Blu-Ray Xbox 360

I don't know, wouldn't it get messy if Microsoft have to publish games in 3 different formats (Blu-ray, HD-DVD, DVD)? It just doesn't sound like it makes a lot of economical sense. Anyone in the video game industry have any insight (looking at you, DD)?

 

I thought the HD DVD drive planned for XBOX360 was almost exclusively for movies, not games.

I don't think it will affect game publishing that much, especially if Blu-ray wins quickly in the market. (which i think it will)

 

Splitting their users would doom them later on.

 

While I agree that Sony has more at stake in this format war, MS seems to REALLY want HD DVD to win. After all, they do have some interest in it. iHD (the interactive format for HD DVD) was created by them, as was the VC-1 codec supported by both formats (although might be used more in HD DVD due to the lower storage capacities). And then there are the Vista/HD DVD rumors as well, although I haven't seen anything final on that issue yet.

As for rootkits, I'm sure the other CE companies wouldn't be thrilled of having them, and also it seems as though the BDA has started to let up on the managed copy issue. I'm not sure if they're at the point of forcing every studio to offer one, or if just most of the the studios don't mind offering them (think SPE was supportive), but it didn't seem like quite the issue everyone made it out to be. I keep getting some of the info regarding MMC and HD over component mixed up lately since both seemed like things that wouldn't be supported...but now might be.

Hehe...yeah, now that I think about it, this would be the fourth SKU for the 360, maybe not even much more than a year into its life. That is a bit crazy.

 

BTW, here's some demos for iHD/BD-J:
http://www.mysharefile.com/d/8135287/1136959570/1_iHD_Microsoft_512k.wmv
http://www.mysharefile.com/d/3254115/1136959262/BD_J_Panasonic_512k.wmv

 

If it's only a player, I'd rather get a specific player. Not bloody likely MS would give gamers another discount....

So if it's for actual gameplay, they're splitting their users. One gets extra features, the other gets 4 or 5 DVDs of one game without certain perks.

It's like the Sega CD- a good idea that failed because users wanted to keep it simple while getting most out of their money.

 

I feel that MS should have done (and should do) this:

Have the media source removeable and replaceable. Get a philips head and take off one screw. Pop out the current DVD drive and plug in an ND DVD or a Blu-ray or some other storage device.

Instead of isolating users, unite them.

 

I don't know about that. I'm sure that most of the games for the PS3 will start out on DVD, similar to the PS2 situation (around 3/4th were CD), but there might be a few BR games being pushed, possibly by a Sony 1st party. FWIW, EA seems fond of BR and rumors have it that the next-gen GTA will be using the BR tech.

True, although I imagine MS might try a Xbox 360 HD DVD bundle (or BR bundle later on). As you said, not much different than the HD, although those were still two SKUs for the 360.

I'm not fan of their proprietary formats either. However, UMDs were the best option Sony could come up with for the PSP. There's no way they could have included a hard drive (with any decent amount of storage while still being small), while keeping the PSP at a acceptable price. Plus, the HD wouldn't do any favors on the battery life either; luckily, the HD out right now is bundled with a newer battery, IIRC, making it a little more acceptable, but this would have been very hard to do in December of 2004. I don't like UMD movies, but IIRC, they've sold like 14+ million worldwide as of November of last year.

BTW, I guess you didn't see my PSP Connect thread from a week ago:
http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=106901&z=1
Basically, you will be able to download movies, as well as other "content." Probably explains why Sony released the Giga Pack and will be releasing 4 and 8GB Pro Duos soon (although for insane $$$). With how flash media prices seem to drop quickly (especially with 10+ million PSPs out there), this may have been a better idea than going with a HD at launch. Doesn't hurt that the PS3 will support the same format, as well as a bunch of others too.

As for other Sony products, hopefully they'll start giving in and support other standard formats. IIRC, this was something Howard Stringer was trying to work on at Sony, and if the PS3 and PSP (at least with the media playback formats) are any indication, they might be more willing to open up to other formats.

How's it getting shoved down your throat?

I don't like proprietary formats, especially when they're inferior to other formats, but I don't really see BR as something like UMDs, where only Sony bothers to use them. If anything, it's more like CDs and DVDs, which Sony helped create IIRC. Was Sony shoving DVD down our throats with the PS2?

I'm only a bit annoyed by Microsoft because they seem more interested in their own investments in HD DVD (the inferior format) than preventing a format war. It was basically over (still might be) once most of the studios pledged support for BR, but then both Windows and Intel (who happens to have some Intel processors in these HD DVD players) had to start throwing their weight around, basically using a bunch of false claims for their reasons behind supporting HD DVD. By pushing HD DVD in the 360 as well as in Vista (subsidies?), it will only make things more difficult IMO. I still feel as though BR should have the upper hand, but anything can happen if MS really puts their force behind it. And since I'm not even sure if HD DVD could really handle HD at 1080p for movies (especially long ones with lots of bonus features), that would basically mean we might need yet another format just a few years down the line if HD DVD were to win the war. Yes, I don't like HD DVD that much.

FWIW, I really don't care that much about MS using its other tech/software assuming it offers something better than any alternatives. IIRC, MS wants all FMV on the 360 to be done through the VC-1 codec mentioned earlier; in this particular case, that's perfectly acceptable, even though developers might not have the option of using other codecs. I also like the media center stuff they've put into the 360, not to mention their proprietary wireless tech, which seems to be getting the job done fine. Plus, there's DirectX and the development software that MS puts out, buts that isn't really a big deal for us gamers. Basically, a lot of stuff that MS came up with and uses in their products that I really don't mind them doing. Of course, if their wireless tech only supported distances up to 2 feet and only 2 controllers, then maybe I'd have a problem.

 

Blu-ray is likely going to win the format wars but in the event it doesn't then what are the chances of sony releasing an hd-dvd drive?

 

Pretty high I imagine, assuming Sony (or SCE more specifically) wants the PS3 to be a "media hub." It would probably have to be pure domination by HD DVD (like hardly any movies for BR, everything on HD DVD), but they'll love to make a few extra bucks. Kind of similar to how Sony would gladly make HD DVD movies and players/recorders/discs if it came down to it.

edit: BTW, I was assuming you meant for the PS3. Although if you meant a HD DVD drive in general, I kind of answered that too.

 

Unlikely....

That's what I'm saying. Sony's blu-ray player works for games and movies. If MS does that with an add-on, they'd have to choose the player for "movies only" or force their gamers to buy the add-on to play one standard format (blu-ray/HD-DVD) of a game.

I think they'll play it safe, bring a limited edition out for the rich, but not mass market it at all.