This isn’t exactly game related but since a good number of PS3’s out there double as Blu-Ray players so this will at least apply to some of your out there. Hell even Criterion uses the PS3 as their Blu-Ray player of choice.

While trolling Blu-Ray.com for some info on the upcoming Wall-E set I stumbled upon news of Criterion Collection prepping their first few discs release on the HD format. Now if you’ve ever bought a Criterion disc in the past (save for a few major releases) the prices have never been what one would call “competitive.” While a copy of The Royal Tenenbaums might only be $20, most of the other foreign films I bought were in the $30-$40 range. Crazy I know.

The Last Emperor, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Chungking Express and Bottle Rocket are priced to move at $27.95 (sadly the going rate for Blu-Ray).

[Blu-Ray.com]

Ever since I’ve had my HDTV I’ve been really jonesing for a Blu-ray player, specifically the PS3 since I’m a gamer and all. It’s been well documented about the advantages of owning a PS3 as your main Blu-ray player with the ability to upgrade the firmware and add features over the course of its life. Really though I had no idea how well respected the PS3 was as a Blu-ray player until Sound & Vision visited Criterion Collection’s new Manhattan screening room and noted the well respected DVD company using the PS3 as their reference player. Cnet also noted that the PS3 topped their list of best Blu-ray players.

With a pedigree like that it’s hard to deny the PS3’s impact on the world of high end home theater. I wonder if the restoration folks at Criterion ever kick back with a little Uncharted or Pixel Junk Monsters when they need a break…

Thanks Andarko!

Many Bothans died to bring us this information. (We keep them in tiny boxes, and stab them individually as each headline comes in over RSS. It’s a “good luck” thing. Do not mock our customs!)

Sooooo, remember when Microsoft’s Steve “The Emballmer” Ballmer told us that the recently-retired HD-DVD add-on drive for 360 was no to be repeated, as it was never very successful and downloads are the future?

… nevermind. Tom’s Hardware has the scoop.

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer had admitted that Microsoft had been working on support for Blu-ray under Windows during this year’s Mix08 conference. Rumors began to swirl and many began to expect Microsoft to announce a Blu-ray peripheral for the XBOX 360.

However, Microsoft came out and denied all rumors, stating that they were not exploring any kind of Blu-ray add-on or in talks with Sony about integrating Blu-ray into the XBOX experience. The software giant stated they would continue to invest in its XBOX Live online service as the means of high-definition content delivery. Toshiba received a crushing blow earlier this year at CES that Warner Brothers would be Blu-ray exclusive. This eventually led to Toshiba withdrawing from the HD format war and the demise of the XBOX 360’s HD-DVD add-on. It is interesting to note that sales of the XBOX 360 lagged behind Sony’s PS3 in the month of February, the same month Toshiba withdrew.

Looks like Microsoft just completely legitimized Sony’s high-def gamble. Oh well, I guess options are good, right?

Wait, what’s that? You don’t want another SKU? Too bad consumer! Suck it up. MS wants that stimulus cheque. Just make sure you bring a Venn diagram of configurations with you to Target.

(Edit – as per the comments, this is technically a rumour until Microsoft announces it.)