In the race to get to market first, supporters of HD-DVD threw down the gauntlet before competing high-definition format Blu-ray Disc at this week�s Consumer Electronics Show by announcing a bushel of titles to be ready in time for the format�s launch in late 2005.

At the HD-DVD presentation, the home video presidents for the five studios supporting that format (HBO Video, New Line Home Entertainment, Paramount Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video) were on hand to announce dozens of titles that would be ready for the format�s launch in late 2005. Warner alone will field 50 titles, including upcoming hits like Constantine, and the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, along with a variety of recent hits and catalog titles, including the Harry Potter and Matrix franchises. Universal joins with a variety of titles, including The Chronicles of Riddick and Van Helsing, while Paramount�s Braveheart and Mission Impossible 2 are among its offerings.

The Blu-ray Disc Association was less substantive, but did indicate the format was working to include the significant video game business in its strategy. Blu-ray announced four new members: Hardware suppliers Texas Instruments and Sun Micro, and video game makers Electronic Arts and Vivendi Universal Games. Representatives of Electronic Arts and Vivendi Universal Games were quick to emphasize the greater capacity of Blu-ray for video games, increasing in space demand all the time.