It is unlikely that MS will tolerate any activity that threatens its profitability, and it is big enough and ruthless enough to do something about it.

99% of the Netflix 'instant view' films are terrible. There are a few good ones though, but I wouldn't subscribe to it if it weren't already a part of my Netflix DVD rental package. Their website interface for browsing content is infuriating and seems primarily designed around hiding how little quality content there is. There are obvious omissions such as searching categories by star-rating even though you can search overall by star-rating--probably because it would only demonstrate how poor the actual content is.

Anyways, if they invest more money and get more content, it will be a nice little system. It does require IE if you're going to be doing it on a PC though.

Nope!

Only a sucker would pay for both these services and even attempt to have anything resembling a real life.

Digital downloads are still years off, especially since we can get better quality rips for free with no DRM.

Wake up and smell the JAVA Microsoft!

So I guess we shouldn't hold our breath for MKV support then.. ?

Favors???

I could not be more disappointed with you guys right now.

Just forget about it.

Usual US bluster, while ignoring the rest of the world, SD content only too.

Yawn.

Oh, we get a game show channel from Endemol over Xbox Live. Woo fucking hoo.

I have an xbox 360, a blistering internet connection and an HD tv. At the moment all I can watch on it is "I am Legend", which is one of the worst films Will Smith has been involved with since "Wild Wild West"(*), and a few older movies such as Caddy Shack and Ocean's 11. If this is a way of streaming HD content to me then I am in but if the selection is going to be limited and there is not going to be anything I can't get on DVD then it's a "no sale". I have a DVD player and a blockbuster down the road so don't try to sell me something I already have, sell me some high quality HD movies before Sky PPV gets hold of it and I will never rent a DVD again.

(*) Please don't post lots of flames about how great that movie is, I just don't care. If you disagree then just ignore the comment. The point I am trying to make is that I have the kit and nothing that I want to watch.

Not convinced. I want reliable movies to rent and I don't care about the DRM. If I buy a movie then I buy a DVD because it comes with extra content and is a physical item to go on my shelf. If I just want to watch a movie then I will go to the cinema, rent a DVD or ideally just select it off of Live. This is not a download in the form of a torrent or something you intend to keep, this is a streaming product similar to pay per view on Sky which you watch once and then it disappears.

Have Sony movies - you'll only be able to watch hits like those on the PS3!!!

WIN WIN WIN

"It is unlikely that MS will tolerate any activity that threatens its profitability, and it is big enough and ruthless enough to do something about it."

Well, it's not done much for the last few years... They keep stating they will take The PirateBay to court, but as of yet they haven't been able to due to Swedish Law. Check the site (if you dare, M'Hearty!!) and see the Legal link near the top... Enjoy the too-ing and fro-ing between legal parties.

I guess we won't be getting this in the UK any time soon.

What about when Microsoft/Netflix tap up all the other studios, will PS3 be stuck with Sony, will the PS3 ever get download movies and would they hold out against MS when there is money to be made punting movies?

Wouldn't it be better to lay aside all this petty format fanboy stuff and try and get manufacturers to work together?

I've been harping on about this for a while now with no result. The very similar sounding, Janurary announced, BT Vision streaming to your Xbox 360 by the (very ambiguous) 'middle of the year' seems to have now vapourised.

Any idea when I might be able to see this working?

Even though they won't be charging for streaming movies, the cost of XBox Live and a Netflix subscription is pretty expensive.

If they bundled a basic Netflix subscription into the Gold package that might go some way towards justifying the price of Live. Sony don't charge for their online service, nor do Nintendo, and whilst Live is the best of the online gaming services, it's still pretty expensive for what it offers.

Microsoft continues to run around like a headless chicken in order to find something, *anything*, to make its failing *games console* more attractive.

Not really, unless you're homeless or something?

Xbox Live is like £30-40 a *year*. Netflix is a great service, and usually doesn't cost more than a DVD purchase per month.

The 360 is getting the new Final Fantasy the same time as the PS3.

Coupled with the other news of the show like this?

Microsoft Wins. Game over Sony.

I'm right with you homey!!

Yeahh up yours Xbox!!! This is pathetic!! Soon the PS3 will catch up with your sales and then you'll be sorry!!! AHHAAA!

Final Fantasy is still coming out exclusively on the PS3 in Japan which is like the most important place ok?

