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HD DVD dead... No More Format War... Go Buy A Blu Ray Player

Whooptie. by JKrow21	Feb 16th, 2008 12:47:07 PM
I'm still waiting for the prices to go down on all of this bullshit before I start wasting my money.
So who wants to buy... by d1138	Feb 16th, 2008 12:48:16 PM
...my Toshiba HD-A30?
Yay! by Golitsyn1	Feb 16th, 2008 12:49:04 PM
I just bought a PS3 :-)
Harry Has Chosen WRONG and Here's Why! by DanDelion	Feb 16th, 2008 12:49:18 PM
See Above! OWNED!!
Suck it. Suck it. Suck it by Kragmose	Feb 16th, 2008 12:49:36 PM
Suck it real good.
the power of playstation by mmaddox3	Feb 16th, 2008 12:49:43 PM
the war wouldve gone on longer if blu-ray hadnt been in ps3
Forget Blu Ray - bring back VHS by theycallmemrglass	Feb 16th, 2008 12:50:11 PM
The way forward is Backward. Ie Retro.
Well poop... by Triceratops on Fire	Feb 16th, 2008 12:50:28 PM
Not that I really care. Although will this really lower prices of blu-ray movies?
BLU RAY by top1tony	Feb 16th, 2008 12:50:29 PM
HD sucks the big one anyway. It was about time
Amen Zoidberg by Kragmose	Feb 16th, 2008 12:50:51 PM

does anyone else think... by mmaddox3	Feb 16th, 2008 12:51:23 PM
..that animated features look like shitty computer games in HD? i mean it looks terrible to me. same with some other stuff, like the pirates movies, they loook terrible in hd.
Finally over by Norm3	Feb 16th, 2008 12:51:27 PM
I was sick of this format war. Let the buying begin.
Harry, better cash your check by skimn	Feb 16th, 2008 12:51:40 PM
from Toshiba before it bounces....I keed, I keed. Actually my old DVD player was misreading discs so I picked up an HD player on the cheap a couple of weeks ago. Waiting for the 5 dollar bargain bin at Walmart on Hd discs soon.
You know why it won? by Mr. Nice Gaius	Feb 16th, 2008 12:52:17 PM
Because of the name. Blu-Ray is just sooooo much cooler to say. It makes people think of blue lights and laser beams. Which, as we all know, looks cool. Whatever. I'm sticking with the ol' trusty DVD format while I wait for direct downloading.
i knew this would happen as soon as Warner dropped HDDVD by mish87	Feb 16th, 2008 12:52:35 PM

PS3 move the smartest of all. by The Reef	Feb 16th, 2008 12:52:41 PM
If Microsoft had added an HD DVD drive to the X360 and persuaded PC manufacturers to add HD to PC and laptop units by releasing Vista/Office on HD DVD discs the story would have been very different. Will X360s be providing blu-ray now...? That's a decision that's going to sting a lot of senior MS brass. Sony's inclusion of an updatable BLU-RAY in the PS3 sealed the argument early on, all the rest of this "war" was nothing more than a waiting game from that point onwards. P.S. Ratatouille on Blu is just fantastic. Reef out.
Oh, Great Harry by klonger	Feb 16th, 2008 12:53:24 PM
Can you enlighten us once again with your home viewing setup? Per your columns, I've avoided purchasing either Hi-Def system in anticipation of your announcement. I want to be you, Harry...so I think the best place to start to use buy the same viewing stuff as you.
There can be only one by aboriginal	Feb 16th, 2008 12:54:22 PM
HD DVD: the new word for Betamax. Sony was not gonna go down this road a third time after that and mini disc.
I would say this has by comedian_x	Feb 16th, 2008 12:55:08 PM
not as much to do with the PS3, but rather Sony as the media giant is today. Back in the eighties with Beta Sony was just a electronics company who had to rely on others make the content. Today, with Sony owning Columbia Pictures, et al they could have drug this "war" out for years by making their own content. The other studios knew that and acted accordingly. (And received a cash reward from Sony for their forsight.)
This doesn't matter by Mo_Green	Feb 16th, 2008 12:55:21 PM
because no one is going to spend money to completely revamp their home video library to Blue Ray. There's simply not enough of a difference in the product for people to make the complete changeover from DVD to Blue Ray. Whoever won this format battle was going to face the uphill fight of selling a hard medium in an age where everything is increasingly digital. In 3-5 years, when the average consumer is able to download HD quality movies to their televisions, anyone who has invested thousands of dollars in Blue Ray players and discs is going to feel very foolish.
Do I recall problems on the BluRay holiday discs by skimn	Feb 16th, 2008 12:55:25 PM
Pirates At Worlds End and Live Free Die Hard not playing properly, if at all, on some BluRay players?
