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Microsoft Shows Off 360 HD-DVD Drive

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the christmas-toys dept.

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."

2 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. *Applause* by p0tat03 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Kudos to MS I say, for giving consumers the choice. I for one can't care less about HD DVD, but I love my Xbox360, and I'm glad I didn't have to buy into some newfangled (and overrated) format that I would never use.

    If I ever DO get an HDTV though, this might be a nice addon...

    1. Re:*Applause* by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 4, Insightful

      right up until they start releasing certain games only on HDDVD because the size is too large for a regular DVD.

      I believe Microsoft has already stated that the HD-DVD drive will be used for movies only, though that's as subject to change as anything else in this world.

      I'd love to play Lord of the Rings or Madden with HD cut scenes.

      I would hate that.

      It's already jarring enough on a title like LotR for PS2 when the graphics cut from DVD-Video cinematic cutscene to realtime rendered polygons. Making the cutscenes look even better would only make the in-game graphics look worse in comparison.