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"We'll support Blu-Ray"
"We'll support Blu-Ray"
GamesIndustry - January 1, 2008
Submitted by Eclectus (334) at 5:43AM PST on March 7, 2008
"Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has admitted that the company is working on ways to support Blu-ray, the next-generation DVD format. "
This may come as something of a blow to the PS3, as it levels the playing field for HD disk based movie playback. Also begs the question of whether Blu-Ray would be technically achievable on the Wii via new hardware, or an external drive.
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2@lstormy10,
I agree, I don't see much for the PS3 in 2008 besides MGS4. GTA4 is a draw (maybe stronger for the 360), FF13 isn't coming, I don't see any reason why Killzone will outperform its predecessors...
Though GT5 Prologue might make some waves. LBP and Singstar? I have doubts that the PS3 can draw in the casual crowd.
Personally, I'm not terribly impressed with the offerings of any of the consoles. They each have a couple big ones coming, but none of the 3 lineups really jump out as exceptional to me.[ Oracle ] [ Level 21 ] [ Rank: 182 ]bids
1@Jesse2050,
It was only one month and MS claimed they had a shortage then. Predicting the future based off of one blip in the data (which runs contrary to the current trend) is sketchy. If it happens again in February, then that's something...
@kspraydad,
I haven't looked...I was responding to claims of N.American sales. Besides, I don't think we have any accurate data outside of Japan and a couple European countries. That leaves a lot of unknowns (though the PS3 is likely beating it in PAL areas).
@murphjp,
I didn't misquote you. I was just saying that one month of data doesn't mean that the PS3 is "starting to outpace" the 360. It's just as likely that the 360 supply was short of demand. Considering how the 360 destroyed the PS3 in the month before, I don't see the PS3 passing it in monthly sales over the next couple months.[ Oracle ] [ Level 21 ] [ Rank: 182 ]bids
1@murphjp,
I don't think it is generally understood at all that the PS3 line-up for this year is stronger.
Games in a system's catalogue can sway a gamer into choosing one system over another. If a gamer wants to get a console for a multi-platform game that is on both the 360 and PS3 and that is their main reason for getting a game, then they may go ahead and get the console that has past games that they wanted but didn't necessarily have to have.[ Oracle ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 294 ]bids
2@lstormy10,
I'm not saying the 360 exclusive linup is crap, but it is generaly understood that the PS3 linup for this year is stronger.
A strong catalog does help but its not the main selling point for a system. Catalog games already sold the systems they were going to sell.[ Contributor ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 412 ]bids
2@Laoldar,
Why do you "misquote" me. I claimed the PS3 is "starting to outpace" the 360 in the US. This month the PS3 is expected to sell slightly more units again.
WW the PS3 has been "outpacing" the 360 for a while now. The total # of PS3's to 360 in the rest of the world is about the same. In europe is expected to pass the 360 mid year. Selling more PS3's in 15-18 months then the 360 has in 30-33 months.[ Contributor ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 412 ]bids
1lstormy10 posted on Xbox 360 (Xbox 360) at 11:43AM PST on March 8, 2008. RE: "We'll support Blu-Ray"@murphjp,
The games catalogue that already exists for a platform does have a significant influence on a purchaser's decision, though you are correct that new game releases do have a significant impact as well.
I am going to question your statement that the PS3 will have a better "2008 library" (do you mean release schedule by the word library?). Both consoles have large titles that are due this year and will be important to each console's success. At this point, 360 has titles such as Too Human, Gears of War 2, Ninja Gaiden 2, and more and the PS3 has titles such as MGS4 and LittleBigPlanet. (And obviously both have GTA IV.) Both platforms have a good number of AAA titles coming this year and that is why in this case personal taste and the already existing catalogue of titles play larger roles.[ Oracle ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 294 ]bids
2kspraydad posted on Xbox 360 (Xbox 360) at 11:28AM PST on March 8, 2008. RE: "We'll support Blu-Ray"bids
2Jesse2050 posted on Xbox 360 (Xbox 360) at 11:22AM PST on March 8, 2008. RE: "We'll support Blu-Ray"@Laoldar,
Doesn't matter what happened X long ago. It is all about looking into the future and being pro-active. The PS3 outselling the 360 for one month is VERY significant and if MSFT doesn’t react fast, that one month can turn into three and three months equals a trend.[ Admin ]bids
0@murphjp,
The PS3 outsold the 360 only this past January, and by 40,000 units. Compared to December when the 360 sold 400,000 more units.
