Print

[Xbox-Scene]

Microsoft's Xbox could consider Blu-ray support Posted by XanTium | January 8 18:39 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From guardian.co.uk: Microsoft Corp's Xbox video gaming unit still fully backs Toshiba Corp's HD-DVD high-definition DVD format but could consider supporting Sony Corp's rival Blu-ray technology should consumers want it, an executive said on Tuesday. "It should be consumer choice; and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider," Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware said when asked whether Microsoft would support a Blu-ray DVD accessory in the event that HD-DVD failed. Microsoft does not believe the surprise decision last week by Time Warner Inc unit Warner Bros, the top seller of home movies, to abandon HD-DVD format in favor of Blu-ray should affect sales of its Xbox 360 video game console, Penello said. "I fundamentally don't think ... this has a significant impact on Xbox 360 versus (Sony's) PlayStation 3," Penello told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Full Story: guardian.co.uk

[warmaster_670]

didnt they say this like, 2 years ago?

no real difference to them, only to the people who bought hddvd drives.

[Bandit5317]

If I go by the news alone, then HD-DVD appears to be on a quick downward spiral. I personally prefer HD-DVD as opposed to Blu-Ray and I'm not counting it out yet, but the news appears to be all bad.

[Boiker]

So this rumoured Xbox 360 Ultimate will almost certainly be sporting the blu-ray badge. Some are saying the format war is over with Warner supporting Blu-Ray. Gotta say, it does look that way.

[kero]

The Ultimate box can still be a reality.

If they put a dual support HD-DVD and BLURAY Drive into the 360 MS will have bragging rights that they support all formats..

[BasicAir]

There is no reason for an Ultimate box with built-in HD DVD player.

Anyhow, yeah, MS has always said it's the consumers' choice and that's why they made the HD DVD an addon.

I wonder if HD DVD losing the war (if it happens which seems imminent now) has an impact on console design for the NEXT Xbox. Surely MS has done much more than flirted with the idea of the next Xbox having a built-in HD DVD player. I'd imagine any plans of that are now completely gone.

But that's okay with me. Although I love the 360 for it's HD DVD support with the addon, I bought it for the gaming aspects. I will do the same with the next Xbox.

If I were Sony I'd really show MS who is boss by making the 360 add-on connect to the PS3 for HD DVD playback. Now, I hate Sony, but I'm just saying...

[HackMy360]

The same thing was said when HD DVD got paramount and dreamworks a big shock to all the blu ray people out there now its HD DVD's turn to get a lil of their own medicine...I could care less who wins be it blu ray or hd dvd as I will not be buying any movies from any of them personally I think they are to expensive and not worth it.. I did buy the xbox 360 add on and only have king kong and thats because it came with it other than that I just rent the movies...I think both formats will fail as neither will penetrate the market like dvd did..for most out there that cannot afford and hd tv set then add on a $400 player and you can start to see the problem..dvd you didn't need an hd set so most people went for it also the ps2 came with it and was very popular but this time the ps3 is not as popular and hd sets will continue to be to expensive for most people.. those who have them are the ones bitching on the boards that blu ray is better or hd dvd is better but to most people they could care less which one is better because not much is know of the formats to justify a $300 player

[b1gg13]

Does Sony own the rights to Blu-Ray? Whats to say Sony won't license it to MS or make it so expensive to license it that it wouldnt be worth it. With sales of the PS3 not where Sony would want them i would think they would take every advantage they could to hurt the Xbox360.

[elitegamer360]

QUOTE(BasicAir @ Jan 9 2008, 02:11 AM)

.
.
...
If I were Sony I'd really show MS who is boss by making the 360 add-on connect to the PS3 for HD DVD playback. Now, I hate Sony, but I'm just saying...

If I were sony I wouldn't bother with a dying rival's Product because my product is all around the world looks successfull but its not, "Bribes" is making it that way.

but at the end of the day I'm just the consumer and I dont give a shit who wins or loses I just want 1 to win asap..

[0794]

i am glad that MS would not be stubborn and be open to a blu-ray addon or internal drive in the future if that truly is the way of optical hi-def...as it so appears

[viperware]

QUOTE

Microsoft does not believe the surprise decision last week by Time Warner Inc unit Warner Bros, the top seller of home movies, to abandon HD-DVD format in favor of Blu-ray should affect sales of its Xbox 360 video game console, Penello said.
"I fundamentally don't think ... this has a significant impact on Xbox 360 versus (Sony's) PlayStation 3," Penello told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

This may be true, but does he not think this decision will affect the video game console sale of the PS3? I've seen a lot of people saying they are now buying a PS3 just because of this decision. Increased console sale on one side seems the equivalent as decreased sales on the other side.  So he stated that he foresees no affect of xbox sales, but would probably agree that it will affect PS3 sales. And then he says he doesn't think it has a significant impact on xbox vs. ps3 (i'm assuming he means number of units sold). From what I've been reading, Penello doesn't know what he's talking about.

[grim_d]

the most annoying thing about all this is my gf bought me an hd-dvd drive for xmas, now i get to tell her the brand is dying, great, she will beat me

well lets just hope this makes hd-dvd prices drop, ill buy loads.

[elocin671]

i sold my hd-dvd add on yesterday for $180. lol.

[gsharpshooter]

no ms dont consider it i dont want to fall into the hands of sony in a 360 i love my 360 the way it is with hd dvd  

[Zod5000]

I bought a ps3 during the boxing day sales just get a bluray player.  I really had preference in the formats (i already had an hd-dvd addon for the 360), but i did realize that there were alot of movies only available on one format or the other.

They both look pretty good on my tv, and other then the fact that hd-dvd is region free (something i seldom needed on the dvd format), I don't really care which one wins.

They both look phenomenal, but i'm glad i didn't buy to many hd-dvd's before this news game out, becuase if hd-dvd does indeed die, and my drive dies, those disc might not be to useful in the future.

Hopefully they sort it out and we get one format, so 3rd part manufactures, and what not get on board and start to drive the prices down.