Itagaki sounds off on Xbox 360 limitations
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jul 5th 2005 at 5:00PM }
The infamous Team Ninja front man has a thing or two to say about Microsoft's decision to assign standard DVD format to the Xbox 360. Limiting his development team to a measly 9GB does not sit well with Itagaki, especially when Team Ninja is looking to include any number of (MS-coveted) HD cut scenes. It's ironic that Microsoft has been the most outspoken about the "HD era", but is the least prepared for it… However, don't be surprised to see an Xbox 360.1 springing up in a year or two, complete with HD-DVD drive.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
otakucode @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
His concerns are definitely valid, however I believe the limitations can be overcome. Right now, most game companies use the utterly vomit-inducing Bink video codec for most of their cutscenes. I strongly suspect this is because they bought a Bink license for a very large sum of money years and years ago and they're milking that teat long after the cow has died and the milk turned rotten.
If they switch over to, say, an H.264 based codec instead, they won't have much trouble at all with a couple hours of prerendered cutscenes on a standard DVD. It's only the bloated, antiquated MPEG-2 format the movie industry has such a hard-on about that requires titanic bitrates to push quality HD content.
I'm pretty sure Microsoft will push WMV-HD at the developers instead, and they very well may take the bait. I haven't kept up with VC1 so I don't really know its abilities to reduce the amount of data needed...
Then there is also the case that in-game engine movies are going to look really damn good and most games might go with them over prerendered stuff...
gmrc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
All it takes is a good compression scheme, and I bet MS will force publishers to use one.
Team ninja wanted to release the DOA4 trailer as a 2 gig file. Come on man. The 700 meg'r was large and clear enough by almost any measure.
It only makes sense to compress the video. Wasting 6 gigs on video seems pretty needless.
Same with audio. One minute of 5.1 HiDef audio could be as much as 120 megs ... and that's just silly.
Arch-360 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
and here come all the fanboys.
Chiablo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
The majority of Xbox Games are around 3-5 gigs. Most developers keep it under 5 gigs due to the increased cost of Dual-layer discs. I feel the same thing will happen with the PS3. Game developers are going to be hesitant to produce a game larger than 9GB because of the huge cost increase it would be to produce their product onto a sony propriatary blu-ray format. It'd be cheaper to span their game over 2 dual layer DVD's than bow to Sony's will and go with a blu-ray disc.
tkyy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
no. 4 ... developers can release their ps3 titles on BD, DVD, or even CD if they want.... i suspect many first gen ps3 games will be on dvd until BD production costs decrease.
Monmin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Ok, I was all set to post the exact same thing that you guys have already stated - that Team Ninja must be using mpeg2 and if they use VC1 they should have no problem.
Using VC1 to encode a 2hr movie at 1080p will take about 10gig. If the average game has 5gig of game data that leaves 4 gig for movie clips. If they use VC1 that will be close to 50 mins of video at 1080p. Now MS is only targeting 720p which means they could include a short movie along with the game and be just fine.
Take my numbers with a grain of salt. It's estimations based on what I've seen on the net.
Team Ninja needs to clarify there remarks. Or MS needs to tell them about VC1.
courtney @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
it's just the Xbox360, I'm waiting a a year for PS3 and Revolution anyway..
The1 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Funny, how JOYSTIQ only posted a piece of the article with Itagaki's comments. Itagaki also praised the X360 and made remarks about the SONY PS3 that were not noted on this site.
spoo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Is it just me or is joysiq feeding the xbox hating trolls with just about every 360 enntry?
|Funny, how JOYSTIQ only posted a piece of the article with Itagaki's comments. Itagaki also praised the X360 and made remarks about the SONY PS3 that were not noted on this site.|
Agreed, I am not an Xbox fanboy, I don't even have an xbox but it seems that joysiq has become OMGOMGPS3ROXZ!!11!!360SUKZ!!11!
Pretty Obvious @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
I see myself as a big fan of Microsoft, but the decision to use a standard dvd format does seem like a bad move.
Team Ninja is absolutely right about this and I can forsee them ceasing development for 360 after the launch of the PS3. The same thing they did with the PS2. Itagaki has stated many times in the past, Team Ninja wants its games to look the best and will develope for hardware that has the least limitations.
The Xbox really impressed me this gen, I will stick with them and the future of Live. When the PS3 comes out I will def scoop one up if not for the games then for the fact that I will have a Blu-Ray player as well as anything hot Sony drops for PS3 in the future.
