XBLA size limit causing difficulties for Street Fighter HD
by Kyle Orland 
{ Jan 30th 2008 at 5:00PM }
Oh, Microsoft. When will you learn that downloadable games are sometimes going to want to be bigger than a memory unit. First, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night bumped up against the then-50MB limit for XBLA games, leading to a ceiling raise. Then promising platformer Eternity's Child got chased to the Wii when it ran up against the new 150MB limit. Now, anticipated HD remake of Street Fighter II is apparently having trouble squeezing all its high-res graphics and remixed music into the imposed size limit.Speaking to VideoGamer.com, director David Sirlin said that it was "difficult to store so many 1080p graphics in such a small download size." According to Sirlin, the 150MB limit "also makes it difficult or impossible to include all the original game's music AND [an] all remixed set of music."
Xbox-owning fighting fans shouldn't lose hope, though -- Sirlin says his team is "still doing our best to fit within the limit we've been given." Still, we have to wonder why they should have to go through the aggravation at all. To satisfy the three hardcore fighting fans that own a 360 but not a hard drive? Don't punish the many for the questionable purchasing decisions of the few, Microsoft.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Irwin @ Jan 30th 2008 5:03PM
those are some manly legs right there
djseifer @ Jan 30th 2008 5:03PM
Pedro: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
ThornedVenom @ Jan 31st 2008 4:18AM
Excel Saga FTW
Pureshooter @ Jan 30th 2008 5:06PM
They should just remove the limit altogether. If you don't have enough room, then don't download it. If you want more space, pay out the ass and get a 120 gb hard drive.
Lone Starr @ Jan 30th 2008 10:28PM
But that would be reasonable!
Cyro @ Jan 30th 2008 11:04PM
Exactly what I think. Why do the ones that bought the Hard drive or bought the Premium or Elite have to pay for the ones that bought the stupid Arcade.
PS: Just Bought and played Rez HD for couple of hours and it is just amazing. Very cool game. I happy I bought it.
copa @ Jan 30th 2008 5:06PM
Microsoft is the company that keeps suggesting this is the last generation of disc-based consoles, and that digital distribution is the future.
Funny how they are the ones shooting themselves in the foot here, while Sony allows for full-game downloads like Warhawk on the PS3.
GreyFox @ Jan 30th 2008 5:45PM
It's because of the stupid [strike]Core[/strike] Arcade SKU which is for retards and soccer moms who will just buy a hard drive anyway because the memory card is NEVER enough. This is just fucking stupid and I'm thankful my copy of REZ HD seems fine under this limit but worry future games like SFHD will be hurt badly by it.
Matt B @ Jan 30th 2008 8:07PM
I thought it was all about choice. A choice to want to pay for a hi def dvd player. A choice to pay for an overpriced 20GB HD. A choice to pay for wireless. A choice to pay to play online.
Yet you people essentially bash your colleague gamers who don't make the same choices you do. lulz
eldee @ Jan 30th 2008 8:20PM
how bout a choice to upgrade to a larger fucking memory card so you can play street fighter HD? Instead those of us who would CHOOSE to buy a bigger card are dragged down by those of you who CHOOSE to be cheap.
sheppy2.0 @ Jan 30th 2008 10:08PM
Actually, the true purpose of the Core, to those I've seen buying the fucking things, are people just want to buy a replacement 360 saving money.
Mr Khan @ Jan 30th 2008 5:06PM
You gotta cater to that least common denominator, the people with no HDDs...
... Ok, honestly. How many of those people are out there? What are the statistics of Core or Arcade sales and separate HDD sales? Who is actually out in the cold?
Maurice M @ Jan 30th 2008 7:12PM
PSN release.
Problem solved.
PeacefulOutrage @ Jan 30th 2008 7:13PM
That's not true. There are games like FFXII and PSO that require an install on the HDD, so the limits should be upped.
They just need to manage the portfolio so that there is a nice mix of games that everyone can play no matter what type of storage they are using (ex: 60% under 50MB, 30% under 150MB, and 10% no limit). That way everyone is happy and no one can accuse MS of just trying to sell peripherals.
And for the record, the arcade console is a great bundle. Everyone doesn't live where broadband internet is available, and since multimedia can be streamed from a PC, there isn't a need for mass storage unless you are online or are a huge gamer. Then you can buy a HDD if you want or need one, used for cheap or retail.
MooseMuffin @ Jan 30th 2008 5:13PM
What percentage of core/arcade owners actually buy downloadable games?
Furthermore, why is it taking so long to develop this game?
Korova @ Jan 30th 2008 5:20PM
I think MS is targeting the cheaper SKU at the casual market, which is also the market for a lot of XBLA. (Arcade replacing the Core) Its an awkward strategy, I agree, cause it cramps their hardcore strategy - those people who actually buy games giggabights.
