The Format War

[KALEL114]

I like it better in Blu actually.

 

[imdaly]

Nah. The red case goes better with the red of the title font.

 

[Zenien]

It would if the red case didn't make the red overbearing as happens with most HD-DVD releases, Blue is a much more complimentary color and works better with the white of the cover.

 

[Downhere]

Wow, so now people on either side think that the color of their preferred format is the better color?

 

[Devil May Cry]

Do you guys know when this format war will be over and we know which one wins? Also, if BR loses, does that significantly affect the future of the PS3 i.e. would the fact that they are selling a system with a rejected DVD format affect its longevity? Sorry if this has been addressed, but I'm really late.


I mean...realllllllly late.

 

[Zenien]

Wow, so now people on either side think that the color of their preferred format is the better color?

While blue is a more neutral color, but post was sardonic. Arguign over colors is pretty absurd.

 

[Downhere]

Do you guys know when this format war will be over and we know which one wins? Also, if BR loses, does that significantly affect the future of the PS3 i.e. would the fact that they are selling a system with a rejected DVD format affect its longevity? Sorry if this has been addressed, but I'm really late.


I mean...realllllllly late.

I think it will be some time before the format war is over. You will have the Blu-Ray fanatics say they have already won or HD-DVD will be gone by years end and then you will have the HD-DVD fanatics chime in saying that if HD-DVD gets Disney or some other Blu-Exclusive company then Blu-Ray is done...but it is all speculation. They both will be around for some time and the earliest I can see any format winning is at the end of next year, but then again we could come to that point and still be in the same place.

Either way, if Blu-Ray were to lose, it wouldn't mean much for the PS3. Sony uses the Blu-Ray technology for PS3 games so you will still need the Blu-Ray portion of the PS3 in order to play PS3 games. So, if Blu-Ray were to lose on the film front in regard to the Blu-Ray technology, the technology itself would still be used for games and for storage purposes and Sony would still gain from this technology.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I think this format war won't end until next year but I think a clear winner will be determined by the Holidays of this year.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Do you guys know when this format war will be over and we know which one wins? Also, if BR loses, does that significantly affect the future of the PS3 i.e. would the fact that they are selling a system with a rejected DVD format affect its longevity? Sorry if this has been addressed, but I'm really late.


I mean...realllllllly late.

Well the thing that really hurt HD DVD IMO was the 360's choice to make the player a seperate purchase. I bought a 360 before the PS3 so who knows maybe if the player was already built in I might be an HD DVD supporter right now.

 

[Fading]

I think it will be some time before the format war is over. You will have the Blu-Ray fanatics say they have already won or HD-DVD will be gone by years end and then you will have the HD-DVD fanatics chime in saying that if HD-DVD gets Disney or some other Blu-Exclusive company then Blu-Ray is done...but it is all speculation. They both will be around for some time and the earliest I can see any format winning is at the end of next year, but then again we could come to that point and still be in the same place.

Either way, if Blu-Ray were to lose, it wouldn't mean much for the PS3. Sony uses the Blu-Ray technology for PS3 games so you will still need the Blu-Ray portion of the PS3 in order to play PS3 games. So, if Blu-Ray were to lose on the film front in regard to the Blu-Ray technology, the technology itself would still be used for games and for storage purposes and Sony would still gain from this technology.

Agreed, the war still has some legs to it, might be another year before we hear anything significant, or days, who knows?

Also agreed on BR not hurting PS3 if it goes away. Game makers like Kojima chose PS3 because it has a BR drive and he felt putting it on the 360 would hurt the game he wanted to make partially because of disk space. Even tho a game company can produce 2-3 DVD's per game to make up for increasing game size, most developers probably like their games on one disk. Even if the movie side of BR fails, BR can still be used to put games on.

 

[BatMatt]

Agreed, the war still has some legs to it, might be another year before we hear anything significant, or days, who knows?

Also agreed on BR not hurting PS3 if it goes away. Game makers like Kojima chose PS3 because it has a BR drive and he felt putting it on the 360 would hurt the game he wanted to make partially because of disk space. Even tho a game company can produce 2-3 DVD's per game to make up for increasing game size, most developers probably like their games on one disk. Even if the movie side of BR fails, BR can still be used to put games on.

just like UMD and PSP

 

[Zenien]

Blu Ray HD-DVD WK Ending July 15th.
Week 61/39
YTD 67/33
SI 60/40

That's the best showing by HD-DVD in a while.

 

[KALEL114]

Hmm. Interesting.

 

[Havok83]

What movies should I pick up with the 5 Free BR deal? Most of the titles dont look that good

 

[TheBat812]

What movies should I pick up with the 5 Free BR deal? Most of the titles dont look that good

which deal is this? Btw, just bought Hellboy, T2, and SR on Blu-ray. I'm quite excited to see it working...

