MS will support Blu-ray, says Ballmer

By Ellie Gibson Published 7 March, 2008

Reckons it's time to move on.

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has admitted the company is looking at ways to support Blu-ray following the demise of poor old HD-DVD.

Speaking at the Mix08 conference, as reported by SeattlePI, Ballmer said, "We've already been working on, for example, in Windows, device driver support for Blu-ray drives and the like.

"I think the world moves on," he continued. "Toshiba has moved on. We've moved on, and we'll support Blu-ray in ways that make sense."

Ballmer did not make any specific mention of Blu-ray in relation to gaming - but it's looking increasingly likely Microsoft could announce a player add-on for Xbox 360.

The Financial Times yesterday reported on similar comments from Sony executive Stan Glasgow. Microsoft tried to distance itself from his statement, but not very hard.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (96) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • bdc #1 4 years ago

    Yes, it makes sense.

    Everyone else: this isn't a fucking 'war', it's business. So don't start trying to look for what isn't there.

  • GamesConnoisseur #2 4 years ago

    Not suprised if MS do then annouce BR add on but they do need to have a graceful period between abandoning HD DVD add on and then stating there is no market. Only to say they do not oppose the BR and will take it on and just a matter of market research etc etc before presto here it is for those of you who want it.

    Even if BR add on will only sell 300k its will still be a good business for MS and also allow those who cannot afford BR player or PS3 as second console to enjoy HD movies. I suspect that if they do it there will be more than 3 percent of X360 world wide taking up BR but most of us who always own PS3 as well will OBVIOUSLY not need it and only applies to those without having the option.

  • The_Inquisitor #3 4 years ago

    The whole 'HD war' put a lot of people off buying into it so this is good news. Will those who've bought a HD-DVD players get anything for their trouble though in the future?

  • WillyWanka #4 4 years ago

    Surely this may that Sony can no longer use the fact they have Blu-ray as their trump card? Unless, of course, MS' add-on is ocbscenly expensive

  • LazyDan #5 4 years ago

    If they do this well enough, release a nice cheap addon and maybe an SKU with blu-ray built in (cheaper than the PS3 anyway,) there will be very little reason to own a PS3.

  • JediMasterMalik #6 4 years ago

    @WillyWanka - You think it won't be?
    Edited by 1 at 07/03/08 @ 15:46

  • ElasticTangent #7 4 years ago

    Sony can still use Blu-Ray as it's included out of the box which is something MS can't do (yet).

  • McLovin85 #8 4 years ago

    This is madness....No, this is Blu-Raaaaayyyyy!!!!!!!!!

    (BD add on will only playback movies, games won't have access to 50gb of space unless an updated Xbox is released meaning that all past Xboxes would become obsolete)

  • Paukl #9 4 years ago

    @GamesConnoisseur

    It's BD, not BR :)

    Not being a dick, just a helpful tip for a sunny Friday afternoon.

  • AmySamey #10 4 years ago

    I really can't see a 360 add-on as a viable decision though. I mean unless MS can bring it out seriously cheap, wouldn't people just buy a PS3 instead?

  • Triggerhappytel #11 4 years ago

    I don't really think it's worth the bother. By the time they produce all the new Blu-ray drives and get them on the market, plus when you factor in development and marketing costs, I think that money would be better spent on developing new IPs or putting it toward their inevitable Xbox 3, which is surely due to hit the market within about 2.5 years.

  • Benno #12 4 years ago

    good

  • sharpfish #13 4 years ago

    360 is far too noisy to seriously use as a movie viewing device (unless you blast your speakers or wear headphones) it also puts out a shitload of heat... and sorry but in no way is it a better solution than the PS3 , a convoluted 2 part set up for a slight price reduction over a standalone? what's the point - by the time they release a drive you may as well buy a standalone BR player (if you don't want a PS3).

    Personally if you do want a BR player anyway, then you'd be mad to pass on PS3 just because of some 'loyalty' to a rival brand (xbox).

    /off to play uncharted :)
    Edited by 1 at 07/03/08 @ 15:59

  • Les #14 4 years ago

    It's not like they have a choice...

  • Greebo #15 4 years ago

    "I really can't see a 360 add-on as a viable decision though. I mean unless MS can bring it out seriously cheap, wouldn't people just buy a PS3 instead?"

    If they see a market for them within the existing user base, then they'll make them. The HD DVD player was essentially a PC drive in a custom caddy, so cost to make prices will drop in line with PC components - and they'll make money on every one sold.

    Should definitely be partnered with a 360 Ultimate BD sku though to compete directly with Ps3.
    Edited by 1 at 07/03/08 @ 16:00

  • miiiguel #16 4 years ago

    I think Sony wants to put as many Blu-Ray players on the market as possible, and fast. Sony isn't just PS3. And, as someone said, this is not a "war", this is buisness.

  • Apologie #17 4 years ago

    Blu Ray is a clear winner, and so is Sony... Microsoft lost in such a pathetic way and now they have to eat they'r pride :) Ps3 will be dominant...

    ------------------------------

    @LazyDan
    If they do this well enough, release a nice cheap addon and maybe an SKU with blu-ray built in (cheaper than the PS3 anyway,) there will be very little reason to own a PS3.

