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BluRay getz Pwnd (think I might return my PS3 now)

http://dvd.ign.com/articles/813/813808p1.html

 

A swift kick to the nuts, this will be Sony's 5th (more or less) time backing the losing team.

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Comments

  • methane47methane47 Member UncommonPosts: 3,694

    ......

     

    image
    What's your Wu Name?
    Donovan --> Wu Name = Violent Knight
    Methane47 --> Wu Name = Thunderous Leader
    "Some people call me the walking plank, 'cuz any where you go... Death is right behind you.."
    <i>ME<i>

  • Malachi1975Malachi1975 Member Posts: 1,079

    The whole format wars game it a chance for the industry to mess with us consumers. However, your title is horrible offbase. Bluray is still selling at a 3:1 ration against HD-DVD. So it's far from "pwned". HD-DVD just got "pwned" by that same right when Blockbuster dropped them for rentals in their retails stores with plans to drop them from their online service as well. Even Netflix is waffling now because the rental number are dismal compared to BD.

    I think the payment of $150 million to Paramount to switch (read HERE) was the deciding factor, not the success of HD-DVD. We'll see how long the contract was for. As of this point that gives HD-DVD two whole studios that support the exclusively (the other being Universal). I think a blazing sign that this wasn't a unanimous decision to switch formats is the "excludes titles directed by Stephen Spielberg" taglin. THERE's 'pwnage" for you. Major studios flip and flop and make multi-million dollar decisions and Spielberg gives them the bird. You gotta love that a handful of directors are so big that they get to decide whatever the hell they want without any studios being able to say squat. The dialogue must have been great on that one.

    Paramount: "That's it, once we cash this check we're support HD-DVD exclusively! All films under out label will go to HD-DVD only."

    Spielberg: "No."

    Paramount: "But, we got a check!"

    Spielberg: "No."

    Paramount: "But....but....yes sir, Mr. Spielberg."

    Spielberg: "No."

    Paramount: "Huh? We already said okay to you."

    Spielberg: "I know, I just love saying no to you guys."

     

    Don't get me wrong, I have both systems so it doesn't hurt me either way to buy the movies on either format. It just would be nice to see OBJECTIVE reporting instead of fanboyisms. Bluray sales are WINNING, so I am not sure how you gather that they are the "losing" team. Other then Paramount and Universal all otehr studios either support BD exclusively or cross format.

    "What is it I have against Microsoft, you ask? Well, you know how you feel when you wait for an MMO to come out and when it does you feel like you've paid to play it's beta test for another 6-9 months before anything even thinks of working the way it should? Being a network engineer you feel that way about anything Microsoft puts out."

  • Keebs1984Keebs1984 Member Posts: 1,356

    No way!

    Meth! You told me all my HD DVDs would be obsolete in a few months! Why did you lie to me!

    PORQUE!?

    Eternally mine,
    Keebs


    image

    The MMO gaming blog I write for.

  • DekronDekron Member UncommonPosts: 7,359

    What's funny about this is that Blockbuster said they will not carry HDDVDs until they are sure which format will be successful. Blockbuster chose BluRay. Laff.

  • Publish6246Publish6246 Member Posts: 346

    Well Blu-ray is winning but i don't really think any platform will come out on top. What'll probably happen is they'll be outdated by the time people are ready to settle down to a HD format.

    -----------------------------

    SWG - PrePub9 Jedi mastered all professions - June 26th 2003 > Nov 15th 2005
    EVE Online - 24 million SP - May 6th 2003 > Early 2005
    PlanetSide - BR20 CR5 - May 23rd 2003 > Sept 2003

  • methane47methane47 Member UncommonPosts: 3,694

    Originally posted by Keebs1984


    No way!
    Meth! You told me all my HD DVDs would be obsolete in a few months! Why did you lie to me!
    PORQUE!?
    I really wasn't expecting Microsoft to pay Paramount ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS to go HD-DVD exclusive..

    Especially when Paramount's Bluray movies have been outselling their HD-DVD's 3 to 1 or worse...

     

    Its really sad when a whole media format is being supported by a corporation rather than the consumer...

    image
    What's your Wu Name?
    Donovan --> Wu Name = Violent Knight
    Methane47 --> Wu Name = Thunderous Leader
    "Some people call me the walking plank, 'cuz any where you go... Death is right behind you.."
    <i>ME<i>

  • Malachi1975Malachi1975 Member Posts: 1,079

     

    Originally posted by Publish6246


    Well Blu-ray is winning but i don't really think any platform will come out on top. What'll probably happen is they'll be outdated by the time people are ready to settle down to a HD format.



    I'd keep my eye on Warner who is worked on the hybrid Blu-HD system and reader. When and if they secure the rights to a multi-beam laser we'll have drives that read the hybrid format AND BD and HD-DVD.

     

    I'd say the next big titles to watch on Hi-Def release to gauge sales (meaning titles that are being released on both formats) will be the Harry Potter films. 300 was the last big cross-format release and the BD sales trounced the HD-DVD.