MooseMuffin @ Jan 30th 2008 5:28PM
That doesn't make sense because the arcade console only comes with a 256mb memory card. Thats fine for a few game saves but I don't see how its enough for arcade games too. Anyone who's into the live arcade games either has a harddrive or the 512 memory card.
trimbandit @ Jan 30th 2008 5:15PM
My xbox arcade came with a 256 memory card. However, almost all of it seems to be taken up by 'system files'. Even with no saved games, It reports only 64 megs free space! The card shows up as 256 megs however. Has anyone seen this? It seems quite ridiculous.
arrrgh @ Jan 30th 2008 6:53PM
yep you got hosed
PeacefulOutrage @ Jan 30th 2008 7:16PM
If you download updates to games, that's what it would be (not the system update, but any patches for games you own).
Doom3killer @ Jan 30th 2008 5:14PM
i don't get the point of this. If you don't have a HDD, you have to buy one anyway to have ANY game saves (not even a memory card can fit several Bioshock saves). They should remove it all together. If 5% of 360 owners don't have a HDD, then too bad for them.
NeverSage @ Jan 30th 2008 5:14PM
"Disclaimer: Hard Drive Required"
problem solved!
Zertoss @ Jan 30th 2008 5:24PM
Brilliant! Give this man $20 million, Microsoft.
Maurice M @ Jan 30th 2008 7:14PM
Ack, this is a better solution than mine :3
RoboChamp @ Jan 30th 2008 5:22PM
So, uh 360 owners, I guess this evens out having the PS3 delay GTAIV. We're cool now right?
peteH @ Jan 30th 2008 5:24PM
No.
Matt B @ Jan 30th 2008 8:10PM
The pS3 was ONE of the factors. Fanboy media chose it as the only factor.
XanthouS @ Jan 30th 2008 11:15PM
Yes Matt. People fail to mention that reports as late as E3 last year were pretty negative about the 360's framerate, especially during gunfights.
Eric Smoger @ Jan 30th 2008 5:27PM
is Capcom laying the pipework to justify extra revenue in the form of downloadable music packs?
Nick the Hero of Canton @ Jan 30th 2008 5:27PM
Wouldn't it be better for Microsoft to not have a limit?
No limit = bigger games = more people buying HDDs from Microsoft.
Zephyr @ Jan 30th 2008 5:37PM
That would make way too much sense.
Norm @ Jan 30th 2008 5:31PM
If it has to be compacted or edited for size, than that means the PS3 Version is going to be the lead sku. Which means that everyone in the fighting game community is going to want the PS3 version over this one. Tournaments will be running the PS3 version, which means more sales of PS3 vs Xbox 360, which currently only has VF5 revision B going for it at the moment. So you have Tekken 5 DR and ST: HD on PS3, and you have easier compatability with custom sticks on a PS3 via Pelican adapters...
I hate to say it but if this gets dumbed down for the 360, I think the fighting game community will make the PS3 the next gen system of choice. Not a ton of weight, but it's significant enough.
BIGGEN @ Jan 30th 2008 6:18PM
"I hate to say it but if this gets dumbed down for the 360, I think the fighting game community will make the PS3 the next gen system of choice."
are you serious? because of yet ANOTHER SF2 iteration? personally, and i know others feel this way, enough with the street fighter 2 already.
Norm @ Jan 30th 2008 7:22PM
I was referring to the fighting game community in specific, sorry I meant to specify. Most casual AND hardcore gamers probably won't care if they aren't into the series.
Though most people in the world don't really care about the specifics, this is one of the most important games coming out this year for the FGC, especially in light of all the hate SF4 is getting on SRK and the like. There has not been a single arcade-perfect port of Super Turbo for home consoles since the dreamcast version, and since dreamcasts are getting eaten alive by Pro MvC2 players, and nobody really plays that version of ST anyway...It's important to us. It might sound rediculous, but I'm hoping this game is going to pick up steam and really show people how important it is to put gameplay first, balance the gameplay, and make sure the game is worth playing.
eugene @ Jan 30th 2008 7:47PM
PS3 is the fighting console of choice, why? The D-pad isn't a wonky POS on the sixaxis and I'm not inclined to buy the hori arcade stick just to play fighting games.
Norm @ Jan 30th 2008 7:57PM
Well, at that point I was referring to the compatability of fighting game controllers. With the xbox 360, if you want to use a stick, you have to either use the Hori sticks, or hack your own PCB to put in a custom or a mod. With the PS3, all you really need is a pelican USB adapter,(with the analog/PS button) and you can use the same PS1/PS2 stick that you use to play Third Strike/KOF/Marvel with a DC converter/whatever other game you play. Or your PS2 Saturn pad, whatever you are using for fighters. People pay a lot of money for authentic arcade sticks, so compatability is a big motivator.
