xbox360 w/ built-in HD-DVD due in Nov. to compete with PS3?

I know Microsoft has announced that they're producing an HD-DVD movie player
add-on, but this is the first I've heard that some xbox360s may be coming out
with HD-DVD built-in. Does that mean later 360 games might come on HD-DVD?
What happens to everyone who purchased the fist wave of 360s that don't include
it? Will you be able to play games through the add-on player?

"Blu-Ray was then thought to have the edge by being included in the new
Playstation3 gaming consoles. But the PS3 launch date has moved back from Spring
2006 to November at the earliest, by which time a second generation of Xbox360s
featuring in-built HD DVD may be around."

http://www.ameinfo.com/81946.html

Or is this all just baseless speculation? I certainly wouldn't buy a 360 before
November until I had confirmation one way or the other.

--
Bill Cable - Steelers Fan & Star Wars Collector
http://CreatureCantina.com <----- funny!
cable@creaturecantina.com

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"Bill Cable" <cable@creaturecantina.com> wrote:

>I know Microsoft has announced that they're producing an HD-DVD movie
>player add-on, but this is the first I've heard that some xbox360s may be
>coming out with HD-DVD built-in.

Bill, Bill, Bill. I know you're not the sharpest lightsaber in the
astro-shed, but come on. You think some poorly written column in "the
ultimate Middle East business resource" with a throwaway line at the bottom
saying Xbox 360s with HD-DVD drives "may be around" in November somehow got
the scoop on recognized tech and gaming sites? He's obviously done some
halfassed research and drawn false conclusions.

> Or is this all just baseless speculation?

I think "Bill Cable spreading FUD again" would be more accurate.

-Z-

In alt.games.video.xbox Zackman <zackman@spamisevilearthling.net> wrote:
> "Bill Cable" <cable@creaturecantina.com> wrote:

> >I know Microsoft has announced that they're producing an HD-DVD movie
> >player add-on, but this is the first I've heard that some xbox360s may be
> >coming out with HD-DVD built-in.

> Bill, Bill, Bill. I know you're not the sharpest lightsaber in the
> astro-shed, but come on. You think some poorly written column in "the
> ultimate Middle East business resource" with a throwaway line at the bottom
> saying Xbox 360s with HD-DVD drives "may be around" in November somehow got
> the scoop on recognized tech and gaming sites? He's obviously done some
> halfassed research and drawn false conclusions.

*shrug*

Most legitimate news sites aren't going to post speculations as news.

Besides, ever since Microsoft announced their HD-DVD add-on player, I've
had to wonder when Microsoft was going to just start shipping the 360 with
the HD-DVD drive, instead of the DVD drive that's currentally in there.

After all, it only makes sense, no? The add-on is going to require a new
drive mechanism (obviously), new codecs, new HDMI port (the 360 doesn't
support HDMI right now) In fact, the add-on is going to contain 99% of a
stand-alone player leaving me to wonder what's the point in spending money
on this rather than buying an actual dedicated HD-DVD player? "Less
clutter" isn't an argument since this add-on will practically BE a
standalone DVD player in its own right.

Microsoft has already said that games will always be on DVD no matter what
happens with the HD-DVD add on.

> > Or is this all just baseless speculation?

> I think "Bill Cable spreading FUD again" would be more accurate.

Microsoft's been doing a pretty good job of that themselves. They've made
more than a few slips during press conferences to make you wonder what
they'r planning just a few months down the road. After all, no one wants
to buy something, only to find out that just a few weeks later there was a
newer model released - and that's exactly the sort of buzz Micorosft is
creating.

Bill Cable wrote:

> http://www.ameinfo.com/81946.html
>
> Or is this all just baseless speculation? I certainly wouldn't buy a
> 360 before November until I had confirmation one way or the other.

Gee Bill, I can't image why you crossposted this to the two Playstation
groups. It's off-topic for them. The next time you post anti-Xbox
speculative non-news from some worthless non-gaming site like this
one, repeat to yourself: "This is why people are comparing me to Bligmerk."

