HD-DVD addon shown during MS briefing @ TGS

[SpOoNmAn]

September 20, 2006 - According to an official release by Microsoft at their Tokyo Game Show 2006 press briefing, the Xbox 360 will be able to support 1080p games and videos. According to the press release, the fall update will usher in the upgraded resolution capability.

"[Microsoft's] fall software update, scheduled for release later this year, will allow all Xbox 360 consoles around the world to output game and movie content in 1080p resolution."

Which games will be released in the future that will support the higher resolution is still unannounced. 1080p is a visual upgrade over the Xbox 360's current maximum resolution output of 1080i, or 1920 by 1080 interlaced. We'll update as more details become available.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/733/733658p1.html

Microsoft has begun to woo the Japanese market ahead of this years' Tokyo Game Show by revealing the price of the HD-DVD movie player for the Xbox 360, along with new hardware bundles, exclusive software and peripheral prices.

"There's never been a more important Tokyo Game Show for Microsoft," stated Peter Moore at a press conference in Tokyo's Shibuya district, as he revealed exclusive Live Arcade and new role-playing games for the region.

The HD-DVD drive will retail for 20,790 Yen (141 Euro / GBP 95), and will be available to buy on November 22nd.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19816

Thats around 166.00 US!

[ZoomZoom71]

At $166, I may have to buy that, just to be in the "I have HD-DVD Add-on" club.

[SpOoNmAn]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoom71

At $166, I may have to buy that, just to be in the "I have HD-DVD Add-on" club.

Let us hope the US price stays very close to that. If we see the price of 169.99, I won't be able to get to the store fast enough

It might come down a few bucks with my friends Best Buy discount! Forgot all about that!

[XXXSNOWMAN]

At that price the HD-DVD add on Drive will definitely be on my Christmas List.

YOU HEAR THAT SANTA, HD-DVD Drive!!!

[CamDawg]

More clarification just came out today -- this is kind of what I thought and posted yesterday on the ostgamers board we were using.

Xbox 360 HD DVD playback: Maximum 1080i via component, 1080p VGA-only
Posted Sep 21st 2006 2:46PM by Richard Lawler
Filed under: News, Manufacturers

We still don't know the US price or launch date, but we've got a bit more specifics on how the Xbox 360 HD DVD player add-on will work when it hits store shelves later this year thanks to a post by Microsoft insider Amir M. on AVS Forum. When it was revealed yesterday that it will support 1080p HD DVD and 1080p DVD upconversion we were surprised because it's commonly accepted that the CSS (DVD) and AACS (HD DVD & Blu-ray) copyright provisions don't allow that (although some manufacturers have sidestepped that before) via unprotected analog connections. We were right, sort of, they don't allow it for component connections. Even after the software upgrade this fall, via component, the Xbox 360 will still only upconvert DVDs to 480p, and will play HD DVD movies at a maximum resolution of 1080i. To get 1080p output for movies, you must use a VGA cable, which is not subject to the same copyright restrictions. This just means the Xbox 360 is just like every other HD DVD and Blu-ray player on the market, but you wouldn't know that by reading Microsoft's press releases yesterday. If you ran out and bought a 1080p HDTV yesterday don't return it just yet, you should be able to get equal picture quality to 1080p if your TV processes the incoming signal correctly in most cases, and if it supports 1080p via component, you can still play upconverted games and in the future native-1080p games are possible. . We're still waiting to hear exactly how HD DVD's advanced audio capabilities will be handled by the 360 and oh yeah...a US price, please Microsoft?.

Source

In a nutshell -- the hd-dvd add-on will display HD-DVD movies in 720p or 1080i over component (at least it will as long as the studios don't implement AACS. It will only show standard DVDs in a max res of 480p (meaning it won't allow upconversion to 720p, 1080i, or 1080p) over component. Glad I went ahead and purchased the stand alone HD-A1.

