Playing from Disc or HDD (360) : V - Skyrim

» Tue May 08, 2012 7:07 pm

There seems to be debate still going on.

My question is WHY would installing the game on the HDD lower the texture quality. I will have the disc going while its installed. Isn't that how its suppose to be done?

Well that's the thing. If this is true then obviously there is a bug when streaming the textures from the HDD. As for specific reasons, couldn't say as I'm not very savvy with this kind of thing.

» Tue May 08, 2012 9:10 pm

You're right. Installing normally doesn't change anything for image quality.
It only helps with loading times, but can help with texture streaming, too. So it can indirectly affect how the game looks by for example reducing texture pop-ins.
But most games don't really benefit visual, only better loading times.

And apparently there is a bug with Skyrim (supposed to be fixed with the day 1 patch), where installed the game doesn't always load the normal textures and objects appear low res.
That's what this thread is about.

Completely missed that...Samsonite! I was way off.

Gee, thanks.

» Tue May 08, 2012 8:18 pm

Will be interesting to see how the PS3 version behaves. Still something of a wall of silence about this version?

» Tue May 08, 2012 10:33 pm

Yea, this is weird, I hope this bug only exists in the alpha build or is 100% patched right on day one. To add to the confusion, I saw Mangg's "Let's Play Skyrim" videos yesterday, in which he claimed he installed the game to his hard drive, and noted that there was really no difference versus playing from disk other than somewhat faster load times.

Watching some of the game play from the videos before and after he installed it, I really did not notice any difference in texture quality. Anyone care to elaborate on this?

» Wed May 09, 2012 1:50 am

My question is WHY would installing the game on the HDD lower the texture quality. I will have the disc going while its installed. Isn't that how its suppose to be done?

The thing is not the whole game installs on HDD in X360 case, its only 3.8 Gb out of 8 or something similar to that number.

» Tue May 08, 2012 4:27 pm

Here's a solution: Buy the game, put the disc in, start it on friday. If there is an update, update it. If not, play the game as is until there is an update. After downloading the update, install the game.

» Tue May 08, 2012 11:04 pm

Completely missed that...Samsonite! I was way off.

Gee, thanks.

I didn't quote you and apparently not everyone here did understand what the thread is about...
No need to be rude.

» Tue May 08, 2012 6:34 pm

The thing is not the whole game installs on HDD in X360 case, its only 3.8 Gb out of 8 or something similar to that number.

That's not true. The entire game does indeed install. The rest of it is just padding.

» Wed May 09, 2012 12:31 am

I didn't quote you and apparently not everyone here did understand what the thread is about...
No need to be rude.

Yes you did. And that last part came off a little strong.

» Wed May 09, 2012 8:06 am

Not that I endorse relentless questions to Hines, but is it worth somebody dropping him a note about the alleged texture issues for installing to HDD on 360 and whether it will be fixed by patch 1.1.

Surely its a better and more valid question than the rubbish he normally gets about werewolves.

» Wed May 09, 2012 5:02 am

What is in patch 1.1 and where is everyone getting information about it?

» Tue May 08, 2012 5:37 pm

What is in patch 1.1 and where is everyone getting information about it?

Google it. No one knows what it fixes

» Wed May 09, 2012 12:55 am

Yes you did. And that last part came off a little strong.

Oh I did indeed. Sleepy :/
Wasn't meant to be unfriendly

What I meant was, that the problem with Skyrim is unique and not comparable to normally installing games on the HDD which would indeed have no impact on visual quality like you've tested, but there is this bug so it doesn't perform like other games when being installed. That's you're right with the comparisons you did, but they don't apply to Skim.
Sorry

» Wed May 09, 2012 2:14 am

I wonder if the ps3 suffers from this. Maybe that would explain the inferior textures in the comparisons so far.

» Wed May 09, 2012 3:03 am

Nick breckon confirmed on the neo gaf forums that there would be a release day patch: 1.1.

» Tue May 08, 2012 8:55 pm

Hey just found out this info on patch 1.1 cant link it because the topic will get locked but here what it says

Earlier this morning, a patch for Skyrim on consoles went live (for those who owns the game already) and Bethesda revealed the details today as to what the patch does.
For those who will pick up Skyrim this Friday, expect a patch to download onto your console. Here’s what the patch fixes;
- some minor stability
- quest progression issues

» Wed May 09, 2012 5:42 am

Nick breckon confirmed on the neo gaf forums that there would be a release day patch: 1.1.

That has never been in doubt.

» Tue May 08, 2012 10:00 pm

That has never been in doubt.

It has for some in this thread

» Wed May 09, 2012 8:31 am

Hey just found out this info on patch 1.1 cant link it because the topic will get locked but here what it says

Earlier this morning, a patch for Skyrim on consoles went live (for those who owns the game already) and Bethesda revealed the details today as to what the patch does.
For those who will pick up Skyrim this Friday, expect a patch to download onto your console. Here’s what the patch fixes;
- some minor stability
- quest progression issues

» Wed May 09, 2012 5:04 am

It has for some in this thread

I believe it was regarding the purpose of the patch and what it will address rather than there actually being a day one patch.

» Wed May 09, 2012 8:00 am

Hey just found out this info on patch 1.1 cant link it because the topic will get locked but here what it says

Earlier this morning, a patch for Skyrim on consoles went live (for those who owns the game already) and Bethesda revealed the details today as to what the patch does.
For those who will pick up Skyrim this Friday, expect a patch to download onto your console. Here’s what the patch fixes;
- some minor stability
- quest progression issues

Maybe "some minor stability issues" covers the texture problems? Need to get more detail

» Tue May 08, 2012 5:07 pm

'some minor stability issues'

that could mean literally anything!

» Tue May 08, 2012 4:30 pm

Oh I did indeed. Sleepy :/
Wasn't meant to be unfriendly

What I meant was, that the problem with Skyrim is unique and not comparable to normally installing games on the HDD which would indeed have no impact on visual quality like you've tested, but there is this bug so it doesn't perform like other games when being installed. That's you're right with the comparisons you did, but they don't apply to Skim.
Sorry

You are ok. I understand that the main subject matter. That post was in response to people stating the differences and why they install or not install. ( previous games)

OT : Most of what I see is comparisons on leaked footage anyway. How do you guys know this is not just a troll to start with, or the actual quality of the footage. A 1.1 Patch was said to be released before this whole to HDD or not to HDD thig sprang up, anyway.

I'm not going to get too worked up over it and take it with a grain of salt. I'm not saying it's all fake speculation. I'm just saying, wait and see.

» Wed May 09, 2012 4:05 am

How do you guys know this is not just a troll to start with, or the actual quality of the footage.

Multiple people have claimed that this is a problem and there are multiple pictures that seem to back up their claims.

It's definitely not just the picture quality. There is a very clear difference in texture quality in the comparison pictures.

» Wed May 09, 2012 3:45 am

I just wish Bethesda wasn't so quiet about these issues. I guess I shouldn't expect them to speak up seeing how the game isn't even released yet.