    ------------------------------

    They will never do that, what's the point in making a X360 with Blu Ray in it if they can't use it for games... X360 is a broken piece of equipment now, they'r just trying to make up... there are already many games that use all the data available in the Blu Ray disc, games like MGS4, Killzone etc... in time, more and more of them will likely need that amount of space, and with the increasing number in sales concerning the Ps3 it's no surprise that publishers will prefer to work with Sony...

  • GamesConnoisseur #18 4 years ago

    @GamesConnoisseur

    It's BD, not BR :)

    Not being a dick, just a helpful tip for a sunny Friday afternoon.

    -----

    Laughs! No worries, its goes to show how much HD format war not helped! Sure, now BD format won then everyone will catch on the proper abbreviation and less cautious about moving onto the new optical format.

    Though the abbr make me think of Blue Dragon for some reason!

  • agparrot #19 4 years ago

    @AmySamey

    I really can't see a 360 add-on as a viable decision though. I mean unless MS can bring it out seriously cheap, wouldn't people just buy a PS3 instead?

    This is me ^ - Anybody who thinks MS is going to bring out a cheap peripheral for the 360.... just needs to look at the prices of all the other peripherals, which are high.

    I was always going to get a PS3 anyway - it has only been the constant stream of, y'know... games, that made me plump for a 360... it seems odd now that I ever considered not getting a 360, in favour of getting a PS3 because I loved my PS2 so much.

    At £300 the PS3 BD is already a bit of a steal - add in to this the fact you can play some good games now, and will presumably be able to play some amazing games in the future, and all you need to worry about is what the hell kind of mess the wiring from 2 or 3 consoles is going to make of your TV space.

  • penhalion #20 4 years ago

    It should obviously be pointed out that Blu-ray uses microsoft compression technology anyway, so the two companies are not the enemies the fanboys make them out to be. It is as someone said (and I'm glad to see people are finally understanding) just good business.

  • Greebo #21 4 years ago


    Yep - MS won't care. They have their fingers in all sorts of pies across the tech industry and are used to the odd misjudgement.

    Some flop (HD DVD) and some are successful and line their pockets ever deeper.

  • Triggerhappytel #22 4 years ago

    Apologie - "Blu Ray is a clear winner, and so is Sony... Microsoft lost in such a pathetic way and now they have to eat they'r pride :)"

    In this instance, yes. But swap the word Blu-ray for Rumble and flick Sony/Microsoft around, and you've got another perfectly valid point from just a few months ago.

  • miiiguel #23 4 years ago

    Anyone truly believed that a new optical media can survive without Windows support ? Sony needs to work with MS fast and start to bring the burners at a reasonable price.
    Edited by 1 at 07/03/08 @ 16:20

  • Apologie #24 4 years ago

    Triggerhappytel

    Apologie - "Blu Ray is a clear winner, and so is Sony... Microsoft lost in such a pathetic way and now they have to eat they'r pride :)"

    In this instance, yes. But swap the word Blu-ray for Rumble and flick Sony/Microsoft around, and you've got another perfectly valid point from just a few months ago.

    ----------------------------------------------------

    The importance Rumble had when compared to these is almost insignificant... incomparable. Sony will make a big profit out of these, and the Ps3 will reflect that.
    Edited by 1 at 07/03/08 @ 16:15

  • Triggerhappytel #25 4 years ago

    Although I don't necessarily agree, all I was trying to highlight is that they all have failings sometimes, and they all get egg on their faces. Don't think Sony is immune to this sort of thing, too.
    Edited by 1 at 07/03/08 @ 16:17

  • mcwildcard #26 4 years ago

    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=94157 ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/article.php?art...[/link]

    "We have made no such announcement. Games are what are driving consumers to purchase game consoles and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available."

    Well they managed to remain focused for about 5hrs.
    Good going MS.

  • Darren #27 4 years ago

    This article is of no surprise to me as Sony admitted Microsoft were doing as much elsewhere. Sony had nothing to gain by doing so since a BD add-on for the Xbox 360 would make their own PS3 a less attractive proposition for those people undecided which console format to go for.

  • JackB #28 4 years ago

    I bought my PS3 in January to go with my new Plasma tv's for my Superbowl party. The PS3 is a Blu-Ray player and that's about it. I've downloaded demos, but still haven't rented or purchased a game on it in two months. If the 360 had have had a Blu-Ray add-on in January (just after the war ended) I would have bought it instead.

    It was all timing. If I'd purchased an HD drive about 3 months earlier, I probably would have gone HD-DVD. Luckily, the war ended just as I was in the market.

    This will help 360 sales, IMO.

  • AOFanboi #29 4 years ago

    Keep in mind Sony is ONE of a multitude of Blu-Ray backers - Microsoft can get their drive from Samsung or Matsushita or wherever.

    That said it does not "fix" the problem of the DVD9 capacity limit, that will prob ably wait until the next console - and with Microsoft's "planned obsolescence" track record, that is perhaps not so far away...

  • miiiguel #30 4 years ago

    The success of Blu-Ray is more important for Sony than PS3 success. This will mean a 10 years or so of a constant profit. If they lose a couple of million PS3s sales I guess they wont be much bothered, if they manage to sell a few more (mainly in US) BR units. It would give some boost to Blu-Ray movie sales in the market they're pursuing - US.
    I think the movie buisness is more important for Sony, this gen.
    Edited by 1 at 07/03/08 @ 16:33

  • penhalion #31 4 years ago

    It's about time for the diehard Sony fans to dismiss any use of blu-ray by microsoft lest it undermine the PS3 :)

    I'll be looking for such comments as They'll never make an add-on. Microsoft lost the battle for Hidef (er actually it was Toshiba that lost as all the HD-DVD stuff is toshiba's. Microsoft actually made a very limited quanitity of HD-DVD add-ons, which is why they were and are so hard to get hold of).