"Doug Jacobs" <djacobs@shell.rawbw.com> wrote:

> Most legitimate news sites aren't going to post speculations as news.

There's no basis or backup for the speculation, just the guy randomly
blurting that there may be HD-DVD equipped 360s in November. I suspect he's
just confused by the info about a HD-DVD add-on at some point.

> The add-on is going to require a new
> drive mechanism (obviously), new codecs, new HDMI port (the 360 doesn't
> support HDMI right now) In fact, the add-on is going to contain 99% of a
> stand-alone player leaving me to wonder what's the point in spending money
> on this rather than buying an actual dedicated HD-DVD player?

This is why I *don't* see them doing another version of hardware with a
HD-DVD drive. They'd have to make too many revisions to the console itself.
And if they don't plan to release games on HD-DVD, what's the point? The
HD-DVD player add-on is a dumb idea too, but MS obviously just wants to
cover their asses and make it seem as though the 360 will be capable of
playing high-def movies in some form at some time. Kind of like how they can
say the 360 costs $299, when the core version is basically useless by
itself.

> Microsoft's been doing a pretty good job of that themselves. They've made
> more than a few slips during press conferences to make you wonder what
> they'r planning just a few months down the road.

Sometimes I think they shouln't let the execs talk to the press, because
they're the ones who keep dropping these bombshells when they don't actually
seem to know what's going on within the Xbox division.

-Z-

"Hank the Rapper" <xflopgoon@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:CPqdnQBN349_WKzZRVn-jA@comcast.com...
> Bill Cable wrote:
>
>> http://www.ameinfo.com/81946.html
>>
>> Or is this all just baseless speculation? I certainly wouldn't buy a
>> 360 before November until I had confirmation one way or the other.
>
> Gee Bill, I can't image why you crossposted this to the two Playstation
> groups. It's off-topic for them. The next time you post anti-Xbox
> speculative non-news from some worthless non-gaming site like this
> one, repeat to yourself: "This is why people are comparing me to Bligmerk."

I don't see how this could be considered off-topic. A good part of that
articles is about Blu-ray and the PS3. Perhaps it's off-topic with regard to
the PS2, but since AGVSP3 hasn't fully propogated, this is the only way a lot of
PS3 fans would be able to see it.

At any rate... though the article is suspect, it does raise some interesting
possibilities. It would make MUCH MORE SENSE for microsoft to put an internal
HD-DVD drive into the 360 than it would to try to sell the add-ons they've
announced. The only people they'd hurt is the early adapters. For the
long-term health of the console, that might be acceptable collateral damage.

--
Bill Cable - Steelers Fan & Star Wars Collector
http://CreatureCantina.com <----- funny!
cable@creaturecantina.com

Please ask your provider to add:
alt.games.video.sony-playstation3

"Doug Jacobs" <djacobs@shell.rawbw.com> wrote in message
news:1233e3kkgq3ac48@corp.supernews.com...
> In alt.games.video.xbox Zackman <zackman@spamisevilearthling.net> wrote:
>> "Bill Cable" <cable@creaturecantina.com> wrote:
>
> Most legitimate news sites aren't going to post speculations as news.
>
> Besides, ever since Microsoft announced their HD-DVD add-on player, I've
> had to wonder when Microsoft was going to just start shipping the 360 with
> the HD-DVD drive, instead of the DVD drive that's currentally in there.
>
> After all, it only makes sense, no? The add-on is going to require a new
> drive mechanism (obviously), new codecs, new HDMI port (the 360 doesn't
> support HDMI right now) In fact, the add-on is going to contain 99% of a
> stand-alone player leaving me to wonder what's the point in spending money
> on this rather than buying an actual dedicated HD-DVD player? "Less
> clutter" isn't an argument since this add-on will practically BE a
> standalone DVD player in its own right.