    Now, had this news been "Spielberg signs permanetly with HD-DVD" or "Disney signs with HD-DVD" it would have been more meaningful. Hell, it's only an 18 month contract even. You can tell Paramount is just being greedy for cash right now and not concerned with the next 18 months. Odds are they cross platform at the end of the period too. Paramount doesn't even have a HUGE title line-up to be a concern (save a few more recent films like Shrek and Transformers...which is still being argued on format according to some sources. I will reserve judgement till I see it there). I almost wonder if there will be some massive scandal to arise out of this somewhat under-the-table payoff.

    Like I have said time and again, until BD loses Disney (who brings with them Disney Studio, Buena Vista, Pixar, ABC, and the list goes on) they have a pretty strong platform. Universal is, by far, the strongest beast for HD-DVD as they bring USA and NBC with them as well (though when compared ABC has more television hits out currently over NBC).

    "What is it I have against Microsoft, you ask? Well, you know how you feel when you wait for an MMO to come out and when it does you feel like you've paid to play it's beta test for another 6-9 months before anything even thinks of working the way it should? Being a network engineer you feel that way about anything Microsoft puts out."

  • Keebs1984Keebs1984 Member Posts: 1,356

    Originally posted by Malachi1975


    The whole format wars game it a chance for the industry to mess with us consumers. However, your title is horrible offbase. Bluray is still selling at a 3:1 ration against HD-DVD. So it's far from "pwned". HD-DVD just got "pwned" by that same right when Blockbuster dropped them for rentals in their retails stores with plans to drop them from their online service as well. Even Netflix is waffling now because the rental number are dismal compared to BD.
    I think the payment of $150 million to Paramount to switch (read HERE) was the deciding factor, not the success of HD-DVD. We'll see how long the contract was for. As of this point that gives HD-DVD two whole studios that support the exclusively (the other being Universal). I think a blazing sign that this wasn't a unanimous decision to switch formats is the "excludes titles directed by Stephen Spielberg" taglin. THERE's 'pwnage" for you. Major studios flip and flop and make multi-million dollar decisions and Spielberg gives them the bird. You gotta love that a handful of directors are so big that they get to decide whatever the hell they want without any studios being able to say squat. The dialogue must have been great on that one.
    Paramount: "That's it, once we cash this check we're support HD-DVD exclusively! All films under out label will go to HD-DVD only."
    Spielberg: "No."
    Paramount: "But, we got a check!"
    Spielberg: "No."
    Paramount: "But....but....yes sir, Mr. Spielberg."
    Spielberg: "No."
    Paramount: "Huh? We already said okay to you."
    Spielberg: "I know, I just love saying no to you guys."
     
    Don't get me wrong, I have both systems so it doesn't hurt me either way to buy the movies on either format. It just would be nice to see OBJECTIVE reporting instead of fanboyisms. Bluray sales are WINNING, so I am not sure how you gather that they are the "losing" team. Other then Paramount and Universal all otehr studios either support BD exclusively or cross format.

    Wow. Where to start?

    First off, BluRay is selling at a 2:1 margin, not 3:1, and in the case of 300 it was a 1.5:1. (link)

    Second: There are now 4 studios exlcusive to HD DVD: Universal, Paramount, Dreamworks, and Weinstein. (Not 2)

    Third: To say that Sony didn't pay off Blockbuster, or Target just like HD DVD did with Paramount is stupid. Both of these groups have been paying people off left and right to influence which format the consumer will choose.

    Fourth: Speilberg is NOT exclusive to Blu Ray, he has said so a number of times. Third Encounters is coming exlcusively to Blu Ray simply because he never secured the rights to that movie. Most major directors, who own rights to their movies, are waiting until full inception of the formats before putting their new movies on them so they can get the most money. You don't make a lot of money by selling 100,000 copies of it when the DVD versions are still selling millions.

    I fully support letting the consumer choose, which means I believe that all studios should be neutral, but because the BD exclusive studios refused to grant that simple choice I am completely happy about this progression in the format war. If they all won't go neutral than its about damn time HD DVD began fighting back.

    Inside sources say their is supposed to be another major HD DVD announcement coming to CEDIA, which is later this year (October I think).

     

    Eternally mine,
    Keebs


    image

    The MMO gaming blog I write for.

  • Malachi1975Malachi1975 Member Posts: 1,079

    On a very FUNNY ass note: If you want to see some crazy propganda on BOTH sides hit www.hddvd.com and www.bluray.com . The stories are pretty hillarious. Though, I do have to say, the HDDVD reaches on their "articles" a bit more. The BD articles generally talk about certain movies gained or lost. But seeing "We Know Which Format has Lost" as an article on HDDVD.com was a riot. They claimed to have beaten.....VHS. Woohoo! Almost as bad as an IGN article.

