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While the real winner is yet to be decided, Blu-ray is the leader according to new reports

Home Media Magazine's research branch, Home Media Research, announced that the between January 1 and September 30 Blu-ray sold 2.6 million units versus a total sales of 1.4 million HD DVD discs.

This announcement, which indicates an almost 2 to 1 ratio of Blu-ray sales to HD DVD, was a bit of a killjoy for the HD DVD camp who were thrilled by the record setting success of Transformers on HD DVD, chronicled here at DailyTech.

Through September, a total of 3.01 million Blu-ray discs have been sold and 1.97 million HD DVDs have been sold according to Home Media Research.

HD DVD is the next generation hi-definition format developed by Toshiba Corp.  The format is also supported by Microsoft, whose Xbox 360 console has an expansion which allows it to play HD DVDs.  HD DVD also has the support of Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc -- the latter two of which have signed deals to exclusively provide HD DVD for the next 18 months.

Blu-ray is owned and developed by Sony Corp.  It has exclusivity contracts with Walt Disney Co, Sony, News Corp's 20th Century Fox, and Lions Gate Entertainment.  It also recently signed an exclusive distribution deal with Blockbuster.

Blu-ray sales have been buoyed by the PS3's built in Blu-ray support.  HD DVD sales have been driven by better add-ons and interactive content, among other things.

Market research firm Adams Media Research provided insight into HD DVD's outlook following this less-than-great announcement for HD DVD.  The firm said strong sales from Transformers and other exclusive titles, stemming from its new Paramount and DreamWorks exclusivity pacts should invigorate sales and cause HD DVD to finish the year strong.

Tom Adams, the firm's president had this to say, "The [new exclusivity deals] definitely smooth out the edge that Blu-ray had in exclusive titles and they very much strengthen HD DVD's hand in the fourth quarter."

However, Adams Media Research is still predicting Blu-ray market victory for 2007, despite HD DVD's upswing. They predict that consumers will spend $186 million on purchasing Blu-Ray format discs, but only $91 million on HD DVD format discs.

Of course one mystery factor is dual mode players, such as Samsung's new player, releasing this holiday season.  As these players can play both formats, they seemingly make the format war a moot point from the consumer perspective. 

No one can truly say who will win the format war, but at least Blu-ray supporters can be cheered by this victory, following the news of the stunning Transformers HD DVD sales.

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Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By Mitch101 on 10/24/2007 9:26:47 AM , Rating: 3
If the X-Box 360 were sold with HD-DVD drives internally I bet this would be a different ballgame. Also since the 360 outsold the PS3 by a 5:1 margin this month. Of couse not everyone would get the HD-DVD version of the x-box but I would pay a little extra for one. Microsoft should have done this before the Halo3 release or at least before X-mas this year.

I figure if the price of the 360 is $100.00 extra to have the internal HD-DVD drive then I would see it as a game machine with HD-DVD movie abilities and willing to lose $100 should the format fail because it still plays great games.

On the other side of the fence people buying PS3's seem to say they do it because its a Blu-Ray player that plays games. Kind of having their priorities backwards as to what the PS3 should be considered a gaming console that plays Blu-Ray movies. I have a friend with a PS3 and not to beat a dead horse but he said if it werent for EA sports he would have put it on e-bay now. He isnt buying blu-ray movies because he is still considering selling it and getting a 360.




RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By Bioniccrackmonk on 10/24/2007 10:11:12 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
Also since the 360 outsold the PS3 by a 5:1 margin this month


I don't know about 5:1, I will agree they sold more but mostly because Halo 3 is now available. Wait until MGS 4 or GT 5 of FF XIII is available and we will see how many units the PS3 sell.

quote:
If the X-Box 360 were sold with HD-DVD drives internally I bet this would be a different ballgame.


It would be since the major reason everyone likes the 360 more is the lower price. The HD DVD add on is $170 bucks, tack that onto the cost of all the 360 versions and suddenly the 360 is not too far off from the price of the PS3.

quote:
On the other side of the fence people buying PS3's seem to say they do it because its a Blu-Ray player that plays games. Kind of having their priorities backwards as to what the PS3 should be considered a gaming console that plays Blu-Ray movies


That is a pretty broad statement, so I guess you talked to everyone buying a PS3 since you said people buying the PS3. Well, maybe some of the people you know, but my friends and I use ours for gaming just as regularly as we use our 360's for games. In fact, the only Blu Ray movies I own are the five free ones during the promotion Sony was running and my friends don't own any.

quote:
but he said if it werent for EA sports he would have put it on e-bay now


Wow, if it weren't for EA sports. I think that is the first time I have heard that statement, ever. Just from the posts here on DT, most people think that EA sports are some of the worst franchises since all they do is update the graphics and add one or two new features every year to sell a whole new game. Tell your friend to put his on ebay because th 360 plays EA games better anyway.


