IS HD DVD stil region free

[Darthtater]

I am getting the 360 HDDVD drive, and I was wondering if discs purchased in the US will work on the drive?

[Greg]

Yes, they will.

All HD DVDs are region free and will work on any HD DVD player including the Xbox 360 drive.

Only thing you have to remember that the 360 drive and the players are region locked on standard DVDs.

So if you buy a combo HD DVD from the US, then the SD side (which may have the extras on it) will not work on your player.

But to confirm you can buy HD DVDs from anywhere and they will work on your player.

[AES256]

Originally Posted by Greg

Only thing you have to remember that the 360 drive and the players are region locked on standard DVDs.

To be technically accurate it's not the 360 HD DVD add-on drive but the 360 console that's locked to a specific SD region (region will be from where you bought the console) forcing playback of SD DVDs of only that region.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by AES256

To be technically accurate it's not the 360 HD DVD add-on drive but the 360 console that's locked to a specific SD region (region will be from where you bought the console) forcing playback of SD DVDs of only that region.

I'm not sure that is correct, normally drives have to be regional coded as well but they are given a grace period (5 plays) before the region is permanently set.

[AES256]

Originally Posted by Jeff

I'm not sure that is correct, normally drives have to be regional coded as well but they are given a grace period (5 plays) before the region is permanently set.

The MS insiders on AVS say that you can buy an add-on drive anywhere in the world, bring it back and use it with your locally-bought 360.
I'd have to look up their exact wording again but I got the impression that the drive didn't lock itself to the region of the 5th SD disc inserted in it, but remained region free i.e. you could then for instance take it to another region and play SD DVDs on a 360 locked to this other region.
All a moot technical point wrt to the 360 because you, of course, need a 360 to play SD DVDs in the first place, and the 360 contains a DVD drive itself (so why use the add-on?).
Interestingly you can use the 360 add-on with your computer. Now there is an advantage to the drive remaining all regions (instead of having to firmware hack it).

[DeadKenny]

Originally Posted by Greg

So if you buy a combo HD DVD from the US, then the SD side (which may have the extras on it) will not work on your player.

Is it confirmed that DVD 'extras' sides on an HD DVD are region coded for the DVD part?

I'm less concerned about not being about to play my SD DVDs but if an HD DVD has the extras in DVD format that could be quite an issue.

[TSThomas]

Basically if it's on a DVD layer it's region coded, if it's on a HD DVD layer it's not. Can't say I can think of any titles which haven't replicated the Extras on the HD DVD layer though (not that I have so many titles either!)... Somewhat irrelevant though as combo discs aren't the norm.

[TommyVecetti]

I was thinking that because the 5 disc Blade Runner set has the extras in SD. I don't know if this means they will be on DVDs (that are region coded) or on actual HD-DVD discs uncoded.

[asb3stos]

Hey,

Hope this thread is still active but just came across something quite wierd. I don't think play.com has got it right here but anyway

http://www.play.com/DVD/Region_1/4-/...a/Product.html

The first bullet point states "This is an HD-DVD made for HD-DVD Format players which produce higher quality picture and sound. It will only play on North American HD-DVD players"

Now; I can't quite believe that, I'm guessing that play.com has just screwed up, I just wanted to clarify (And it's in the DVD section when it should be in the HD-DVD section :P)

[Greg]

Originally Posted by asb3stos

Hey,

Hope this thread is still active but just came across something quite wierd. I don't think play.com has got it right here but anyway

http://www.play.com/DVD/Region_1/4-/...a/Product.html

The first bullet point states "This is an HD-DVD made for HD-DVD Format players which produce higher quality picture and sound. It will only play on North American HD-DVD players"

Now; I can't quite believe that, I'm guessing that play.com has just screwed up, I just wanted to clarify (And it's in the DVD section when it should be in the HD-DVD section :P)

HD-DVD has, and will always be, region free. Just ignore any comments like this on websites.

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by asb3stos

H

[/b]Now; I can't quite believe that, I'm guessing that play.com has just screwed up, I just wanted to clarify (And it's in the DVD section when it should be in the HD-DVD section :P)

Hi asb3stos and welcome to the forum.
Don't worry about it HD DVD is region free ..............end of!

[martian1]

If i had a disc with extras in dvd format but on a hddvd disc could i get drive to ignore the region via region free software..i have this on my pc and it works great for all dvd regions.
I don't think i have any hddvd's like this although i have a few region 1 and 2 [oz discs]. I could mybe try a little experinment.. i am about to pick up a hddvd drive for pc as a backup to my region 1 player,if i find a region 1 disc with extras in standard dvd format i will try it.
What do you think..

[asb3stos]

Thanks for the reassurance loving the look of this forum, very busy!