Nintendo doesn't like next-gen optical discs
by Justin Murray 
{ Nov 13th 2006 at 1:25PM }
Nintendo Canada's Marketing Director, Pierre-Paul Trépanier, doesn't appear to like HD-DVD or Blu-ray all too much. The sentiment doesn't shock us, especially given Nintendo's history of format choice. If anything, we can set our watch by such statements.
Trépanier told GamesIndustry.biz, "I think forcing a decision on consumers would certainly not be part of Nintendo's strategy." You mean like forcing us to upgrade to a DVD-enhanced Wii if we decide we want to play DVDs? He goes on to say that gaming consoles should focus on playing games -- which hardly explains the Wii's blackboard capabilities, among other nifty non-gaming options. The ire toward HD-DVD is confusing considering the drive is an optional add-on to the Xbox 360 and won't play any games.
Trépanier's opinions are all well and good, but we're getting irritated by the word "forcing" being tossed around like an old football. There are no documented cases of Sony busting into someones home, kicking them in soft places, taking $600 out of their wallet and leaving a shiny PS3 as they climb into their black helicopters. Sony isn't forcing Blu-ray onto anyone; they're putting it into their home console. It's up to the consumer to decide if the price premium the PS3's Blu-ray inclusion entailed is worth it to them. Whether or not Blu-ray is regarded as a great addition to gaming or a lame Trojan Horse has yet to be seen.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sloan Ranger @ Nov 13th 2006 1:31PM
If Sony took out Blu-ray and cut the PS3 price accordingly, I would be MUCH more enthusiastic about getting a PS3 sooner vs. later.
raid168 @ Nov 13th 2006 1:32PM
nice article,nintendo will lose!!
JAC @ Nov 13th 2006 1:46PM
They(Sony) are indeed forcing you, I'd like to buy a PS3 but there's no way in hell I'm going to spend 600$ to support Sony's blue ray incursion, in the case of the Xbox is different because you can get it without the add on, which is great and the way it should be. I'm sure some will come out and say that blue ray is needed for the games and to them I say, sure, whatever helps you sleep at night after paying 600$ for a blue ray player, I mean, a PS3.
Crrash @ Nov 13th 2006 1:36PM
what she obviously means is that if you really want the PS3s awesome graphics and "awesome" games then you have to also buy the bundled bluray player, which is worse than last gens DVD player bundling because bluray might fail and later have no support
Hirsbrunner @ Nov 13th 2006 1:34PM
"Sony isn't forcing Blu-ray onto anyone; they're putting it into their home console. It's up to the consumer to decide if the price premium the PS3's Blu-ray inclusion entailed is worth it to them."
I disagree. Sony is forcing Blu-ray onto any and everyone that wants a PS3, whether they have an HDTV or not.
"You wanna PS3? Okay, but it's gonna cost ya 'cause we've put Blu-ray in there whether you want it or not."
Drop A Load @ Nov 13th 2006 1:34PM
Wrong ....it's forcing. You heards
Ves @ Nov 13th 2006 1:34PM
While Sony doesn't "Force" you per se to buy thier console. If you want to play a PS3 game then you must pay the extra premium cost of blu-ray as well. You cannot play a PS3 game without paying for blu-ray. So yeah they are forcing blu-ray onto thier PS3 customers. Thier hardcore customers will pay prety much anything so it's no big deal to them. Where this gets interesting is after all of the fanbois have thier PS3s, will the regular gamers stand for it. When anyone can get a PS3 will anyone want a PS3?
Ves
JoseMiguel @ Nov 13th 2006 1:35PM
"Sony isn't forcing Blu-ray onto anyone; they're putting it into their home console"
But they do force it on people that want to get a ps3, that would rather not have blu ray at the expense of the higher price tag.
So they're indeed forcing it to some people. But it's nice to see you want to spin it to such a simple issue as "if you don't like it don't buy it". That's plain childlish.
Todd @ Nov 13th 2006 1:35PM
"You mean like forcing us to upgrade to a DVD-enhanced Wii if we decide we want to play DVDs?"
There's nothing short of force if a choice is optional, and according the word "decide" in this ver quote apparently an option is available. Force only occurs when there is no option.
Miniboss @ Nov 13th 2006 1:41PM
"Whether or not Blu-ray is regarded as a great addition to gaming or a lame Trojan Horse has yet to be seen."
