Microsoft today released details regarding it’s newly developed Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator which has been designed to streamline the HD DVD creation and testing process. The Xbox HD DVD Emulator allows producers of HD DVD’s to test all areas of the disc, such as encoded video and Hdi interactivity, virtually to ensure proper functioning of the disc before it is burned. This software based HD DVD burning tool represents a significant reduction in cost for makers of HD DVD’s as it allows companies to do away with costly hardware and an trial and error process of burning which costs both money and time for the company concerned.

This new product also ensures a better level of quality as the use of the Xbox 360 HD DVD emulator can help companies release more titles free of errors thus ensuring a higher profit on their products.  The Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator has also been designed to be operated from a network storage share, from a USB drive directly connected to the Xbox 360 console, or by using an optical disc in the Xbox 360 HD DVD player. This design was created by Microsoft to lessen the testing time for both Xbox 360 HD-DVD’s and with other HD DVD players.

Jordi Ribas, the general manager of HD DVD at Microsoft, stated that the company was “ committed to supporting and advancing the HD DVD ecosystem” and that “the new Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator reflects these efforts by providing developers with the software-based tools they need to efficiently deliver the highest-quality content”. Riblas also stated that ““Microsoft developed the Emulator to help save studios and postproduction houses time, resources and costs involved with the creation of HD DVD content, and let them focus on what really matters — pushing the envelope with the format.”