    Now, my stance on formats has NOTHING to do with their respectve owners. Personally, I think both Toshiba/MS and Sony are lesser evils most of the time. As an information techologist, however, I prefer BD. I am all about the idea of "The more you can cram on the better". 100GB discs looming in the near future (Pirate 1 and 2 BD are being shipping on 75GB discs for anyone who didn't realise that the 50GB barrier is already broken) is just insane. Database backups on less discs, software on less discs, and things like that are just too tasty. Mind you again, I am happy that the 9.4GB layer has beeb broken period, even by HD-DVD.

    "What is it I have against Microsoft, you ask? Well, you know how you feel when you wait for an MMO to come out and when it does you feel like you've paid to play it's beta test for another 6-9 months before anything even thinks of working the way it should? Being a network engineer you feel that way about anything Microsoft puts out."

  • methane47methane47 Member UncommonPosts: 3,694

     

    Originally posted by Keebs1984


     


    I fully support letting the consumer choose, which means I believe that all studios should be neutral, but because the BD exclusive studios refused to grant that simple choice I am completely happy about this progression in the format war. If they all won't go neutral than its about damn time HD DVD began fighting back.

    I think you're confused here.

     

    Bluray isn't allowed by the DVD group to make DVD hybrids.

     

    Edit: And also

    A Home Media spokeswoman said Blu-ray got a further boost in August from strong sales of the "300" title. Stephen Nickerson, senior vice president, market management at Warner Home Video (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research), reported sales of about 190,000 Blu-ray units of the film, versus 97,000 in HD-DVD since July 31.

    Doesn't seem like 1.5 : 1 to me..

    image
    What's your Wu Name?
    Donovan --> Wu Name = Violent Knight
    Methane47 --> Wu Name = Thunderous Leader
    "Some people call me the walking plank, 'cuz any where you go... Death is right behind you.."
    <i>ME<i>

  • AirspellAirspell Member, Newbie CommonPosts: 1,391
    Originally posted by methane47


     
    Originally posted by Keebs1984


     


    I fully support letting the consumer choose, which means I believe that all studios should be neutral, but because the BD exclusive studios refused to grant that simple choice I am completely happy about this progression in the format war. If they all won't go neutral than its about damn time HD DVD began fighting back.

    I think you're confused here.

     

    Bluray isn't allowed by the DVD group to make DVD hybrids.

     

    Edit: And also

    A Home Media spokeswoman said Blu-ray got a further boost in August from strong sales of the "300" title. Stephen Nickerson, senior vice president, market management at Warner Home Video (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research), reported sales of about 190,000 Blu-ray units of the film, versus 97,000 in HD-DVD since July 31.

    Doesn't seem like 1.5 : 1 to me..

    that being a statistic from just one month :P  Hardly shows the big picture.

    image

  • Keebs1984Keebs1984 Member Posts: 1,356

    Originally posted by methane47


     
    Originally posted by Keebs1984


     


    I fully support letting the consumer choose, which means I believe that all studios should be neutral, but because the BD exclusive studios refused to grant that simple choice I am completely happy about this progression in the format war. If they all won't go neutral than its about damn time HD DVD began fighting back.
    I think you're confused here.

     

    Bluray isn't allowed by the DVD group to make DVD hybrids.

    What? I'm not confused, you are.

    All studios going neutral means that Universal, Lionsgate, Fox, Sony, Disney, MGM, Paramount, Dreamworks, and Weinstein would now be releasing their movies in Blu Ray AND HD DVD to let the consumer decide which format will win (Warner, HBO and NewLine are already neutral). As it appears now, the corporations (primarily BD corps.) wanted to force the consumers to choose their own HD format, while I dislike any exclusivity it is nice to see Toshiba and Microsoft step up and start fighting back. At the rate it was going their were basically just lying down in front of Sony.

    Eternally mine,
    Keebs


    image

    The MMO gaming blog I write for.

  • AirspellAirspell Member, Newbie CommonPosts: 1,391

      This entire thing is pretty retarded overall. I must agree with an older comment about these 2 formats becoming outdated and getting pwned by some new technology whose efficiency and cost will unite the world into embracing it :P

    image

  • Malachi1975Malachi1975 Member Posts: 1,079
    Originally posted by Keebs1984


     
    Originally posted by Malachi1975


    The whole format wars game it a chance for the industry to mess with us consumers. However, your title is horrible offbase. Bluray is still selling at a 3:1 ration against HD-DVD. So it's far from "pwned". HD-DVD just got "pwned" by that same right when Blockbuster dropped them for rentals in their retails stores with plans to drop them from their online service as well. Even Netflix is waffling now because the rental number are dismal compared to BD.
    I think the payment of $150 million to Paramount to switch (read HERE) was the deciding factor, not the success of HD-DVD. We'll see how long the contract was for. As of this point that gives HD-DVD two whole studios that support the exclusively (the other being Universal). I think a blazing sign that this wasn't a unanimous decision to switch formats is the "excludes titles directed by Stephen Spielberg" taglin. THERE's 'pwnage" for you. Major studios flip and flop and make multi-million dollar decisions and Spielberg gives them the bird. You gotta love that a handful of directors are so big that they get to decide whatever the hell they want without any studios being able to say squat. The dialogue must have been great on that one.
    Paramount: "That's it, once we cash this check we're support HD-DVD exclusively! All films under out label will go to HD-DVD only."
    Spielberg: "No."
    Paramount: "But, we got a check!"
    Spielberg: "No."
    Paramount: "But....but....yes sir, Mr. Spielberg."
    Spielberg: "No."
    Paramount: "Huh? We already said okay to you."
    Spielberg: "I know, I just love saying no to you guys."
     
