Microsoft's Xbox could consider Blu-ray support

TriggerHappy - 543 days 17 hours ago

What they really meant to say is, they will be bringing an blu-ray add on for the 360. But won't that mean they are indirectly supporting Sony ?

Already Sony have shown that they are the bigger company by not rubbing it in Toshiba's face after Warner's announcement. Only time will tell for now.

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toughNAME - 543 days 17 hours ago

Microsoft will be providing an alternative to Sony's Blu Ray player

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bruiser81 - 543 days 17 hours ago

sony could care less about the player, its the format their pushing. Their are already standalone blu-ray player not made by sony, its the format that makes sony the money not the hardware playing it.

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captainpwn - 543 days 15 hours ago

If you watched the Microsoft CES presentation, you'd see that demonstrations of the Zune space were done on Sony Vaios. And, by running Windows on Sony computers, Sony is also supporting Microsoft, aren't they?

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hades07 - 543 days 8 hours ago

I have not adapted to either format yet, but after getting a HDTV for christmas I am sure I will soon. After reading this though

http://www.bigscreen.com/ab...

I have to say I would prefer the format war to be won by HD-DVD. With many options already available to it that are not standard on Blu-ray like picture-in-picture, ethernet connection for all players, and the fact that all videos are region free, it seem to offer more features that appeal to me as a avid movie watcher.

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Guwapo77 - 543 days 5 hours ago

The one Blu-Ray player that can do it all is the PS3. It had everything needed to do BD-Live from launch. The only thing required are the firmware updates. Being your a gamer...you have little to no reason not to pick up a PS3.

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ravinash - 543 days 2 hours ago

I love the way MS were saying they will supply it if the consumer wants it, but only now have they been talking about a BlueRay add on...thats not really supplying them with choice.
MS could have come out at the start and supplied the add on for both formats from the start. because its an add on, the choice really was up to the customer. Only now that HD-DVD is on the slippery slope do they talk about giving them the option.

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hades07 - 542 days 21 hours ago

Well I am planning on getting a PS3 in the future anyways. I haven't yet because I haven't felt the need. Only Drake's fortune so far really interest me in the games department. I bought a 360 like 5 months ago, already have 25 games, with ten yet to be even touched because of the back catalog of great games I got for cheap at a EB games sale. That, and playing Gears, COD4, and Rainbow Six Vegas with all my friends all the time keeps my busy. Thats why I got a 360 in the first place, none of my friends have a PS3 yet while I have 16 close friends who play 360 online with me.

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Nevers - 542 days 20 hours ago

will definitely be my choice of BluRay players to buy... and it even looks like 08' might just be the year Sony give it's BR player that "games-player" add-in. But it'll still need to come down in price for my wallet.

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DARKKNIGHT - 542 days 19 hours ago

even if the 360 DOES get a bd drive, you still cant game on it.

is the bandwidth on usb 2.0 that much?

no.

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wageslave - 543 days 16 hours ago

Its not over yet -- I know that's not a popular opinion on Sony Fanboy Central (N4G) -- but, dont count your chickens just yet.

It did cost Sony $500 Million to get Warner on board BlueRay, dont think that Toshiba and its partners cant pull a rabbit out of its hat.

THIS IS STILL GOING TO TAKE A WHILE. But, just as most people know, Download is the next "format".

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jorellpogi - 543 days 16 hours ago

Do you have any proof about the $500M payout? Don't spread FUD.

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blackmagic - 543 days 14 hours ago

There's no question that the Warner move was a huge coup for Blu-ray but HD DVD is far from dead. I think HD DVD is in better shape now with Universal/Paramount exclusive and no Warner than they were in the summer with only Universal exclusive and Paramount/Warner dual format. The day that the two formats didn't consolidate into a single unified format was the day that I called a dual-format outcome and even if only ONE studio stays exclusive it's enough to force a dual format outcome. Early adoptors may be able to deal with fractured studio support but the general consumer won't accept that 3 out of 10 movies released won't play on their player. They will demand a player that supports ALL movie releases.

It would be a different outcome if it was like VHS/Beta where both formats simply couldn't be played in the same machine because they were physically incompatible but we have had dual-format players for about a year now and the prices are continuing to drop. The Samsung BD-UP5500 is set for a May release at $600 and it is looking to be the best featured player on the market for either format (Reon VX HQV scalar, 7.1 analogue outputs, full CODEC support and dual format support) and since blu-ray players dropped from $1000 to $400 in 2007, I don't see it as a problem to see dual format players below $300 before the end of the year. As a matter of fact, I don't see Toshiba as having ANY CHOICE but to make dual format players that push the prices down.

I'd say that this is a valuable lesson to the industry since both sides have foolishly spent hundreds of millions fighting this war just because they couldn't agree on a single format specification but I would be wrong. This war has been fought before and you don't need to look any further than the computer you are reading this on to see it. You see that DVD burner in your computer? I'm willing to bet it supports DVD+R, DVD-R and DVDRAM just like mine does. DVDRAM was first to market but didn't have the capacity, DVD+R burned discs the fastest and DVD-R was the most compatible with DVD standalone players, all had their unique advantage and none had complete dominance.

