View Poll Results: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
DVD again (multiple discs FTW!)
3
6.25%
Download and/or Streaming (The future now!)
3
6.25%
Blu-ray (We are Sony's friends)
24
50.00%
MS proprietary format (HD-DVD is coming back!)
14
29.17%
Other
4
8.33%
Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll
How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
12-01-11, 08:03 AM
#27
DVD Talk Hero
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
12-01-11, 08:17 AM
#28
DVD Talk Hero
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
blu ray
its a huge consortium which Microsoft is a part of, it's not Sony. i think the issue back in 2005 was that you needed a really fast CPU (at the time) to play the content and the drives were expensive. 2012 smartphones are more than fast enough to play the content and the drives are dirt cheap
sony screwed up by playing on specs and a lot of people like me bought a PS3 just for the blu ray player and streaming functionality and it's a loss for sony.
its a huge consortium which Microsoft is a part of, it's not Sony. i think the issue back in 2005 was that you needed a really fast CPU (at the time) to play the content and the drives were expensive. 2012 smartphones are more than fast enough to play the content and the drives are dirt cheap
sony screwed up by playing on specs and a lot of people like me bought a PS3 just for the blu ray player and streaming functionality and it's a loss for sony.
12-01-11, 08:59 AM
#29
DVD Talk Legend
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
Everyone just keep in mind that "Sony" isn't all one big company. There are lots of smaller companies and divisions within, and the Blu-ray component isn't the same as the gaming one.
Sony makes computers that run Windows. Microsoft makes software that supports Blu-ray drives. So it's not like Microsoft paying for the Blu-ray tech means that money will fund the PS4.
Sony makes computers that run Windows. Microsoft makes software that supports Blu-ray drives. So it's not like Microsoft paying for the Blu-ray tech means that money will fund the PS4.
12-01-11, 09:13 AM
#30
gamer for life
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
the better question...what if the 360 had used HD dvd right from the start? What if there was near 60 million HD players in the market...would the Blu-ray/HD fight still be on?
12-01-11, 09:45 AM
#31
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
With the HD-DVD failure a couple years back, I don’t see Microsoft trying out another format anytime soon. I think it’s pretty much a guarantee that they are going to go the Blu route with the next system. It already has solid foundation with developers and consumers and offers plenty of capacity. And like others have said, I don’t see any of the companies going the digital download only route anytime soon either. Especially now with many of the providers putting monthly caps and charging for data overages.
12-01-11, 10:12 AM
#32
DVD Talk Hero
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
They'll go Blu-ray, hopefully it's faster than that slow POS in the PS3.
12-01-11, 10:29 AM
#33
DVD Talk Hero
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
With the HD-DVD failure a couple years back, I don’t see Microsoft trying out another format anytime soon. I think it’s pretty much a guarantee that they are going to go the Blu route with the next system. It already has solid foundation with developers and consumers and offers plenty of capacity. And like others have said, I don’t see any of the companies going the digital download only route anytime soon either. Especially now with many of the providers putting monthly caps and charging for data overages.
12-01-11, 10:38 AM
#35
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
Good question. I bet Microsoft is kicking themselves about it.
12-01-11, 10:45 AM
#36
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Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
Anyway, MS will have Blu-ray on the next console for all the reasons stated by others (it's not just Sony's product, it's cheap/easy to implement now, 10+ gb downloads only work for a small fraction of the entire market, etc. etc.).
12-01-11, 12:47 PM
#37
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Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
Blu-ray is the logical option.
However, in tech companies, sometimes, the logical, smart, option is not the one chosen. Microsoft, and several other entertainment companies think that Blu-ray movies are a niche product. With the success of Netflix and in a lower scale iTunes (movies), they think digital download/streaming is going to be, or is, the most popular option. So Blu-ray loses that one benefit.
So, although I also hope for blu-ray, I don't think Microsoft is going that way for the next Xbox.
However, in tech companies, sometimes, the logical, smart, option is not the one chosen. Microsoft, and several other entertainment companies think that Blu-ray movies are a niche product. With the success of Netflix and in a lower scale iTunes (movies), they think digital download/streaming is going to be, or is, the most popular option. So Blu-ray loses that one benefit.
So, although I also hope for blu-ray, I don't think Microsoft is going that way for the next Xbox.
12-01-11, 02:04 PM
#38
DVD Talk Legend
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
Absolutely no way they go streaming or digital download. There are some (shocker) that don't have broadband or bandwidth to d/l massive games. Microsoft would be excluding a good portion of the market that use DSL or have no internet at all.
