Xbox 360 HD-DVD offical details

[spoo]

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/events/e32006/articles/20060507-hddvdexplained.htm
HD DVD Explained

Xbox 360™ ushered in the era of high-definition gaming by standardizing high-definition resolutions and 16x9 widescreen support for every game (Xbox Live® Arcade included) on the system. What's more, Xbox 360, while powerful on its own, is also a foundation from which new technology and accessories can be added. Chief among these is the recently announced HD DVD add-on.

This much anticipated accessory carries with it an extension of the HD Era that Xbox 360 offers, and provides the most visually stunning movie watching experience available.
Understanding HD DVD

Understanding just what HD DVD offers and how it relates to Xbox 360 is the key to appreciating the kind of quantum leap forward the add-on provides. To most consumers, HD DVD is probably a new phrase, but it's simple to decipher. The HD is high definition and DVDs are those hundreds of millions of shiny discs sold worldwide.
"The major difference is going to be price, and all the leading indicators point to HD DVD winning."

In fact, HD DVD is the official next-generation optical format from the same international organization, the DVD Forum, that created the ubiquitous DVD format used for digitally storing movies, games, PC data, and more. That also means the new HD DVD players will also play back all of your current DVDs.

To be fair, there's a push from Sony to create an alternate HD format called Blu-ray. So now's a good time to examine why Microsoft®, and many other industry leaders, believe HD DVD is the clear winner for consumers.
Superior Quality

The current DVD format we've come to know and love provides a 480 progressive scan image, and while impressive, it simply doesn't match up to the advanced capabilities of high-definition resolutions HDTVs. HD DVD delivers a high-fidelity video and audio experience that far exceeds today's DVD, with video resolutions of up to six times the resolution of current DVDs and superior digital multi-channel, lossless surround sound effects.

When comparing the two formats, there is no difference in the video support with both offering 720p, 1080i and 1080p HD resolutions, leaving it to CE and PC manufacturers to determine which flavors they support based upon costs and consumer preferences.
"Both sides are laying their cards on the table, and the word is getting out that HD DVD is the best value."

This new accessory will connect to the Xbox 360 console with a USB cable, enabling it to harness the power of the Xbox 360 console for the HD video outputs and digital surround sound. As an accessory, it becomes another shining example of the flexibility of Xbox 360 designed into the console in order to grow and add new features. It's also just one of several new accessories being announced at E3.

"There aren't any Blu-ray players available to test, but if you compare the requirements on paper it's going to be a wash in terms of video quality," said Albert Penello, Director of Global Marketing at Xbox. "At Microsoft, we've known that for some time. But the major difference is going to be price, and all the leading indicators point to HD DVD winning."
Pricing

With HD DVD, it is now becoming evident that the entire ecosystem—from players, drives, the discs, and manufacturing—is more economical than Blu-ray. Consumers and retailers can now see the immediate price gulf between HD DVD players and their upcoming competition. If you can find one of the new Toshiba HD DVD players (retailers nationwide sold out when they launched in April) they sell for as little as $499, whereas the expected starting price of Blu-ray players starts at $1,000 and rises rapidly after that.

HD DVD also offers new "twin discs" that have an HD DVD version and a DVD version on the same disc. This gives consumers an easy and affordable way to build their movie collection that will take full advantage of every TV in the house—whether it's the HDTV and new HD DVD player in the living room, or standard def TV and DVD player in another room, car, or even PCs and laptops.

Blu-ray's option is to require consumers to buy two discs at full price, an HD version and the standard DVD version separately.
Consumer Advantage

Outside of consumer prices, HD DVD is cheaper for manufacturers to upgrade their facilities to produce HD DVD discs and there are lower licensing fees associated with HD DVD interactivity—both key cost advantages. Ultimately, all of these advantages will lead to lower prices for consumers who choose HD DVD.