Excellent point. An internal HD-DVD player makes the most sense. Maybe it
won't be November, but I can't see them still cranking out standard DVD 360's
two years from now. It just makes no financial sense. The only other
possibility is that they expect the 360 to have as short a lifespan as the first
xbox.

> Microsoft has already said that games will always be on DVD no matter what
> happens with the HD-DVD add on.

So they claim...

Didn't they also say no 360 game would ever require the HDD? I thought I read
that that promise had been broken... but that may have been a rumor that was
debunked.

--
Bill Cable - Steelers Fan & Star Wars Collector
http://CreatureCantina.com <----- funny!
cable@creaturecantina.com

Please ask your provider to add:
alt.games.video.sony-playstation3

"Zackman" <zackman@SPAMISEVILearthling.net> wrote in message
news:5omdnb2aqu2096zZnZ2dnUVZ_tqdnZ2d@giganews.com ...
>
> I think "Bill Cable spreading FUD again" would be more accurate.
>
> -Z-

Please enlighten me: "FUD?"

You must admit the article did generate some interesting conversation already,
with hopefully more to come.

--
Bill Cable - Steelers Fan & Star Wars Collector
http://CreatureCantina.com <----- funny!
cable@creaturecantina.com

Please ask your provider to add:
alt.games.video.sony-playstation3

In alt.games.video.xbox Zackman <zackman@spamisevilearthling.net> wrote:

> There's no basis or backup for the speculation, just the guy randomly
> blurting that there may be HD-DVD equipped 360s in November. I suspect he's
> just confused by the info about a HD-DVD add-on at some point.

Yes, it's pure speculation. I agree with you there.

> > The add-on is going to require a new
> > drive mechanism (obviously), new codecs, new HDMI port (the 360 doesn't
> > support HDMI right now) In fact, the add-on is going to contain 99% of a
> > stand-alone player leaving me to wonder what's the point in spending money
> > on this rather than buying an actual dedicated HD-DVD player?

> This is why I *don't* see them doing another version of hardware with a
> HD-DVD drive. They'd have to make too many revisions to the console itself.
> And if they don't plan to release games on HD-DVD, what's the point? The
> HD-DVD player add-on is a dumb idea too, but MS obviously just wants to
> cover their asses and make it seem as though the 360 will be capable of
> playing high-def movies in some form at some time. Kind of like how they can
> say the 360 costs $299, when the core version is basically useless by
> itself.

Well, assuming Microsoft is really intent on trying to compete in the
next-gen DVD, it would make sense to integrate the HD-DVD drive into the
console, as opposed to making it an expensive add-on. This would lower
their manufacturing costs while allowing them to sell the new HD-DVD
capable unit to people for less money which would help with the
proliferation of HD-DVDs into the market place.

Either way, Microsoft cannot start releasing games on the HD-DVD media
without turning themselves into another Sega. Sega burned its customer
base so badly with similarly bad decisions that when Dreamcast came out,
many just weren't willing to take the risk anymore.

> > Microsoft's been doing a pretty good job of that themselves. They've made
> > more than a few slips during press conferences to make you wonder what
> > they'r planning just a few months down the road.

> Sometimes I think they shouln't let the execs talk to the press, because
> they're the ones who keep dropping these bombshells when they don't actually
> seem to know what's going on within the Xbox division.

Yes. It seems really strange since Microsoft isn't a newcomer to
business, nor is it a newcomer to technology. Yet their Xbox division
seems intent on repeating every single mistake their competitors have ever
made.

In alt.games.video.xbox Bill Cable <cable@creaturecantina.com> wrote:

> > Microsoft has already said that games will always be on DVD no matter what
> > happens with the HD-DVD add on.

> So they claim...

> Didn't they also say no 360 game would ever require the HDD? I thought I read
> that that promise had been broken... but that may have been a rumor that was
> debunked.

I think some football game in Japan will require the HDD. However, Japan
only sells the premium package, so as far as Japan's market is concerned,
EVERYONE has a HDD. Furthermore, I don't think this game will be sold
outside of Japan.