• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Microsoft announces external HD-DVD drive for Xbox 360

Mike Works said:
Best Buy, Christmas 2006

Employee: Dude, you should definitely come out next week and camp for the PS3. Hold off on the 360. That only has HD-DVD. Blu Ray is the way to go. And there's definitely no way we've sold out of PS3 reservations by now! I hate making this store money!
Guy: Um, yeah. Actually I just want a game system for my kid.
Employee: Don't you want any Blu Ray movies? The quality is so much better. And the games look better! And do drugs!
Guy: Uh, listen dude. My kid just wants to play Gears Of War. His friends at school started a clan and he can't get in it and they, you know, they mock him. They make fun of him, teasing him that the only work his dad can get are in these unplausable hypothetical anecdotes.
Employee: Aw, dude. Warhawk is gonna kick Gears' ASS! To the motherfucking EXTREME! That shit is TITS! This is how Best Buy employees talk to the OLDER SECT!
Guy: The helicopter game? Yeah, that's not really his speed. Why must Sony accost me so?
Employee: The graphics are amazing though, man. I'm high now apparently too. Plus I raped some babies in the back store. Gave em the dual shock, and I ain't talkin bout controllers!
Guy: Yeah, I mean I saw the footage they aired during Lost last week. That did look pretty sweet.
Employee: See?
Guy: How much is it?
Employee: It's $499. But that INCLUDES the Blu Ray player, out of the box.
Guy: You know, I told myself the fourth time I bought Star Wars that that would be the last time I bought a movie more than once.
Employee: Well then don't buy Star Wars again?
Guy: Oh that makes sense, I should do that.
Employee: Yeah.
Guy: ...
Employee:
smoke4tu.jpg
Click to expand...

:lol :lol :lol
 
Next release:
PS3 reader. Using the USB port you can connect the PS3 as a slave to the 360.
We call it the Blu-Ray Drive.
 
drohne said:
external hd-dvd is a fucking strange idea, but i bet they're doing this because they intend to replace the 360s dvd drive with an hd dvd drive. i think they're doing an external unit to smooth the transition and keep early adopters in the fold. it makes sense for 360 to play hd movies, but launching in 2005 was obviously really important to ms.
Click to expand...

This makes sense. Expecially if we see it hit market by E3. With the supply low, not that many early adopters will be screwed. Then you just have to provide them with a fairly cheap add-ons and ditch the launch box.

Keeps the lack of units in perspective as well.

I don't think this is going to happen
 
M3wThr33 said:
Blu-Ray is 25GB a layer. DVD is 4.7. That's over 5 times more space.
In the long run that will be significant when the PS3 games will hold 5 times the data a 360 game can.
Can the 360 at least read dual-layer DVDs for games?
Click to expand...

Yes it can read both layers. However, I believe that a couple of gigs is set aside on the DVD for security...I could be wrong on this though. Also, is it possible that the PS3 will sport a dual layer BRD? I'm very much out of the loop on the whole BR thing. :P
 
Hawk269 said:
Bob, I understand what you are saying, but if Blu Ray does not take off, that is a very expensive piece of tech to have inside the PS3 just for the games, when normal DVD can do the same albeit use an additional disk or 3.
Click to expand...
But since Sony makes their own drives it's not as much of a risk, even if Blu-Ray only ever gets widespread adoption in the PS3 it'll still have the volume for their costs to go down over time.
 
The add-on drive would probably be very cheap since the whole point of adding it to the 360 would be to bypass all the player hardware to render video with the 360's own CPU/GPU.

:)
 
"external hd-dvd is a fucking strange idea, but i bet they're doing this because they intend to replace the 360s dvd drive with an hd dvd drive. i think they're doing an external unit to smooth the transition and keep early adopters in the fold. it makes sense for 360 to play hd movies, but launching in 2005 was obviously really important to ms."
Click to expand...

if they do this then they should go the whole hog and allow HD-DVD games, and offer the early adopters some sort of money off coupon for the upgrade.