"Before January's CES trade show and before price announcements starting to come out, a lot of press and analysts were ready to declare HD DVD as DOA," commented Penello. "But we had really good insights into how these two matched up and we kept learning about technical problems with Blu-ray. Now that both sides are laying their cards on the table, the word is getting out that HD DVD is the best value. Consumers are voting by buying HD DVD players and movies. And since then, the industry momentum we've seen has been behind HD DVD."

Since January, CE and PC leaders like LG, Acer, Fujitsu (and Fujitsu-Siemens) have decided to support HD DVD in their products, while Sony, Samsung, and Pioneer separately delayed releasing their consumer Blu-ray players. (The first Blu-ray player is reportedly now slated for late June.) In addition, Sony delayed its PS3 game console launch and publicly blamed the problem on Blu-ray issues.

So what's the suggested price for the Xbox 360 HD DVD player? "Stay tuned. We decided to save that good news for another day, but we're clearly out to make this an affordable option for Xbox 360 owners," said Penello.

The last question is around studio support. HD DVD is supported by leading Hollywood and international studios including Paramount, Warner Brothers, Universal, Studio Canal, and more. It's expected there will be 150-200 HD DVD titles by the end of year.

"The momentum is with HD DVD. Eventually, we feel all the studios will support HD DVD, perhaps not exclusively. But the studios are too savvy to leave money on the table," said Penello.

[rodeojones903]

Awesome. Ill buy one the day they come out if they are $200 or lower. :D

[Apossum]

Sega would be proud...

[Ugamer_X]

HD-DVD for the 360 has been official since February.

[spoo]

Sega would be proud...

:lol: :lol:

But I will still buy one if the price is right, just like I bought my other Genesis add-ons.

[shipwreck]

I will only buy it if I get achievement points for rebuying all my movies on HD-DVD.

[rodeojones903]

I will only buy it if I get achievement points for rebuying all my movies on HD-DVD.


Thats what netflix is for. :D

[botticus]

Consumers are voting by buying HD DVD players and movies. Thank goodness, because that's the only choice on the ballot! Have they announced this officially before, or are they just preempting their own press conference?

[j.elles]

$99 sold seperatly. And the premium system's are going to get it and a larger,100GB if rumors are true, harddrive. This i'm saying is probably going to be part of the news Microsoft is going to use to steal thunder from Nintendo and Sony.

[rodeojones903]

$99 sold seperatly. And the premium system's are going to get it and a larger,100GB if rumors are true, harddrive. This i'm saying is probably going to be part of the news Microsoft is going to use to steal thunder from Nintendo and Sony.


If thats true then Ill be cashing in my warranty at EB. :D

[psiufoxx2]

$99 sold seperatly. And the premium system's are going to get it and a larger,100GB if rumors are true, harddrive. This i'm saying is probably going to be part of the news Microsoft is going to use to steal thunder from Nintendo and Sony.Talk about screwing the early adopters! You huys just got pwned!

[Javery]

Talk about screwing the early adopters! You huys just got pwned!

yeah that would suck big time - I' almost be willing to sell my premium system for $200 or so and buy a new one...

[mackaikai]

yah if MS really bundles HDDVD with new premium systems...they should at least offer early adapters some game rebate or something =)

anyway, if it's 99 dollars for the HDDVD, i'll have to get one then! my HDTV is begging for some 720p movie actions

[ArthurDigbySellers]

$99 sold seperatly. And the premium system's are going to get it and a larger,100GB if rumors are true, harddrive. This i'm saying is probably going to be part of the news Microsoft is going to use to steal thunder from Nintendo and Sony.

Stealing thunder how? The PS3 will have a Blu-Ray DVD drive standard, not for an extra $100. The Wii will be able to play DVDs, but was never slated to play anything in the HD arena.

I don't understand how any thunder is being stolen by an annoucement that was known back in Feb.

As another poster said, this is MSoft screwing their current userbase if they are indeed going to include it in the premium version in the future.

[ryanbph]

so does this mean no hdmi support for the xbox 360 hd dvd player add on. I hope if the j.elles is correct, then the newer 360 will have hdmi outputs.