12-01-11, 02:11 PM
#39
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Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
I think download-only is a ways off still, since not everyone who owns a console has a powerful enough broadband connection to download a 50GB game, and the bullshit data caps that many ISPs have implemented will hinder some gamers' ability to download to their heart's content. I also don't see them going with flash drives, as that seems like it could open up piracy to whole new levels (and flash drives are considerably more expensive than discs).
Blu-ray makes the most sense on paper, but Microsoft won't want to give a chunk of every sale to their competition. I also don't see them resurrecting HD-DVD as-is, since those discs topped out at 30GB if memory serves and I've read that 100GB+ Blu-rays are on the horizon.
I think they'll end up going with some new, proprietary, high-capacity disc, possibly an extension of the HD-DVD disc spec in order to have something that can compete more directly with the capacity of Blu-ray without having to pay Sony a dime.
Blu-ray makes the most sense on paper, but Microsoft won't want to give a chunk of every sale to their competition. I also don't see them resurrecting HD-DVD as-is, since those discs topped out at 30GB if memory serves and I've read that 100GB+ Blu-rays are on the horizon.
I think they'll end up going with some new, proprietary, high-capacity disc, possibly an extension of the HD-DVD disc spec in order to have something that can compete more directly with the capacity of Blu-ray without having to pay Sony a dime.
12-01-11, 02:59 PM
#40
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Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
Blu-ray makes the most sense on paper, but Microsoft won't want to give a chunk of every sale to their competition. I also don't see them resurrecting HD-DVD as-is, since those discs topped out at 30GB if memory serves and I've read that 100GB+ Blu-rays are on the horizon.
Man... I wish someone involved would write a good book about that format war. I'd love to hear about the conversations going on at Warner in the week leading up to their announcement to ditch HD DVD. The rumor at the time was that they were planning to drop Blu-ray (like Paramount did only a couple months earlier), but flip-flopped in the last 24 hours.
12-01-11, 03:12 PM
#41
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Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
Well, HD DVD didn't come out until April/May 2006, which was after the 360 was released (Nov 2005). BUT, if Microsoft had waited, installed HD DVD in the 360 from the get-go... yeah... I imagine that fight would still be raging on, as the user-base for each format would have been more equal. It might have been enough to make Blu-ray dead in the water... but we'll never know. The BEST thing about HD DVD was that it was 100% region free.
Anyway, MS will have Blu-ray on the next console for all the reasons stated by others (it's not just Sony's product, it's cheap/easy to implement now, 10+ gb downloads only work for a small fraction of the entire market, etc. etc.).
Anyway, MS will have Blu-ray on the next console for all the reasons stated by others (it's not just Sony's product, it's cheap/easy to implement now, 10+ gb downloads only work for a small fraction of the entire market, etc. etc.).
I also believe that had hd-dvd won, then it would have some kind of region encoding by now also. I don't believe blu-ray had any at first either, but the studios can put it on there if they choose. I could be wrong though
I'm thinking proprietary format also, but much like the GDROM on dreamcast, just use it for games and not try to market it as any other type of media disc.
12-01-11, 03:46 PM
#42
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Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
While it can't be argued that the 360 would have been better with an hd drive if not just for the space for games, I doubt there would still be a fight. Regardless of who won, someone would have by now. Studios would not have liked making multiple hd formats for a long time. It would have likely been too costly and they would have gone to one or the other by now. Typically when 2 formats hit that use the same type of tech, one wins out and the other is mildly supported. IE Superbits, SACD and so on. I'm not saying blu-ray would have won, but one of them would have by now.
Man... I wish someone involved would write a good book about that format war. I'd love to hear about the conversations going on at Warner in the week leading up to their announcement to ditch HD DVD. The rumor at the time was that they were planning to drop Blu-ray (like Paramount did only a couple months earlier), but flip-flopped in the last 24 hours.
12-01-11, 06:57 PM
#43
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
I don't see it being anything but bluray. MS doesn't give a crap where those minuscule royalties go, sony doesn't give a crap where they come from as long as they come. They aren't a bunch of grudge-holding teens with HDDVD/BRD rivalries still bussing around in their heads. They both are going to have consoles that sell, they both license technology to each other in other markets. Bluray is the only super high capacity format that can has infrastructure for high-volume production. I don't think MS wants to build factories and handle it themselves. BR would allow it's publishers to easily manufacture discs using existing factories.
MS will try to push more downloads, but try downloading the next COD:MW on launch day. It would be a disaster that kills downloads as a distribution method for buyers. I myself have been fucked 2-3 times already by Xbox downloads that took forever or had issues. I'll never go for a large title that i want at launch.
