AfterDawn: News

Microsoft announces Xbox hi-def Promotions

Microsoft will be reducing the price of the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player by $20 in the US starting in August. They'll also be giving away five HD DVD movies to anyone purchasing the add-on in the months of August or September.

The free discs are an extension of Toshiba's "Perfect Offer", which accompanies purchases of that company's standalone HD DVD players. The mail-in offer allows consumers to choose from fifteen titles.



The announcement was made today at ComicCon International 2007 in San Diego. The company also announced promotions for their Xbox LIVE service that will be tied into upcoming HD DVD releases.

Xbox LIVE will offer the movie 300 on demand in HD starting August 14. Xbox LIVE members will also be able to download the pilot for the hit television show Heroes in high definition before the box set for the first season is released next month.

With Sony's Playstation 3 selling well after a temporary price reduction, plus the announcement that rental giant Blockbuster will carry Blu-ray exclusively, and a similar announcement from retailer Target expected today, this may not make any difference in the success of the HD DVD format.

The good news for HD DVD backers is that Wal-Mart, which many people feel will ultimately decide the format war, isn't choosing sides. Many analysts believe that once the retail chain introduces a model of either cheap enough for the average consumer to buy, the format war will be over. Others aren't convinced that the general public has any interest in either.

Despite rumors of Wal-Mart plans to sell a cheap Chinese HD DVD player earlier this year, Wal-Mart has consistently denied that a deal for such an item is being planned.

Microsoft claims that the Xbox HD DVD Player has already broken the $200 barrier, but this claim is only true if you don't factor in the cost of either an Xbox 360 or PC capable of hi-def playback.

Source: Microsoft

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 26 Jul 2007 7:41

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• 28 comments

• vinny13

  Funny how the PS3 and all Blu-Ray players have had this "5 movies for free" deal for a couple months now... and even if I had a 360, lowering the HD-DVD player by $20 is not going to do it for me. Plus, I don't really think that there's any HD-DVD movies I like lol

  26.7.2007 07:53 #1

• samshizze

  Rofl there goes the argument that xbox is cheaper than ps3. Pretty much everyone is going to need to buy this once they start putting games on HD-DVD.

  26.7.2007 08:45 #2

• Iguana775

  did they fix the over heating yet? if not, I wouldnt waste my $400 on it any time soon.

  26.7.2007 09:21 #3

• hughjars

  'They' aren't going to be putting games on HD DVD, there is no serious need for it.
  
  2 or 3 DVD9s is not only much cheaper but is so much simpler.
  
  This is all about giving people the choice.
  
  $180/£90 for the XBox 360 HD DVD add-on is a nice deal on it's own.....nevermind 5 freebie HD DVDs.
  
  .....and what sort of silly troll pretends that there is nothing out on HD DVD worth watching?
  Universal, Paramount, Warner, Studio Canal, Weinstock etc etc don't produce a movie you like?
  Sure.

  26.7.2007 10:16 #4

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by hughjars: 'They' aren't going to be putting games on HD DVD, there is no serious need for it.
  
  2 or 3 DVD9s is not only much cheaper but is so much simpler.
  
  This is all about giving people the choice.
  
  $180/£90 for the XBox 360 HD DVD add-on is a nice deal on it's own.....nevermind 5 freebie HD DVDs.
  
  .....and what sort of silly troll pretends that there is nothing out on HD DVD worth watching?
  Universal, Paramount, Warner, Studio Canal, Weinstock etc etc don't produce a movie you like?
  Sure.Agreed the industry is in a DVD9 mind set even DVD5 in some cases altho the WII gives me a headache....why oh why a double sided 8GB disc....instead of a nice dual layer disc..... but them and sony aside everyone else uses DVD9s and sony wont have enough devs solely making games for the PS3 at or over 24GB to put a dent in the genreal mind set.
  
  BTW hughjars what do you think of 100% vocie acting? been talking abotu it some over at GPforums...ggaaaa I hate bad VAing that plus space issues this gen is not the one to go to 100%vaing plus added cost its not really a issues to worry over yet..but 'll take text over bad vaing any day >>

  26.7.2007 12:16 #5

• 26r0cK

  They say WalMart isnt choosing sides may be true but of all the WalMarts in my area there are more blu-ray movie selections then HD-DVDs by like a ratio of 2:1. So Walmart mite not say it but maybe they're slowly leaning on one side? Are anybody else's WalMart like this with Blu ray and HD DVD selections?

