HD-DVD: Microsoft's folly?

[Evil Avatar]

On the heels of last night's announcement of a forthcoming HD-DVD accessory for the Xbox 360, CNN's Game Over column (http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/05/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/) looks at whether announcing such a peripheral so soon after the system's launch was a good move on Microsoft's part. While the company certainly saved money by not making it a standard 360 feature, CNN wonders if introducing this will put developers in a bind.

I usually really respect Chris Morris' articles, but this one is kind of lame, only a dumbass thinks that Microsoft releasing an external HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360 has any impact on game developers - because only dumbass game developers would develop a 360 title for a peripheral that only a small percentage of Xbox 360 owners will ever have.

[Royal Fool]

I don't think Microsoft will even allow developers to take advantage of the HD-DVD drive. It's purely for playing movies, according to them.

[Grimgrock]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there some tank game / mech game that required a 100+ button controller to play it making the whole thing cost way over $100. Of course, the game's creator likely falls into the category of "dumbass game developer". Said controller was only used for one game. That's even more "dumbass game developer" than having the option of an HD-DVD drive that can be used for many thing other than games.

[Nite_Moogle]

Considering how much the first run of Blu-Ray/HD-DVD drives are going to cost you might see more than a few owners buying this one. I don't think it will be enough to be conisdered "standard", but we'll see.

[bboy]

Microsoft was the fool for not integrating this in the main system in the first place. This is the only next gen system to actually offer 'less' storage than the previous iteration!! Unthinkable.

Once again I will say, who in their 'right mind' would purchase this abortion of an accessory rather than buying a stand-alone HD-DVD player (which I wouldn't buy either as my DVD's are just fine thanks)? Buying the external HD-DVD player for this console ties you to it. Once the console goes tits up after Xbox3 is introduced you can hawk this useless turd on ebay for $15.

Pure idiocy on their part. They didn't want to scare away the consumers with the higher price tag of an HD-DVD drive integrated into the system...now they are giving us the round about and segmenting their user base.

In actuality they should just forget the HD-DVD and have given us a higher capacity HDD (~200GB) and we could load our games onto it. Or atleast have the balls to let us use our own external 3.5" drives connected by USB2.0 (officially).

[Doctor Setebos]

Buying the external HD-DVD player for this console ties you to it.
And adding the HD-DVD as a integrated part of the Xbox 360 ties Microsoft to it. It's kind of an out for them to offer it as a separate peripheral. This way, as Chris suggests, if HD-DVD fails and Blu-Ray comes out the winner of the next format war, they could release a Blu-Ray attachment for the 360.

This may make good business sense to Microsoft, but it seems highly non-committal. It's almost like they're allowing room for the failure of HD-DVD. As much as I don't like Sony, they have guts for making Blu-Ray standard on the PS3.

[Savok]

So we're up to 3 versions now? Core, HDD and HD-DVD?

[crashedout]

ITs all about the price, if it is just a bare drive and lets the 360 do all the processing then it could be a very cheap way to get HD-DVD. I don't see a problem and if the quality is good it could be a worth-while addition. Again, they want the 360 and MCE to be the center of all media and this just fits into that goal. It should be a modest sucess, as long as they make sure it is JUST for movies and cheap.

As for storage, DVD9 using H264, Mpeg4 or WMV9 offers a lot of space. I am not too worried about that.

[netcraazzy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there some tank game / mech game that required a 100+ button controller to play it making the whole thing cost way over $100. Of course, the game's creator likely falls into the category of "dumbass game developer". Said controller was only used for one game. That's even more "dumbass game developer" than having the option of an HD-DVD drive that can be used for many thing other than games.

That was a very niche product with a limited customer base. Not only that but the controller was specifically created for one game so it's not like you would buy the controller and then never get a game to use it on, it was a bundle deal.

Personally I think this decision shows a lack of focus and direction on Microsoft's part. At some point the decision was obviously made to take the frugal route in respects to the 360's optical storage. However, this announcement being so close to the launch indicates that somebody is obviously having 2nd thoughts or not happy with the initial hardware decision within the company. Honestly I think MS should have just waited a bit and then released a HD-DVD or Blue-Ray version of the 360 in like a Media Center bundle or something.

[Wonka]

Well the X360 is out already. And HD-DVD was not ready to go in time. So outside of the very painful decision to delay their console launch, I don't see how they had much of a choice about including this drive in their console...

I don't think that MS is really very serious about HD-DVD. I think its a distraction to try and slow down the growth of Blue-Ray. MS is just stalling for time so that HD versions of IPTV products can become a reality.

How does an all you can download smorgasborg of HD videos on demand sound?

Discs? Who needs discs cluttering up their wall? Just stick another license on your HDD.

[rjcc]

They don't have "guts" they have no other option. If they didn't include the Blu-ray drive in the PS3, their supporters would not be there. The idea that the PS3 will push Blu-ary to victory is the main selling point of the format, along with tighter DRM. Greater capacity is really an afterthought.