I'm gonna go with "lame Trojan Horse". Gears of War certainly wasn't hurt by the extra space. And I'm sure Resistance could have fit on a DVD as well if they wouldn't have had all of those MPEGs and multiple language audio files.
But you're right... Sony's not forcing me to buy their $600 console. However, if I were to get a PS3, I would have to buy the Blu-Ray component, no matter what.
You can spin it however you want, but in the end, that's precisely what it is... spin.
Justin @ Nov 13th 2006 1:42PM
You do have a choice: don't buy a PS3. There isn't any rule that says you have to own one. As such, Sony isn't forcing anything on you. We are all aware of the BluRay player in the PS3, and as such, we factor that into the purchase decision. For example, I won't be getting a PS3 because of that. I will be getting a Wii, mainly because it is a non-movie playing device. I was simply pointing out the irony of Nintendo developing a Wii option and saying how they never force anything. Nintendo has essentially "forced" you to not own it.
Game consoles are luxury items. We can't be forced to own them. Demanding we buy a PS3 before the supermarket will sell us food is forcing, putting BluRay into the PS3 isn't. We can just tell Sony to go suck a lemon and we won't be any worse off.
Stuart Moulder @ Nov 13th 2006 11:39PM
"Sony isn't forcing Blu-ray onto anyone; they're putting it into their home console."
Read that sentence again... So by your own words, Sony IS forcing Blu-ray onto us IF we want the next Playstation. I might want a Playstation while having zero interest in next gen video formats. I'm not given that choice and that lack of choice is reflected in the outrageous price being asked for the PS/3.
I'd buy your POV if the PS/3 was at price parity with the Xbox 360. As it is, Sony is effectively "bundling" (where is the DOJ when you really need them?). And I'm not buying.
EmberGleam @ Nov 13th 2006 1:43PM
This little article by Justin seems to be very negative towards explaining Nintendo's strategy. I for one got way too many DVD players to even bother with the Wii DVD player. I can pick up a jank DVD player for under 20 bucks. The option is there should you want to have it unlike Sony's console in which there is no option at all. It is there whether you want it or not. Justin also wrote that "Sony isn't forcing Blu-ray onto anyone; they're putting it into their home console. It's up to the consumer to decide if the price premium the PS3's Blu-ray inclusion entailed is worth it to them." But the consumer HAS NO CHOICE whether they want it now or not. It is there and it is there to stay.
Justin seems to be confusing Sony's strategy of filling homes with a multimedia-capable all-in-one-console versus Nintendo's strategy of creating a console with a main focus on games, gaming, and family fun.
Confusion and weak statements seems to be focus of Justin's statements.
White Cloud @ Nov 13th 2006 1:43PM
Finally, some common sense. Don't want either a Wii, PS3 or 360? Then don't buy one. And stop complaining if you don't.
steveo @ Nov 13th 2006 1:43PM
It amazes me how similar the PSP and the PS3 are. Excuse me while i watch a UMD.
Wolfrider @ Nov 13th 2006 1:43PM
What a remarkably childish, rambling, and slanted piece of journalism. Congrats Joystiq. My respect for you manages to dip even further.
Sam @ Nov 13th 2006 1:46PM
Its already been said, but methinks you've got this all wrong. If your going to buy a PS3, you HAVE to buy the Bluray player along with it, which bumps up the price, and no one really wants anyway.
On the other hand, your statment about Wiis DVD player is exacly NOT forcing a DVD player on us, as it is an OPTIONAL add-on. If the Wii had a DVD player on it, it would have no doubt put the price up higher for somthing that most people already have 2 of anyway!
Kintaro @ Nov 13th 2006 6:42PM
Force... what's forcing someone? Sony has issued an ultimatum to the gaming community: "buy a blu-ray player or you can't play our games or use our console." it seems that Sony is doing everything in its power to COERCE people to use their optical disk format. when nintendo speaks through its psuedopods to say that gaming consoles should focus on playing games, the what is unsaid is "and not focus on the prosperity of the company's other projects and the projects of sister/daughter companies by attempting to take as much money as possible from the consumer."
much of the gaming industry is trying to take us (the gamer/consumer) for more and more: subscription fees, microtransactions, and "included" and VERY expensive optical disk formats.
Nintendo has a different philosophy, and if you don't like the way their officials speak, just listen to their price tag.
Urbanstorm @ Nov 14th 2006 9:58AM
Oh please, some of you make it seem like they are just useing Blu-Ray for movies and not for there games.Can you really blame sony for being this cocky ?