  26.7.2007 12:16 #6

• djeazyg

  They should have put the HD-DVD in the Elite 360. I don't understand why they didn't. Not only would people have a CHOICE to buy HD-DVD or not but it might give the format the boost that it needs to get ahead in the war. Look at gaming history. Add-ons have never been a good thing. Sega CD and 32x just as an example.

  26.7.2007 12:35 #7

• MightyOne

  What about the Adult Entertainment Industry ?
  
  Are they leaning towards any format yet ?
  
  Will it matter if they do ?

  26.7.2007 12:40 #8

• djeazyg

  Originally posted by MightyOne: What about the Adult Entertainment Industry ?
  
  Are they leaning towards any format yet ?
  
  Will it matter if they do ?I think it will but I also I think most people get their porn from the internet now. Impact yes but not as big as you might think.

  26.7.2007 12:56 #9

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by MightyOne: What about the Adult Entertainment Industry ?
  
  Are they leaning towards any format yet ?
  
  Will it matter if they do ?the black boot wearing PC nazis(disney) hate porn and smokeing they have managed to keep porn out of BR to a point but with the net expanding I dont think it will be a win like it was with VHS.
  
  this format WAR more is deeper and more subtle.

  26.7.2007 13:00 #10

• killaklan

  [qoute]djeazyg
  
  They should have put the HD-DVD in the Elite 360. I don't understand why they didn't. Not only would people have a CHOICE to buy HD-DVD or not but it might give the format the boost that it needs to get ahead in the war. Look at gaming history. Add-ons have never been a good thing. Sega CD and 32x just as an example.puting a hd-dvd drive into the elite would've been logical, then again when does m$ do anything logical?

  26.7.2007 13:36 #11

• killaklan

  Originally posted by djeazyg:
  
  They should have put the HD-DVD in the Elite 360. I don't understand why they didn't. Not only would people have a CHOICE to buy HD-DVD or not but it might give the format the boost that it needs to get ahead in the war. Look at gaming history. Add-ons have never been a good thing. Sega CD and 32x just as an example.puting a hd-dvd drive into the elite would've been logical, then again when does m$ do anything logical?

  26.7.2007 13:39 #12

• spydah

  They only way they will get me to buy HD or Blu-ray movies will be when they almost completely get rid of standard dvd's. Its kinda pointless to me at this point. Then when you have D-Tv or Comcast with HD channels offering similar movies already in your monthly bill why pay more for this is my opinion. I know others will see differently but i dont care for buying HD or blu-ray anything right now.

  26.7.2007 15:53 #13

• vinny13

  Originally posted by hughjars: 'They' aren't going to be putting games on HD DVD, there is no serious need for it.
  
  2 or 3 DVD9s is not only much cheaper but is so much simpler.
  
  This is all about giving people the choice.
  
  $180/£90 for the XBox 360 HD DVD add-on is a nice deal on it's own.....nevermind 5 freebie HD DVDs.
  
  .....and what sort of silly troll pretends that there is nothing out on HD DVD worth watching?
  Universal, Paramount, Warner, Studio Canal, Weinstock etc etc don't produce a movie you like?
  Sure.Oh I'm sure! I haven't seen one movie that makes me want an HD-DVD player. Most of the movies this year were crap anyways.

  26.7.2007 19:32 #14

• borhan9

  I find this to be a little late considering that the PS3 has been advertising as a Blu-Ray player for awhile and they have only started the Microsoft X-Box now. Don't they think they are a bit behind the eight ball.

  27.7.2007 02:08 #15

• NexGen76

  Originally posted by Hughjars: and what sort of silly troll pretends that there is nothing out on HD DVD worth watching?
  Universal, Paramount, Warner, Studio Canal, Weinstock etc etc don't produce a movie you like?These are the same trolls thats trying to get though to you & tell you that Universal is the only thing keeping HD-DVD alive like it or not its about exclusives HD-DVD don't have them now.This is the reason HD-DVD is behind now.
  
  Universal Great movie studio but pressure going to force them to become format neutral the question is how long can they hold out.
  
  ParamountAlso on Blu-Ray
  
  WarnerAlso on Blu-Ray
  
  Studio CanalMost people here in the US can live without it or never even heard of them...What the last BlockBuster title they every made?????????
  
  Weinstock Who cares...lol

  27.7.2007 03:18 #16

• ChromeMud

  By the time HD-DVD or Blu-Ray start getting serious sales I think another Hd format will be announced with 4320P.I just think that this is just the tip of the iceberg.Resolution is going to increase,codecs will become more complex and newer technologies will surpass the 1080P of current disk technology this era.
  Roll on SuperHD...

