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A Blu-ray Disc add-on may head to Xbox 360 should HD DVD fail

Along with Toshiba, Microsoft is a big backer of HD DVD. But with Warner’s siding exclusively with Blu-ray Disc, some Xbox faithful look to Microsoft to answers regarding the high-definition future of the console.

While Microsoft isn’t about to flip-flop to Blu-ray Disc any time soon, the company’s gaming group expressed that it will consider supporting the competing format with the Xbox 360 should its consumer base demand so.

"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 to Reuters when asked whether Microsoft would support a Blu-ray DVD accessory in the event that HD-DVD failed.

High-definition movie wars aside, Microsoft does not believe that its choice in HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc will ultimately affect gamers’ attitudes towards its console.

"I fundamentally don't think ... this has a significant impact on Xbox 360 versus [Sony's] PlayStation 3," added Penello. "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."

The PlayStation 3 is currently the top selling Blu-ray Disc player in the world, though many owners of the machine purchased it without the specific intention of playing high-definition movies. Warner’s decision, however, only strengthens the PS3’s future as a viable high-definition movie 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, commenting on 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."

Microsoft made similar comments in March 2007 when Microsoft Europe’s Senior Regional Director, Neil Thompson said, "Whatever format wins it is highly likely we will offer a solution. The only debate is if you want to watch Blu-ray movies and pay the extra money for that feature. We prefer to offer the consumer choice."

Months later, Microsoft changed it stance slightly by denying any sort of back-up plan to support Blu-ray Disc.

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A monster and a half...
By Aikouka on 1/9/2008 10:22:06 AM , Rating: 2
I currently have a 360 with the HD-DVD add-on and let me tell you, if I tried to put a BRD add-on on the machine too... that'd be quite an unsightly monster. Also I'm not too sure where it would go... two same-sized devices would cover the vent holes on the top of the 360 and stacking them would just be really awkward.

It kind of reminds me of one of the problems in programming. Usually the initial design is fine for the original plan. But when you start tacking new features onto the existing program at a whim, you can have quite an ugly mess at the end (if such things weren't taken into account for the design).




RE: A monster and a half...
By omnicronx on 1/9/2008 10:27:40 AM , Rating: 5
I think your missing the point, You will only ever see this drive if HD-DVD completely fails. As not having many movies being released for HD-DVD after 2008, this may no longer be a problem. Also chances are if they do have an addon, it would not surprise me if it would be swappable with the current HD-DVD drive.

Realistically, by the time HD-DVD is considered 'dead' if it ever does happen, prices will have dropped so low on BD standalones that there will be no point in buying a 360 addon. I mean if the BD costs 150-200, MS would have to price the addon at $100 or lower, or nobody will buy it.


RE: A monster and a half...
By Aikouka on 1/9/2008 10:59:24 AM , Rating: 3
If I already own the HD-DVD drive and needed the BR Drive, then I'd need room for both, wouldn't I? Not to mention the UI would need to be changed for it as they split the tray eject icon in half for the DVD and HD-DVD. I didn't even discuss the UI changes for 3 drives at once either :o!

The point was that I read this and thought of a huge peripheral monster that the 360 is becoming and how choice sometimes can be worse when you start getting such a beast.

Your point is valid though, but I'm considering the situation for current users (with the drive or that will buy it while HD-DVD is viable) where you're looking at it in the eyes of someone with just a 360 (or none at the moment and would buy one later).


RE: A monster and a half...
By 16nm on 1/9/2008 1:19:00 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
If I already own the HD-DVD drive and needed the BR Drive, then I'd need room for both, wouldn't I?


Well, let's hope that Microsoft has the sense to make it a combo drive then. Or, they simply integrate a combo drive into the XBOX 720.


RE: A monster and a half...
By daBKLYNdoorman on 1/9/2008 4:04:50 PM , Rating: 1
But you'll need a standalone BR drive, and thats one more piece of junk under your TV. We, the PS3 users will have no need for a standalone player. PS3 plays BR movies just fine.

(Oh, and you'll also be spending $100 on a BR standalone player... we won't. Why? Because PS3 is a better deal.)

(And yeah, xBox 360 fanboys, go ahead, give my post a negative rating... hide the reality...)


RE: A monster and a half...
By NT78stonewobble on 1/11/2008 5:11:20 AM , Rating: 2
Hmm aren't your piece of junk under the table called an ps3?


