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Posted

Makes sense.

from http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/bitsy/8th/page2.html

This might seem like a surprise pick, but everywhere we look behind-the-scenes in this high-definition format war, there we find Microsoft's handiwork. Few in the industry will actually come right out and say on the record that Microsoft is subsidizing Toshiba and the HD-DVD format, but off the record even many neutral observers lament it. Remember back in late 2005, when Toshiba and Sony met one last time to try to avoid a format war, but Toshiba broke off the discussions saying that their partners in the HD-DVD camp had already invested too much money in the format to walk away from it? Wanna guess who the chief partner was? And it should be no surprise that Microsoft's HD-DVD Evangelists are quick to report new "exclusives" coming to their format from CBS/Paramount (despite that studio's stated support for both HD formats) like episodes of Star Trek and South Park, given the fact that both series top the list of Xbox Live digital downloads for the 360. Someone on the Melrose lot has made a deal. Bottom line: Microsoft appears to be heavily subsidizing a format war that is good for no one... save perhaps Microsoft. Life was so much easier when you could just dislike them for Windows.
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Posted

Its no accident Mr. Hunt's name rhymes with something. He has a serious chip on his shoulder. So much for unbiased journalism.

what doesn't make sense, for me, is why Microsoft didn't incorporate HD-DVD technology into the gaming side of the x-box.

Um, because its a gaming console first, unlike the PS3 (BR player first) and how its hoped it turns Sony's downturn around. The XBox brand is hardly a cash cow for M$, they make much more elsewhere.

Posted
. . . .Life was so much easier when you could just dislike them for Windows.
The XBox brand is hardly a cash cow for M$, they make much more elsewhere.

:blink: yeah they're ripping everyone off with windows

Posted
:blink: yeah they're ripping everyone off with windows

If you want Windows, expect to pay. There are alternatives however to Windows, some are cheaper, some are free. Its your call. Sony are forcing you to buy a BR player in a game console even if you have no interest in next gen video formats. So who is offering the choice?

Posted

Lets just say we hope we don't find Microsoft dominating both the console and interface market...

yes hopefullky the other interfaces (eg Linux and Unix) will be given room to grow but considering all the anti -trust cases.. I won't hold my breath :D

BTW, Are you working for Microsoft now Mark :P:blink:

Posted
BTW, Are you working for Microsoft now Mark :D:blink:

If I was I could afford to own both HD-DVD and BR!

I agree that M$ havent won many friends over the years, but my experience with them, as a 360 owner, shows they listen to their community. Sony on the other hand dictate.

Posted
what doesn't make sense, for me, is why Microsoft didn't incorporate HD-DVD technology into the gaming side of the x-box.

it was done to keep cost down for both hardware and software. With a xbox360 not requiring new format disc or disc drives for gaming. It has been openly mentioned by MS as beign key to their strategy.

Posted

It appears to me, Microsoft is more interested in online gaming and services ... :blink:

Fortunately, Sony is going in that direction so there is the possibility of some type of competition in that market.

Has Nintendo announced any plans re: online gaming?

Posted
It appears to me, Microsoft is more interested in online gaming and services ... :blink:

Fortunately, Sony is going in that direction so there is the possibility of some type of competition in that market.

Has Nintendo announced any plans re: online gaming?

Actually alot of Sony's new avatar based hub for gaming is a direct rip-off of the online experience on the Wii.

Posted

What a hypocritical wanker that guy is.

So it's OK for Sony to subsidise the crap out of the price of the PS3 to gain market penetration for BD players, but it's evil for Microsoft to be involved in subsidies for HD DVD (not that he actually proves any such subsides exist).

I like the way he makes out that Toshiba were the bad guys as well, the way I read it it was Sony who walked away from the DVD forum, not the other way around.

Andrew.

Posted
Sony are forcing you to buy a BR player in a game console even if you have no interest in next gen video formats.

If I was not interested in next generation HD gaming, I could pick up a PS2 for $150.. Mark

So I don't understand this line of reasoning.

I must say I'm glad Sony has "pushed the envelope" and introduced BD technology...

Considering the benefits these HD formats can offer, I would expect "next generation" consoles to incorporate them.

I do give the designers of PS3 credit for it "being out of the square" and it becoming more like a "media hub" in one box.

Posted
If I was not interested in next generation HD gaming, I could pick up a PS2 for $150.. Mark

So I don't understand this line of reasoning.

Does the PS2 do HD gaming ?

Nope.

Mark is saying if he only wants HD gaming, why should he be forced to also buy a BD player

I must say I'm glad Sony has "pushed the envelope" and introduced BD technology...

Considering the benefits these HD formats can offer, I would expect "next generation" consoles to incorporate them.

The BD drive is slower than a DVD drive, increasing load times.

Add to this developers padding out their games to "use up" all that extra space and I can see us back to the good old days of having time to make a cuppa while the next level loads.

I do give the designers of PS3 credit for it "being out of the square" and it becoming more like a "media hub" in one box.

The 360 is more of a media hub, with it's MCE integration and streaming of video/audio.

Andrew.

Posted

Andrew.

I think you are overlooking the benefits these new HD optical media can bring to HD gaming.

BD technology is the major feature for me...Like I said, I'm glad that they've incorporated it .. and really at the end of the day thats what really matters.. no one is forcing me to purchase this console

and if Mark does not like the make up of the PS3, he has a choice.. he can purchase an xbox 360

so thats why I don't understand his reasoning.

I never expected Sony to build an x box 360 replica; I'm sure many others who have purchased it or plan to purchase it expect that as well.

I thought you had to purchase a HD-DVD player "add on" for the xbox 360?

(speaking of which, isn't that suppose to be released locally around the same time as the PS3?)

