Neoseeker : News : Microsoft looks to Blu-ray after all

Microsoft looks to Blu-ray after all
Leo Chan - Friday, March 7th, 2008 | 11:45AM (PT) 0 Favourites (0)


No plans yet to see Blu-ray on the Xbox 360, however

With HD-DVD out as a viable contender for the next-gen home video format throne, movie studios left and right are now flocking to the last man standing, Sony's Blu-ray media. Even HD-DVD backer Microsoft itself did not appear adverse to taking up the Blu-ray disc format in the near future, provided it was the only real option for consumers. A pragmatic viewpoint, but it makes (business) sense.

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer officially announces today at the Mix08 Internet conference in Las Vegas that his company will indeed take part in furthering Blu-ray's development. Thus far Ballmer would only confirm Microsoft's efforts to deliver support for Blu-ray devices in a Windows-based PC environment. Ballmer did not appear ready to address whether or not Microsoft would be planning similiar in-roads for Blu-ray on the Xbox 360 console, which already supports HD-DVD through an external drive.  Baller elaborates via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

"We've already been working on, for example, in Windows, device driver support for Blu-ray drives and the like, and I think the world moves on. Toshiba has moved on. We've moved on, and we'll support Blu-ray in ways that make sense."

Sony believes Microsoft is in the process of introducing a Blu-ray add-on drive for the Xbox 360, since reportedly Microsoft itself is in talks with Sony to make it happen. Naturally, Microsoft is playing down any such suggestion.


Microsoft looks to Blu-ray after all Image 1

Source: Eurogamer

Alternate Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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  • 0 thumbs!
    bruceleethree since Nov 2005 | Mar 7, 08
    MGS4 couldn't fit everything they wanted on a Blu-Ray. Microsoft is using last-gen DVD technology in their next-gen system that supports a max of 8gb...

    WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

    This is why XBOX will get destroyed in another year or two once uncompressed games are utilizing dual-layer Blu-Rays.
  • 0 thumbs!
    iamjoe56 since Nov 2005 | Mar 7, 08
    And yet you fail to Recognize games like BioShock, Gears of war, CnC3 and other, who require over 8 Gigs of space to store on a HD. But fit perfectly, and run of so smoothly on the 360. Because someone took the time to compress it properly. Also, MGS4 is not that Graphically intense, from what I have seen. Most of that space is Cutscenes. Not gameplay.
  • 0 thumbs!
    VeGiTAX2 since Apr 2001 | Mar 8, 08
    Actually the MGS4 line is the best around these days.

    MGS4 MAXED BLU 50GB!!!

    Actually uncompressed HD audio sources maxed the 50GB out. People should really continue to read the articles that come out about those things before assuming that the textures are that intense.

    Joe had it right, it's not that graphically intense, it's audio intense to the point where they axed the Japanese speech from it.
  • 0 thumbs!
    iamjoe56 since Nov 2005 | Mar 8, 08
    I weas un aware that MGS4 was put onto the 50 Blu, I heard it was on a standard 25.
  • 0 thumbs!
    VeGiTAX2 since Apr 2001 | Mar 8, 08
    From what I know it's running 50 Blu and was using uncompressed audio sourcing for most of the game, as such it's no suprise that it pretty much leveled the format. Uncompressed video and audio are insane space killers, those in DV editing can vouch for it right off the bat. Let alone bringing in Dolby, DTS or other sourcing.
  • 0 thumbs!
    iamjoe56 since Nov 2005 | Mar 8, 08
    Interesting. Also, I noticed you said I had it right. You feeling ok man? lol.

    But yeah, Uncompressed stuff really kills space. But still, I have a sneaking suspicion that they could have been fine with it if they hadn't Put in Movie length Cutscenes. Cause those can use alot of Dialog. And if it uncompressed...>_>

    My Point is, less talking, more gun and other sounds. And less Cutscenes Damnit!
  • 0 thumbs!
    THM since Jan 2008 | Mar 9, 08
    Microsoft is just pathetic, they just follow what Sony just did in the gaming market as a pioneer.

    Damn Xbox 360!!!!
  • 0 thumbs!
    iamjoe56 since Nov 2005 | Mar 9, 08
    THM. wtf? HD-DVD is dead, why would microsoft make a bad usiness move and stick with it? Also, no one said they were going to use it for games, dumbass. Settle down, damnit.
  • 0 thumbs!
    The unwashed heathen since May 2007 | Mar 10, 08
    iamjoe56 said that it should be "less talking, more gun and other sounds" but the whole point of using blu-ray is so that if you want to fill your game with cutscenes and a lot of dialouge, you are able to do that. That's why GoW is just a lot of braindead killing (sorry, had to flame the 360 in some way)
  • 0 thumbs!
    VeGiTAX2 since Apr 2001 | Mar 10, 08
    Yeah, because braindead mass killing is such a bore. Historically sales have shown that people enjoy massive bloodbath titles.

    There's only so much joy one can get from watching the game unfold instead of letting you take part in it.
  • 0 thumbs!
    THM since Jan 2008 | Mar 10, 08
    Oh Oh!!! Mr.Joe(iamjoe56), Just Calm down!!! will you? I reckon that you act like a snail which stucks in the salt pile.

    I'm just honestly predicting what Microsoft will do in the future.