Charles @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
#9, what did you expect to happen when they lost their best writer (Zachheim)
Danny boy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
This is also Old news, i haven't seen Joystiq post any of the news about the developers saying how the X360 actualy has some Major advantages over the PS3.
They don't need huge disks to store movies, look at the gamecube, that little disk held tones of movies for the game Rebel strike. (In DivX) They just need to find a format that works.
eltrentomagnifico @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Honestly, It would be a relief if all companies, and all developers, and all consoles dropped cutscenes. I don't pay almost 60$ sometimes to watch a freaking movie.
I want more game, I don't want what seems to be typical, "Ooh, look, my game has a shitty storyline, and hours of cutscenes". Screw that, work on the actual game longer. Most people just skip the cutscenes anyway, or watch them once. What does it matter?
Now, I remind you, X360 isn't what I'm defending.
Ijustcrashed @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Uh..this is just about the first anti-360 news.
"Itagaki also praised the X360 and made remarks about the SONY PS3 that were not noted on this site."
Praise for the 360 is hardly worth news, he's not working with the PS3, so that would be retarded.
dan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
"Funny, how JOYSTIQ only posted a piece of the article with Itagaki's comments. Itagaki also praised the X360 and made remarks about the SONY PS3 that were not noted on this site."
Funny what total Xbox-hating PSWhores those Joystiq fuckers are, I mean, that is, when they're not being total PS3-bashing X-cocksuckers. Because like, OMG those Joystiq people are so totally Kutaragi-hating Bill butt-buddies, like, I mean, except when they're so blatantly just Allard-hating Kutaragi-asskissers.
Not everybody can manage to be blatantly biased both for and against both upcoming major systems at the same time, but if the fanboys judge it so, THEN IT MUST BE TRUE!
Joystiq - for your consumate commitment to amidextrous whoredom - I salute you.
sirkibble @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Sherlock Holmes once said that it is a heinous mistake to twist facts to suit theories rather than forming theories to suit the facts. Obviously, since Xbox fanboys theorize that there is a multiblog conspiracy to bring down the Xbox 360, the fact that a single entry casts the 360 in a negative light must be indisputable evidence of this.
Boomhauer @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
"Its ironic that Microsoft has been the most outspoken about the HD era, but is the least prepared for it"
Revolution, anyone? That is quite a flawed statement.
RM @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
by eltrentomagnifico
I want more game, I don't want what seems to be typical, "Ooh, look, my game has a shitty storyline, and hours of cutscenes". Screw that, work on the actual game longer. Most people just skip the cutscenes anyway, or watch them once. What does it matter?
Well said.
I know of no one who watches these.
And who the hell is ( Team Ninja ) ?
Try something novel for once.....
MAKE A GREAT GAME, NOT A MOVIE
Lost_Canadian @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
I'm so sick of reading the word "fanboy". It's almost as annoying as "n00b". The comments are fun to read BECAUSE of disagreements. Right now, it's like a race to see who can say "you're just a fanboy!!!" first.
As for the subject at hand, I'll second what otakucode mentioned; "Team Ninja" should be using the engine for movies. Look at Half-Life 2 and Doom 3 - the in-game cinematics are amazing. The dependency on pre-rendered video in games should be pretty much obsolete.
Mofokubik @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Who gives a crap about cut scenes anyway. They're fun to watch once, from then on they're useless unless of course you're that caught up on how high the resoluation is on something that won't even matter to most consumers.
Smileyhead @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
I think MS played it safe with their decision to stick with Standard DVD. How many times has Sony got in wrong? How big is your mini-Disc or SACD collection getting? Memory sticks aren't a huge format. Sure the technology is great and may make sense, but will it be adopted by everyone to make it worth it.
Negroallstar @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
I really don't think this that big of an issue. The GameCube got along famously with it's "limitations." Video and cut-scenes are nice but I would really like to have a very good game instead of a allright game with amazing video.
ntop4voippatents @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
Game companies will WANT to release it on blueray even if it cost more... Because it will cost even MORE for someone to steal. Not much WRITE ABLE BR will be around PLUS software encription is harder to bypass.
XBOX @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM
"How many times has Sony got in wrong? How big is your mini-Disc or SACD collection getting? Memory sticks aren't a huge format."
I have a nice MD collection. My cell phone, PSP, camera, computer all have slots for memory sticks.
Look at how many companies have backed up BR as their standard for future media, whereas MS's HDDVD has 2, and they don't even use it in the 360.