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Analyst: 'Xbox 360 consumers are not begging for Blu-ray'

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When Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talks, people listen. Earlier today, word went around that the executive had confirmed an upcoming Blu-ray player add-on for the Xbox 360 platform. What he actually said was hardly a confirmation at all.

"You'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories," he said after stating he felt there was no need to put a drive inside their console.

The media ran with it -- "Blu-ray player for Xbox 360 confirmed." While the statement is unclear, it's likely it was misinterpreted; Ballmer was likely referring to standalone Blu-ray drives that would hit the market in general... not for the Xbox 360 in particular. Microsoft, after all, have just begun to up the digital distribution ante with 1080p streaming using the Xbox 360 and the Zune Video Marketplace.

But that's not to say it won't or will never happen. Destructoid asked EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich his thoughts on the future of Microsoft adopting Blu-ray technology for its console.
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Columbo - moderator
Published: 70 days 16 hours ago | News | Xbox 360 | Tech
 
 

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Major_Tom - 70 days 16 hours ago
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1 -
"Instead of going to the source, we're Destructoid so we asked some analyst to predict some stuff for us instead of being credible -- we're classy like that."
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RememberThe357 - 70 days 16 hours ago
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1.1 - Serious question:
Are these analysts ever really right?
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BadboyCivic360 - 70 days 15 hours ago
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1.2 -
Truth be told: all 360 owners would be glad if bluray came standard, i know i would...this way i would not need to switch between consoles to play HiDef movies
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tplarkin7 - 70 days 15 hours ago
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1.3 - Discs are dead.
Streaming is the future.
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cgoodno - 70 days 15 hours ago
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1.4 - Joke about them asking an analyst all you want
But what he said seems pretty spot on to me.
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AKNAA - 70 days 15 hours ago
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1.5 - "360 consumers are not begging for Blu-ray"..... No sh1t.
Why would they?? when most of them I know still use standard tv sets...
and if any 360 owner did want to watch blu-ray movies, they would have been SMART enough to get a PS3 or even a stand alone BD player by now.
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HolyOrangeCows - 70 days 15 hours ago
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1.6 - He sure as heck made it SOUND like a certain thing....
Interviewer: "Are you gonna put Blu-ray in there?"

Ballmer: "Well I don't know if we need to put Blu-ray in there, you'll be able to get blu-ray drives, you'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories"
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StanLee - 70 days 15 hours ago
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1.7 -
DVD to Blu ray just wasn't the same leap VHS to DVD was so the mass consumer has been slow to embrace it, so it's not just XBox 360 owners.
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Jaces - 70 days 15 hours ago
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1.8 -
That's cause they already either have a PS3 or Blu-ray player.

The add-on is a joke it it is true.
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xTruthx - 70 days 15 hours ago
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1.9 -
StanLee you do know Blu ray is growing faster than when dvd came to the market right ?
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HolyOrangeCows - 70 days 14 hours ago
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1.10 - @1.7
IDK....Full HD resolution has over 6 times the amount of pixels as SD.

For me, that's a BIG leap.
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whothedog - 70 days 14 hours ago
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1.11 -
Yeah I hear they are begging for it, I heard it's like crack to those "types" of consumers.

sarcasm just in case no one knew.
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beardpapa - 70 days 12 hours ago
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1.12 -
Streaming is the future. If that's the case, I wonder why the Japanese love embracing streaming anime as well as running off to purchase blu-ray releases of related-anime. Maybe it's because people want absolute high quality and a physical medium they could hold onto. Gee. I wonder....
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Sarcasm - 70 days 12 hours ago
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1.13 -
360 owners aren't begging for it. They're quite happy with macro blocking and upscaled HD.
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Rhythmattic - 70 days 9 hours ago
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1.14 -
StanLee
"DVD to Blu ray just wasn't the same leap VHS to DVD was so the mass consumer has been slow to embrace it, so it's not just XBox 360 owners."

I agree tape to an optical medium was mindblowing at the time... So DVD to what format would have the same impact ? DD ????? Not.

For me with a Decent 5.1 Surround system and 50" !FULL!! HD Plasma, I'm not the mass consumer, however I'm guessing you are a mass market consumer as BR in true 1080p isnt just a leap , but a jump.

BTW, What mass market consumers have no ISP cap on their downloads? Maybe in the states there is options, but here in Australia its the Mass Market consumer that doesn't have access to the required infrastucture or pricing for internet products.

DD is not a leap. Its a step. And that step is On demand.