[trq]

Talk about screwing the early adopters! You huys just got pwned!

No kidding. Though I'm not sure why anyone really cares about the bigger hard-drive. I mean, is space seriously an issue for anyone?

Still, if it's super cheap (c. $100) I might bite. I don't particularly need one, I admit, but I think Blu-Ray pretty much sucks ass, so there's that.

[ryanbph]

Stealing thunder how? The PS3 will have a Blu-Ray DVD drive standard, not for an extra $100.
yeah but the ps3 might cost more then $100 more then the 360, granted we won't know untill they give the price.

[shipwreck]

There is no way that Microsoft will announce a newer model 360 with a built-in HD-DVD drive and larger hard drive anytime soon. That would make people wait to buy a 360 until that version was out. That wouldn't exactly make sense when Microsoft is trying to build an early lead.

I'm not saying that it won't happen at some point, but it's not anytime soon.

[Puffa469]

Interesting... this is going to be an exciting E3, thats for sure.

And we all know the history of console add-ons.. Will this thing look like a 'mini 360' and sit on top of your 360 like some kind of Microsoft step-pyramid? Or will they put out a bigass tray that they sit in side by side, making your 360 the size of one of those govideo dual deck vcr's?

If they do put out a newer version of the 360 with this built in, that will make three different versions of the 360 in under a year... lol.

[rodeojones903]

but I think Blu-Ray pretty much sucks ass, so there's that.


What movie did you watch on blu-ray to come to that conclusion?

[spoo]

Stealing thunder how? The PS3 will have a Blu-Ray DVD drive standard, not for an extra $100. The Wii will be able to play DVDs, but was never slated to play anything in the HD arena.

I don't understand how any thunder is being stolen by an annoucement that was known back in Feb.

As another poster said, this is MSoft screwing their current userbase if they are indeed going to include it in the premium version in the future.

Hate Microsoft much? The thing that is good about this is giving gamers options and not forcing any next format players on gamers. The PS3 would be out by now and on its way to a lower price if Sony would have done this. Screwing gamers would be waiting for a format and forcing a format without giving gamers the option. As any early adapter knows the price will drop and hardware will only improve as time goes on. Only a naive early adapter would think other wise. I have been looking into buy a HD-DVD player but am waiting for the price to come down or the 360 HD-DVD player.

[dobiewan]

Umm... where does it say that this will be bundled with new 360s, or that there will be a "new" version of the 360 with an HD DVD drive built-in? This is an add-on. They announced it months ago. I believe it was already stated that it WILL have HDMI output, but that could be rumor. I'm HOPING it does, but then again, I don't really want to pay $50 or more for another HDMI cable either. That's just adding to the "take home" cost of the unit.

I'm looking for this to be in the $199.99 range. $99.99 is too cheap to be profitable, but the cost-savings relative to a stand-alone player aren't very much if they price it over $300.

[spoo]

I'm HOPING it does, but then again, I don't really want to pay $50 or more for another HDMI cable either. That's just adding to the "take home" cost of the unit.

I'm looking for this to be in the $199.99 range. $99.99 is too cheap to be profitable, but the cost-savings relative to a stand-alone player aren't very much if they price it over $300.
www.monoprice.com for good cheap HDMI cables, also they have a cheap HDMI switch that I have been waiting to buy when I need it.

[Kuma]

sending a high def signal through a USB cable then processing it in the 360 and then sending it through component cables? No thanks ill pass

[daphatty]

Ok, I didn't read this because a) it looks like a bunch of marketing crap and b) I didn't see a picture of what the Xbox HD-DVD device would look like.

That being said, I believe this to be nothing more than a fluff girl at a pron shoot.

[trq]

What movie did you watch on blu-ray to come to that conclusion?

And why would I have to watch a movie in a significantly more expensive media, much of whose increased storage space will be squandered on copy protection, to believe it sucks ass? There are other factors involved besides visual quality, ace.

