Play catch up with Battlestar Galactica on the 360

running to 360...

Considering that the SD download clocks in at over 400Mb, I think it's just as well it isn't available in HD, the file size would be huge.

MS really need to get a streaming capability into the Marketplace for big video files like this, that or a much bigger (and cheaper) HDD.

Well it's kinda impossible to offer a full 1 hr television show in High Definition to download for a system that has a measly 20GB HD.

They really shot themselves in the foot on that one. Either figure out streaming HD video, or get the 100GB+ HDs out already.

Although it says it's only available to fans in the United States, is it possible for non-Americans to download it in a way similar to how you can download Japanese demos by making another Xbox Live Silver account and setting your country to Japanese (like this: http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/how-to/get-an-english-demo-off-japanese-xbox-live-188515.php)?

Microsoft Xbox360: Wavering commitment to HD.

Understandable, yet still disappointing.

Spoiled spoiled people...
You get the show ahead and you complain it's not on HD. Just wait for the regular showing ok?

How many consoles ever gave something as valuable like that for free? Can you name me one?

My favorite show by far. Guess I'll have to settle for the show itself in HD on the tv. No biggie.

Yeah BOO to microsoft for not catering to the 10% of everyone that have HD. I swear this HD stuff is making me sick.

Forgive my ignorance, but is Sci-Fi even available in HD? Neither of the Cable Companies I've had has offered it.

Wouldn't it be in 480p, which is Enhanced Definition, not standard? Leshrac is right, though. Most TV shows aren't available higher than that - unless it's major network, Discovery Channel, or HBO.

I am going to have to search around for the stats but I thought over 60% of Xbox 360 owners had High Def. Oh, Here we are

"Sixty percent of Xbox 360 owners also have an HDTV — that's compared to nearly 20% of households that have a digital TV (some of which display video of less quality than full HD)."
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-01-04-xbox360-hd-dvd_x.htm

Microsoft knows these stats, its kinda silly that they didnt expect 60% of their user based to want all their content in HD.....Plus Microsoft is the one pushing the "HD Era, 720p or Bust!" blah blah... For people using the "size" excuse, WMP9 can do HD in a small file format (I have DVDs that have and HD version in WMP9...http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/may03/05-01t2pr.mspx). And Streaming is also a possiblity. Microsoft hasnt planned this "HD revolution" very well....

Yes, BG broadcasts in HD.

BTW, it's Microsoft that was so gung-ho about HD, guys... When they talked last year about the 360 offering the only HD experience for 2005 were you guys out for lunch? Obviously, in HD, this show is too large a download, and their 20g hard-drive isn't the best place for a one-hour HD program... But still, they talked up HD, so I expect it.

It's OK to point out when they waiver on supporting it. You know, like people bring up the 'emotion engine,' the Sony HDD for the PS2, all that stuff.

I believe this show is carried (in HD) on Universal HD, which is owned by the same company that owns Sci-Fi. Can you guess who that is? I don't have this channel though.

Thank you Nootau, nice info

Belcho,

It is carried in HD through Universal But only in Reruns. Universal Gets the shows avouple of weeks after they air and they re broadcast in HD

Lets see how many free tv shows/movies sony will give us in 1080P. Add to that free music, in high definition as well.

Yeah, for $600, we'll get free HD programming. From Sony. Meanwhile, your BluRay drive will be useless for anything other than games. Sony's track record for technology isn't that great: betamax anyone; or how about minidisc?

Oh, and did they say anything about full 1 hour downloads? I saw it as "the story so far". Granted, I know nothing about it, or the show, but I was just wondering.

Its really funny, but alot of XBL videos have an option for a 720p download or 480p download.....yet they couldnt do it for this. If i want a 1-2Gig download, so be it. If i want a faster download in less quality, so be it. Give me a choice!

What all of you have falled to realize is that Microsoft has no rights to this content. Why hasn't any realized that the Scifi Channel may have not offered an HD version of the video to Microsoft? Scifi Channel has all of the power here. You should be questioning them not Microsoft. If it turns out that this was due on part to Microsoft not offering a HD version then let'em have it.

SciFi is owned by NBC, as is Universal HD...

SciFi is a standard def only channel last I checked...but they may upgrade it if they can ever afford it...

The 360 was built on HD before anything else.

Now we have crap SD content making its way into the marketplace? Lame.

I don't think the show is even shot in HD. So why would they upscale a standard def show into HD? I borrowed friends DVD of the show and it was all in 4:3. If they made it "HD" it would be stretched and grainy. You "high-def cronies" need to do some research before you complain.

If the 360 could decode DivX/XviD then the size of the download wouldnt be an issue and it could easily be in HD. Seriously MS, why are you holding us hostage on this?

I'd expect it simply cam down to the owner of the content not wanting to give away the HD version, reserving it for their paying customers on cable/satellite. Which puts it beyond Microsoft's control. As HD becomes more common this will be less of an issue but for now it's a premium item.

#23

Don't be silly. I guarantee you the show is not shot in D1 (standard definition). It's either on HD or film. In either case producing a good quality HD version is not a problem.

#24

DiVX/Xvid doesn't offer anything that Microsoft cannot do with their own WMV9/VC-1 technology already in use on the 360. Why should they license something when they already own a technology that provides the same functionality and is already in use in the delivery of HD content. VC-1 is standard in HD-DVD and supported by the Blu-ray spec.

Microsoft has long demonstrated HD content in WMV on the PC and plenty has been made available on the 360. The issue isn't capability, it is a question of cooperation from the IP owner.

Free?

What so free about my XBox live membership? I had to pay a yearly charge.

Its another example of Microsoft and there decision making skills. It wasnt only SD, it was un-watchable on my HD tv. It was worse than SD......

I guess this is what we can expect for the XBOX 360's future. Always a little late and out of date should be Microsoft's motto.