6 replies to this topic

[The Pezman]

No doubt you've heard the squabbles, and everyone seems set to split down the line.

So what's Alcohol gonna do?

I recognize that hardware will of course be a factor, but is dual Blu-Ray/HD DVD support planned? Because for the foreseeable future, that looks like what it's gonna be.

Also, I'd like to be able to back up X-box and next-gen system games as well. Not sure if current GC discs can be backed up or not, but if they can, is that coming as well?

[zamiel]

Who knows what the future might bring, but until its officially released....

I don't see XBOX being able to be backed up in the convential way seeming an XBOX drive reads differently than a PC drive.

[The Pezman]

Hmmm? How so? How is it different from the way a Playstation reads discs or a Gamecube reads discs? Or the way anything reads discs, for that matter?

[zamiel]

For staters the XBOX optical drive was made not to read backed up discs (unless modded) and the XBOX reads from Out to In unlike the PC which goes In to Out.

[Duomenox]

There are a few issues with even starting to plan Blu-Ray and HD-DVD support (at least in my opinon)...

First of all, it looks like Blu-Ray will be a PS3 predominent format, almost an exclusive. The major manufacturers of electronic devices have not fully decided which way they are going to go. It's a remake of the Beta vs VHS battles that Sony lost in the past.

Now, some of the technical specs of Blu-Ray make it a very desireable format, but if Sony does not make PC Compatable Blue-Ray drives (which I don't think they will) then there is no point in Alcohol planning to support Blu-Ray. If the PS3 is one of the only devices to use Blue-Ray, why would Sony make a drive that is capable of copying PS3 games? That would not be a smart business decision on their part.

As for HD-DVD, I would guess that it will be the next publicly available format for use. But at this point, there is not any evidence that HD-DVD will be availiable for consumer authoring. Making a statement to support HD-DVD in the future would not be a wise one until we get a 100% verified release of a consumer HD-DVD Writer.

I do not work for Alcohol, but I love their software. I do wish they would get out the 64-bit drivers ASAP (as one of their developers stated they had already fully developed but not tested in 4-2005... check the last page of the pinned thread concerning 64-bit support on these forums), but promising to implement a feature that may not be obtainable is a false promise at best.

The age of backing up console games may be comming to a close. With increased piracy rates, publishers and console designers are actively trying to make it impossible. Not something I agree with since I am allowed to make my own backups, but they are only worried about their bottom line.

Anyways, getting off my rant here, we will just have to wait until the hardware hits the market before an announcement about these new formats should be made.

[The Pezman]

Looks like some happenings have just turned the tide.

http://arstechnica.c...51010-5412.html

http://arstechnica.c...51021-5463.html

and the XBOX reads from Out to In unlike the PC which goes In to Out.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Also, what do you mean "In to out"? Forgive me, I'm a bit rusty on my info feed knowledge.

Edited by The Pezman, 23 October 2005 - 06:11 PM.

[zamiel]

Starts at the outer most track and moves inwards.