Microsoft execs have been quick to point out that the Xbox will not be integrating Blu-ray into their console any time soon. Microsoft's European boss, Chris Lewis, is committed to bringing digital downloads to consumers, and believes that's where the future is. "Going forwards, digital downloads is really where it's at," Lewis told GamesIndustry.biz. Xbox Live Video Marketplace currently supplies downloadable HD rentals of movies and television shows. Sony's PS3 does not currently feature a similar service."Before very long we will look back wistfully at shiny discs as something that was somewhat a historic phenomenon in a way that we kind of think about vinyl or VCRs today," Lewis stated. While the Microsoft-backed HD DVD format has "died" in the next generation format wars, Lewis believes that Blu-ray will follow the same fate. When will digital distribution take dominance? "I think that's going to be the case in the next 12-18 months."
Digital distribution would be great if the movie selection and video quality could match the offerings of a disc-based medium. Blu-ray discs offer 1080p video, uncompressed video and special features. Without the proper infrastructure and bandwidth to support such large files, we think digital distribution of HD video will take much longer to truly proliferate. Ultimately, only time will tell.
[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
3-14-2008 @ 5:05PM
kingofwale said...
wow, someone's still bitter. ;)
Frankly, I never liked blu-ray, it's just like modern computers, 640K of memory should be enough for anybody!!!!
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 5:06PM
aaron_k7 said...
Have you watched a blu-ray movie?
3-14-2008 @ 5:14PM
The Sound said...
Wooooosh!
3-14-2008 @ 5:16PM
DMeisterJ said...
@ The sound
I agree, whoosh.
3-14-2008 @ 6:03PM
Phileoca said...
lol.. wooosh.
someone obviously didn't know you're quoting Bill Gates with the "640k of memory" comment
3-14-2008 @ 8:04PM
kingofwale said...
yeah, apparently MOST people didn't know the quote
*sighs*, comment was too witty for some.
3-15-2008 @ 4:01AM
mji245 said...
my A$$ DO U THINK EVRY1 HAS A SUPER BROAD BAND WELL LET'S SEE IF EVERY1 IN THE WORLD HAS WHY SHOULD HE WASTE WHEN HE CAN RENT A BLU-RAY FILM FOR $5 KEEP IT MORE THAN A WEEK?BTW IF HD DVD WON WOULD HE SAY THAT BULL S**T?
3-15-2008 @ 8:05AM
Real Gambler said...
Bill Gates never said that.... Check Wikipedia.
But now, if you want to talk about stupid quotes, how could someone say" Digital distribution will take dominance in 12 months" when they still sell a console with NO HARD DRIVE??? The internet backbone is not ready for streaming, and no matter what, people will want to store movies somewhere... Talk about vision!!!
3-15-2008 @ 8:44PM
evilJaze said...
... whoosh-and-a-half: It was 64k not 640k... :p
3-14-2008 @ 5:06PM
aaron_k7 said...
Thank you for pointing the obvious here that most people completely sidestep, that infrastructure and bandwidth requirements for digital distribution are far from where they need to be for this to work. M$ needs to suck it up and stop explaining away the demise of HD-DVD.
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 10:07PM
Ed said...
Gee, who want's to bet that MS next xbox system comes out in 12-18 months and is a DD only system. I'd laugh my a** off.
3-15-2008 @ 12:14PM
Brett from Atlanta said...
Thank you, finally someone said it.
3-14-2008 @ 5:09PM
farfisa said...
Better than irrelevance a month ago!
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 5:43PM
doc j said...
Touche.
3-14-2008 @ 5:10PM
n3rd said...
i dont think digital distrobution will ever take over .. if it does , it will be a few years from now i personally would not take digital over physical unless they can offer up a way of seemless / timeless way of transfering content say i download 10 movies to my xbox 360 when the new xbox comes out it will undoubtedly not support the current xbox HDD so what i have to redownload 20gigs+ of movies no thanks..
and they will find someway to hack us apart , as with Steam any digital content can not be refunded or if the game is total garbage you can not return it or exchange for a new game
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 10:02PM
xvertigenx said...
Exactly. Add that to the fact game companies make 100% profit on all games sold. Basically there will be no way to return a game or trade it in once you are finished. While a lot of people hate on Gamestop, there are tons of people out there that use Gamestop's services or ebay and the like to get back a little bit more cash to go towards new games or what have you.
With Digital distribution, there will be no way for a file to change hands, which is complete BS.
3-17-2008 @ 12:29AM
rob said...
And what if you wanna let your friends borrow your game or trade games between each other. What if you are having a party at someone else's house and they ask you to bring your game? What if you don't have T1 internet to download it in the first place?
MS is just reaching for anything that can downplay BD now. Let's remember that they were the ones who said HDDVD was the format to overtake BD..now DD will take over BD. MS=jokes.
3-14-2008 @ 5:17PM
The Sound said...
Boy I thought M$ were smart.
But then came teh 360 and all it's red ringed glory, Vista, HD-DVD, and so on...
Besides, doesn't 20gigs get filled pretty quick?
Reply
3-14-2008 @ 5:46PM
kingnick said...
The 360's uses a transparent cache for most games hence 20GB goes a lot further than it would on the PS3 (no installing, smaller OS footprint).
HDD space isn't an issue for most people with either console. It's not like you have to leave games installed on the PS3.
3-14-2008 @ 5:39PM
aaron_k7 said...
Yes it does. I have a 60 Gig PS3, and if it were a 20 Gig machine it would be overflowing now.