Xbox 360's HD-DVD Versus PlayStation 3's Blu-ray

Let's hope that gamers are also movie lovers, because both the next-gen consoles, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, will offer high-definition-movie-disc compatibility come next month. Of course, no new techno-advance would be complete without a format war, so Xbox 360 will offer its HD-DVD drive in mid-November, while the PlayStation 3, which launches on November 17, will have built-in Blu-ray capability. What's a gamer who may or may not like high-definition movies to do? Or maybe the real question is: Do you even want to rely on your gaming system for next-gen movie rentals?

It can be a tough call, considering that the viewer experience on either format is more or less the same as far as clarity goes (both are capable of 1080p, more than six times the resolution of standard DVD). Which format you choose may depend on what kind of gamer you are. Here's my quick run-down of the pros and cons of each system's HD-movie capabilities, based on the information we have so far (for a quick rundown of each format in general, check out Chris's earlier post).

Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive:

What's good: From the get-go, Xbox 360 was designed to be the center of your entertainment system. For one thing, it doubles as a media streamer, so you can send regular or HD content from your Media Center PC to any Xbox 360-connected TV in the house via Wi-Fi (or Ethernet). Assuming you've already been using the 360 as a video-viewing device as well as a gaming device, you'll probably appreciate the HD-DVD upgrade. If you're not much of a TV watcher, no problem—just don't buy it and use the money saved on more Xbox 360 games (of which there will be more than 100 by year's end).

What's bad: Though the HD-DVD format was the first out of the gate and already has about 100 titles available (with a purported 200 due by the end of the year), it's only supported by three big studios—Universal, Paramount, and Warner Bros.  You'll be set if you like Star Trek, but you're out of luck if you want any Disney or Sony movies, for starters.  And though its mini-Me design matches nicely with the 360, the drive is still a bulky doodad that's a pain to try and fit somewhere on the credenza.

PlayStation 3 Blu-ray player:

What's good: First-off, the player is built-in, so I can keep my media rack's streamlined look intact. Secondly, if I decide to go Blu-ray, the PlayStation 3 is a steal when compared with standalone Blu-ray players such as the $999 Samsung BD-P1000. Also, Blu-ray discs have more memory capacity than HD-DVD (about 25GB of data versus HD-DVD's 15GB), making them future-proof, at least on paper (see my feelings about the future of downloading below). And Blu-ray is supported by every major Hollywood studio, so if the format takes off, all your movie bases are covered.

What's bad: It's estimated that the inclusion of the Blu-ray player adds $150 onto the overall cost of the PS3. For gamers, that's $150 too much. (Just imagine: Without Blu-ray, the PS3 would be more in line with most new console launches at $350-$450). Sony has been mum about many of the PS3's specifics, so whether or not the PS3 will be a viable competitor to the Xbox 360 in terms of handling all your other media and spreading it around the house remains to be seen. Lastly, Blu-ray, despite getting backing from all the studios, is still slightly behind HD-DVD in terms of titles (about 80). How Blu-ray is going to make up for lost time (Toshiba's HD-DVD player has been out since March) at those high-prices is beyond me.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, since both formats are still in the trial stage, the choice might boil down to what games you want to play. And right now, Xbox 360, which has been out for a year, is the clear winner in this department (I can't wait to play Grand Theft Auto IV, coming out first on the 360, on October 17), whether you get the drive or not. 

Neither HD-DVD nor Blu-ray is worth breaking the bank to get on board early (better to wait and see which format wins).  Frankly, I don't see either of these technologies prevailing over the long term. The days of optical media are numbered. Already MovieLink is offering downloads with DVD-like extras—it's only a matter of time before the same types of downloads will be offered in HD. I'm in the process of digitizing my entire CD collection so can free up shelf space at home—why on earth would I want to add more space-hogging discs to my house? And I'm old school that way—that is, I actually have CDs. Most people under 25 are all downloads, all the time.  And Sony expects those people to pay $500-$1,000 for a Blu-ray player?

All this said, HD junkies who have Xbox 360s would not be completely wasting their money by spending $200 on a lousy little drive, right? That's half the price of Toshiba's entry-level standalone model. I'm considering it myself. The 100 movies or so available will look mighty fine on my 1080p projector and should tide me over until my local cable provider gives me more HD channels.

How badly do you even want HD on your gaming console? Would you buy either of these systems based on their movie-viewing capabilities?