RE: A monster and a half...
By MooseMuffin on 1/9/2008 10:28:01 AM , Rating: 1
Well naturally you wouldn't need the HD-DVD drive if bluray wins outright.


RE: A monster and a half...
By FITCamaro on 1/9/2008 10:32:41 AM , Rating: 4
Uh yeah you will. You think people with HD-DVD discs are all just going to throw them away and rebuy things on Blu-ray?

To the original poster, I'd just get a combo player if they get cheap enough. Or just buy a dedicated Blu-ray player. Probably the better choice anyway.


RE: A monster and a half...
By Sulphademus on 1/9/2008 11:45:23 AM , Rating: 2
But if you have a 360 but haven't invested in HDDVD/BR and MSFT makes a cheaper than stand alone add-on for BR, assuming BR wins?

If you already have HDDVD, you won't just throw them away. You'll keep your 360-HD player or your stand alone player.


RE: A monster and a half...
By Aikouka on 1/9/2008 12:51:44 PM , Rating: 2
I already own a PS3, so I wouldn't buy the add-on anyway. But that wasn't the point of the comment, which seems to have been misunderstood by people in singular mindsets. The point is, if I didn't have a PS3 and Blu-Ray came out on top of HD-DVD, so if I wanted to continue buying Blu-Ray, I would need a BR player. If I already had a 360 and the HD-DVD drive (which you remarked that I wouldn't want to get rid of so I could continue to play my perfectly playable HD-DVD discs), what would I do with a similarly designed Blu-Ray add-on? It may make sense to just get that as it could be the cheapest way to go, but factors such as usability, aesthetically pleasing, etc may knock it out.

I guess I'm the only one that sees all these add-ons as becoming obnoxious, but I'm also the type of user that doesn't like things such as lots of external hard drives, etc.


RE: A monster and a half...
By aos007 on 1/9/2008 1:51:00 PM , Rating: 2
Addons ARE obnoxious. I see them as the early adopter stop-gap temporary solution during early stages of a technology. Once standalone prices drop enough, we are likely going to stop using the addon and just use standalone to play disks. Not only it will take less space, be easier to stack and look better on the shelf but it will be MUCH less noisy. Same goes for PS3 - can't wait for good quality $100-150 standalones to replace that noisy thing for movie playback (I brave through the noise even for DVDs because upsampling quality is simply amazing).


By daBKLYNdoorman on 1/9/2008 4:07:06 PM , Rating: 2
By the time BR drives become dead-cheap, there won't be any more HD DVD movies in production, and that means there won't be any use for your current HD DVD drive. (Unless you already have a bunch of HD DVD movies that you don't mind watching again and again.)


RE: A monster and a half...
By deeznuts on 1/9/2008 12:57:59 PM , Rating: 2
Just wait. I'm not knocking the HD DVD add-on (ok maybe I am), it's a decent add-on but sort of limited. At the time it was released, it was a good option because of price. By the time a BD add-on is released, if ever, I'm sure stand-alones will be as cheap or cheaper, perform better, and probably offer more options and features. The upscaler of standard DVDs hasn't gotten good reviews for the add-on - you may get better performance with a BD standalone (key word being "MAY"). Sound options on the HD DVD add-on are limited (no high def audio over HDMI available), this may carry forward to their BD add-on.


RE: A monster and a half...
By killerb255 on 1/9/2008 1:23:42 PM , Rating: 2
Microsoft would be better off releasing a combo-player (BD/HD-DVD) addon to save space. Of course they would be more expensive...


RE: A monster and a half...
By Locutus465 on 1/9/2008 1:42:56 PM , Rating: 2
Personally I think it's a good idea, this would give a fully configured x-box a big leg up on PS3 as far as a media player. The only format nutral console....

Perhaps they could go the build in BD route like they were considering with HD DVD... Or release a dual format add on.


RE: A monster and a half...
By Aikouka on 1/9/2008 2:32:42 PM , Rating: 2
Well, the only thing is that at that point the PS3 would be a gaming console/media player for the HD format. You'd only need HD-DVD support if you had "legacy discs" (sounds really awkward referring to a current high-end medium as legacy). So for people that have a 360 now with the HD-DVD add-on, this could be great if HD-DVD does go the way of the dodo. If people are waiting it out, then really the it'd just put them both on equal playing fields (both supporting Blu-Ray) rather than having a leg up.