[j.elles]

$99 sold seperatly. And the premium system's are going to get it and a larger,100GB if rumors are true, harddrive. This i'm saying is probably going to be part of the news Microsoft is going to use to steal thunder from Nintendo and Sony.
I'm willing to bet this will happen for a number of reasons. Lets look at the facts.

-Sony will lose money off the Blue Ray.
-Toshiba and their camp know that no one has ever had a success with add-ons for game systems.
-They also know that Sony bundling the player with the PS3 will greatly benefit them and maybe even cause Blueray to win.

Knowing these three things,which I think we all can agree are facts, also realize how much Toshiba and there camp are badgering Microsoft about supporting the Blue Ray as much as they can. Badgering and definitely offering incentives, etc... for them if they do ONE thing.

Bundle the 360 with the HD-DVD.

This would combat the PS3’s benefit. This would ensure millions of them would be sold. This would be sound business all around.

[epobirs]

Talk about screwing the early adopters! You huys just got pwned!

Not at all. The early adopters are getting the use of their 360 for all of that time. If you cannot afford to spend money on premium products, especially new game systems with limited libraries, then simply don't buy. If you have the money and want the new toy with whatever pleasures, including status among your peers, it brings, then go for it.

But don't bitch that people who did without and made a purchase at a much later date got a better deal. Anybody with even a glimmering of console history knows prices will drop while the value increases thanks tot he growing library.

If Microsoft intros a model with built-in HD-DVD, which I doubt, the early adopters will have the option of buying the add-on drive. That way they get to enjoy their 360 from the earliest possible moment and still get the HD-DVD playback. If a built-in HD-DVD model appeared, it would almost certainly be a third SKU with a higher price, not a replacement for one or both current models. In that case, the early adopter would incur little cost for the add-on greater than just having the new model.

But I don't think such a device is coming. Toshiba is already heavily subsidizing the cost of their HD-DVD decks. The difference in cost is far less than the difference in retail price. Toshiba is taking the hit to get the installed base up to strength while Sony has no need to do this since the PS3 will perform that task. Since the PS3 will have both game and movie revenues helping to recoup its subsidy, it's less painful for Sony than subsidizing the price of dedicated Blu-ray players.

Toshiba may apply a similar subsidy to allow Microsoft to sell the add-on drive for a very attractive price, say $100 to $150. The way to do this without Toshiba getting murdered on the cost of unsold units is to offer a mail-in rebate to consumers who purchase it. This way, Toshiba is only subsidizing those drives in use and driving movie sales. For this same reason a Xbox 360 with a built-in HD-DVD drive is unlikely in my estimation. This would result in a lot of subsidized HD-DVD capable machines being sold with no assurance people will use them for movies as well as games. Microsoft wants to keep the cost of media down and really doesn't want to use HD-DVD for games.

For Microsoft this is history repeating itself. They had use for DVD as a media format on the Xbox but had no direct benefit fromt he DVD movie business, so they had no reason to push the playback capability. The cost of the DVD playback license would only have served to increase costs for a feature only a subset of Xbox buyers would use. Making it into an inexpensive add-on for those who wanted the function was a perfect solution.

The same applies to HD-DVD playback on the Xbox 360. Microsoft wants HD-DVD to succeed but mostly because the interactivity layer is based on Microsoft software. They get a tiny license fee from deck sales but not from movies where the really big money emanates. (Blu-rays interactivity is based on Java.) So they have motivation to boost HD-DVD and to make the Xbox 360 more attractive but ultimately the success of the machine relies on game sales. They cannot let themselves get overly distracted by HD-DVD.

Sony has a very different set of interests driving their marketing. Pushing Blu-ray makes complete sense for them, even if it means forcing a lot of consumers to put off their PS3 purchase a few years. PS2 hardware and software sales is still doing well and Sony can afford a slow adoption rate for the PS3 just so long as it serves to make Blu-ray dominant for HDTV content delivery.