The only adapter for the 360 costs 80 bucks, lags, and is made for FPS games first, PSX adapter is just kind of an extra. I have one and it sucks.
MasterCKO @ Jan 30th 2008 8:43PM
@BIGGEN, eugene: I wonder if you got the fact that when Norm said "Fighting game community" he excluded the two of you from the group of people he was referring to?
You said (respectively), "I don't want another stinking version of SF2," and "I'm not going to pay for a Hori fighting stick just to play a fighter."
Those statements tell me that you are definitely NOT part of the "fighting game community" that his whole post was referring to.
animeman_59 @ Jan 31st 2008 10:06AM
I personally find the Hori Fighting stick for the 360 a pretty decent controller. I can actually use this with my MAME emulator and it seems more responsive than my X-arcade controller. As far as what console will be the better fighting game console? That, to me, depends on the online component. With the death of local arcades, online is the only way to go. I think it would be great if Capcom just rereleased MvC2, and SF3 (the original Xbox copy is hard as hell to find) and added a robust online community. They would have a gold mine on their hands. The same goes with any fighting game released now. Say what you want about DOA4, but it's online mode pretty much set the standard on how it should be done. And lag is a rarity. Unless you're playing with some idiot with a shitty DSL connection. If I go to a tournament to play SC or SF2:HD, then the tournament should have PS3's or whatever console availible anyway. Along with some custom controllers for the attendees. At least that's how all the tournaments I've been to do it.
upz @ Jan 31st 2008 12:25PM
I think Eugene was actually supporting Norm's argument. Better DPad on the SixAxis = no need for fighting game casuals to spend money on a Hori.
MasterCKO @ Jan 31st 2008 2:39PM
nope, sorry upz. Buying (or being able to use) a Hori stick (or some other quality stick) is so intrinsically linked to buying a system for the Fighting game community that Norm refers to that it might as well be bundled with every console sold to said community. Seriously. No one who's serious about it even thinks twice. The quality of the d-pad on the basic controller makes no difference whatsoever.
Dekcar @ Jan 30th 2008 5:37PM
Come on Microsoft. Even you must know the Arcade system is a joke. Anyone who's even bought one of the damn things, probably don't even know how to go to the marketplace to download things!
So please, just let them have the space they need.
Norm @ Jan 30th 2008 5:44PM
Not sure if you are commenting on the clunky new interface or you are calling Xbox 360 owners stupid, but if it's the former, I'd have to agree that the new dashboard is annoyingly convoluted. If it's the latter, then.. =P
Saneless @ Jan 30th 2008 6:30PM
I think he means if they bought the $270 arcade system they probably don't even know what the internet is, and everyone else shouldn't suffer for it.
phihexy27 @ Jan 30th 2008 11:55PM
@Norm:
"I'd have to agree that the new dashboard is annoyingly convoluted. If it's the latter, then.. =P"
I have to say that I agree. I hate the new dashboard, I much preferred it before the update.
latpack @ Jan 30th 2008 5:38PM
Why not just included the soundtrack as a seperate download?
Salty @ Jan 30th 2008 5:40PM
Not sure if you guys know or if I'm supposed to mention it, but DJPretzel of OCRemix confirmed at their panel at Magfest6 that some of their mixers are working with Capcom for the music in SSF2HD.
It's too bad that the people who'll really appreciate it will blow through the stage in under 30 seconds.
XanthouS @ Jan 30th 2008 5:43PM
Microsoft's decision to be the only company to launch a bargain-basement model (corded controller, no hard drive, or any form of storage, no wifi) will continue to bite them in the ass throughout this console generation.
This is the same reason Capcom wouldn't include a partial HDD install for DMC4.
Zeus.:God @ Jan 30th 2008 7:50PM
How so? Most people who buy it know what they are getting. They just use it as a temporary setup until they can afford the drive. Its an instant gratification thing.
XanthouS @ Jan 30th 2008 8:03PM
...
For the very reason this article exists. Microsoft won't let developers utilize aspects of their hardware that are not universal. 360 games cannot require an HDD install. XBLA downloads have a size limit to them. Are you seeing a trend?
If M$ hadn't created a dirt cheap SKU that was missing several key components they wouldn't be in this mess.
Nintendo has chosen to go with a single SKU for the past year+. Sony has had a variety of SKUs, never more than two at a time, and none has lacked a major feature such as a hard drive.
robert @ Jan 30th 2008 5:45PM
"Don't punish the many for the questionable purchasing decisions of the few"
actually they're punishing us for their questionable decision to sell a version of their box without a damn hard drive.