Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

That's been going on for awhile, I posted it about 2-3 weeks ago, but it's long buried.

That's why we need 2 seperate threads, less will be getting lost.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

LOL! This whole Bay saga just continues.


Michael Bay Retracts Earlier Statement; Says He Supports Paramount's Decision to Back HD DVD

"Last night at dinner I was having dinner with three blu-ray owners, they were pissed about no Transformers Blu-ray and I drank the kool aid hook line and sinker. So at 1:30 in the morning I posted - nothing good ever comes out of early am posts mind you - I over reacted. I heard where Paramount is coming from and the future of HD and players that will be close to the $200 mark which is the magic number. I like what I heard.

As a director, I'm all about people seeing films in the best quality possible, and I saw and heard firsthand people upset about a corporate decision.

So today I saw 300 on HD, it rocks!

So I think I might be back on to do Transformers 2!"

[Kashanova]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

those blu ray owners brainwash him and the hd dvd guys brong them back

[The Chef]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Plus EG, the BluRay fanboys also forget about Target and Walmart being paid "X" amount of dollars by Sony to exclusively carry their format.



Toshiba owns the HD-DVD technology and MS has a small stake in it since they were the ones that helped in designing the HDi.

Again, this is why I think that this thread is starting to get to a point where we need 2 seperate HD-DVD and Blu-Ray threads.



Plus, there are some rumblings going on that Warner might be next to jump.

I own both and if one format dies, I will always still be able to watch my movies on either player that I own. Its the Blu-Ray fan mentality to get bent out of shape.

I want to ask those that are having a heart attack over this, did you see any of the people that support both formats or even just HD-DVD on these boards start getting all upset when Target & Walmart became BD exclusive? Or that some movies such as 300 sold 2:1 on BD as opposed to HD-DVD?

Like I have always said, anyone that is a fan of Sony product.............its always a heated discussion.

A couple things, where did you hear that Target and Wal-Mart are BR exclusive suddenly? Every Target and Wal-Mart out here has both and always has had both, and not just old inventory they are clearing through either, Im talking about new releases on day and date.

What rumblings about Warner are you hearing exactly? With your whole claim about Target and Wal-Mart I have a hard time believing your rumblings as being anything other then what you have heard from people with dreams.

I own both and I also want to see this war come to and end, the sooner the better in fact. I dont care which side wins, I just hope the movie prices drop and this whole combo format ends. On a side note, why is it that everytime someone supports BR they are suddenly a fanboy? Is there no possible way that someone can support both formats but hope for an end to this rediculous war without being labeled a fanboy?

[boomhauertjs]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

I hate this whole BluRay/HD DVD thing. It's just another excuse for us to have to replace our DVD movie collections, just like we had to replace our VHS collections. I'm in no hurry to convert to either format.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

A couple things, where did you hear that Target and Wal-Mart are BR exclusive suddenly? Every Target and Wal-Mart out here has both and always has had both, and not just old inventory they are clearing through either, Im talking about new releases on day and date.

There were reports back in early July that they were going exclusive. Sorry about Walmart, I meant Blockbuster Video has gone exclusive..........but as a side note, any Walmart I have been to doesn't carry HD-DVD, only BD.

What rumblings about Warner are you hearing exactly? With your whole claim about Target and Wal-Mart I have a hard time believing your rumblings as being anything other then what you have heard from people with dreams.

I never said that Warner was going to 100% jump, I said that there is speculation floating around.

I own both and I also want to see this war come to and end, the sooner the better in fact. I dont care which side wins, I just hope the movie prices drop and this whole combo format ends. On a side note, why is it that everytime someone supports BR they are suddenly a fanboy? Is there no possible way that someone can support both formats but hope for an end to this rediculous war without being labeled a fanboy?

I wanted to see this war over with a long time ago, but it doesn't seem like it will end anytime soon.