    Bottom line is that this doesn't really affect microsoft at all. It does affect Sony though and we would expect their sales to increase over the next few months. The increase may well be offset by the lowering of the 360's price though.

  • drumbaby #32 4 years ago

    Yup, time to wake up and smell the coffee, Ballmer.

  • Darren #33 4 years ago

    @JackB - Ah but at least you can now play PS3 exclusives like Gran Turismo 5 (plus Prologue), Metal Gear Solid 4, White Knight Story and Final Fantasy XIII among others so I'm sure it won't always be used as a BD player unless you hate playing games, in which case what are you doing posting on here? LOL

    And I'm not sure the BD add-on will help increase Xbox 360 sales myself so much as perhaps discourage PS3 ones. However, the 360 and PS3 are primarily bought as games consoles so HD movies are only going to be of interest to a minority of those owners and so won't be enough to change current sales patterns: it'll be the games that do that.

  • Bangaioh #34 4 years ago

    Did MS have any choice?

  • plok #35 4 years ago

    "We've already been working on, for example, in Windows, device driver support for Bluray drives and the like."

    Wow...can the MS and Bluray story get any more exciting!!

    /yawns

    But as people have already pointed out MS is a business...they only care about one thing: making money. So it's no surprise they are supporting Bluray on Windows.


  • Carlo #36 4 years ago

    Anyone else think they're just saying their going to do it, but in actual fact, have no real intention of ever releasing a BD player for their 360?

  • miiiguel #37 4 years ago

    "Anyone else think they're just saying their going to do it"
    They didn't say they will. Sony did, they can if they want to - [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=94157 ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/article.php?art...[/link]

  • Yaz #38 4 years ago

    Apologie wrote "... Microsoft lost in such a pathetic way and now they have to eat they'r pride :) Ps3 will be dominant... microsoft doesen't have a chance and the Blu Ray victory only make thing even easier for Sony... Ps3 is the way to go."

    Apologie, you can take your Sony cheerleaders outfit off now. Put down the pom poms and stop dancing around please. ;)
    Edited by 1 at 07/03/08 @ 16:51

  • Apologie #39 4 years ago

    Microsoft made "no real capitalization" of its one-year head start over PS3, and failed to "reach beyond the core first person shooter player", sony have a much more intresting catalogue of games in terms of diversity and exclusives... the millions of PlayStation 2 fans will turn the tables for PS3 in the next two to three years, that's the secret weapon, that's what goes unreported. It's this 41 million universe of PS2 owners that will be targeted very, very soon to upgrade to a PS3 Blu-ray machine, microsoft doesen't have a chance and the Blu Ray victory only make things even easier for Sony... it's just a matter of time, and yes Yaz i do like to be right once in a while and the Ps3 was the right choice.
    Edited by 2 at 07/03/08 @ 16:53

  • Darren #40 4 years ago

    @Bangaioh - I don't believe Microsoft had any choice. After all, by not supporting BD, they'd be indirectly promoting the PS3 as being the better console for offering the "complete" HD experience, which includes movies and games. Their own Video Marketplace doesn't offer anything of the quality of a decent 1080p HD DVD or BD movie, it's far too compromised (stereo sound, 720p only, no subtitles, no extras, etc.) and it'll be a good few years yet before they can match that quality. Certainly it won't happen in the 360's life time so supporting BD is a necessity purely from a marketing point of view. They certainly wouldn't want the 360 to appear inferior to the competition, it's the reason they added 1080p support to the Xbox 360 and released the HD DVD add-on in the first place.

  • Yaz #41 4 years ago

    "and yes Yaz i do like to be right once in a while and the Ps3 was the right choice."

    It's not about being right or wrong Apologie. You chose the PS3, and that's great, but that doesn't make the 360 a wrong choice, since it uses DVD for games, not a HD drive, and succeeds where it matters, i.e. the games.

    Both are superb consoles, both have and will continue to have a superb collection of games, even if fanboys on boths sides don't want to admit it. :)
    Edited by 1 at 07/03/08 @ 16:58

  • Darren #42 4 years ago

    @Apologie - Now where have I read your post before... oh I know, it was some Sony top bod that said yesterday on another site! LOL

  • Kryon #43 4 years ago

    @Apolololol

    "yes Yaz i do like to be right once in a while and the Ps3 was the right choice."

    Yes, it was the right choice if you wanted a BD player. I just wanted the best games system so the 360 was the right choice for me. I'll get a BD player in about 5-8 years if it ever makes it to being the leading media format. I may buy a PS3 before that though...If a decent game comes out on it that is.

  • Yaz #44 4 years ago

    "@Apologie - Now where have I read your post before... oh I know, it was some Sony top bod that said yesterday on another site! LOL"

    Tsk tsk tsk.

    I keep telling him to post the source instead of just cut and paste, and he promised he would do so in future.

    Ah well, I guess old habits die hard. :)

  • Apologie #45 4 years ago

    it's the point that matters ladies...