This might even be the plan - machine is out, get some sales in, then bait and switch. might work out handy that they BOMBOLAED in Japan - less people to get pissed off! ;)
 
Deg said:
You mean there is a Blu ray addon? Where?

If MS really cared about xbox so much they'd also give blu ray or if one, Blu ray.
Click to expand...

What I mean is that they can offer Blu Ray add-on if it get's determined that Blu Ray is the format of the future. As of today, there is no winner as of yet. I am just saying they can offer it if they want and if it does take off, I bet you that they will have both the add-on and a newer 360 w/Blu ray built in.
 
DCharlie said:
if they do this then they should go the whole hog and allow HD-DVD games, and offer the early adopters some sort of money off coupon for the upgrade.

This might even be the plan - machine is out, get some sales in, then bait and switch. might work out handy that they BOMBOLAED in Japan - less people to get pissed off! ;)
Click to expand...


dude if they dont have SERIOUS game "Star power" to sell the add-on it would be a nightmare.. when you burn consumers they remeber...

it wouldh have to be like halo or ninja gaiden star power to sell the unit.. or maybe an MMO like world of warcraft...

hmmmmmmmmmmmm hey thats not a bad idea.. bundle it with World Of Warcraft HD-DVD on the xbox360.. holy crap that would sell it i bet!!
 
Blaster1X said:
The add-on drive would probably be very cheap since the whole point of adding it to the 360 would be to bypass all the player hardware to render video with the 360's own CPU/GPU.

:)
Click to expand...

This is what I'm hoping for, too. HD DVD drive isn't supposed to be as expensive as a Blu Ray drive. I think 99 dollars for the drive would be a fair price.
 
Blaster1X said:
The add-on drive would probably be very cheap since the whole point of adding it to the 360 would be to bypass all the player hardware to render video with the 360's own CPU/GPU.

:)
Click to expand...

Yup, basically needs a drive and a laser.
 
sillymonkey321 said:
Add-ons suck.

It's like Microsoft's little way of saying " yeah, I know you wanted this to actually serve a purpose, but we'll put it out anyways and make little to no use of it. But...please buy it anyways."

The hard drive is a giant memory card instead of an asset to developers.

The HD-DVD drive is for movies instead of a next-gen storage format.

Thank you Microsoft for crippling your new system by getting those special "price points" down.
Click to expand...
bada-bing
 
Supporting a format that has pretty much lost before arriving... with a peripheral add-on that doesn't even affect x360 games(hopefully), which indicates sub 10% userbase penetration... or in other words, at most it'll sell what the ps3 sells at or near launch in its entire multi-year lifespan(if it's not axed quickly) :lol


BTW GAMES are coming for it, Blu-ray has support for java games on hd movies and HD-DVD probably has something similar. So yes they most likely lied, games, not x360 games, but games nonetheless that are only/exclusively playable on units with the hd-dvd drive are most likely coming :D

sonycowboy said:
I'm mostly sure that Blu-Ray will prevail, however, Microsoft is a VERY STRONG partner and the inclusion, royalty free of HD-DVD, in the Vista OS, the likely release of a version of Vista on HD-DVD, the pull Microsoft has with the computer industry (see HP changing their minds, is DELL next??), along with Warner's predisposition with HD-DVD (IMO, they've easily got the strongest breadth of IP's out there LOTR, Batman, Superman, Matrix, Harry Potter, King Kong, etc), along with lower HD-DVD production costs make HD-DVD a tough out.

It's still not quite over yet.
Click to expand...

It is over and MS better be careful what lewd tactics it uses, or it'll be over for them as a company too :D The DOJ could easily legally hamstrung them so badly the competition would walk right over them or worse they could cut them up into several pieces!

m0dus said:
Ask joe bottlecap what a 1080p is. Or tell him how much that TV is gonna cost him. And why he has to re-buy all his movies for his new console and television. I don't think the consumer is going to give that much of a damn for a few years, yet. I think a consumer is going to compare which machine plays GTA, Halo 3, God of War 2, and the like. And when these format wars DO come into the picture, things will be all the cheaper (and the decision all the clearer)
Click to expand...