Don't get me wrong... I do like that they're willing to support things. The only thing I worry about is the numerous accessories rather than being integrated in the first place. Yet again, I should reiterate that my post is generally geared toward people that currently just have a 360 with the HD-DVD and no means for playback of Blu-Ray discs. A dual-format add-on would probably be a bit much though... adding in support for a "dead format," which would drive costs up and probably make it uncompetitive with the PS3 when it comes to playing Blu-Ray itself.

Kind of off topic... in all reality, a 360 isn't a horribly cheap HD-DVD solution right now. I bought one for the family for Christmas and it easily cost more than a 80GB PS3 (around $525 excluding tax). I saw it as a better deal because of the MCE (especially with MPEG4 capability being added) and gaming capabilities though.


RE: A monster and a half...
By Locutus465 on 1/10/2008 9:32:10 AM , Rating: 2
Except while it is expected that universal and paramount will start offering bluray, they as of yet are not and have not announced that they are going to. So for all we know they may stubbornly decide to stick it out with HD DVD creating a situation where if you *really* want to see their movies in hd then...

Not saying this is likely, but it is possible... Particularly giving some debate (mainly on high def digest right now) whether HDM is really going to succeed at becoming mainstream like DVD did... With technologies like "Superconvert" and digital downloads up and coming, bluray has a real fight on it's hands.


Nothing new
By chdude3 on 1/9/2008 10:27:24 AM , Rating: 3
File this DT post under "no shit". They've already said this several times before. This is not new. Here's Peter Moore saying the same thing two years ago:
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/bluedragon/new...




RE: Nothing new
By michal1980 on 1/9/2008 10:35:06 AM , Rating: 1
I agree, the xbox team always said this.

though a blu-ray add on is more likely if hd-dvd is dead.

then if there was a stalemate


RE: Nothing new
By therealnickdanger on 1/9/2008 11:31:46 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
"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.
- January 8, 2008


Stop saying that this "isn't news"! It is very newsworthy given the fact that Warners decision (and New Line Cinema as well) to exclusively back Blu-Ray is sending shockwaves across the industry. It's important for companies, like Microsoft, to weigh in on these events. As consumers, we want to know where they stand, even if it is merely an affirmation of something previous.


RE: Nothing new
By chdude3 on 1/9/2008 12:56:30 PM , Rating: 1
It's not news. Build a bridge and get over it.


RE: Nothing new
By Spuke on 1/9/2008 3:27:55 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
It is very newsworthy given the fact that Warners decision (and New Line Cinema as well) to exclusively back Blu-Ray is sending shockwaves across the industry.
Shockwaves? LOL! Did HD disc (BR/HD DVD) sales just overtake DVD's with Warner Bros announcement? Oh no of course not.


RE: Nothing new
By therealnickdanger on 1/9/2008 3:47:41 PM , Rating: 3
What Warner did made good business sense, but still amounts to stabbing Toshiba in the back. It was completely unexpected. The move also resulted in more studios "going Blu" and more to follow, I'm sure. If you can't call those "shockwaves", the our definitions are clearly different. DVD sales are as irrelevant to this matter as VHS sales were to DVD's progression. Actually, this move on behalf of Warner is so much more important than you give it credit simply because the dual format was holding back the HDM sales. As word spreads, this should muster a rally of HDM sales. DVD sales were down last year, FYI.


RE: Nothing new
By Oregonian2 on 1/9/2008 6:41:24 PM , Rating: 2
It is news. Just not big news. Small article in the back news.


Just hope it'll do VGA connections!
By justadcomics on 1/9/2008 10:38:49 AM , Rating: 2
If they do end up releasing a Blu-Ray add on, I hope it mimics the HD-DVD version, so it uses the 360's VGA connection. My flat-panel has a VGA and a DVI connector; no HDMI. If HDMI is the only "legal" or official connector, I'll be out of luck until I get a newer flat panel, which won't be happening any time soon.




By Houdani on 1/9/2008 11:27:51 AM , Rating: 2
You've still got some options for your flat panel.

You can buy a cable that has HDMI on one end and DVI on the other, or you can buy DVI to HDMI adapters. You can do similar conversions with VGA too, but I'd stick with DVI adapter to stay digital. You'll need to bring audio over separately, but you already know that.

I've had some decent luck at monoprice.com recently (bought some HDMI cables) and I know that they carry the adapters you might be interested in.


RE: Just hope it'll do VGA connections!
By Etsp on 1/9/2008 11:41:20 AM , Rating: 2
There are $20 adapters that convert the cable from HDMI to DVI because on the video portion, they are electrically compatible. Not sure how the conversion affects HDCP though.