  • Bumhug360 #46 4 years ago

    I think this site is broken. I read an article about Steve Ballmer saying Microsoft are looking at improving driver support for Blu-ray in windows and the comments section is full of people talking about a 360 add on and how the PS3 is so much better

  • Yaz #47 4 years ago

    Apologie wrote: "it's the point that matters ladies..."

    Says you as you swing your handbag. :)

    Always quote your sources, that's really not much to ask.

  • morriss #48 4 years ago

    makes sense really.

  • Nithron #49 4 years ago

    Is Apologie actually one of those irritating forum shills that big companies pay to reprint quotes from press releases on every forum they can find as a shitty form of marketing?

    I don't say this because he/she/it supports Sony so vehemently, I say it because they actually talk in a poorly written string of buzzwords, marketdroid style
    Edited by 2 at 07/03/08 @ 17:14

  • Triggerhappytel #50 4 years ago

    Why does every thread about the PS360 have to turn into a cock-jousting my console's bigger than your console arguement?

    Multiformat, people. It's the only way to go.

  • zedzee #51 4 years ago

    "Microsoft could announce a player add-on for Xbox 360."

    They will be the laughing stock of the industry and sound the death knell of the X360, if they do.

  • miiiguel #52 4 years ago

    "They will be the laughing stock of the industry and sound the death knell of the X360, if they do. "
    Why ? They said it since 360s debut, that they might actualy do that. Like..., "well 360 now has Blu-Ray player, which I can buy if I want, but I0 going to laugh a lot, and kill 360s!" ?
    Are you one of those that think MS hates Sony and vice-versa? Like they hate each other so much that Sony wont let Windows have a Blu-Ray and MS hates Sony so much that they wont develop drivers for the Blu-Ray? Well, I don't think so..., but I might be wrong.
    But I have this deep feeling that companies (any one) dig money over "format/console/fanboys wars"...
    Edited by 3 at 07/03/08 @ 18:00

  • Apologie #53 4 years ago

    farticusmaximus

    As for a HD optical player, now that the format war is over I'd buy a blu-ray add-on for the 360 if it was reasonably priced. There's no way in hell I'd buy a PS3 just to watch movies though, and there are no games worth playing on the PS3 that arent out on the 360 (and better on the 360 anyway).

    ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------

    I guess you don't like games that much... yes, because you are simply dissing games like Uncharted, Warhawk, Resistance, Motorstorm, UT3, Heavenly Sword 1 & 2, MGS4, LBP, Killzone 2, REsistance 2, GT5, Tekken6, Syphon Filter PS3, SOCOM, Afrika, GOd of War 3, Final Fantasy XIII, Haze, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, InFAMOUS etc.. not to mention Home, PlayStation... it's your loss, really, about the ports, well, they'r getting better and better, you have Dirt, COD4, Assassins Creed, Burnout Paradise, Darkness, Fight Night Round 3, Army of Two, Devil May Cry 4 etc.. that are just as good, and yes, these are the multiplatform games that matter, thouse comparisions between pirates of the caribbean, or other low profile games are worthless.
    Edited by 3 at 07/03/08 @ 18:03

  • Kryon #54 4 years ago

    ^^^ GLOL! I was wondering when the "Apolol List of Best Games Eva!!111!" would make an appearance.

  • Les #55 4 years ago

    "Bottom line is that this doesn't really affect microsoft at all."

    Bullshit. It wasn't without reason that they poured millions in HD DVD. With the Blu-Ray victory sealed, PS3 has gained momentum. Furthermore, MS offered HDi as an 'OS' for HD DVD players and that revenue stream is gone now as Blu-Ray uses a Sun Java based OS. Then there's the VC-1 codec which is now more likely to be superceded by H.264 in which MS has no stake (H.264 encoding would allow for better compatibility with devices like PSP, iPod, etc.), so another money stream that'll take a hit.

    But what's even more important is that the tech world has shown it can escape the paralyzing grip of the Windows monopoly. Which is great for us consumers.
    Edited by 1 at 07/03/08 @ 18:11

  • Les #56 4 years ago

    Btw people, this article is about MS supporting Blu-Ray in Windows (in which they have no choice, it's been decided for them) and not about Blu-Ray for the 360 in whatever form (unless you want to count EG speculation as news). You could argue that this article is non-news: stating the obvious.
    Edited by 1 at 07/03/08 @ 18:33

  • McFly55 #57 4 years ago

    Hmm, would it not be impractical for microsoft to release a blu-ray addon? by the time it was released it might be more practical to just buy a standalone player.

    And for a minute there I thought people were over the whole "PS3 has no games" thing. Apparently not. At this stage most games will come out on both consoles anyways, and both consoles have some great exclusives coming up. It just means theyre both great choices, and im sure 360 owners will be able to live without MGS4, just has PS3 owners will survive without Gears 2.

  • symbiote #58 4 years ago

    "If they do this well enough, release a nice cheap addon and maybe an SKU with blu-ray built in (cheaper than the PS3 anyway,) there will be very little reason to own a PS3. "

    Apart from the fact they don't break?

  • penhalion #59 4 years ago

    Wow. Maybe we should start a regular "Mis-information Friday" so that the super fanboys and those paid to hijack threads for Sony can do so in a regular easy to find section.

