Cheap PS3 won't help Blu-ray, claim HD DVD backers

[stringent]

Sony's plan to cut the price of the PlayStation 3 in Europe will have "minimal" impact on the adoption of next-generation optical disc formats, the group promoting HD DVD over here has claimed.

The European HD DVD Promotional Group (EHPG) stuck to its argument that sales of dedicated media players will determine whether HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc win the format war, and not sales of games consoles with built-in drives, like the PS3.

Curiously, the EHPG is nonetheless quite happy to include Microsoft's HD DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 games console in the debate, so we can only hope the organisation is praying the software giant chooses not to release a second-generation 360 with an HD DVD drive built in.

The EHPG once again trotted out statistics - this time from market watcher GfK - that show HD DVD commands 70 per cent of HD player sales in Europe. But that still leaves Blu-ray with 30 per cent of player sales and the million-plus PS3s that have shipped in European nations.

Yes, PS3 buyers are less likely to acquire movies on Blu-ray than owners of standalone players are, but the sheer scale of the lead the format has in terms of hardware volumes gives it the end - something, surely, the arrival of cheaper PS3s can only improve.

If Register Hardware readers are anything to go by, judging by their postings in our comments pages, the one thing many gamers have been waiting for is less expensive PS3 hardware. We doubt the price cut will hurt Nintendo any, but it's hard not to see it boosting Sony's sales figures.

Source: The Register

If this was the other way round, i.e. MS now include the HD-DVD drive with the 360, it WILL boost sales. Or if the cheapo HD-DVD player comes out, it WILL boost sales. So much rubbish from those HD-DVD bods. Mind you what else is new?

[MOONPHASE]

the sentence where you mentioned people who buy a ps3 are less likely going to buy blu-ray movies that isnt true. buying a ps3 makes watching blu-ray movies more worth it unless you want to go with the super mega HD sound

[johnno1986]

They're a bunch of flaming galahs. They'll include the XBOX 360 HD-DVD add-on in their calculations for HD-DVD player sales so as it suits them and then they exclude the PS3 in the Blu-ray claculations of hardware sales. Bloody double standards. Someone needs to teach them all a lesson.

[mattym]

the other bit of spin to go with this is if you have a ps3 your most likely watching on a Non-HD tv...in the bedroom....

[Footloose301]

Its amazing what these HD DVD fanboys come up with these days. Saying that selling this "game console" isn't going to help win the war, only the standalones..... BS!!!

And then go on to saying that PS3 owners are less likely to buy Blu-ray movies, thats a crock of sh1t. I'd have to say more people have bought PS3s for Blu-ray players rather than playing games anyways.

I do however believe the guy is right about the PS3 not hurting the Wii at all and thats because they're not on the same level and they don't usually attract the same audience. People who bought the Wii are; Parents for their little kids, or the 18-25yr old college guy/girl that plays with a few beers down the hatchet.

I really think this is going to boost sales dramatically. I think the thing that is really holding us back(even HD DVD sales for that matter) is the fact that the people out there don't even known what HD movies are at all. You wouldn't believe how many people are in the fog. They believe since they bought that Samsung plasma 720P 3 years ago that they are now an HD household..... not correct. I'm saying that because this is my aunt I'm talking about, but it goes for so many more people. The people need to be more informed. There are not enough commercials IMHO.

[andyparhelia]

I, like many others, bought a ps3 because it was the cheapest blu-ray player on the market in Europe at the time. Thats why blu-ray movie sales lead HD-DVD 4 - 1 in europe!

They can talk about attach rates and all the other BS about ps3 owners not watching movies but the fact is for every 1 hd-dvd sold blu-ray sells 4.

I went into my local game stop store in Dublin last week. They had stock of about 150 blu-rays and in the corner they had just 4 HD-DVD - that says to me that gamers are buying blu-rays otherwise this game shop wouldn't waste shelf space.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by stringent

If this was the other way round, i.e. MS now include the HD-DVD drive with the 360, it WILL boost sales. Or if the cheapo HD-DVD player comes out, it WILL boost sales. So much rubbish from those HD-DVD bods. Mind you what else is new?

They're in desparation mode. What do you expect them to say? "Yeah they're gonna kick our butts with this move".

They have to downplay it. People will vote with their money, not because of what some geek says.

[w_tanoto]

there is only one placed that this article deserve to be put in: rubbish bin.
We'll just have to wait and see. At least ALL BD Players are capable of 1080p, while HD DVD is not.

[Go Blu]

The 40 will def help, as in every little bit helps!

Even if a small percentage of PS3 owners buy 1-2 movies thats ALLOT!

