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Microsoft stands behind HD DVD for Xbox 360

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

January 8, 2008, 3:01 PM

Microsoft's director of global marketing for the Xbox 360, Albert Penello, told BetaNews this morning that the company will continue to push an HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360, but acknowledged the external nature would enable it to ship a Blu-ray drive if Sony's format became the new high-definition standard.

Penello also said that despite the rumors, Microsoft has never planned to ship an Xbox console with an integrated HD DVD drive, but the decision has nothing to do with the uncertainty in the format war. Because neither standard was finalized when the Xbox 360 shipped, Microsoft opted to use DVDs.

Changing that now could lead to confusion among consumers, Penello added, especially if game developers were to make use of the larger space on HD DVD discs. He admitted that Sony's inclusion of Blu-ray in the PlayStation 3 has helped that format, but said Microsoft's add-on HD DVD drive alone has outsold all standalone Blu-ray players combined.

Moreover, Penello noted that any customer who purchased the HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 was doing so solely to watch movies, while only a comparatively small number of PS3 owners have been purchasing Blu-ray films.

While Warner Bros. decision to drop HD DVD and speculation that Paramount would follow suit clearly hindered the format, Penello said that Microsoft would remain committed. "Until Toshiba goes out of business, this war is not over," he stated.

"Consumers are choosing HD DVD, but Hollywood isn't listening. While HD DVD has been trying to sell the format to consumers, Sony has focused on selling the Blu-ray brand and company." That strategy has proven very successful when it comes to dealing the movie studios and led to a perception of dominance in the marketplace.

And if HD DVD did pack up and go home? Then Microsoft would have the option of offering an add-on Blu-ray drive, said Penello.

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By batteryfast

posted Nov 9, 2008 - 11:41 PM

While Warner Bros. decision to drop HD DVD and speculation that Paramount would follow suit clearly hindered the format, Penello said that Microsoft would remain committed. "Until Toshiba goes out of business, this war is not over," he stated.

"Consumers are choosing HD DVD, but Hollywood isn't listening. While HD DVD has been trying to sell the format to consumers, Sony has focused on selling the Blu-ray brand and company." That strategy has proven very successful when it dell inspiron 1200 battery dell inspiron 2200 battery dell latitude x1 battery comes to dealing the movie studios and led to a perception of dominance in the marketplace.

Score: 0

By ibanezdropd

edited Jan 13, 2008 - 11:31 AM

i have the hd dvd player for my 360. i love it because as a my sole dvd player... it takes the stress off the main drive of the 360. Also, there are many more movies on hd dvd that i will be purchasing when i get back home (im on the opposite coast right now)... i do care if hd-dvd fails, but there are still movies that i want that are in that format. otherwise i'll just buy dvds. i don't plan on getting bluray anytime soon. I do think that if microsoft does come out with a bluray drive... those that purchased the hd dvd addon should get some sort of discount on the drive.... a major discount actually.

Score: 0

By DeepWinter

posted Jan 9, 2008 - 3:00 PM

My point is this. Both formats offer benefits. I am not saying one is better than the other. Not saying PS3/X360 are better than the other. The consoles are personal preference. I just think that given what happened with the VHS / Beta war fallout companies share some responsibility to the customer if their products become useless due to another format winning. I agree that we the consumer chose to purchase this device knowing that there was no formal standard. However MS & Toshiba both have gone out of their way paint the picture of HD DVD dominance to sell their products. Do I think MS should do a 1 for 1 trade, not really, but I do think a 50% trade in allowance would be fair.

Score: 0

By DeepWinter

edited Jan 9, 2008 - 1:07 PM

What is Microsoft going to do for those of us that purchased the HD DVD add on drive, if blu-ray does become the standard??? Are we just stuck with $180 paper weight? I just bought on new years day, because we've been lead to believe HD DVD is going to emerge the victor. Personally I think HD DVD add on drive owners should be offered a trade in if blu-ray drives are offered by Microsoft.

Score: 0

By Joey Deacon

posted Jan 9, 2008 - 4:57 PM

I can't believe you were fooled by a handful of radid fanboys here.

Anyone with the full, unbiased picture could see clearly the way it's been heading for a whole year.

I mean come on 52 weeks of Blu-ray outselling HD DVD in media sales... You would have had to be barking to have been fooled otherwise.

Score: 0

By screwdiversity

posted Jan 9, 2008 - 2:23 PM

I won't buy neither. I rarely use DVD as it is, now that I can download HD-DVD and BLUE-RAY rips of movies. Most of all the movies being released in HD format are crap anyways. Most of the HD stuff on cable or satelite is as well crap. Stuff you've seen over and over in DVD format and thought it was great. Now they roll out HD-DVD and BlueRay just to milk your wallets for old rehashed crap.

