The Format War

[BatMatt]

Ahhhh...got it.
Thanks a lot, friend.

no problemo

 

[Downhere]

Pie charts rule.

To summarise:

Not only is Blu-Ray consistently selling better than HD-DVD, it also has more of the films you want to see. Basically, HD-DVD is an all round lose.

I would not count HD-DVD out just yet. Remember, the sales of both formats are beyond lackluster. I mean, Blu-Ray has 1.5 million players out there because of the PS3 yet both Pirate films sold 47,000 combined units its first week while Blu-Ray's biggest selling title has shipped 100,000 units. I don't really call that kicking HD-DVD's butt there especially considering HD-DVD has around 300,000 players out there (counting X-Box add-on, etc.) and Blu-ray is still only selling 2:1. Plus, saying one or the other has more of the films you want to see if subjective. Currently, I personally think HD-DVD has more of the films I want where as Blu-Ray has a lot of fluff. Now mind you, some of that fluff is ok, but the Blu exclusive studios need to start pumping out some better titles.

 

[Zenien]

Both formats are tracking above DVD in a similar timeframe. You can't count every PS3 as a BR player etc etc etc.

 

[Fading]

While it did suck, it didn't suck as much as Pirates 3, Shrek 3, or Transformers. I think I'm forgetting about some other big franchise movie that came out and sucked this summer, but what are you going to do.

Transformers didn't suck . Probably the best movie I've seen so far this summer. Pirates 3 however did suck, didn't see Shrek 3, and while Spiderman 3 was alright I like Transformers quite a bit more. A few things I hate in it tho like Optimus saying "my bad" lol.

 

[Downhere]

Both formats are tracking above DVD in a similar timeframe. You can't count every PS3 as a BR player etc etc etc.

You can't have it both ways though. Sony counts a PS3 as a BR player, that was their whole reasoning to get exclusive support. That is why Disney, Fox, Lionsgate, etc. came over to the Blu side. The idea that millions of Blu-Ray players would be sold through the PS3 and the extra security measures with BD+ and all were the things that enticed those exclusive studios to stick with Blu. So every PS3 is a BR player because that function is available from the start.

 

[Zenien]

It's niave to count every PS3 as a BR player in so far as people are using it to play and purchase BR movies, there are 1.5 million PS3 consoles sold in America, we can't say how many people of those 1.5 million owners are using it to play BR movies. But we do know that on average the BR software is selling better then HD-DVD software and that huge springboard over HD-DVD came with the release of the PS3. We also know that even though HD-DVD holds the stand alone player marketshare over Stand alone BR players that both are selling very close to one another.

There are a little over 100 000 BR players sold, now if only 10 percent of those PS3 units were being used as BR players that would still be another 150 thousand players. Obviously the number must be a little higher then that taking current trends into consideration.

Obviously PS3 being a BR player factored in heavilly to the studios supporting it over HD-DVD, along with BD+, they were obviously founded in their decision because we can see the effect PS3 is having on the HD war, that doesn't mean that you can count all 1.5 million PS3's as BR players and claim software tie ratio's are in the toilet because you can't quantify the amount of PS3's being used as dedicated HD movie players (Since the PS3 is a Video Game Console that also happens to be one of the best BR players, it's not like a standalone).

Yet agian, both Blu Ray and HD-DVD are tracking above DVD with the timeframe of the formats existance. In terms of people using HD-Movie players and buying HD content.

 

[Zenien]

Top 10 sales for everyone's interest

1. Ghost Rider 100
2. PotC: DMC 90.46
3. Planet Earth Blu-ray 82.35
4. The Patriot 82.30
5. PotC: CotBP 80.00
6. Apocolypto 75.26
7. Casino Royale 75.05
8. Bridge to Terabithia 73.83
9. Blood Diamond HD DVD 70.10
10. Planet Earth HD DVD 56.94

Talk about the PS3 pricedrop and a lot of interesting details you can listen to it a little after the 50 minute point.

http://zdmedia.vo.llnwd.net/o1/Podcasts/071307.mp3

 

[Zenien]

Anime Company FUNimation Goes Blu-ray Exclusive

http://dvd.ign.com/articles/804/804901p1.html

The folks at FUNimation Entertainment are far more forthcoming than some of their competitors when it comes to their plans for high-def. For starters, they have acknowledged to IGN that they have in fact chosen to go with the Blu-ray format when they do start releasing titles.