    It looks like at least one person on ths thread is bought and paid for by Sony. Selling souls cheap this year I see Ah Ahh Ahhchoo hint hint.

  • captainrentboy #60 4 years ago

    What in the bloody hell is Sharpfish on about? The 360 is too loud to watch movies on?
    In my opinion, I'm afraid you're talking out of your ass, I fooking love movies, probably a bigger movie fan than I am a game one, and I've had to watch many a flick for one reason or another on my 360 over the last two years and not ONCE have I thought ''Ohhh bloody hell I can't hear a single thing, that 360 is too loud God dammit!''
    The fan noise doesn't interfere in the slightest, especially when you've got 800W of surround sound set up :)
    Only a cunt with his TV vloume set to 1 would be able to hear it in the background.
    Ohh and to get back on topic, I say ''Yes please'' to a Blu Ray add on for the 360. It's simple maths really. £130 or £300, which would I rather spend to watch High def flicks?

  • seasidebaz #61 4 years ago

    sorry if it's been said already, can't be bothered to read through 62(and counting) posts...

    AFAIK both bd and hddvd use the same codec (which is a microsoft developed one...)

    any use of a bd player on the 360 will be software-based, and thus theoretically could upgrade to the latest profiles as and when required.

    if you think about it, all that will be required is a slight modification (if any is required) of the existing hddvd software that microsoft have, as the bd drive will utilize some kind of sata-usb device for streaming the data. and the video codecs are the same.

    the main hurdle to overcome would be implementing bdj, but i'm sure microsoft could sort that out pretty quickly.

    this would benefit both sony and microsoft in the long run, what with sony making money on each bd addon sold, and i don't honestly think it would harm sales of the ps3 (the hddvd had a 3% attach rate, bd may reach about 10% max), people wouldn't go out and buy a 360 and bd addon cos the ps3 would be cheaper anyway.

  • Les #62 4 years ago

    "Multiformat, people. It's the only way to go."

    Maybe for those without time constraints...

  • _Price_ #63 4 years ago

    Common sense? In the games industry?

    /waits for four anthropomorphic personifi on horses (anthropomorphic equinifi?) to show up.

    /needs a life.

  • AmySamey #64 4 years ago

    "Maybe for those without time constraints..."

    Maybe you would have more time for games if you spent less time playing make-believe business analyst over the internet all day long?

  • Les #65 4 years ago

    "Maybe you would have more time for games if you spent less time playing make-believe business analyst over the internet all day long?"

    Nah. we don't have PS3s (or any other consoles) at work. And I'm way past business analyst...

  • AmySamey #66 4 years ago

    ^ If you're old enough to work then what on earth are you doing trolling a gaming website with anti-MS nonsense every day of your life? A bit immature, no?

  • symbiote #67 4 years ago

    "Only a cunt with his TV vloume set to 1 would be able to hear it in the background"

    So parents with kids in the next room are cunts, cunt?

  • Vin #68 4 years ago

    Thank the fucking LORD none of you work in the industry.

  • Les #69 4 years ago

    "If you're old enough to work then what on earth are you doing trolling a gaming website with anti-MS nonsense every day of your life? A bit immature, no?"

    First, apparently you're unaware of the definition of trolling. Here's a reminder: It has something to do with being off topic and not posting to have a decent argument but just to flame. Second, the only thing you've been doing is mud slinging, not substantiated with any kind of argument or joining in the discussion within this thread in any meaningful way (thus trolling). And third, I fail to understand what's anti-MS about stating the obvious fact of their failure with HD DVD. Unfortunately there are plenty of idiots around here (and you're apparently part of that crew) that can't see the difference between an argument based on facts and unsubstantiated fanboy rant. To said people it's a crime to do anything but heaping praise upon MS in the good old G.W. Bush mentality of "if you're not with us, than you're against us". Next they point to others and call them fanboys or trolls.... Very sad (and Nintendo or Sony fanboys are just as bad btw).

    I've been regularly pointing out the failure of both HD consoles (as consoles) in this gen, does that make me anti-Sony?! I don't own a Wii but it's clear that the Wii is the success story of this gen. Does pointing out that fact make me a Nintendo fanboy?!

    But no point arguing with the likes of you, welcome to my ingore list... :(

  • darkphoenix #70 4 years ago

    Hey Microsoft, we don't need that bluray crap......

    But we would welcome a price cut in X360 accessories, like the 120gb HDD or the Wireless adapter.
    Stuff more useful to... you know... to PLAY GAMES, not waching crap and expensive HD movies.
    Edited by 1 at 08/03/08 @ 02:21

  • Gastrian #71 4 years ago

    While I'm not a big fan of Les, especially his attitude towards of us proving his rumours wrong and not him backing them up but AmySamey leave it out.
    ^ If you're old enough to work then what on earth are you doing trolling a gaming website with anti-MS nonsense every day of your life? A bit immature, no?
    I personally don't spend less than half an hour on a game at any one time, if I don't have half an hour to spare I don't play games. Posting on an internet forum? Takes me all of five minutes while I'm checking my bank account. A variation of this also could easily apply to Les.

    Anyway, the article is about MS putting Blu-Ray support into Windows, these could mean everything from codecs (unlikely as Windows media player doesn't even support DVD playback) or that it'll recognise a BD-R when placed in a BD-RW drive and allow windows to write to it through My Computer.