Hold it buddy! MS ain't going third party... yet :D
 
Divus Masterei said:
BTW GAMES are coming for it, Blu-ray has support for java games on hd movies and HD-DVD probably has something similar. So yes they most likely lied, games, not x360, but games nonetheless that are only/exclusively playable on units with the hd-dvd drive are most likely coming :D
Click to expand...

Yay. Another port of Mad Dog McCree and Dragon's Lair II.
 
"dude if they dont have SERIOUS game "Star power" to sell the add-on it would be a nightmare.. when you burn consumers they remeber...

it wouldh have to be like halo or ninja gaiden star power to sell the unit.. or maybe an MMO like world of warcraft...

hmmmmmmmmmmmm hey thats not a bad idea.. bundle it with World Of Warcraft HD-DVD on the xbox360.. holy crap that would sell it i bet!!"
Click to expand...

well, that's the thing - MS have to hold their hand up in this case and accept the loss on giving extremely cut price add on units to the early adopters. Then, swap out the regular drive for a HD-DVD in all new models.

I know MS have said "we are in this for profit" and JFrost used that as part of his argument. But at the moment they are potentially going to get steamrollered. Allowing that to happen would incur a MUCH bigger loss than whatever total subsidy may be incured - and it may further damage their standing (a second thrashing would not be good for when you try to recruit devs next gen!)

again, not enought PS3/X360/add on info yet. So who knows.

I do like Kachings managed copy idea though. Would need a larger HDD.

although there is also a timing issue here! X360 + HD-DVD add on = HD movies ... soon?
PS3 US launch.... when? 2006 Autumn? Xmas? when?
 
Divus Masterei said:
BTW GAMES are coming for it, Blu-ray has support for java games on hd movies and HD-DVD probably has something similar. So yes they most likely lied, games, not x360 games, but games nonetheless that are only/exclusively playable on units with the hd-dvd drive are most likely coming :D
Click to expand...

dude i toldja.. i just had that brainstorm..

hmmmmmmmmmmmm hey thats not a bad idea.. bundle it with World Of Warcraft HD-DVD on the xbox360.. holy crap that would sell it i bet!!
Click to expand...

im telling ya i should freakin email MS.. this is a millino dollar idea lol

if they dont have a game with WoW level of "Star power" noone is gonna swallow a 200 dollar add on for games
 
Hey hey hey.. somethign that has not been mentioned..


doenst this thing need its own HDMI port to output the movies due to the copy protection??

not to mention its own power supply

it cant output them thru the regular AV out on the xbox360 due to the fact it is analog..


is my understanding of the technolgoy correct?
 
crunker99 said:
if they dont have a game with WoW level of "Star power" noone is gonna swallow a 200 dollar add on for games
Click to expand...

How about Halo 1/2/3 Collection with 1+2 having the updated graphics?!?! And WoW!!
 
DCharlie said:
Would need a larger HDD.
Click to expand...
I covered that the the *first* time I suggested it ;)

Managed Copy is one of the reasons why they supposedly backed HDDVD so strongly in the first place
 
Mrbob said:
This is what I'm hoping for, too. HD DVD drive isn't supposed to be as expensive as a Blu Ray drive. I think 99 dollars for the drive would be a fair price.
Click to expand...
Suddenly HD movies dont seem pricey... for that price I would buy one tonight and pick up a HD movie if I could. :p
 
crunker99 said:
Hey hey hey.. somethign that has not been mentioned..


doenst this thing need its own HDMI port to output the movies due to the copy protection??

not to mention its own power supply

it cant output them thru the regular AV out on the xbox360 due to the fact it is analog..


is my understanding of the technolgoy correct?
Click to expand...