Score: 0

By reptile168

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 11:10 PM

People are choosing HD DVD. However, Blu Ray won because of the trojan PS3. Since blu ray is automatically forced into every PS3, people that buy DVD would say "hmm, might as well get the BluRay version" so since there are over 2 millions PS3s out there, and if 10% of owners think like this, that makes a good 200 000 buyers, and at 200 000 blu rays, that's a tremendous sale for hidef disc. Who doesn't remember the Buy one get one free blu ray sales that started in early October and continued until now? I'm pretty sure that helped A LOT.

Score: 0

By Zealotzuo

posted Jan 9, 2008 - 1:49 AM

People are choosing HD-DVD? Nope, Wintel is choosing it.

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Jan 9, 2008 - 2:39 PM

"Wintel"

Should we call it Macintel now too?;)

Score: 0

By rsx508

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 10:15 PM

It's pure politics and backroom dealing that's driving this shift to BRD. I seriously hope online delivery gets here soon enough to kill both formats before they get off out of the hospital. Physical formats are stupid and only further delay the inevitable: online delivery. Maybe that will help push Gbit bandwidth and things like WiMax which seem to be constantly lagging on the drawing board.

Score: 0

By BeyondYourFrontDoor

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 5:23 PM

I don't get it either... if HD-DVD is cheaper, and there are more of them, why are BD outselling HD about 2 to 1? (66% vs. 33% approx)? If Xboxers are buying HD just to play movies, and PS3 users are supposedly NOT using their machines in great numbers to 'just play movies' - this makes even less sense...

A cheap add on for 360 might make sense for BD, but with prices coming down all the time, and the hatred between 360/PS3 - would anyone buy it? I guess if it was the only format left they would...

Score: 0

By pridewalker

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 11:07 PM

As much as I dislike doing it, you do have to count the PS3 as a Blu ray player, at least to some extent. There really isn't an accurate way to tell how many are or are not being used for movies though.

That said, when you look at the 2:1 ration, it's a lot less impressive.

Score: 0

By Maestr0

edited Jan 8, 2008 - 8:26 PM

There is not as much hatred between 360/PS3 as you think. Of course the vocal fanboys rant and rave against each other but the true gamers want to game. They could care less what system it is on. Same for the casual gamer. They don't care that some 500lb guy sits at his computer and flames everyone who posts on ps3fanboy.com. It's a simple case of perception vs. reality.

Score: 0

By fewt

edited Jan 8, 2008 - 6:43 PM

Maybe it has something to do with 8 studios producing BD compared to 2 err 1 producing HD.

If you do the math taking into account the number of studios, it drastically changes the picture.

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 7:30 PM

And when you buy an BD player, you get 10 free movies.

Score: 0

By DotNet_Coder

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 9:45 PM

And with a standalone HD-DVD player, you get 8 free movies... So, what is your point?

Score: 0

By wreckedchevy

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 5:41 PM

personally i think the larger sales for blu comes from the constant bogo's and other sales they are having, heck that last blu bogo on amazon was so good i almost loaded up on some disc's and i don't even have a player yet

Score: 0

By CptGreedle

edited Jan 8, 2008 - 4:47 PM

Sure consumers are choosing HD DVD, but MORE consumers are choosing Blu-ray. The sales for OVER A YEAR have been in favor of Bu-ray every week! There has never been on week in all of 2007+ where HD DVD outsold Blu-ray. You can check that with Nielson numbers.
However I think it was a very good idea to not include an internal drive so late in the game, it would only add confusion and frustration. Adding a Blu-ray add-on would be a very smart move by Microsoft since they can tap into the Gaming community who feels let down by the sudden popularity of Blu-ray. Finally 360 gamers could play Disney, Fox, Sony, etc... movies on their XBOX without having to buy a whole new system.

Score: 0

By CorporateGreed

edited Jan 10, 2008 - 6:22 AM

If you really look at the numbers, you will see that HDDVD is selling more dics. Not by amount of discs, but what they are up against. If you do count PS3s in your total count, then you are silly. That makes your numbers look sad. Having that many BluRay players out there with more studio support and you are only selling 2:1? Think about it. That is pretty sad. For HD DVD to hold their own with the studios they do have, that says a lot. Corporate greed is what is shifting this war. Do you think Fox, Warner and Disney really care about a higher quality picture? OF COURSE NOT! All they care about is keep their boardmembers happy and if they have to keep feeding all you Blu happy zombies the pill every 2 to 4 hours, they will. You will soon learn that the death of HDDVD, if it happens, will be the death of BluRay.

