Blu-ray on Xbox 360? Microsoft hasn't heard about it

Those hot/cold "Blu-ray coming to Xbox 360" rumors just cooled off a bit again, with product manager Aaron Greenberg telling Reuters "Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience". Clear enough? He also dropped the nugget that Microsoft expects to trail the PS3 in sales again in February, but should have things turned around by April, just in time for the GTA IV launch, which should also be right around the time this rumor rears its head again. In the meantime, digital distribution anyone?

[chris @ Mar 12th 2008 11:13PM]

unrelated but bets "first guy will be at least 4th?

[chris @ Mar 12th 2008 11:14PM]

edit*

"first guy"

[chris @ Mar 12th 2008 11:15PM]

well nvm i was wrong he was second

[william @ Mar 13th 2008 9:57AM]

lets face it, what the hell else can they do. hold out as long as you want and in the end you are just missing more and more customers.... retards, another MS failure.

[Ian @ Mar 13th 2008 3:13PM]

ha! first guys comments got deleted! i love it

[chris @ Mar 12th 2008 11:16PM]

ha ha ha!

[Chris @ Mar 12th 2008 11:23PM]

Hopefully things should be "turned around by April" for me to, I really need my 360 back before GTA IV. (dead again 4th time)

[o29 @ Mar 12th 2008 11:29PM]

Maybe a price drop would assist the sale turnaround expected in April? Come on, they haven't dropped the price in the U.S. in almost a year, and that was only a $50 price reduction for the premium.

[o29 @ Mar 12th 2008 11:32PM]

And by almost a year, I mean 7 months. Still, I think it's about time for a more serious drop in price.

[phrozunsun @ Mar 12th 2008 11:41PM]

FIFTH!

[sinai @ Mar 13th 2008 1:30AM]

you spelled it wrong

F - I - F

[Marvin Quach @ Mar 13th 2008 9:52PM]

@ sinai

That's a VERY obscure reference if you've never seen the Chappelle show...

haha! nonetheless, it took me a second read to get that lol

[austin @ Mar 12th 2008 11:50PM]

HD DVD is still alive! Don't give up!

[zomg0t @ Mar 12th 2008 11:58PM]

it feels fantastic and it's Still Alive.

[Tiptup300 @ Mar 13th 2008 12:13AM]

That was a joke, haha, fat chance.

[Marvin Quach @ Mar 13th 2008 7:38AM]

We do what we must, because we can.

(It's REALLY odd, because I had this song when I woke up... o_O;;)

[bob cobb @ Mar 12th 2008 11:57PM]

couldnt care less about blu-ray. The high ps3 sales make sense right now since its a cheap blu-ray player, god knows they arent buying it for the games.

[Alex @ Mar 13th 2008 12:13AM]

why are u so bitter?

[DanB91 @ Mar 13th 2008 12:15AM]

I beg to differ. There are plenty of games coming out for the PS3 and games that are out now. Your statement is completely unsupported and fanboyish

[Jimbo @ Mar 13th 2008 12:17AM]

Hi fanboy troll!

Are you sure people aren't buying the PS3 for games... and blu-ray? I mean, High Velocity bowling is among the best motion controlled games ever made. Warhawk is the among the best multiplayer experiences, and Oblivion among the best RPGs. And you don't think MGS4 and Gran Turismo are things PS3 owners intend to buy?

Because if you're right, you're a hell of a lot smarter than extremely successful people at Polyphony, Konami, etc.

Or maybe the PS3 has a pretty good game selection, and if you want a little variety, the 360 is probably at least arguably inferior in game selection.

[Clark @ Mar 13th 2008 12:45AM]

@Jimbo

"the 360 is probably at least arguably inferior in game selection"

Hahahahaha. Good one.

High Velocity and Warhawk are okay at best, Oblivion is on both consoles, and I like Forza Motorsports and Project Gotham Racing just as much as Gran Turismo. I will give you MGS4, that looks amazing, but then the Xbox 360 has Halo 3, BioShock, etc.

[bob cobb @ Mar 13th 2008 12:54AM]

gran turismo is one of the most overrated games ever. I will agree that its great because it has a ton of cars in it, but that is the only good thing. The physics are crap, no damage, etc..
What I was trying to say is that blu-ray makes no sense for a lot of people on the 360. The movies still cost a ton of money, and selection is still very limited. I have no ambition to adopt it anytime soon.

[Jimbo @ Mar 13th 2008 5:36AM]

@Clark,

You don't seem to understand what I'm saying. My main point is that many people are buying the PS3 for games. My secondary point is that the argument could be made that the PS3 has superior variety and range in its game selection than the 360. I didn't actually claim this was the case, I just said thst from a certain point of view (someone who hates FPSs) the PS3 really is better.

