Hybrid Movie/Game Blu-Ray Discs Coming For PlayStation 3

Well, why not?

According to Video Business, SCEA hardware marketing manager, John Koller, has announced that Sony is currently working to produce hybrid Blu-Ray movie releases that also feature playable games for the PlayStation 3. Apparently, they've been preparing this for a while because you'll see these first hybrid discs some time this year as Koller said, "We will definitely see this stuff this year." He also said that Sony sees a future where movies and games are on the same disc, which doesn't seem entirely implausible. Warner Bros. Interactive has piped up, saying they're "extremely interested" in this idea; they'd love to put out movies with playable content included. Obviously, it stands to reason that because so many movies have game adaptations these days, one would assume that a company like Warner would be intrigued. Of course, this also means you may compromise total sales possibilities - wouldn't it make more money to sell the movie and game separately? - but you never know.

Anyway, consolidation is typically more efficient, and it may be more beneficial for consumers, too. As soon as we learn more about these hybrid BD offerings, we'll let you know.

2/11/2009 Ben Dutka

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Comments (54 posts)

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Phoelix
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:28:28 PM
Reply

Would this eliminate or at least dampen how awful movie-based video games usually are? This sounds like a great idea if executed properly.

And how would it work? Would you watch a movie and, instead of watching the final battle, get to play it? That would be sweet.

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:46:11 PM

That is a genius idea, but I wonder if the world is ready for it?

2 up, 0 down

Akuma07
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 9:12:08 AM

It would be just like Metal Gear Solid 4....

=D

2 up, 0 down

keaton
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:29:22 PM
Reply

i think if the movies and games come on the same disc they will also make each available separate also

0 up, 0 down

DarkPharaoh2091
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:31:50 PM
Reply

sounds like a great plan, but let's just hope they dont jack up the price of these hybrid discs

3 up, 0 down

godsman
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:34:32 PM
Reply

yea... if they sell the hybrid discs the same $60 bucks... it'll be a huge sale.

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SerichA
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:39:26 PM
Reply

Doesn't seem very smart to me, but I suppose we'll see. For the meantime, we have MGS4...no, really!

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souljah92
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:44:27 PM
Reply

ok im a noob.....but what's a hybrid disc? :P

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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:47:26 PM

Just a generic term to indicate the blu-ray disc will be a "hybrid" insofar as it can both play a movie and a game.

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LegendaryWolfeh
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:51:57 PM

Honestly this is just what I think it is, lol. But it's a disk that has two different formats on it. One being a movie, while also having a Game. Say like, Resistance 3 disk has both a featue length film on it as well as the game. :)

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Tim Speed24
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 8:07:00 AM

A Hybrid disc is a disc made by Toyota and can run on Gas or Electricity.

2 up, 0 down

PS3_Wizard
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 11:02:56 AM

A hybrid of anything is two things put together. The Chimera on Resistance 2 are hybrids of humans and alien species.

And legendaryWolf, the format of the discs is Blu-ray. the movie and game would use the same format, so its not really different.

Another example:

The Sphinx in egypt (half man, half lion)

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ps92117
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:45:50 PM
Reply

Well I don't exactly understand the concept, do they mean mini games like those already on dvd or what? lol it be nice if they packaged ff7ac, with ff13&ff13vs on those new pioneer 400gig bd and sell the entire thing for like 100$ I would buy it for that price, though that price only.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:49:32 PM

I'm with you, does this mean full featured PS3 game attached, like if and when the Metal Gear Solid movie hits blu-ray they will include MGS4 into a hybrid disc or is it just silly little dorky games like raise the loch ness monster game on The Water Horse?

0 up, 0 down

LegendaryWolfeh
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:54:18 PM

Er, sorry but I think it would have to be more expensive than that. lol FF7:ACC ALONE will probably be sold for like...30-40$ and each game being 60$...well that's like...150-160$ right there..so if anything they'd sell the movie bundled for 'free' in that and make it 120$

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ps92117
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 11:01:56 PM

I would consider that price if they had some special stuff on top of the games and the movie, if they added the official soundtrack for all 3 and some special interview, then I would pay as much as 160$.