By Chris Peredun on 1/9/2008 12:36:41 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Not sure how the conversion affects HDCP though.


It doesn't. If the content protection flag turns on, you'll be down to 960x540, and no more upscaling of DVDs.

Unless you buy an expensive HDCP-stripping device and chain that in - but then you're a good bit of the way to the cost of a new, HDCP-compliant, and possibly bigger, TV. And who doesn't want another excuse to upgrade?


By Visual on 1/9/2008 12:37:30 PM , Rating: 2
DVI with HDCP is just as "legal" as HDMI

if your monitor doesn't support HDCP, you will still be able to watch the current releases as they don't have the HDCP protection flag.

and even for future releases that have the flag, it will be possible to still watch them, just not at HD resolution. (and it would be no surprise if your display has not a HD native resolution anyway - many cheap or old plasmas are in fact crappy 500-something line panels that may claim being HDTV and even accept a 1080 signal, and still look the same with normal PAL/NTSC)

and btw, even the current addon will not allow high-resolution output to non-hdcp displays for flagged contents.


Smart move!
By SniperWulf on 1/9/2008 10:23:37 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
"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 to Reuters when asked whether Microsoft would support a Blu-ray DVD accessory in the event that HD-DVD failed.


Smart move! If they create an add-on blu-ray drive, it will effectively prevent people like myself from buying a PS3 mostly for blu-ray support.




RE: Smart move!
By omnicronx on 1/9/08, Rating: 0
RE: Smart move!
By gradoman on 1/9/2008 10:47:42 AM , Rating: 2
Maybe he already has an XBOX360...? MS said earlier it doesn't matter to them too much and that they could release either drive, not that I'm taking that at face value, but they could if they wanted to as they're not locked into either. The 360 will always remain a gaming console and if you buy games for it, they win.

(thinks about how happy I am there are early adopters and that far-off, cheap, Blu-ray player)


RE: Smart move!
By Chris Peredun on 1/9/2008 12:31:48 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
No it wont.. Xbox Arcade with no hardrive = 350 + any drive will be at least 450 if not more if you want a comparable product. And don't say 'buy the arcade version' as it has no hard drive which i consider a needed feature.


Unless a hard drive is necessary to play back HD/BD movies, "buy the arcade version" - which is $250, not $350 - is a perfectly valid statement.


I don't believe this is new...
By Rolphus on 1/9/2008 10:34:11 AM , Rating: 2
I'm sure in a very early interview about the HD-DVD drive, going way back, MS said that, although they prefer HD-DVD, they could always bolt on a Blu-Ray drive if necessary.

I like my 360's HD-DVD support. Given that they've done the legwork with the codecs and such, baseline Blu-Ray support would seem fairly easy to implement, with BD-J coming whenever it can.




RE: I don't believe this is new...
By nowayout99 on 1/9/2008 10:39:52 AM , Rating: 2
Yep, they said they'd consider go BRD if HD-DVD failed back when the 360's HD-DVD drive first launched. No news here.


RE: I don't believe this is new...
By Oroka on 1/9/2008 11:46:16 AM , Rating: 2
News is that they are saying it again, which has more relevance now with Warner's defection.

The buzzards are starting to circle HD-DVD! With all this publicity, you would have to be nuts to buy a HD-DVD now considering the proable outcome.


not a bad move
By zinfamous on 1/9/2008 12:45:45 PM , Rating: 2
seems like a good idea. if they do it sooner rather than later, they could steal that 13% market share from the PS3 (here in the states).

the way things will be shaping up this year, why would someone choose to buy a PS3 over a 360 w/ Blu Ray? (...assuming they implement embedded BD drives with HDMI standard)




RE: not a bad move
By adam92682 on 1/9/2008 1:41:11 PM , Rating: 2
if sony was really worried about that, they could just refuse to give MS a licence to use blueray


What consumer choice?
By steelincable on 1/9/2008 12:55:34 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
"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."


I guess I don't see how consumers will dictate the outcome of the 'format war'. The game isn't fair if studios are choosing sides.




RE: What consumer choice?
By Bigjee on 1/9/2008 1:49:36 PM , Rating: 2
I concur. In the start they said the Format wars could have been avoided if corporations had collaborated now they say that its the consumer that decides. Please cut the BS; CEO's. I mean nowadays companies use consumers whatever way they seem fit. It's amazing the way these people manipulate reason behind a decision. I guess admitting a mistake for companies means losing money and thats the exactly what CEO's don't do; admit mistakes.