Now, I have a number of friends who have been waiting on the sidelines and will now jump in due to the lower price.

It's amazing the amount of people who own a PS3 and have no clue what Blu-ray is. then you have the greater percentage who do, but don't own a HDTV so they feel no need to buy Blu "yet". As The prices of HDTV's continue to drop along with cheaper BDP's including the 40gig that can only be a good thing in Q4. Can you imagine when that already installed percentage actually starts buying movies!

Having said that, I still think the BDA needs to push just a wee bit harder.

[TruBlu2]

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH......Their whole strategy is to bad mouth the PS3 effect!!

Its so sad, their only hope is that the PS3 fails.

The PS3 effect is FOR REAL!!!!! And they can't stand it!!!!!!!


hdduds go home

[kurtlingle]

Hey,

Most likely I'm buying the 40g PS3 mainly for Blu-ray so I'm sure I am not the only one!

[Firestreak]

I bought my HDTV for my PS3, because I was primarily interested in games before movies. However, I knew I would want a HDTV eventually for playing games, so I started buying blu-rays for my standard def TV.

Why? Well cause they're only a few bucks more and they would be high def when I got the high def TV. I even took my PS3 with me to watch a few blu-rays on a friend's HDTV.

After I had a few blu-rays and all these PS3 games, I said screw it and bought a HDTV.

I feel like in some ways, the PS3 will motivate owners to upgrade their TV, and maybe some will be buying the blu-ray versions of new releases in anticipation. Like, why buy the Spiderman 3 DVD if you got a PS3?

As for rebuying your old DVDs in blu-ray format, or buying a movie you wouldn't buy as a DVD, pointless except to support blu-ray as a format.

[DrinkMore]

Yes and the reason I am currently in Blu is because my ass has the capability to play Blu-Ray and upnconvert my old dvd's. I always knew it had a more usefull purpose.


Seriously though, my ps3 is why I am here. Where do they get this crap from? They are worse than CNN when it comes to reporting news. It's like they pull shit out of the air, whip it into something and then spit it out all over and expect people to beleive it's clean. No thanks!

[jfanning]

Originally Posted by andyparhelia

I went into my local game stop store in Dublin last week. They had stock of about 150 blu-rays and in the corner they had just 4 HD-DVD - that says to me that gamers are buying blu-rays otherwise this game shop wouldn't waste shelf space.

What Gamestop is that? And are they any better priced than HMV or Virgin?

[jayd]

And they don't look back at history to show how the PS2 effect, helped DVD take off, and become the new standard. Toshiba and HD-DVD are shit***g their pants, because they know people who own PS3's DO buy Blu-Ray, because everone who I know who owns a PS3, has themselves bought Blu-ray discs.

[Razzy]

Originally Posted by DrinkMore

Seriously though, my ps3 is why I am here.

Me too but I guess my 44 Blu Ray movies don't count in the HD DUD camps eyes.

And what about this statement:

"The European PS3 price cut will have a minimal impact on the adoption of next generation HD formats. The real battleground is in sales of standalone players and HD DVD is out in front by a massive margin." said Ken Graffeo, co-chairman of the Group.

Can Graffeo smell the sh*t he's shovelling? Didn't we all read recently that sales of standalones pulled even? Didn't the PS2 help DVD become mainstream? It was my first DVD player.

[Bullseye]

At the moment the PS3 is the only real option as a BD player in Europe, sure Samsung and Pioneer have released a player but these are too expensive. Having bought the PS3 as a BD player and having almost 100 BD titles already that guy is talking crap.

[JAGUAR1977]

There is no doubt whatsoever cheaper PS3's will be a massive boost for Blu-ray.

I've been suprised how often Blu-ray is mentioned in ad's and general discussion's about PS3, it's really being pushed now.

[kiskiboy97]

I've never understood the whole "PS3's don't count" mantra from the Reds. It just so happens to be, IMO, the best player on the market at the time and the most future proof. I bought my PS3 specifically as a Blu-ray player. It has also got me re-interested in games (I now have 8 PS3 games).

Xbox fanboys won't tell you that a comporably equipped Xbox will cost more than a PS3, not to mention the extra clutter (wires and a seperate box for movies). I guess if all you wanted was a game console, Xbox might be a better value, but considering the massive failure rate, why would you want one?

http://realdealgaming.blogspot.com/2...ter-price.html

[Sonny]

For sure cheaper 40gig-PS3 will be great for Blu-Ray & Sony , how could you say it would not help, just look at the last 100$ drop in the U.S.A. on the 60gig, & how many sold