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LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 12:26:42 AM

Oh hellz yeah

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Kevadu
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 10:59:50 AM

If there's a full-featured game attached then expect a full-featured price. Given that games are much more expensive than movies, that sounds more like a PS3 game with a movie thrown in as an extra.

I guess that wouldn't be so bad, but I don't think it's what they're going for. I would imagine something more like a movie (at a movie price) with a simple game attached. But there is more potential for the games than you can make with the DVD menu system, at least.

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LegendaryWolfeh
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 10:52:53 PM
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Wasn't Capcom making RE5 a hybrid for the ps3? In the CE with the behind the scenes and such? or maybe I'm just making this up? lol

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Qubex
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 12:25:07 AM
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It all depends on how movies evolve. If the word "interactive/hybrid" of the future means a movie is fused with game playing mechanics who knows what this experimental genre may bring... thank goodness for Blu Ray, it means that when 3D content becomes defacto in films... you can crunch down and store a whole lot of HD data onto the disk, including the 2 HD stereoscopic 3D streams...

I believe we will likely see too options... pop in the disc... if your blu ray player is simply that, a standard HD blu ray player you will get the movies and some interactivity... however, if your blu ray device is a PS3, or a PC/Apple/LinuxBox (with a BD in it) for that matter; then an entire game based on that movie (or content from the movie) are available for play... I am sure the device will determine what content is accessible in the end...

I would expect the price to remain fairly close to target... for movies and games... maybe; to make more money and "share" revenues across Sony Pictures (for example) and SCEE; stamping and selling a "hybrid" disc with both the actual movie and its associated game will increase revenues for both businesses... it could have a lot of advantageous... they just have to get the revenue sharing model working right!

Q!

"i aM hOMe"

Last edited by Qubex on 2/12/2009 12:26:51 AM

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K ASH
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 12:44:32 AM
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This could work out brilliantly for sony provided they could come with good pricing & figure out what kind of game they want to put on the package. I think this would be great for games with 3 hours maximum playtime or just party games based on the movie.

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convergecrew
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 1:31:07 AM
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Maybe I dont understand the technology well, but I would hate to see the quality of a blu-ray movie suffer because they had to allocate 50% of the disc space to a game..I hope they would have the option of a movie-only version so that I dont have to pay extra for a game I probably wouldnt be interested in.

0 up, 1 down

ps92117
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 2:07:32 AM

lol there is plenty of space on a bd to put a game and a movie, and the bd now are only 50gigs now, in 2010 pioneer is suppose to release 400gig bd, more than plenty for anything.

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Aftab
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 1:31:28 AM
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Seems like this has already been done in a game called MGS4. Not knocking it. It was one of the most memorable video game experiences for me. But what it showed for a lot of people: if people want to play games, they go buy a game. If people want to watch a movie, they'll go rent, buy, or go to the movies. Sony's got to be extra careful to spread their investment and focus over "pork" like this.

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wano
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 4:31:57 AM

doesnt this just mean there will be a game and a movie on the same disk? not sure where mgs4 comes in to this as there isnt a mgs4 movie is there? i take this as....(using the example some one else has said) ....put the disk in drive, menu comes up, option1..watch ghost busters, opttion 2...play ghost busters the game, option 3...extras

and so on

on a side note, wonder how they will handle the region lock thing as br movies are region locked but games arnt.

Last edited by wano on 2/12/2009 4:37:24 AM

1 up, 0 down

Ogibillm
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 1:31:43 AM
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ghostbusters ghostbusters ghostbusters ghostbusters

you know, there's a game coming out in june based on a sony pictures movie, and its release just happens to coincide with the blu ray release of said movie...

