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Xbox 360 HD DVD player ranks number 4 in games on Amazon Japan photo

Now that the demise of the HD DVD format has been announced, it was only a matter of time before crazy low clearance prices hit the Web. Similar things are happening in Japan, and now it seems that the Xbox 360 HD DVD player is selling pretty well there.

According to AkibaBlog (not always safe for work), the reduced HD DVD drive for Xbox 360 made it to number 4 in the game category of Amazon Japan as of February 29th. Of course, the new price of 4,980 yen (about $48) didn't hurt things.

Mr. Geek says that the player is selling pretty well in the stores, too. Asobit Game City in Akihabara put up a point of purchase message that said  "Thanks, We won't forget about you. Appreciation to Toshiba, it's 4,980yen." How sweet! A store staffer said, "we got them just for fun, but actually, we sold them pretty well."

He also says that Akibaoo 1st Branch also sold it "as a loser." Aw, that's mean!

Have any of you sought out a cheap HD DVD drive for your Xbox 360? Do you think the movies will become coveted collectables like many Laserdiscs have? Or is even $50 still too much for you? 


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45 comments | showing # 1 to 45

DeusPayne's Avatar
DeusPayne at 03/01/2008 11:03
I saw a 360 HD-DVD drive in Toys'R'Us for like $25 the other day. I considered picking it up... cause what's $25. It'd be like a relic of a past era.
Macca's Avatar
Macca at 03/01/2008 11:04
Yea, I picked one up the other day for about $35 USD here. King Kong itself on DVD is still about $15, and there are quite a few HD DVD's I'd be interested in picking up, so it works out quite well for me. At this price, I'd have justified the cost to myself after picking up about 2 more movies.
notdryad's Avatar
notdryad at 03/01/2008 11:04
This is obviously a false news story; nothing even remotely related to Microsoft or XBox sells well in Japan.
drMario1337's Avatar
drMario1337 at 03/01/2008 11:04
Im not surprised that they are selling now that the prices have gone south.
Justice's Avatar
Justice at 03/01/2008 11:08
Simply amazing.
Professor Pew's Avatar
Professor Pew at 03/01/2008 11:16
There can be only one explanation for this: Hentai producers jumped to HD-DVD in the beginning and all titles are now 70% off.
BlackDove's Avatar
BlackDove at 03/01/2008 11:17
It's a very nice expensive and exclusive coaster.
HarassmentPanda's Avatar
HarassmentPanda at 03/01/2008 11:19
I already have an HD-DVD player, but I picked up a second one at Best Buy for $50 that came with 6 free movies. It's a nice insurance policy. It would cost way more than $50 to replace my HD-DVD collection on another format and, honestly, I still prefer the format anyway.

I'll buy Blu-Ray when the players are finally universally upgradeable and don't run the risk of being outdated, but until then I've got all I need... Batman Begins on HD-DVD!
tgammet's Avatar
tgammet at 03/01/2008 11:25
Still too much for me. I've got a PS3, I don't need this add-on for my 360 at all.
DryvBy's Avatar
DryvBy at 03/01/2008 11:26
Instead of wasting money on this, it would be better to spend money on a few Blu-rays and get a player that doesn't suck the bucket.
Niero's Avatar
Niero at 03/01/2008 11:34
I have to believe that most of the people buying these things on impulse missed the news about HD-DVD getting discontinued.

Also, I have a great deal on Beta-Max if anyone's interested
wardrox's Avatar
wardrox at 03/01/2008 11:42
If I can find one cheep, I would grab one. Even though HD-DVD wont exactly be future proof, the number of films out thee at the moment means I won't go short.
linuxguy's Avatar
linuxguy at 03/01/2008 11:44
it's a trap!
TheRemedy's Avatar
TheRemedy at 03/01/2008 11:48
This may be a silly idea, but if enough hd-dvd players are sold could it possibly revive the brand?
HarassmentPanda's Avatar
HarassmentPanda at 03/01/2008 11:52
I agree with unstoppablejuggernaut. There are good collection of HD-DVDs out there now and if you can get a player for $50 and movies for around $10, why not? You'll still be able to watch them as long as you have a player--and a lot of them are HD-DVD/DVD combos that cost less than their DVD counterparts now and will still upscale nicely on a Blu-Ray player.
Upgrayedd's Avatar
Upgrayedd at 03/01/2008 12:07
I bought one as an up-converting DVD player.
Y0j1mb0's Avatar
Y0j1mb0 at 03/01/2008 12:20
counterfact's Avatar
counterfact at 03/01/2008 12:22
@Upgrayedd

If I'm not mistaken, as long as you have your 360 hooked up via the VGA cable (the only way to get 1080p via the HD-DVD addon), then your 360's DVD game drive will upconvert.

As far as this goes...I bought maybe 5 total HD-DVDs, the rest were free during deals and all. I don't want to be left trying to find a player in a few years, so I've dumped all mine on ebay...my main source of anger being the Matrix Trilogy I bought as that was the highest purchase I made. And I'm picky and want all my movies same-format anyways.
mix's Avatar
mix at 03/01/2008 12:35
The sad thing is in Canada Futureshop and Walmart are still selling these for $149.99 and HD-DVD's are still the regular price.