This hasn't been mentioned???
 
Kleegamefan said:
This hasn't been mentioned???
Click to expand...

i didnt see it but then again its 12 pages :)

also look at the size of an hd-dvd player:

toshibatop2.jpg


now if they dont want somethign that big they only have 1 choice.. let the xbox360 do the video decoding work right? bascially use a bare boned drive to pass the info the xbox360.. so this would mean that the video would have to come from the xbox630 output, which menas some sort of hdmi adapter

either that or they make the add on huge

what say u?
 
Kleegamefan said:
This hasn't been mentioned???
Click to expand...

I guess he didn't delve into the technicals.

3 things

1) Would USB2.0 (which i'm guessing the 360 has) handle a good enough bitrate for 720p/1080i video?

2) Would it be able to have sufficient power through the USB

3) The HDMI deal
 
Blaster1X said:
Suddenly HD movies dont seem pricey... for that price I would buy one tonight and pick up a HD movie if I could. :p
Click to expand...

Well we need to know the cost of the add on first. If it is above 99 dollars this would be bad.
 
PR said:
Xbox 360 is on track to be the fastest-selling video game console ever
Click to expand...
Buh? Based on months 1 and 2, it's not even the fastest-selling Microsoft video game console of the last 4.2 years.

VALIS said:
Maybe some of you kids can explain why you think this was a bad move instead of just going "zomglololol!!" and wasting everyone's time. Should they have revised the 360 to include a HD-DVD drive? That doesn't seem like a very good idea, either. I dunno, I don't follow nor care about the next gen format wars at this point, so I have no idea why this is good or not good.
Click to expand...
It just seems... pointless. Like a CD add-on for N64 that would just play music.

DCharlie said:
then they should have put it in the PS2 in the first place if they knew they needed it before the PS2 launch! ;) I recall the PS2 HD unveiling came AFTER the Xbox announcement and way after the PS2.
Click to expand...
It may have been delayed a lot or they might not have announced the specifics, but I remember talk about how the early Japanese units had no place for an internal hard drive. It was redesigned before the US launch to have the bay.
 
i think the HDMI deal is the biggest question because of several things

first of all, if the thing is just a bare bones reader that passes the video signal to the XBox360, it was my understanding that the xbox360 outputs an analog signal only, even in HD, how would it output an HDMI signal then? Or was my understanding of the xbox360 output technolgoy wrong?

also, if the thing has its own HDMI output, then how would games work even if they decided to push the device onto consumers with world of warcraft or whatever. This means consumers would have to use HDMI to game? Or can an hd-dvd drive output non-copyrighted info as non-digital?

if my tech understanding is correct then i dont see how they can do anything but stick an hdmi output on the thing for movies only and then treat games just as like an external data source

also you make a good point, there is no way USB will be able to power anything but a bare bones reader

Sorry just thinking out loud trying to get a grip on the technology
 
I just wanted to share that literally all the papers on my hands fell to floor when that was announced in the keynote.

When he started to talk about HD content, he progressed towards discs, and I was thinking

"oh no. don't you even think of going there"

then

"what. the. fuck. you actually went there aaaarghblaaaargh!!!!!!!!!!"
 
If I had to guess, I would say this HD-DVD add on is going to be in the $200-300 price range (and I would guess on the high end). If you want a stand alone HD-DVD player it's going to cost you alot more.
 
BlueTsunami said:
1) Would USB2.0 (which i'm guessing the 360 has) handle a good enough bitrate for 720p/1080i video?
Click to expand...

Considering 40Mb/s (5MB/s) stream would take up 36GB for 120 minutes of video, 480Mb/s theoretical limit for USB 2.0 seems more than able to deliver HD-DVD and BR-DVD connection.

2) Would it be able to have sufficient power through the USB
Click to expand...

Doubtful unless you dedicate another USB port for power. I'm expecting a power adapter for this external drive.

3) The HDMI deal
Click to expand...