[epobirs]

I'm willing to bet this will happen for a number of reasons. Lets look at the facts.

-Sony will lose money off the Blue Ray.
-Toshiba and their camp know that no one has ever had a success with add-ons for game systems.
-They also know that Sony bundling the player with the PS3 will greatly benefit them and maybe even cause Blueray to win.

Knowing these three things,which I think we all can agree are facts, also realize how much Toshiba and there camp are badgering Microsoft about supporting the Blue Ray as much as they can. Badgering and definitely offering incentives, etc... for them if they do ONE thing.

Bundle the 360 with the HD-DVD.

This would combat the PS3’s benefit. This would ensure millions of them would be sold. This would be sound business all around.

The oft-repeated truism about add-ons failing has the problem of not being true. There have been numerous successful add-ons. These were reasonably priced items that immediately delivered on their promise and often went on to be standard features on later console generations. Some examples:

N64 Rumble Pak - Bundled with a hit game at a cost that was largely invisible tot he consumer.

N64 RAM Expansion Pak - Had a substantial installed base thanks to support from a small list of hit titles and later achieved a deeper penetration thanks to being bundled with a hit game and required by another major hit for the system.

Very few complaints by any purchasers of those N64 add-ons.

The PC Enigine CD-ROM drive. Did very good business in Japan with hundreds of titles published.

Xbox DVD Kit - did a very specific function that tapped into an already substantial software base.

Sony EyeToy - cost the same as a full price game and had enough built-in novelty to justify itself with no further software support. That a fair bit of additional software did appear is just a bonus.

Most people tend to think of train wrecks like the Sega CD and, guess who, Sega 32X. These were pricey and highly dependent on support from developers, most of who saw little reason to produce games for a small subset of the Genesis market. The reason for these failures is not inherent to console add-on but those particular products. Nintendo had a far superior design for a SNES CD-ROM add-on. It would have incorporated an improved version of their FX chip and made it accessible to third party developers who'd shied away from its cost as part of every cartridge. Making it a one-time purchase by the consumer to be used with numerous games changed the business model. The deeper palette and color range of the SNES also allowed for far better use of FMV. And the price point was announced at a $100 lower than the $299 launch price of the Sega CD. Alas, Nintendo got very gunshy after Sega's product failed and killed the SNES-CD add-on. If they had analyzed the situation better and had more belief in their design advantages then history could have been considerably different. A mildly successful SNES-CD would likely have caused the N64 to be CD based and far better able to compete against Sony's onslaught.

An HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 is very cut and dried. The software is already appearing in stores and will continue to grow regardless of what happens on the 360. Thus 360 owners are offered a very straightforward choice of paying X dollars for the ability to use the discs on that shelf at the store, as opposed to a promise of great software created solely for the new platform enacted by the combined 360 and add-on.

[seanr1221]

A mildly successful SNES-CD would likely have caused the N64 to be CD based and far better able to compete against Sony's onslaught.

A successful SNES-CD would have caused no onslaught from Sony :)

[epobirs]

A successful SNES-CD would have caused no onslaught from Sony :)


Not true. The design in question was from after the partnership between Sony and Nintendo had dissolved. Sony was already intent on making its own entry to the console market by the time Nintendo killed their plans to have and CD-ROM support for the SNES. There were three different proposals at various points. One tied into Philips CD-i product, which was soplagued by delays Nintendo gave up and started talking to Sony. Sony had been part of the Philips plans but had their own ambitions.

The SNES-CD had some software ready to go when it was killed. Secret of Mana was originally a SNES-CD game and the places where the FMV sequences were removed can be easily spotted. Another was Konami's Xexex ( http://www.geocities.com/opcfg3/xexex.html ) a beautiful shooter that made cool use of the FX chip in the SNES version I saw demoed. It was complete and ready to send off for manufacturing. The title now seems cursed, since no version has been attempted for any systems since then. Too bad. I came across the original arcade unit once and it played wonderfully.