 

[KALEL114]

What movies should I pick up with the 5 Free BR deal? Most of the titles dont look that good

What are the options?

 

[imdaly]

What are the options?

Pick 1 Title From Each Group:

Group 1
The Guardian
Pearl Harbor
Invincible
Chicken Little

Group 2
Corpse Bride
Phantom of the Opera
Blazing Saddles

Group 3
Stealth
Resident Evil 2
Underworld Evolution
Stir of Echoes

Group 4
The Italian Job
Black Rain
Babel
Devil's Rejects

Group 5
Kiss of the Dragon
The Omen 666
Transporter 2
Species
Hart's War
The Last Waltz

 

[BatMatt]

not a great list but hey, they're free

 

[KALEL114]

Chicken Little
Blazing Saddles
Underworld Evolution
Babel
Hart's War

Group three, wow. I flipped a coin for you there.

 

[imdaly]

Not a Motorhead fan, but still, this gives us a little more of a peek at the benefits that can be had with web-enabled special features.

Motorhead's "Stage Fright" is the first online-enabled music, European HD DVD
July 23, 2007

After releasing Europe's first HD DVD -- the HDi enhanced Elephant's Dream -- Imagion AG is again breaking new ground with the first music HD DVD (and first European HD DVD) to include online features. Due in August, Motörhead's "Stage Fright" also uses HDi for new interactive features, allowing viewers to create their own setlist from concert footage and to take "snapshots" of the concert and create personal picture gallery in their HD DVD player's storage. Fans can hook their HD DVD player to the internet to download news, tour dates, pictures and artwork that will update the disc's menus. We may not be die-hard followers of "the dirtiest heavy metal band in the world" yet, but with this kind of release look for our tattoos to join the gallery soon.

Custom screen shot gallery:

Main Menu:

Downloaded Online Features:

Latest News:

Fan Tattoo Gallery:

Source

 

[BatMatt]

that's cool and the cover looks nice with the red wine color of the HD DVD case

 

[imdaly]

Cool news for both Blu-ray and HD DVD:

Return to House on Haunted Hill offers 96 different storylines on one HD disc
July 23, 2007

There's been a void of titles using the new interactive features of Blu-ray and HD DVD, but Warner may be taking things in a different direction with the direct-to-disc title Return to House on Haunted Hill. Demonstrated during the Home Media Expo, it announced the high definition versions will include seven points where viewers can choose what happens in the story, with up to 96 versions of the storyline. "Navigational cinema" is another way for HD discs to differentiate themselves from the standard DVD (other than their higher quality video and sound of course), we'll decide if its a worthwhile add-on or silly gimmick when the title is released October 16th.

Source

Basically, a pretty cool "Choose Your Own Adventure" movie!

 

[imdaly]

And while I don't see myself wanting to spend any money on transactions via home media, this is yet another pretty cool feature that the HD DVD version of "300" will have over Blu-ray, AND a first of it's kind for High-Definition media at all!

'300' HD DVD to Include First Web-Enabled Transaction Opportunities
July 23, 2007

In another high-def first, Warner says it plans to utilize web-enabled features on its upcoming HD DVD edition of '300' to sell film-themed ringtones and cellphone wallpaper to the movie's next-gen fans.

As we've previously reported, Warner plans to release two separate-but-unequal next-gen editions of '300' on July 31st. While both the Blu-ray and the HD DVD editions will feature a wealth of supplements, the HD DVD will boast several exclusive interactive and web-enabled features, including the ability to re-edit and share versions of the film via a studio-hosted server.

Now comes word that another web-enabled feature on the '300' HD DVD will enable Warner to sell film-related merchandise via a disc for the first time.

The studio demo'd the new feature last week at the Home Media Expo in Las Vegas as part of a larger session focused on the studio's push into interactive features on high-def disc.

According to an account by Video Business, consumers will be able to use their HD DVD player remote to type in their cell phone number, which will then be sent instructions for how to access '300'-themed wallpaper and ringtones for $1.99 each.

Considering the fact that the purchase takes place on the phone (and not the disc itself), this one seems like a bit of a cheat to us, but it does represent another step forward for web-enabled interactivity via high-def disc.

The HD DVD camp appears to angling to make web-enabled features the next battlefront in the high-def format wars. Pointing out that Blu-ray players "don’t have the consistency in their machines to be able to handle this," Universal Studios VP Ken Graffeo announced plans late last week to begin including web-enabled features in all Universal HD DVD releases, beginning in late August with 'Heroes: Season One'.

Source

 

[Zenien]

*gag*

 

[BatMatt]

well, that's dumb. Like a popup on your television