Hola all,

As some of you might already know, there are some games where the DVD version is superior to the CD version (excluding the CD-swapping disadvantage)... I'm talking about things like better graphics, animations, more features etc.

So just wondering if there's a compiled list somewhere...?

For starters, I know DVD versions of Schizm, Riven and Atlantis 3 are all superior to the CD version, but what other games exist where the DVD is superior to the CD counterpart?...

Atlantis 3 is not superior to the CD version. It only has more language options. The graphics quality looked the same to me. A lot of the Cryo DVD's were no better in the quality of the graphics but had extra language options available.

Journeyman Project 3 has better graphics in the CD version.

I think Reah DVD does also.

Tex Murphy DVD has better graphics (assuming it plays properly on your computer).

China DVD is supposed to have sharper graphics, but I haven't played it myself so I can't tell.

I liked the graphics on the dvd version of Cydonia better than the cd version.

riven dvd is suppose to have better graphics only in the transition animation part, at least that's what i've read. but the difference is so subtle that it's hardly noticeable.

gopher

Schizm dvd has a couple more puzzles and better graphics. Have got Dark Side of the Moon in dvd and cd-rom but only had a cd then so not sure about the dvd.

The main gain with DVDs for me is avoiding CD swapping. Image quality may only be marginally better and on some systems not really noticeable. I've seen comments that the better graphics in the JP3 DVD aren't that apparent.

In "Atlantis 3" I could see a difference in the quality of the graphic resolutions available on the DVD. I understood the highest resolution wasn't available with the CD but have only had the DVD so can't comment.

Regards, Peter.

I have a somewhat releated question. Is it that much more expensive to produce a game on DVD than on 2 or 3 CD's instead? I ask because in a recent justadventure interview with the developers of TOS, they said the publishers didn't think it was 'cost effective' to create a DVD version of the game!

Sounds like a catch-22 to me. DVD games arn't 'cost effective' because they don't sell, so we don't make any, which is why they don't sell!

Louis

Naively I would have thought that one DVD was cheaper than several CDs. Just publishers don't expect lots of sales?

I don't know exact manufacturing costs at this moment (and they usually have tendency of getting lower and lower) but the costs of manufacturing the dual side DVD disc was similar to the cost of manufacturing 5 CDs. At least that was the case with Schizm here, in Poland.

I'm not a fan of DVD games. I like to make backups of games I play often. Making a backup of a DVD5 disk requires a DVD burner (very expensive). If you want to backup a DVD9 (dual-layered) disk (which many DVDs are), good luck.

Disk swapping is a pain, but worth being able to backup games in case the disks go bad. Full install sometimes eradicates this problem though.


fanatic

Beyond Atlantis 2 (Dreamatcher's name for Atlantis 3) had the same options for resolutions as Atlantis 3 DVD did - 640x480, 800x600, and 1024x768 and your choice of 16-bit or 32-bit color. The 1024x768 looked better than the other resolutions. But I didn't see any difference between the 1024x768 on Beyond Atlantis 2 and 1024x768 on Atlantis 3 DVD.

The CD and DVD versions are identical. They can even use the same saved games. But the incredible amount of disk swapping in the CD version makes getting the DVD version worthwhile, even if you already have the CD version (7 CD's).

Cydonia is the old version of the game, which was updated as Lightbringer. I don't know whether the CD version of Lightbringer looks better than the DVD version, but it has 6 CD's and undoubtedly looks better than the original Cydonia. I remember being quite impressed with the graphics at the time I played Lightbringer DVD. But that was a long time ago and I don't know how it would compare with games like Exile or BA2.

hrmn - I spoke with someone who had schizm CD and they complained highly of the graphics... and the website seem to suggest the DVD graphics is better also... oh well

I am currently at the state of not knowing whether I should buy lightbringer CD or wait for a lightbringer DVD to be available on GameTZ... but from Jenny's comments, I think I might just get the CD version as DVDs seem to be quite hard to find...

As for DVD writers, their prices are dropping (though not as cheap as CD writers I guess)...

I just read this tidbit on Schizm (DVD vs CD). It appears that A LOT is missing from the CD version that is on the DVD version.


fanatic