You guys think they will make a BRD player for Xbox now that HDDVD is dead?

[PhrostByte]

I don't have one of these new fangled systems (xbox, ps3, wii), but I have thought about which one I'd want. My favorite games are Street Fighter, Tekken, Rez, stuff like that.. I'm also looking forward to the TNA Wrestling game. Now that Tekken 6 was announced for Xbox (right?), I guess my mind is made up. Still, I wonder.. since HDDVD is dead now, you think Microsoft will manufacture a BRD add-on for their Xbox?

[ITDEFX]

I don't have one of these new fangled systems (xbox, ps3, wii), but I have thought about which one I'd want. My favorite games are Street Fighter, Tekken, Rez, stuff like that.. I'm also looking forward to the TNA Wrestling game. Now that Tekken 6 was announced for Xbox (right?), I guess my mind is made up. Still, I wonder.. since HDDVD is dead now, you think Microsoft will manufacture a BRD add-on for their Xbox?

I think this has been discussed over at the HD-DVD vs BR thread and other sites. Even though early on MS said they might make a blue ray player if BR wins the format war, I think internally they decided not to do it. I think Sony would make MS pay through the roof for licensing fees just to get permission to build a drive and take a major cut out of each drive sold...not to just do it the Sony way, but to inflate their licensing fees on MS because they know MS can afford it.

[Slate]

I think this has been discussed over at the HD-DVD vs BR thread and other sites. Even though early on MS said they might make a blue ray player if BR wins the format war, I think internally they decided not to do it. I think Sony would make MS pay through the roof for licensing fees just to get permission to build a drive and take a major cut out of each drive sold...not to just do it the Sony way, but to inflate their licensing fees on MS because they know MS can afford it.


You took the words out of my mouth.

[M1C13]

Microsoft is all about DLC because they make waymore that way then from some 360 owners buy a $200 BD player, plus Sony has the upper hand now and I don't think they want that to go away especially when the PS3 is the best BD player out right now.

[SpazX]

What I wonder more about is the next gen of consoles. It won't be fun to make a competing video game system that uses a format owned by the maker of the other system.

[Maklershed]

I think this has been discussed over at the HD-DVD vs BR thread and other sites. Even though early on MS said they might make a blue ray player if BR wins the format war, I think internally they decided not to do it. I think Sony would make MS pay through the roof for licensing fees just to get permission to build a drive and take a major cut out of each drive sold...not to just do it the Sony way, but to inflate their licensing fees on MS because they know MS can afford it.

Isnt that like cutting off the nose to spite the face though? That is a lot of potential blu-ray disc purchases that Sony could gain if people with 360s would buy attachments.

[DisturbedZen]

What I wonder more about is the next gen of consoles. It won't be fun to make a competing video game system that uses a format owned by the maker of the other system.

Very good point, however seeing as how I believe the next xbox will be in 11'. I wouldn't be surprised if they went with HD DVDs as their game format. Perhaps the console could have a combo player, therefore M$ can save money from using Sony's crap. =D

[62t]

Blu Ray isnt just own by Sony. For example Philip can decide to make the Blu Ray add on Xbox 360

[looploop]

Tekken 6 was announced for 360?

[garfep]

Heh, if Sony wants to charge MS huge licensing fees to use BD drives in 360's, MS should start charging them huge fees to use Windows on Vaio's. I'm sure that would change their tune.

[Lsgun1]

The rumor I heard from watching X-Play at the game developers conference was a BD player was a possibility.

[guyver2077]

i think they should go ahead and do it... it would benefit them to release one too since alot of ppl purchase the ps3 only because of its bluray capabilities. Plus it would double as an external drive for pc like the hd dvd addon. I think it would sell even at 200 (same price hd addon was introduced. It its cheaper then even better. A pc internal bd drive is currently at the 150ish mark (sometimes cheaper)

i say go for it

[DestroVega]

It's possible, but I don't see it happening...

[M1C13]

i think they should go ahead and do it... it would benefit them to release one too since alot of ppl purchase the ps3 only because of its bluray capabilities. Plus it would double as an external drive for pc like the hd dvd addon. I think it would sell even at 200 (same price hd addon was introduced. It its cheaper then even better. A pc internal bd drive is currently at the 150ish mark (sometimes cheaper)

i say go for it
As far as saying that a PC external BD player vs what Microsoft would sell it for look at the 120 GB HDD I got a 500GB external for under $100.

[Nealocus123]

I definitely think they will. Maybe not soon, but eventually they'll pretty much have to.

[mtxbass1]

I don't see this happening. The HD-DVD add on didn't sell well at all. I doubt THAT many people would want to buy this external drive in order to make this thing profitable.

[akilshohen]

Blu Ray isnt just own by Sony. For example Philip can decide to make the Blu Ray add on Xbox 360
Correct, just like JVC didn't own VHS. Sony just banked on it more by putting it in the PS3 and is part of the BR association.
I don't think they would make one though. I saw something that said the only reason MS jumped in the format war was to mess it up so that digital distribution would come out on top.

