Log in

View Full Version : Microsoft updating Xbox 360 disc format



jkipp82
03-30-2011, 12:57 AM
Company asks for US volunteers to test next system update, offers Halo: Reach as a reward for participating gamers.

Microsoft is gearing up for the next Xbox 360 system update, but it needs gamers' help testing a few things out. The company today announced a new System Update Preview Program for US-based Xbox 360 owners to help test a new disc format for the system.

Are there three more exciting words in the English language than "new disc format"?

By signing up at the Microsoft Connect website and filling out a survey, US gamers can volunteer to take part in the preview program. Multiple thousands of gamers will be chosen to participate, with Xbox Live Gold members receiving priority over their non-paying Xbox Live Silver counterparts.

Participants will receive a copy of Halo: Reach (and possibly other rewards as well) for their trouble, but the program is not without risk. During the registration process, Microsoft warns that due to the nature of pre-release software updates, there's a chance participants could wind up with non-functioning systems. The agreement makes no mention of Microsoft repairing systems broken as a result of the update.

When asked what security or storage benefits the new disc format might bring, a Microsoft representative told GameSpot there were no additional details to share at this tim

eric22
03-30-2011, 01:59 AM
Company asks for US volunteers to test next system update, offers Halo: Reach as a reward for participating gamers.


so flashing our xbox will be end with this update. really a bad news

jkipp82
03-30-2011, 03:05 AM
probably but who knows we gotta wait for the system update.

Goltoof
03-30-2011, 05:54 AM
I signed up for it so I can see whats going to be in it. If I get accepted I will post findings.

thedude00
03-30-2011, 06:54 AM
i'm a connect participant already and i dont see it anywhere

Renegade
03-30-2011, 07:24 AM
Earlier today, Microsoft’s Major Nelson let Xbox 360 owners know that Microsoft is currently looking for several thousand beta testers to test out the new system update and partake in a beta test of a new disc format that the system will soon take advantage of. Limited to residents of the United States, Microsoft will send all that are chosen to partake in the betat a copy of Halo: Reach, which will come on the new disc format.

Microsoft has already dismissed claims of the new format being Bluray, but a hacker is claiming to know the secrets of the update and has revealed what he knows. According to his information, Microsoft will release a new DVD model known as XGD3. This will allow for additional storage space and other fine upgrades over the current DVD model they are using.

“MS will introduce xgd3 – this will add more ap checks, cvi (content integrity) checks, increase the disc size and adds a new layer for protection issues – all in the 20500 sdk! bring it on!”

This information hasn’t been confirmed and should be taken as a rumor until confirmed by Microsoft.



Oh SNAP.

longy999
03-30-2011, 09:34 AM
Will give the modders and hackers something new to play with I suppose, I doubt it will take too long before someone figures out how to break it open

Renegade
03-30-2011, 11:19 AM
Will give the modders and hackers something new to play with I suppose, I doubt it will take too long before someone figures out how to break it openinb4 C4E owns the new structure :P

eLif
03-30-2011, 11:58 AM
They will do it :(
At E3 microsoft will introduce a new xbox. 360 as mainstream console for rest of family "new xbox for hardcore gamers"
This is what i think ^^

I also readed that they upgrade the disc space with 1gb on singel disc

jkipp82
03-30-2011, 02:12 PM
Will give the modders and hackers something new to play with I suppose, I doubt it will take too long before someone figures out how to break it open

look how long its taking them to crack the slim model. i doubt it will be as quick as what everyone thinks.

8Ball
03-30-2011, 02:36 PM
So as a Samsung user, how bothered should i be, i really have no idea wether to care or not?

Seems to me like its nothing more then a new dvd model which would mean our old ones are still fine until they decide to make upgrading hardware mandatory by other means then building the units with poor venting to begin with, couldn't help but lol how it wants to be my home entertainment system and yet its the only device these days to lack a web browser, and built in wireless from model 1 for that matter.

I never listen to Major Screwloose, i can't imagine his job requirements go beyond being a smug bastard with an inflated sense of unwarranted self importance who can use a keyboard.

I'm more inclined to the ps3 these days anyway, i love me some hdd game storage, now if only they stopped trying to stop me from watching my films on it (stupid cinavia or whatever), i have this device called a dvd player right next to it who is more than happy to play the film for me, the point has truly been missed.

Wow i'm in a ranting mood today, maybe i'll go troll some idiots...

longy999
03-31-2011, 01:46 AM
Pulled this info off another site, seems there just changing the video partition on the discs to free up 1gb of extra space.


A highly placed development source has confirmed to Digital Foundry that the new disc format being beta tested in a new dashboard upgrade adds 1GB to the storage of Xbox 360 game discs.

The maximum space allocated to game data on the current disc format is just 6.8GB out of a maximum of 7.95GB on a standard dual layer DVD, with over 1GB dedicated to a DVD-Video partition that also contained anti-piracy security sectors. Astonishingly, this meant that the last generation PlayStation 2 had a higher level of raw storage available to games developers than the newer Xbox 360. It seems that this video partition has either been drastically reduced or omitted completely in the new format Microsoft is looking to roll-out.

Beta testers of the new dashboard get a free copy of Halo: Reach once they are accepted into the new preview programme. We can assume that this isn't just a generous gift on Microsoft's part - more likely it is a disc pressed using the new format, and Microsoft is looking for data on performance on as many different systems as it can. There is no one standard Xbox 360 DVD drive: the platform holder has used drives from Samsung, Hitachi, Benq and Liteon across the console's five year history.

Halo: Reach occupied 6.6GB of space on the old format disc. Either padding or additional content will have been added to this new edition, or it may well simply be the case that the data is allocated into certain physical areas of the disc the video partition would have previously occupied.

It would make sense that the video partition would have been pressed into the inner-most area of the disc - the part that would be the slowest to read in data. So while developers will be able to make the most of the raw storage potential of the dual layer disc, they may well have to factor in slower read speeds in the freed-up space.

Regardless, a 14-15 per cent boost in the space available to Xbox 360 developers is a very welcome advance, and some might argue it is somewhat overdue bearing in mind that the security scheme currently in place has proven to be inadequate for several years now. Tossing away the current system may also give Microsoft the opportunity to deploy a brand new anti-piracy strategy bearing in mind that its latest AP 2.5 system was defeated within a couple of weeks.

Xbox 360 DVD firmware hacker "Commodore4eva" adding weight to the story by suggesting that the latest developer XDK confirms the changes:

"MS will introduce XBG3 - this will add more AP checks, CVI (content integerity) checks, increase the disc size and adds a new layer for protection issues - all in the 20500 sdk! bring it on," he posted on IRC.

shinwg
04-04-2011, 05:41 PM
hey guys should I update to lt plus r wait until that new update comes out.

jkipp82
04-04-2011, 08:27 PM
from c4eva he says that nothing important will change except the dvds will be burned differently. shouldnt affect the already released games.

BrayWyatt
04-05-2011, 12:23 AM
I signed up for it so I can see whats going to be in it. If I get accepted I will post findings.

do you have a link to it?

jkipp82
04-05-2011, 01:08 AM
remember microsoft posted a warnging that it could brick your 360 and you would have to pay to have it fixed.

lickerout
04-05-2011, 01:19 AM
so what happens if they do bring it out and the new disk format doesn't work with the current drives? knowing microsoft they would probably make a portable usb dvd drive and sell it at something like £100 and then make all their new games that format so it forces you to buy it if you want to play them.