First South Park episode in HD coming to Xbox Live Video Marketplace

[Queasy]

Sweet

Tune in to the adventures of Butters every week? Wait until you see him in HD.

Wired News has learned that on Tuesday, March 6, Microsoft and Viacom will release the first-ever high-definition episode of the Comedy Central series South Park exclusively on Xbox Live Marketplace.

For the first two weeks of availability, all Xbox Live members will be able to download the episode, titled "Good Times With Weapons," for free.

Additionally, from March 20 through April 3, Best Buy will offer free HD-DVD discs featuring the episode with any purchase of an Xbox 360 console, or the HD-DVD add-on player.

South Park's eleventh season begins Wednesday at 10 PM on Comedy Central; new episodes will appear on Xbox Live Marketplace the following week.

Chris says: This is seriously cool news. Not only is Good Times With Weapons one of the best South Park episodes ever -- it's the one that riffs off Japanese anime -- it's also free, and in HD.

As for the Best Buy deal, well, I'd rather have this episode of South Park in HD than the entirety of King Kong. Yes, I went there.

 

[michaels]

I don't like SP but the marketplace kicks ass.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

What?? South Park?? HD???

does not compute!

*brain asplodes*

so like... can we now see the cardboard fibers in the cutouts that make up the characters? Seriously.. how can you "high-def" South Park?

 

[jpeyton]

They make South Park in widescreen?

Shens.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
What?? South Park?? HD???

does not compute!

*brain asplodes*

so like... can we now see the cardboard fibers in the cutouts that make up the characters? Seriously.. how can you "high-def" South Park?

This particular episode switches back and forth between regular SP style and Anime style in letterbox format.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
They make South Park in widescreen?

Shens.

It's animation. It's easy to make it widescreen.

 

[AbAbber2k]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
What?? South Park?? HD???

does not compute!

*brain asplodes*

so like... can we now see the cardboard fibers in the cutouts that make up the characters? Seriously.. how can you "high-def" South Park?

Considering it's all digital... they'd simply re-record for higher resolution broadcast. I'm sure their studio has like every single original digital copy archived. Only the first few episodes were produced using the frame-by-frame construction paper method I believe.

 

[Hyperlite]

my god i need a 360 asap

 

[mb]

Construction paper cut-outs were used in the original pilot animation and in the first episode made for Comedy Central. Subsequent episodes have been produced by computer animation that provides the same look, although the appearance of the characters and scenes has become less crude over time largely in order to enhance the comedic effect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_park

 

[intogamer]

How clearer can you get with construction paper?

 

[beemercer]

Damn, I wish I had an Xbox; the anime episode is my favorite south park episode.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: pulse8

Originally posted by: jpeyton
They make South Park in widescreen?

Shens.

It's animation. It's easy to make it widescreen.

plus its done on computers now, they haven't actually used cardboard in ages

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: pulse8

Originally posted by: jpeyton
They make South Park in widescreen?

Shens.

It's animation. It's easy to make it widescreen.

plus its done on computers now, they haven't actually used cardboard in ages

Not since the "Jesus vs Santa" short. They even parodied what a PITA doing that was in "A Very Crappy Christmas".

 

[her209]

That episode is awesome.

 

[Kirby64]

Sweet, I was reminded of SP new season starting Wednesday.

ATOT to the rescue again

 

[Queasy]

Available in Europe as well

Starting tomorrow, Xbox Live members will be able to download, for free, a special HD version of the South Park episode ?Good Times with Weapons?. Unfortunately, due to restrictions from Comedy Central, South Park in HD will only be available in English (with no options for sub-titles) in the following Xbox Live regions: United States, Canada, Belgium, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. This will be available simultaneously for both Gold and Silver members in those regions. Remember it goes live tomorrow and will be up for two-weeks, so don?t wait until the last minute to grab it. I don?t have the exact time it will release, but it should be a little after 12m PT.

[Read the press release from Comedy Central]

Edit: Great news?.this episode is now available in all European regions. Looks like your voices were heard by the laywers and marketing folks. details on AceBongo's blog. I sent some of your comments across the pond...and *bang* looks like good results. I was just as surprised as you when I woke up this morning and read this in my inbox! Enjoy.