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. "With the PlayStation 2, DVD was a big part in the beginning, but over time, people were not buying it as a DVD player after first year or two," Penello said. The Xbox 360 supports a plug-in HD-DVD accessory that is bought separately, while Sony, hoping to give its next-generation video format a leg up, built a Blu-ray player into its PlayStation 3 machine. "You can't say it's not a bummer, not a setback, but I've seen this battle declared over so many times," Penello said of Warner's decision. "I want consumers to have a voice in this and I think there are a lot of consumers who bought HD-DVD who are going to have a say in how this shakes out."
News source: Reuters
"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. "With the PlayStation 2, DVD was a big part in the beginning, but over time, people were not buying it as a DVD player after first year or two," Penello said. The Xbox 360 supports a plug-in HD-DVD accessory that is bought separately, while Sony, hoping to give its next-generation video format a leg up, built a Blu-ray player into its PlayStation 3 machine. "You can't say it's not a bummer, not a setback, but I've seen this battle declared over so many times," Penello said of Warner's decision. "I want consumers to have a voice in this and I think there are a lot of consumers who bought HD-DVD who are going to have a say in how this shakes out."
News source: Reuters
Honestly! What I would give for a truthful, objective article without all this unsubstantiated speculation.
The thing you should be thinking about in general is how you can find a spot in this world to take advantage of this sheep. Just look how CE companies and Sony managed to create an environment where they rip the hurd for their money and the hurd is saying how much they love it.
Which explains why someone would back a format with less studio and CE support, less capacity and bandwidth...(or misspell intellectual)
What in the world is a hurd? Gale Anne Hurd (producer/director/ex-wife of James Cameron)?
I heard that the herd headed out of the HD DVD booth and into the Blu-ray booth...
Last edited by PeterTHX on 10 Jan 2008 - 05:24
so i hurd u liek mudkips?
god damn i couldnt resist
This Hurd?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hurd
But in all seriousness, I don't think fanboys are unique to Sony or Blu-ray.
If Blu-ray "wins", it's going to make Sony a LOT of cash and in an industry Microsoft is simply not part of (unless you want to count digital downloads, but I'd say that's more of a rental industry). The consoles will still compete the same as ever and releasing a BR addon for the 360 is only going to benefit Microsoft in that it may be enough to sway customers from buying a PS3, really they'd be mad not to support it eventually.
I don't think it will bother them that much, didn't Microsoft develop the VC-1 codec that both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD use? if so, it won't matter what way it goes for them.EDIT: Nevermind me, MS didn't develop it..it was based off MS Technology but they didn't make it. I really need to check my facts before posting, it's gonna get me in a heap of trouble one day..
Last edited by Xerxes on 09 Jan 2008 - 02:56
Last edited by Xerxes on 09 Jan 2008 - 02:56
I'd buy one.
[Side note: Transformers looks just awesome in hi-definition!]
Last edited by arcadefx on 09 Jan 2008 - 06:23
I'd buy one.
[Side note: Transformers looks just awesome in hi-definition!]
no different than them using vaio's at their ces presentation the other day. or maybe they thought we wouldnt notice lol
Sony owns most of the IP behind it, not all of it, but most. So they get a cut either way.
Sony owns most of the IP behind it, not all of it, but most. So they get a cut either way.
But how many people at Sony are using Windows? Everyone's paying someone in this world. Even these protesters who boycott certain companies somehow give money to that company in one form or another. It's inevitable really. Hell, even Boz has given money to Sony before, whether he knew it or not.
Nope. It's actually PANASONIC.
They plus Sony, Pioneer, and Philips are the core founding members of the BDA.
Panasonic funded the Blu-ray Tour of the USA this past year.
Panasonic also does authoring, media, burners...
Again, those who claim BD is a "Sony format" haven't done their homework.
- Michael
Anyways, the hd-dvd tech isn't dead, MS could very well use it in the next Xbox in 2010 or 2011. That is, if they don't decide to switch to downloadable systems fully, ie d/l your games over Live and not have to have discs. That will depends on the size of the storage device they use though.