Those that do not learn from history are destined to repeat it.

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Zinger - 543 days 12 hours ago

So exactly how is HD-DVD better off with only 2 major companies supporting them now as opposed to 3? You are totally illogical. Please read what you write before you post please.

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blackmagic - 543 days 10 hours ago

2 things:

1. Based on your comment I assume you think one format or the other will 'win' but I am saying that as long as there is exclusive studio support on either side then it is impossible for either side to 'win'. I will not pretend that a movie like 'King Kong' doesn't exist if I only own a Blu-ray player and I will not pretend that a movie like 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' doesn't exist if I only own an HD DVD player. I highly doubt that the general public will be satisfied with not being able to watch 3 out of 10 titles in high definition because they are only available on HD DVD, not when there are dual format players on the market. Players which are getting more affordable every day.

2. Sony owns a large enough chunk of the film industry that the best case scenario for HD DVD has always been a dual format outcome. Two major studios exclusively supporting HD DVD is better for HD DVD than one major studio exclusively supporting HD DVD. Studios supporting both sides may mean more titles available overall but it's the exclusive support that is going to keep a format alive and for this two major exclusive studios is significantly better than 1 major exclusive studio.

If HD DVD loses exclusive studio support then they are dead but as it stands, they can maintain a dual format outcome. As long as they have exclusives, they are not dead. It may be up to Toshiba themselves to lead a dual format player 'charge' however. If Toshiba retains it's exclusive support this year and dual format players break the $300 barrier then HD DVD will likely retain partial industry ownership.

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The Round Peg - 543 days 17 hours ago

Then Microsoft will just let Toshiba destroy Xbox 360.

Now that there is only one hi-def format left standing, people will want to buy *the* hi-def DVD (i.e., Blu-ray) player sooner or later.

And guess which particular Blu-ray player will they consider first when they're looking to buy a new player?

If Xbox 360 includes a Blu-ray attachment, then Microsoft can more or less neutralize that advantage in the PS3. Otherwise, some consumers will just skip Xbox 360 simply because they also want a hi-def player (and now there is only ONE format.)

In fact, having the Blu-ray as an attachment instead of a built-in device could probably even help Xbox 360 over PS3, because there are consumers (even those who plan to buy a Blu-ray player) who don't like bundle -- they want options. If Xbox 360 has a Blu-ray attachment, They will think: "Well, I will get the game console now and the Blu-ray player (maybe) next month."

If Xbox 360 has a Blu-ray attachment, then that will give people who want a hi-def player (but not a dead format) a choice. PS3 does not offer that choice (since you HAVE TO get the Blu-ray right away with the PS3.) That can even turn out to be an advantage for 360.

Microsoft needs to get on with the program already, accept the reality, and use it to their advantage.

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bruiser81 - 543 days 16 hours ago

Yes, but there is still one big stipulation and thats the price a the blu-ray add-on. if the ps3 has a price drop and the 360 add-on is a xtra 200 dollars, that would put the 360 at a disadvantage. even if they drop the 360 to 250 when you add the add-on thats 450. Its a win win for sony either way.

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The Round Peg - 543 days 16 hours ago

OPTION is as important an advantage as bundle price.

Often consumers want the benefit of having OPTIONS. They don't necessarily want an all-in-one-bundle with the stuff that they do not want right away, even if the bundle is cheaper with everything added in.

It's like buying a car. You can buy a souped-up model with all the features (MP3 player, GPS device, etc.) bundled in, but most of the time consumers take the model without all the features -- and then add in the features later at their own leisure and budget -- because they want options.

With everything included in, the souped-up model is still cheaper than buying the car and then all the bonus components separately. But in reality, the lower-end models always sell better than the high-end model with all the features that the consumers don't necessarily want.

It's also like buying a home theater system. Sometimes consumers don't want to buy the all-in-one-package - even though the bundle is cheaper than buying all the individual components later on. But people just want to buy ONLY the main component NOW, and then add on the individual components later at their leisure and (monthly) budget.

Now apply that simple and basic marketing/sales concept to consoles.

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bruiser81 - 543 days 16 hours ago

yeah but i thought that was the whole point of buyiung a console, and essentially separated a console from a pc. I'm not saying you dont have a point, but personally i want it all in one when it comes to video game, i dont want to constanly go out and buy upgrades and add-ons i want to get it right the first time and be done with it. Thats what turned me off when i had ps2 and xbox 1, it came with the hard-drive built in. I never bought the add-on for the ps2

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wageslave - 543 days 16 hours ago

@ Round_peg:

What would a dual-format add-on do to your little fantasy? Say, at about $79?

BOOM! There goes your movie-player-makes-the-game-ma chine narrative for the PS3. Whoops.

