do this by supporting the lowest common storage denominator, the 64Mb Memory Unit, either in size or data read speeds. Crucially we also didn't want to split the playing community between those that have updated data and those that don't. We saw this as vital in maintaining simplicity to all online users; different players having different content packages wouldn't be able to play online with each other.

We opened a dialogue with Microsoft to attempt to discover a possible solution and all possible technical options were investigated to retain the seamless freedom of Burnout without requiring the HDD. Unfortunately a solution was not available and we decided together that it would be in the best interests of the Burnout community if we require the HDD for full online play.

We're disappointed that we are unable to offer Core users the complete Burnout Paradise online experience. However, Core users do get to access the online Road Rule gameplay where they can compete to see who has the best time or the best showtime score amongst their friends on each of the games 64 roads. Additionally they get access to the extended leaderboard content for this feature where they can view the Top 10 players amongst their friends on each road and see which car their friends used to set their fastest time or highest Showtime score. This is a great feature that allows players to compete against each other irrespective of whether they are actually online at the same time.

We hope that this answers all your questions,
The Burnout Team


News Source: <a href="http://www.criteriongames.com/burnout/paradise/press/features/xboxonline/" target=_blank">criteriongames</a>

[So-Unreal]

why would you have a 360 with out a hard drive anyway. Also if you play on live dont you have to have a hard drive for a patch if the game has one?

[Kr155]

Criterion has decided to clarify why Burnout Paradise requires a HDD for full online play on 360. They say that they wanted to create a game that was seamless between offline and online play and that they wanted to be able to extend the game with additional downloadable content. However it was not possible for all online players to show off new content when they go online because of the limitations of the 64Mb Memory Unit and its data read speeds. They talked to MS about possible solutions, however one was not available so they decided to use the HDD for full online play.

<center><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/burparhdd.jpg"></center></a>



News Source: <a href="http://www.criteriongames.com/burnout/paradise/press/features/xboxonline/" target=_blank">criteriongames</a>


Sounds like a cool feature. able to download expantion data from other users so your not left out if you don't have it. Too bad for Core and arcade owners...

[pugton]

why would you have a 360 with out a hard drive anyway. Also if you play on live dont you have to have a hard drive for a patch if the game has one?

Seeing as Microsoft are selling a new SKU called the arcade pack which comes without a HDD all people buying one wont have one. And to buy one (Here in the UK anyway) a HDD 20gb still retails for around £60. By the time you have forked out that much plus the game and also the live fees you might as well have just bought a 40gb PS3 with the game for around the same price point.

And for the people who are gonna say just use ebay then if you bought it all off ebay it would still work out roughly the same. By that i mean if you bought the 360 plus live plus game plus HDD it would total roughly the same as a ps3 40gb plus the game. But as we all know the PS3 would be much better value for this price point which is why Microsoft sell the arcade pack to draw in the people who dont want to pay that price in the first place.

[dalezer]

Why is this is even an issue? Who the heck doesn't have a HDD? ALl the people I know that own a 360 have a HDD. Kinda stupid if you don't.

[blade47167]

Seeing as Microsoft are selling a new SKU called the arcade pack which comes without a HDD all people buying one wont have one. And to buy one (Here in the UK anyway) a HDD 20gb still retails for around £60. By the time you have forked out that much plus the game and also the live fees you might as well have just bought a 40gb PS3 with the game for around the same price point.

And for the people who are gonna say just use ebay then if you bought it all off ebay it would still work out roughly the same. By that i mean if you bought the 360 plus live plus game plus HDD it would total roughly the same as a ps3 40gb plus the game. But as we all know the PS3 would be much better value for this price point which is why Microsoft sell the arcade pack to draw in the people who dont want to pay that price in the first place.

Exactly the "everyone should have a hard drive by now" really no longer has a meaning considering MS keeps trying to push the "our price is cheaper than yours" arcade model that doesn't come with an HD that costs an "extra $120" outside of said model. I laugh at those who have bought into MS's POS hardware and lies. Way to go Criterion, stick it to those bastards.