"At this point, we are in the Blu-ray camp. We started researching this about a year-and-a-half ago, actually," explains Ward Thomas, Senior VP of Sales and Operations at FUNimation. "We feel that the fanbase and our customers are very much trailblazers on the technology side, so it's something we wanted to get involved in right away. We really felt that the introduction of the PlayStation 3 last year was kind of a foray for our customers and fans to at least get into the next-gen platforms."

Blockbuster Video's recent announcement that it's siding with the Blu-ray format certainly won't hurt FUNimation's plans either.

"We do a nice business with Blockbuster," says Thomas. "I'll be honest with you. From a retail perspective, Blockbuster is probably pretty much the only place we do a retail business with right now. From an online perspective, obviously we're in business with Netflix and we have a wonderful business with them as well. Most of our rental business is with Blockbuster. Their announcement was just kind of gravy for us since that was the direction we were headed anyway."

Thomas says that the decision did not come lightly to choose Blu-ray over HD DVD. But after much research and exploring of both formats, FUNimation found that the interactive aspects of Blu-ray were much more appealing.

"Some of the demonstrations that we've seen, and just in talking to the different people [developing the format], the long-term interactive scope of Blu-ray just seems to be so much more endearing to at least the fans of the FUNimation content. I just think long-term what we're going to be able to do on a Blu-ray disc from the interactive programming perspective is really intriguing and it opens up a lot of new windows for us. So it was really the direction we wanted to head."

The company isn't quite ready to release any specific information regarding what titles they might launch first on Blu-ray or when we might see them (though they are willing to say that in all likelihood product will hit by the end of the year). But they do hint that an announcement is coming very soon and that "Comic-Con is coming up and all." In other words, stay tuned to IGN for more specifics about FUNimation's Blu-ray lineup in the coming weeks!

 

[Fading]

Anime Company FUNimation Goes Blu-ray Exclusive

http://dvd.ign.com/articles/804/804901p1.html

Funimation going with BR is another biggie kinda. I love anime, tho sometimes Funimation can murk up the translations and kiddie it up, but they are still big on the US side of anime porting.

It's adding up more and more tho. Blockbuster, now Funimation, I wonder who will switch over next.

 

[KALEL114]

Horay, to Dragonball Z!!!

 

[Avalanche]

Much as I love Dragonball Z, it takes an episode just for a punch to be thrown. An entire series for a sodding fight to be finished.

 

[Fading]

Don't forget tho, Funimation promotes a lot more animes than DBZ. Also Funimation films releases live action movies as well.

http://www.funimationfilms.com/

I could be wrong, but I believe they release tapes of -

Full Metal Alchemist
Case Closed
DBZ
Blue Gender
Lupin the Third
Yu Yu Hakusho
Samurai 7
Tenchi
One Piece (atleast I believe it is, it was much better in Japan I hear tho, that they cut out a lot to make it more kid friendly)

Some of those I didn't know, but according to Amazon.com those are all on Funimations hit list. I always thought Tenchi and Yu Yu Hakusho were released by something else, but guess I was wrong.

http://www.amazon.com/FUNimations-List-Of-Hit-Anime/lm/RP04YMJGCDNYM

 

[Jerry!]

Much as I love Dragonball Z, it takes an episode just for a punch to be thrown. An entire series for a sodding fight to be finished.

Yeah I remember one episode being more or less an entire goddamn flashback. Seriously, the whole final fight with Freiza should been like half the episodes that it took. That and the way they just stare at each other for the entire episode.

 

[Dangerous]

I hope Blu ray fails, The PS3 sure ain't looking too healthy right now.

 

[BatMatt]

I hope Blu ray fails, The PS3 sure ain't looking too healthy right now.

well sales just picked up after the price drop, to what extent won't be known for awhile. Blu-Ray is doing rather well right now so don't get your hopes up yet

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

I hope Blu ray fails, The PS3 sure ain't looking too healthy right now.

How is it not looking healthy???

 

[Superman1314]

I hope Blu ray fails, The PS3 sure ain't looking too healthy right now.

Wow, thats an educated statement. Do you want Blu Ray to fail because you don't have a Blu Ray Player or a PS3? I'm thinking so. Please, do us all a favor and stop the trolling before you start.

