Will Xbox 360 games require HD-DVD add-on? [update 1]
by Kyle Orland 
{ Aug 16th 2006 at 3:15PM }
[Update : Microsoft has officially quashed this rumor, confirming again that they have no plans to release games on HD-DVD. The full statement is available on the GamerscoreBlog.]Xboxic has a scan from a page of trade newsletter Consumer Electronics Daily (CED) that seems to indicate Microsoft is considering releasing games for the Xbox 360's HD-DVD add-on. According to the article, Microsoft Game Studios head Dave Luehmann said that "Microsoft hasn't determined yet whether to do Xbox 360 games in blue-laser HD DVD," though he confirmed that there will be no HD-DVD games available this holiday.
If true, this statement would contradict a previous statement from Microsoft Corporate Vice President Peter Moore that the drive is "focused purely on movie playback." However, the CED article seems to paraphrase most of Leuhmann's comments, so it's possible that this is just a case of miscommunication.
Microsoft didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the issue, but we'll be sure to update you if and when we get official word.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Cal @ Aug 16th 2006 3:22PM
pssh
gok @ Aug 16th 2006 3:26PM
Dunno if this has been said before, but there would be 2 version of game: one hd-dvd and one normal. Hd-dvd would feature improved cinematics. LOL i say. Who wants to have improved cinematics :D Read that from pelaajalehti.com.
suicidesnowman @ Aug 16th 2006 3:26PM
could very well happen. if MS decided to retool newer 360's with the hd dvd drive, then the support will be there automatically. of course, this will force early adopters to buckle under and buy the add on. i'd be less than joyous.
conversly, to make an add on a requirement (whether only availble as an add-on or offer the internal drive) would severely hinder purchases. and to release an add on drive that would soon be outmoded by a 360 w/ internal would just be crazy....but i wouldn't put it passed 'em.
MiongJ @ Aug 16th 2006 3:26PM
Doesn't need to be or there will be backlash from gamers.
Phranctoast @ Aug 16th 2006 3:27PM
kind of like admitting a mistake isnt it.
unimental @ Aug 16th 2006 3:27PM
Sega CD v2.0?
No, it won't happen. Not unless the install base is gigantic for the add-on in another year.
uh_oh @ Aug 16th 2006 3:28PM
No thanks MS, I dont feel like forkin another 200 on an extra part just because you feel the need to put ur games on on hd discs.
thedanceman @ Aug 16th 2006 3:30PM
HALO 3 to be HD-DVD exclusive!
JimmyHACK @ Aug 16th 2006 3:30PM
bend over and insert 8===D
Master X 24 @ Aug 16th 2006 3:31PM
I sent this in this morning wheres my credit
Super Duper MArio @ Aug 16th 2006 3:32PM
NO way... its M$ they are not that dumb , maybe a port over to HD-DVD but not only...
gman @ Aug 16th 2006 3:34PM
donnnnnt worry, guys. One they see sony's attempt at cramming blu-ray down people's throats fail, they won't want to head down the same path
KR @ Aug 16th 2006 3:34PM
I admit laughing at #7. Happy?
No way. Microsoft enjoys raping their customers for every dollar they have, but I doubt they are this stupid. Add-ons fail. I just hope MS isn't arrogant enough to think that just because they are MS they can pull it off.
Mack Swift @ Aug 16th 2006 3:36PM
I agree with number 5. It all has to do with the install base. Right now though, if you already have an X360 and are flirting with HD movies, the add-on is right up your alley.
Unless Microsoft has some hidden killer app ready for the HD-DVD add-on (some super HD 1080p version of Halo 3), I highly doubt they'd get a large install base right off the bat. 2 years down the road? Maybe.
Bodie @ Aug 16th 2006 3:36PM
We already have PC games released on both CD (multiple) and DVD. I could see them doing something similar.
"Elder Scrolls V, now available on HD-DVD or 2-disc set."
DaveC @ Aug 16th 2006 3:36PM
Remember though Microsoft have stated that they don't want consumers to force people to buy the HD-DVD drive if they don't want it. So making games on HD-DVD would kinda go back on that and make them no better than Sony with Blu-Ray. If they do make HD-DVD games I reckon they may even release it as a DVD also so those with the HD-DVD drive can buy it but people without it can still get it on multiple discs.
LunarDuality @ Aug 16th 2006 3:36PM
I highly doubt this ever happening. It's a lesson well learned in the industry; Don't segment your install base.
The only way this could work is if a multi-DVD game came out, and the HD-DVD version was just the exact same game on only one disc. Other than that, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot.
