MS Officially Denies HD-DVD 360 Games (Was: MS rules out HD-DVD games "this holiday")

[Mmmkay]

[/MOD POWER ABUSE]

UPDATE: Looks like we can put the issue to rest. Microsoft has, once again, officially denied they will be releasing games on the upcoming HD-DVD format, confirming the add-on will be movie-exclusive. The statement released from the company this afternoon makes that pretty clear, and they don't appear to be leaving room to budge: We're seeing lots of speculation about our upcoming HD DVD Player, and whether we have plans to publish HD DVD games. The answer is no. Since announcing the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player accessory at E3 2006, we've been clear that it is designed exclusively for playing HD DVD movies. It will not play games on HD DVD. At this point, we haven't seen anything to suggest that next-gen DVD formats offer a better game experience than current DVD. What we do know is that these formats will bring added cost to game developers, disc manufacturing, and could even result in added costs and longer load times for the consumer, which would negatively impact the game experience. We are focused on making great HD games available to consumers now, and games like "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" clearly show that beautiful high def graphics and huge, immersive worlds to explore are possible on the DVD9 format. -- Microsoft spokesperson

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3152888
[/MOD POWER ABUSE]

Yeah, I blinked too...

Microsoft hasn’t determined whether to do Xbox 360 games in blue-laser HD DVD, but has ruled it out for “this holiday” when it ships its HD DVD drive for movie playback through the Xbox 360, said Dave Luehmann, gen. mgr.- Microsoft Game Studios. “Speed of loading” is Microsoft’s big concern about HD DVD games on the Xbox 360, Luehmann said. Xbox 360 games on red-laser DVD9 can run at 12X speeds at data transfer rates that aren’t a problem, but the same can’t necessarily be said of HD DVD game content, and Microsoft wants to be confident of pleasing users, he said. He wasn’t more specific about delivery timing of the HD DVD drive. Microsoft hasn’t released pricing on the drive, but “will do so shortly,” he said. He vowed it would be offered at a “great and affordable” price, repeating statements of other Microsoft executives that the drive would be the “cheapest” HD DVD player available.

This is from a subscription only publication so sadly I cannot provide a link to the source. If a mod wants, I can PM them sufficient evidence to demonstrate the authenticity of the information, but you're just going to have to take my word for it at the moment.

[Wario64]

[Raistlin]

Wow ... just wow

[LakeEarth]

Its a peripheral. I don't see any developer limiting themselves to a small percentage of the userbase. Especially since the only reason you'd go to HD-DVD is if your game is massive.

[SHOTEH FOCK OP]

What.

The.

Hell.

[sprsk]

God damn't

[xsarien]

Oh man. Do it, Microsoft, do it. Seeing the system go down will be spectacular to watch.

[Vgamer]

If they ever make games exclusively for the addon they are crazy.

[GitarooMan]

I just can't see it ever happening, I would be honestly shocked if a game was released solely for the HD-DVD drive.

[MightyHedgehog]

God damn't

?

[BlueTsunami]

OMG AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Y2Kev]

It's not happening. It just can't. It can't. It won't.

someone hold me

[Kobun Heat]

NO NO NO NO NO DON'T DO IT RUN AWAY FROM THE LIGHT

MICROSOOOOOOFT

YOU WERE THE LAST BEST HOPE

edit: **** it, i give up.

[Wollan]

Im sure Microsoft isn't this stupid.

[Mrbob]

It's gonna happen. This is inevitable. Halo 3 on HD DVD.

I am personally for this, and hope MS makes this happen, as it'll make the HD DVD purchase more enticing. I foresee two versions being released of games for 360. One version on multiple DVDS and another on HD DVD.

[sangreal]

The only way I can support this is if HD-DVD games are available in multi-disc DVD format. I don't have an HDTV and before I do I will not buy an HD-DVD drive.

[BlueTsunami]

[Nvidia]

woooo woooo

[vatstep]

Halo 3 HD-DVD Collectors Edition FTW!

[xsarien]

NO NO NO NO NO DON'T DO IT RUN AWAY FROM THE LIGHT MICROSOOOOOOFT YOU WERE THE LAST BEST HOPE

More like The Great White Hype?