I mean they jump started the CD and DVD in consoles did you guys really, i mean really think they wasnt going to try another format on you ?
Also if you dont have an HDTV then why are you worrying about the $600 price tag, get the $500 one or just wait it out.
Some of you act like Final Fantasy 13 , Devil May Cry 4, Metal Gear soild 4, Tekken 6 ,Soul calibur 4 are coming out on Nov.17..... Let's get real people next gen doesnt start for PS3 until those games come out.
Now shut the hell up and see my in a game of gears of war (gamertag: Urbanstorm)
32_Footsteps @ Nov 13th 2006 1:49PM
Perhaps the better turn of phrase is "tricking," or perhaps "duping." Honestly, I think it's a nasty trick that Sony is pulling by making the PS3 have Blu-Ray instead of DVD. All available info suggests that the price of the PS3 is being inflated by $300 because it has a Blu-Ray drive instead of a DVD drive.
I honestly feel that it's a nasty trick that Sony is inflating the price of the PS3 because of an optical drive I don't want. I like the idea of needing 1/3 as many discs to hold a game, but not enough to pay an extra $300 for it.
Marty @ Nov 13th 2006 1:50PM
Come on Mr. Justin Murray, we are not fools. Argue semantics of the word "forcing" all you want - we know what Sony is trying to do with the Blue-Ray drive.
It doesn't take much more than a weak pulse and an iota of brain activity to detect the Trojan Horse that is clinging to the inside of the PS3, the reason that the device was not put out a year ago, and the bane of all who hope to finance a PS3.
The Blue-Ray drive is indeed being forced onto consumers - Sony hopes to make their format king by taking advantage of their loyal fan base and forcing them to buy the drive if they want to play their "next-gen" games. These people were going to get a PS3 regardless if the BRD is included or not, and Sony recognizes this... and forces it upon them in order to garner the number of players across the world.
Dracula Jones @ Nov 13th 2006 1:50PM
What a bullshit post.
"Nintendo has essentially "forced" you to not own it."
Oh my god, now I'll never be able to watch DVDs because the Wii was going to be the only DVD player ever! I suppose Nintendo is also forcing me not to own an Xbox 360 because it doesn't play those either.
MetaHuman @ Nov 13th 2006 1:52PM
Nintendo isn't making the Wii to be the media-lover's sweetheart. It's 'marketing goal/evil scheme' is to market videogames to people. The difference should be obvious, I hope.
"Whether or not Blu-ray is regarded as a great addition to gaming or a lame Trojan Horse has yet to be seen."
Um... let's see...
they've got steep competition with HD-DVD.
Yeah, it's not like Sony's really gonna be lax about pushing their own media formats if they think that despite the 'luxury' of PS3 a userbase of 50+million is guaranteed.
Gears of War IF it used HD-DVD would still have enough space at about 20GBs. Right now I think 25-50GB is overkill for many devs as gamers may come to expect them filled with content.
get over it @ Nov 13th 2006 1:52PM
so am i being "forced" to use the Wii motion sensing remote and nunchuk add on if i want to play a nintendo game even though i prefer a standard game controller?
i guess so.
quit forcing things on me nintendo.
USP45 @ Nov 13th 2006 1:54PM
Ít's just as simple as the article above stated, if you want a PS3 you buy and if you're too cheap and don't like cutting edge technology then you don't buy. Nobody's forcing you to buy anything the PS3 has blu-ray like it or not the choice it's simple buy or don't buy. If you're a cheap bastard then buy a shity wii, if you're just plain dumb then buy a 360 you'll pay more in the long run and if you want a real next gen machine then you buy a PS3.
Marty @ Nov 13th 2006 1:53PM
I should also add that I don't think many games that are not PS3 exclusive will take advantage of the extra space - they can't go around using 80gb for a game that's going to go cross-platform (and thus, on DVD formats for 360 and Wii), now can they?
Jonn @ Nov 13th 2006 1:55PM
Kinda like how Nintendo "forces" gamers to rebuy old games, buy accessories, extra controllers, an Wii Ethernet adapter, the DVD dongle, Zelda: TP on the Wii, and to "suffer" through "last-gen" graphics to use the controller.
The sad thing is, I've actually heard people say all of those. The last one just minutes ago, on digg.