Arjun Chhabra @ Aug 16th 2006 3:36PM
If this happens...
A) XBOX Fanboys will be forced to shut up about the PS3's price; $300 for Core 360 + $200 for HD-DVD vs $500 for PS3 with BluRay AND 20GB HD, or $100 more for 60GB, WiFi, memory cards, etc.
B) The rising prices to play games will lead more to the Wii, boosting its sales.
marcin @ Aug 16th 2006 3:37PM
NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.
TOO MANY PEOPLE DONT WANT AN HD FORMAT, HENCE PS3s SOON TO BE FAILURE.
ITS TOO EXPENSIVE TO GAME IN HD.
Thryon @ Aug 16th 2006 3:40PM
This could work, if they supply all new games on hybrid HD-DVDs. These special HD-DVDs would contain both the HD-DVD and regular DVD9 version of the game.
coolyguy3000 @ Aug 16th 2006 3:41PM
well wouldnt the games look and play better on hd-dvd?!?!
the only reason i hate that add-on is because its an "ADD-ON" and it looks ugly just standing there ewwwwwww
MetaHuman @ Aug 16th 2006 3:44PM
LOL such an obvious comparison that I missed it! Sega CD and 32X! However, without a power cradle it won't be as awesome because you won't end up with a Tank Console.
With the drive being external, is running the game from it even feasible? All I know about this add-on is that it was only for watching movies.
Anyways, I hate the idea of upgrades that don't come with a game. Maybe they'll ship Halo 3 with those $100-200 add-ons. I also hate that coming out of the launch gate the console is already in need of an upgrade if true. Says a lot about how much of the system's power companies are taking advantage of. :/
Master X 24 @ Aug 16th 2006 3:45PM
(((We already have PC games released on both CD (multiple) and DVD. I could see them doing something similar.
"Elder Scrolls V, now available on HD-DVD or 2-disc set.")))
I agree #12 make it where u can buy it for the HD DVD and make it where u can buy it on the DVd format just with more disc.
Call of duty 2 is a disc game for the pc why whats the big deal with 2 disc 360 games.
Jeff @ Aug 16th 2006 3:48PM
"TOO MANY PEOPLE DONT WANT AN HD FORMAT"
Why the hell would you not want an HD format?
That's like saying "too many people don't want chocolate!" or "too many people don't want a Ferrari!"
Don't confuse a combination of ignorance and pricing pressure with an active dislike.
And don't confuse your caps-lock key with something you should actually use, either.
Ethan @ Aug 16th 2006 3:49PM
adn so my gif starts to become reality.
JPRacer @ Aug 16th 2006 3:51PM
I was going to call this BS then I read Thryon comment and remember that hybrid is possible with HD-DVD and this could be a cool idea for special edtion of games. You could have the game, the special features and video all on one disc. You could have the Halo movie with Halo 3 on the same disc. Or you could have game compilations.
But I'm pretty sure this will never happen and the HD-DVD drive will be use for movies only.
dsub @ Aug 16th 2006 3:53PM
Where does this "MS is just out to get all your money" logic come from?
Sure, MS is a giganto corporate super power, and sure they want your money, but there is a difference between making a smart financial move and blatantly lying to your customers just to squeeze more money from there wallets.
If MS made games that REQUIRED the HD-DVD drive, they'd be committing suicide. If a game does require it, I'd expect it to be a rare case, much like FFXI on the PS2 requiring the HDD. You people make it sound like MS has come out and said "All 360 titles released after Holiday 2006 will require the HDDVD drive to be played"
Everyone here is over-exaggerating something that hasn't even been announced.
jc @ Aug 16th 2006 3:54PM
Not likely, and not wanted...
MS would run into the same problems that Sony will have with the PS3: long load times. The transfer rate from HD-DVD and BluRay is much slower than current high-speed DVD players.
Sonofield @ Aug 16th 2006 3:55PM
Can you say 32X?
dsub @ Aug 16th 2006 3:56PM
jc-
you hit the nail right on the head. We must also keep in mind that said HDDVD drive will be transfering this data over a USB cable. Which basically bring loading times to a near snails pace. The only thing the HDDVD drive could do with a USB connection is play movies, that's it.
Thomas Crymes @ Aug 16th 2006 3:56PM
MS will not fragment the user base. The only way they would entertain the idea of releasing HD-DVD games is if the userbase exceeded 70% of 360 owners. Add-ons generally peak at 10 or 15%. It makes no sense to alienate the users when the biggest game, Oblivion, (actual content not movies) on the system didn't even fill one DVD.