[seanr1221]

A small joke turns into a history lesson; but it is good to learn something new everyday.

[j.elles]

The oft-repeated truism about add-ons failing has the problem of not being true. There have been numerous successful add-ons. These were reasonably priced items that immediately delivered on their promise and often went on to be standard features on later console generations. Some examples:

N64 Rumble Pak - Bundled with a hit game at a cost that was largely invisible tot he consumer.

N64 RAM Expansion Pak - Had a substantial installed base thanks to support from a small list of hit titles and later achieved a deeper penetration thanks to being bundled with a hit game and required by another major hit for the system.

Very few complaints by any purchasers of those N64 add-ons.

The PC Enigine CD-ROM drive. Did very good business in Japan with hundreds of titles published.

Xbox DVD Kit - did a very specific function that tapped into an already substantial software base.

Sony EyeToy - cost the same as a full price game and had enough built-in novelty to justify itself with no further software support. That a fair bit of additional software did appear is just a bonus.

Most people tend to think of train wrecks like the Sega CD and, guess who, Sega 32X. These were pricey and highly dependent on support from developers, most of who saw little reason to produce games for a small subset of the Genesis market. The reason for these failures is not inherent to console add-on but those particular products. Nintendo had a far superior design for a SNES CD-ROM add-on. It would have incorporated an improved version of their FX chip and made it accessible to third party developers who'd shied away from its cost as part of every cartridge. Making it a one-time purchase by the consumer to be used with numerous games changed the business model. The deeper palette and color range of the SNES also allowed for far better use of FMV. And the price point was announced at a $100 lower than the $299 launch price of the Sega CD. Alas, Nintendo got very gunshy after Sega's product failed and killed the SNES-CD add-on. If they had analyzed the situation better and had more belief in their design advantages then history could have been considerably different. A mildly successful SNES-CD would likely have caused the N64 to be CD based and far better able to compete against Sony's onslaught.

An HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 is very cut and dried. The software is already appearing in stores and will continue to grow regardless of what happens on the 360. Thus 360 owners are offered a very straightforward choice of paying X dollars for the ability to use the discs on that shelf at the store, as opposed to a promise of great software created solely for the new platform enacted by the combined 360 and add-on.


The low price of the ps3 as reported by gamespot.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6149470.html
E3 06: PS3 launches Nov. 17--$499 for 20GB, $599 for 60GB


This ensures that it will be bundled. You said it yourself as well. Nearly every sucessfull add on from the Rumble Pak on the N64, to light guns, Dance Mats, Microphones, and the Eye Toy Have all been bundled. It will be bundled. And I think the core system will disapear and the premium will become the new core. Especially because Sony was touting how the Hard Drive would be used to greatly improve game play.

The New premium might go up in price but it will probably have a 60 or 100 GB HDrive. The HD-DVD add-on. And hell maybe even a game and a motion sensitive controller since everyone seems to like ripping off Nintendo.

But seriously after todays news and the news likely to continue to come from Sony and possibly Nintendo that will surely grab the spot light Microsoft will do these things. After all they have Microsoft's assets and resources at there disposal on top of this being Big Daddy Gates's self admited personal project. He said it himself when asked about how far he was willing to go to see the Xbox succeed. He said something like "well it was my idea to enter the console market... what do you think."

[epobirs]

The low price of the ps3 as reported by gamespot.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6149470.html
E3 06: PS3 launches Nov. 17--$499 for 20GB, $599 for 60GB


This ensures that it will be bundled. You said it yourself as well. Nearly every sucessfull add on from the Rumble Pak on the N64, to light guns, Dance Mats, Microphones, and the Eye Toy Have all been bundled. It will be bundled. And I think the core system will disapear and the premium will become the new core. Especially because Sony was touting how the Hard Drive would be used to greatly improve game play.

The New premium might go up in price but it will probably have a 60 or 100 GB HDrive. The HD-DVD add-on. And hell maybe even a game and a motion sensitive controller since everyone seems to like ripping off Nintendo.