It's not that someone supporting BD is a bad thing, but there are many that get pissy over anything bad that occurs to the BD format just like what happened with the Paramount/Dreamworks Animation deal. Go over to Highdefdigest.com or AVS forums, look at how BD owners are being babies about this whole deal...............all the bad press on HD-DVD the last few months and some of the other crap that has falled down on them and you don't see that crowd having a hissy fit.

Just wait till the bitching and moaning starts over BD-J, I've been reading that its not up to par and isn't even capable of PIP.

[Skerik]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

I never said that Warner was going to 100% jump, I said that there is speculation floating around.

There's also been an unsubstantiated rumor floating around for a while that Universal's exclusivity deal with HD-DVD expires just after this holiday season, which could mean that they'll shift to dual format soon afterwards.

At this point, nothing would surprise me and I'm sure we're only hitting the tip of the iceberg in terms of major developments in this battle.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

There's also been an unsubstantiated rumor floating around for a while that Universal's exclusivity deal with HD-DVD expires just after this holiday season, which could mean that they'll shift to dual format soon afterwards.

At this point, nothing would surprise me and I'm sure we're only hitting the tip of the iceberg in terms of major developments in this battle.

I've been hearing that rumor also, anything is possible.

I do agree with many of you guys that we do need 1 main format here for HD, if these companies keep on bouncing back and forth its not doing any of us any good in the long run.

At one point before both formats released, I remember reading somewhere that both Sony and Toshiba were in talks about combining the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray technologies? At some point the talks never went any further and they went their seperate ways.

[Skerik]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

I've been hearing that rumor also, anything is possible.

I do agree with many of you guys that we do need 1 main format here for HD, if these companies keep on bouncing back and forth its not doing any of us any good in the long run.

At one point before both formats released, I remember reading somewhere that both Sony and Toshiba were in talks about combining the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray technologies? At some point the talks never went any further and they went their seperate ways.

Well, Warner has that "TotalHD" concept floating around, since they support both formats and could therefore market a disc that would play on either. Problem is, now you're talking like $35 for movies and most people wouldn't pay that much. That also requires studios to be format neutral and right now only WB falls into that camp.

Once an inexpensive dual format player releases, nobody will care much about the format war anymore. Notice how the people who already have a player for both formats already don't care, but most people don't have the coin to drop on a PS3, plus a 360, plus the HD-DVD drive, plus discs on both formats.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Well, Warner has that "TotalHD" concept floating around, since they support both formats and could therefore market a disc that would play on either. Problem is, now you're talking like $35 for movies and most people wouldn't pay that much. That also requires studios to be format neutral and right now only WB falls into that camp.

Once an inexpensive dual format player releases, nobody will care much about the format war anymore. Notice how the people who already have a player for both formats already don't care, but most people don't have the coin to drop on a PS3, plus a 360, plus the HD-DVD drive, plus discs on both formats.

Agreed, these are some very well made points.

While the "Total HD" concept sounds nice in theory, it's like the HD-DVD combos that many people don't care for. Plus, we haven't heard much more about these discs from Warner, so it makes you wonder if their still toying with the idea.

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Universal has always been steadfast in their exclusivity to HD DVD & this quote just solidifies Universal stance:

"To me it is a validation of a strategic stance we have taken, and I am so pleased that Paramount and DreamWorks have done as thorough an evaluation as they have done and come to the same exactly conclusion that we did long ago, which is that with HD DVD we have a format that offers the best and most affordable consumer experience," said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...7e24e642?imw=Y

SONY has already made financial offers to them to go NEUTRAL & they turn them down. This before P/D announced exclusivity. I agree with many of you guys that another studio is gonna jump exclusive. I would say sooner than later. My guess would be WARNER BROS.

FYI Toshiba has updated the HD DVD Website... New Movie Promos.. http://www.thelookandsoundofperfect.com/

[Skerik]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Agreed, these are some very well made points.

