Microsoft's Shane Kim: 'Still enjoyment to be had' from 360 HD DVD drive

52 Comments by Kyle Orland Apr 17th 2008 7:00PM
Filed under: Culture, Retro, Microsoft Xbox 360

Owners of the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on shouldn't go trading them in for $50 just yet. According to Microsoft Game Studios Corporate Vice President "there is still enjoyment to be had" from that defunct piece of entertainment technology.

As part of a Q&A with GameDaily, Kim talked up the features of the outdated add-on, including a library of over 500 HD DVD movies (and ~~growing~~ not growing) available at clearance prices (because they're being cleared out). The drive also lets you have a movie and a game disc in the system at the same time, meaning you can switch from Halo 3 directly to watching August Rush without having to get up! Finally, the HD DVD drive adds two extra USB ports to your 360, meaning you can charge your DualShock 3s that much more easily! Yes, the HD DVD drive is truly a bargain, even without new content. Get yours today!

Tags: add-on, drive, HD DVD, HdDvd, microsoft, movies, shane-Kim, spin, useful

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Tranando: Apr 17th 2008; 7:04PM

I'm not sure keeping doors open counts as enjoyable...

Liquid Ocelot (call me Liquid): Apr 17th 2008; 7:10PM

Tiptup300: Apr 17th 2008; 8:19PM

"I" simply profound!

Ninjakamster: Apr 17th 2008; 7:05PM

If I had a 360, I would buy it. The price is now ridiculously low, same with the movies now. The prices make it worth it in my opinion.

I think this also works on PCs with the proper drivers correct?

miyagi: Apr 18th 2008; 10:34AM

Correct. It also allows you to backup any HD DVD's you own in the event the drive ever dies on you down the road.

miyagi: Apr 18th 2008; 10:37AM

Another benefit:

The drive is also very quiet compared to the 360 DVD drive so watching movies on it is much quieter then on the system itself. This was an often unmentioned benefit I found when I used to have the add-on.

seifer: Apr 17th 2008; 7:06PM

"While I'm at it, I've got a wonderful Atari Jaguar I'd like to sell you."

Bloo: Apr 17th 2008; 7:19PM

I still love my Jaguar

CarpeD1em500: Apr 17th 2008; 7:06PM

These types of stories are really getting annoying. Seriously, if you hooked up Batman Begins to two tv's, one via Blu Ray (the upcoming release) and one via HD-DVD, would anyone really care?

Would you enjoy the movie any less because you know you're watching it on a "dead" format?

If the above question is a "yes' for some people, maybe you need to re-think why you're watching movies in the first place.

The guy interviewed is absolutely correct, and I still have mine hooked up. I own a lot of movies, and yes, my personal collection is growing. I don't care if these are "clear out" or "sale" prices. I get to watch a movie in high def, and I get to do it cheaply.

I dunno why you feel the need to take shots at them because they are stating a fact.

And what in the hell does the DualShock have anything to do with this? Because one high def format failed that was slightly tied to the xbox 360, I suddenly have to play the PS3? Why??

It doesnt even make sense, I own a PS3, and to watch blu ray movies (Which would be the logical other "option" to HD movies) I use a wireless remote.

I'm not bitter, really, at all, I have plenty of money to throw at technology without worrying about "dead" formats, I just don't see why this is like the butt of a huge joke. They lost, yes, but there is still a positive side to all of this to the consumer, and that's all Shane was trying to point out...

Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio: Apr 17th 2008; 7:16PM

Do you still watch your betamax movies?

7718: Apr 17th 2008; 7:19PM

I agree with you bigtime, I don't understand why all the haters have to diss the hd dvd drive all the time. Oh wait, I do understand, because they are haters and thats just what they do. Thats cool , you dumb@$$es can talk smack on message boards about the hd dvd drive, while I purchase hd movies at 10$ or less. Since Sony has the hd movie format war all locked down, I'm sure the price of bluray movies will be coming down soon too! Oh wait, they went up! Guess thats what happens when their is no competition! Yay for consumers, less options and higher costs, we win.

Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio: Apr 17th 2008; 7:26PM

Just like how all the DVD prices stay so high because there is no competition right? You do realize all the companies that put things out on bluray are seperate companies right? I swear some people think there is a giant company called "Bluray" that puts out every single bluray player and movie.

upz PSN: heypaul: Apr 18th 2008; 12:06PM

"I don't understand why all the haters have to diss the hd dvd drive all the time. Oh wait, I do understand, because they are haters."

You're brilliant.

Vohaul79: Apr 17th 2008; 7:07PM

Cmon guys.....Enjoy..it....
Snikr Snikr

Vohaul79: Apr 17th 2008; 7:09PM

Yeah..like..CarpeD1em500 said...
Snikr Snikr

Tranando: Apr 17th 2008; 7:09PM

Bookends do not count as enjoyable...

tmacairjordan87: Apr 17th 2008; 7:10PM

we got you the first time

Viridium: Apr 17th 2008; 7:21PM

No, but 1080p movies on a 100+" screen sure as hell is. Best Buy paid me $6 to purchase the HD-DVD player addon. I sent away for the 5 free movies, and have picked up several great titles for $6-10, cheaper than the regular DVD version.

It's fantastic!

Tiptup300: Apr 17th 2008; 10:52PM

oshi! I forgot to get my free bluray movies!

Ninjakamster: Apr 17th 2008; 7:09PM

The PS3's the butt of jokes just as the 360 HD-DVD drive, the N-Gage before, etc.

We gamers need one thing in a generation to poke fun at, to feel better about ourselves, just like its fun to pick on Meg from Family Guy.

Liquid Ocelot (call me Liquid): Apr 17th 2008; 7:10PM

I LOL'd +1

(damn comment system)

jynxycat: Apr 17th 2008; 7:26PM

I can still watch movies on mine, and they look better the DVD version, so whatever. Plus it only cost $75.

StrangeBum: Apr 17th 2008; 8:24PM

Seventy-five, really?

I just saw them at my local BestBuy for fifty dollars. They may not sell HD-DVDs anymore, but I'm sure I can find them online for ridiculously low prices now.

I'm thinking about getting one. Anyone know if the drive on it is quieter than the 360 itself?

driven2sin: Apr 18th 2008; 12:36AM

the are $20 here after rebate - I still passed

Cutty: Apr 17th 2008; 7:29PM

Bless him, it's likely he still doesn't know Resident Evil 5 is on the 360. Remember that? =P

David: Apr 17th 2008; 7:29PM

I thought the Dualshock 3 bit was funny....

Benny: Apr 17th 2008; 7:31PM

Did he then hold up the picture you've got in the article and share the recipe for his 'famous red ring spaghetti bolognese'?

bobartig: Apr 17th 2008; 7:35PM

The HD-DVD drive provides two additional USB ports at the expense of 1. So the HD-DVD player adds a net 1 USB port, not 2. Shane can't count, which once again proves categorically that he's a dick.

He didn't even mention taking the drive apart to scavenge the blue laser diode!

yyr: Apr 17th 2008; 10:10PM

The extra USB ports rock. Literally.

You can now play Rock Band with all 4 instruments plugged in, without needing to plug in a hub. Woohoo!

CarpeD1em500: Apr 17th 2008; 7:37PM

Why can't I reply to my own initially started "thread" ?

Or how?

Anyways, hopefully those readers see this message:

No, I don't still watch Betamax, but I will say this, during the Betamax war, if I bought both formats, and the specs were similar, and I already owned a Betamax player, you better believe I'd still watch movies on it and enjoy it. It's the same thing as Blu Ray / HD - DVD, just with BM and VHS...

And I never said anything about competition. The format war was dumb to begin with. I agree with that. I just don't see the point of these posts and why they are so "funny". It just sounds dumb. My HD-DVD player works as well today as it did in the middle of the "war"...so why is that funny? I don't get it...

And I'm well aware of different companies and there not being some giant Umbrella Corporation called Blu-Ray...I wasn't talking about competition, I was just saying, just because HD-DVD is Dead and I get movies cheaply, doesn't make that a bad thing for the end consumer. I benefit. Plain and simple.

And I still don't understand the DualShock reference.

Curtis the Claw:XBL - supapaypamawio: Apr 17th 2008; 7:52PM

My second comment was mainly replying to 7718 or whatever that number combination was when he said this...

