http://majornelson.com/2011/03/29/xbox-360-system-update-preview/

Any thoughts on what this might be? I'm wondering what exactly they can change to formats with just a software update.

This is interesting. New discs but with the same hardware no upgrading at all. I wonder what it could be as well. Maybe a new type of DVD that can hold more info but still being read by the same DVD hardware.

I bet it is a new dual layered dvd technology that can still be read by the current hardware. If that is the case it could be, and this is a longshot, a contender for Blu-Ray dvd games.

Well I wouldn't say it's a contender, but seeing how blu ray is such a failure, I can see it better for regular DVD movies so you don't need a blue ray player.

If this isn't the case, I think you are right. This could be Microsoft seeing how they can still compete with the PS3 with the current 360 and for the future of the next generation Xbox so they don't need a Bluray player so they can have more info and more intense graphics.

Blu Ray a failure? Since when? Yes DVDs are more popular but look at the past VHS was more popular than DVD for a while. I was actually pissed when VHS was dropped all together since I prefer it. I don't care about movie quality, I say its already real life so why would I care if it looks better? Blu Ray seems to be taking over the DVDs place. It seems Netflix and digital movie distribution is taking over nowadays, BluRays will take over eventually since there are alot of collectors like me who prefer actually owning the movie and having a physical object to show for your money. As of right now you don't need a BluRay player but eventually the time will come when the BluRay will take over due to the fact that it is harder to do illegal things with BluRays. Anyway I prefer the BluRay for its size capacity but I still primarly use DVD because it is easier to convert a DVD to Ipod and PSP formats. Seriously though BluRays are taking over, movies are being released in combo packs which include BluRay and DVD version and they usually cost 4-6 dollars more. People who have any sense will buy this pack and sell the movie they will not use to a friend or familty member or this pack could encourage them to buy a BluRay player which it has done for many people.

Huh. That's odd. Maybe they're gonna go with Gamecube style discs!! One disc for single player, one for multiplayer. This would work especially well for first-person shooters, seeing as how the single player only takes about 5-6 hours to beat.

I thought the same thing until I saw Blu-Ray on a 30"+ TV. You do notice the lack of graininess that DVDs have. On smaller displays you don't appreciate the quality improvement as much.

If it wasn't for the improved storage capacity, I'd not say the Blu-Ray movement was overall worth it.

That is what they should do. So when I buy a Battlefield game I can sell the campaign disc and keep the multiplayer.

Naw I don't think Blu-Ray is a failure it's done pretty well and technology will keep advancing to make it better. I have to agree that they will probably be using a dual-layer or possibly some kind of multi-layered technology to compress the information then convert it using some special proprietary programming/technology.

My only question is will Microsoft or Sony be the first to try advanced holographic storage disc formats. Heard those svckers can store more info than blu-ray discs.

I've seen blu ray on a 40 inch sony bravia in 1080p it looked like the movie theatre but still I say its already real life people and it looks good enough in SD. I really only care about HD quality for games only.

Most games already use double layer DVD.

There are experimental quad layer Blu Ray discs that can hold up to 200GB of information; 50GB per layer. Some can hold even more. Although they are hardly ready to be sold.

I worry about this but if the new format does pretty much what the current disks are doing now and has some upgrades then it's a good thing. Although Microsoft shouldn't worry about trying to compete with Blue Rays, I mean the 360 is the top console currently, (Although that it is debatable in some aspects). Also the Reach deal isn't good because of the fine print.

Erm, what? Where did you get that information? Because that's completely wrong. I wont buy a movie anymore for my personal collection unless it's a Blu-Ray. How can you even say it's a failure? Millions of people love Blu-Ray. It's not a failure at all, it's extremely popular. The quality different is staggering.

By Bluray failure, I mean we are not really getting alot of extras out of it. Besides Avatar and a few other movies, we are not getting all the dazzle and spectacle that were were suppose to get from it. Also now, that alot of DVD movies don't have no extras and if you wanted the extras that use to be on DVDs you need to buy Bluray then. From 99% of the movies, I swear the quality is the same. I quit buying Bluray, the only noticble difference was Batman movie and Wall-E other wise might as well save a few bucks and get regular DVD.