[jay123_2]

Just complete Bulls##t not when you allready paid for 2 copys of the same game
strange how EA still never responded to my second email
Then all of a sudden Criterion release that comment what 2 weeks too late for some of us who have paid twice :(

This is
From my previous post

hi guys i recently brought 2 copys of burnout paradise. 1 for me and the lad him having a arcade package at xmas.. we both wanted to have a race online but when i was waiting for him to apear then he shouted down his 360 is saying it needs a hardrive for Burnout Paradise to go online. on the box art it didnt say you need a hardrive just so many kb for game save which is ok has he got a 256mg card in the 360 arcade pack

so i contacted Electronic Arts Customer Support and this is the reply i got
--------------------------------------------------------------
Hello,

Thank you for writing us at EA Technical Support. I understand that you are currently having issues with the requirements for Burnout Paradise. I apologize for your situation, and the inconvenience that this causes you.

The hard drive is needed to store temporary data when playing online as the data transferred from one console to another requires storage space greater than what the memory card can contain.

If you have any other questions feel free to reply to this e-mail, and I will be very glad to help you out to the best of my ability.

Should you require further assistance with this game or other Electronic Arts games in the future, please visit our website and review our extensive Self Help knowledgebase at (http://support.ea.com/).

Thank you,

L********.
EA Technical Support

[totaleclipse_05]

If you don't have a HDD in your 360, you are dumb. I don't know why people waste their time getting the arcade 360 pack, such a bad value considering to get the most out of your 360, you need to buy more crap for it.

[jay123_2]

I do have a hdd it was my lads who has a arcade package also this was a xmas present and was out of my hands (i had no idea he was getting 1) i just paid for 2 burnout copys on the due date it was released 25th jan

If you don't have a HDD in your 360, you are dumb. I don't know why people waste their time getting the arcade 360 pack, such a bad value considering to get the most out of your 360, you need to buy more crap for it.

[yusky03]

The 360s overpriced/last gen memory cards and overpriced HDD are a joke. I will stick with my ps3 and my 2gb flash drive and laptop hard drive from newegg for way less.

[goodall]

jay, if you looked closer at the box you would see that it DOES, state that a HDD is needed for full online play (PAL versions at least, i checked when i was in game this morning after reading your last post on the issue)

[jay123_2]

Nice reply from EA just

Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts.

Thank you for writing in about the issue that you are experiencing with Burnout Paradise for the Xbox 360. I understand that you are not able to play online with your son as he does not have a hard drive. On the back of the cover, it actually states the following:

"online multiplayer 2-8/hard drive required"

I'm sorry if this wasn't made clear to you but as the packaging states, a hard drive is required for online play.

Lastly, I understand that you would not have purchased two copies of the game had you been aware that the game required a hard drive for online play. If you are completely dissatisfied with the game, there is very little other option I can provide aside from offering you the 90-day warranty so that you may exchange the game with a brand new, sealed copy to return to your original retailer. If you are interested in this policy, you can reply back and I can provide the full details of that policy.

I apologize for the inconvenience that this issue may have caused you.

Sincerely,

EA Rep #########
Game Support
Electronic Arts

well at least it can be exchanged very likley he wont tho as he loves the game
thanks jay :D

[88888888]

why would you have a 360 with out a hard drive anyway. Also if you play on live dont you have to have a hard drive for a patch if the game has one?

I have a core system that i got for free

check out my signature if you want to know how ;)

[EliteStance]

If you don't have a HDD in your 360, you are dumb. I don't know why people waste their time getting the arcade 360 pack, such a bad value considering to get the most out of your 360, you need to buy more crap for it.


The fault is MS for pushing Arcade and Core as entry level and trying to use them to get casual gamers. Those same casual gamers are going to buy games like Burnout without checking fine print and then compain.

After being smart and sticking a hard drive in Xbox I have no idea why they took it out again.

