Toshiba to field HD DVD-equipped Xbox 360?
Could even be integrated into an HD TV
Toshiba may be gearing up release an own-brand Xbox 360 with a built-in HD DVD drive, a senior executive from the company has apparently claimed.
The staffer allegedly told Australian mag Smarthouse last week that Microsoft and Toshiba are working together on an Xbox 360 with built in HD DVD drive. However, he also claimed this may result in a version of the device being "sold under the Toshiba brand name".
No specific technical details were given away, and the site also claimed the two companies have been looking at ways to build Xbox 360 technology into big-screen HD TVs.
Both initiatives, if true, suggest Toshiba is keen to drive support for HD DVD by leveraging the Microsoft console, the way Sony is using the PlayStation 3 to push the Blu-ray Disc format.
It's hard to see Microsoft agreeing to allow Toshiba to release a version of the Xbox 360 console per se, but it's not hard to envisage Toshiba releasing an HD DVD player that also happens to play Xbox 360 games.
In July, the local wing of the HD DVD Promotion Group claimed that Toshiba HD DVD players account for 74 per cent of European sales of next-gen optical disc players. Although it didn’t mention how many units the percentage figure was taken from, it did tell Register Hardware that over 500,000 HD DVD players and Xbox 360 drives have been sold worldwide.
COMMENTS
Competition is always a good thing
So we can all argue over who has the best processor or the best graphics card but, at the end of the day, most of us mere mortals are just looking for the best deal to deliver the best quality games and/or films. Let's be honest, who can really notice the difference between the graphics on the 360 or PS3 when confronted by two equally high quality games? We want great gameplay - without that, any amount of pixels or fluid motion is all but irrelevant.
By introducing an integrated HD-DVD Xbox 360 do we not then find ourselves with two similarly spec'd games machines both with great hi-def DVD capability (again we can argue the toss over HD DVD vs Blu-Ray but let's not - both have good films available!). Then it's not so easy for one side to argue why their box is more expensive than the other. This can only help the pricing be more competitive.
Now, if the boxes are 'similar' (from the majority point of view), what distinguishes one from the other - the software! Let's see Sony promote more good quality games and let's see both reduce the prices - come on, £40 for a game that may last a dozen or so hours does not seem like good value to me!
I happen to have a PS3, more by chance than choice (came 'free' with my Projector) but, software aside, I'm more than happy with it. My Xbox has been relegated to the cupboard, along with the box load of games (some of which are unopened, let alone completed - I was a sucker for those reviews). Nowadays I look at the games available (for the PS3), or shortly to become available, and I think, 'maybe I'll wait until they're cheaper.'
If we're lucky and we do see the launch of an integrated HD-DVD Xbox 360 then just maybe the software prices will also have to drop in support of a bit of healthy competition. Maybe that's just wishful thinking.......
And I've been considering buying a standalone HD-DVD player to complement the Blu-Ray in my PS3. I think now I will wait.......
HD-DVD / Blu-Ray = better games?
I own a PS3. I don't own an X-Box. I have however played the 360 a lot.
I like them both, They are both more or less capable of the same things. The reason I went for a PS3 was because of it having the Blu-Ray drive. My thinking was that not only can I watch HD films but also the games would be able to have much greater content because of the amount of space available on the game discs. Unfortunately, so far, this has not rung true. I think the main reason for this is that the 360 hasn't (as far as I know) been able to utilise the HD-DVD format to play game discs therefore developers haven’t had the amount of space that they possibly could have had for game content. Seeing as a lot of games are being released across both platforms, I think if they were both able to use the space that HD formats allow, games could be much bigger or just even better than they are currently.
So to summarize I own a PS3, I like the 360 and I want it to get an HD-DVD drive so I can get some better games for my playstation, if that makes sense.
@ All of you Fanboys
I have not joined either camp but from a neutral observers point of view this move [if there is any truth in it] does reek of copy cat tactics by Toshiba M/Soft.
Sony may have joined the party late but some could argue that they did this to ensure that they got the hardware right. M/Soft have added HDMI, made HDD a requirement and now adding HD-DVD. How long do you think it will be before having an HD-DVD will be compulsory???
A quick Google on price reveals that an Xbox Elite + HD-DVD can be had for £408.89. Yes I am sure that some of you could find a package for a few pence less but like I said it was a quick Google. Can we expect an Xbox 360 with an integrated HD-DVD to be a similar price? This makes the £349.99 asking price for a PS3 seem a bargain.
Both consoles have their merits and pit falls but if M/Soft now integrates HD-DVD into the Xbox it will be as good as admitting that they are in fact now playing catch-up and if/when they make HD-DVD compulsory risk alienating a large proportion of their user base.
Spot the Sony fan boy posts?
If Blu-Ray is doing so well is there any need to post Anti Hd-Dvd comments?
@Pooper Re: Copycats...
Ummm hate to burst your bubble but it's vica versa.
First was the '3 free movies' HD-DVD promo, back in late 2006 when Blu-Ray including PS3 was a no-show. Then sometimes this year Sony realized PS3 sales are so crappy - thanks to its insane pricing - they have to do something and they decided the only option they have to boost it as a Blu-Ray player which consequently will help the whole BDA camp's sales to counter Toshiba's successful 3-disc promo so (presumably) Sony won't have to foot the bill alone. They introduced the same promo but with 5 disc which Toshiba decided to match up very soon by raising its promo from 3 to 5 discs as well.
Better check the facts before you post, you know. ;)
