Phil Harrison on 360 Elite and HD-DVD

[hyperdine]

In this month's issue of Game Informer, they had an interview with Phil Harrison (Pres. Worldwide Studios, SCE)

"What was you reaction to the announcement of the Xbox 360 Elite package? Do you see it as a threat to PS3 or a vindication of your higher-end strategy?"

"Well, I was surprised that it did not include an HD-DVD player functionality as standard. So I guess that says a fair amount about how our friends at Microsoft view the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray disc movie value and contribution that is made to these consoles. Just this week, analysts are saying that Blu-Ray disc as a movie format is going to be strong in influencing PS3 hardware sales. We're like "Yeah, we know - that's why we put it in there." It was the same with electing to put DVD in PS2. It was perhaps not so meaningful day one, but it got stronger as a contributor to the decision to purchase as the format went on. I think the same will happen with Blu-Ray disc."

Phil rocks! Couldn't have said it better myself.

[movies3]

nice find there Hyper

[GasCat]

M$ is all about being cheap. If they put in a HDTV drive the argument that Sony was forcing Blu on people would be lost.

[yellowletmello36]

I was really suprised to hear that the elite didnt have a built in hd dvd player. Now that it finally has an HDMI connection I don't see why they wouldn't include it. Yes it would cost more money, but I think it would have helped Microsoft sell more in the long run. O well...I like my PS3

[PS3Maniac]

Originally Posted by GasCat

M$ is all about being cheap. If they put in a HDTV drive the argument that Sony was forcing Blu on people would be lost.

Yup, and choice. Don't forget choice. Cause we all know releasing a player for one format and not the other is the very epitome of choice.

[The Don]

ahaha he put it perfectly..

[Musashi]

Unlike M$ reps, Phil says his piece confidently but avoids FUD and insults.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by yellowletmello36

I was really suprised to hear that the elite didnt have a built in hd dvd player. Now that it finally has an HDMI connection I don't see why they wouldn't include it. Yes it would cost more money, but I think it would have helped Microsoft sell more in the long run. O well...I like my PS3

They didn't want the elite to have a price point above the PS3.

[darkpoet25]

In an interview with EGM, Peter Moore, said that M$ never had any plans to support hd dud to begin with. That was why the games were never put on hd dud and were only put on DVD Rom and why the player was never built in. However when you factor in the $480 price for the Elite plus the hd dud (I won't even capitalize this crappy format) add on which is $200 the price is more than the 60 Gig PS3. The main reason for the HDMI on the Elite was for the downloadable content in HD, but it is only in 1080i and not 1080p. Yet another head scratcher. Then just recently, in the newest issue of OXM (which my brother has a subscription), there was talk of them possibly releasing an upgraded system every year. It makes me feel good knowing that I can download upgrades to my PS3 without having to buy a newer system every year, which seems to be the plan with M$.

[takezo]

Blu-ray is the ONLY reason I have a PS3.

So Phill your the man!

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by takezo

Blu-ray is the ONLY reason I have a PS3.

So Phill your the man!

Ditto.

I originally got ps3 as a secondary BD player. I can tell you to date, I have probably watched two to three times as many BD's in it than when I had my standalone BDP-1000 (now sold). just got the bdps300 last week!

[Slackr89]

can u scan that interview or is there a link so i can read the whole thing?

[HD-Greek]

Originally Posted by takezo

Blu-ray is the ONLY reason I have a PS3.

Me too.

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by takezo

Blu-ray is the ONLY reason I have a PS3.

Same here....Sony got this right!

[Blackraven]

I didn't like the fact that the Elite only uses HDMI 1.2. Also, they need AT LEAST a 50% price cut for XBOX live gold monthly membership and a 50% price cut for the add-on (because current attach rates for it are poor atm).

[aaronwt]

No point in having a built in drive since the current hardware design doesn't allow for mutichannel pcm. It can only pass the DD or DTS signal. They will need to do a redesign of the system which I guess could happen when they start using the smaller CPU at some point. But why put the HD DVD drive in the system since the drive cost alot more than a DVD drive. The games aren't on HD DVD so why waste the money. If a person wants to watch movies they can get the drive separately. Plus if BD does win anytime soon(Not likely both formats will probably coexist for years)MS could put out a BD add on if they wanted to.
I'm sure MS will drop the price of their system as soon as Sony drops their price on the PS3.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by takezo

Blu-ray is the ONLY reason I have a PS3.

So Phill your the man!

Ditto.

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by reiella

They didn't want the elite to have a price point above the PS3.

Well, that and the fact that they don't actually support physical media long term.

[Blu Tiger]

I don't care that they didn't include an HD DVD player in the Elite. I'm blu-ray all the way for HD movies. However, as a gaming console, the Elite rocks. I love the 360.

[Scorxpion]

This is why i bought PS3 because of Blu-ray Player.