Harry watches his TVs Clockwork Orange style. by JKrow21	Feb 16th, 2008 12:57:20 PM
Move along.
Oh the irony by Multiplex	Feb 16th, 2008 12:57:44 PM
There is an HD-DVD ad in the sidebar of this page.
Kiss and make up time. by RAVENL0RD	Feb 16th, 2008 12:59:13 PM
Kumbaya and stuff. HD movies rule. One format for all movies. Yay!
Mo_Green by jfp2007	Feb 16th, 2008 12:59:45 PM
There's a huge difference between DVD and HD content. If you can't see it then you're either looking at the wrong movies or have crappy hardware or have shit for brains.
The Cost of Blu Ray Discs by oosamon	Feb 16th, 2008 01:01:04 PM
...is probably about to go up. There won't be any competition from HD DVD to keep the prices low. But since I just bought a PS3, I'm glad that more movies will be available for my viewing pleasure. Not to be self-centered or anything.
C'mon Harry.... by CarmillaVonDoom	Feb 16th, 2008 01:02:03 PM
Why is it 'important' for people to abandon the systems (and untold numbers of DVD's) that they have already spent so much money on??? For most consumers, the difference in quality is pretty underwhelming...unless you have a bunch of multi-thousand dollar home theater equipment. A lot of us 'out here' are perfectly happy watching a variety of media ONLINE, FOR FREE. I don't have any problem with a small picture and inferior sound...the quality of what I am choosing to watch is more important to me. These format wars are just irrelevant to the vast majority of people who can't afford to throw money at every new media development. We ALL KNOW that a new format will be along as soon as the money is done being wrung from these. :P
I'm not buying titles by INWOsuxRED	Feb 16th, 2008 01:02:12 PM
I'm sure eventually I'll be forced to buy a player, but they've lost me as a real consumer. I don't want to take up any more space in my home with boxes that I might watch once and will then collect dust. I gave up on DVD titles without moving to HD, and buying an HD player won't make me buy a bunch of boxes. All the new movies wind up in HD on cable. If there is an extra or a movie I need to see, I might rent it on whatever player I have, but the idea of buying titles is dead to me.
Hey, people who own standalone BD players by sonic3305	Feb 16th, 2008 01:02:45 PM
Enjoy buying a new one in October, lol
HAHAHA by BGDAWES	Feb 16th, 2008 01:07:18 PM
Harry was wrong. Ole' Harry just screwed the pooch.
Blu-ray will not replace my dvds and hd-dvds. by JDanielP	Feb 16th, 2008 01:09:38 PM
And by the way, I've recently had regular dvds of "RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK" and "FANTASTIC 4" playing on my HD-DVD player, showing selected scenes to my young son...and I continue to be amazed at how well it up-converts. (FF looked convincingly "HD", as many dvd titles benefit the visual up-grade.) It's unfortunate to see the more consumer friendly format go away...but I'm scorin' some deals!
To be honest Harry by wash	Feb 16th, 2008 01:10:48 PM
You really blew it when you came out with your big shill "here's why" post that was so misinformed you had to redact portions (and not even comment on it). That was pretty tacky, and even though I can believe no money actually changed hands (if that's what you still claim), I'm certain that you got freebies up the ying-yang. And that makes any endorsement suspect, especially when you came off so disingenuous.
Life has chosen SINESTRO CORPS WAR and here's why by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 01:11:06 PM
BECAUSE IT KILLS YOU! IN BLACKEST DAY! IN BRIGHTEST NIGHT!
HD IS replacing DVD by Guy Who Got A Headache And Accidentally Saves The World	Feb 16th, 2008 01:12:27 PM
HD shit is selling way more than what regular DVD was at the same point in it's life span, so the bullshit about people "not wanting a format war" or "being happy to stick with dvd" is just that, bullshit
DVD will be around for a while by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 01:12:33 PM
it's a great format and too convenient for the mass populace.
I bought one HD DVD despite owning only a blu-ray player by ufoclub1977	Feb 16th, 2008 01:12:39 PM
I had to buy it... haven't been able to watch it yet... the 1976 KING KONG only released on French HD DVD.
I don't regret adopting HD DVD early by HEADGEEK	Feb 16th, 2008 01:13:33 PM
I've got two extra players mint in box - and that'll keep me going good on the 200 or so discs that I have in that format for a very long time. The fact is - I prefer that format. The interactivity is vastly superior to BLU RAY - on a disc to disc comparison - the extras were better. And the player is much more stable than my Blu Ray. That said both produce beautiful film images and awesome sound. Contrary to popular opinion - both formats have advertised on AICN - so if anything - both sides have "paid the bills" - However, neither affected editorial policy - I bought my HD DVD player - and I bought my Blu Ray player. I get lots of discs from both sides for review. And I'm not the only one that having compared both formats - preferred HD DVD.