"Since Sony has the hd movie format war all locked down, I'm sure the price of bluray movies will be coming down soon too! Oh wait, they went up! Guess thats what happens when their is no competition!"

Also you should be able to reply to your comment just like you would any other comment by hitting the reply in the bottom right corner.

CarpeD1em500: Apr 17th 2008; 8:01PM

Ahh I see now. Thanks.

mirage: Apr 17th 2008; 7:39PM

Yea, the jokes are a bit ridiculous. I could spend $400 on a console with one or two games I want to play just because it is the cheapest 1080p Blu Ray option or I could do what I did. I bought the $50 add-on and have bought a few HD-DVDs, and ordered my 5 free so that I can have some cheap 1080p deliciousness. It seems like a great solution to me. Now I can wait a couple more years to get my PS3/Blu Ray player. /prays to God that my HD-DVD add-on doesn't die any time soon.

Ripcord83: Apr 17th 2008; 7:42PM

I wouldnt buy the HD-DVD add-on, but thats because I feel no need to own every movie I have again but in HD.
Some movies i will rebuy. But most I could care less about.

if I did purchase one it would only be for Hot Fuzz & Stardust. Not really worth it too me.

BUT, if you have one and a great collection. Thats what its about, great movies with freakin great picture.

I still watch my Sh*t copy of TMNT: Secret of the ooze Making of VHS from time to time even though VHS is dead now.

Youthinized: Apr 17th 2008; 7:49PM

Yea, so what its dead.

I spent around 350 on 40 hd-dvds.

Now tell me, can you get that for Blu-ray?

Even if its 'dead' its still high quality for a cheaper price.

NeoGohan: Apr 17th 2008; 7:59PM

I'd recommend getting the hd dvd drive to get the cheap movies. Then further down the line you can use the drive to rip the movies onto your computer and convert them(using a bd-r drive in the future) to blu-ray. I don't see how this is a loss to me at all when I can get cheap movies and still be able to use them down the line. I love my hd dvd player.

bobartig: Apr 17th 2008; 8:15PM

I can't wait until the stuff you mentioned is all consumer affordable. I'm sick of DVDs being only 4.7 GB, or 9.4 GB and hella expensive.

I want the ~$1 BD-R discs so I can back up 50GB on a disc.

bobartig: Apr 17th 2008; 8:11PM

bobartig: Apr 17th 2008; 8:12PM

sorry about the double post, browser did funny crap :(

Kendall B: Apr 17th 2008; 8:43PM

My local Game Crazy had marked them down to 29.99 as of yesterday.

Jansperus: Apr 17th 2008; 11:18PM

Is that really a bargain? I haven't bought an HD-DVD in a long time, but I think I remember them being that much at normal price.

Kendall B: Apr 17th 2008; 11:34PM

I was referring to the actual drive.

PhrawzT: Apr 17th 2008; 8:44PM

I have found some HD-DVDs cheaper than regular DVD version.

KiraXD: Apr 17th 2008; 9:01PM

lol... all these people crying about their HD DVD add need to learn to take a joke... youre the same people bashing the PS3 every chance you get, and yet someone takes a jab at a definitively dead format, you all cry.
Theyre called jokes, people... lighten up.

Roger: Apr 17th 2008; 9:04PM

ahhh its enjoyable to rest my tired feet on the thing.

yup! i feel like a king and i can use it as egg cooker too!

Co: Apr 17th 2008; 9:08PM

My DVDs upscaled to 1080p on my Philips playr look just fine. Bluray = overrated unless your TV is 60" or better.

ozzzy: Apr 18th 2008; 12:26AM

I use my HD-DVD drive to play normal DVDs. Less wear on the Xbox 360 drive and it's much quieter.

andrew: Apr 18th 2008; 7:24AM

totally agree, the alot of the hddvd movies \have bee drastically rreduced, I bought like 5 movies for like $30 and there are alot that I want to buy. so, yes there is still fun to be had.

Tranando: Apr 18th 2008; 12:39PM

In summary, the HD DUD addon is an expensive 2 port USB hub.

Don't ytou just love Microsoft's spin..

John: Apr 18th 2008; 1:10PM

no but we adore your unoriginal and unfunny spamming of a topic you have no interest in.

And your name is mocking fernando for what again exactly?

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