I know that the "360 has the best library" is the accepted norm, but I don't think the gap is quite as wide as 360 zealots might claim. You're right that Halo 3 and Bioshock are great games. Two of my favorites. But you're dead wrong in claiming that Warhawk and High Velocity are "okay at best". Both have consistent mid 8 ratings, which is a great rating. Maybe you don't like the games, but you can't expect to be taken seriously if you don't realize both are great products.

And I didn't even mention entertainment like eyecreate or the vast potential of the Eye, emulated or streamed Mame and nintendo games in ubuntu, games like flow or echochrome, Home, etc etc. No doubt, the PS3 has a solid range of game types. You can dismiss this by pretending every single PS3 game but MGS4 is merely OK, but you're just lying to yourself. And why? If you are happy with your 360, and its a good enough system that you should be, then why are you invested in demeaning another product? The whisper campaign against everything Sony in favor of a Microsoft product is getting silly in the face of 2008. I'll assume you're just not familiar with GT5 if you think it's not a generational advancement over Forza. I'm sure the next Forza will give it a run for its money. But MS really did fire all cannons, pay off as many studios as it could, and seemingly influence editorials in game media, to minimize the PS3 launch. It seems to have failed dramatically outside the US (where money is worth much more this round). The PS3 is not very far behind the 360 anymore, and the parent's claim that no one is buying the PS3 for games is pathetic. similar to the sour grapes, scorched earth insistence on digital downloads instead of blu-ray movies. Just BS from puerile minds. Who gets that loyal to a game system?

So, to state it again, there's no reason not to agree that, from a non-fps point of view, the 360 may have a decent lineup, but it's certainly not going to blow the PS3 out of the water. Me, I love FPSs, so the 360 is the best system for me, though I have both in my house.

To the other dude: GT is not overrated by any means. It's beloved. The variety and accuracy is astonishing, something a lot of people int he racing industry continue to be amazed by. Driving a car and a track in GT4 is sufficient to prep a driver for an unfamiliar course. The AI has sucked and the lack of online has sucked, but no game really captures the sport like GT. And damage is a dumb argument. Play burnout if you want ridiculously stupid damage. No racing game ever made has really done a decent job of presenting damage, so I'd MUCH rather leave it out entirely. Ram something at 180 MPH in reverse in PGR, Forza, Midnight, or GT4. Your car will continue to run in all these games. It's as realistic as Mario KArt.

[Mark @ Mar 13th 2008 5:59AM]

There are plenty of good PS3 games, exclusives and cross-platform. And there are plenty more games due this year. I don't know why anyone would claim otherwise. It's idiotic really.

As for who is buying the PS3 - gamers, movie watchers, gamers who also happen to be movie watchers. It's another idiotic statement. The more people buying the PS3 the merrier.

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 13th 2008 10:12AM]

LOL! Jimbo, you called bob cobb a "fanboy troll". What a hypocrite you are!

Every game on Wii is far better with motion control than ANY PS3 game. Warhawk isn't that great- I don't know what all the fuss is about; maybe you should try Counter-Strike, BattleField 2, Unreal Tournament 3, or something, because if you think that Warhawk is one of the best "multiplayer experiences", then you are sadly mistaken.

Oblivion is old, and both versions (Xbox and PS3) have their ups and downs. At the moment, there is Oblivion, and a few other VERY good RPGs or RPG-esque games on the 360.

MGS4 is overrated, just like Halo. Don't get your hopes up, and Gran Turismo 5 might look slightly better than Forza 2, but it won't compare due to it's lack of customization and user friendliness. That being said, there are also a lot more tuning options in Forza 2 than I have seen in previous GTs.

The PS3's game selection is "OK", but it's not a system selling library. Maybe later in '08, but I don't see much promise in the *OBVIOUSLY* bullshit trailers for Killzone 2 (if anyone thinks it will look anything like the trailers shown at E3, you're absolutely nuts- especially with their claims of it being "pre-pre-alpha"), and they have high hopes for Resistance 2, and likely won't contain nearly as many features as they have *speculated* in GI.

[computer.dude.28 @ Mar 13th 2008 11:22AM]

Oh my god, Jimbo. You must go through keyboards like you go through socks!