For hardcore gamers the fact 360 is divided into pieces (seperate HDD etc.) is fine but it makes it just as bad as a PC for casual gamers which is why I suspect they're going to have a rum time trying to get into that market.

[MadonnaProject]

its still better than having to INSTALL the game onto your playstation 3 hard drive. wow, why is everyone going nuts over it?

[pugton]

its still better than having to INSTALL the game onto your playstation 3 hard drive. wow, why is everyone going nuts over it?

Er you dont have to install it to the HDD of the PS3. Not all PS3 games need to install to the HDD you know. Only badly programed ones and ones that havnt got used to the difference in the Blu-Ray format yet so unable to optimise data on the discs. Burnout Paradise on PS3 is a dream combo, so far not seen any lag or slowdown during online or offline games. I just find it a huge shame they dont have a 2 player split screen mode in this game so when im round at my mates house where he doesnt have broadband we could still play.

[JJXB]

Er you dont have to install it to the HDD of the PS3. Not all PS3 games need to install to the HDD you know. Only badly programed ones and ones that havnt got used to the difference in the Blu-Ray format yet so unable to optimise data on the discs.

so capcom are sloppy coders then? i'll check how good the DMC4 demo on ps3 is next time i'm round my friend's house. in the meantime, i'll stick to the 360

[NewBeginning]

I fail to understand why people who buy the 360 without the hard drive are going to be surprised when they can't play a game that requires the hard drive. Where I work, we tell everyone (Two people) who buys one that they won't be able to go online without a hard drive.

[faceless]

I fail to understand why people who buy the 360 without the hard drive are going to be surprised when they can't play a game that requires the hard drive. Where I work, we tell everyone (Two people) who buys one that they won't be able to go online without a hard drive.

you fail to understand how casual gamers who play nothing but madden, halo and need for speed would buy a 360 without a HDD?

to save money?

they figure "i wont play a lot of games anyway, i dont need a HUGE EXPENSIVE HDD"

of course, being a hardcore gamer, i don't *agree* with their logic, but i certainly understand it.

anyway, it's all on microsoft for not having a HDD standard to get that cheap price to get those gamers to buy the console.

at least criterion didn't gimp the game to cater to the lowest common denominator.

[Trashcat]

When we envisioned Burnout Paradise we set out to create an amazing open world experience in Paradise City, one that ran at a blistering 60Hz, that featured incredible vehicle deformation and importantly, one that was seamless between offline and online play. We also wanted to create a game that could be extended with additional downloadable content. We've made no secret of this fact and we see it as a great way to respond to how players experience Burnout Paradise by offering new content in the future.
So if people can't buy your downloadable rip-off they might as well not play online at all? Right what else should they do online if not fill another EA money-silo.
It's important for us that all online players could show off new content when they go online and unfortunately it wasn't going to be possible to do this by supporting the lowest common storage denominator, the 64Mb Memory Unit, either in size or data read speeds. Crucially we also didn't want to split the playing community between those that have updated data and those that don't. We saw this as vital in maintaining simplicity to all online users; different players having different content packages wouldn't be able to play online with each other.
Oh you didn't want to split the playing community into people who you can rip-off with your downloads and those who can't, so you split them in those who can play and those who can't, sounds kinda like shooting a man with a broken leg in the head to help him. Shame on you Criterion people for becoming EA slaves.

The fault is MS for pushing Arcade and Core as entry level and trying to use them to get casual gamers. Those same casual gamers are going to buy games like Burnout without checking fine print and then compain.
After being smart and sticking a hard drive in Xbox I have no idea why they took it out again.
For hardcore gamers the fact 360 is divided into pieces (seperate HDD etc.) is fine but it makes it just as bad as a PC for casual gamers which is why I suspect they're going to have a rum time trying to get into that market.
No matter how bad the decision was not to include a standard HDD in the 360 its still up to developers to make it possible for everyone to play, sometimes HDD is technically necessary and its fine but these people are clearly saying you can't play online without a HDD because you can't buy our downloadable content, thats just plain and simple the greed of EA.