Toshiba Denies 360 With Built-in HD DVD 50
A few days ago we discussed the possibility of Toshiba working on an Xbox 360 with a built-in HD DVD component and HD tuners. Today, GamesIndustry.biz has word from Toshiba denying that they're working on that unit. "'It's got nothing to do with us,' said a spokesperson to gadget site Stuff. 'But we know Microsoft doesn't want to include the HD DVD so as not to limit the user's experience.' Microsoft currently sells the HD DVD player as a separate peripheral for the Xbox 360, and offers various deals for users who want to upgrade their console to a hi-definition movie player."
Good (Score:5, Insightful)
Why "Built-in HD-DVD" is dumb
Having built in HD-DVD drive will allow MS to push HD-DVD storage enabled games that utilize the extra capacity. This will piss off all the existing users from playing those games and force them to upgrade their systems. The only saving grace on MS side would be to make it ABSOLUTELY clear that the upgraded HD drive will NEVER be used for game content.
Why "HD tuner" aka QAM is dumb
The HiDef TV market is currently locked into Encrypted QAM in North America and the only way to bypass the "rent/buy box from provider" is to use a cablecard decoder which is very broken and restricted to 'certified' hardware. There may be some channels broadcasted over the air unencrypted but you can be damn sure that all cable companies will switch to encrypted sooner or later, and at their whim. I'll put hd-cable to the same place in my heart as Hidef cable. In the cold. Call me back when there are open(non-private-key-encumbered) pervasive standards to
Out Q1 2008 (Score:2, Insightful)
The only reason they are denying the rumors right now, is to help unload existing inventory during the Holiday Season.
If I was looking at an XBox 360 though, I'd wait till after the Holiday Season for the new unit to be released.
Re:Corporate doublespeak (Score:3, Insightful)
The article doesn't say anything about them being positive experiences...
And even if MS didn't have to digitally sign games for them to work with the XBOX 360, I'm sure they would at least have a software block on running games from an HD DVD.
Re:Good (Score:1, Insightful)
So... what's the deal? (Score:1, Insightful)
I certainly hope for M$'s sake that they don't release yet another type of 360. A pile of market confusion is just what Sony needs to... um... wedge in? Have to give Sony credit for finally getting some decent games out, even if the library lack's it's "Halo 3"-esque brand of killer app...