Also if Microsoft can get more storage, then they don't have to liscence for a Bluray for thier next gen xbox, or develope some new type of hardware then. So this way next gen xbox will be cheaper and not so expensive.

I'm sorry but Blu-Ray quality is leaps and bounds above DvDs, if you can't see that then I don't know what to tell you lol. I've never met anyone in my life who doesn't think it looks 10x better and more clear, because it does. It's a different format, higher resolution, I mean it IS better quality. It's not opinion, it's fact.
Also, I don't know where you buy your Blu-Rays but every single Blu-Ray I've bought cost around 20 bucks and has at least 2 disc, full of special features. I guess that just depends on where you buy them though. I buy mine from Barnes and Noble.

It's apparently the same discs they've been using, only with the video partition reduced/removed, freeing up about 1GB of storage space.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-1gb-360-disc-upgrade

How is Blu-Ray a failure? It allows for better quality pictures as well as much more content on the disc. That seems like a win-win to me.

Well yes quality can be leaps and bounds better, BUT only if you take advantage of it. Are you telling me that every single Bluray disc that comes out is taking advantage of it? Sure movies like Avatar does this, but are you telling me that for example, Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans is awsome on Bluray? It is a joke and an insult to my intelligence. I wasted over $10 buying that crappy movie on Bluray when I could have bought it on regular DVD. The quality svcked on it BIG TIME. So this is where I say Bluray is a Fail. It is not being taken advantage of in 99% of the time. Those 1% of the time is awsome I will agree, but it is so few and not really worth paying more than Regular DVD since the quality is the same for 99% of the movies I have experianced with.

So for Microsoft, do they really need a Bluray player since 99% or very few companies take actual advantage of Bluray? No they don't. All they need to do is find something to get more storage space. Even PS3 games don't really take advantage of Bluray. Final Fantasy XIII looks about the same to me on the 360 and PS3. Again, you will say it was made for the 360 as well. Again, people not taking advantage of the power of Bluray, so if you are not taking power of it, then why have it?

So since Microsoft only needs more disk space it doesn't need the power of Bluray. Can you name me a game that uses the power of Bluray to make the GAMES more cripser, more sharper more better? I can't name one and the only thing Bluray is good for gaming is storage and nothing else.

This is probably just some security measures, I wouldnt think its anything too special tbh.

edit - nvm just read wingus's comment. 1gb extra storage is good, that should help make the xbox last longer..

Killzone 2/3, LittleBigPlanet, Heavy Rain, inFAMOUS etc.

The crispness of the software is also dependent on system hardware by the way, but either way Blu-Rays are superior due to their sheer storage capacity. Take Dead Space 2 for example, if you don't die, you'll never see a loading screen from start to finish. On the 360 you have to switch discs about half way through, but on the PS3 you don't. This is due to Blu-Ray discs.

Sony most likely since they are one of the companies that tend to invest in optical/dat asttorage disc technology.



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LOL...

Ya I mean what is going on...
Games on a dvd would use more compression..

I would love to use human brains as a storage space for games.
They'd look good on a shelf in those fancy glass bowls museums and doctors have.

I'd prefer rat brains.... just to save space.

For every Blu-ray you can name that looks bad, I'd be able to list one that's an excellent transfer. It's being taken advantage of by the majority of studios and your 1% figure is absolutely ridiculous. It's also not just about the video, but audio as well. DTS-HD and TrueHD both sound magnificent if your sound system is up to the task.

As far as gaming goes, it's largely unnecessary beyond multi-disc games, which have managed just fine on PSone and Xbox 360. A slight inconvenience at most. Final Fantasy XIII on PS3 did have 1080p cutscenes and the 360's textures were slightly blurry/aliased from time to time, but for the most part Blu-ray brought little to the table.

Still, film benefits greatly from the format. With Blu-ray sales up and DVD sales down amidst the advent of digital distribution, I'd hardly consider it a failure.