[bmf]

There is a way this can work. All games seem to have a fairly big chunk of FMV. The HD-DVD version would be the same version of the game, but it would include FMV at HD resolutions. The other possibility would be stuff like DVD extras, like a making of video. HD should not be used to include more or bigger textures or sections of gameplay. Of course the HD-DVD version of games would end up being $70 a pop.

[Striek]

Ruh-roh.

MS won't do this, afterall, games have zero need for a bigger disc drive, right guys?

[DarienA]

Needed to be reposted.

[Piper Az]

Oh man. Do it, Microsoft, do it. Seeing the system go down will be spectacular to watch.

Hey it's Peter Moore. I'm sure he learned a trick or two when he was at SEGA - "Add-ons to divide the user-base, bitches! I'm gonna make it work this time!"

[Zamorro]

ONE microsoft employee has gone mad. Big deal. That can happen in a big company like MS. Stress and all that.

[GitarooMan]

I foresee two versions being released of games for 360. One version on multiple DVDS and another on HD DVD.

I thought of this, but seems like a total waste for a publisher to decide how many to print of each type, making different boxes, etc.., doesn't seem worth it but who knows PC games still often come in CD and DVD forms.

[soul creator]

that would be insanely stupid, so I doubt it will happen.

Then again, I said that about the $500-$600 PS3 at one point, so who knows.

[Y2Kev]

This thread is going to be sooo awesome.

[..pakbeka..]

A few months ago MS asked Sega: "how do I killed console?"

[jjasper]

Things like this make me want to wait on a 360 till Halo 3.

[ourumov]

Hmmm...well, unless they give the addon with a top-seller game/system I don't see this being a good idea...
It's not that it helped the 64 to split up the userbase between Expansion Pack Users and Non-Expansion pack ones.

[Crisis]

Completely unacceptable if true. If they pull this shit, Xbox 360 has NO advantage whatsoever over PS3. PS3 has the advantage of being able to say that all of their games come on a next-generation disc format, while that move would confuse owners of the 360 very badly. It's a fool's maneuver.

[soul creator]

This thread is going to be sooo awesome.

I predicted at least 4 pages for the consumable's thread, so I'm calling 6 for this one

[aztrex]

A few months ago MS asked Sega: "how do I killed console?"

Peter Moore am repeat history.

[jjasper]

This thread will continue till tomorrow when someone at MS says it isn't happening.

[monkeymagic]

Gimped DVD version of Halo 3

Full HD-DVD version of Halo 3

It's all about choice

[ghst]

wtf

With this plus consumerBALLs, its a good day for barely substanciated xbox gossip.

In before page 2.

[Mejilan]

They won't. They only way this will be even remotely viable is if the X360 : HD-DVD addon ratio approaches 1:1.

It'd be like the Genny/Sega-CD/32X nonsense all over again.

[jett]

That'd be some funny shit if HD-DVD games were actually released on the 360.

Too Human Trilogy HD-DVD edition for 2009.

[thekad]

Awesome. This shall be interesting.

[Dalauz]

You can see rain effects in Halo 3 HD-DVD version

Dala points X-Men@x32

[pilonv1]

Microsoft hasn’t determined whether to do Xbox 360 games in blue-laser HD DVD, but has ruled it out for “this holiday” when it ships its HD DVD drive for movie playback through the Xbox 360, said Dave Luehmann, gen. mgr.- Microsoft Game Studios

I'd like to see a full quote, because "this holiday" could be about anything. That paragraph seems to have some very selective quoting, I'd much rather read an un-edited version.

[yjs666]

OMFG disaster confirmed.

[BlueTsunami]

Choice is good, choice is grand, choice will (insert rhyme here)

[SS4Gogita]

First Consumables and now this? SAY IT A'INT SO, MS.

[Y2Kev]

Gimped DVD version of Halo 3 Full HD-DVD version of Halo 3 It's all about choice

They wanted to put Halo 2 on an HD-DVD, but they couldn't fit it. So they just ended it.

am irite!!

[Barry Lightning]

BELIEVE

[Joe Molotov]

If they ever make games exclusively for the addon they are crazy.

Just kidding, no one bought the tard pack. Did they?

[nelkon and parker]

Holy moly, what the hell is MS doing? Next year is going to be so goddamn interesting.

[Mrbob]

The spinning by MS execs will be a momentous occassion though if this is true, after all the chest thumping they have done to say that a next gen media format is not needed for 360 games.