And adding the HD-DVD as a integrated part of the Xbox 360 ties Microsoft to it. It's kind of an out for them to offer it as a separate peripheral. This way, as Chris suggests, if HD-DVD fails and Blu-Ray comes out the winner of the next format war, they could release a Blu-Ray attachment for the 360.

This may make good business sense to Microsoft, but it seems highly non-committal. It's almost like they're allowing room for the failure of HD-DVD. As much as I don't like Sony, they have guts for making Blu-Ray standard on the PS3.

[Malovech]

All this talk about HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is so ridiculous. The majority of consumers out their don't have TV's that can display the resolution needed to take advantage of the new technology. What makes the Xbox360 with HD-DVD accessory interesting is that you can hook a 360 into a standard CRT of LCD monitor thereby getting your hi-res movies on a piece of hardware that a lot of consumers already own.

[bapenguin]

All this talk about HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is so ridiculous. The majority of consumers out their don't have TV's that can display the resolution needed to take advantage of the new technology. What makes the Xbox360 with HD-DVD accessory interesting is that you can hook a 360 into a standard CRT of LCD monitor thereby getting your hi-res movies on a piece of hardware that a lot of consumers already own.

The whole reason these companies (especially the movies studios) are really pushing these new formats is because of copy protection. They think it's somehow going to stop pirating and create more sales. Do you think they REALLY care about the consumers?

[Vandenh]

>They think it's somehow going to stop pirating and create more sales. Do you think they REALLY care about the consumers?

So true....

[Mason]

All this talk about HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is so ridiculous. The majority of consumers out their don't have TV's that can display the resolution needed to take advantage of the new technology. What makes the Xbox360 with HD-DVD accessory interesting is that you can hook a 360 into a standard CRT of LCD monitor thereby getting your hi-res movies on a piece of hardware that a lot of consumers already own.

Additionally, studies show that 360 owners are way above everyone else in plans to acquire an HDTV. 90% either have one or plan to acquire one in the near future. So if you wanted to find a group of people who were in the market for HD-DVD drives, 360 owners are a good place to start.

I think everyone wishes that we could own XBox360s with 500GB hard drives and HD-DVD drives for $300. Microsoft would love to sell those, but they couldn't afford it. The pricing just doesn't work. Should this "next-gen" console have scaled back its processing or memory to allow for standard hard drives or HD-DVD? That's the only meaningful thing to ask for here. Saying that they should've given us these extra storage options at the same price is expecting something for a very expensive nothing.

[Valkyrist]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there some tank game / mech game that required a 100+ button controller to play it making the whole thing cost way over $100. Of course, the game's creator likely falls into the category of "dumbass game developer". Said controller was only used for one game. That's even more "dumbass game developer" than having the option of an HD-DVD drive that can be used for many thing other than games.
Just FYI, that game is a legend in itself. It's one of the hottest items for game fanatics/collectors out there now. They (wasn't it Capcom?) only made a limited quantity, knowing it wasn't going to be mainstream. On top of that, they ALL sold, and it's near impossible to get your hands on it now.

In my 5 years at Software Etc, I saw ONE of these pass through my store as a used version (perfect condition too). We litterally had 4 store managers and a district manager fighting over it.

So it's not really fair to compare something as niche and coveted as this, to a HD-DVD drive that seems very unlikely to succeed.

[Sion]

Same thing was said for the Duel Shock for PS1, same was said for that expantion cart for N64.

[Citizen Philip]

They care about consumers.

Well, paying consumers, anyways. I love how copy protection always has and always will, punish the person who buys the game, not the pirate. Maybe if they learn to package their shovelware with more than the game and give the paying consumer a benefit other than having hostile software that is there for the specific self-interest of the company, more people would want to actually "pay".

[KSmitty]

Yeah, I just question Microsoft's need to add this accessory, it seems like an afterthought. An expensive and somewhat unnecessary afterthought. MS said no HD DVD and I think they should've stuck with it instead of backpedaling on the issue. Unless developers plan on releasing two separate versions of games, or special edition games, I don't see this peripheral getting much use outside of movies.

So, Mason when are they gonna release that 500 gig, HD DVD, Xbox 360?
;)


-K

[jeffbax]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there some tank game / mech game that required a 100+ button controller to play it making the whole thing cost way over $100. Of course, the game's creator likely falls into the category of "dumbass game developer". Said controller was only used for one game. That's even more "dumbass game developer" than having the option of an HD-DVD drive that can be used for many thing other than games.
Too bad that the game you are talking about (steel battalion / tekki) was probably the greatest single Mech game I've ever played and cost $200 (then tons more on eBay when everyone sold out so fast)

In fact, I'm extremely pleased they chose to make that controller, dumbass.

Unless the game is bundled with an HD-DVD Drive, it won't require it. MS missed the HD optical drive boat by rushing to launch, and thats the consequence.

[Yeti2005]

Yeah, I just question Microsoft's need to add this accessory, it seems like an afterthought. An expensive and somewhat unnecessary afterthought. MS said no HD DVD and I think they should've stuck with it instead of backpedaling on the issue. Unless developers plan on releasing two separate versions of games, or special edition games, I don't see this peripheral getting much use outside of movies.