How well do you think a comment of mine would be taken if I went into the Halo 3 thread and just wrote "I hope Halo 3 fails"? I'd get torn apart. I'm buying Halo 3 for my X360 btw....and blue ray movies for my PS3.

It's people like you that I find very irritating.

 

[Superman1314]

How is it not looking healthy???

It's fine, that is what they call a troll.

I work for Gamestop as a leisure job and I can tell you that the interest is there for PS3. After the price drop we sold out of our stock of PS3's in about 4 days (10+ systems).

If you take into consideration the killer titles coming out for the PS3 over the next 6 months, you'll see that the PS3 gaining momentum, not losing it.

 

[KALEL114]

Tru Dat^

 

[Fading]

I just find it funny that ppl want BR to fail solely because Sony backs it. That Sony is such an evil corp that they want something with a clearer picture(Than DVD), much more space, and rapidly falling prices to fail just because Sony backs it. The main reason is because they have some view that BR vs. HD = Sony vs. Microsoft, but so many more back it than just those two companies. Not to count Microsoft is hardly the poster boy of good companies. They've held a monopoly on various areas of the computer buisness, made shady buisness deals, and even hired someone to change wikipedia information to favor them more, they buy anything that threatens them, and their the good guys?

Both Sony and Microsoft have done shady things. To me BR vs. HD-DVD is about the actual formats themselves, and I personally prefer BR. I'm not gonna hate on HD-DVD because MS backs it, nor back BR just because Sony backs it.

 

[BatMatt]

http://www.hdtvuk.tv/2007/07/universal_feeli.html

 

[Addendum]

And I find it equally funny that a blu-ray player or an hd-dvd player is a "financial investment" in either format. Isn't that what stocks and bonds are for?

 

[DorkyFresh]

Both Sony and Microsoft have done shady things. To me BR vs. HD-DVD is about the actual formats themselves, and I personally prefer BR. I'm not gonna hate on HD-DVD because MS backs it, nor back BR just because Sony backs it.

i have to admit that part of the reason i wanted blu-ray to end up on top is because i despise Microsoft...BUT i'm a person who tries to judge the software and hardware THEMSELVES w/out bringing my bias for the developers into perspective. that being said...regardless of who was backing blu-ray, i still would've wanted blu-ray to win just because of the potential (clearer quality, more space, etc. like you said).

 

[Downhere]

(clearer quality,

I think both formats are at the same level when it comes to picture quality. It will always depend on the source for each film on whether the picture quality is amazing or just good.

 

[Fading]

i have to admit that part of the reason i wanted blu-ray to end up on top is because i despise Microsoft...BUT i'm a person who tries to judge the software and hardware THEMSELVES w/out bringing my bias for the developers into perspective. that being said...regardless of who was backing blu-ray, i still would've wanted blu-ray to win just because of the potential (clearer quality, more space, etc. like you said).

Well don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with backing a company, but refusing to buy a better product or wishing that product failure because of who's backing it is a different story.

Like me, if I had to choose I'd be a Sony guy. Up until the PS3 they've kept me very happy with the PS1 and 2, and come out with some amazing and sometimes quirky games other consoles wouldn't release. Even now their trying hard to make up for past mistakes by cramming even more in with firmware and free games like home. If however HD-DVD were far and clearly superior to BR in everyway, I wouldn't buy BR or back it just because Sony backs it.

It's when I go to places like Best Buy and hear the employees say things like (have actually heard this and corrected them), "No, Disney doesn't back Blu-Ray, their HD-DVD exclusive, and HD actually has far better picture and space", to customers not in the know that get to me. And that they would lie to customers to help sell a product just because it's competing against another product who has one backer they don't like is even worse of a reason.

Nothing against anyone who does, but I'm going off the hardware. I like BR and not because Sony backs it. I run out of space quick despite having 2 80GB harddrives, having a 50-200GB (eventually) burnable BR disk drive is great to me. The extra bonuses they'll be able to fit on the disks once they start using more of the space will be great. The companies that already back it, and buisnesses like Blockbuster and now even anime companies like Funimation. It's on equal video quality with HD-DVD, and from what I read even better sound. It's quickly lowering it's prices on hardware, and the price of the actual movies on it are often equal to HD-DVD prices and on a few actually lower. That's why I back BR.