Xbox 360's new Dashboard game install demoed on video

We've already seen walkthroughs of the new Xbox 360 Dashboard, but this is the first look we've had at a feature we're sort of stoked on: the ability to install games to the internal hard drive from DVD. From the looks of things, it's an extremely simple process to get the data moved over (despite the long waits for multiple GB files being copied), though it looks like you'll still need the DVD on hand to actually play the game. Don't believe a word we're saying? Take a look at the video after the break and see for yourself!

[Via Xbox-Scene News]

[Ryan @ Aug 11th 2008 10:29AM]

If you still need the dvd to play the game, what's the point? does it speed by loading screens quick enough to make it worth it?

[Fragmit @ Aug 11th 2008 10:37AM]

I asked Captain Obvious, and he said you would need to still have the DVD to prevent people from renting games, installing them, and returning the game to continue to play it indefinitely.

Mr Commondo Sense agreed.

[JC @ Aug 11th 2008 10:31AM]

You need the DVD to authenticate that you actually own the game, but all the content will load from the hard drive, which is much faster than DVD.

[Dani @ Aug 11th 2008 10:33AM]

And hopefully make it much quieter.

I have hair dryers quieter than my 360 in full spin :)

[klietza @ Aug 11th 2008 10:45AM]

It will likely load faster and also much less noise for those who have "loud" dvd drives. For most, it likely isn't anything special, but rather just another thing you can do.

I wonder how long it will take to hack this and make a "play everything" disc.

[erikcantu @ Aug 11th 2008 10:45AM]

quick enough to make it worth it? have you ever played Mass Effect?

[BluesK1d @ Aug 11th 2008 10:52AM]

And they end the video at the most important part... How long does it take to load the game? Brilliant.

[Flashpoint @ Aug 11th 2008 11:08AM]

I've got the 20GB HDD and I really don't see myself going out to get the larger HDD.

This video doesn't show two important things... #1 how fast does a game access directly from the HDD as suppossed to the disk #2 exactly how long a game takes to upload.

With PS3, a data chunk from Warhawk took 11 minutes.

I also wonder how many Xboxes the update is going to BRICK.

[Hawkman @ Aug 11th 2008 11:24AM]

Despite your sarcasm, Fragmit, he does have a point. It'd be nice if they had some other anti-piracy system besides keeping the original disc in - be cause it really does remove the only reason 95% of people would care about this feature.

[Flit @ Aug 11th 2008 11:58AM]

1) faster load times, not a big deal unless it's a game you play often, or an RPG that lasts 10+hours. But hey, faster load times are faster load times.

2)Possibility of one "main" disc validating across several discs for multi-disc games Like Lost Odyssey.

3) Possibility for 360 games being downloadable over XBL in the future, like Xbox Originals.

4) Or, possibly using XBL to "validate" your DL'd games rather than having a disc in the drive, sometime in the future. I'm sure MS is looking on a valid way of doing this, perhaps with Install Keys packaged in games or some other possiblities.

5) Quieter. As everyone has mentioned

This seems to be a step towards something bigger, rather than the end product.

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Aug 11th 2008 12:07PM]

Speaking of loading faster.... why is Fragmit's comment (10:37) ahead of JC's (10:31)?

Something fishy is going on here.

[Ryan @ Aug 11th 2008 2:35PM]

ahhh eff you guys... no way! i really didn't have any idea why you might want to pirate a game! *gasp* that's like theft!

let me try asking that again.. and maybe we can get some real news...

does it make the system faster, or quieter, and if so how much?

[phinnvr6 @ Aug 11th 2008 2:55PM]

After 1 1/2 years of PS3 being out and Micro$oft fanboys bashing it for having game installs suddenly they are all happy about this "feature"? You gotta be kididng me.

[Daren @ Aug 11th 2008 4:35PM]

@ phinnvr6

There is a difference between HAVING the option to install a game and REQUIRING it because the read times on blu-ray disks are too darn slow.

[Fundi @ Aug 11th 2008 4:54PM]

Isn't that because these game installs are optional and some of the ps3 ones are mandatory?

[Rob @ Aug 11th 2008 10:34AM]

Maybe it's designed to speed up loading time rather than the convenience of not having to use the disc. I don't know.
The curious thing to me is how loud this person's console is. My 360 is no louder than my PS3. The PS3 for the most part is quieter than the 360. But, when the PS3's fan get loud, they're as loud as the 360.

[Syphon Filter @ Aug 11th 2008 10:49AM]

Are you serious? My Elite is soooooooooooooooooo noisey and contrary to anyone who says its fan noise, on the 360 it's definitely 90% from the DVD spinning.

I had a 360 Premium before my Elite and that was the same. The DVD is the main source of noise in the 360.

[Chris Macdonald @ Aug 11th 2008 11:00AM]

isn't the fan in the 360 really loud because of red ring?I don't know if this is true but i heard it's on full tilt all the time. and i dont think the dvd is always spinning if it already has everything loaded

[Chris Macdonald @ Aug 11th 2008 11:01AM]

what? all you have to do is get some really long a/v wires and some usb extensions and you can put you 360 on the other side of the house or beside your central vaccuum just like everyone else

[konshuss @ Aug 11th 2008 1:20PM]

extreme stupidity isn't just back in style, it has a new name... chris macdonald!

[Chris Macdonald @ Aug 11th 2008 7:03PM]

thanks buddy you're a charmer

[Chris Macdonald @ Aug 11th 2008 7:11PM]

and sorry about my comments i had just woken up and I didn't have my coffee yet....

[Chris Macdonald @ Aug 12th 2008 3:10PM]

god engadget hates me

[jared @ Aug 11th 2008 10:34AM]

Excellent, now I can play a game without having to crank up the volume to cover up that noisy drive! I think I may play more on my 360 now.