Hopefully no one buys one anytime soon.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 03/01/2008 12:42
"I'll buy Blu-Ray when the players are finally universally upgradeable and don't run the risk of being outdated,"

I think someone forgot to let you know about Sony's huge "mistake" to put a BDrom in the new Playstation.
Upgrayedd's Avatar
Upgrayedd at 03/01/2008 12:42
Well, the "5 free HD-DVDs" deal still worked when I bought it, so I guess it comes out even.
Upgrayedd's Avatar
Upgrayedd at 03/01/2008 12:43
Also, I think the drive in my 360 might be dying, so if I can avoid using it as a DVD player that would be nice.
foxhound009's Avatar
foxhound009 at 03/01/2008 13:03
"we will not forget about you" ? f-ck yeah we will!
Lord The Night Knight's Avatar
Lord The Night Knight at 03/01/2008 14:10
"Instead of wasting money on this, it would be better to spend money on a few Blu-rays and get a player that doesn't suck the bucket."

Yes, discontinued magically means the same as sucking.

Total fanboy BS. Blu-Ray winning does not mean HD-DVD player and movies suddenly break down.
Sucky Gamer's Avatar
Sucky Gamer at 03/01/2008 14:25
@ Mix

I bought one for $50 at Futureshop on the 27'th (the price listed on the website).
16bitmonster's Avatar
16bitmonster at 03/01/2008 14:34
at hollywood video's around here there selling them for like 30 bucks with some movies.. meh. still seems pointless to me.. should just end the lie..

also, microsoft is a quitter.
HarassmentPanda's Avatar
HarassmentPanda at 03/01/2008 14:39
"I think someone forgot to let you know about Sony's huge "mistake" to put a BDrom in the new Playstation."

The PS3 is the only upgradeable Blu-Ray player, which is nice. But I'm not ready to buy a PS3 either. I think the PS3 launch definitely suffered because of the inclusion of Blu-Ray and the fact that some games have to be installed because the Blu-Ray read time is so slow is laughable. But, when they put in faster Blu-Ray drives (like they put in faster UMD drives with the PSP slim), I think that will be a really nice unit.

Honestly though, the PS3 is the only Blu-Ray player worth purchasing right now.
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 03/01/2008 14:43
Japan, you wacky bastard.
SourGr8pes's Avatar
SourGr8pes at 03/01/2008 16:29
I can get 5 toothless hookers for $50.

No dice, Toshiba.
rbrooks's Avatar
rbrooks at 03/01/2008 16:43
i pass
ZonerDude's Avatar
ZonerDude at 03/01/2008 16:46
Still prefer HD-DVD. It's demise does not entice me to Profile 1.0, 1.1, or the coming 2.0 of Blu-Ray either. The quality diff is not enough to warrant the cost of replacing my dvd collection.
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar
ArrestedDeveloper at 03/01/2008 17:48
Only thing its good for is getting a few good deals on drastically reduced hd dvds. That and a funny story to tell your kids in a few decades.
DryvBy's Avatar
DryvBy at 03/01/2008 19:39
"Total fanboy BS. Blu-Ray winning does not mean HD-DVD player and movies suddenly break down."

Tell that to Beta-Max fanboys, chump.
Anonononomous's Avatar
Anonononomous at 03/01/2008 20:20
I'm planning to get one to use as a movie drive for my 360 so that I don't have to change discs when I want to watch a movie.
Twicky's Avatar
Twicky at 03/01/2008 20:38
I still have no idea what's so bad about HD-DVD.
Lord The Night Knight's Avatar
Lord The Night Knight at 03/01/2008 21:13
"Tell that to Beta-Max fanboys, chump."

Beta movie still work, assuming the tape didn't degrade (which is less likely with digital optical media.

And beta tapes did beat VHS in commercial recording, since quality was more important than length (sing they wold be bought in bulk anyway).
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 03/01/2008 21:41
So, like I said, get one.
Lord The Night Knight's Avatar
Lord The Night Knight at 03/01/2008 22:13
"I still have no idea what's so bad about HD-DVD."

It's not about any actual qualities of the format. It's about gloating and name calling. Blu-Ray could rot and die as long as its supporters get to rub in HD-DVD losing first.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 03/02/2008 04:22
I considered it for a moment, but honestly, I'm fine with playing DVDs on the 360 itself, so I'll pass.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 03/02/2008 04:39
Japan takes the piss out of the world.
bmaupin's Avatar
bmaupin at 03/02/2008 08:23
Don't you... (na nana na na na na) forget about me. Don't, don't don't don't! Don't you...
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 03/02/2008 08:38
75% off is massive. I'd almost buy one for that cheap.
vandamguy's Avatar
vandamguy at 03/02/2008 08:55
Might not be such a bad thing to pick up considering you can burn HD and BR with a standard dvd burner
Crunshii's Avatar
Crunshii at 03/02/2008 11:26
Went to Best Buy today and saw around the store all HDDVD on clearance sale, strangely made me giggle inside. If it reaches 5$ I might purchase one for a science experiment or sumtin :/
TheDirtyHobo's Avatar
TheDirtyHobo at 03/02/2008 12:42
What's that thing to the left of the drive?

I want it.
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