Moore: Xbox 360 HD-DVD for movies only and there will be no internal drive.

[cthellis42]

PC market is a bit different, as they can easily use multiple CDs and compress the hell out of them since it ends up installed on an HDD. Outside of gamecube (which uses those mini disc things) I haven't seen a non DVD game on a console since 2001.

On another note, I have a game installed on my comp that uses 11.4gb installed (and it's only a beta). Big games are coming.

Indeed they are. Problem is that the market is more fragmented now. Multi-platform games could aim for DVD's max capacity on the biggest-seller AND on the best-performer, and the "odd man out" was the system who got shorter shrift anyway. In this case, what with Nintendo still being a question-mark about its' media, we see the two top performers--and likely the two top-sellers--split.

Big games WILL come, but just how big will they be aiming for? The biggest games currently are MMORPG's, and those can't reasonably run of disk regardless. RPG's and other multi-multi-hour games can be split.

It is indeed questionable just how many PS3 games that aren't exclusive will utilize Blu-Ray. The timing will, I think, depend on just how cheap production can get and when, and whether or not Sony's backed it up with reasonably easy processes in their development tools to take extra advantage of the storage space that won't require many weeks of specialized development that multi-platform titles won't be thrilled about.

 

[Bobbler]

I think thats the question on everyone's mind. Either way it doesn't matter much -- I'm sure, if games get too big, they'll find ways around it (just like they did on GC).

I don't think its a big deal, but it'll be interesting to see how it turns out.

 

[MfA]

Why make a different more expensive version of their console for a format which is DOA.

 

[kyleb]

So the new HD-DVD addon will be like the Sega CD or Nintendo DD? Or maybe they will hire Samsung to build the drive and then reject it and then Samsung will go on to make their own console just like how Nintendo started the PlayStation? Add on drives for larger games have turned out so well for the companies that tried it in the past, I totally understand why so many are suggesting that MS will go the same route.

 

[BTOA]

The real question people should be asking are; Will this unit have a HDMI plug on it or will M$ say forget MPAA and allow for HD content to be sent out of Xbox 360 via component cables?

 

[Tap In]

The real question people should be asking are; Will this unit have a HDMI plug on it or will M$ say forget MPAA and allow for HD content to be sent out of Xbox 360 via component cables?

good question

we'll have to wait and see but somehow I don't think MS just decided last week to do this (like we JUST heard about it) so I imagine that they have a solution in the works.

It's one of those things that I don't have to worry about because it will be taken care of for me. As a consumer, I just need to buy it if I like it and the price.

 

[Tap In]

.....
Let's be fair here, MS says it will be just for movies and so it will be just for movies. End of story.

yep.... Movies only.

forget this "games on HDDVD" talk. No fragmenting the user base. It would be stupid.

I agree it will be very interesting to see how many/few games come on Blu ray for PS3. My *guess* (since that's what we're all doing here ) is less than half or fewer.

 

[BTOA]

good question

we'll have to wait and see but somehow I don't think MS just decided last week to do this (like we JUST heard about it) so I imagine that they have a solution in the works.

It's one of those things that I don't have to worry about because it will be taken care of for me. As a consumer, I just need to buy it if I like it and the price.

If MS had thought this out, they would have waited and put in a digital video outchip inside the Xbox 360, but they didn't.

It has to be either on this add-on, but people keep arguing about market shares of BluRay and HD-DVD due to this. It means nothing, if we don't know how it'll output its HD content onto people's HDTV screens.

This unit will be more of a player then a simple drive, unless USB 2.0 can handle sending a HD feed to the Xbox 360 and back out the HD-DVD unit.

 

[expletive]

If MS had thought this out, they would have waited and put in a digital video outchip inside the Xbox 360, but they didn't.

It has to be either on this add-on, but people keep arguing about market shares of BluRay and HD-DVD due to this. It means nothing, if we don't know how it'll output its HD content onto people's HDTV screens.

This unit will be more of a player then a simple drive, unless USB 2.0 can handle sending a HD feed to the Xbox 360 and back out the HD-DVD unit.

No one has confirmed that the existing 360 cannot support an HDMI cable. Until we have confirmation one way or the other, talking in absolutes on it is pretty counterproductive.

 

[kyleb]

The real question people should be asking are; Will this unit have a HDMI plug on it or will M$ say forget MPAA and allow for HD content to be sent out of Xbox 360 via component cables?

Considering the fact that they won't even let us upscale standard DVDs on the 360, I highly doubt it's the latter.

I agree it will be very interesting to see how many/few games come on Blu ray for PS3. My *guess* (since that's what we're all doing here ) is less than half or fewer.