    MS may never have a Blu-Ray player on their console as there's no large customer desire for it, millions of people bought a games console, only a couple of hundred thousand bought the HD movie add-on. It doesn't matter how you twist the figures, the vast majority of customers said no to HD movies. There's also no point in quoting PS3 figures as its impossible to say how many owners use the PS3 exclusively as a movie player or games console, how many dabble and how many use it as both as its that final demographic which would give projected sales figures for a Blu-Ray add-on.

  • fightman2 #72 4 years ago

    fair play, i fucking hate that molyneux cunt - thank god the shithead isnt on eurogamer this week - seems every other fucking week the bald-headed wanker is pissing his hype all over us.

    fucking chimp-faced dickhead.

    "molyneux, you're a fucking retard"

  • Kryon #73 4 years ago

    @Gastrian

    "Posting on an internet forum? Takes me all of five minutes while I'm checking my bank account. A variation of this also could easily apply to Les. "

    Have you actually checked Les' post count? Just check his last 24 hours worth of comments and you'll see that it's not the odd comment here and there that he makes, you'll also notice 99% of his comments are in MS related threads (all with negative spin aimed at said company). The guy is a flame baiting troll who constantly brings up RRoD and the impending doom of MS in every possible instance. He has in the past freely admitted his vehement dislike of MS (although he will probably deny this now). I assume you are either new to EG or you haven't had the 'luck' of conversing much with Les in the past but AmySameys comments are totally reasonable in this instance so I have no idea why you're telling her to 'leave it out'. If Les were to ever post in the main forum he would be banned within minutes.
    Edited by 2 at 08/03/08 @ 08:13

  • fightman3b #74 4 years ago

    i agree fully with the earlier poster's comments regarding mr peter molyneux.

  • Les #75 4 years ago

    "While I'm not a big fan of Les, especially his attitude towards of us proving his rumours wrong and not him backing them up but AmySamey leave it out."

    Thanks for the ' support' ... ;)

    I don't 'do' rumours, rather give my analysis based on the available information. The data I base my arguments/conclusions on I include in a post unless it's common knowledge. As a fair bit of the debates are about the future of this gen it's hard to prove. I'm no fortune teller and of course don't know 100% what's going to happen (otherwise I would have topped the list of wealthiest persons) just give my POV on the industry. If you have better arguments (reasoning) or have better data I'm happy to adjust my POV. I try to base that as much as is humanly possible (so not very much) on rational thought...

  • Kryon #76 4 years ago

    "Suddenly BD is all about mature 'business' and no longer a childish argument to slag the competition."

    Eh? WTF? The only people who use BD to slag the opposition are Sony whores like yourself "Oh noes! Teh Blue Dragzon cumz on 2 much diskz innit liek bruv" etc.. Although it's still true that BD has not yet actually improved PS3 games what with half an hour install times and such...

  • Kryon #77 4 years ago

    "The Xbox360 is safe and boring. The PS3 has new technology and is far more interesting."

    If your main priority is experiencing movies with a minuscule quality upgrade (compared to a standard DVD) then you may have a point. Yet if your main priority is playing the best games on the best games console, then sorry but it's quite obviously the PS3 that's 'boring'...

  • GitSomE_UK #78 4 years ago

    Confounder said: The fact that the PS3 has had this from day one is a testament to Sony's foresight

    Not foresight, work done on deals in board rooms/back rooms/golf clubs/mens clubs. They learned that after the Betamax/Mini Disc fiasco arrogance alone does not a standard make.

  • Vin #79 4 years ago

    "The Xbox360 is safe and boring. The PS3 has new technology and is far more interesting."

    The sales figures certainly reflect that, don't they?

  • fightman3b #80 4 years ago

    i have to agree that mr peter molytwat is a fucking retard

    no, in fact he's not even that - he's a cunting chimp-faced wanker who i wish nothing but aids.

  • HarryB #81 4 years ago

    I seriously doubt they would put this into an SKU as the main drive due to the slower access times when reading DVD (hence why PS3 has to have installs to the HD, it can't read fast enough!)
    so add-on should be the only option.

  • ParanoidZombie #82 4 years ago

    A bit surprised by the pro-Sony comments, TBH. Have you guys forgotten that your foe isn't MS, but Nintendo? I mean, if you want your beloved PS3 to sell like the ps2, everyone with half a brain cell knows that you'll have to tame the wii, not the x360, which has basically already served its purpose (which was establishing a strong brand identity by winning the hardcore gamer crowd with the best selection of games, like Sony did with the PS1).

    U can expect tons of Home shit, Karaoke binge, Eye toy crap and Sixaxis whatever for the years to come as Sony tries to unseat Nintendo, but the best hardcore gaming stuff will still be designed with the X360/PC crowd in mind. And Blu-ray? Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like the Wii is doing fine, and you can't watch movies with it. Unless, of course, Sony expects the ps2 to keep on outselling the ps3 and compete with the wii.

    If this is a "consoles war", you can't just pick your foes and say "oh well, the wii is too strong, let's fight the x360 instead, at least we have a shot".

  • bivith #83 4 years ago

    "but it's looking increasingly likely Microsoft could announce a player add-on for Xbox 360. "

    no. it isn't.

  • Xerx3s #84 4 years ago

    So who developed VC-1 again?

