BJ's Wholesale goes Blu-ray

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 27th 2007 at 4:52PM }

Another blow to HD DVD came today as BJ's Wholesale Club will bounce the format from its shelves in the fourth quarter according to VB, a Variety company. Just like yesterday's news about Target going with Blu-ray players, if Wal-Mart's Sam's Club went Blu-ray it'd be a much bigger deal, but BJ's is a large company on the East Coast (particularly the North East). BJ's will continue to sell HD DVD format products on their website.

Although Microsoft previously stated they were standing by HD DVD, they may need to review their statements from January if they don't want to "charge customers $200 extra for something that may be the next Betamax." If the domino effect continues it might be at least worth considering an affordable Blu-ray attachment to the Xbox 360 -- despite Blu-ray being a Sony format. It's pretty simple, give HDTV consumers the option of a Blu-ray attachment for their Xbox 360, or have them thinking the PS3 is a game machine and an HD movie player in one affordable package (you know, further down that 10 year line). Then again, if direct digital content gains a foothold, it may all be a moot point anyway.

Tags: bjs, blockbuster, bluray, hddvd, sony, target, toshiba

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Sceren @ Jul 27th 2007 4:57PM

All I can say, is I'm glad I wasn't forced to buy two HD formats.

FrankTheCrank @ Jul 27th 2007 9:13PM

Oh my god. I'm sh*tting my pants at what Joystiq just said, "If the domino effect continues it might be at least worth considering an affordable Blu-ray attachment to the Xbox 360"

Thanks Joystiq, you just made my day.

HD-DVD is dead on 01/01/08. Expect huge clearances folks!!!

It's coming!

MegaMan @ Jul 27th 2007 9:27PM

RROD on HD-DVD! Zoinks!

eBay is going to be loaded with HD-DVD crap.

d3m0narchang3l @ Jul 27th 2007 11:42PM

this is so depressing. blu-ray is getting all the glory because of that damn ps3 and the hd-dvd hasnt gotten any support at all. blockbuster doesnt carry it. i work at best buy and we have huge blu-ray racks but only a meager selection of hd-dvd. the format wars seem so one sided right now. i think we can all agree that porn formats are not going to decide anything at this point. im not pissing and moaning about microsft since i love my 360 but jesus christ howzabout a hd-dvd playing 360? ur breathing life into a dying dog microsoft so stop holding ur cards and show us what ur gunna do to step up or else the games gunna be over before u are in

Zack11190 @ Jul 27th 2007 4:58PM

I literally LOL'd.

hvnlysoldr @ Jul 27th 2007 5:01PM

MOOT! Is that something like Ents' mootings?

Dan @ Jul 27th 2007 8:57PM

As hard as it may be to believe, the english language was established before lord of the rings was written.

imacoorobot @ Jul 27th 2007 5:04PM

So do they sell them for cheaper, or are you still paying a ridiculous amount for a movie you'll watch once or twice?

mr nimblewick @ Jul 27th 2007 5:06PM

I'm so glad I don't own an HDTV. I hope I will never have to.

Sceren @ Jul 27th 2007 5:08PM

You'll have to eventually. They will not be making SD T.V.s in the near future. As well as the little problem of everything moving over to digital, so you'll have to have a cable/satellite or converter box hooked up to any existing SD T.V. to watch it.

mr nimblewick @ Jul 27th 2007 5:13PM

Yeah I know. Here's hoping my newish toshiba sdtv can hold out a LONG time... Sometimes I just want to drop tv all together.

tcc3 @ Jul 27th 2007 5:15PM

Yeah, I'll bet you enjoy your VHS tapes and FM radio too. Did you type that post on your IBM Selectric and mail it in?

Why would a luddite even bother to frequent a video games site?

a robot @ Jul 27th 2007 5:20PM

What the hell is wrong with FM radio?

tcc3 @ Jul 27th 2007 5:22PM

Nothing really wrong with FM radio. Its still kicking even if it is old tech.

I should have said AM radio.

a robot @ Jul 27th 2007 5:25PM

Well, AM radio is still more useful for news/sports.

mr nimblewick @ Jul 27th 2007 5:35PM

"Why would a luddite even bother to frequent a video games site?"

