PS2-harddisk used as texture-memory!?

Do you think that future-PS2 games will use the PS2-HD as an extra-texture memory?

I think that the games could upload textures to the HD, when loading the game-data and stream them directly inside of the VRAM when the game is running. This could end up to more detailed textures and maybe we will see texture-effect like bump-mapping on the sony-hardware.

Does anyone else think that the PS2-harddisk will be used this way?

Doubtful since most people won\'t buy it.  If you look at the history of add-ons, less than 30% of the userbase will buy it.

Originally posted by Tails
Do you think that future-PS2 games will use the PS2-HD as an extra-texture memory?

I think that the games could upload textures to the HD, when loading the game-data and stream them directly inside of the VRAM when the game is running. This could end up to more detailed textures and maybe we will see texture-effect like bump-mapping on the sony-hardware.

Does anyone else think that the PS2-harddisk will be used this way?

A HD is not nearly as fast and memory, so although it can help to store textures and streaming from a harddrive should be faster then from a DVD rom overall it really can\'t be used to increase the 4mb on chip Vram with 48GB bandwidth


and as for the HD addon, it still remains to be seen how SOny will get the HD into PS2 owners machine. I don\'t think it will follow past Add-on philosophies and will be quite attractive to most PS2 owners

Not if it costs more than $50.  It won\'t make games look better, like the N64 Expansion Pak, but add some storage.  I don\'t really see the point of it, developers won\'t take advantage of it because it wan\'t included with the system.  All I\'ll want it for it the ethernet adapter, which should be sold by it self for cheaper for people like me that don\'t want the hdd.

developers won\'t take advantage of it because it wan\'t included with the system.

Well, thats not entirely true. I remember hearing that Sony may be planning on having the HDD built in on later PS2 models. So developers will take advantage of it.

I agree that the hard drive is a doomed add on. Unless it is included with ALL future ps2 systems, and it\'s essentially free, it will fail. The N64 expansion pak, as someone pointed out is a classic case. It was inexpensive, yet few people bought it. Then developers quit using it because of its small installed base. Sure a hard drive will be better than a little expansion pak, but it will cost much more. I just don\'t see it doing well. The fact that Sony never really mentions it anymore makes me believe it will never see the light of day.

It definately needs some form of killer app to make it sell. I know in Europe, one such game will be a PS2 version of Championship Manager. Champ Man is brilliant series of PC soccer management games (and about the only thing I still play on my PC), the developers of the game have said they\'re planning a PS2 version for use with the harddrive (and also an X-Box version). You really HAVE to have a HD for the game because it\'s so stats intensive, I have save files that are around 300+ megs!

If I was in Europe that would be enough for me to get the HD-addon, but I doubt the game will make it over here (so depressing). Also, management sims don\'t seem to be too popular in North America.

I think perhaps the HD\'s success will come when PS2 broadband arrives, and perhaps a prominent future massively-multiplayer game may require it.

The HDD would improve some aspects related to the textures but as inteq said if its userbase is not big enough the companies won\'t take full advantage of it.

Anyway, P. Harrison( SCEA) spoke at the GDC about the posibility of distribute the PS2 HDD+Modem for free if the PS2 users sign up to a concrete Internet provider for a certain time( something like a year).
If Sony choose this option, it\'d be a good method to popularize the add-on. Even this would be the best way to include the HDD and the modem into the PS2 hardware without a price/cost increment.

Most people aren\'t going to sign up for anything for a year. I think most gamers already have internet access, so they wouldn\'t do it. I\'ve got Cox@Home, so I\'d have to have my head up my ass, or be made of money to sign up for a year of something else in addition to this. I hope they have a grand plan, but I really really doubt it.

Originally posted by Aaron
Most people aren\'t going to sign up for anything for a year. I think most gamers already have internet access, so they wouldn\'t do it. I\'ve got Cox@Home, so I\'d have to have my head up my ass, or be made of money to sign up for a year of something else in addition to this. I hope they have a grand plan, but I really really doubt it.

I believe you can go either way, I would sign up for Sonys ISP if I could use it on my PC as well as my PS2 otherwise its a waste, 2 online accounts no way in hell


ALso The HD/ethernet adapter will be cheaper then most people expect.

I don\'t think its doomes AAron, but how succesful it is or becomes is debateable. It all comes down t SOnys strategy and how important it is to get it to consumers.  


I also don\'t see anything but Online games taking advatage of the HD simple becasue you need one to go online with your PS2

Tell me this... aside from money issues.

Why wouldn\'t you want it?

No reason, none at all.  A permanent storage bank... needed for online play... now tell me this, who here does not want online play?

The past add-ons were different.  N64 Expansion pak.. not needed except for 2 games... Sega CD, who needed it, you got cartidges with the same graphics and games... you get the point, this add-on has purpose, and potential.

With the PS2 HDD, you can:



Practically unlimited storage space.
On-line capability(best part)
Download stuff right to PS2.
Get demos right of PS2(rumor)
Rent games off ps2(rumor)



So you see, if an add-on has a good purpose, and potential it will survive, and profit.  Trust me, this is one of those must have things.

Ditto on everything TOBG said.

All issues aside, who doesn\'t want online play and all that other good stuff???

If you answer yes go calmly take a gun and blow your brains out.

P.S. I see you\'re using the enabled HTML to its full ability TOBG.

Yeah,
but aside from money issues, who wouldnt want every Add-On ever.
I mean if you could get every Add-On for free, then Sega would be the most popular console around, because EVERYONE who had a sega would have gotten a sega CD, and 32x.

There are MANY people that could care less about a hard drive. I want one, so don\'t get me wrong. You guys have got to remember that we represent the hard core gamer, not the casual gamer that buys 5 games a year. That is what made the psx so successful, and that is who won\'t buy an add-on.

I think it\'ll do pretty well, especially if sony uses ffXI for it\'s killer ap.  I think if they did some kind of deal or package with games like FFXI and madden (games that cover a broad spectrum of users both hardcore and mainstream) they should have no problem.   Also, they could do lots of things to make it cheap or free. Kindof like with hardware, where the company\'s loose money selling the systems and make the money back on games, Sony could use advertising online and bb services like selling movies and games through downloads that will add to their profit.  It\'s not like sony can\'t afford taking a hit on broad band.  Unlike Sega and Nintendo, they have a million other things besides games they can make the money back on (TVs Computers, walkmans ect.).  Anyways, I think they will do what they have to get the Hdd in lots of PS2s.  Thanks to Xbox including one out of the box, sony will be forced to give us a better deal (yay!)
Thats my 2 cents