But seriously after todays news and the news likely to continue to come from Sony and possibly Nintendo that will surely grab the spot light Microsoft will do these things. After all they have Microsoft's assets and resources at there disposal on top of this being Big Daddy Gates's self admited personal project. He said it himself when asked about how far he was willing to go to see the Xbox succeed. He said something like "well it was my idea to enter the console market... what do you think."

Those items that were bundled were very low cost. Unless Toshiba is kicking in a big subsidy that simply won't be viable for the 360. As I explained in another posting, for Toshiba to be fronting that money would mean they'd want to be sure ever HD-DVD unit sold was solely for those interested in HDTV content and likely to drives movies sales, which in turn feed money back to Toshiba and help establish HD-DVD in the market. Selling a high end Xbox 360 with both a larger hard drive and a HD-DVD drive built-in clouds the issue of how the machine will be used. Far simpler for Toshiba's purposes for the drive to remain separate. A bundle could be created but the drive would remain a USB device while those desiring a larger hard drive address that issue directly.

If Microsoft were planning to put games on HD-DVD and produce a royalty stream for Toshiba, it would be a different situation. Those nickels really add up over millions of games sold. But that would seriously alienate early adopters and so is very unlikely.

Microsoft is not going to eliminate the Core System for the same reason Sony is having two SKUs on the PS3. Being able to say the cost of entry is below $300 is very important to their marketing staff. sony wouldn't have a cut down version of the PS3 if they likewise didn't place great value on being able to say their product starts under $500. When the 360 gets a price cut it is the Core System's price that will be touted. It just looks better to the casual reader and marketoids know that.

Keep in mind that Sony is concerned with the price of HD-DVD decks and greatly desires to claim price parity at that $500. Microsoft isn't betting the farm on a HDTV format, so they aren't as concerned with that aspect. If the Xbox 360 w/HD-DVD add-on costs more than $500 it isn't a big loss. They can still claim a far greater combined function set for their approach vs. the entry level HD-DVD decks. (The HD-DVD drive will likely require the 360 to have a hard drive to host the iHT software involved, which is a good deal bigger than the same stuff for DVD and likely too much to ask people to dedicate a memory card to it.)

The HD-DVD interactivity layer is based on Microsoft software, so they have some interest in its success but that revenue stream is tiny compared to the potential from a successful game console's software revenue. Gates is not going to screw up the Xbox 360 for the sake of pushing HD-DVD. Now that Microsoft has costs under control they're well poised to do it right this time. Since they have a big advantage over Sony on the cost issue, you can bet they'll continue to press to the bitter end. When the low-end PS3 comes down to $399 the Xbox 360 Core System will be $199. This guarantees reaching a good chunk of consumers just by reaching a threshold price point first.

Part of keeping the Core System going is staying with DVD as the format for 360 games. This greatly limits the value of having a 360 with the HD-DVD built-in instead of as an add-on. A higher priced integrated model may appear but not at the sacrifice of the low-end model. The option for playing HDTV content has less to offer the 360's growth than continuing leadership in low pricing. You offer the feature to those who care and are willing to pay but not by giving up an existing advantage.

[Zoglog]

The saddest thing is that Bluray will probably Trump HD-DVD. From the beginning of the format wars I was hoping HD-DVD would win since I consider Sony to be dirty bastards and the format itself would be more expensive to product. However with the support of the PS3/no initial 1080p support from HD-DVDs/More Studio backing I'm afraid Bluray has a very high chance of winning this format war. In addition it doesnt seem like HD-DVD Discs are much cheaper than bluray ones initially. If only the morons would have consolidated greedy bastards... What sucks even more is this is gonna be worse than DVD + and - since they use different technologies and lasers. Any player/writer that's gonna be dual compatible will have to have 2 lasers and therefore cost more. In the end it's very likely the HD-DVD will end up like the Betamax. Despite the ps3's high cost I see it giving an incredible advantage over HD-DVD.

