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The Downfall of HD-DVD

Blockbuster have announced that the company will offer high definition DVDs only in the Blu-ray format in 1,450 of its stores from next month, with those stores failing to carry any HD-DVD titles. If you have HD-DVD well you can rent from blockbuster anymore.

The move, being announced Monday, could be the first step in resolving a format war that has kept confused consumers from rushing to buy new DVD players until they can determine which format will dominate the market.

Blockbuster has been renting both Blu-ray and HD DVD titles in 250 stores since late last year and found that consumers were choosing Blu-ray titles more than 70 percent of the time.

“The consumers are sending us a message. I can’t ignore what I’m seeing,” Matthew Smith, senior vice president of merchandising at Blockbuster, told The Associated Press.

Blockbuster will continue to rent HD DVD titles in the original 250 locations and online, the Dallas-based company said.

The decision was helped in large part by the lopsided availability of titles in Blu-ray, Smith said. All major studios except one are releasing films in Blu-ray, with several, including The Walt Disney Co., releasing exclusively in Blu-ray. Only Universal Studios, which is owned by General Electric Co., exclusively supports HD DVD.

Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc., and Paramount Pictures, which is owned by Viacom Inc., release films in both formats.

“When you walk into a store and see all this product available in Blu-ray and there is less available on HD DVD, I think the consumer gets that,” Smith said.

The rollout of Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 3 game console, which comes standard with a Blu-ray drive, also helped give the format momentum, Smith said.

Blockbuster’s decision, while significant on it’s own, could boost Blu-ray even more if other retailers follow suit.

XBox 360’s New Intercooler EX

Here is a kick ass little piece of equipment for your Xbox 360. I just did not know they got that hot and needed the cooling so bad.

Keep your Xbox 360 Elite running at optimal conditions. The Intercooler EX for Xbox 360 is a snap on cooling attachment that easily connects to the Xbox 360. The Intercooler EX provides increased air flow away from the 360 which allows the console to perform in a cooler, better ventilated environment ideal for cramped entrainment centers. No internal modification of the Xbox 360 is required. A pass through power connection utilizes the existing Xbox 360 power supply negating the need for an extra AC adaptor. The unit also powers on and off automatically with 360 and the Intercooler’s small size will fit in tight spaces like entertainment centers with your 360 displayed in either horizontal or vertical format.

Nyko’s Intercooler EX, the latest version of the company’s incredibly popular cooling system for the Xbox 360, improves upon the original by adding a variety of new, user demanded features, including support for the wireless adapter. In addition to providing a superior cooling solution that improves air circulation away from the Xbox 360, the Intercooler EX also features a new locking mechanism that ensures an easy, secure installation. To match the Xbox 360 Elite’s color scheme, the Intercooler EX comes in a black matte finish. The Intercooler EX is now available at select retailers and Nyko’s online store for $19.99. A white version of the Intercooler EX is also available that matches the original Xbox 360 color scheme.

Well one more Game Corp. Down the crapper

Well the End is near Valve will be taking over the gaming world soon. One day you will not be able to get away from the Bug ridden, almost always having problems, piece of crap called Steam. How long before Steam puts ads in your Favorite games?

Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, and Valve® today announced an agreement that brings a collection of Capcom’s current and future PC games to Valve’s Steam digital distribution service. Under the arrangement, PC versions of Lost Planet™: Extreme Condition, Onimusha® 3, Devil May Cry® 3: Special Edition, Super Puzzle FighterTM II Turbo HD Remix, and future PC titles will be made available via the leading online distribution platform. Capcom is the first major Japanese software publisher to sign on with Steam.“Capcom is a worldwide leader in development and publishing of action adventure titles,” said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. “This initial set of Capcom titles coming to Steam, as well as those coming at a later date, are a perfect fit for the millions of action gaming fans connecting to Steam each week.”

Steam is the only full-featured broadband platform for the delivery and management of games and digital content, and has pioneered its broadband services to over 13 million customers with core and casual games from today’s leading publishers and developers.

“With the PC market becoming a larger part of our business, we’re naturally focusing our attention on digital distribution,” said Mark Beaumont, executive vice president, officer, Capcom American and European consumer software publishing. “Steam is the right place for us to go with our titles. Valve has created a huge installed base of gamers who naturally fit with the profiles of the titles that Capcom develops.”

Available later this week, Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition is an action game that follows the stylish demon-slayer Dante as he uses swords and guns to wage a nonstop, one-man battle against the demon world in order to carry out a 2000 year-old revenge. Coming in the next few weeks, Onimusha 3 is an action game that travels in time between the 16th century Japan and modern-day Paris, pitting two heroes (one a samurai, the other a modern-day fighter played by actor Jean Reno) against a horde of other-dimensional evil. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is a critically-acclaimed third person action game from an all-star team of Capcom’s game designers, will be available day and date with the retail version of the PC game, currently scheduled for June 26. Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix downloads Capcom’s incredibly popular puzzle game into the new generation, featuring enhanced 1080p HD graphics, several new game modes, improved game balance, and online play and will be available later this year.