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zerveruz
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 1:31:58 AM
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they did it for the psp once, Stelth movie with partial wipeout game

Last edited by zerveruz on 2/12/2009 1:32:19 AM

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Ultimadream
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 1:46:45 AM
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And the gap from the 360 and PS3 begins :), rediculous when you think of it though, Blu-rays only just really began to hit with the public and now theres going to be something else, ah well at least it works on normal blu-ray players and ps3's, but how long untill the next advancement, 6 months?

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ps92117
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 2:04:00 AM

lol to think years from now we will see a basket full of old crappy bd movies 3$ each in walt mart.

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LCF
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 2:12:31 AM
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Hmm, don't know about this. But isn't games based off movies just as bad as movies based off games?. So with a movie based on a game with the game itself coming with the movie, gives you twice the pain?. Just the thought gives me a headach.

Last edited by LCF on 2/12/2009 2:13:08 AM

1 up, 1 down

ps92117
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 2:51:47 AM

ff7ac was an ok movie and it was based of ff7, though not a fan of neither the spiderman g and m where good , but do agree most games based on movies suck, 300 for psp was terrible so was catwoman.

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skoda
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 5:25:30 AM
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HAHAHAHA BRILLIANT IDEA? This is an awful idea just another reason to claim the games/movies we already buy need to cost more. And on the note a certain company tried the whole splicing movies with video games maybe you all remember that imparticular flaming piece of sh** can you say sega cd!?

1 up, 0 down

Naga
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 6:34:36 AM
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Maybe it's an flash game,PSN game or Demo but a retail game sounds to much do I really need a horrible game with Dragonball Evolution

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bluejello
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 6:37:59 AM
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They did release the special edition of Stranglehold with a "high def" version of the movie Hard Boiled on the disc. To this day it is actually the best looking of all the releases of the movie as well. So it's been done, but could be done so much more.

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coverton341
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 10:35:34 AM

Thank you that was the first thing I thought of Stranglehold Collectors Edition came with the movie Hard Boiled so this isn't really that new and inventive

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CH1N00K
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 8:12:53 AM
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This is just a marketing thing for Sony. It's actually a pretty good idea.

This way when people go/switch to Blu-ray, they'll be more willing to buy a PS3 to play the game as well, instead of a cheaper blu-ray player from the competition. People who already own a bluray, may be willing to buy a PS3 as a second one so that their kids or themselves can play the games. I'm guessing to save on the cost the first few games on hybrids will be of the quality of what you get on PSN, fun little games that are cheap. Eventually we may see a full release game and a full movie, but I imagine the developers will want to make as much money as they can off of their game. Seeing a full high quality game like Killzone 2 on the same disc as a movie will be a little while off yet because not all people will want to shell out 80 bucks for one disc. But they'll pay 60 for a good game and 30 for a blu ray movie...go figure...

One of the key sell points that Sony has right now over m$ is the inclusion of a blu ray drive, but they're still sitting third in the sales race. This is just another way to boost hype on the PS3 and help boost sales in a tough economic time. Make the PS3 a better bang for your buck and people will be more willing to shell out a little extra dough.

The only thing is that if the games are going to be any good at all, you'll want to play them with a game controller and not on a blu-ray remote...which this kind of alienates all the people who don't own a PS3. That may piss people off. If they feel they are forced to go buy a PS3 to enjoy the full experience they may turn against it instead.

I'm interested to see how this turns out.

Last edited by CH1N00K on 2/12/2009 8:19:33 AM

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GuernicaReborn
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 8:38:45 AM
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I remember hearing rumors about the Stranglehold game also having the movie Hard Boiled on it. Nice to see that it's still being talked about.

Since the large storage capacity of Blu-ray allows it, it should be done. After all, Blu-ray is one of the main selling points of the PS3. Sony should get everything they can out of it to make it more appealing to everybody.

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Akuma07
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 9:16:44 AM
Reply

If they made the BD so that the BD would still play the movie on normal players.
Which im guessing is a given.

then this could be a huge selling point.