I used to be all about the newest techs. Even loved HD when it first came out. But there's something about how it's been handled, from the lack of programming to deception of the required hardware to the multiple different resolution types to the dueling HD formats to what amounts to a marginal increase in picture quality to just the loss of the simplicity that TV used to have.

Sure it's pretty, but it really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Jeff @ Jul 27th 2007 5:52PM

"I'm so glad I don't own an HDTV. I hope I will never have to."

Yeah, it really sucks having high resolution and 5.1 channel sound for free.

mr nimblewick @ Jul 27th 2007 5:55PM

"Yeah, it really sucks having high resolution and 5.1 channel sound for free."

I'm not sure I understand your comment.

Negativecool @ Jul 27th 2007 11:29PM

No Sceren, you will not HAVE to go to HDTV, probably not even into the late future. Going digital is different than going HD, I had to convince a lot of fools about this when I worked in electronics. Even if all you have is an analoge TV hooked up to a cable box, you're covered for many, many years. HD channels are optional, and will be for a LOOOONNG time.

kingofwale @ Jul 27th 2007 11:30PM

>"I'm so glad I don't own an HDTV. I hope I will never have to."

Why don't you just drop Internet or computer first? It will save us the trouble of having to read your rubbish

ill trooper @ Jul 28th 2007 4:06AM

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#whatisdate

Eh, everyone has to buy a new TV at some point or another, right? Surely at one point your wonderful TV was new?

I think you'll probably like it more than you think.

Shagittarius @ Jul 27th 2007 5:07PM

I usually buy my BJs one at a time...you know for Quality.

a dirty bastard @ Jul 27th 2007 5:22PM

lol

ShinobiFist @ Jul 27th 2007 5:07PM

There's nothing else to say. M$ brought out the HD-DVD player just for the fuck of it. I doubt they will bring out a Blu-Ray player add-on, just b/c. 1. They are SOOOOO behind their Overrated Download service(Is overrated due to the fact, you DON'T own the movies, more or less a bootleg Netflix)2. Plain and simple, they don't want to. Blu-Ray was the wise choice from the beginning anyway.

Sceren @ Jul 27th 2007 8:41PM

Two reasons:

1) Cartridges had been around for a long time, and one of the best ways to keep piracy down without raising the price of the console itself.

2) Nintendo was not dependent on its own "format" succeeding with hidden interests and motives for their "cartridge format" to hold the next generation of "cartridge" based movies :).

Vidikron @ Jul 28th 2007 12:00AM

WTF? That makes no sense at all. How is their movie service a "bootleg" Netflix? Do you own the movies from Netflix? No, you don't. Both are rental services. This is not a difficult concept.

Burritoclock @ Jul 27th 2007 5:08PM

I don't think a single person on earth was "forced" to buy any HD format.

I still find all this "blu-ray exclusive" stuff to be very odd. Their is hardly a clear winner since neither player is mainstream. All we have learned is that early adopters mostly sorta like blu-ray over hd-dvd. This whole thing is weird.

It's still going to take a $299 stand alone player to determine this thing, sound familiar?

Sceren @ Jul 27th 2007 5:10PM

Really? I wasn't forced to buy a Bluray player with my PS3? I can still return mine, can you link me a PS3 without one?

imacoorobot @ Jul 27th 2007 5:11PM

When were you forced to buy a PS3?

Sceren @ Jul 27th 2007 5:13PM

I wasn't. The point is, if you want a PS3, you're forced to buy a Bluray player as well. I have the option to buy it or not buy it with my 360.

I love my PS3, but don't get me wrong, I don't appreciate having formats shoved down my throat in a Trojan horse marketing campaign.

Either way, your attempt at a witty snide remark, remarkably failed.

a robot @ Jul 27th 2007 5:18PM

Yeah, shame on Sony for trying to be a successful business. Everyone that knew a PS3 knew exactly what they were getting into, and no one has to buy HD movies even if they do have hardware capable of playing it. If you're going to hate on Sony, use something they deserve it for, ie rootkits.

