This week, Microsoft announced that it has worked out a deal with Disney for its online download system. This means that select Disney movies will be available for download through the online video game service.
The movies will all be available in high definition to subscribers of Microsoft’s Xbox Live service. Among the choices for Xbox owners are the big hits, “Aladdin” and “Armageddon.”
The announcement was made by a corporate vice president in Microsoft’s entertainment and devices division, Peter Moore.
As part of the agreement, Xbox subscribers will also be able to rent films on demand that are produced by Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax Films, and Hollywood Pictures, companies that all fall under the Disney-ABC Domestic Television family.
The Xbox Live service already offers other movies and televisions shows from other content providers. It currently has more than seven million members.
The announcement comes just before the big race for video games systems and the holiday season. Microsoft, it seems is working hard in order to capture a bigger share of holiday sales, when video games systems are most likely to be purchased.
Among other new offerings include the movie trivia game, “Scene it?” that will be packaged with four wireless controllers. “Halo 3,” the sci-fi shooter game, is expected to be released on September 25th. A Halo-inspired version of the Xbox 360 is also planned.
Just last week, Microsoft announced both a promise to extend the warranty on the units to three years from date of purchase, including those units that were purchased before the warranty extension was declared.
There is no word yet as to the upcoming offerings from the Nintendo Wii, the Xbox’s biggest competitor in the video games wars. Another competitor, Sony, announced a $100 price reduction on its PS3, as well as a new unit that will feature an 80 GB hard drive.
Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Frugal Living Blog here at Families.com, where she shares money saving tips for today’s families.
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