DeadSpace 1 and 2...WITH the movie that ties them together =]

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King James
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 9:45:19 AM
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Sounds like a great way to put out crappy games bundled with their crappy movies, and vice versa.

-Gears 3 with Gears of War: the Movie?
-Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li with the barebones video game version?

I see the idea. But I don't see it bringing quality movies/games together in one place.

How many times have you seen a good movie/game released? I just know GoldenEye007. And that's about it.

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coverton341
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 11:29:36 AM

Hey that's not really fair there was that one game ummm...... Peter Jackson's King Kong..... wait no no no scratch that there was uh.... well... nevermind maybe you're right.

0 up, 1 down

shaydey77
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 11:42:47 AM
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Has anyone realised that the Bluray player in the PS3 is unbelievably slow? Its the main reason we have so many installs onto the harddrive.

If they do make these hybrid disks i just hope it wont slow down the games.

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BigBoss4ever
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 12:13:00 PM
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great idea. but it is great only if the game is a big release and with a big movie. otherwise, the add-on game is just like a side-kick, while it will be a refreshing idea at the beginning, it will cool down soon after.

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city96
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 12:55:23 PM
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i've said this soo many times
SONY got bugs listening everywhere

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Arvis
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 1:05:56 PM
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Honestly, they could start releasing BDs NOW that have Arcade-style games programmed right into the special features. I mean, who here would be averse to having fun, short side-scrollers or beat 'em ups or what have you based on their favorite movies?

-Arvis

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Zorigo
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 1:13:32 PM
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sounds like a good idea. for example, you could buy james bond on bluray and then play the game on the same disc. or any racing movie (tokyo drift) and then release it with a title like midnight club la. maybe not the best choice of title, but i can't think of any japan located. racing games released over here.

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photo K
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 1:22:57 PM
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We'll be paying $60 for a bluray movie that includes one of those bad, silly movie-to-game adaptations. But as long as they also sell them separately I'm okay with new marketing/sales techniques. The game MUST be good in order for any serious gamer to buy these hybrid BRs. I ain't gonna pay no $60 for a BR movie with a crappy game.

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Arvis
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 3:24:07 PM

This is why any hypothetical games on these hypothetical hybrid (hybridthetical?) discs should be low-budget, arcadey, 2D things that a small dev team can build for relatively cheap.

There's a lot of fun to be had with those kind of games, I think.

-Arvis

1 up, 1 down

Prevent
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 2:00:02 PM
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are they talking about full games or demos?

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photo K
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 5:06:55 PM

demos would be a good idea at least. They are already free and available on PSN but not everyone (although the majority) use online access for their ps3's. could be a good way to market. But if it's a full game then, the price and game quality are big factors all buyers would have to consider. Either way, hybrid's could be a great channel that all PS3 owners may benefit from. yay

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TGG
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 2:32:00 PM
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I'm guessing that putting a demo of a movie-based game with the movie would generate some hype with consumers.

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BTNwarrior
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 3:23:50 PM
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didn't they already do this with stranglehold collectors edition?

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fundando
Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 5:36:55 PM
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Sounds cool. Maybe they should do it to release demos of games. We are all aware we can just dl them but not everyone has high speed internet

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OriginalSin
Monday, February 16, 2009 @ 6:53:36 AM
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I think it can be a great thing.... imagine getting RE: degeneration and being able to play it as a game instead of just watching the thing. that would've been awesome. because as I was watching that movie every now and then I just wanted to pick up the controller and take charge...

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Dingodial
Monday, February 16, 2009 @ 8:14:13 AM
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Maybe this could be useful for movies & games based on the same story (like pirates of the carribean 3, the movie & game on one disc). I disagree with making up random combinations though (Like Happy Gilmore and Metal Gear Solid 4 on one disc). Maybe they could have real people act out the cutscenes on the game instead of computer animated people. For example, if you lose a fight against a master enemy, the cutscene following the fight could show the enemy killing you, acted out by real people. If you defeat your enemy, then the following cutscene could be vise versa.

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