    Business knows no allegiances, only profit and loss.
    Edited by 1 at 09/03/08 @ 11:09

  • Gastrian #85 4 years ago

    There's over 125 intellectual property in VC-1 and Microsft are the third lowest with four, Sony have more IP in VC-1 than Microsoft (an oft overlooked fact) so Sony make money off of the stanrd, MS actually lose money from it because they include it free in WMP but still have to pay for the over 120 odd royalties.

    Kryon, I used to be an active moderator on a Nintendo site and there's no flame wars without retaliation. Eurogamer has a great feature in the Ignore Poster button, trolls want to be heard and want to annoy, arguing with them gives them self-justification, ignoring them neuters them and if AmySamey feels Les is a troll then Amy's best course of action is the ignore button otherwise the flaming grows. Trolls only stay when they are fed, starve them and they'll move onto pastures new.

    And Les if you are capable of changing your POV why did you stick with the theory that Microsoft was bankrolling HD-DVD when Microsoft flat out said they hadn't done the deals most people said they did and Toshiba claimed responsibility for most of those deals? Its not a case of looking into the future its looking at the facts around you, your POV was based on unfounded rumours that only Sony and Michael Bay (because he is so knowledgable on the subject) were vocal about and asking us to prove you wrong even after MS and Toshiba had said these deals did not occur.

    I'll be honest in the few posts I've spoken to you in I seriously doubt you actually know how to analyse business when you skew data based on your predujices and use dodgy logic.
    Edited by 1 at 08/03/08 @ 18:18

  • Kryon #86 4 years ago

    Kryon, I used to be an active moderator on a Nintendo site and there's no flame wars without retaliation. Eurogamer has a great feature in the Ignore Poster button, trolls want to be heard and want to annoy, arguing with them gives them self-justification, ignoring them neuters them and if AmySamey feels Les is a troll then Amy's best course of action is the ignore button otherwise the flaming grows. Trolls only stay when they are fed, starve them and they'll move onto pastures new

    While some of what you say is accurate, berating a forumite for speaking out against a well known troll and general idiot, it seems to me you're getting things the wrong way around, if you've been a mod before I'm surprised you don't realise this tbh, a good mod would weed out the regular trouble makers while backing the genuine games enthusiast, this seems to be something you've got wrong. I find it even more strange seeing as even you acknowledge Les as a bit of a half wit yourself (judging by your attitude towards him). Are you sure you just don't like females?

  • Les #87 4 years ago

    "So who developed VC-1 again?"

    It's an mpeg based video codec, previously known as Windows Media 9 and later rebranded to VC-1.

    For more on the subject:
    [link url=http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2007 /08/29/origins-of-the-blu-ray-vs-hd-dvd-war/
    ]http://ww w.roughlydrafted.com/2007/08/29...[/link]

    "MS actually lose money from it because they include it free in WMP but still have to pay for the over 120 odd royalties."

    That's bullshit and you (should) know it. VC-1 is included because MS creates tools for encoding video into VC-1 on which it makes quite some money. WMP is there to generate the demand for those tools. This definitely isn't charity of MS. Either you're incredibly gullible or not very smart (though judging on the overall content of your posts you don't appear to be stupid so I guess it's the first one).

    "your POV was based on unfounded rumours that only Sony and Michael Bay (because he is so knowledgable on the subject) were vocal about and asking us to prove you wrong even after MS and Toshiba had said these deals did not occur."

    First, I didn't say anything about whether or not MS paid Paramount to join HD DVD. I just said they invested millions in HD DVD which is a fact. Second, we've had that discussion elsewhere so no need to repeat it again here.

  • Vin #88 4 years ago

    "The only reason Xbox360 is ahead in sales is because it was released over 1 year earlier (of the PS3)."

    Nothing to do with the price and lack of games, then?

  • Gastrian #89 4 years ago

    Kyron, in a case of an argument its best to get the party offended to back down as they are normally the party most succeptible to reason. Trolls only work when they get someone to react and when that person does react it escalates.

    Les Microsoft may make the tools but that doesn't alter the fact that VC-1 includes proprietry tech from other companies, as part of Microsoft gaining a licence for VC-1 it had to recognise the owners for the patents included within it. I had a quick read through of that website you linked to and laughed at the fact that you'd even consider linking to it. Its an Apple fans website talking about Apple products while berating Microsoft for anything and in its Zoon awards the vast majority were for people that reported nasty things about Apple, the other ones being Microsoft products. Biased sources DO NOT count as legitimate information.

    For a less biased view theres this web address
    [link url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/200 7/04/14/microsoft_vc-1_codec_analysis/page2.html
    ]http://ww w.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/14/...[/link]

    Microsoft has VC-1 made into a standard, it was proven that 16 other companies have patents for technology essential to VC-1, people who use VC-1 have to pay for these royalties. As Microsoft includes VC-1 in its Windows technology Microsoft HAVE to pay these royalties from the money they make from Windows Media Player which is...none. In accountancy, statistics, economics or any other maths based business system if you pay out more than you bring in you are making a loss. Microsoft is making a loss through VC-1.

  • Les #90 4 years ago

    @ Gastrian

    LOL and you come up with The register... Very funny... :D

    Yes the guy is quite pro-Apple and not a big fan of MS (to put it mildly) but at least he does his research rather than rehashing MS PR statements like most tech reporters on the net...