    Don't get me wrong, I have both systems so it doesn't hurt me either way to buy the movies on either format. It just would be nice to see OBJECTIVE reporting instead of fanboyisms. Bluray sales are WINNING, so I am not sure how you gather that they are the "losing" team. Other then Paramount and Universal all otehr studios either support BD exclusively or cross format.

     

    Wow. Where to start?

    First off, BluRay is selling at a 2:1 margin, not 3:1, and in the case of 300 it was a 1.5:1. (link)

    Rebutal: Numbers that vary week to week and by reporting source. Nielsenscan, whom I find a bit more reliable than Tom, was reporting 3:1. Nonetheless, my point still stands. It is hard to call the guys who are selling more movies "the losing side"

    Second: There are now 4 studios exlcusive to HD DVD: Universal, Paramount, Dreamworks, and Weinstein. (Not 2)

    I will admit to leaving Dreamworks out of the list becauae it is "Dreamworks Animation SKG" that signed which is a child company OF Paramount...therefore that would be counting the same company twice. As for Weinstein Studios, I was trying to include larger established studios only. I will give credit to Weinstein for some of the films they have released, however. So I will give HD 3 studios.

    Third: To say that Sony didn't pay off Blockbuster, or Target just like HD DVD did with Paramount is stupid. Both of these groups have been paying people off left and right to influence which format the consumer will choose.

    I won't disagree with you there. However, to run around saying HD won because Paramount went with them out of the kindness of their own heart (which is the topic of this thread) is silly. Sure, I think it's daft that both sides are using their checkbooks to win, but the fact stands that BD has a higher selling rate. That is the only gauge that we, as consumers, directly control.

    Fourth: Speilberg is NOT exclusive to Blu Ray, he has said so a number of times. Third Encounters is coming exlcusively to Blu Ray simply because he never secured the rights to that movie. Most major directors, who own rights to their movies, are waiting until full inception of the formats before putting their new movies on them so they can get the most money. You don't make a lot of money by selling 100,000 copies of it when the DVD versions are still selling millions.

    I never, at any time said that Speilberg said he was exclusive. (By the way...the guy is building his new house 17 miles from me. Anyone wanna go knock on his door and ask to see what his home entertainment center looks like?). So I do have to wonder WHERE you got that impression from me to comment on it. I was merely stating that I LOVE the fact that there are some directors so big that major studios can't tell them what to do with their movies. Yes, I think the fact that it's an 18 month contract combined with the fact that Speilberg wouldn't agree to it (which is funny since the S in SKG stands for Speilberg...even though they sold ownership of Dreamworks Animation a bit ago) screams that it was a pure "money only" deal.

    I fully support letting the consumer choose, which means I believe that all studios should be neutral, but because the BD exclusive studios refused to grant that simple choice I am completely happy about this progression in the format war. If they all won't go neutral than its about damn time HD DVD began fighting back.

    True, the Sony owned titles will never swing both ways, but a lot of the larger labels have opted to straddle the fence (Newline, Warner, etc). I agree that all the labels should be nuetral, but that's a perfect world in which we do not live. As for you saying you are "completely happy with this progression in the format war", I find that a bit disturbing. Regardless of who supports what, when money bribes are involved (on either side) I wouldn't be completely happy. That's saying that you are happy that a Corporate Checkbook can make your decisions for you. It kind of defeats you primary concept of letting the consumer choose.

    Inside sources say their is supposed to be another major HD DVD announcement coming to CEDIA, which is later this year (October I think).

    Again, I am waiting for Warner to spank them both.

     

     

    "What is it I have against Microsoft, you ask? Well, you know how you feel when you wait for an MMO to come out and when it does you feel like you've paid to play it's beta test for another 6-9 months before anything even thinks of working the way it should? Being a network engineer you feel that way about anything Microsoft puts out."

  • Malachi1975Malachi1975 Member Posts: 1,079

    Originally posted by Keebs1984


     
    Originally posted by methane47


     
    Originally posted by Keebs1984


     


    I fully support letting the consumer choose, which means I believe that all studios should be neutral, but because the BD exclusive studios refused to grant that simple choice I am completely happy about this progression in the format war. If they all won't go neutral than its about damn time HD DVD began fighting back.
    I think you're confused here.