Java
By TomZ on 1/9/2008 1:03:05 PM , Rating: 2
^-- One good reason that Microsoft wouldn't want to support Blu-ray - Java is a required part of the implementation.

I'm sure there are some at Microsoft whose blood will boil if/when Microsoft releases a product that supports Java.




RE: Java
By Bigjee on 1/9/2008 1:31:09 PM , Rating: 2
Yeh MS is sure gonna feel bad abt adopting BR after all the hype it made surrounding the hd-dvd.


Interesting Prediction, Mr. Spokesman
By BansheeX on 1/9/08, Rating: 0
By SlyNine on 1/9/2008 11:01:01 AM , Rating: 2
They still use 2-3 pulldown however the individual interlaced fields are not edited separately, So their is a lot less mess and you don't need a high end DVD (BlueRay) player.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/features/technical-... Is a great article


"if that's the way they vote"
By Visual on 1/9/2008 12:09:08 PM , Rating: 2
i wonder when the election starts
anyway, even toshiba will start making blu-ray tech, eventually. so no surprise here.




Microsoft said this before
By Belard on 1/9/2008 4:00:48 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
"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


Back when the HD-DVD add-on came out, on the xbox360 website - As well as a M$ Spokesman... They said pretty much the same thing as this from over a year ago.

"We are supporting HD-DVD to give the customers what they want" (Not exact quote) And "People choose HD-DVD over Blu-Ray 2 to 1" - If I remember right, the source was XBOX owners. ;)

Hmmm... Sorry M$ - you're NOT giving customers a CHOICE unless you made both DRIVES available at the same time.




Do they even care
By flgt on 1/9/2008 9:56:03 PM , Rating: 2
I doubt Microsoft even cares about HD-DVD or Blu-ray. The bottom line is that by removing both new formats from the Xbox they were able to provide a cheaper product and sell a lot more units than Sony. As the article stated, in the end they feel people don't buy game consoles for the movies. In a few years most people will have a dedicated player for movies when they are cheaper. All that matters is that they sell a lot more game consoles so they can continue to make money from game sales down the road. If they can make a few bucks off an HD-DVD or BD add-on, they'll take it.




By superkdogg on 1/10/2008 11:28:16 AM , Rating: 2
Guys, calm down and un-bunch your drawers.

Do some quick math, and allow me one presumption: The HD-DVD/BRD format issue will not be completely decided until at least 2009.

Going from that assumption, and the fact that both current-gen consoles are in the middle of their lifespan, why would EITHER 360 or PS3 declare themselves the winner in the format war?

Let's say for instance that in Q2 2009 BRD is endorsed univerally. I'm willing to be that new consoles launch in Q4 2009 that support BRD and that's the end of the story. 360 and PS3 both become doorstops and/or kid's toys and the world moves on. Sure, the PS3 is a better movie player at that point, but the new console will have replaced it in the living room anyway.

NTM the longer the issue is dragged out, the more CE that will be developed with support for both, and the more that costs will come down. Modern technology and production capabilities will prevent this from becoming VHS/Beta in any scenario.




Denial
By crystal clear on 1/11/2008 7:17:24 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Months later, Microsoft changed it stance slightly by denying any sort of back-up plan to support Blu-ray Disc.


Now a few days later-

Microsoft today stressed that it believes HD DVD is the best optical disc for consumers and that it has no plans to support Blu-ray Disc on the Xbox 360, despite recent comments from company staffers that it might.

Microsoft today said that HD DVD remains the only format to deliver quality experiences at affordable prices.


http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/10/microsoft_...




Sony has foresight
By Bigjee on 1/9/08, Rating: -1
RE: Sony has foresight
By chance1138 on 1/9/08, Rating: 0
RE: Sony has foresight
By codeThug on 1/10/2008 12:30:01 AM , Rating: 1
Especially to part where paragraph breaks are concerned.


RE: Sony has foresight
By Legionosh on 1/10/2008 5:00:57 PM , Rating: 1
I second both of your comments.

Education is a wonderful thing, isn't it? ;-)

Kevin


RE: Sony has foresight
By Bigjee on 3/26/2008 5:54:41 PM , Rating: 2
Sorry didn't realize this was an English class. Maybe I'll raise my hand next time I post a comment. Or better more I'll ask your permission before I post or logout of DT.


"Young lady, in this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!" -- Homer Simpson











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