MS will try to push more downloads, but try downloading the next COD:MW on launch day. It would be a disaster that kills downloads as a distribution method for buyers. I myself have been fucked 2-3 times already by Xbox downloads that took forever or had issues. I'll never go for a large title that i want at launch.
12-01-11, 08:04 PM
#44
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
Originally Posted by mmconhea
MS will try to push more downloads, but try downloading the next COD:MW on launch day. It would be a disaster that kills downloads as a distribution method for buyers. I myself have been fucked 2-3 times already by Xbox downloads that took forever or had issues. I'll never go for a large title that i want at launch.
12-06-11, 02:37 PM
#45
DVD Talk Hero
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
Shortly before Warner opted for Blu-ray (they previously released on both formats), The HD DVD group had announced that they had developed 3-layer discs that could hold up to 51GB that supposedly would have worked with all existing HD DVD players. Chances are, the yield was extremely low, though, as they had a hard enough time with flipper discs and dual-layer HD DVDs (to be fair, Blu-ray had low yields for BD-50s at the time, too). Had they survived, the reliability would only have gotten better.
Man... I wish someone involved would write a good book about that format war. I'd love to hear about the conversations going on at Warner in the week leading up to their announcement to ditch HD DVD. The rumor at the time was that they were planning to drop Blu-ray (like Paramount did only a couple months earlier), but flip-flopped in the last 24 hours.
Man... I wish someone involved would write a good book about that format war. I'd love to hear about the conversations going on at Warner in the week leading up to their announcement to ditch HD DVD. The rumor at the time was that they were planning to drop Blu-ray (like Paramount did only a couple months earlier), but flip-flopped in the last 24 hours.
12-06-11, 03:15 PM
#46
DVD Talk Legend
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
I thought it was Toshiba.
12-06-11, 04:44 PM
#47
DVD Talk Legend
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
I'm not sure what royalties are now, but in 2009, it was $9.50 for a Blu-ray player and 11 cents for a read-only Blu-ray disc, with Sony getting less than 30% of that. It wouldn't surprise me if royalties have gone down since then. I don't think MS would care about that much going to Sony.
12-07-11, 12:03 AM
#48
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Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
I was following the 'war' closely at the time. I only remember it as a consumer, as I had no insider knowledge or anything like that.
Spoiler:
But back on topic
... the dust has settled... Toshiba has Blu-ray players... and MS will support Blu-ray in the next XBOX. They'd be dumb not to.
12-07-11, 08:03 AM
#49
DVD Talk Hero
Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
and i hope the next x-box will also play 360 games. i'll dump my PS3 and 360 and get the new one on launch day before resale values really start to plummet
12-07-11, 03:19 PM
#50
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Re: How do you think Microsoft is going to solve the media/storage issue?
A couple of thoughts.
1. Digital download only isn't going to happen for a very long time. The trend in ISP's is bandwith limits. How would you like to hit your limit with one retail download game. Not to mention all the people who live in the hills and can't even download patches for Skyrim and whatnot. The majority of the console game buying public doesn't buy digital games on the console.
2. Those who like getting games for cheap better pray every day that phsyical games don't go away. Digital only = expensive for a lot longer than physical disks + no possibility of selling when you are done w/ a game.
1. Digital download only isn't going to happen for a very long time. The trend in ISP's is bandwith limits. How would you like to hit your limit with one retail download game. Not to mention all the people who live in the hills and can't even download patches for Skyrim and whatnot. The majority of the console game buying public doesn't buy digital games on the console.
2. Those who like getting games for cheap better pray every day that phsyical games don't go away. Digital only = expensive for a lot longer than physical disks + no possibility of selling when you are done w/ a game.
2. Download only isn't the problem with pricing. If your perspective is only console downloadable titles then you might get that impression, but that's a very narrow view of downloadable pricing. The problem with downloadable pricing on consoles is that you are dealing with a closed platform where pricing is dictated by a very rigid platform holder. Once you've chosen a platform your access to downloadable titles is restricted to the platform holder, and MS and Sony (more Microsoft) have shown themselves to be very rigid on pricing models. And I think downloadable titles are still an afterthought this generation, they don't focus pricing and marketing on downloadable titles. The PC, an open platform, doesn't have this pricing problem, have you seen the sales from Steam, D2D, greenmangaming, Amazon, Impulse, Gamersgate, GOG, etc.? Downloadable only does not necessarily mean more expensive. Even on a closed platform like the iphone, where the platform holder doesn't exert such rigid pricing on the games, you see much better pricing for downloadable content.