Sceren @ Jul 27th 2007 5:24PM

Sony should be successful by offering a product that everyone wants based on its own merits. Not claiming high Bluray sales due to the install base of the PS3. I would rather disc swap (ie. Blue Dragon) Than spend what ever extra dollar amount I spent on the PS3 because they forced a Bluray player on consumers and fans of numerous SCE IP's.

If Sony wants to be successful that's great. But they should be doing it by creating new and innovative products that are a value to the customer, proving their worth based on the aforementioned.

If I was a Sony "hater" I wouldn't own a PS3. I just call it how it is, regardless of the company. I'm just as unhappy with the number of times my 360 has been at the repair facility, and the Wii's lack of 720p/1080i.

Exo @ Jul 27th 2007 5:47PM

its only a blu ray player if you watch movies in it, otherwise have fun trying to play any ps3 games on a non blu ray ps3 as all the games are on blu-ray disc.

Sceren @ Jul 27th 2007 5:57PM

Hence the "forced" part of my statement Exo :).

But it's still a Bluray player, whether you use it or not.

meltingcurve @ Jul 27th 2007 8:08PM

Sceren, so I guess Nintendo also forced us to buy their cartridge readers in the NES, SNES, and N64, right? I mean, what's wrong with Sony choosing Bluray as their storage medium for games, just as when Nintendo chose cartridges, or when Sega and Sony chose CD for the Saturn and PSX in the past?

Sceren @ Jul 27th 2007 8:43PM

Sceren @ Jul 27th 2007 8:49PM

You forget that if Bluray wins that's $$ for every player sold, every movie made on Bluray, and even every Bluray drive in future consoles for Sony.

They are much, much, much more invested in Bluray than some people realize, and they will do anything to make it the standard format.

Tom @ Jul 27th 2007 9:13PM

meltingcurve, the difference is that cartrige readers and cd-players didn't tack on an extra $400 to prices of their respective systems.

bounchfx @ Jul 27th 2007 5:08PM

I'm passing on both.. wake me up when the next REAL format comes out.. it's not bluray or hddvd.. if there even if another format outside of downloadable.

if I get a ps3 within the next few years ill buy any dvds on that as long as they arent more expensive than dvds but im NOT going out of my way for any specific one.

mirage @ Jul 27th 2007 5:18PM

Microsoft took the right stance here. They may have known that HD-DVD was doomed from the beginning but supported in an attempt to thwart SONY. Since the player is not built in it is of no serious consequence to MS. However I have to wonder, if MS had built an HD-DVD drive into the 360, would be be crowning a different format the king of HD?

liqwid @ Jul 27th 2007 5:20PM

Huh... where's BJ's? I only know of Sam's Club and Costco, and our Costco sucks.

StrangeBum @ Jul 27th 2007 5:22PM

I love how they mention Betamax, which if I remember correctly, was headed by Sony. Let me guess, they also believe that Mini-disc and UMD are still viable formats as well....what a joke.

But honestly, I have no clue how this format way is going to end, I don't care..whatever.

Tony @ Jul 27th 2007 5:22PM

I really don't think it matters to them. HD-DVD players sold are just more money, it won't affect the games or the 360's general sustainability at all. If it goes away (which I do not think will be happening any time soon), then what, they stop manufacturing an add-on?

I don't think it's a big enough deal for MS to consider an alternative Blu-ray player.

Jarvis Slacks @ Jul 27th 2007 5:23PM

You're glad you don't own an HDTV? Dude, have you played games on an HDTV? I refuse to play games on anything else. They look amazing. Honestly, if you own a PS3 of a 360, and not an HDTV, you are wasting your money and your time.

mr nimblewick @ Jul 27th 2007 5:37PM

Luckily I do not own a PS3 or 360, and probably never will, since HD is the only selling point.

ill trooper @ Jul 28th 2007 4:06AM

mr nimblewick, you're just trolling now...

cheese @ Jul 27th 2007 5:27PM

If MS would have been smart (hehe) they would have come out with a blu-ray drive attachment instead of the hd-dvd drive attachment. Sony would have been sitting there with their d*ck in their hand, it would have taken away at least one of the big selling points of the PS3. But like any idiot politician, MS had to take the OPPOSITION side and pigeon-hole itself. It's quite simple really, be the first with blu-ray at an affordable, optional price. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20 right microsoft?