MosquitoControl @ Nov 13th 2006 2:03PM
The reason why I think the BluRay is "forced" is because it isn't necessary for gaming, and Sony isn't including it there for the benefit of the gamer. Sony is putting it there in order to help their next-gen media battle.
If I want to play Resistance, and I do, I need to buy a BluRay player. If that happens Sony will get to claim I am part of an installed user base of BluRay players, and therefore likely to buy a BluRay disc, and therefore a reason why Hollywood should flock to the BluRay format.
I will never, ever watch a movie on my PS3, assuming I buy one. I am also against both BluRay and HD-DVD at this moment, and would rather something more directly related to the battle be a determining factor, not adoption due to gaming.
Basically I'm forced between using my $100 to vote for BluRay, or not play the handful of games I'd want to play.
If BluRay was already an established standard I wouldn't care. But it isn't. It's highly disputed, and Sony is using unwitting gamers to help decide the dispute.
Ln @ Nov 13th 2006 2:02PM
"You mean like forcing us to upgrade to a DVD-enhanced Wii if we decide we want to play DVDs?"
Good grief. You people are getting worse each time I visit.
How exactly is Nintendo forcing you to buy the DVD enhanced version? In fact they're giving you choice - buy a Wii, don’t buy one, or wait for the DVD version if you so desperately need one.
Above all, they're not forcing us to pay for a DVD player which many of us may not even require. But if *you* want a DVD Wii, wait till it’s released and buy one – it’s not “forced” on you; it’s called “shopping”.
Although, you're probably aware of this yourself. Seems the tactic at Joystiq HQ is to sprinkle braindead bullshit into articles, and then watch the number of comments per day increase. I don’t know why you guys do it - ad revenues maybe?
Marty @ Nov 13th 2006 2:04PM
"It's just as simple as the article above stated, if you want a PS3 you buy and if you're too cheap and don't like cutting edge technology then you don't buy. Nobody's forcing you to buy anything the PS3 has blu-ray like it or not the choice it's simple buy or don't buy. If you're a cheap bastard then buy a shity wii, if you're just plain dumb then buy a 360 you'll pay more in the long run and if you want a real next gen machine then you buy a PS3."
Hehe, did you type this up in a different language and then use a web translator to post it in English?
The PS3 is hardly "cutting edge." The cell processor has not been in development this whole time, they were likely ready to launch with it only a few months after the 360 came out. IF it's faster than the three 3.2 Ghz CPU's in the 360, it's not by much. And the bottleneck of only 256 Mb ram (last-gen specs) you will not see any games using lavish textures like Gears of War.
Don't buy into the hype, and try studying English instead of wasting your time on the internet all day.
Mal F4cti0n @ Nov 13th 2006 2:04PM
Funny thing is....
Any Sony Fanboi out there would love to have Sony bust into their home, kick them in soft places, take out $600 from their wallets and leave a shiny PS3 as they climb into their black helicopters. Probably preferrable to standing out in the cold for a couple of nights.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
ROFL
js @ Nov 13th 2006 2:26PM
Who. Cares. Nintendo criticizes Sony and Microsoft's consoles, news at 11.
Frankly, this just seems like another opportunity for Joystiq to annoy Nintendo fanboys.
Marty @ Nov 13th 2006 2:07PM
Plus, most people will admit that the $600 price tag for a PS3 (console-only) is expensive. We're not all "cheap bastards" just because we don't have our parent's money to throw around at idiotic gaming machines.
Real people have jobs, pay rent, pay bills, and don't have an extra $1,000 sitting around just for a gaming console, a couple of games, and some controllers.
x876543 @ Nov 13th 2006 2:09PM
Listen I like the 360 method, want HD-DVD, buy this addon. If Sony is sure you want BluRay for movies, why don't they drop the price of the PS3 $200, and charge you $200 to activate BluRay movie playback? They won't do that because they know you won't buy it!
Scooby Doo @ Nov 13th 2006 2:14PM
Put me in the camp of those who view Sony's PS3 as the Trojan Horse for Blu-Ray. I actually consider myself a very moderate individual, but considering Sony's stake in the Hi-Def Movie Format wars, you have to at least question their motives.
I read this article this morning. I usually check the new on NTDOY.PK every morning and saw this quip. I saw two things in the article. First, Mr. Trepanier's statements seem to be in line with their marketing strategy of not competing with the PS3/360. They've gone out of their way to differentiate themselves from the competition. By indicating that Nintendo wouldn't even get into this 'format war' they're sending a clear message to consumers that they won't use the same tactics of Microsoft and Sony.