     

    Bluray isn't allowed by the DVD group to make DVD hybrids.

     

    What? I'm not confused, you are.

    All studios going neutral means that Universal, Lionsgate, Fox, Sony, Disney, MGM, Paramount, Dreamworks, and Weinstein would now be releasing their movies in Blu Ray AND HD DVD to let the consumer decide which format will win (Warner, HBO and NewLine are already neutral). As it appears now, the corporations (primarily BD corps.) wanted to force the consumers to choose their own HD format, while I dislike any exclusivity it is nice to see Toshiba and Microsoft step up and start fighting back. At the rate it was going their were basically just lying down in front of Sony.

    I think what he is saying, and you're both confused purely as to what the other is syaing, is that HD-DVD started the exclusivity fight when they told BD that they were NOT allowed to use the "DVD on oneside, BD on the other" hybrid disc that HD-DVD uses. From the getgo they set forth a "Us or Them" mentallity that started the very exclusivity you seem to be against.

    "What is it I have against Microsoft, you ask? Well, you know how you feel when you wait for an MMO to come out and when it does you feel like you've paid to play it's beta test for another 6-9 months before anything even thinks of working the way it should? Being a network engineer you feel that way about anything Microsoft puts out."

  • odinthedemonodinthedemon Member Posts: 200

    Originally posted by Malachi1975


    The whole format wars game it a chance for the industry to mess with us consumers. However, your title is horrible offbase. Bluray is still selling at a 3:1 ration against HD-DVD. So it's far from "pwned". HD-DVD just got "pwned" by that same right when Blockbuster dropped them for rentals in their retails stores with plans to drop them from their online service as well. Even Netflix is waffling now because the rental number are dismal compared to BD.
    I think the payment of $150 million to Paramount to switch (read HERE) was the deciding factor, not the success of HD-DVD. We'll see how long the contract was for. As of this point that gives HD-DVD two whole studios that support the exclusively (the other being Universal). I think a blazing sign that this wasn't a unanimous decision to switch formats is the "excludes titles directed by Stephen Spielberg" taglin. THERE's 'pwnage" for you. Major studios flip and flop and make multi-million dollar decisions and Spielberg gives them the bird. You gotta love that a handful of directors are so big that they get to decide whatever the hell they want without any studios being able to say squat. The dialogue must have been great on that one.
    Paramount: "That's it, once we cash this check we're support HD-DVD exclusively! All films under out label will go to HD-DVD only."
    Spielberg: "No."
    Paramount: "But, we got a check!"
    Spielberg: "No."
    Paramount: "But....but....yes sir, Mr. Spielberg."
    Spielberg: "No."
    Paramount: "Huh? We already said okay to you."
    Spielberg: "I know, I just love saying no to you guys."
     
    Don't get me wrong, I have both systems so it doesn't hurt me either way to buy the movies on either format. It just would be nice to see OBJECTIVE reporting instead of fanboyisms. Bluray sales are WINNING, so I am not sure how you gather that they are the "losing" team. Other then Paramount and Universal all otehr studios either support BD exclusively or cross format.

    I'm not a fanboy, I think this will be (as with most things) decided by price, and currently the HD-DVD players are much cheaper than the Bluray players. I really wouldn't mind if Sony won this round, since on paper the Bluray disc can hold more data, which can mean more for consumers in the long term...

    But people love to save money, and right now Bluray is still pretty pricey...

    I think it would have done a LOT better than it currently is doing, if the PS3 had some screaming titles and was selling like hot cakes. If the PS3 had a gaggle of killer apps, they sell more systems and in a way sell Bluray as the choice format...

    Unfortunatly the PS3 is very meh at this point, and is seriously lacking apps... Yes I know that "someday", it'll have more games, but NOW is what matters, not 5 years down the road.

     

     

