I'm just curious. I have the set of 6 CDs (BG + TOTSC) and would like to get GOG version to minimize the disc swapping, the extra stuff and for no DRM.

But I noticed that it was 1.7GB. Now, I know 6 CDs would be at least 3GB (assuming that some CDs wouldn't be completely filled), so how would this be around half the size of the disc version?

My 6 CD set is only 1.8 GB large. Also, in a single executable file., you can have compressed databases (often referred to as cabinets) which save space, and require decompressing to use,

Ah okay, I thought it would be bigger... you'd wonder why they didn't release it less than 6 CDs in the first place with the originals then if they weren't compressed.

Thanks

Presumably compression technology was not advanced enough.

A lot of the old games are like that. This was before most people had the HD space to do a full install. So the CDs would often have the same data over and over to keep you from having to switch discs often especially with games where you could travel a lot.

In many cases, it will be that each disc has different FMVs, but the same everything else.

Plus I think the later "original saga" release came out on less discs. And there were version of BG2 and PSt that used less discs as well. I think they just compressed the data on the CDs and forced a full install.

Indeed you are correct. The re-released Original Saga came on 4 discs if I remember correctly. The original game discs were compressed to contain two of the original CDs per disc, with Tales of the Sword Coast was a separate install disc (don't think it was needed to play though).

I also have the re-released BG2:SoA+ToB which also came on a reduced number of CDs.

That said, I think there are some DVD versions out there somewhere in order to get it all on one disc. But now that GOG has it I will probably eventually get around to buying it from here so that I don't need any discs at all! :)