Tech-Gaming Technology, Gaming, and Culture
Nintendo was straight with us. Its Wii console may influence
us to lose weight or get smarter, but it’s exclusively a game machine. It doesn’t
play DVDs and with a recent firmware update, can’t even decode mp3s. Sure, most
of its third party titles are half-hearted ports or quick cash-ins, but it
never tried to invade our living room under false pretenses.
The Xbox 360, while a great game machine, was designed
around multiple revenue streams. They hooked consumers with downloadable games
in the Xbox Live Arcade, and reeled us in with access to films and television shows. Does anyone remember
the 360 dashboard before it was covered with ads for the latest movie, or game
release? Cheat codes are nearly dead, replaced with downloadable content for
everything from in-game money (The Godfather) to bonus paint jobs (Ace Combat
6).
Recent events this week portrayed a troubled future for
HD-DVD, with Warner Bros. abandoning the HD DVD format for Blu-Ray. What may
have influenced Warner’s decision? The number of Blu-Ray players has easily surpassed
the number of competing HD-DVD units, fueled by no other than the Playstation
3.
Over nine million PS3 consoles have been sold worldwide since launch. While outstanding, top tier games such as Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
and Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction have been languishing at retailers,
selling less than 100K copies, sales of some Blu-Ray films have been very successful.
Consumers seem to be apathetic towards the PS3’s software line, perhaps disgruntled
with the quality of Xbox 360 ports, and the lack of known Sony franchises such
as Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, Gran Turisimo, Socom, and Final Fantasy.
Sony with their insistence that the console include a
Blu-Ray player has duped us again. Like the PS2, with its built in DVD drive, technology
has been snuck into our homes. What was once just a bullet point feature for the PS3
has become its main selling point- Why spend $350 for a Blu-Ray player when for
$50 more, you can have a full-fledged game console? Weak game sales and strong
movie sales indicate one thing- many are using the PS3s to watch movies. Perhaps
Sony knew this all along; they didn’t care if the PS3 was notoriously hard to program
and they haven’t shown much concern for developers. The PS3 was a tool to get
Blu-Ray into our homes; now excuse us as we need to get back to the beautiful remastering
of Blade Runner: The Collector’s Edition.
Agreed, only play PS3 for Warhawk, mainly watch movies. Upscaling looks great, too.
And that’s why I own a 360.
How is the 360 any differernt with it’s HD DVD drive?
More anti Ps3 propaganda, never read that before
Interesting link on blu ray sales, good article!
Blu-Ray may have won the HD war and although I got an HD-DVD player for X-mas I’m not one of those fanboys fighting over what format is better.
There was only one reason why I perfered HD-DVD over Blu-Ray. Authoring DVDs was cheaper and easier.
Most of you could give a rat’s ass about this because you don’t work in the DVD distribution business.
However, those sneaky fucks at Sony charge 3k per title for their special super duper Blu-Ray license. That mean each time we want to release a movie on Blu-Ray it’s an extra 3k just because Sony says so.
We’re not some major company like Warner Bros so every dime counts.
Speaking of the WB they claim they didn’t take a dime to time their announcement about dumping HD-DVD right before CES. BULLSHIT ALERT! They got something out of the deal. Perhaps they aren’t going to have to pay that silly license fee. Who knows. But it sucks anyway…
Now I’m stuck with a machine that’s pretty much outdated already. But at least I got 10 free HD-DVDs and like someone posted previously…it does uprez regular DVDs really nicely.
Completely agree, tg.
Unlicked,
I don’t think HD is anywhere close to dying. They still have a million players. HD DVDs are still selling well. I also have a HD player cuz I hate Sony and their overpriced shit products.
I’ve watched both Blu Ray and HD, and I think HD DVD has the better picture, plus it has DVD on the same disk, sometimes.
Competition is always good for the marketplace. Look at EA- without Take2 to chalange them, they have turned out the same games with updated rosters. The market can contain both formats.
Higher license fees=higher prices. Suck it, Gu-Ray
I would love to agree with you, but from the retail side they are dumping HD-DVD like a bad stink.
We were partnering up with Transworld (FYE, Suncoast, Warehouse) on what would be our first HD-DVD title. They talked about buying ‘big’ and then just a couple of days ago a memo went out that said they were done with HD-DVD and going only Blu-Ray.
We’re still committed to making the HD-DVD, but now I’m afraid it could be a waste of money.
I have no interest in HD until the format war gets sorted out.
Isn’t transworld group bankrupt. I’m sure other places will continue to support HD DVD. They can’t just leave all the HD DVD owners behind.
Wow, some powerful feelings on this post/topic.
30 Blu Rays and no games for my PS3. I’m think about buying Uncharted this week.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227623
Many PS3 owners just watch tha moviez.
Ill stick with DVDs until the format isnt used. For many movies, they’re cheaper, have a good enough image quality for me, and the movie selection is a lot bigger.
And I can burn my own.
I have to admit, I thought the article was a bit bullshit when I first read it. I’m a 360 owner, but I couldn’t see people buying PS3’s to play BluRays.
Then I clicked on the Neogaf link. Dozens of people are saying the same thing- they use their Ps3 as a movie player, not really as a game machine.
Now, I’m beginning to think you guys are on to something. I really belive the Ps3 was the trojen fucking horse. It’s games are crappy but it’s player is good. More people should call them on it.