This is the big ? for me. I have no idea how they are gonna handle this part. Maybe this external HD-DVD drive will come packaged with HDMI cable set for the X360, and the X360 will be updated via Live to enable HDCP (if it's not already implimented).
 
kaching said:
I covered that the the *first* time I suggested it ;)

Managed Copy is one of the reasons why they supposedly backed HDDVD so strongly in the first place
Click to expand...

Because either way, the user is going to need sink money into an HDDVD drive, and just attaching it to the XBox is likely to be a lot easier for Joe Average User who just wants to watch his shit.
 
Shogmaster said:
This is the big ? for me. I have no idea how they are gonna handle this part. Maybe this external HD-DVD drive will come packaged with HDMI cable set for the X360, and the X360 will be updated via Live to enable HDCP (if it's not already implimented).
Click to expand...

still doesnt address the issue that the xbox360 only can output an analog signal.. i thught that the HDCP has to be on a digital carrier only? Now i know the GPU only outputs an analog signal but i also thought that video was only analog as well.
 
"still doesnt address the issue that the xbox360 only can output an analog signal.."
Click to expand...

curious : what is the source for the fact that ATi's chip can only output an analog signal?
 
I hope that the Drive itself isn't what houses the HDMI port, you have to basically daisy chain the drive to the Xbox360 and the output goes from the Drive to the TV

o.O
 
DCharlie said:
curious : what is the source for the fact that ATi's chip can only output an analog signal?
Click to expand...

i read it here:
http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.aspx?i=2611&p=2

Unfortunately in the first version of the Xbox 360, that AV cable port appears to be strictly analog. Microsoft has indicated that they may support HDMI at a later point in time, but that may require a new revision of the motherboard - assuming there is no digital video signal carried over the AV port. On the flip side, ATI has had a history of placing TMDS transmitters on their GPUs, so it may be possible that a digital video signal is present at this connector today, although if it were we don't understand why Microsoft wouldn't offer a DVI/HDMI cable option now.
Click to expand...

i dunno. u think its incorrect? cause if this is true and the thing is gonna need its own HDMI port and power source then it really serves no purpose as an "add-on" except if MS DOES PLAN TO RELEASE games on it. makes you think.
 
crunker99 said:
still doesnt address the issue that the xbox360 only can output an analog signal.. i thught that the HDCP has to be on a digital carrier only? Now i know the GPU only outputs an analog signal but i also thought that video was only analog as well.
Click to expand...

The GPU would not be analog only. That makes no sense. It's the video-out chip that's analog.

I honestly don't have any idea how this is going to be handled. I'm not sure how HDCP is being handled by HD-DVD in the first place. Perhaps Toshiba will let MS devise a HDCP that works through X360's analog output. Who knows.
 
Brutal thread. Here's an idea...maybe wait until you know how it hooks up and how much it will cost before bitching about everything and declaring MS stupid.

For those who are saying "they should have included the drive"
I don't suppose it occured to you that that was actually impossible at the time they were finallizing the 360 specs?
Some people live in a fantasty world where MS can pull anything out of thier asses.

For those saying "it's a stupid idea"
If HD-dvd launches and stand alone dvd players are $500, and the add on is $99, exactly how is offering 360 owners new tech at a good price "A stupid idea"
Even if it ended up being $400 vs $200 I'd still be happy I'm being offered the option.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

[WC] Microsoft and Xbox are "actively investigating" a rampant 'can't connect' issue for backwards compatible Xbox 360 games
2
58
289
Tobimacoss replied
[Tom Warren] Microsoft Announces Management Changes at Xbox
2
61
972
reinking replied
Microsoft Xbox Helix My Thoughts
45
169
Magic Carpet replied
The Verge: Microsoft brings Xbox back, scraps Microsoft Gaming
2
85
491
HerjansEagleFeeder replied
Microsoft is giving its Xbox employees an Xbox email address
News  2
92
250
Ryseer replied
Top Bottom