Not content with notching up US$300m in sales with the launch of Halo 3 last month Microsoft is gearing up to sell its Xbox 360 HD-DVD player in the run up to Christmas by offering five free movies with the unit.
Microsoft seems to be providing this special offer in the UK only, and not in Ireland as of yet.
Upon purchase of the HD-DVD unit UK consumers will receive their free movies in exchange for posting their receipt to Microsoft as proof of purchase.
The 13 titles on offer are: Serenity, The Chronicles of Riddick, Hulk, Children of Men, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Troy, Full Metal Jacket, Corpse Bride, The Prestige, Swordfish, Black Rain, Dreamgirls and Word Trade Centre.
At time of press, it is still unconfirmed if Home Alone II: Lost in New York will be available.
This deal has come hot on the heels of Sony’s recent announcement of a price drop for the PlayStation 3 console which has a Blu Ray player incorporated.
The PlayStation 3 40GB console is now selling for €400 while the 60GB has been reduced from €630 to €499.
Meanwhile the Xbox 360 core unit costs €299, while the additional HD-DVD player retails at €169.99.
As the festive season approaches consumers are left standing between sparring high definition DVD formats Blu Ray and HD-DVD.
Hollywood heavies Sony Pictures, Disney, MGM and Twentieth Century Fox are on one side with the PS3 while Universal, Paramount, Warner and Dreamworks on the other with the Xbox 360.
By Marie Boran