While the "Total HD" concept sounds nice in theory, it's like the HD-DVD combos that many people don't care for. Plus, we haven't heard much more about these discs from Warner, so it makes you wonder if their still toying with the idea.

I think we'll see affordable dual format players before we see TotalHD discs. And honestly, I think the average consumer would be annoyed and insulted by the TotalHD discs. As in, "You expect me to pay you more money because you guys can't decide a winner in the format war?" People are already annoyed by the HD-DVD combo discs like you said, and that concept is considerably less nervy than offering two HD formats on one disc.

[Pared]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Once an inexpensive dual format player releases, nobody will care much about the format war anymore. Notice how the people who already have a player for both formats already don't care, but most people don't have the coin to drop on a PS3, plus a 360, plus the HD-DVD drive, plus discs on both formats.

And that's pretty much where we're going to end up: With dual players. It's stupid though and bad for the industry in the long run. It's the same exact thing with the music industry and they only hurt themselves.

MP3, M4A, WMA, RM, OGG... I just want the song that I want. Is that so hard?

Same goes for a movie... just give me my damn movie. I don't care if the producer is eating ice-cream while talking about how much he loved working on the set with some actor while being lit up on drugs.

Seems like you get more of that with HD-DVD so I guess that's why people "love" it. Who cares? They both look good; just give me one. We were closer to Blu-Ray and now we're closer to where we started.

That's why we need 2 seperate threads, less will be getting lost.

Well as long as you keep reposting things I think we'll be ok.

[Skerik]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Universal has always been steadfast in their exclusivity to HD DVD & this quote just solidifies Universal stance:

It keeps coming back to "most affordable." I think we'll see a $250 HD-DVD player, or maybe even a $199 version, during this holiday season as the HD-DVD camp makes a big push to get Joe Consumer to upgrade to high def. Meanwhile, BD players will probably still be around $350.

However, as someone on the HDD boards mentioned recently, if you give Joe Consumer the choice between a $199 HD-DVD player that plays a handful of discs on one side of an ongoing format war and that runs the risk of being a paperweight if BD wins out, or a $50 1080i upconverting DVD player that plays all DVDs, he's going to choose the regular DVD player every time.

It seems like HD-DVD is really trying to reach the average consumer with their "most affordable" approach. If there were no format war, $199 might be considered an affordable price point for the average joe. But in the midst of a format war, it's not.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Paramount's CTO on the switch to HD-DVD

In a new interview, Paramount's chief technology officer offers up the most detailed explanation yet of the studio's technical rationale for switching to HD DVD.
With reports swirling that Paramount and sister studio DreamWorks received up to $150 million dollars in incentives to drop Blu-ray, Alan Bell, executive vice president and CTO for Paramount Pictures says there's more to his company's decision to dump Blu-ray than simply business dealings.

In an interview in PC World Magazine, Bell said that after publishing titles on both formats, Paramount had found HD DVD to have more stable tech specs and leaner programming code than its high-def rival, advantages that the executive attributes directly to the format's outgrowth out of the DVD Forum.
"[HD DVD] was launched in a very stable way, with stable specifications, and they had specified a reference player model, so all players had to be compatible with the HDi interactivity layer, and all players had to be capable of the interactivity," explained Bell. "That speaks to the DVD Forum, that it published specs that were complete and market-ready, and that it didn't need to publish up [and change the specs], as Blu-ray has. To some degree, [such changes are] going to create some legacy issues."

Of Blu-ray's greater storage capacity than HD DVD, the executive called it "a little bit overrated," saying that most titles don't require a capcity more than 30GB, and in cases where they do, Paramount would issue a second disc for bonus features.

"Making a choice like the one Paramount has made is a multifaceted choice," said Bell. "It depends upon manufacturability, the reliability of players, the cost, the infrastructure that's developed to support our creation of titles. Many different factors came into play--including capacity. When Paramount made this decision, we considered the broad spectrum."