[Jon Liu]

here here camdawg! It'll be nice knowing that it will do 1080p and maybe it will yield a better picture even that of the HD-A1 1080i picture but, still... I think it's a definite sale for me at the price point of 170-ish! Benefits it will have over the HD-A1? Speed! While I am not at all bothered by the sluggish start up of the HD-A1, it will still be an appreciable difference when the add-on comes out to have movies start up a lot quicker than they do now!

But like I said, it's not even a real issue for me as it stands now.

[blars]

Yep, I'll be all over it...I just probably won't be able to afford the dvds right away...

[MadBryan]

I'm guessing game invites will pop up like when watching standerd def dvds right? Probably be able to check witch 12 of you are playing Saint's Row

[WormholeXtreme]

If it comes in at $170, I'll probably get two. And I'll be able to output at 1080P with my Samsung vga input. That's the only input on my TV that will take 1080P. Definitely looking forward to it. I guess that will be my early Xmas present to myself this year. that and Viva Pinata!

[SpOoNmAn]

PGL rule:

Whoever gets this addon first MUST get in here with immediate opinions on its functionality/pic quality

[Jon Liu]

yep the menu systems will probably be the same. Blars, the movie prices aren't too bad. They range from like 22 to 30 for the regulars in store. Hybrids are actually more but, you both hybrid dvds and regular hd-dvds are found usually on amazon for quite a bit cheaper.

I actually found Troy HD-DVD at Best Buy for 18.99 so that's a good sign of possible prices to come! Great stuff!

Not to mention, if you buy through amazon, with their prices... if you buy 3 right off the bat from them... you automatically get 10% off all HD-DVDs and even Blu-Ray Discs for the next whole year. The 10% discount starts even on the 3 dvds you first purchase! It's pretty awesome! I bought the Fast and the Furious trilogy from Amazon, the first two were like 20 bucks each, the 3rd one since it's a hybrid is like 35 bucks or something then with free shipping and 10% discount on that as well... couldn't go wrong!

Another note, Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift will be the first HD-DVD that will be a quad-layered disc. Forgot where the source is but essentially double layered HD-DVD flipped over for a double layered DVD.

Not to mention alllllllllllllllll the freakin cool extras that will be on the Tokyo Drift HD-DVD! OMG. This is one of my most anticipated HD-DVDs! I'm excited (if you can't tell).

[WormholeXtreme]

Yes I might have to violate my self imposed rule(Not spending over $25 for a combo) and spend the $32 to get this From Amazon if I don't get it for my Birthday later this month.

[blars]

That's not as bad as I thought. I don't see myself double dipping on any movies anytime soon though.

[Jon Liu]

some movies were worth the double dip to me! Actually most of the ones I picked up were double dips for me! Here's a list of what I have:

Aeon Flux*
Bourne Supremacy*
Chronicles of Riddick*
CoR: Pitch Black*
Constantine*
Italian Job*
Million Dollar Baby*
Phantom of the Opera*
Ray
The Rundown*
Sahara*
Seabiscuit
Serenity*
Troy
U-571*
Van Helsing*

*= double dips!

Dang! I never realized that I double dipped those! hahaha, actually Troy is technically another double dip but, my friend actualy lost the original DVD shortly after I bought it. But, yeah... of all the ones that I have, the one that really hasn't wow'ed me too much was Italian Job. It's a vast improvement over the original DVD but, not quite up to a lot of the other titles I have.

And now a days I've just held out buying any movies released on DVD for anticipation for the HD counter-part.

[BiffCo]

That'd be a great price. I guess my confusion about 1080p was not a complete loss. I'll pick one up. Looks like no Wii for me.

-Brad

[blars]

DANG...if it weren't for needing to buy food every once in a while, I could get a lot of HD-DVDs as well.

*note to self.......eat less*

[BrewCityUpstart]

I wonder if my sxrd-xbr1 from last year will upconvert that to a 1080p...