  • Keebs1984Keebs1984 Member Posts: 1,356

    Originally posted by Malachi1975


     
    Wow. Where to start?
    First off, BluRay is selling at a 2:1 margin, not 3:1, and in the case of 300 it was a 1.5:1. (link)
    Rebutal: Numbers that vary week to week and by reporting source. Nielsenscan, whom I find a bit more reliable than Tom, was reporting 3:1. Nonetheless, my point still stands. It is hard to call the guys who are selling more movies "the losing side"
    Those numbers weren't given by "Tom" they were done by Home Media Research and confirmed by the NPD. The numbers don't change each week unless it is a crazy executive trying to spin their selected format.
    Second: There are now 4 studios exlcusive to HD DVD: Universal, Paramount, Dreamworks, and Weinstein. (Not 2)
    I will admit to leaving Dreamworks out of the list becauae it is "Dreamworks Animation SKG" that signed which is a child company OF Paramount...therefore that would be counting the same company twice. As for Weinstein Studios, I was trying to include larger established studios only. I will give credit to Weinstein for some of the films they have released, however. So I will give HD 3 studios.
    Wait, people list MGM as a separate studio and is CONSTANTLY included in the list of BD exclusive studios DESPITE it making about as many movies as Weinstein (with about the same intake in money) and being owned and operated by Sony. Why is that fair then?
    Third: To say that Sony didn't pay off Blockbust
    er, or Target just like HD DVD did with Paramount is stupid. Both of these groups have been paying people off left and right to influence which format the consumer will choose.
    I won't disagree with you there. However, to run around saying HD won because Paramount went with them out of the kindness of their own heart (which is the topic of this thread) is silly. Sure, I think it's daft that both sides are using their checkbooks to win, but the fact stands that BD has a higher selling rate. That is the only gauge that we, as consumers, directly control.
    I didn't say HD DVD won.
    Fourth: Speilberg is NOT exclusive to Blu Ray, he has said so a number of times. Third Encounters is coming exlcusively to Blu Ray simply because he never secured the rights to that movie. Most major directors, who own rights to their movies, are waiting until full inception of the formats before putting their new movies on them so they can get the most money. You don't make a lot of money by selling 100,000 copies of it when the DVD versions are still selling millions.
    I never, at any time said that Speilberg said he was exclusive. (By the way...the guy is building his new house 17 miles from me. Anyone wanna go knock on his door and ask to see what his home entertainment center looks like?). So I do have to wonder WHERE you got that impression from me to comment on it. I was merely stating that I LOVE the fact that there are some directors so big that major studios can't tell them what to do with their movies. Yes, I think the fact that it's an 18 month contract combined with the fact that Speilberg wouldn't agree to it (which is funny since the S in SKG stands for Speilberg...even though they sold ownership of Dreamworks Animation a bit ago) screams that it was a pure "money only" deal.
    I know you didn't. However, your post may have given the assumption to some people that he is BD exclusive, which is something I wanted to clear up. Also the reason why it is an 18 month deal only is simply because everybody is hoping by that time there is a CLEAR winner to this war.
    I fully support letting the consumer choose, which means I believe that all studios should be neutral, but because the BD exclusive studios refused to grant that simple choice I am completely happy about this progression in the format war. If they all won't go neutral than its about damn time HD DVD began fighting back.
    True, the Sony owned titles will never swing both ways, but a lot of the larger labels have opted to straddle the fence (Newline, Warner, etc). I agree that all the labels should be nuetral, but that's a perfect world in which we do not live. As for you saying you are "completely happy with this progression in the format war", I find that a bit disturbing. Regardless of who supports what, when money bribes are involved (on either side) I wouldn't be completely happy. That's saying that you are happy that a Corporate Checkbook can make your decisions for you. It kind of defeats you primary concept of letting the consumer choose.
    You have to look at it this way: It was either HD DVD gives up to the corporate greed (not saying Microsoft and Tosh weren't greedy as well) that is Sony and the BDA, and the BluRay disc gets forced onto the consumers, OR MS and Tosh finally starts fighting back the only way they can. At least this way its not a clear push onto Sony and what is would essentially become a monopoly. I HATE shady business tactics (like whats being done with this war) but I HATE monopolies even more. Competition, no matter how dirty it gets will always be better than the tyranny of a monopoly.
    Inside sources say their is supposed to be another major HD DVD announcement coming to CEDIA, which is later this year (October I think).
    Again, I am waiting for Warner to spank them both.
    Me too. I am actually a little worried as this whole "deal" gave Warner A LOT of power. They can single handedely push it in favour of HD DVD, give it up to Blu Ray, or keep this war going on for years. Who knows what they'll do but their execs aren't stupid. They know they are in a very rare position of power above the other studios and will probably use it to their full advantage.
     

     

    Eternally mine,
    Keebs


    image

    The MMO gaming blog I write for.

  • Malachi1975Malachi1975 Member Posts: 1,079

     

    Originally posted by odinthedemon


     
     
    I'm not a fanboy, I think this will be (as with most things) decided by price, and currently the HD-DVD players are much cheaper than the Bluray players. I really wouldn't mind if Sony won this round, since on paper the Bluray disc can hold more data, which can mean more for consumers in the long term...
    But people love to save money, and right now Bluray is still pretty pricey...
    I think it would have done a LOT better than it currently is doing, if the PS3 had some screaming titles and was selling like hot cakes. If the PS3 had a gaggle of killer apps, they sell more systems and in a way sell Bluray as the choice format...
    Unfortunatly the PS3 is very meh at this point, and is seriously lacking apps... Yes I know that "someday", it'll have more games, but NOW is what matters, not 5 years down the road.
     
     

     

    Now here, I cannot really disagree with you. Yes, HD-DVD players are cheaper (though the quality drives are still $400 or so...so not a lot cheaper than a PS3 which gives you more than a movie player). All these "numbers" from difference research groups get obnoxious. On one hand NPD reports that BD sales are blasting HD-DVD, but on the other they report that HD-DVD players are blasting BD player sales. Makes me wonder if people are buying HD-DVDs and only renting. I think the upcoming BD Burners might make a swing in the BD direction just because of the said format space.

