Rockstar: Don't Install Grand Theft Auto V Play Disc

[Strazdas]

OR perhaps to people like me who would go to such lengts as to crack the game so it would stop bugging me about "insert your disk" after i isntaleld it. i installed it for precisely the reason so i wouldnt have to use my disc to begin with.

Or for people who still have gen 1 360s. I install everything, because when the machine is reading from the disc, it is quite loud, and not terribly confidence inspiring.

So for a usually better play experience, and better peace of mind, everything gets installed. And got GTAV I can tell you the game still plays fine, you just very occasionally have the textures lag a moment before loading in as you roam about. And if I have to choose between some infrequent laggy textures and replacing my entire unit, well its not a hard decision.

My point wasn't that some people don't install their games - I have quite a few on my 360 drive and with most games installing from the disc is an optional extra, something we can do or choose not to do as suits our needs (and harddrive space). My point was that with GTA V the discs come clearly labelled and during the installation process you are made aware that one disc is for installing the game and one disc is for use in the discdrive. My point, really, was that this configuration is explained during the install procedure and so further clarification by Rockstar was unnecessary.

GTA 3 also came in two CDs clearly labeled one for isntalation other for playing (the game radios were on that one). i found a way to hijack it to read the dosc from an iso from my PC. some people just want to use their damn hard drives.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

OR perhaps to people like me who would go to such lengts as to crack the game so it would stop bugging me about "insert your disk" after i isntaleld it. i installed it for precisely the reason so i wouldnt have to use my disc to begin with.

My point wasn't that some people don't install their games - I have quite a few on my 360 drive and with most games installing from the disc is an optional extra, something we can do or choose not to do as suits our needs (and harddrive space). My point was that with GTA V the discs come clearly labelled and during the installation process you are made aware that one disc is for installing the game and one disc is for use in the discdrive. My point, really, was that this configuration is explained during the install procedure and so further clarification by Rockstar was unnecessary.

GTA 3 also came in two CDs clearly labeled one for isntalation other for playing (the game radios were on that one). i found a way to hijack it to read the dosc from an iso from my PC. some people just want to use their damn hard drives.

*sigh*

And nothing is stopping you from using your "damn" hard drive. Install both discs if you want, go nuts. It is completely possible to install both discs. But the game itself, and Rockstar's clarifying Tweet, both put across the message that this is not the optimal way of installing the game. It doesn't stop you from doing otherwise if you want to.

There. I have now tried to explain for the second time the thing that Rockstar has also attempted to express twice. I really hope that this has helped, 'cause I have no idea what to say if it hasn't.

 

[Strazdas]

OR perhaps to people like me who would go to such lengts as to crack the game so it would stop bugging me about "insert your disk" after i isntaleld it. i installed it for precisely the reason so i wouldnt have to use my disc to begin with.

My point wasn't that some people don't install their games - I have quite a few on my 360 drive and with most games installing from the disc is an optional extra, something we can do or choose not to do as suits our needs (and harddrive space). My point was that with GTA V the discs come clearly labelled and during the installation process you are made aware that one disc is for installing the game and one disc is for use in the discdrive. My point, really, was that this configuration is explained during the install procedure and so further clarification by Rockstar was unnecessary.

GTA 3 also came in two CDs clearly labeled one for isntalation other for playing (the game radios were on that one). i found a way to hijack it to read the dosc from an iso from my PC. some people just want to use their damn hard drives.

*sigh*

And nothing is stopping you from using your "damn" hard drive. Install both discs if you want, go nuts. It is completely possible to install both discs. But the game itself, and Rockstar's clarifying Tweet, both put across the message that this is not the optimal way of installing the game. It doesn't stop you from doing otherwise if you want to.

There. I have now tried to explain for the second time the thing that Rockstar has also attempted to express twice. I really hope that this has helped, 'cause I have no idea what to say if it hasn't.

You said that such message is made only for people who are so stupid they need a nuts warning on a pack of nuts. i merely said that some people just have a preference without being stupid, to which i misdirected and my second post indeed was unnecessary. However i stil lstand by the fact that such things asn labeling discs is not a measure enough to tell people about optimal configuration and thus the tweet was a good idea.

 

[DiamanteGeeza]

Well I'm glad they're telling us about this now, but you know this came up in testing and they decided it was corner worth cutting.

It's nothing to do with cutting corners. GTA needs to stream a colossal amount of data for that huge, vibrant world that everybody likes, and there simply isn't enough bandwidth. It's a technical limitation of the hardware.

 

[DiamanteGeeza]

On the one hand, it's a shame that they didn't make things more efficient, instead having an install and a play disc that you should not install, which is a bit overly complex for a console game.

My thoughts are that it isn't a lack of efficiency thing, just that there's so much content available, the most effective way to actually keep it all together without worrying about the "Insert Disc [#]" occurrence that I find to be an annoyance, if only a minor one, would be to put a bunch of content on one disc.

Anywho, I'm glad I heard word of this beforehand.

It's nothing to do with not having enough room on the disk, it's simply that GTA has a colossal amount of data to stream each frame, and the bandwidth just isn't enough from one storage device, so it uses both simultaneously. It's a hardware limitation that is affected by drive speeds, bus speeds, and memory speeds combined.

When you're whizzing around that massive sandbox that looks so lovely and has so much content, what you should actually be thinking is 'holy crap, it's a miracle they can get enough data into memory fast enough!' ;-)

 

[ace_of_something]

Does the PS3 have two discs too? (just about to go and buy a machine and game on me lunch break as all my lovely consoles are back in the UK =( )

This might be the last time I get to say this on this generation, maybe every.