Either way, I wouldn't be suprised if the next Xbox uses HD-DVD 17GB or 34GB DL discs for games 3 years from now.
...
Either way, I wouldn't be suprised if the next Xbox uses HD-DVD 17GB or 34GB DL discs for games 3 years from now.
I honestly think that the format war won't last that long.
...
Either way, I wouldn't be suprised if the next Xbox uses HD-DVD 17GB or 34GB DL discs for games 3 years from now.
I honestly think that the format war won't last that long.
Well, no, the format war for "movies" won't. It's pretty much done now. But that's movies, we're talking games. Just like how Nintendo used something else for the GameCube, and how Sony used UMD for the PSP. What's to stop MS from using HD-DVD optical discs, be it 17GB or 34GB in the next Xbox?
I think 34GB is more than eneough for next gen games. You have to keep in mind that we're past the old days of using pre-rendered FMV which takes up lots of space. Now you can do all that in-game in real-time. That just leaves higher quality textures and audio to take up the space. And both of those two can be compressed better without losing quality as time goes on.
...
Either way, I wouldn't be suprised if the next Xbox uses HD-DVD 17GB or 34GB DL discs for games 3 years from now.
I honestly think that the format war won't last that long.
Well, no, the format war for "movies" won't. It's pretty much done now. But that's movies, we're talking games. Just like how Nintendo used something else for the GameCube, and how Sony used UMD for the PSP. What's to stop MS from using HD-DVD optical discs, be it 17GB or 34GB in the next Xbox?
I think 34GB is more than eneough for next gen games. You have to keep in mind that we're past the old days of using pre-rendered FMV which takes up lots of space. Now you can do all that in-game in real-time. That just leaves higher quality textures and audio to take up the space. And both of those two can be compressed better without losing quality as time goes on.
The Gamecube uses 8cm DVDs. The only difference is the drive supports reading the burst cutting barcode on the inner rim for copy protection. There are other drives that can read those codes, too.
Last edited by GreyWolfSC on 10 Jan 2008 - 19:43
Just because HD-DVD loses the movie format war, doesn't mean the technology behind it is dead. Toshiba has spent lots of money on it, and it can find a use for the tech somewhere. I'd get a good HD-DVD burner if they didn't cost so much, and if the HD-DVDR discs where cheap. I'd rather burn 1 HD-DVDR than 4 DVDRs like I have to now. Saves me space and time.
In the end, this has little effect on the 360, 360 games are on DVD9 discs. And MS is pushing Internet downloaded video and IPTV, they're thinking ahead of optical media and into the future. Why rush out and try to rent a bluray at some blockbuster only to find it's already rented out, when you can just d/l it in HD over the internet (all you need is a fast enough connection really)?
The future is pretty clear, and it's not with selling discs.
You know, Ive been guilty of what you just did here and sometimes you really just need to try harder to stop yourself....little advice.
I thought MS was standing behind Betamax
If you read the papers and listen to radio stations apparantly blu-ray has allready "won" this war.....so now its "over" then consumers can pick the one format....dont they realise that perhaps its not the 2 formats thats stifling uptake but actually most consumers dont give a chuff and are happy with upscaling their dvds to HD (if they even have a HDTV)
I personally dont give a flying hoot who wins this non-existant "war" with the latest batch of rehashed, recycled films are anything to go by in the last couple of years a film looks like a turd on DVD...a Blu-ray/HDDVD version will be a high detail turd, same guff more detail.
Last edited by Mando on 09 Jan 2008 - 18:37
be it blu-ray or hd dvd
I just ordered a PS3 yesterday to play games with friends and family. I was looking at the 360, but with all the ring of death nightmares I say no thanks.
Whether Microsoft sticks with an HD-DVD movie player or releases a Blu-Ray player doesn't matter since it won't be used for games anyway.
Last edited by Orlando Rays on 10 Jan 2008 - 12:41
Last edited by virtualmadden on 10 Jan 2008 - 17:18
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.