An Analogy.
Why cook when you can order in a Pizza ?
Personally , I prefer a home cooked meal.
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Syronicus - 70 days 8 hours ago
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1.15 - "Analyst: 'Xbox 360 consumers are not begging for Blu-ray'"
Correction - Consumers are not begging for an over-priced Blu-Ray peripheral from Microsoft. Now that I can believe in.
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StanLee - 70 days 7 hours ago
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1.16 - xTruthx
You know I hate when analyst say that because it's not true, well actually it is, but it's misleading. The DVD generation had twice as many consumers as the VHS generation and even if the percentage growth from DVD to blu ray is larger than VHS to DVD, the impact hasn't been the same. A better comparison would be the percentage of the market blu ray holds which is significantly smaller than DVD at the same point in it's life cycle. Another factor to look at is the adoption of blu ray players which has been even slower as evident by the fact that you can easily find a $140 blu ray players when a year ago getting one for $400 was a bargain.
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1.17 otherZinc | 70 days 6 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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sikbeta - 70 days 6 hours ago
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1.18 -
Of course not, they're still defending the HD-DVD even if is not produced anymore lol
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shovelbum - 70 days 4 hours ago
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1.19 - Why would 360 owners want an add-on?
We already own the PS3 as well and I sure as hell won't watch a blu ray on my screaming 360 when my quiet PS3 sits beside it. I personally know of no one who doesn't own both consoles so the add-on is useless for us. 720 yes but 360 no.
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darthv72 - 70 days 4 hours ago
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1.20 - based on the title...he is right (IMO)
I already have a bluray player. It is called a ps3. I am not begging for one from MS.

If they do, they do. If they don't, they don't. It doesnt stop me from playing games and watching movies on both.
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likedamaster - 70 days 4 hours ago
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1.21 -
Bluray players just hit the $69 mark.

I do believe we would need a bigger medium in which to play our games as games get bigger and bigger.
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Ausbo - 70 days 3 hours ago
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1.22 - i don't
care if they put an accessory out there for the 360 because i already have a blue-ray player.

As a 360 owner, i don't care about watching movies on my system but i do hope that microsoft finds a media next gen that will be big enough for the developers, because they dropped the ball on that issue this gen. Sony was smart because they knew games were getting bigger and more space would be needed
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gaffyh - 70 days 3 hours ago
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1.23 -
@1.9 - Fanboys don't work on facts, they work on opinions.
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ThanatosDMC - 70 days ago
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1.24 -
Why buy a bluray add-on when you can buy a PS3? That's their dilemma.
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Relientk77 - 70 days 16 hours ago
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2 -
They might not be begging for it

but apparently might be getting it
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DIRTYHAIRYJOYSTICK - 70 days 16 hours ago
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3 - 'Xbox 360 consumers are not begging for Blu-ray'
They beg for more Halo, Gears, and the day Alan Wake lives up to the years of bait dangling.

But they need to beg for free online, way more multiple disc games (because bigger is better), and better system reliablity.

...oh, beg for cheaper wi-fi while you're at it.
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nycredude - 70 days 6 hours ago
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3.1 -
I own a Ps3 and a 360 and I would gladly beg for a cheaper/free wifi and free live if I knew MS would listen but we all know they don't care. All MS does is continue to lube up it's BIF FAT C*CK and F*CK their fanbase. MS is the Peter North of the game industry. They f*ck everyone and they love MS for it!
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Alcon Caper - 70 days 16 hours ago
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4 -
no one was begging for twitter and facebook on live...seems like a lame argument

anyway didnt major nelson debunk this caca?
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ceedubya9 - 70 days 8 hours ago
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4.1 - Yeah but
I don't think having twitter and facebook accessible through live even compares to the cost of producing BR players. I'm sure there financial risks involved are completely different.
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WIIIS1 - 70 days 15 hours ago
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5 -
We should all know by now blu-ray isn't needed for gaming this gen. Next gen maybe.
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Pope_John_Paul_II - 70 days 15 hours ago
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5.1 - "We should all know by now blu-ray isn't needed for gaming this gen"
Games like Uncharted 2 disagree. As games get bigger every gen, so does the medium. its happened every generation. Microsoft's 2GB security code makes things bad for devs, so they scale down the game. BTW keep in mind uncharted 2 took all of the 25gb. they even stated that if they were able to make an Uncharted 3 in the future, it will take more than 25 gbs, so they would go with a Dual Layered Blu-Ray Disc.