[j.elles]

We differ greatly in opinion largly for similiar core reasons. We have reached an impasse. All I can say is over the week or sometime by the end of 2007 we shall see what Microsft does. But I find it hard to believe that the the HD-Dvd camp is just going to lie there and take it like a B*%$h and not fight back against the juggernaut that is the PS3.

[Kendal]

And why would I have to watch a movie in a significantly more expensive media, much of whose increased storage space will be squandered on copy protection, to believe it sucks ass? There are other factors involved besides visual quality, ace.


Haha, you are so funny. You should go on tour.

[trq]

Haha, you are so funny. You should go on tour.

Thanks for the insightful response. You really make some good points there.

[vherub]

I hope both formats burn, crash and burn with no heritage survivors. The consumer is getting bent over by a few large companies' greed at the profits of a format. This wasn't a terrible thing with dvd-audio/super audio, but now these companies are dragging in video games. Gaming has absolutely nothing to gain from either hd-dvd or bluray except for added costs. Muddling over which format wins is just as much a kick on the crotch. There is no way I am spending any money until one of thes formats has clearly beaten the other. I have little to gain in what is a marginally improved picture (on a 32" screen vs an Oppo player) and do not care to throw money away.

[spoo]

I hope both formats burn, crash and burn with no heritage survivors. The consumer is getting bent over by a few large companies' greed at the profits of a format. This wasn't a terrible thing with dvd-audio/super audio, but now these companies are dragging in video games. Gaming has absolutely nothing to gain from either hd-dvd or bluray except for added costs. Muddling over which format wins is just as much a kick on the crotch. There is no way I am spending any money until one of thes formats has clearly beaten the other. I have little to gain in what is a marginally improved picture (on a 32" screen vs an Oppo player) and do not care to throw money away.
I agree also by the time one format gets declared a winner the real format will be here via on demand or buy online and store on flash media (flash media prices are falling at a awesome rate.) I would buy this if I had a land phone line. http://moviebeam.imswebmktg.com/moviebeam/lp_pricepoint/index.php
98% of my movie viewing is renting over buying. I am waiting for the true HD ondemand.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

The one thing I was hoping MS would do with the HD -DVD was put an all in one unit together with a second HDD around 180MB make it the size of the 360 length and width to slip underneath. I don't really like the little mini-drive.

With XBLA being so prominent on their press conference space will definitely become an issue with me. There aren't many arcade classics I wouldn't buy in HD. I have 11GB left but in 3-5 years that's going to be filled. 6 months after launch, no issue. 3 years later, issue.

That's why the HDD and HD-DVD bundle would have made so much sense.

[Kendal]

Thanks for the insightful response. You really make some good points there.

Oh, you were serious. That is sad.

[doubledown]

I think the only questions we need to answer:
- How much?
- Will there be HDMI? (I know it connects via USB, which implies the 360 is the BRAIN)

[trq]

Oh, you were serious. That is sad.

So ... I guess this just qualifies you as a troll then, huh? No prob. Got it.

[trq]

The one thing I was hoping MS would do with the HD -DVD was put an all in one unit together with a second HDD around 180MB make it the size of the 360 length and width to slip underneath. I don't really like the little mini-drive.

With XBLA being so prominent on their press conference space will definitely become an issue with me. There aren't many arcade classics I wouldn't buy in HD. I have 11GB left but in 3-5 years that's going to be filled. 6 months after launch, no issue. 3 years later, issue.

That's why the HDD and HD-DVD bundle would have made so much sense.

Yeah, that's a good point. That would have been nice.

[pinoy530]

I think the only questions we need to answer:
- How much?
- Will there be HDMI? (I know it connects via USB, which implies the 360 is the BRAIN)

It better have hdmi, that would be completely pointless without it. But then again, there is a blu ray player without hdmi.

[souNReAL]

shit, there goes my plans to buy a 360 before halo 3 comes out.....