  27.7.2007 05:38 #17

• vinny13

  Originally posted by ChromeMud: By the time HD-DVD or Blu-Ray start getting serious sales I think another Hd format will be announced with 4320P.I just think that this is just the tip of the iceberg.Resolution is going to increase,codecs will become more complex and newer technologies will surpass the 1080P of current disk technology this era.
  Roll on SuperHD...Ya when are those SHD TVs or whatever supposed to come out?

  27.7.2007 08:08 #18

• ChromeMud

  It's all hot air at the moment when looking at a HD replacement but just know that technology and business don't wait for nobody.Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are just another franchise to make money at the end of the day so a replacement is inevitable I'm afraid,thats just the way the world is.Thats why I'm finding it hard to jump on this HD bandwagon,it doesn't offer me that wow factor that DVD did over VHS.
  You have to buy a HD TV and high definition audio components,speakers,etc to truly benefit.The thing is,I'm happy with Dolby Digital 5.1 and a big SD widescreen TV to watch my movies,play my music and games on and I think thats the problem with a lot of people out there.My brother has a HD TV and although I can see a nice appreciable difference in quality I don't feel the urge to splurge the cash right now.Next year will see laser TV,SED TV and a few other technologies which will lower prices of current HD tech so I may just go there then,just not now.

  27.7.2007 10:41 #19

• ZippyDSM

  ChromeMud
  true true BR or HDVD could win the format but something else thats better might replace them by the time this long war ends.

  27.7.2007 11:07 #20

• v965hdss

  Will the 360 last long enough to watch a movie without breaking down? (POP) pile of pish

  27.7.2007 14:59 #21

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by v965hdss: Will the 360 last long enough to watch a movie without breaking down? (POP) pile of pishYes because it dose not over heat while playing DVDs ,unless its damaged heavily :P

  27.7.2007 15:02 #22

• canuckerz

  Originally posted by djeazyg: They should have put the HD-DVD in the Elite 360. I don't understand why they didn't. Not only would people have a CHOICE to buy HD-DVD or not but it might give the format the boost that it needs to get ahead in the war. Look at gaming history. Add-ons have never been a good thing. Sega CD and 32x just as an example.
  Exactally what I was thinking, and I own both the sega cd and the 32x -.-', bought them when the local kmart went out of buisness like 12 years ago. Ive never seen anyone else who has either lol...

  27.7.2007 20:57 #23

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Originally posted by djeazyg: They should have put the HD-DVD in the Elite 360. I don't understand why they didn't. Not only would people have a CHOICE to buy HD-DVD or not but it might give the format the boost that it needs to get ahead in the war. Look at gaming history. Add-ons have never been a good thing. Sega CD and 32x just as an example.
  Exactally what I was thinking, and I own both the sega cd and the 32x -.-', bought them when the local kmart went out of buisness like 12 years ago. Ive never seen anyone else who has either lol...Umm who wants a 600$ 360?.........

  27.7.2007 23:54 #24

• voyager

  The only thing M$ needs is correct the 3 hell lights to skyrocket again XB360 forget the digital media for the moment(HI Def Movies very xpensive) i don't care who win between BR-D and HD-DVD i'm really not interested.Xbox360 can handle Hi def media in the current XB360.

  28.7.2007 04:32 #25

• ChromeMud

  The 360 is getting HD movie downloads this year when the Elite is launched so you don't need a new disk format to view HD goodness.
  It'll be like DVD rental,you get it for 1 or 2 days and it gets automaticaly deleted.(Cue a few Sony fanboys saying the 360 will overheat halfway through a movie.)
  I think thats fine as I wouldn't watch some movies more than once anyway.If I was to buy HD movies,it'll be just for the ones I really like such as 'Saving Private Ryan,Matrix,Braveheart',etc,definitely not replacing every DVD I own thats for sure.Thats if I actually decided to buy a HD player some time in the future.

  28.7.2007 07:15 #26

• voyager

  And how much you will pay for the rental of a movie for one or two days..??

  28.7.2007 18:33 #27

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by voyager: And how much you will pay for the rental of a movie for one or two days..??
  TV:2$
  TV HD:3$
  Movie:4$
  Movie HD:6$
  Older Movies:4.50$
  
  I am unsure as to how long you keep them tho.

  28.7.2007 18:48 #28