So just out of curiosity before installing how ever many gigabytes of Dragon Age Origins to my Xbox 360 I want to check in to see exactly what it does, I ASSUME that it lets you play the game without the disk, but I have never done this before so I want to make sure.

nope, still need the disc in the tray for the game to play. All it does is help a bit with load times and the disc tray doesn't sound like a jet taking off. The disc needs to be in the tray, though, because it "unlocks" the game for you (how MS makes sure you don't go off and sell the game after installing it to your drive)

hmm could I, in theory, 'unlock' the game, take the disc out, and continue playing it? I ask because my brother wants to borrow my copy but I'm having way to much fun to give it up right now

you say "in theory", but judging from your post you mean "in practice"



I'd be surprised if that works, but I have never even installed a game to a 360 so :shrug:

Alright well the only thing left to do now is give it a try, thanks for answering my question

Well when you are playing an installed game the Xbox runs cooler, the Disk doesn't thrash madly and the gameplay is a lot smoother. Oblivion before and after installing has VERY obvious differences as does Fable 2.

+1

The biggest improvement (in my eyes) for installing to the HDD is cooling down the console. Just watching a DVD will produce heat. Playing a game does more. The HDD eliminates one huge source of heat generation in the console.

Frankly, if the game in question is old enough, maybe you can go to Half.com or eBay and pick up a cheap 2nd copy.

Dragon Age: Origins just came out in early November 2009, so I wouldn't expect to see it cheap.

No!

As soon as you eject the disk the game will stop. All by design to prevent exactly what you are trying to do.

Question asked, answered and thread closed before anyone gets themselves into trouble.