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The Killer - 543 days 16 hours ago

$399=ps3+blue ray+wifi+wireless+motion sensing controller+everything basically!
360=$50 for xbox live+ hmmm... thats it basiclly!

if i have an option of buying something now and cheaper and later i add on or everything now and at the same price i think the idiot will buy second option which is a ps3 40GB=$399.

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TrooGamer - 543 days 17 hours ago

BDA would have to approve it. Sony wont allow this.

At least not until PS3 was in a better position

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hunter21 - 543 days 16 hours ago

well they have the pride which will suck them down big time

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mighty_douche - 543 days 16 hours ago

and its blu...

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HuntTheWumpus - 543 days 16 hours ago

"admittance that everything about the XBOX 360 is a colossal mistake."

You must have 5 accounts because you always seem to have 5 agrees on all your idiotic posts. I think 17 million 360 owners would disagree with you.

XBL Live
First console to make HDD standard
Home of many AAA games, including game of the year
Award winning contoller
Achievements/Gamerscore (which Sony will soon be copying)
....

People wouldn't even know they want cross game chat/invites/custom soundtracks/xmb access if it wasn't for MS showing them what they are missing.

You sir have mental issues.

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mighty_douche - 543 days 16 hours ago

then they go and drop it for their Next-Gen console. yeah thats innovation right there.

"cross game chat/invites/custom soundtracks" you never heard of a PC then?

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Sayai jin - 543 days 8 hours ago

@MightyDouche-He said the first "console" not PC, so his comment was correct,

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wageslave - 543 days 16 hours ago

No. The MPAA and the RIAA want blueray. It isnt region free, has unbelievable amounts of DRM, and the PS3 is designed to enforce that DRM from the ground up... (that is the point of using the cell btw, a way to isolate the CPUs from one another to secure the BlueRay DRM)

The CUSTOMERS want the less expensive to print HD-DVD, the format that gets you backwards compatibility to DVD (HD-DVDs play in DVD players you know... one disc both formats), the CUSTOMERS dont want the scam that Sony's RIAA and MPAA divisons are trying to pull.

Any time you see Apple (Steve Jobs is the largest shareholder of Disney (one of the worst RIAA / MPAA zealots)) and Sony on the same team, run RUN(!) dont walk away from whatever anti-user BS their trying to pull.

The Studios? They're the MPAA -- they *ALSO* want the most DRM laden, anti-user freedom format they can get -- and guess what? Sony HAS an RIAA / MPAA divison -- and THEIR PRIORITIES are the same. They arent _customer_ priorities -- when has the MPAA / RIAA *EVER* had *YOUR* interests in mind?

All you "I love my PS3. I love BlueRay because its in my PS3." idiots dont realize what a world of hurt that is coming your way. Do you *really* think that blueray has a future at all? It doesnt. Neither does HD-DVD for that matter.

And, if Sony wins -- we will ALL loose in a few years when you sony fanbots come to realize that Sony used the PS3 to pull one of the best end-runs on Customer Rights ever.

Way to go PS3 bots -- your going to get the S*H*A*F*T. You can keep your DRM laden BlueRay, I'm going to the true next gen: Digital Distribution.

There is no "next gen" disc format. I'll take Digital Distribution FTW Bob. Same benefits, same rights of ownership (virtually none), costs less, takes zero space, no dusting, no environmental damage and costs vastly less.

And, you Sony fanbots cant even see the forest for the trees. It's as clear as day that Sony is trying to shove the worse media format in history up your arse, and your LOVING it.

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bdwins - 543 days 15 hours ago

you think digital downloads wont have DRM attached? If you think that then just wow please dont post anymore. Let me see you take your digital download and copy it to a dvd to play at friends house on his dvd player. To your post earlier, there was no 500 million dollar payoff. You just want an excuse for WB's decision.

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Zinger - 543 days 12 hours ago

I totally disagree. First, i don't think they can just add it on to xbox360 withought the permission of sony ( who owns the technology). Sony gives permission to manufacturers to build the units. They could easily say no to Toshiba when they want to build a unit that is compatible with the xbox360. However, they will sell certain rights to Toshiba in the future if they want to sell players. ITs called patenting rights. Sony has exclusivity to do with it whatever they like. If another company wants to put out players, then Sony most likely has or will negotiate a deal for money per so many units sold (for the tech rights).

Secondly, if they could as you say start using Blu-Ray right now, then what would be the point of waiting to put it in? Out of spite is not a very good reason. If there is money to be made MS and any business for that matter would jump right on this. All it is, is smart business.

The answer is that they can't. MS would have to make a three way deal with a manufacturer who can get permission from sony to build the external units that are compatible with xbox360.

tk, i know you a ps3 fan who has contributed alot, but you need to get the facts straight before posting otherwise some non-informed user will just take what you say as fact. Please do the research.

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Zinger - 543 days 12 hours ago

If i were a 360 owner i would definitely use Blu-Ray as my rationale to purchase a PS3 so i can have that and 2 gaming systems. Fortunately i was one of the smart ones who held out on Next Gen for PS3 to come out so i could have an all in one unit and will have no need for 360 since any good games they have i can just purchase for PC.

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