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By omnicronx on 10/24/2007 10:26:16 AM , Rating: 5
quote:
I don't know about 5:1
I do :) http://www.dailytech.com/Xbox+360+Beats+Wii+in+Sep...
XBOX360 US SALES: 527,000
PS3 US SALES: 119,400
4.4:1


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By murphyslabrat on 10/24/2007 10:48:04 AM , Rating: 5
~9:2, ratios use whole numbers ;j

Another fact that will save your life someday...or not, so sue me for false advertising!


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By CSMR on 10/24/2007 1:07:37 PM , Rating: 2
A Pythagorean I see. Tell me, what is the ratio whose square is 2:1?


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By Chaser on 10/24/07, Rating: 0
RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By deeznuts on 10/24/2007 1:06:15 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Now take a look at PS3 sales their first year vs 360 sales its first year. No comparison.

What do you mean no comparison? Are you talking about US only or Worldwide? Because the numbers between the two consoles worldwide through their first year are quite similar. In the US the 360 is spanking the PS3.

Also, of note to this article, is that HD DVD is closer to BD in sales here than anywhere else in the world. I think in Europe it's 4:1 and in Japan something ridiculous, like 8:1.


By overzealot on 10/25/2007 1:09:35 AM , Rating: 2
HDDVD is getting spanked in Australia, because up until recently the only HDDVD player on the market was the X360 addon... so most/all of the retailers have more (or all) of their High-Def shelf space allocated to BLURAY discs.


By erikejw on 10/25/2007 2:05:16 AM , Rating: 2
4.4:1 is correct.
You forgot one part though.
It is US sales.

I wonder if it is the opposite in Japan, hmm.


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By Mitch101 on 10/24/2007 10:34:09 AM , Rating: 4
Only FF7 was worth playing. Metal Gear Solid looks great but I never felt it had great gameplay. My buddy with the PS3 hasnt been thrilled with games outside of EA. Everyone wants to talk about the killer games coming but to date there has been only one really great game for the PS3 thats exclusive. Everything else can be found on the Wii and 360.

I dont believe many would buy the HD-DVD add on for the 360 at $170.00 when set top HD-DVD units were going for $199.00 recently. That I can agree on. For me I want an all in unit like the PS3 has done and Microsoft seems to be commiting to doing that.

The 360 outsold the PS3 5:1 during the halo launch plus the 360 has been selling for about a year before the PS3. But it comes back to the games selling the console. I dont recall the PS3 ever outselling the 360 maybe only at launch and those buying it say its because its the cheapest Blu-Ray player. No one is buying it saying for the great games.

Of the people I know who have considered a PS3 initially all say the same thing. Blu-Ray is not 100% the accepted format for High Definition. HD-DVD is gaining ground so they cant justify buying a PS3 as a high definition player. Also because Blu-Ray recently lost Universal studios to the HD-DVD side and they see that as weakness for Blu-Ray going forward. Secondly they dont see buying a PS3 because the game base isnt there compared to the 360. Its almost a double negative not a positive.

If the games were there for the PS3 then it would sell as a gaming system.

If Blu_ray was the undisputed format winner it would sell as a High Definition player but since Universal jumped from the Blu-Ray side to the HD-DVD side a lot of people dont feel it will win in the long run.

Sure Blu-Ray movie sales are up because of PS3 sales but HD-DVD did pretty darn good and isnt feeding off the game console sales at all like the PS3 has done. If the 360 puts in HD-DVD then whats the reason to buy a PS3?

Disney movies dont need HD because they are animations. Bambi in HD wont look significantly better in HD. Disney really only has about 3 titles worthy of HD. (Pirates, Pearl Harbor, and what Narnia?)

The PS2 was a great console where Sony did everything right but the PS3 is a flop. They overcomplicated it and game development is overpriced for developers. I love my PS2 but the PS3 I just dont see anything to get excited about.


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By Murst on 10/24/2007 10:59:38 AM , Rating: 2
I'll certainly agree that games sell the console, and that is why the PS3 hasn't been selling that well. It is the same reason the XBox 360 did not sell that well last year. 2007 is the year for early PS3 adopters. 2008 will be the year where games will get people to buy the PS3 just as 2007 was that kind of year for the 360.

Also, where did you come up with the statement that "HD-DVD is gaining ground"? If anything, it was BR that was behind since they released later. BR has had to catch up to HD-DVD, which they did, and were ahead ever since. The margin is only getting larger. However, unless something drastic happens, I just don't see either format disappearing. The future is dual-format players.