[white_ultras @ Aug 11th 2008 10:38AM]

WANT

The best console is steadily getting better and better.

[Lars @ Aug 11th 2008 1:53PM]

This seems out of place... why are you commenting on the PS3 in a 360 thread?

/zing!

[teej @ Aug 11th 2008 4:01PM]

go back to metallica, lars. you suck.

[Lars @ Aug 14th 2008 4:56PM]

Ah relax, I was merely trying to illustrate that what is "best" is purely subjective, in a lighthearted manner.

[J. Baker @ Aug 11th 2008 10:38AM]

SILENCE!

[Jarhead2012 @ Aug 11th 2008 12:04PM]

I kill you!

[Tarnation @ Aug 11th 2008 10:44AM]

20GB Hard Drive :( I didn't need a bigger hard drive before, but with this maybe they will let us use an external drive for this. (fat chance) I guess I will be plunking down $$ for the 120 replacement drive.

[StrangeBum @ Aug 11th 2008 10:54AM]

Wait awhile on that. Prices should be dropping here pretty shortly what with the 60gb model 360 on shelves now. I'm assuming they will release a standalone 60gb HDD soon too.

Here's hoping the prices drop anyway, I'm gonna love this feature as soon as the update hits...

Yay for a quieter system!!!

[Brian @ Aug 11th 2008 11:58AM]

I eBay'd (bought) a new 120gb hard drive for $85, last week. I'm glad I did... I was finally able to download and STORE all 60gb of TV shows I've purchased on Live!

And now I'll be able to preload my games? Yesssss...

[mxlplx @ Aug 11th 2008 10:45AM]

So what happened to the blades and themes?

[dagamer34 @ Aug 11th 2008 10:52AM]

Gone. Really sucks for people who paid for them too unless Microsoft is making the skinners give us a free theme update for what we paid for.

[Syphon Filter @ Aug 11th 2008 10:53AM]

I think the background pictures in themes will still work just fine.

[mxlplx @ Aug 11th 2008 11:17AM]

That sucks, I liked the blades. :(

[Ian @ Aug 11th 2008 11:28AM]

You guys really don't pay attention do you? Your themes will still work fine. The blades are still there, they are just in the x-Box guide instead (the thing that pops up when you hit the xbox button on the controller) and will be almost exactly like the current dashboard is.

[LilTmac2003 @ Aug 11th 2008 1:16PM]

@dagamer34

Honestly, you should be banned for being a human. You guys got to get facts straight before posting on a question you CLEARLY have no idea what the answer it.

THEMES & GAMERPICS are still 100% still there. You can still use a GamerPic for your GamerCard, and Microsoft has found a very unique way to incorporate THEMES in the background.

As for the blades, the Dashboard will replace the GUIDE, and every thing you can access for the Dashboard, you will be able to do so on the new GUIDE. As Major said, everything except ads.

[Michael @ Aug 11th 2008 10:54AM]

I understand the speed issues, I understand the noise issues, but personally if I can't download the game onto my drive and then play it without the disc in the drive, then this is pointless to me.

I understand the issues of "rent the game and play it forever" so fix that with "insert disc once ever 10 plays to confirm ownership" or something like that. It would be annoying, but it would make those other 9 times I want to play that particular game quick, easy and more enjoyable. I don't play games mainly because they aren't on the screen and easily selectable. It's not the laziness of putting the disc in, it's the time it takes to find which game to play, put it in, load it up, start playing and then realize, "I'm not in the mood for this game today, what else can I play?" and then going through the entire process again.

Look at me, I've rambled on much longer than necessary. I should have left this short and sweet and stated my, "I think it's pointless" and signed off.

[Brian @ Aug 11th 2008 12:01PM]

Are you also angry that your Mazda Miata doesn't make margaritas?

You completely missed the point. No one ever said this pre-caching feature was supposed to save you from the exercise of putting the disc in your machine. It's only there to aid load times and cut down on noise.

[Michael @ Aug 11th 2008 1:07PM]

@ Brian

Yeah, try reading what I wrote. I'm not angry, I just think it's pointless TO ME. I'm simply voicing that I wish that they had taken it one step further. I'm essentially saying, "Great job on implementing this, but until it has ___ it's not what I'm looking for." I recognize that it is great for those that wanted it for noise reduction and for speeding up load times. Those aren't things that concern me.

Now, get your big head out of your ass.

[Pip @ Aug 11th 2008 2:16PM]

Noise isn't a concern to you? Really?

I find this really hard to believe.

[marcos @ Aug 12th 2008 2:11AM]

dude get a pc

[Dan Halen @ Aug 11th 2008 10:57AM]

This video is completely worthless with a side-by-side comparison of the load times before and after the HDD copy.

One fried carrion for the lady.

[Ryan @ Aug 11th 2008 10:59AM]

Isnt that going to ruin all game sales? Why would someone buy a game for 60 if they could rent it for 5, and keep it???? I find that weird

[Dan Halen @ Aug 11th 2008 11:03AM]

From the article that you just commented on.

"...you'll still need the DVD on hand to actually play the game."

[Marvin Quach @ Aug 11th 2008 11:06AM]

RTFA, or watch the video!!!

[Ryan @ Aug 11th 2008 11:07AM]

Yeah, im stupid and i didnt read above where it says you need the disc in, so nevermind. And it would be nice still, because i have a modded xbox (orig) and i can save the games to the hdd, and it loads way faster.

[Brian Ketterer @ Aug 11th 2008 11:09AM]

Do you know how to read, or did you watch the video, you will still need the disc to play the game, it will just make the drive not spin, so your xbox will be quieter, and hopefully make load times faster.