MS isn't saying no only because if the add-on takes off, they would consider building it into the unit and going from there.
lothar @ Aug 16th 2006 3:58PM
There has been discussion (on various Home Theater / Tech forums ) that its possible for a HD-DVD to have a standard DVD on the other side of the disc. If thats the case then this could also be applied to games so one side of the disc would be the "enhanced" ver whereas the other would be the "standard".
More than likely I doubt this to be the case, as stated in another thread Oblivion doesnt use a full disc and that game is huge. Sony pre-renders all their cut scenes and with them using mpg2 they're going to need that space. With hardware like this there really isnt any reason to pre-render cut scenes the system can handle it thus requiring less space for movies.
If developers start using procedural graphic techniques and other smart coding practices the size of games should drop. There wouldnt be any need to exceed the current media sizes. Look at the game kkrieger its 96K and its graphics are amazing.
DustBoogie @ Aug 16th 2006 4:01PM
As many have said before, the only way it could work is if they released two different versions of multi-disc games.
What I hope they wouldn't do if they went that route would be to have the regular edition be DVD9 and the collector's or special edition with added content be HD-DVD. I like to buy special editions, and that would stop really quick if they started doing that.
zero2dash @ Aug 16th 2006 4:02PM
I wouldn't be surprised, they've already pulled this $#!t in the past.
Let's revisit history, shall we?
initially -
1. "Everyone gets a hard drive!"
months later -
2. "Only Premium bundles come with a hard drive but it won't be required for games."
more months later -
3. "Oblivion requires the hard drive." (as does that one import title that no one bought, the title escapes me at the moment)
Go ahead and screw over your userbase and fans even more, guys. Go ahead and do it again...for, what, the fourth time?
Now they say "only movies on the HD-DVD player" but I guarantee you that we'll see HD-DVD required games soon enough once the player hits, and then there will be two camps - those of public outcry screaming "Microsoft stuck it in with no KY again!" and the other group saying "well I've gotta play 'insert game title here' so I'll accept the "no KY treatment" as well and pay up". This is ridiculous.
You know what? I think I just decided not to purchase a 360 over a Ps3. Because at least Sony's got the balls enough to screw me right in front of my face with a $600 price tag (and offer true digital HD output through HDMI), rather than saying "pay $400 for this and $200 for this so you can play EVERY GAME, but don't count on the HD-DVD player having HDMI cause it's component ONLY" (according to Gamespot who linked off several other reputable sites).
F that BS. I'm by no means a fanboy, a Microsoft hater, or a Sony fan (because I actually *despise* Sony) but now all the people who complained about a $600 price tag need to STFU because Microsoft will be doing the same thing, just not in one fell swoop.
LordMinogue @ Aug 16th 2006 4:05PM
This smells like other rumors
"Backwards Compatibility updates are over for the 360"
"No used games for the 360"
"Sony becomes buisness partners with Immersion"
"Hezbolah converts to Judaism"
Ubersnuber @ Aug 16th 2006 4:05PM
#16 marcin:
How do you know they will fail? btw, please save those "cap-facts" for the gametrailers.com forums. Im sure there are are more than enough 14 year old fanboys you can hang with.
#20 Master X 24:
Because you only use one of the discs on the PC while you would have to switch discs on the 360. (since you cant exclude users who doesnt have HDD)
Urbanstorm @ Aug 16th 2006 4:12PM
@25 Do you own a xbox360 ? Because I do , and for a lot of the games (*cough* elder IV , fight night,zero,burnout,Call of duty*cough*)the load times are down right shameful.
Also I dout that MS will jump ship not after all the hard work they trying to explain to game makers that DVD9 is all they need.
Also some people give MS to much credit on not being dumb ..............Remember WindowsME
sdfsdf @ Aug 16th 2006 4:14PM
"MS will not fragment the user base"
L
O
L
!111!!!!!!!!!!!
Ms is more than capable, ( or uncapable) they retarded / ruined the only thing I liked about the xbox . standard HDD. The core version crippled the system to a ps2 level.amateurs. Now 360 dosnt use your hdd anymore. xbox 1.5 ( 1.6 with HD-DVD)
by the way. POS3 is a POS, no standard HDD can change
that.