    You don't need to hurt on behalf of Microsoft unless you own Xbox 360!!!



  • 0 thumbs!
    iamjoe56 since Nov 2005 | Mar 10, 08
    I do own a 360, first off. Second, I saw no prediction in that post, it was just alot stuff regarding how dumb Microsoft is about adopting Blu-ray. >_>

    Heathen, the whole point of Blu ray is so that movie can be seen in true High Definition, and that games can have more content and action and fun. Thus making a more enjoyable Experience for the gamer. I fail to see how hour long Cutscenes do anything to excite people.
  • 0 thumbs!
    RabidChinaGirl since Oct 2007 | Mar 10, 08
    Joe, ignore THM. He's proven himself to be a blind fanboy time and time again through his posts.

    As for the cutscene issue, yeah I guess some developers might go with that choice - more cutscenes and dialogue, as seen in a lot of rpgs. Honestly though, if you read reviews at all, you'll find that critics generally frown upon excessive cutscenes and dialogue. It takes the interactive aspect out of the game (big reason why I don't play J-rpgs as much now) when you're just sitting there watching lengthy CG movies. It all comes down to preference though, and the developer's creative decision.

    Yeah, if I wanted to watch a movie, I'd...watch a movie, not spend $60 and hours of my precious time on a video game.
  • 0 thumbs!
    iamjoe56 since Nov 2005 | Mar 10, 08
    Someone agrees with me, Rabid for that matter. *gets floored* Ok, now that the smart assing is done.

    I fully understand some poeple enjoy watching there game more than playing it. And honestly, with J-RPGs, those cutscens are needed to make any sense of the plot and story. But seriously, Is Gears of War had huge Kojima style cutscenes and not enough Locust heads poping, I'd not be getting it.

    So again, like you said Rabid, it is what people like. I just prefer my games to be games, not movie.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Bill Gates03 since Dec 2004 | Mar 10, 08
    If you can fit Mass Effect, BioShock, GoW, etc on a DVD9, there is NO reason they should have to be "cutting" features from a 50GB Blu-Ray disc! WTF!!

    Did they compress anything?!

    THM, who would WANT to keep driving the opposite direction when it would be driving themselves into the ground? Do you think MS wants to lost money? They are doing a very smart thing in accepting Blu-Ray as the next gen media. I am SURE that MS has never said they will use Blu-Ray for upcoming 360 games (hell, they wouldn't even use their own HD-DVD!)

    So I don't know what crystal ball you're looking in but maybe you should find a new one.

    >_>
  • 0 thumbs!
    VeGiTAX2 since Apr 2001 | Mar 10, 08
    From the statement Kojima made he noted he was disappointed he had to compresss audio afterall with the game instead of using RAW audio sourcing.
  • 0 thumbs!
    iamjoe56 since Nov 2005 | Mar 11, 08
    Seriously, though. What would have Bared him from using More than one Blu-Ray?
  • 0 thumbs!
    VeGiTAX2 since Apr 2001 | Mar 11, 08
    Nothing, probably just the fact that they want to keep the price down and a multi-blu game would probably bring things beyond the $59 price-tag and make people the question capacities and gaming systems.

    The problem is, compression works fine especially if he used a CBR or lossless format. Him going for RAW uncompressed audio is just absurd, even films right now don't go to that extent because it's overkill.
  • 0 thumbs!
    iamjoe56 since Nov 2005 | Mar 11, 08
    I think Kojima is a bit full of himself and MGS. I will recognise that it is a greta game that a ton of people love. But trying to make a game that goes so far, is just nuts.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Bill Gates03 since Dec 2004 | Mar 11, 08
    What is the "actual" cost of a B-R disc? Surely it wouldn't have tacked on that much?

    And why couldn't they have the "special edition" version that did come with 2 discs (maybe add special features etc etc since it would be on 2 discs)...

    Just my marketing thoughts!
  • 0 thumbs!
    VeGiTAX2 since Apr 2001 | Mar 11, 08
    The actual cost is probably minimal when you're producing hundreds of thousands, but when has the actual cost of media ever been passed to the consumer? It hasn't and probably never will sadly enough.

    The past is kinda sad looking back I mean we have Beta, VHS, Cassette, CD, DVD it hasn't happened with HD-DVD or Blu-Ray either. Instead adding another disc usually brings the price of the normal version up anywhere from $5-15 in some cases. =/
  • 0 thumbs!
    iamjoe56 since Nov 2005 | Mar 11, 08
    That makes no sense. The money those disks cost is because of the Game, the time, effort and labor put into and all that. Why would tacking on another disk so he could make his Mega game the way he wanted, going to drive it up $15?

    Lost oddasy[spelled wrong, I am sure.] Uses four freakin DVDs! That is 32 gigs, but I do not see them tacking $5,$15 or $15 for each disk..why is Blu-ray so different?
  • 0 thumbs!
    DeathMonkey since Sep 2007 | Mar 17, 08
    What's with this obsession with raw uncompressed audio? I doubt the average person can tell much of a difference or have awesome sound systems to benefit from it. I reckon its all just to make it seem like the large space on Blu-Ray is needed.
  • 0 thumbs!
    iamjoe56 since Nov 2005 | Mar 19, 08
    The space is needed, just not for uncompressed audio. I mean really. >_>
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