Secondly, it incorporates their 'all-inclusive' strategy. Nintendo is giving off the impression that their old draconian ways of the late eighties and early nineties are a thing of the past. Their current system has USB ports, standard Wi-Fi, and uses SD cards, none of which is a proprietary system to Nintendo. Perhaps this is just a wiser, more humble Nintendo?
Borat @ Nov 13th 2006 2:19PM
I remember the time when Nintendo didn't like the CD (n64) or DVD (Gamecube) either.
Colin @ Nov 13th 2006 2:21PM
Some Japanese dude just broke into my house...ordered a PS3 on my Ebay account and then went UFC on my package.
Not sure if he was with Sony though.
Davinche @ Nov 13th 2006 2:26PM
You lot are missing the point, and its really not that hard to see. Its really stupid that I have to repeat what Justin in another way but nonetheless...
The Playstation 3 is a games console with a Blu-ray player. That is what it is. You cannot take it out because then it is no longer what the PS3 is meant to be, which is again, a BLU-RAY PLAYER AND A PS3. Not a games console separate. Understood?
Do we all want a Blu-ray player and a games console combined? No, not at all, but thats why we are not forced to buy one, which is what Justin was saying. Likewise Nintendo cant complain about a console & blu ray player for being what it is. The point of the PS3 is too have a blu-ray player inside of it. Does it have to have one for gaming? No not really, multiple disks will not kill anyone, but thats not the point because the PS3 IS also a Blu-ray player which is the only way to watch HD quality movies.
The only argument is that lots of us (including me) wish we only had a PS3 gaming machine with maybe a Blu ray player as an add-on, but thats not what the PS3 is. That's a a hypothetical console that Sony is not producing. You can however get a console with out a next gen player automatically installed in with the 360 and Wii. Choice people. One does, the others don't. One has it inside already which makes it much cheaper than making it as a separate player, one has it as an add on so people can make that choice later on, and the other dosen't have one at all.
Finally, the point about the Wii dvd version is that the current Wii is using dvd disks already. It could play dvd movies with no problem however Nintendo has disabled this feature purposely so they can sell it as the "new and improved" version later on. Thats a choice again, which you and I can all make.
Thats about It I guess.
rowd149 @ Nov 13th 2006 9:26PM
BUUUZZZ Wrong, but good try! If you want the next Sony console, with all the benefits it entails, you are very much being forced to buy it's Blu-Ray drive. Buying a dvd-enabled wii is totally different. I haven't heard, are they going to even be available in the US?
BTS.WRKNG @ Nov 13th 2006 2:29PM
What fanboy spewed out this tripe? Are you guys hiring? You should be.
It's "forcing" because if you want to play PS3 games you are FORCED to pick Blu-Ray over HD-DVD when the market may end up swinging the other way. The comparison to the DVD-enabled Wii is bogus because at this point DVD is an established standard.
There's more to refute but I can't be bothered. Lose the stupid sentence with the cutesy references to "soft parts" and "black helicopters," too. You're not funny.
Kevin @ Nov 13th 2006 2:32PM
Sony is indeed forcing Blu-Ray on to anyone who wants a PS3. I'd buy a PS3 if I didn't have to spend $600 because of the Blu-Ray player. I could care less about watching Blu-Ray movies. Sony should be smart and make it optional like it is for HD-DVD on the Xbox 360.
Mullinator @ Nov 13th 2006 2:36PM
I think Joystiq are trying to be rebels here. The Wii is getting so much good press that they feel the need to be negative toward it at every possible turn so they can sound like a "hardcore" gaming blog.
I mean really, forcing us to upgrade to a DVD enhanced Wii? First of all it's going to be a Japanese release, second of all you have no idea if that will be the ONLY new feature on it, third you aren't at all being forced to buy it (unlike with Sony and Blu-ray), fourth I can't think of anyone who would want to make the Wii their primary DVD player.
jojo29 @ Nov 13th 2006 6:17PM
@ JAC
"in the case of the Xbox is different because you can get it without the add on, which is great and the way it should be"
yeah add on worked really great for Sega huh??
ackmondual @ Nov 13th 2006 2:56PM
Point is missed in the article. AFAIK, the DVD upgrade is not required to play Wii games, so it truly is optional. The blackboard and other nifty-non gaming features may not be console focused, but it's still a safe bet to say most of the console will be used for gaming by most of Wii owners
PS3... plays games, BR movies, probably MP3s, images, web browser, etc.