Microsoft gets enough of my money, I'd prefer to give it to someone else for a change :D:blink:

Posted

here's something legit for him to have a go at, but he won't - being on the payroll and all

Fox Confirms 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' Delay

Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:01 AM ET

Tags: Disc Announcements, Fox (all tags)

In a last-minute change to its Blu-ray release schedule, Fox Home Entertainment has bumped today's planned debut of 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith.'

Originally announced late last year for Blu-ray release, the $150 million-plus grossing Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie blockbuster was expected to street today, March 13.

Fox has now pulled the title with no explanation. However, according to the studio the disc has not been cancelled, only delayed.

No information is available on whether the title has been postponed to facilitate a change in technical specs or the inclusion of additional features, but we'll certainly keep you posted when a new street date is announced.

This marks the third major shift to Fox's Blu-ray release plans in recent memory. The first came when the studio bumped the December release of 'From Hell' not once, but twice in less than two months. That was followed by an even more extensive overhaul, which saw the majority of the studio's March Blu-ray releases shelved for the immediate future. We certainly hope this trend doesn't continue.

The bump for 'Mrs. & Mrs. Smith is now reflected in our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where you can also find a list of other still-scheduled Fox titles.

Just like all the other promised titles BD has pulled after announcing them and getting in their "we have so much more than HD DVD" speech. At least when HD DVD announce titles, you know (barring a real reason) you will get them on that date.

Posted
I think you are overlooking the benefits these new HD optical media can bring to HD gaming.

BD technology is the major feature for me...Like I said, I'm glad that they've incorporated it .. and really at the end of the day thats what really matters.. no one is forcing me to purchase this console

and if Mark does not like the make up of the PS3, he has a choice.. he can purchase an xbox 360

so thats why I don't understand his reasoning.

I never expected Sony to build an x box 360 replica; I'm sure many others who have purchased it or plan to purchase it expect that as well.

Sorry Skid but youre really dancing round the point in a very biased way. Pretend for a minute Im a father who has no interest in gaming, or HD movies, but my kids love gaming, and had a PS1 and a PS2. Now they want a PS3, just like kids want a Nokia phone. for the young its a status thing. Now I HAVE TO BUY a BR drive if I buy a PS3 for my kids, and am paying the extra for it, whether I want it or not. Simply because I have NO CHOICE. You dont need to have a next gen optical reader in your console to be next-gen, heck, the 360 p***es game-wise all over the PS3.

Posted
What exactly does BR contribute to HD gaming? More boring cut scenes?

Large and/or plentiful textures = painfully slow load times so I can't see any designer going down that path.

The new HD optical media will offer the potential for better graphics, better soundtracks, longer games... :blink:

I agree on paper,( I have not played a BD game on one as yet) as a "first generation" Blu-ray Drive its slower compared to x-box's DVD drive:

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/04/ps3-to-l...n-the-xbox-360/

Posted
Sorry Skid but youre really dancing round the point in a very biased way. Pretend for a minute Im a father who has no interest in gaming, or HD movies, but my kids love gaming, and had a PS1 and a PS2. Now they want a PS3, just like kids want a Nokia phone. for the young its a status thing. Now I HAVE TO BUY a BR drive if I buy a PS3 for my kids, and am paying the extra for it, whether I want it or not. Simply because I have NO CHOICE. You dont need to have a next gen optical reader in your console to be next-gen, heck, the 360 p***es game-wise all over the PS3.

I'm not performing a "riverdance" here Mark, .. :D:blink:

I have never said in regards to performace that PS3 is better

I was only puzzled why they did not incorporate HD optical media technology into the xbox360

Are you saying your children are forcing you to buy a PS3?

I think its an individual decision, in that, if you're a hard core gamer and have an issue with the loading time .. go with the x box360, if you can';t afford a PS3, stick with the PS2 unti the price drops...

For me, its perfect, a game console and HD movie player in one box .. and I can afford to buy one when its locally released....

Posted

I think that the Digital Bits forgets that there are many Microsofts and many Sonys.

For example, there's Microsoft The Evil Empire, purveyor of buggy and virus-ridden software, (near) monopoliser of operating systems, crusher of competitors. As an Apple fanboy, I hate Microsoft The Evil Empire.

On the other hand, there's Microsoft, pusher of VC1, developer of reasonably priced HD gaming, fighter of electronic nasties. I respect this Microsoft.

With Sony, there's Sony the Maker of Quality Electronics Products, with nice TVs, phones and broadcast equipment.

But there's also Sony The Blusterer. This is the Sony that has a huge share of the gaming market, foists overpriced, underperforming and DRM laden consoles and formats on the market, bullshits its way through everything that doesn't go its way and will cynically change its mind at the drop of a hat if it suits their latest spin...

Posted
The new HD optical media will offer the potential for better graphics, better soundtracks, longer games... :blink:

I agree on paper,( I have not played a BD game on one as yet) as a "first generation" Blu-ray Drive its slower compared to x-box's DVD drive:

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/04/ps3-to-l...n-the-xbox-360/

Ok, I can't take it any more.... I work as a games programmer at a studio developing games on both Xbox360 and PS3 (and Wii + PS2). Blu Ray does not allow you to have better textures. More memory allows you to have better textures (which goes in favor of the 360 as the OS takes up less space on 360 than on PS3). BluRay does not allow longer games. Better game design and more money allow longer games. Sure capacity is nice but you can always go multi DVD if you really need the extra space. Does BluRay allow better soundtracks ? I've never heard of this before, but I'd seriosly doubt it. For games you'd store all your audio in mono or stereo and then use the the 3D Audio API to play them back in the right place in a multi-channel system.

So yeah, in my very honest and professional opinion, BluRay doesn't add anything to gaming. The slower read speeds only make things worse. Thankfully for the PS3 most important data can be cached to the hard drive.

Latch.

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