Microsoft Shows Off 360 HD-DVD Drive

C|Net is reporting on a demo Microsoft put on, showing off their HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360. The unit, which is expected out for the Christmas season, is an external add-on for the company's next-gen console. From the article: "The device--about the size of a hardback book--played "The Phantom of the Opera" as Collins pulled up a menu bar to display a few of its navigation and interactive features that can be called up on screen while a movie is playing. Collins said Microsoft's HD DVD drive will be among the least expensive of the HD DVD players, but he declined to disclose the drive's retail price."

Comments

Re:*Applause*

[spyrochaete]

You can put HD content on ordinary DVDROMs but not on video DVDs. If you're playing a game there's no reason why they can't put HD video playback data on the DVD. It'll be a big file but how much video does there really need to be in a game?

However, maybe some devs will make alternative HD-DVD versions of some multi-DVD games. Switching discs mid-game is sooo Dreamcast. I don't think 360 owners will have to worry much about HD-DVD exclusive titles though. Sony is making a lower-tier PS3 as well and both companies have to be careful about alienating ground-level adopters.

Re:*Applause*

[Silverlancer]

Encoded in H.264/AVC, its quite possible with regular DVDs. And the Xbox 360 has more than enough processor power to decode it.

Re:*Applause*

[Potty Monster]

Cut scenes on the 360 are already in Hi-Def, just because the games are on standard dvd's doesn't mean the content can't be hi-def. The new blue ray disks just mean more storage (something that HD-DVD is currently winning) ...and has been said before, most in-game cut scenes are now done using the in game engine anyway. (also hi-def)

Re:*Applause*

[Anonymous Coward]

While I know posting as an anonymous coward generally gets ignored, you've modded wrong information as "Informative."

The HD-DVD drive for the X360 will have ZERO effect on gaming on the system. It will be a video player only. There will be no fragmenting of the X360 audience beyond whether or not you have a hard drive. This has been mentioned by Microsoft several times including at a recent Publisher event (MS Vision) held up in Seattle a couple weeks ago.

That is all.

Re:*Applause*

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

"You can put HD content on ordinary DVDROMs but not on video DVDs. If you're playing a game there's no reason why they can't put HD video playback data on the DVD. It'll be a big file but how much video does there really need to be in a game?"

This has already been done. You can buy a version of Terminator 2 that comes with an HD .WMF file.

Re:*Applause*

[Anonymous Coward]

bluray is currently only 1 layer, hence the size advantage for hd-dvd.

Re:*Applause*

[gabebear]

Blu-Ray R and RW discs are available in single and dual layer versions( here, and here.

I couldn't find any dual layer HD-DVD media for sale.