HD DVD Backer Universal to Emphasize Interactive

Universal Studios Home Entertainment plans to add a lot of special features to some of its new HD DVD titles in early spring such as "Children of Men" and "Smokin' Aces," to include enhanced special features not available on standard DVD.

For example, while viewing the film, "Smokin' Aces" (due out this week) it will integrate Google Earth software in order to locate the exact locations chosen by the movie's assassins, according to Video Business.

For the science fiction thriller "Children of Men," viewers can opt to see the entire "video billboard" advertisements featured in the film in their entirety by clicking on each of the dozen or so billboards. Some Universal titles (still unnamed) to be released later this year will go one step further and offer live online connectivity (HDi).