This is the same argument that 360 owners come up with all the time. why do they come up with such an argument, when BD, or Heck, even HD-DVD benefits the game big time. you're able to make large scale games without sacrificing the quality of a game by not limiting disc capacity.

if you think thats not true, look at all the games that has released on multiple discs, and games that were not able to add in content to the game because of DVD9. I remember the devs behind MLB 2k8 not being able to add in content of the game because the DVD9 was already full, so they had to bring the content over DLC, at least it was free and all.
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Isaac - 70 days 15 hours ago
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5.2 - Nothing is ever needed
N64 didn't need CDs, but it would have been much better off with it. Blu-ray is not needed, but something better than DVD is definitely needed, and Blu-ray is better. HD-DVD failed, and nothing else is mainstream, so Blu-ray is the only product able to fill that niche.
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treacherous_gamer - 70 days 15 hours ago
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6 - I'm begging for Blu Ray
Please, please, please I want the blu ray addon! Oh wait, I already have a bu ray player and I don't want to get a RROD just at the point Megan Fox takes off her clothes in Transformers 2.
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SnukaTheMan - 70 days 15 hours ago
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7 - This analyst is exactly right....
If you want a blu-ray player you just buy a ps3.
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LONEWOLF231 - 70 days 14 hours ago
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7.1 -
Not really, there are some pretty cheap BD players out there.
Anyways many might not want it BUT the system does indeed need it.
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SnukaTheMan - 70 days 12 hours ago
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7.2 - This is a gaming website friend....
Why would someone who plays video games buy a stand alone blu-ray player...not many on this website...im talking about us video game players...the general public who cares not for video games will take your advice.
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cyclindk - 70 days 14 hours ago
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8 -
I wouldn't want it either if they didn't use it for games...
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BX81 - 70 days 14 hours ago
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9 - Hmm
No one I know who has a 360 says they want a blu ray attachment or even it built in for that matter. To include it at this point would simply raise the price, an add on would also do that. The 360 has some pretty sweet games coming out in 2010 so I really don't see the need for blu ray at this point. Next Gen MS should include it or something better, but for now the system is good.
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ceedubya9 - 70 days 8 hours ago
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9.1 - I agree
I would think that, by now, any 360 gamer that really wanted BR would either have a PS3 or a standalone player right now.
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Tron_Rocks - 70 days 13 hours ago
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10 - I want Blu Ray!!
I love my Xbox 360 and if it had Blu-Ray as an option then I would not even think about getting a PS3... Let's face it why not have the best of both worlds? Best Streaming and Blu-Ray...
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Some_One_Plays - 70 days 13 hours ago
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11 - I don't see the reason why they would...
If the add-on was $199.99 you can just get an upgradable one for $299.99 called the PlayStation 3. Microsoft over prices everything, the console might be lower because it isn't built-in, but it's the same difference. Damn if you do, damn if you don't. This is when people will see that Sony is thinking ahead, PSP Go (digital only), PSP 3000 (digital/physical), and PlayStation 3 (digital/physical).
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ceedubya9 - 70 days 8 hours ago
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11.1 - That's assuming though
That it would be 199. We don't know how much it would be, or even if they are really even making one.
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Halo3 MLG Pro - 70 days 10 hours ago
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12 -
I don't want bluray.

I own Popcorn Hour. ;)
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Veneno - 70 days 7 hours ago
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13 -
PS2 was my first DVD player and PS3 is my first Blu-Ray player. I know I'm not alone on that.

Stan Lee and Halo MLG Pro: You two are a joke. Everyone is out to declare what is the future but it isn't DD, streaming, or even blu ray. the future is just plain HIGH DEFINITION. TV signals, you tube, and game consoles are all in on it now. So whoever can deliver the HD goods in as many forms as possible is king of all media. Micro would be fools to pass up blu ray. it will only hurt them.
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Salginon - 70 days 7 hours ago
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14 -
I have Blu-Ray on my PC. But I won't pay the price, they want. Dvd upscale looks very good. Blu-Ray looks better, but not for the price.
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divideby0 - 70 days 7 hours ago
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15 -
I am a 360 owner and would like to have a BR drive in my 360, but NOT the price MS charges for accessories...which are always rip off.
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artsaber - 70 days 5 hours ago
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16 - I don't understand the problem here...
If me and you are having a conversation about the 360, and I ask you specifically about the possibility of a Bluray drive... and you tell me, " I don't know if we'll build one in, but one will be available as an accessory." How can someone twist that staement to mean something other than it is plainly stated? The only options are that Ballmer, who is a CEO is misinformed about the 360 and what Bluray plans are available in the future for it.

I don't get what all the spinning is for. The dude said it, so he either A) Lied or B) Was ill informed about his own product.

A typical external standalone Bluray drive is not the topic of discussion here. Nor would these devices benefit from connecting to a 360 via USB. The 360 has no other source for data input/ all other connections are output.
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shysun - 70 days 4 hours ago
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17 -
But they were begging for HD-DVD right?.......... It will sale!
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Pwee - 70 days 3 hours ago
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18 -
Well obviously, People who want blu ray get a PS3 or blu ray player!
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