    Not really sure what you're trying to prove with the link though. It's an article about MS trying to claim VC-1 as it's own tech while it was clear from the start that it's mainly based on mpeg technology in which they had little involvement. Not exactly proper business conduct one would think... But anyway, that didn't succeed and they had to pay back royalties. That doesn't mean they don't earn money via pushing VC-1 though. It just means they earn less than they'd liked.

    "In accountancy, statistics, economics or any other maths based business system if you pay out more than you bring in you are making a loss. Microsoft is making a loss through VC-1."

    With that reasoning they're also making a loss on IE, chess, Notepad and any other part of windows that isn't directly necessary for the functioning of the OS... The ' loss' they make on actually creating and maintaining the code for WMP is probably bigger than those VC-1 royalties...

    But of course it's faulty reasoning. The biggest proof of that is the fact that MS includes WMP in Windows in the first place. MS is no charity, it's a business. Most people don't choose an OS, they get one bundled with the PC they buy. If MS didn't include WMP bundled, it's effect on Windows sales would be negligible as people can get plenty of media players for free.

    MS bundles WMP because they wanted the world to use VC-1 encoded media. Why did they want that? Because it would have earned them money. How? Via encoding tools and royalties. True, other parties would also share in VC-1 royalties (even more than MS because they contributed more than MS) but that still doesn't take away the fact that MS themselves would earn royalty money as well on every piece of media encoded with VC-1 as well as every player that comes with a VC-1 decoder.

  • Les #91 4 years ago

    "Nothing to do with the price and lack of games, then?"

    Come on Vin, use your head: The games advantage is a direct result of the year head start. Or do you really believe 360's first year 3rd party titles wouldn't have been multi-platform if it was launched simultaneously with PS3? Price would have been an issue though, but not as big as some make it out to be, given that first year sales of 360 and PS3 were pretty damn close.

    In hindsight the year headstart has been very beneficial to MS though not in the way they anticipated. Had they launched at the same time as Wii, software release schedules for 2008 and further would have looked totally different.

  • Xerx3s #92 4 years ago

    "It's an mpeg based video codec, previously known as Windows Media 9 and later rebranded to VC-1. "

    I know. I was making a point to some people who say that ms is losing face by 'suddenly' supporting BRD. Business is about making money and in that respect, ms was already contributing to BRD long before HDDVD went tits up.

    I couldn't care less. I'm sure that there will be people who think that this is important but imo it won't matter. It's about the games and for films I really see no point in switching from DVD. Much like switching from XP to vista is pointless as well.

  • smelly #93 4 years ago

    So what if microsoft does or doesnt support bluray?

    I bought my 360 to play games!

    Personally i thought microsoft would be chasing the downloadable movie stuff more than the player root though

    But in my experience, unless you have a 100" display, hi def movies make f-all difference anyways (compared to the difference you see in hi-def games).

    I think microsoft were right not to put a hi-def movie player in their console and push the price up unnecessarily

  • Calgon #94 4 years ago

    Agreed enough with the importance of Blu-Ray you can shout and shout about it but theres a heck of alot of people who were never bothered about a HD movie format... atleast not yet anyway. Ive said it in the other thread, first you need a screen to do them justice or its pointless, second buying old films again that were never ment for HD is a waste, third new films that are worth adding to a collection are very few = wait a few years untill the cost(TVs and players) and reasons(films worth owning) are all more inviting and by that time its importance to the PS3 will be even more minimal.
    Edited by 1 at 09/03/08 @ 21:24

  • Calgon #95 4 years ago

    Xiphos ok let me refraise that its a waste 'more often than not' theres more to Image Quality than pixel count(if thats all you care about get an upscaler and they will look fine on a HDTV), I dont even need to argue with you about it you can see it for yourself when a HD release was meant for it or not. Fair enough fool yourself into buying the same films you have on DVD all over again, pretending its worth it. Newer releases I can see since you dont already have them but as I said theres not much worth owning these days IMO so I'll wait till there is... and I can imagine a heck of alot of people seeing it the same way, many of which dont have a HDTV another big factor often ignored or downplayed.
    Edited by 2 at 10/03/08 @ 00:37

  • mark8000 #96 4 years ago

    @ Calgon

    Then why is the top rated blu-ray movie from 1968?

    http://ww w.blu-ray.com/movies/top.php?sh...

  • Kryon #97 4 years ago

    @mark8000

    Then why is the top rated blu-ray movie from 1968?

    Because, as Calgon said -

    new films that are worth adding to a collection are very few

    And he was correct, your link proves it, just look at the other titles in the top 10. Ratatouille, Celine Dion Live in Vegas FFS! A few of the Later (and poorer) Pirates of the Caribbean movies and a film called 'Reign over me' which no ones even ever heard of (have they?)! Calgon was spot on imo.

  • Les #98 4 years ago

    "Welcome to the wonderful world of internet experts,

    Meanwhile, nobody in the real world gives a shit."

    This is a comments section for a news article. It is there so that people can comment. On the news. That 99.9999999% of people isn't interested in those comments at all is besides the point. It's for those that are and the rest can safely ignore it.

  • Kryon #99 4 years ago

    Comments are fine, amateur 'analysis' based on bias and fanboy crap is another thing entirely...It's rather strange how Les spends far more time posting in MS related threads than Sony ones when he doesn't own a 360 and (according to him) doesn't wish to own one...