Not including HD-DVD is paying off again

[madskillz]

Kyros said:
"How is Microsoft 'heavily involved' in HD DVD?"

Again they are part of the Standard group (which makes them as involved as Panasonic is to BluRay) they were producing a HD-DVD player in the form of the add-on (the best-selling besides Toshiba), they designed big parts of the HD-DVD software (compression, menu interaction etc.). How much more involved can you be if you are not Toshiba?

If that is truly the reason, why didn't MS announce plans to the whole world they were going to release HD DVDs in their Xbox 360s in 2006? By going with an add-on, it is clear to me they wanted to have a form of HD, but wanted enough detachment in case it failed. And hindsight is 20-20, so ... guess what? The 360 is still selling and not tied down by HD DVD's demise one way or the other.

HD DVD and MS's marriage was one of convience. If it failed, MS could walk away and anull the relationship. If it succeeded, like MS was betting, they do a wii bit deeper.

It's just business, plan and simple.