By GreenyMP on 10/24/2007 11:32:35 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Blu-Ray recently lost Universal studios to the HD-DVD


Check your facts. If when you say recently, you mean at the onset of the format war, then you are correct. But Universal was the original HD-DVD exclusive.

And from what I understand, even the article is incorrect about Warner. Warner is the only major studio that is still not exclusive. On October 5 many rumors were circling that Warner was about to announce Blu-ray exclusivity. Now almost 20 days later, it seems like the rumors were unfounded.


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By Belard on 10/25/2007 7:12:47 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
Disney movies dont need HD because they are animations. Bambi in HD wont look significantly better in HD. Disney really only has about 3 titles worthy of HD. (Pirates, Pearl Harbor, and what Narnia?)


You don't know much about animation... Anime, Animation, cartoons, even 3-D Animation (Let's see Disney/Pixar's Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredables, Cars, Bugs life, Monster's Inc, etc) need higher def to look their best, more so than "Real Life" people/backgrounds. This is why a TV with 480p looks far more life-like than any game (today) in 1600x1200... even with 24bit color.

Watching Finding Nemo at the theater is far more amazing than on a typical 32" TV (Reg Def or HighDef).

Bambi, digitally restored - will look a bit nicer in HD, but not as good as a modern animation or 3D Animated movie.

Sony's gamble in including BR is a good one... yes, a bit more expensive unit... but in the end, still CHEAPER than an XBoX360.
1) Some SONY games are already bigger than a single DVD disc - geez, even some Xbox360 games require more than one disc.

2) It's its own anti-Piracy format - especially if BR was to lose the format war (which I doubt)

3) The price of a BR Player is about $50~100 more than the HD-DVD, and theres more choices of BR players than HD-DVD.

4) BR holds almost twice as much data.

Today's prices:

$400 = Xbox 360 Halo edition (20gb HD/1 gamepad, 10GBfree)
$400 = PS3/40 (40GB HD, wireless networking)

To add HD-DVD & Wireless networking, this xbox goes up to $680! Or get the original white version, its $350/630 - and both are way louder than a PS3 and don't include the cost of a cooling system.

So the new bottom end PS3 at $400 is easily a cheaper system than the Xbox360... Even the $500 80gb version with added Slot readers(not a big deal) and included game is cheaper than ANY new Xbox360 when adding a HD-DVD drive and especially adding the wireless networking as well.

Upgrading the basic Xbox360 (20gb) to a larger drive is easily $180!! ($100 to add an HD to the HD-less xboxes) while SONY - you can replace the HD yourself in a few minutes with ANY DRIVE you want ($50 for typical 60GB or $180 for a 250GB!).


By Locutus465 on 10/25/2007 9:43:36 AM , Rating: 2
Where can one get a $400 PS3 today? I just did a quick check on amazon and only came up with 60 and 80GB models both priced at 499... Also your price on the 360 with 20GB hard drive is $50 more expensive, it's $350. You know what the beauty of the 360 is? If you wish to add the extra cost of HD-DVD you may (I did), if you wish to add wireless you may (I did not), but no one is forcing you to do either. If you want a basic game system period, no fancy HD-DVD, no need for wireless, then you can get a basic 360 with everything you need to get started (including 5 games) for $270 today, this very second if you wish.

Now if Microsoft decided to add integrated HD-DVD to improve the out of the box multimedia capabilities of the system (something they could do today w/o affecting the curren price structure one iota) that would just be a bonus...


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By Locutus465 on 10/24/2007 10:38:26 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
I don't know about 5:1, I will agree they sold more but mostly because Halo 3 is now available. Wait until MGS 4 or GT 5 of FF XIII is available and we will see how many units the PS3 sell.


Sony has never outsold microsoft (to the best of my knowlege) in any market outside Japan... The situation is mearly that much worse for sony now that Halo 3 is here.


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By Murst on 10/24/2007 11:03:40 AM , Rating: 2
According to the latest numbers from http://www.vgchartz.com/ , the only market that the 360 is outselling the PS3 in is the Americas. The PS3 is leading everywhere else in the world in recent sales.


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By Mitch101 on 10/24/2007 11:31:22 AM , Rating: 2
I think you need to look at more than just recent sales.

3.79M Others 360 Total Sales
1.76M Others PS3 Total Sales

Only 2.03 Million more PS3 sales to go to catch the 360 in places other than the US.

7.88M America 360 Total Sales
2.12M America PS3 Total Sales

Only 5.76 Million more to go to catch the 360 in the US.


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.
By Murst on 10/24/2007 11:52:41 AM , Rating: 2
See my reply to mcturkey below.


RE: Xbox 360 sales could change that.