[blitz6speed]

Tekken 6 is a PS3 exclusive. In fact, the arcade hardware is a PS3 in disguise.

[mykevermin]

I'm pretty certain that MS themselves said they weren't interested in it, as they want to focus on being a "games machine" - plus they want the money that comes from XBLM purchases, of course.

The BDA, who dictates all things Blu-Ray, have said they would welcome MS to create an add-on, though.

If nothing else, it may stave off some PS3 sales if it were made.

[Ruined]

What I wonder more about is the next gen of consoles. It won't be fun to make a competing video game system that uses a format owned by the maker of the other system.

My bet is that the next xbox when released in 3-5 years will be download only, everything bought off live. Games can be bought in store but the box just has a scratch off card that unlocks the download. Core unit with 500GB hard drive, no optical drive. Premium with 1TB hard drive, DVD drive for 360 BC. Wifi standard on all SKUs. It will walk you through out of the box how to hook it up to the internet to get started downloading games.

Or, if a physical format is needed, the game will probably be on something like an SD card. I see MS innovating nextgen in terms of delivery medium and not sitting on their laurels... The download only/memory card route would allow for a MUCH smaller and quieter console than we see now, and might help MS win over Japan... No spinning disc = no noise, and a heck of a lot less space that would have been taken up by a drive. It also would allow for portability and smaller game cases, plus all games would run from the massive hard drive. Blu-ray movie playback will be completely irrelevant by then, as standalones will probably be $99 at Walmart by 2011-2012.

[Vinny]

I don't see this happening. The HD-DVD add on didn't sell well at all. I doubt THAT many people would want to buy this external drive in order to make this thing profitable.

Bill Gates (or some MS honcho) said a BD player wasn't out of the question but I kinda have to agree here, I don't see it being a huge seller if it is released. It'll be hard to compare price wise with a 360 + BD add on vs the 40GB PS3.

[dmaul1114]

It'll be hard to compare price wise with a 360 + BR add on vs the 40GB PS3.

While true, where it could help is being a cheaper option for those who already have a 360. They might dissuade a few people from picking up a PS3 for a BD player and possibly buying fewer 360 games as they start buying a PS3 game here and there.

Still, I don't know if it would be worth the cost of putting out a BR add on.

[mykevermin]

My bet is that the next xbox when released in 3-5 years will be download only, everything bought off live. Games can be bought in store but the box just has a scratch off card that unlocks the download. Core unit with 500GB hard drive, no optical drive. Premium with 1TB hard drive, DVD drive for 360 BC. Wifi standard on all SKUs. It will walk you through out of the box how to hook it up to the internet to get started downloading games.

Or, if a physical format is needed, the game will probably be on something like an SD card. I see MS innovating nextgen in terms of delivery medium and not sitting on their laurels... The download only/memory card route would allow for a MUCH smaller and quieter console than we see now, and might help MS win over Japan... No spinning disc = no noise, and a heck of a lot less space that would have been taken up by a drive. It also would allow for portability and smaller game cases, plus all games would run from the massive hard drive. Blu-ray movie playback will be completely irrelevant by then, as standalones will probably be $99 at Walmart by 2011-2012.

A recent NYT article pointed out that only 50% of the US has broadband internet access (not even separating out high-speed broadband, which still lags behind the rest of the world in terms of speed) - as a result, I'm very skeptical that you'll see any DD-only console in the next 10 years. Moreover, while many of us look at buying and using DLC as a simple process, I'm also skeptical that it is something MS would want to risk using as its standard due to the level of consumer knowledge necessary to use it.

Also, by then, 500GB/1TB for games plus DLC, saves, and media - that isn't going to be all that much, honestly.

It would be a huge risk for MS, and I don't see them having so much disdain for BD that they'd try to go that route.

If they could get third parties on board to support this (based on the higher profit margins as a result of not having to print/ship games, worrying about supplies, dealing with retailers selling below MSRP or dropping prices, or "sales," they might have a fighting chance).

Personally, as someone who likes to buy games using coupons, taking advantage of sales, or trading with other users, I'll be honest: DD-only is easily my biggest enemy as far as games are concerned.

EDIT: I see you're suggesting SD cards - while the price of solid state media drops quite rapidly, the price of the MacBook Air jumps from $1700 (or so) to $3100 (or so) when moving from an 80GB HDD to a 60GB SSD. A 60GB card may not be necessary in a few years, but with 8GB cards going for around $100 (for pro duos, anyway), it remains to be seen if suitable space will be cheap enough come the next gen. Perhaps it will be, but then again, perhaps not - we may get games on 25GB cards instead of BDs, but that's a pretty substantial drop in profit margin simply to, again, spite BD.

[GuilewasNK]

I have yet to see an add-on that was a success on a console. Sure, the diehards will buy it, but the average consumer won't. It's been proven time and time again.