In retrospect...

[beavis667]

The PS3 blu-ray drive now looks to be a stroke of genius by Sony, a huge gamble that paid off. Within weeks of the PS3's release, BD software sales took a lead that was never relinquished.

In the end, HD-DVD shares an ominous and obvious similiarity with other failed formats. The only players you can buy are Toshiba, and rebranded Toshibas. This closely mirrors other "failed" movie formats such as laserdisk, DVHS, and UMD.

[Papi4baby]

Well Sony did it back with the PS2 with a DVD drive, you thought it would not work this generation. It might not have all the hot games yet, but the BD side was a Trojan horse from the beginning.

[blu-backer]

I think one of the biggest blunders in this "war" was Microsoft choosing NOT to have XBOX 360 released with HD-DVD built-in. I believe they wanted to really beat Sony to the punch in the gaming area, but if they were somehow able to sell 360's with HD-DVD drives instead of the ridiculous add-in that came much later, things would probably be different.

In the end, it seemed that Microsoft may not really have had their heart in support of HD-DVD or they totally discounted Sony's strategy of including BD with the PS3 as foolish. Guess it doesn't matter now.

[mykevermin]

Originally Posted by blu-backer

I think one of the biggest blunders in this "war" was Microsoft choosing NOT to have XBOX 360 released with HD-DVD built-in. I believe they wanted to really beat Sony to the punch in the gaming area, but if they were somehow able to sell 360's with HD-DVD drives instead of the ridiculous add-in that came much later, things would probably be different.

In the end, it seemed that Microsoft may not really have had their heart in support of HD-DVD or they totally discounted Sony's strategy of including BD with the PS3 as foolish. Guess it doesn't matter now.

The price advantage offered by the 360 as a console has helped it sell over the PS3. For a game console, it was wise, it appears, to avoid either format.

And as far as blunders go, my three 360s in 18 months will have you know that the Red Rings of Death are a blunder unparalleled in home technology.

With Blu-Ray succeeding, Sony has now positioned themselves to become profitable on two fronts (in gaming and media), whereas their only profitable arm in recent years was its gaming division.

Best of all (for Sony and the BDA), if BD is going to become the default optical media for the next decade (and I'd be amazed if any console maker tried another "GD-ROM" like Sega did with the Dreamcast), they'll be making money for every next-gen Nintendo, MS, and Sony console and game sold - as they'll all be BD-based with BD software. Heh.

[blu-backer]

Originally Posted by mykevermin

The price advantage offered by the 360 as a console has helped it sell over the PS3. For a game console, it was wise, it appears, to avoid either format.

And as far as blunders go, my three 360s in 18 months will have you know that the Red Rings of Death are a blunder unparalleled in home technology.

With Blu-Ray succeeding, Sony has now positioned themselves to become profitable on two fronts (in gaming and media), whereas their only profitable arm in recent years was its gaming division.

Best of all (for Sony and the BDA), if BD is going to become the default optical media for the next decade (and I'd be amazed if any console maker tried another "GD-ROM" like Sega did with the Dreamcast), they'll be making money for every next-gen Nintendo, MS, and Sony console and game sold - as they'll all be BD-based with BD software. Heh.

It certainly sounds like MS was more concerned about winning the game console war rather than helping win the HD-DVD war, whereas Sony appeared to have an eye on both prizes. Whether or not they can pull it off on both fronts is yet to be seen, but it's becoming more obvious that their strategy to include BD with the PS3 was brilliant.

[Dalese]

Originally Posted by blu-backer

It certainly sounds like MS was more concerned about winning the game console war rather than helping win the HD-DVD war, whereas Sony appeared to have an eye on both prizes. Whether or not they can pull it off on both fronts is yet to be seen, but it's becoming more obvious that their strategy to include BD with the PS3 was brilliant.

Microsoft has always been about the "download" and everything will be web-based. The XBox 360 IMO was a home entertainment web interface machine. Games were to be downloaded and played online, discs were just for installing the software.

The PS3 just took the XBox 360 concept to the next level with Sony's vision that HD media still had a roll to play.

[krazeyeyez]

Originally Posted by blu-backer

I think one of the biggest blunders in this "war" was Microsoft choosing NOT to have XBOX 360 released with HD-DVD built-in. I believe they wanted to really beat Sony to the punch in the gaming area, but if they were somehow able to sell 360's with HD-DVD drives instead of the ridiculous add-in that came much later, things would probably be different.

In the end, it seemed that Microsoft may not really have had their heart in support of HD-DVD or they totally discounted Sony's strategy of including BD with the PS3 as foolish. Guess it doesn't matter now.

honestly man.....i have many friends that bought both systems and only one that actually has a hidef tv....he actually has 3. but most of my friends could really care less.....sure they like watching movies at my house but they dont care that they go home and play on a 20" sdtv. hidef players in videogame systems will have far more bearing on the next generation of consoles and im sure that entered into ms's game plan on why its an add on.

p.s. im 25 and just bought my first hidef tv about a month ago, and when your still on sdtv the last thing on your mind is man i need to replace this dvd collection i got, or man i wish i had a bluray.

[Kendall]

I thought from launch it would pay off for Sony - it might not have if Microsoft had done so first. But this is only round one of victory, the second punch comes as more and more games arrive that start to make use of this space. If the PS3 gets a lot of games that look as good as Uncharted and Ratchet & Clank, it will really help the console as a gaming platform too.

It's always better to pay a little upfront and upgrade as much as possible when releasing a new system meant to be used and sold for a long time... it took courage and vision, but then the Japanese have always been more inclined to think long-term.

[Porfie]

Originally Posted by beavis667

The PS3 blu-ray drive now looks to be a stroke of genius by Sony, a huge gamble that paid off. Within weeks of the PS3's release, BD software sales took a lead that was never relinquished.

In the end, HD-DVD shares an ominous and obvious similiarity with other failed formats. The only players you can buy are Toshiba, and rebranded Toshibas. This closely mirrors other "failed" movie formats such as laserdisk, DVHS, and UMD.

I agree SONY is a genius. Now if rumors are true about Microsoft releasing their Ultimate Xbox with a built in HD-DVD player to compete with the PS3 they are in for a huge loss with the Warner Bros blu-ray exclusive news.

http://gaming.monstersandcritics.com...e_Sony%92s_PS3

[LynxFX]

Originally Posted by beavis667

The PS3 blu-ray drive now looks to be a stroke of genius by Sony, a huge gamble that paid off.

Now looks? It looked like a stroke of genius back in May of 2005 when they announced it. Going into CES of 2006 blu-ray had all but won. It wasn't until Microsoft through their weight into the format war by teaming up with HD DVD that became the monkey wrench that really started this format war.

But yes, it was a stroke of genius.

What's really funny is that while UMD is considered a failed format it still has more movies released for it than HD DVD.

Sony should start to see their gamble really pay off in the next couple years as the PS3 gains tracking in the gaming market and of course BD becomes the new standard.