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The Xbox 360 Elite is the top SKU... for now
Microsoft to put Blu-ray Disc inside Xbox 360 to compete with PlayStation 3

Although Microsoft has continually denied the development of a Blu-ray Disc enabled Xbox 360, reports slowly trickle in from Asian OEMs working on such an upgraded console.

According to a recent report by the DigiTimes, which cites Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) newspaper, Pegatron Technology, an OEM subsidiary of Asustek Computer, has won the order to make Xbox 360 consoles equipped with a Blu-ray Disc drive.

Previous interpretations of Blu-ray Disc on Xbox 360 figured an add-on device similar to the HD DVD drive, but this latest report points strictly at a new SKU that would incorporate a BD-ROM drive internally to match up with the PlayStation 3.

Shipments of such a console are supposed to commence in the third quarter of this year, likely making it a product that Microsoft will promote heavily during the holiday season against Sony’s console.

Last month, reports from Taiwan pegged Lite-On as the maker of Blu-ray Disc hardware for the Xbox 360. Microsoft quickly turned around to deny any development of such a product, and continued to push Xbox Live Marketplace’s high-definition content. “For our customers who want a premium movie experience we offer the largest library of on-demand HD content available and the ability to play back DVDs in high definition,” said the representative.

The PlayStation 3 is the best Blu-ray Disc player on the market, which allows Sony to capture both the hardcore gaming and home theatre crowd. ABI Research estimated that PS3s make up more than 85 percent of Blu-ray players in use this year and that the number of stand-alone players and Blu-ray-equipped PCs won't surpass Sony’s console base until 2013. A Blu-ray Disc capable Xbox 360 could help Microsoft’s console look more attractive to high-definition movie buyers.

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Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By Belard on 5/2/2008 8:37:54 PM , Rating: 2
While this is most likely true... Making a 360 with a BluRay drive won't do anything to help the 360 as a game console. The standard is single or double sided DVD discs (4.7 / 9GB discs) which doesn't compare to 25/50GB abilities of BluRay.

It'll only be useful for watching movies. Game developers will not touch it... The add-on is still a good idea, and I don't think MS can prevent someone else from making their own USB connected blu-ray add on.

Considering the price of the Elite to be $450, a BluRay version may cost upwards of $600.... it WILL help make sales for MS... but not compared to a $400 PS3 which is still getting cooler and lighter than its original release version.




RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By kellehair on 5/2/2008 9:02:21 PM , Rating: 2
"Making a 360 with a BluRay drive won't do anything to help the 360 as a game console. The standard is single or double sided DVD discs (4.7 / 9GB discs) which doesn't compare to 25/50GB abilities of BluRay."

While I would normally agree that bigger IS better I have to wonder what "abilities" you refer to. GTA4 was just released and is the perfect example of disc capacity not meaning much for games. GTA4 is loaded with content, including endless hours of music and speech, yet both the PS3 and 360 versions are all but identical. This will be the best selling game for both consoles this year and I think it will finally put the DVD vs. BD for games argument to bed.


RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By EnzoFX on 5/2/08, Rating: -1
RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By MonkeyPaw on 5/2/2008 10:26:20 PM , Rating: 4
If a bunch of HD video is all bluray adds to a game, then I say skip it. In-game video could be of the highest quality and I'll still want to skip through it to get back to the gameplay. Don't get me wrong, sometimes it's necessary, but I don't want game companies to turn into movie studios where all the promo's from the game are just cinematics that look better than the game actually does. No thanks.


By SlyNine on 5/3/2008 1:32:10 AM , Rating: 1
Bah, I still love me some good CGI effects in video games.

But as far as this not helping the 360 as a game system. You have to remember that as a game system the 360 titles are FLYING off the shelvs compaired too the PS3.


RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By Yocal on 5/3/2008 8:46:55 AM , Rating: 4
I agree with you on the gameplay 100%. Im not really all that interested in amazing cut scenes and visuals if the gameplay is horrible. But as for the Blu-Ray, while I dont think it will add anything to the gaming world, I have a few friends that game on the 360 and bought a PS3 simply for its Blu-Ray. So if the price is right, I think MS might be able to crack into that market just a bit. Provided theres no Blu Ring of Death.


RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By tastyratz on 5/3/2008 10:29:28 AM , Rating: 2
there's a lot more than this
the dvd drive on the x360 was a terrible mistake.
ps2 and xbox were able to produce games that hit the max capacity of the dvd disc. The only way to avoid that is compromise. The games may not have hit a wall at first but as the system gets older it will become more of a restriction.
Hd content is more than just cutscenes, its textures, in game audio, in game graphics, and more.

Playstation 3 games have the luxury of using bluray and because of that they have things like uncompressed audio and textures in many games.

This will ultimately lead to giving the ps3 more and more of an edge as time goes on.

I think everyone knows that media takes space in every form.


RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By Reclaimer77 on 5/3/2008 11:44:09 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
the dvd drive on the x360 was a terrible mistake.


The 360 is still outselling the PS3. And unlike Sony, MS doesn't lose money on every sale. Exactly how much of a terrible mistake did MS make ? I mean come on people, reality check. The Wii has NO movie playback of any kind, and crushes both PS3 and 360 in sales.

You people are talking like consoles aren't some huge gimmick. In a few years, tops, the next generation consoles will already be out. And all this discussion and arguing will be such a moot point.

quote:
This will ultimately lead to giving the ps3 more and more of an edge as time goes on.


And edge in what ? They don't have an edge now, when are they going to get that edge ? The extra space on the Blu Ray disk doesn't automatically translate into better gaming. Gaming on the PS3 isn't better now simply because of Blu-Ray. In fact, its not better period.


RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By Belard on 5/3/2008 2:01:15 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
The 360 is still outselling the PS3. And unlike Sony, MS doesn't lose money on every sale. Exactly how much of a terrible mistake did MS make ? I mean come on people, reality check. The Wii has NO movie playback of any kind, and crushes both PS3 and 360 in sales.


Actually.. since FEB of this year, PS3 sales have exeeded 360sales. Even this past week alone, 9000 more PS3s were sold in the USA over the 360. In Japan and Europe, the PS3 sales are even better. The Wii is doing well in its target user. Let me put it to you this way, Old-Folks homes have Wii as an excersise/game thingy for the elderly/handycap. Wii is a good device, but its still not much more than a GameCube... sold at a higher price with a new joystick type. Its also only $150 cheaper than PS3... but it should be less considering the things it can't do.

But look at this, the game cube is 2001 tech that was $199 originally, but when it was replaced by the Wii, it got down to $99... so a slightly better CPU/GPU and they raise the price up to 250... yeah, Nintendo did a great job re-packaging an old console. The game cube ended with 21million units over 7 years. The PS3 is at 12million in just over a year.

As of this time, 12million PS3 is doing pretty good against 18million 360s.

You're wrong about the MS doesn't lose money. The xbox division is still not making profit, but I think they maybe in the black now... but yeah, every Xbox & PS3 is SOLD at a loss - as they make money from game licences. Sony started NOT losing money on the PS3 faster than MS on their 360. The R.O.D really hurt MS... and they deserve it.

Now, I think MS was in a tough position with the 360 and they DID pretty much the only thing they could. They should have spent another 3-6 months fixing its thermal issues, but MS was racing the clock to beat the PS3 to market. Remember, the Xbox1 which came out AFTER the PS2 - never got good sales... so they scrapped it and made the 360.

If they waited for HD-DVD to come out, it would have (1) added $200+ to the cost of each 360 (ouch) and (2) would have come out the same year as the PS3 and have to go head to head... and they would have lost, badly... it would have been a $600 console like the 60gb/PS3.

But HD-DVD was always in trouble - and if HD-DVD died with it being THE drive for the 360, it would have been VERY VERY bad for Microsoft.

MS is/was against blu-ray because Blu-Ray uses JAVA and HD-DVD uses the same code as the 360.


RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By ViperROhb34 on 5/3/2008 6:06:24 PM , Rating: 2
Actually PS3 outsold 360 for two months.. Jan And Feb - during the 360 part shortage.. In Columbus I could not find a 360 with the 20G HD ..for nearly 2 weeks ..

In March 360 went back into 2nd place, PS3 back to 3rd place ..

I think it'll be a tight race - from month to month.. but 360 already has a 7 million console lead and its apparent they are far outselling PS3 in gaming alone..


By TerranMagistrate on 5/5/2008 2:18:16 PM , Rating: 1
Too bad the 360 is only really popular in the US though. Sony has all other regions.