My guess is only a few at first and most later on, kinda like the PS2 and DVD games. People like Kojima will have developers fill the disks to the brim with videos of their girlfriends or whatever else they can throw in, and eventually developers will actually start building their games from the ground up around the fact that the space is avalable.

 

[Tap In]

well since I only have one HDMI input on my TV and I already have my HD DVR attached to it, I hope it will use component somehow.


with PS3 won't people in my position be forced to make a choice between HDMI devices?

Or are there cheap solutions to having multiple HDMI inputs available out there?

 

[BTOA]

No one has confirmed that the existing 360 cannot support an HDMI cable. Until we have confirmation one way or the other, talking in absolutes on it is pretty counterproductive.

Unfortunately in the first version of the Xbox 360, that AV cable port appears to be strictly analog. Microsoft has indicated that they may support HDMI at a later point in time, but that may require a new revision of the motherboard - assuming there is no digital video signal carried over the AV port. On the flip side, ATI has had a history of placing TMDS transmitters on their GPUs, so it may be possible that a digital video signal is present at this connector today, although if it were we don't understand why Microsoft wouldn't offer a DVI/HDMI cable option now.

http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.aspx?i=2611&p=2

From anandtech article on Inside Xbox 360.

Also, I'm not putting faith into this ATI+TMDS thingy.

 

[BTOA]

well since I only have one HDMI input on my TV and I already have my HD DVR attached to it, I hope it will use component somehow.


with PS3 won't people in my position be forced to make a choice between HDMI devices?

Or are there cheap solutions to having multiple HDMI inputs available out there?

You really think Hollywood would allow people access to steal their HD movie content?

 

[Tap In]

You really think Hollywood would allow people access to steal their HD movie content?

So you are saying then that MS WILL be using HDMI somehow, otherwise Hollywood won't stand for it?

You might be right. If that's the case, then MS has an HDMI solution in the works.

 

[BTOA]

So you are saying then that MS WILL be using HDMI somehow, otherwise Hollywood won't stand for it?

You might be right. If that's the case, then MS has an HDMI solution in the works.

I'm saying that this addon will have a HDMI plug bulit into it, otherwise Hollywood will ditch HD-DVD all together.

I'm still figuring out how M$ can do this without having to add a HDMI plug onto this HD-DVD add on. :|

 

[Tap In]

I just looked up HDMI swithers and they seem kind of pricey just to have two devices hooked up.

http://www.hdmiplanet.com/dviswitch.html

$270 for 2 in 1 out


Any PS3 and X360 HDDVD (assuming it uses HDMI) owners will need to make hard choices between their devices on some TVs. I have 2 component inputs and only one HDMI on my HDTV. I'm sure others are in the same position.

I guess I'd end up using component for my HDDVR since my only option for HD DVD or Blu Ra is HDMI.

Shame, as I like my HDDVR image best through HDMI.

 

[scooby_dooby]

Unfortunately in the first version of the Xbox 360, that AV cable port appears to be strictly analog. Microsoft has indicated that they may support HDMI at a later point in time, but that may require a new revision of the motherboard - assuming there is no digital video signal carried over the AV port. On the flip side, ATI has had a history of placing TMDS transmitters on their GPUs, so it may be possible that a digital video signal is present at this connector today, although if it were we don't understand why Microsoft wouldn't offer a DVI/HDMI cable option now.

far from absolute. MS will release an hdmi cable for the 360, how they do it I dunno, but they've already figured it out I'm sure.

 

[BTOA]

far from absolute. MS will release an hdmi cable for the 360, how they do it I dunno, but they've already figured it out I'm sure.

Thats if ATI does put in a TMDS transmitters on their GPUs, so can Dave comment on that or not?

 

[cthellis42]

So the new HD-DVD addon will be like the Sega CD or Nintendo DD? Or maybe they will hire Samsung to build the drive and then reject it and then Samsung will go on to make their own console just like how Nintendo started the PlayStation? Add on drives for larger games have turned out so well for the companies that tried it in the past, I totally understand why so many are suggesting that MS will go the same route.

It's not going to be for games, like the other add-ons you mention were. It's going to add only to the "media" side of the Xbox 360 world. In THAT circumstance it will work fine, and if cheap enough will be decent adoption incentive for those 360 owners (already likely owning HDTV's, spare cash, and an enjoyment of pretty-looking things ) to join the HD-DVD club.

It is NOT, however, a gaming peripheral. The main thing that will stand in the way of its' adoption is if there are quality/technical issues compared to stand-alone HD-DVD players.

 

[kyleb]

Yeah, I know, that was just sarcasim directed at those that were argueing otherwise.