Brad Lee @ Aug 16th 2006 4:15PM
I can't imagine MS would make HDDVD games unless HDDVD really took off. If only %10 of the 360 community adopts this add on, it wouldn't make any sense to make HDDVD games for it. However, if HDDVD takes off and a good number of 360 users purchase this addon, making games on HDDVD would really boost sales of the add on. That is, if a killer ap came as an HDDVD game only.
However, I'd be really pissed if I had to buy an addon to play a new game. Hopefully MS gets their heads out of their asses and realizes that is a really bad idea.
Krak Monkey @ Aug 16th 2006 4:19PM
How would multiple disks work on the 360? Whenever you open the disk-tray you are sent back to the desktop or menu. Maybe a patch that would allow you to open it without resarting the game, but then wouldn't that piracy easier?
pandaboy99 @ Aug 16th 2006 4:29PM
Can someone say sega CD/ 32X!!!?!??!?! AHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA XBOX360 FANBOYS SUCK IT!
Ian @ Aug 16th 2006 4:30PM
I doubt that MS would so stupid as to do this, but if they did I can say that I will sell my 360 for a Wii if it happens. I love my 360 but if any company were stupid enough to do that then it wouldn't be worth keeping.
Thryon @ Aug 16th 2006 4:35PM
zero2dash:
Just for you buddy, I removed the hard drive from my Xbox 360, slipped in a memory card, and started a new game of Oblivion.......BEHOLD...IT'S ALIVE...
The game played...and not only played, but played well. Load time about the same. This may change as I get more into the game...but I can tell you now....OBLIVION DOES NOT REQUIRE A HARD DRIVE.
I have 17 games, and not one REQUIRES a hard drive. Now my XBLA games do require a hard drive (but MS told me so from the start).
BMWM3P @ Aug 16th 2006 4:39PM
Can you say xbox 720? MS is poking all you ms bitches right where you like it.
jc @ Aug 16th 2006 4:39PM
Urban, I am guessing that you are talking to me...
Yes I have an X360, but here are the facts:
DVD transfer speed - 120+ mbps
HD-DVD transfer speed - 36.55 mbps
Blu-Ray transfer speed - 54 mbps
If I were MS, I would wait for holographic media with 300 GB of storage capacity and a 160 Mbit/s transfer rate... due out within the year (Maxell & InPhase).
Canadian Geese @ Aug 16th 2006 4:40PM
I doubt this will happen on the 360.
The only reason the size of a game would ever surpass current DVD's is through extra high definition content and cut-scenes.
First of all, adding this extra content would cost money, and developers would be less likely to create it knowing that a smaller install-base would be purchasing it. If they opted put the game on multiple disks, then they would be favoring one hardware over another, which would create a backlash from the customer.
The only way this would work is if they released a game on both HD-DVD and DVD, and you could choose which media you preferred, however since both games will be able to fit on one disk (no matter which media you prefer), and it would cost more to produce on HD-DVD, this means it would cost more to buy the game on HD-DVD, which wouldn't make sense.
MS is happy with 720p. You don't need more space to create a better engine or better gameplay. You only need more space for higher resolutions and more cut scenes. 720p means no higher res, and you would only be increasing the cost of the game by adding more cut scenes. MS has made it clear that they are trying to cut the costs of games, not increase them.
I seriously doubt this idea will ever materialize on the 360.
boots @ Aug 16th 2006 4:41PM
360 gets their Sega CD/32X. Yay!!!!!!!!
If true, even if games come on both formats, this signals how right was Sony in adding a next-gen format from the beginning instead of rushing out to be the first in the market.
steve @ Aug 16th 2006 4:41PM
I'm pretty sure this will most likely not happen. If it does, and sony makes the ps4 a video game system, not a home entertainment POS, I might go for the ps4. Wait... f*** that, I'll be a pc gamer.
But think about it this way. When one of their reps said that noone cared about BC, they got tore out. Then they retracted their statements and apologized. They never even stopped making BC or anything, they merely said something and then said they were sorry. They obviously don't want to piss off their user base, which is a good thing. Anyways, games don't need a HD-DVD to be HD, and that is what having in-game engine cut scenes are for.
Rich @ Aug 16th 2006 4:48PM
Why would you not want this to happen??? Does everyone here really believe that in 5 or 6 years a DVD is going to be able to compete with HD??? Now im for the PS3 so maybe thats why im thinking this but what bad things can come out of the companies moving to HD gaming??? And if price is your only concern... then save up... its not that hard??
jc @ Aug 16th 2006 4:51PM
I should clarify... the holographic (Tapestry Media) idea was only meant as sarcasm, as the readers could cost 100 times the estimated HD-DVD X360 add on.