That lead, which is less than 7mil now, will likely be gone by the end of this year if not sooner. That's what MS gets for failing to dominate in Europe and Asia.


RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By tastyratz on 5/3/2008 11:35:28 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
And edge in what ? They don't have an edge now, when are they going to get that edge ? The extra space on the Blu Ray disk doesn't automatically translate into better gaming. Gaming on the PS3 isn't better now simply because of Blu-Ray. In fact, its not better period.


Your twisting my post around.
The extra space doesn't make the game play any better, and neither do good graphics. The point was that the xbox 360 has spacial constraints that are met with an aging storage system and its that simple. A game can be released on both systems and be just as good a game and just as fun, the point being that developers left room to play have to sacrifice less, its not a difficult concept.
This was exactly my point saying the dvd drive was a mistake.

While the 360 hit the ground running its just like any other system. ps2 at launch had games on cd you didn't see that forever.

~The 360 is a next generation system with a last generation storage medium

As developers learn to exploit the 360 for its abilities and are able to extract every last ounce from the system they are going to find that the lack of storage space more constraining while the opposite will hold true on ps3. The games might be the same but if the graphics start getting better the 360 will have trouble on its hands.

Sony built the ps3 with intentions of a ten year lifespan. This race is going to continue for years to come. I'm sure we will see as we watch things develop.

The 360 creating a version with integrated blu-ray hardware could very well steal some ps3 thunder as a media player if Microsoft is smart enough to release it for less than the ps3 and market its movie playing abilities.

Now the ps3 is the best blu-ray player out there and its also the cheapest. If the 360 code blue has a smaller price tag it could lead to some interesting results.


RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By Jovec on 5/4/2008 6:17:30 PM , Rating: 2
What Developer is going to spend extra time and money utilizing the entire BluRay disc? Aside from a few (Sony funded) exclusives, it's all about the least common denominator. MS has a lot of influence by going with DVD9 - most devs will target the 9GB range for multi-platform titles and take away Sony's BR advantage. At best there will be some non-gameplay bonuses such as special features or higher resolution textures.

While MS could have afforded to go with an internal HD-DVD or BR drive at release, the relative lack of success of the original X-Box meant that had to have the price advantage and release early. By contrast, Sony could only push BR because of the enormous success of the PS2.


RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By GuidoAnchovis on 5/4/2008 10:27:17 PM , Rating: 2
I think the best example is metal gear 4. Hideo Kojima actually had to tone down aspects in the game because he reached the maximum capacity of blu ray. Sadly that is only one example but still makes the point that size can matter. But it is true that very few developers will utilize that, but time will tell.


RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By tastyratz on 5/4/2008 10:56:43 PM , Rating: 2
Absolutely,
and heavenly sword has 10gb of audio content ALONE.

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/heavenly-sword-p...

The dvd9 is a limitation for graphically intensive games and that really cannot be denied.

I have a mod chipped xbox as well as ps2. I backup all my games in case anything were to happen to them. Most newer xbox and ps2 games sit around 5-6gb and the bigger releases go over that.
A next generation console with HD graphics and high quality sound should far surpass the requirements.

I am not saying the x360 is not a powerful system with much potential, I'm saying its last generation storage medium may have given it the advantage in price and allowed an earlier release, but it will prove to hold the system back over the next few years more and more while sony left room to grow.

PS3 has a 10 year expected lifespan. I cant find any information online with the 360.
What was MS projecting the 360 would have before releasing another system?


RE: Still somewhat useless to 360 users
By freaqie on 5/5/2008 5:51:49 AM , Rating: 1
which makes it totatlly apparant that all that space is being wasted. instead of unique textures, effets etc, they put uncompressed sound in it.
you can;t hear it, the only thing is is that it is very big.
aka a marketing stunt


By tastyratz on 5/5/2008 9:06:04 AM , Rating: 2
Situationally dependent.
If your using a 27" sd tv with a pair of computer speakers attached to it then I wouldn't expect someone to see or hear the difference.

If your using a large hdtv mated to some decent home audio you would probably notice a difference when presented side by side that being the only variables. Subtle visual differences can become glaringly obvious on a 42+

Game content isn't where the dvd limitation kicks in, games have long had massive amounts of content before and after the bluray... The dvd would seldom be the main factor in limiting game quantity, mainly just video/audio quality that's compressible and will show