I work in DVD and blu-ray authoring and with video content DVDs it's always a bit of a squeeze to make everything fit.

I imagine for games with so many different kinds of assets it must be similar, although they have more flexibility with compression methods (at least for the PC version).

How does compression even work, anyway? I would think that disk space is disk space, so the whole concept of fitting the same amount of files into a smaller area without decreasing quality doesn't quite make much sense, to me.

I'm not sure what kind of methods are used for game discs, but for example, when Oblivion was released the audio files for dialog took up a lot of space.

Now that there are methods with better compression algorithms for digital audio files, you can get fit the same audio quality in a lot smaller file, so they can add a lot more audio files onto the same disc.

Also, do you know if 360s utilize dual-layered DVDs? From what I understand, the dual-layered ones can hold up to about 9 gbs (twice Oblivion's size) and so I'm curious to know how Skyrim would take up about twice of Oblivion's space... especially with more compression techniques for audio files. As far as I can tell, Skyrim looks very noticeably nicer than Oblivion, but could it be that much nicer that files for textures and other graphical features are what's filling up much of the extra space, something else, or can they just not use dual-layered disks and therefore have to make the game about the same size as Oblivion?

I don't have a 360 but I'm pretty sure I remember hearing that they are dual layer.

A really good read. Thanks for posting.

This still has not been answered so I will ask again: Are there going to be werewolves or vampires at all in Skyrim? If so can we become one or the other and if you can tell us more like what are the specs and weaknesses/powers for both? :flamethrower: :flamethrower: Thank You

As far as vampires go, take a look at http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4lrm97dBqNo/TUFlxQiW7CI/AAAAAAAAAZM/n_xn6TWnSA8/s1600/artofskyrim_013_femmonster.jpg?__sf=1303445029 and tell me that is not an Ice Vampire

I hope they bring back the Daedric Crescent from Morrowind. That thing was possibly the coolest weapon in any game ever.

Can't say for sure, it could and it could not be a vampire, hope it is tho lol