....and the winner just may be HD-DVD.

Despite the fact that Blu-ray discs have outsold HD-DVD discs ever since Blu-ray first emerged onto the market place, it seems new leaked information has perhaps sent a preemptive shockwave that could perhaps shake the foundations of the HD industry. Theres only ONE retailer that could possibly single handedly take control of this format war: Wal-Mart. What did they choose? HD-DVD, baby. Apparently they are outsourcing with a company in China to produce $200 HD-DVD players...thats more than half a price cut.

This may belong in the Tech forum, but video games play into this as well. The PS3 sales arent too impressive so far, and with this announcement, its gonna be interesting to see what Sony does to help fuel the Blu-Ray camp.



http://gear.ign.com/articles/782/782359p1.html

WalMart to sell $199 HD-DVD player in Q4 2007?
Breaking news may have great impact on format war.

April 20, 2007 - In breaking news today, it would appear that mega-retailer WalMart has contracted a Chinese manufacturer to produce millions of low-cost HD-DVD players. Though somewhat obfuscated by translation issues and the breaking nature of the news, the current internet consensus suggests that Taiwan based manufacturer Fuh Yuan, in cooperation with TDK, will produce the blue laser drives for 2-million HD-DVD players. Broadcom will reportedly supply the system-on-a-chip decoder, and China Great Wall will handle final assembly. The deal represents around US $100,000,000, and it is reported that a new manufacturing plant has already been opened to fulfill the order.

Speculation suggests the players will arrive at retail in late 2007 and will be priced between $199-299. At such cost, WalMart's HD-DVD drives will be far below the current low of $399 for Toshiba's HD-A20 player, and will look cheap compared to the lowest priced Blu-ray hardware on the market today ($599).

If the current details of the plan prove to be true, WalMart's support of HD-DVD will have a significant impact on the next-gen DVD format war. The American retailer operates on a high-volume, low-margin business plan of market saturation, which is exactly the approach required to drive one format or the other to preeminence.

Stay tuned for updates and confirmation as the story develops.





This might have some drastic consequences. And I mean, DRASTIC. Those studios that chose to exclusively support blu-ray...well, they wont be able to sell their HD movies at Wal-Mart, since they are going to be pushing HD-DVD. And since Wal-Mart is the biggest retailer in the universe......uh oh. What is Sony gonna do?

___________________

I'll be the first in line for that shit!

gee, does anyone remember pkc stating that buying a gaming console based only upon the "media centre" uses was a bad idea? and that a stand-alone product would be better, AND you wouldn't have to worry about the ensuing format war? hmmmmm.

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN gee, does anyone remember pkc stating that buying a gaming console based only upon the "media centre" uses was a bad idea? and that a stand-alone product would be better, AND you wouldn't have to worry about the ensuing format war? hmmmmm.

Point taken. However, I bought my PS3 because of MotorStorm, Resistance, and MGS 4. The added Blu-ray playback is just a bonus in my eyes.

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN gee, does anyone remember pkc stating that buying a gaming console based only upon the "media centre" uses was a bad idea? and that a stand-alone product would be better, AND you wouldn't have to worry about the ensuing format war? hmmmmm.

All hail the level 20 evil black mage....




lol but seriously alot of people were saying that

quote:

Originally posted by CONNERMAN2000 Point taken. However, I bought my PS3 because of MotorStorm, Resistance, and MGS 4. The added Blu-ray playback is just a bonus in my eyes.

oh yeah, my comment definitely wasnt directed at you!! youre a gamer, not a "wow, i think the PS3 is better coz it has blu-ray!" weirdo sony fanboy

quote:

Originally posted by chach All hail the level 20 evil black mage.... lol but seriously alot of people were saying that

possibly, but in here there were all kinds of fanboys arguing over the two formats, as if one being better somehow made their GAMING console superior

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN possibly, but in here there were all kinds of fanboys arguing over the two formats, as if one being better somehow made their GAMING console superior

Not I

WM *always* has the first, cut-rate, featureless new player.

Do people with plasma 1080 HD displays really need the cheapest possible player? is wal mart hoping to convince morons they do need it? possibly.

but i doubt this means the end of one format. likely they will be rendered obsolete by a walmart dual format APEX piece of shit|

___________________
'That's like telling a Kodiak bear to stop fcking older men.'