So, Mason when are they gonna release that 500 gig, HD DVD, Xbox 360?
;)


-K

Peter Moore already came out and said the Hd-DVD add-on is ONLY for movies. Repeat only for movies. The add-on has NOTHING to do with developers.

Now people will bitch that the HD-DVD should be used by developers for games because they need the space but then OTHER people will bitch that this divides the users.

[netcraazzy]

Too bad that the game you are talking about (steel battalion / tekki) was probably the greatest single Mech game I've ever played and cost $200 (then tons more on eBay when everyone sold out so fast

I remember hearing somewhere that if you didn't eject from your Mech and died that it erased all your progress and made you start over in an attempt to add realism to the game.

[51|RandoM]

Who would be dumb enough to buy an hd-dvd peripheral just to play movies on their xbox360?

That has got to be the dumbest idea I've seen in a long time.

Playing DVD movies on your console, and forgoing a standalone player was a significant cost-savings for some people. This approach will not be.

Please don't get suckered into something like this. If you really want HD-DVD movie playback, do yourself a really big favor and buy a standalone player, which will have all of the features and input/output options, a real remote, etc., that you'll want.

[Tinderbox]

I remember hearing somewhere that if you didn't eject from your Mech and died that it erased all your progress and made you start over in an attempt to add realism to the game.

That's absolutely correct. I've not ejected in time, only to have to start back at mission 1 more than a couple times.

[KSmitty]

Peter Moore already came out and said the Hd-DVD add-on is ONLY for movies. Repeat only for movies. The add-on has NOTHING to do with developers.
Yes I did read the article I was 'looking down the road' and also taking into account the argument many are making for 'Steel Battilion', namely that there is a market for an expensive peripheral that adds to gameplay, albeit a small one.


-K

[Murmillo]

I still see game developers using the HD-DVD drive to be used with bonus disks with HD cut-sceens and higher fidility music. I mean, if thats all the HD-DVD can do right? Movies and Music?

If you shell out the money for a HD-DVD drive (add-on), you are the type who would shell out an extra $20 on top of the $50 game that offered a bonus disk full of HD material.

[motor]

My fear (I don't have an xbox yet) is that two weeks after I buy my xbox and the hd-dvd peripheral, Microsoft will make an integrated one, which I would much rather have (who wants two boxes when you can have one?). So should I wait? That question might make a lot of people hold off on buying a 360. What they should have done was make the dvd drive swapable (it would not have cost much and then I wouldn't have this problem. Plus the drive is one of the most prone to failure parts, so swapping it if it broke would have been nice too).

[Grimgrock]

I didn't realize that Steel Battalion was so popular. I guess it doesn't qualify like I thought.

[earthworm48]

I'm wondering what they may charge for it, since the low end HD - DVD player is $500, any good guesses(sp)?

[zsears]

My fear (I don't have an xbox yet) is that two weeks after I buy my xbox and the hd-dvd peripheral, Microsoft will make an integrated one, which I would much rather have (who wants two boxes when you can have one?). So should I wait? That question might make a lot of people hold off on buying a 360. What they should have done was make the dvd drive swapable (it would not have cost much and then I wouldn't have this problem. Plus the drive is one of the most prone to failure parts, so swapping it if it broke would have been nice too).
I think Peter Moore already said that there are no plans to release a xbox with it integrated.

link (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6141930.html)

Microsoft hasn't announced a price point for the HD-DVD drive or possible system bundles, but Moore made it clear that Microsoft will not create a new Xbox 360 with a built-in HD-DVD drive. "If you actually built a HD-DVD new Xbox 360, that fragments [the installation base] even further. So the idea of having an external peripheral is far better to keep the user base consistent rather than build yet another Xbox 360 that has HD-DVD built in--that means millions of people won't have that."

[Babbster]

I'm usually a defender of Microsoft's Xbox division (because I've played a lot of good Xbox games), and I was particularly staunch in my position that having a plain old DVD drive in the Xbox 360 was going to turn out just fine. In this case, while I have no particularly problem with Microsoft releasing this peripheral, I think that anyone buying it is making a huge mistake. Samsung, a company which has a recent history proving they are aggressively lowering prices in home electronics, has already stated that they're making a combo Blu-Ray/HD-DVD player - and I doubt they'll be the only game in combo town. Thus, I think that anyone who buys any single-format next-gen player is making a stupid decision (doesn't apply to PS3 since its primary function is videogaming).

Combo drives, especially since they're going to be available early, are going to make the whole format war moot because most people play their movies in a dedicated movie machine as opposed to a game console like the PS3 and will probably buy a combo player once the price is right. In fact, I think that we can declare the war over and everybody won. Yay! :)

[TrackZero]

I usually really respect Chris Morris' articles, but this one is kind of lame, only a dumbass thinks that Microsoft releasing an external HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360 has any impact on game developers - because only dumbass game developers would develop a 360 title for a peripheral that only a small percentage of Xbox 360 owners will ever have.

Exactly. What I took from the announcement was the add-on was to watch HD-DVD movies, not to actually see games come out using it. But maybe I'm just being too logical for CNN....