It's a bit early to claim the PS3 is "outpacing" the 360 based on a single month. The PS3 has a long way to go...the 360 has about a 7 million unit lead in America.[ Oracle ] [ Level 21 ] [ Rank: 182 ]bids
2@apujanata,
I do agree they will not have signifficant sales. But when somone just gets a new HD setup and wants to upgrade the PS2 as well. They will look at their options. And having a seperate blu ray unit will show the PS3 is by far a better value for their doller.
@Istormy10
Most people don't buy a system for what games came out a year ago, they buy it for new games. Some people do, but the vast majority don't, hence why there are huge sale spikes when new games get released.
Hence blu ray wining the format war + better 2008 library is why the PS3 is starting to outpace the 360 in america.[ Contributor ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 412 ]bids
1@apujanata,
I agree. A Blu-Ray add-on for the 360 would be merely there to allow current 360 owners to have a cheap alternative to buying a stand-alone Blu-Ray player. Currently, the 360 is positioned as first and foremost a gaming device and the stronger catalogue on the 360 is one of the largest pluses to the system compared to the PS3 as of now.[ Oracle ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 294 ]bids
0@murphjp,
The main question is : Why should 360 user want "exactly the same capabilities" as PS3 ? IIRC, the HD-DVD add-on doesn't have significant sales # (only like 200K unit, WW), so why should Bluray add-on be any different ? I can see them have significantly higher #, say 600K - 1 Million GLS, but that is still insignificant % compared to WW unit (10%-, probably only 5% or even lower for 50 Million GLS).
It is true that for gamer that also wanted Bluray, they will say PS3 offering are way cheaper than X360 + Bluray Add-on, but how many of them are doing that (buying console that can also double as blu-ray player) ? IMO, it couldn't be too big in 2008 (yet). Maybe in 2009 or 2010 ?[ Oracle ] [ Level 30 ] [ Rank: 14935 ]bids
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2@Eclectus,
I wouldn't mind getting a special edition Blu-Ray Wii. Although I admit I did want a Panasonic Q when I first saw it and I never did end up acquiring one. Just tech lust I suppose.[ Oracle ] [ Level 30 ] [ Rank: 4 ]bids
2@Laoldar,I see what your saying, but I was actually thinking of the Panasonic Q, as opposed to Nintendo, when writing this. The Wii has sold much better then the Gamecube, too date, so perhaps a 'beefed up' version of the hardware would succeed where the Panasonic Q failed? In fairness I think there is little chance of seeing Nintendo trying this idea again, but its not impossible either.[ Speaker ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 334 ]bids
1@Powertrade,
Different view on the market: Nintendo makes a fun gaming console, MS and Sony are making multimedia consoles.[ Oracle ] [ Level 21 ] [ Rank: 112 ]bids
1Powertrade posted on Xbox 360 (Xbox 360) at 10:07AM PST on March 7, 2008. RE: "We'll support Blu-Ray"bids
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33Eclectus posted on Xbox 360 (Xbox 360) at 5:43AM PST on March 7, 2008. Article: "We'll support Blu-Ray""Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has admitted that the company is working on ways to support Blu-ray, the next-generation DVD format. " This may come as something of a blow to the PS3, as it levels the playing field for HD disk based movie playback. Also begs the question of whether Blu-Ray would be technically achievable on the Wii via new hardware, or an external drive.[ Speaker ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 334 ]
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I would agree that it is generally understood that the PS3 has a better lineup but I would quantify this and replace understood with misunderstood and say that is the real situation.