    Now, as for PS3, I would say the next 3 months will either be a flop or shine for them. With a lot of their promised "big" titles coming out it may just now be the time for the PS3 to strut its stuff. I remember how crappy Xbox did when they first came out and relied on Halo as their big hitter. It took a while for them to get a nice catalogue (this is most likely because both companies just want to get their boxes into our hands before we really hand anything to do with it.) PS3 has Lair, Warhawk, Heavenly Sword, and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune coming out within the next 3 months or so. The next big wave will be the FF13 and MGS4 wave. We'll have to see how PS3 does after these titles release.

    Oddly enough, even with the lacking catalogue, my PS3 gets more use than my 360 (for whatever reason it looks better on my HDTV as a standard DVD player than my 360 HD-DVD drive...and yes, both are hooked up via indentical quality HDMI cables and I have swapped both to make sure). Also, there are a few cross platform games I play on the PS3 because I don't have to pay for a yearly service to play online (Darkness and Blazing Angels: Sqaudrons of WWII).

     

    EDIT: Woohoo...big 1000th post for me. Give me an intarweb dammit!

    "What is it I have against Microsoft, you ask? Well, you know how you feel when you wait for an MMO to come out and when it does you feel like you've paid to play it's beta test for another 6-9 months before anything even thinks of working the way it should? Being a network engineer you feel that way about anything Microsoft puts out."

  • DekronDekron Member UncommonPosts: 7,359

    I end this argument now. BetaMax FTW.

  • Malachi1975Malachi1975 Member Posts: 1,079
    Originally posted by Keebs1984


     
    Originally posted by Malachi1975


     
    Wow. Where to start?
    First off, BluRay is selling at a 2:1 margin, not 3:1, and in the case of 300 it was a 1.5:1. (link)
    Rebutal: Numbers that vary week to week and by reporting source. Nielsenscan, whom I find a bit more reliable than Tom, was reporting 3:1. Nonetheless, my point still stands. It is hard to call the guys who are selling more movies "the losing side"
    Those numbers weren't given by "Tom" they were done by Home Media Research and confirmed by the NPD. The numbers don't change each week unless it is a crazy executive trying to spin their selected format.
    I should say numbers change from month to month and SOMETIMES shortly after a major release (300 was an example in which they were updated in a shorter period). NPD has been reporting 3:1 for a while until just recently, so unless that number stays the same it will go down as a fluctuation (though even *I* have to admit when you look at overall sales numbers NO ONE seems to have the right ratio).
    Second: There are now 4 studios exlcusive to HD DVD: Universal, Paramount, Dreamworks, and Weinstein. (Not 2)
    I will admit to leaving Dreamworks out of the list becauae it is "Dreamworks Animation SKG" that signed which is a child company OF Paramount...therefore that would be counting the same company twice. As for Weinstein Studios, I was trying to include larger established studios only. I will give credit to Weinstein for some of the films they have released, however. So I will give HD 3 studios.
    Wait, people list MGM as a separate studio and is CONSTANTLY included in the list of BD exclusive studios DESPITE it making about as many movies as Weinstein (with about the same intake in money) and being owned and operated by Sony. Why is that fair then?
    People, not me. We're talking about what *I* said, not Joe down the street. I don't count individual studios as seperate entities if they fly under the same corporate flag. Just like I only list Disney as ONE backing studio. While I may talk about the labels under their umbrella I never count them as anything more than a single entity. If you want to get this into a debate about what other people say, you're going to have to go talk to them. I, for one, would never debase myself to the point of being a spokesperson for humanity. I have more integrity than that.
    Third: To say that Sony didn't pay off Blockbust
    er, or Target just like HD DVD did with Paramount is stupid. Both of these groups have been paying people off left and right to influence which format the consumer will choose.
    I won't disagree with you there. However, to run around saying HD won because Paramount went with them out of the kindness of their own heart (which is the topic of this thread) is silly. Sure, I think it's daft that both sides are using their checkbooks to win, but the fact stands that BD has a higher selling rate. That is the only gauge that we, as consumers, directly control.
    I didn't say HD DVD won.
    That was directed at the OP's post, not yours. Hence the (which is the topic of this thread) statement.
    Fourth: Speilberg is NOT exclusive to Blu Ray, he has said so a number of times. Third Encounters is coming exlcusively to Blu Ray simply because he never secured the rights to that movie. Most major directors, who own rights to their movies, are waiting until full inception of the formats before putting their new movies on them so they can get the most money. You don't make a lot of money by selling 100,000 copies of it when the DVD versions are still selling millions.
    I never, at any time said that Speilberg said he was exclusive. (By the way...the guy is building his new house 17 miles from me. Anyone wanna go knock on his door and ask to see what his home entertainment center looks like?). So I do have to wonder WHERE you got that impression from me to comment on it. I was merely stating that I LOVE the fact that there are some directors so big that major studios can't tell them what to do with their movies. Yes, I think the fact that it's an 18 month contract combined with the fact that Speilberg wouldn't agree to it (which is funny since the S in SKG stands for Speilberg...even though they sold ownership of Dreamworks Animation a bit ago) screams that it was a pure "money only" deal.
    I know you didn't. However, your post may have given the assumption to some people that he is BD exclusive, which is something I wanted to clear up. Also the reason why it is an 18 month deal only is simply because everybody is hoping by that time there is a CLEAR winner to this war.
    I disgress there if that is the assumption anyone made on my commentary. My point was more so that I like that there are directors that can tell every studio and every format to "sod off" and continue doing what they want. It made me chuckle that it was a $150 million dollar deal when Speilberg could probably go withdraw that from the ATM. Regardless of what format it was I like that Stephen took a "I will do what I want" stance.
    I fully support letting the consumer choose, which means I believe that all studios should be neutral, but because the BD exclusive studios refused to grant that simple choice I am completely happy about this progression in the format war. If they all won't go neutral than its about damn time HD DVD began fighting back.
    True, the Sony owned titles will never swing both ways, but a lot of the larger labels have opted to straddle the fence (Newline, Warner, etc). I agree that all the labels should be nuetral, but that's a perfect world in which we do not live. As for you saying you are "completely happy with this progression in the format war", I find that a bit disturbing. Regardless of who supports what, when money bribes are involved (on either side) I wouldn't be completely happy. That's saying that you are happy that a Corporate Checkbook can make your decisions for you. It kind of defeats you primary concept of letting the consumer choose.
    You have to look at it this way: It was either HD DVD gives up to the corporate greed (not saying Microsoft and Tosh weren't greedy as well) that is Sony and the BDA, and the BluRay disc gets forced onto the consumers, OR MS and Tosh finally starts fighting back the only way they can. At least this way its not a clear push onto Sony and what is would essentially become a monopoly. I HATE shady business tactics (like whats being done with this war) but I HATE monopolies even more. Competition, no matter how dirty it gets will always be better than the tyranny of a monopoly.
    Now there you are spot on. I, for one, think that when people talk about who will "win" it is us, the consumers, who will win as long as there is competition. I just hate that these corporate money mongers are flinging money around to win instead of actually letting us consumers decide with our purchases (it's really starting to sound a lot more like a Presidential Election every day)
    Inside sources say their is supposed to be another major HD DVD announcement coming to CEDIA, which is later this year (October I think).
    Again, I am waiting for Warner to spank them both.
    Me too. I am actually a little worried as this whole "deal" gave Warner A LOT of power. They can single handedely push it in favour of HD DVD, give it up to Blu Ray, or keep this war going on for years. Who knows what they'll do but their execs aren't stupid. They know they are in a very rare position of power above the other studios and will probably use it to their full advantage.
    Ain't that the truth. IF Warner goes the route of creating a middle ground, hybrid format then they will go down as a savior. IF they realise that they have the proverbial "One Ring" right now, then we're all in for a long, costly haul.
     