[SimbaDogg @ Mar 13th 2008 2:30PM]

@bob cobb and zeus
how could you honestly say that the GT franchise is overrated? i mean...1) its the number one selling racing simulator franchise in the history of video games. (this doesn't add much ammo to my arguement yet) 2) REAL RACE CAR DRIVES HAVE ATTESTED TO ITS ACCURACY ! ! ! I mean jesus, if that isn't a slap in the face to say, hello this is someone of the real deal, then i simply dont know what will do it for you. Sebastian Loeb is probably the best example I have, the guy is a rally car driver and had a rally race on day X, but the very next day he had to qualify for a Le Mans race halfway around the world on a circuit that he had never driven before. So what did he do, he had a gran turismo cockpit set up on the plane where he could practice the course on his flight over to the le mans course. Normally, and i can say this from experience, if you want to learn a course that you've never been at, you study maps, that show braking points etc and watch video. Rather than doing this he ran the course itself. if you dont believe me, simply google his name and check out the first 5-6 entries that come up.
@ Jimbo
well said, you seem to address every issue w/out bias which is what i wish more people on this site would do. But as far as your FPS statement about xbox 360, and its abundance of them, you're not the very to say this. There was a sony exec a few days ago who said that MS had "squandered" its marketshare/headstart in only producing FPS shooters, and that they have really failed to hit an audience other than the 15-28 male, FPS fans. There's a lot of great cames out for 360, but the i can't think of a single game that could be considered a console mover/AAA title for 360 that hasn't been a FPS.
@ Zeus...again
You said that GT5 will hardly compare to forza because of its lack of user friendliness...may i ask what on earth you're talking about. Cuz i really dont know what you're talking about. Please elaborate. And from what i remember, there has been quite a bit of customization in the game. Unless painting cars and adding your own custom graphics is your thing, i think there's been more than enuff. I mean, in this upcoming one they even have brake bias settings. Thats huge

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 13th 2008 5:11PM]

From what I've seen, Forza 2 has more tuning features than all previous GTs. On top of that, the physics are amazing, you can actually damage your vehicle, you can easily pick it up and play it if you're not a diehard racing simulator fan, and if you are, then it will suit you just as well. Forza 2 provides the best of both worlds, and GT5 doesn't look to fulfill that, nor does it seem it will have as many tuning options, and customization won't exist. Also, I would like to mention the auction house for Forza- users can paint, tune, and/or upgrade their cars and put them up for auction. Great feature (also used in TDU), and it adds whole new ways to make money and encourages people to be creative.

You make it sound as if the "paint job" thing isn't a big deal, when it really is. That feature alone puts Forza 2 ahead of GT5 as it stands. The only 2 things GT5 will have on Forza 2, that I can see, is the in-car camera and graphics.

Also, for what it provides, GT5 is over-rated.

[SimbaDogg @ Mar 13th 2008 9:50PM]

@ Zeus...yeah, the the auction sells cool. But in GT, you can simply sell your car. I dont know what the big deal is about an auction. You make it sound like it adds some kind of whole new depth to the game. You're selling a car...just selling it, all your doing is selling a car. Am I crazy? how exciting does selling a car need to be. Anyways, to each his own...i guess you're the type or person that likes painting cars and stuff, if thats the case cool. But i just know that there's more than enough real world modification that you can do to the car. Changing camber, caster, toe, ride height, tire type, spring stiffness, dampening level, rebound level thats more than enough for most people, and i haven't even gotten into the stuff you can do w/ the chassis or engine yet. You can honestly keep forza, because i'd be more than fine w/ driving nothing but flat black cars in the game. but then again, this is just me.

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 14th 2008 10:47AM]

Simba, you can just "sell your car" in Forza 2, as well. The thing is, you do it at a loss, just as you do in GT. The auction house gives you a way to make money. Got a kick ass design? You can sell it for lots of money, and use that to get better cars. It adds an entirely different dimension to the game.

In Forza 2, you can tune ride height, spring stiffness, rebound stiffness, bump stiffness, caster, toe, camber, brake bias, braking force, downforce on spoilers and air-dams, gear ratios, tire pressure, differential settings such as how much force is required to lock under acceleration and deceleration, and a lot more.

Upgradeability isn't lacking either, with wheel size, tires, wheels, heads, blocks, cams, injectors, exhaust, turbos, centrifical super chargers, positive displacement super chargers, injectors, spark plugs, air intake, weight reduction, shocks, sway bars, brakes, flywheels, clutches, differentials, driveshafts, body kits, spoilers, air-dams, engine upgrades (crate and race engines), and more. They're comparable in upgrades, but Forza 2 takes the cake with body options and, unrelated to upgrades and tuning, has damage that realistically damages the body and powertrain.

The game is also easier to pick up and play compared to GT.

I don't know, GT5 will have better graphics and an in-car camera, but honestly, customization is bigger than you think.

GT5 will be fun, though, no doubt.

[kagai @ Mar 13th 2008 12:35AM]

I don't know why Sony would allow the Xbox 360 to get a Blu-Ray player as it will most likely eat into PS3 sales.

