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

More to the point for this subject - how short or how long is the list of games available on DVD as well as CD? And where would one look for/buy them? Is every new game released available on both CD & DVD? I don't remember seeing a DVD version option when ordering a game.
Love, Betty Lou

This is my primary motive in preference for the DVD version of many games.

As for differences. I don't think the graphics were very different in the DVD Atlantis 3/Beyond Atlantis 2 - but I did notice that I had little of the glitch errors that many others ran into with the CD version. I never used a patch or anything with the game.

Schizm is one game that was intended for DVD only - but they made a scaled down CD version to make it more marketable. I was thrilled with the DVD version of this game.

On Dark Side of The moon - I think playing it on DVD is almost a must to really appreciate the game. There is CD swapping to the extreme in the game and it can ruin the experience. (Every time you enter the elevator you have to swap CD's and then back depending on where you go.)

The rest I am not sure about.

Laura

Nod - although the lack of CD swapping is something I do (and highly) appreciate, getting DVD versions of the game is sometime very problematic for me at best - schizm was "widely" available on DVD, yet it took the better part of 2 and a half months for me just to track down a copy, when a CD version is available at just about every major game retailer store here in Sydney. Same case with lightbringer... in fact, other than Riven DVD, I don't think I have ever seen PC DVD games in stores here at all...

This is what prompted me to bring up this thread - so by being more informed about differences between CD and DVD versions, I can tell if it's worth digging and hunting for the DVD, or should I simply settle for CD version (and maybe use some virtual drive and copy everything to the HDD?)...

It'd be nice if more dvd versions were readily available in stores. *nods*

I settled for the Schizm cd version initially because I didnt know how to mail order it. (I just got the dvd from Dreamcatcher & Im looking forward to it but TOS comes first!)

maybe somebody will consider worth their while to put all the classic graphic adventure gems on dvd one of these days. I know I'd buy 'em. heh

Salar

I can safely say that the graphics on JMan 3 are the same on DVD as CD. I played the DVD game on my W98 while the kid next door played the CD game on my Win95, and they were identical. We even synchronized the sound a whole bunch of times and had a ball playing in Quad sound. Even tromping back and forth over the big bridge in Shangri-La.
It is much better to not have to swap the discs tho, every time you needed to Time Jump.

well, I just checked out a couple of reviews, and it seems that lightbringer DVD actually contains better graphics and sound effects than the CD version... time to get the DVD version I guess

Now my interest is peaked and I searched for the DVD version of Journeyman Project 3 and just missed it by a few hours on ebay. Does anyone know of a place where the DVD version can be obtained?