     

     

     

    "What is it I have against Microsoft, you ask? Well, you know how you feel when you wait for an MMO to come out and when it does you feel like you've paid to play it's beta test for another 6-9 months before anything even thinks of working the way it should? Being a network engineer you feel that way about anything Microsoft puts out."

  • GodliestGodliest Member Posts: 3,486

    It's nice to see that the love for colors hasn't come to an end. Now your trying to share it through quoting...

    image

    image

  • Malachi1975Malachi1975 Member Posts: 1,079

    Originally posted by Godliest


    It's nice to see that the love for colors hasn't come to an end. Now your trying to share it through quoting...

    Makes it prettier to read.... and you're quote on the left is too close to mine :P

    "What is it I have against Microsoft, you ask? Well, you know how you feel when you wait for an MMO to come out and when it does you feel like you've paid to play it's beta test for another 6-9 months before anything even thinks of working the way it should? Being a network engineer you feel that way about anything Microsoft puts out."

  • pyrofreakpyrofreak Member UncommonPosts: 1,481

    As a pirate who hasn't bought a movie in longer than a year, for the first time ever, I can say I honestly don't give a crap.

     

    Don't get me wrong, I'm sure someone will win eventually but all that'll mean for me is a new copy of alcohol or daemon tools.

    Now with 57.3% more flames!

  • gluglugluglu Member Posts: 25

    Bluray won... HDDVD was dead already by spring 2007.

    Desperate measures will not change the death sentence.

     

  • Keebs1984Keebs1984 Member Posts: 1,356

    Originally posted by gluglu


    Bluray won... HDDVD was dead already by spring 2007.
    Desperate measures will not change the death sentence.
     

    Yet another knowledgeable scholar to grace our halls.

    Please enlighten us.

    Eternally mine,
    Keebs


    image

    The MMO gaming blog I write for.

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