[Jimbo @ Mar 13th 2008 5:42AM]

Ummm, sony would let MS make a blu-ray 360 because Sony doesn't control who can and can't make the drives? Besides, it would make a lot of money. Toshiba has helped build most blu-ray players in making cell processors, by the way. The Japanese compnaies are not stupid. They will not leave their eggs in one basket and are all involved in eachother's stuff generally as much as possible.

A 360 with blu-ray would certainly take away a big argument for buying a PS3, but it's not like Sony can demand MS stay out.

[Mark @ Mar 13th 2008 6:00AM]

Blu Ray != Sony. Microsoft would have to go through the same process every other manufacturer goes through. I expect that involves paying the BDA some money, licencing the specs, submitting to various software audits and then releasing the player. They don't have to deal with Sony at all unless they are using them as an OEM for players.

[Tony Rayo @ Mar 13th 2008 12:50AM]

BTW, the 360 version of GTA4 will probably have more feature (such as custom soundtracks... which is something I never figured out why the PS3 didn't have from the start), but according to an interview conducted with Rockstar in the latest issues of the Official Playstation Magazine, the PS3 will also have DLC for GTA4 (something that was thought to be limited to the 360 at one time). I personally will be buying GTA4 for my PS3 but I think fun will be had by all.

BTW, they more or less admitted that the PS3 was the cause for delay by saying Sony internal developers had to come in and help out with the game, so people can be pissed off but it will probably mean a better cross-platform experience. When games sale, we all win.

[Brian Yorks @ Mar 13th 2008 1:38AM]

My buddy who works in thie area at Microsoft has said the next revision of the 360 will have a built in Blu-Ray drive. They are already running it as we speak.

[Slug @ Mar 13th 2008 3:50AM]

my budddy says your buddy doesnt exist and your telling porky pies

[craig#2 @ Mar 13th 2008 1:52AM]

if microsoft doesn't drop a blu-ray player by the time the MGS4 bundled ps3 comes out, I'm going to give Sony my dollars.

[Ian @ Mar 13th 2008 4:19AM]

hmm lets see.. ahh put in a room with paris hilton and being forced to talk about politics until you use the knife to kill your self.

[wickedpheonix @ Mar 13th 2008 7:35AM]

They're not in talks because the talks are over...

[dikkers91 @ Mar 13th 2008 8:00AM]

What is all this talk about disks? Cartridges is where it's at!

[alexhrose71 @ Mar 13th 2008 9:07AM]

Well I think both Sony and MS are right on this one. Sony is right in saying MS has been talking to the Blu-Ray consortium and MS is right in saying Blu-Ray isn't in development for the 360 ?

So what's going on ? Its painfully obvious. MS is securing Blu-Ray tech for the xbox720. Obviously the console is well into development at this point, and the plans have probably just been updated to replace the internal HD-DVD drive with internal Blu-Ray instead. Makes sense doesn't it ?

[Barbaric @ Mar 13th 2008 9:51AM]

WHOA... lets not jump to the 720 yet. How about a 540 first... It will be slightly better rated than the 360. The Russians , however give it a 10, for sticking the landing.

Xbox TripleLindy. I'm gonna have mine modded to the Thornton Mellon edition!!!

[andy @ Mar 13th 2008 9:54AM]

I am well versed in CEO speak now. I learned from the head of WB. His weasel words are "talking" and "integrate".


They're not "talking" about "integrating" because:

1)the talks are over and talking is present tense, not past

2)they want an external drive, not an internal drive, so it's not technically "integral"

[Marc @ Mar 13th 2008 10:02AM]

any chance someone could explain to me the situation with GTA IV. Will PS3 users be limited to the capacity of dual-layer DVD or will we get more detail or content or something?
i'm asking sincerely so be nice

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 13th 2008 10:16AM]

Both games will have the same amount of content initially. The 360 is getting exclusive episodic downloadable content later on, and the PS3 *MAY* (probably not) get downloadable content.

[admr @ Mar 13th 2008 2:37PM]

WHAT THE HEY!!
Microsoft has to get it through their heads that the XBOX 360 doesn't have a Hi-Def format (Not that it needs one) and stop bringing out rumors. Me to Microsoft: Only start a rumor if you're acually doing it.
(Not trying to be mean here, but I'm quite annoyed)

[alexhrose71 @ Mar 13th 2008 4:14PM]

The 360 does have a Hi-Def format, video marketplace 720p.

[RB @ Mar 13th 2008 4:27PM]

All this "which system is better" banter is rediculous. Microsoft needs to offer Blu-ray addon to prevent from losing potential customers. I already own a 360 (with obsolete HD DVD add-on) and am considering a PS3 for Blu-ray. Who knows - if I fall in love with PS3, maybe I'll stop buying 360 games altogether. Enough people do that, this puts a real dent in their publishing profits. Even if they sold the add-on at a break-even price, at least they could keep gamers away from PS3...