Score: 0

By NULLedge

edited Jan 8, 2008 - 4:24 PM

"He admitted that Sony's inclusion of Blu-ray in the PlayStation 3 has helped that format, but said Microsoft's add-on HD DVD drive alone has outsold all standalone Blu-ray players combined."

and, i might add, i bought one and it's noisy and you get popups from xbox over your movie that are annoying. i promptly returned mine. the fact people would choose this over a bluray player and keep it is shocking in itself.

"Consumers are choosing HD DVD, but Hollywood isn't listening. While HD DVD has been trying to sell the format to consumers, Sony has focused on selling the Blu-ray brand and company."

Exactly.

Score: 0

By pridewalker

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 6:02 PM

Personally, I never had those problems with the 360 add-on. My drive was quiet, and you can turn the notifications off in the settings.

Score: 0

By lvthunder

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 4:14 PM

"Until Toshiba goes out of business, this war is not over," he stated.

That is an interesting comment about Toshiba though. Maybe he knows something we don't.

Score: 0

By alphatrigon

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 3:34 PM

it's just a drive, the hddvd addon didn't do anything
them doing this is just a logical move. Though they don't really need to do anything.

Score: 0

By Bogunch

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 3:23 PM

Why should MS do anything for you? Under the circumstances, you made your choice .... now, live with it!!!

Score: 0

By ddrummond138

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 3:16 PM

But what happens to all the people that bought an HD DVD Drive??? I am not shelling out another $180 for a BR Drive....MS better do something for us.

Score: 0

By HoIIywood__

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 3:24 PM

You don't know Microsoft very well. They have already trampled over Xbox users with the premature release of the 360, they have already trampled over 360 users by screwing them over with unreliability, HDMI, HDD required, and now possible Blu-ray addons.

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 8:43 PM

Idiot clone boy go away.

Score: 0

By Hellcat_M

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 4:55 PM

And Sony didn't bring out the PS3 to early? As I remember they had drive problems plus they only have 2 good games on the damn thing. I know people that have PS3's and their just sitting there because they played all the good games on it already. One friend sold his PS3 because he got a 360 for Christmas and also got quite a few good games for it.

Score: 0

By THZGryphon

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 4:42 PM

I have a release system with no issues, I do not miss any of the new features that were added later. Performs, plays, and looks great on my Hitachi 55HDT79.

Score: 0

By NULLedge

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 4:29 PM

why would HDMI, HDD, or blu-ray matter? you'd still have an hd player for all the movies you had purchased with the option of getting another for bluray for any additional ones. like they have a crystal ball that tells the future? as far as unreliability, they replace RRoD consoles and extended 360 warranties to cover it. I still dont see your point

Score: 0

By pridewalker

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 3:42 PM

RRoD aside, HDMI is NOT required for HD output, no game to date requires the HDD, and the possibility of a BR add-on (didn't the shills call it a 'bolt on') has been talked about over a year ago...providing BR wins the format war.

At the very least, MS allowed consumers to choose which features they wanted. Sony, on the other hand, used the PS3 as a trojan horse to get BR into homes (fairly successfully, too).

Score: 0

By kiko

edited Jan 8, 2008 - 11:29 PM

Yeah... Microsoft is selling you what you want and PS3 is pushing it in your throat even if you don't want it... I'm in Canada, and both consoles are the same price ! I mean... If you want a console with HD movies and/or wireless internet and/or joystiqs with rechargable batterys, then take the PS3... and if you don't want it, for christ sake, don't take a 360 because for the same price, even if you don't want/need it right now, you have it all !

What customer who looks for hardware will say "hmmm... same price, doing basicaly the same thing, but this one gives me much more than I want... let's take the one that gives less, this way I won't feel guilty to buy something that includes stuff I won't be using or things I don't need right now... and maybe later, I'll pay more for the same thing if I need it !!! Oh my god, I love it when I'm that bright !"

If all matters to you is hardware, take a PS3... If all matters to you is games, then take the console that fits you most...

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Jan 9, 2008 - 8:51 AM

That maybe true, but your missing one major thing. One thing the PS3 doesn't have more of is games. Yeah, the PS3 has a couple good games, but the 360 has more. If you go to basically any videogame website and look at both of the best rated reviews for the PS3 and 360, the 360 will have more higher rated games over the PS3. Sure the PS3 may get more good games in the future, but that doesn't mean the 360 won't either! Not to mention you get better online with the 360 with more people to play with.

Sure the PS3 has more hardware stuff, but what's it worth without any games to play on it?

Score: 0

By ddrummond138

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 4:51 PM

You have a point

Score: 0

By wreckedchevy

posted Jan 8, 2008 - 3:31 PM

yay and sony did there users a favor by sellig them a $700 console with no game support.... i'm just glad i didn't get either

Score: 0

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