Cretin.

Sony are going to announce some exclusivity tomorrow, I reckon it will be for Metal Gear Solid 5, or Resident Evil 5, or something else important with a number in it because that's all that is important to me and Sony. Numbers, not originality

So up yours, nice one trying xbots!!

...pathetic console ranting and bitching annoys me normally, I have to say this is really entertaining. It's of the same sort of hilarity factor as when 'Tim' used to post his pro-HD-DVD propaganda and rants.

Keep it up Mark! Go on my son!

we have what appear to be grown educated IT professionals arguing about who's games console is the best....

Paris is also confused

Anyone else think this guys a virgin?

I really hope the school holidays are over soon.

but unfortunately i'm on virgin so 10 mins into the film they will decide i'm abusing my connection and and slow me to 1Mb/sec, i'd love to see HD content stream at that speed, i have trouble watching youtube videos.

Yes, Mark. We all agree that the most important thing is which console can play a game in Japan, rather than the region where we all live. You fool.

Congratulations Iain you just actually internet fucked mark, which I suppose is the only way he'll get laid, but yeah that BT vision thing looked quite promising but now its just well gone, and by the way a warning to anyone who reads this is Orange broadband is actually shite but you probs already know that

Checked out the Sony movie service, and it's miles better than the 360 NetFlix deal. 8 major studios at launch, with decent content. You also don't have to buy a XBL Gold AND a Netflix subscription to use it. With the PSN movie service, I have the choice of SD, HD, Rent or Buy.

And best of all, I can legally copy the movie on upto 3 PSP's for portable viewing, in addition to viewing on the PS3.

Looks like Sony seriously trumped Microsoft at this years E3, with stunning Resistance2 gamplay that makes Gears2 look embarrassing, a very impressive LBP demo, the movie service, and some new big hitter exclusives, and whilst Sony may have lost FFXIII exclusivity (not that it matters, as with 3 years of focused development under it;s belt, and Blu-ray, the PS3 version will clearly be superior).

As FFXIII has been in development for PS3 for ages, with 360 support tacked on last month, It's clearly going to be better on PS3.

Also if you read the transcript from the show, it's NOT getting a simultanious release.

They are completing the PS3 Japanese version

They are then working on PS3 Euro/US translations.

THEN they are starting work on the 360 version.

You can expect at least 6 months before they deliver the inferior 360 7xDVD boxset!!

i'll get my coat...

8 Major studios at launch, including the big players.

Sony Pictures (duh), Fox, MGM, Lionsgate, Warner Bros., Disney, Paramount

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/fox-warner-disney-all-in-for-psn-movies-on-day-one

Best of all, no XBoxLive Gold subscription needed, no NetFlix subscription needed, and you are allowed to transfer them to PSP for viewing on the go...

Fucking brilliant...

That doesn't quite match what they said in the Microsoft keynote. There, it was that America and Europe get the 360 release "day one", i.e. the same time they get the PS3 release.

Development is on the "Crystal Tools" engine, whose initial platform was actually the PC, and that's where they're doing the development. It's a fully agnostic multi-platform engine, so now they've ported Crystal to the 360 hardware claims that they've been working for 3 years on the PS3 version are somewhat disingenuous.

Re: this new PSN system, it's a very different thing to the Netflix option, and a lot closer to the current 360 Video Marketplace. That also works with the free Live account and requires you pay per film instead of a flat subscription fee. That they've got more studios than the Microsoft service is good news, although I won't be using it as I still prefer to purchase my films on shiny discs.

Now you've successfully linked to an article that for once confirms something you've said, could you please enlighten all of us as to what films we actually get to download if we have a PS3?

It doesn't matter if 40 different studios support it - if there are a load of shit SD films on there no one will care.

Hahaaaa! Mark you're an idiot!!!

The movies are only available in the states, so those studios are only applicable to that market. Not to mention the shoddy pricing!!!

Big fail on the PS3's part this year, nothing good to come out of E3 at all, nothing new and all very predictable.

AC, you are an idiot. Netflix on 360 is also only available in the USA..

"AC, you are an idiot. Netflix on 360 is also only available in the USA.."

I don't remember stating that it was available anywhere else?

Oh thats right, I DIDNT.

I will point out however that the 360 has a growing number of videos to download in Europe, right now - not in 2009.