UMD movies flying off the Shelves in Japan (No, really)

[Aran]

Just when Sony's UMD format seemed to be dead as disco, Warner Bros. comes along and shows how it can be profitable. Warner Home Video originally announced discounted UMD movies, selling for 980 yen (US $8.50) a piece. However, the company decided to remove the limitation and hoped that would mean higher sales. They were right. Over ten times as many UMD movies have been moved since the permanent sale began. So far, titles include:

The Last Samurai, Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, Enter the Dragon, Batman Begins, The Island, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Black Diamond, The Goonies, Tom and Jerry, the Harry Potter movies and The Matrix trilogy.


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I've always thought the idea that UMDs should be priced the same as DVDs to be, well, dumb. And, Warner is showing that there is a market for the format as long as the price is right. I'm totally going to pick up Enter the Dragon, Batman Begins and The Goonies. Here's hoping other companies follow suit. Brian Ashcraft

www.kotaku.com


Two things need to happen:

Low cost UMD based players
Low Cost UMD movies across the board

 

[Mentok]

UMD will never be outside of the psp. Its pointless to have it in anything but the PSP.

 

[THWIP*]

Just when Sony's UMD format seemed to be dead as disco, Warner Bros. comes along and shows how it can be profitable. Warner Home Video originally announced discounted UMD movies, selling for 980 yen (US $8.50) a piece. However, the company decided to remove the limitation and hoped that would mean higher sales. They were right. Over ten times as many UMD movies have been moved since the permanent sale began. So far, titles include:

The Last Samurai, Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, Enter the Dragon, Batman Begins, The Island, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Black Diamond, The Goonies, Tom and Jerry, the Harry Potter movies and The Matrix trilogy.


​

I've always thought the idea that UMDs should be priced the same as DVDs to be, well, dumb. And, Warner is showing that there is a market for the format as long as the price is right. I'm totally going to pick up Enter the Dragon, Batman Begins and The Goonies. Here's hoping other companies follow suit. Brian Ashcraft

www.kotaku.com


Two things need to happen:

Low cost UMD based players
Low Cost UMD movies across the board

CONGRATS , 'SONY'........YOU'RE FINALLY SEEING THE "BIG PICTURE". NOW YOU JUST NEED TO DROP THE PRICE ON SOME MORE OF YOUR OVERPRICED, OVERHYPED CRAP.

 

[Aran]

They really should have been smart enough to realize that the studios (including Sony Pictures) would push with unreasonable prices. This is the price that UMD movies should have been at all along.

 

[Addendum]

I never saw the point of UMD movies anyway

 

[THWIP*]

I never saw the point of UMD movies anyway

SIMPLE 'SONY' BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: CREATE A NEW, UNNECESSARY TECHNOLOGY/FORMAT, MAKE IT HIGHLY INACCESSIBLE AND EXPENSIVE TO USE, AND ATTEMPT TO FORCE IT ON THE MASSES. SO FAR, THEY'VE NOT BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, IN PRACTICE, THOUGH.

 

[Addendum]

Though MiniDisc is useful in radio stations. Beats the hell out of Karts

 

[THWIP*]

Though MiniDisc is useful in radio stations. Beats the hell out of Karts

YEAH, THAT'S TYPICAL OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH A NEW FORMAT THAT ISN'T REALLY NEEDED (BY THE MASSES, ANYWAY).......THEY GET DUMPED IN BARGAIN BINS, AND/OR USED PRIMARILY IN NICHE MARKETS. THAT'S WHAT'S SO SURPRISING ABOUT UMD..........YOU'D THINK THEY'D HAVE KNOWN BETTER.

 

[Addendum]

Especially since there are portable DVD players

 

[hippie_hunter]

UMD movies are a stupid concept in the first place. I bought my Playstation Portable to play games, not watch movies, or look at photos, or listen to music.

 

[Axid]

But...