Well... on MY console there is only one disc.


Ahhh

 

[Something Amyss]

My point, really, was that this configuration is explained during the install procedure and so further clarification by Rockstar was unnecessary.

That configuration, however, isn't the one that prompts the need for explanation. Nor does it automatically stand that installing the play disc to cut down on wear will end up being detrimental.

Honestly, the game is so slow to load, it's unsurprising people would want to install.

 

[Rob Robson]

WOW, now developers are reaching for previously unheard of straws in optimizing for aging console systems: utilizing the IDE bandwith of the disc drive to deliver an extra 60-90 Mb/s, we just went back to 1992 guys.

 

[Something Amyss]

WOW, now developers are reaching for previously unheard of straws in optimizing for aging console systems: utilizing the IDE bandwith of the disc drive to deliver an extra 60-90 Mb/s, we just went back to 1992 guys.

Oh, good. I was worried we'd gone back further. I didn't want to go through puberty again.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

My point, really, was that this configuration is explained during the install procedure and so further clarification by Rockstar was unnecessary.

That configuration, however, isn't the one that prompts the need for explanation. Nor does it automatically stand that installing the play disc to cut down on wear will end up being detrimental.

Honestly, the game is so slow to load, it's unsurprising people would want to install.

Err, that's not my experience. I've installed the 'install' disc and play the 'play' disc and other than the ~20 second boot-up time I have yet to encounter a single loading pause (other than character switching which takes a completely unacceptable three whole seconds) and according to game stats I'm already 45% through the game. As far as I can see the game works fine as directed by the on-disc instructions and I still cannot understand why people would run counter to these so I've kinda mentally shelved this thread, but you quoted me and I don't want to seem rude by not replying.

 

[Radoh]

So you need to install the install disc and play the play disc?
Not the other way around?
People tried installing the play disc?
People are weird.

 

[stabnex]

Yet another reason I laugh myself to sleep every night. Microsoft screwed up again. /slowclap

OT: This is old news. Highly unintuitive though.

 

[Elvaril]

Well, I guess I won't be getting this game for some time then. My 360 got damaged a couple years ago and now buzzes incredibly loudly when I play a game unless that game is installed. The Walking Dead disc couldn't be installed and that really put a damper on the experience for me.

 

[Something Amyss]

Err, that's not my experience. I've installed the 'install' disc and play the 'play' disc and other than the ~20 second boot-up time I have yet to encounter a single loading pause (other than character switching which takes a completely unacceptable three whole seconds)

You'll pardon me if I don't take you at your word, after the hyperbole here and the prior claims that people are idiots if they don't automatically assume the same things you do. It just looks like another irrational response.

Fact is, this game is relatively unique when it comes to 360 hardware. I'm not aware of another game where installation of the second disc is detrimental. Halo 3 or ODST or whatever is optimised to read from the tray, but that appears to be a different pony entirely. Another fact is that this is only an issue with one specific configuration. If you install to two separate sources, you don't have the problem. Fact is, a digital only version is for sale on two consoles, which by its nature requires reading from a single source (HDD).

At face value, there's no reason to assume "This game shouldn't be installed due to the unique (to the platform, at least) way it handles running things, even though they sell it digitally and it has to read from a single source."

The reasonable assumption is that it's not necessary, not that it's detrimental. I'm glad you don't think this is a big deal, but it would be remiss of me to let shoddy reasoning stand.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Err, that's not my experience. I've installed the 'install' disc and play the 'play' disc and other than the ~20 second boot-up time I have yet to encounter a single loading pause (other than character switching which takes a completely unacceptable three whole seconds)

You'll pardon me if I don't take you at your word, after the hyperbole here and the prior claims that people are idiots if they don't automatically assume the same things you do. It just looks like another irrational response.

I never referred to people who do not think like me as idiots. I referred to people who fail to follow simple written instructions as idiots.

Fact is, this game is relatively unique when it comes to 360 hardware. I'm not aware of another game where installation of the second disc is detrimental. Halo 3 or ODST or whatever is optimised to read from the tray, but that appears to be a different pony entirely. Another fact is that this is only an issue with one specific configuration. If you install to two separate sources, you don't have the problem. Fact is, a digital only version is for sale on two consoles, which by its nature requires reading from a single source (HDD).

True enough. I can't think of another 360 game out there that uses this configuration either. I'll readily admit it is an odd way of doing things, but I'm not going to argue with a team of people who have spent years trying to get the most out of an aging console generation.

At face value, there's no reason to assume "This game shouldn't be installed due to the unique (to the platform, at least) way it handles running things, even though they sell it digitally and it has to read from a single source."

The reasonable assumption is that it's not necessary, not that it's detrimental. I'm glad you don't think this is a big deal, but it would be remiss of me to let shoddy reasoning stand.

Actually the reasonable assumption is for a person to assume that a developing house knows best how to optimize it's own software, rather to assume that they know better. Sorry, but it would be remiss of me to let glaring arrogance stand.

 

[Courier_87]

I can't see why everyone is so surprised. It's like everyone forgets it was the same with Skyrim (albeit just the single disc) until a later patch: choppy gameplay and framerate issues when playing from a hdd install.

 

[Radoh]

Well, I guess I won't be getting this game for some time then. My 360 got damaged a couple years ago and now buzzes incredibly loudly when I play a game unless that game is installed. The Walking Dead disc couldn't be installed and that really put a damper on the experience for me.

Don't delay your purchase if you want the game, like the article says:
Don't install the disc 2: Play.
Install disc 1: Install.
Play disc 2: Play.