360... play games, vid clips, movie trailers, and is practically a winXP Media Center machine.
While the latter 2 also play games, they seem more focused on their other features/fucntions respectivley.
nalgae @ Nov 13th 2006 2:52PM
All consoles are forcing certain technologies onto the consumer.
The problem with the PS3 is not the forcing in of itself, but that the technology costs a turdload of money. As capitalists, when we are forced to pay more money, we complain.
panzer @ Nov 13th 2006 2:52PM
They are forcing. It already seems like Blue Ray is going to loose over HD-DVD. HD-DVD is way cheaper and can do the same.
And a way to get a "user base" for Sony's Blue Ray movie plans is to put in a console which is the successor to a big fat success story console with millions of people that, of course, will think of buying this successor.
a. We have to pay 600 just because Sony has movie market plans.
b. Because their marketing tries to tell you just with an HD drive it's HD ... "next gen". In fact: it has no effect on so games what so ever!
Sony forgets that you have a responsibility for your customers. They give you their money. They're trusting you when you say: we will give you the best.
And it more and more seems clear that Sony is lying all the time.
They're treating customers like pigs on their farm. Blindfold them, play some nice music, whisper everything is going to be great. And then butcher them for your needs.
But from what I'm reading the "customers" will never learn. We even think the Wii is a "revolution" because their marketing called it so during their "viral marketing".
I hope this time they don't get away with their bull****.
Sorry, but I'm already really disappointed.
Zell @ Nov 13th 2006 2:59PM
"You mean like forcing us to upgrade to a DVD-enhanced Wii if we decide we want to play DVDs?"
That would only make sense is DVD players still cost an arm and a leg. You could, however, get a decent DVD player for $40 USD. Maybe even less. And with that cost and the cost of a Wii, it still doesn't rack up against the others. The fact is, as far as I know, they're not forcing you to choose just one media format for anything but Wii games.
I really don't understand why DVD playback is such a big deal in 2006. I already have three DVD players in my apartment, not including my computers. If someone wants DVD play back on the Wii so badly, I suggest they set up a Paypal account and ask for handouts to get a stand-alone DVD player. I would gladly chip in.
Porsche 911 @ Nov 13th 2006 3:43PM
To 32_Footsteps
Are you a retarded Microsoft fanboy? How are they (Sony) raising the PS3’s price by $300, it is only by $100. The core PS3’s features is equal to the premium Xbox360, it is just that the PS3 includes a Blu-Ray drive for another $100.
Sony is not forcing anyone; they are not coming in to your homes and kidnapping your children, and then demanding $500-600 for their ransom. You have a choice, if you want one then get one and you do not want one, then do not get one. Stop wining like little bitches.
Well, Nintendo is forcing me to play their shitty system with that shitty remote. Why on Earth would I want to play a game with that crappy remote, so I can look like a monkey?
Microsoft is forcing me to play their system with a DVD drive, I do not want a DVD movie playback, if they can reduce the cost, then I am all for it. Microsoft is forcing me to buy the rechargeable battery pack and the battery charging cable for their controller. Microsoft is forcing me to buy their $100 only 20GB HDD, because I download a lot of game add-ons, expansions, demos, and other contact, knowing that Microsoft has blocked USB HDD functionality.
Gerwurztraminer @ Nov 13th 2006 2:59PM
I'd rather have a Wii that CAN'T play movies than a PS3 that can. I want to play games. I DON'T want some all-inclusive media extravaganza that cost me an arm and a leg AND my first born. If I did, I'd invest in a better PC to do all that for me. But I don't. I want a console.
iceatcs @ Nov 13th 2006 3:03PM
PS3 will need to have blu-ray because the games are bigger. But not for this moment, where there are so many great games can do on DVD-9 atm.
Maybe 2 years time, 360 (maybe Wii) will have to use the multi-dvd discs if the games is too big. Which it might be more expensive than one blu-ray or took too much time to compress the size to fit in the DVD if port from any PS3 game.
That's why PS3 have blu-ray now cos Sony wants it to be long term.
Microsoft has already developing on next Xbox because they know 360 won't be last long compare to PS3. Or worse, putting HDDVD in the 360 v2 and some future big games might require having HDDVD drive only.