HD Cable does not look as good as Blu-Ray by wash	Feb 16th, 2008 01:13:41 PM
Maybe good enough for some granted, but if you have a nice enough tv and a sharp eye the difference in quality is pretty glaring.
Sony? by staticneuron	Feb 16th, 2008 01:13:55 PM
"In the last few months, 'Sony' has completely and totally flanked and surrounded HD-DVD." This is exactly why I don't feel bad for alot of HD-DVD supporters. Many of them just swore it was another 'sony' format. Ignore the rest of the companies who made it. Ignore the head of the BDA who is from Philips. Those who went red because they felt like they were sticking it sony, deserve the holes in their pockets. If you kept your head out of the sand and actually investigated these two formats maybe it would have made more sense. But the FUD train seems more fun to ride. I honestly wonder what on earth had people thinking that HD-DVD was a better format than Blu ray.
IT'S OVER? WELL THANK FUCK FOR THAT!!! by alucardvsdracula	Feb 16th, 2008 01:14:17 PM
Glad I never went HD now, very nearly did. I ended up going Blu when I got a PS3 - that and Casino Royale swung it for me.
I'd upgrade my collection by Onset	Feb 16th, 2008 01:15:17 PM
... if they had a 1:1 trade.
Playstation 3....brilliant move Sony by Brians Life	Feb 16th, 2008 01:19:02 PM
Seriously, it's like millions of people bought a Blu-Ray player as a second thought. Always thought Blu Ray had this, as there was no way 2 HD formats would stick around and stupid people don't like saying "H-D-D-V-D"...BORING!!! But "Blue RAY!" Sounds like hi tech shit.
Just make an HD DVD player sandwhich, Harry by JimCurry	Feb 16th, 2008 01:19:20 PM
and eat it.
It doesn't matter... by JackIsLost	Feb 16th, 2008 01:19:48 PM
HD downloads are the future. Discs are the new 8-tracks...
That said.... by Brians Life	Feb 16th, 2008 01:21:13 PM
The moment I bought my first Blue Ray disc I knew this was the format for me, if not for everyone. Harry, interactivity!?! Extras superiority?!? Examples?!
5 Players? by cutest_of_borg	Feb 16th, 2008 01:22:03 PM
I guess I'm getting old but we only have one player and it is old style dvd - and I use it maybe three times a month. Would it kill you people to go outside once in a while?
Ok harry, I see the confusion by staticneuron	Feb 16th, 2008 01:22:09 PM
The formats are the discs. Technically speaking blu ray was superior. Space, bitrate, coating. As far as the features and players and even the encodes on the disc, they have nothing to do with the format itself really. I mean it is always safe to assume that the players and the software that is going to take advantage of blu ray will get better over time. The here and now is way to short sighted for this industry and for technology in general. As far as extra features they seem to have made it there. I have heard that heroes on HD DVD had excellent extras but then I also heard about the lost season 3 on blu ray whos extras compare or even might be slightly better than that on heroes. That shows that the companies can do it if they are willing to spend time and money. Even the encodes or suspect because after I watched MI:3 on both blu ray and HD-DVD, I couldn't see what was wrong with the MPEG2 encode. That disc shows that it must be the way the studios are handling the encodes.
JackIsLost.... by Brians Life	Feb 16th, 2008 01:22:30 PM
...I agree, but how far off to you think that technology is. An HD download takes forever now over bit torrent....that has to change before HD downloads become a reality.
I don't mean this to be an assy thing... by Lenny Nero	Feb 16th, 2008 01:22:57 PM
...but I really really really want to hear from those on this site--and there were many--that said there was no fucking way Blu-Ray would ever ever beat HD-DVD. It would just be an absolutely fascinating test to see if they've learned to stop and think before stating absolutes, probably the worst plague on this site as far as talkbackers go.
in hind sight, hd-dvd looks like wishful thinking by The Decider	Feb 16th, 2008 01:25:18 PM
And Blu Ray looks like a forgone conclusion. I guess because the PS3 was initially so expensive, it looked like maybe there was some hope for HD-DVD, but Sony dropped the price on the PS3 so aggressively that their trojan horse worked.
Nero by wash	Feb 16th, 2008 01:27:29 PM
They'll scream and cry about how Warner was paid off, never mentioning that Paramount was paid off months earlier, and that Toshiba was trying to pay off Fox, Warner, and Disney too. Money talks of course, but looking at the numbers (Blu-Ray already had the advantage), it made more sense for Warner to take that deal. And Warner should be praised for making the choice that would piss off LESS people.
In all fairness by INWOsuxRED	Feb 16th, 2008 01:28:15 PM
if Harry had to go outside on his own power, he probably would die.
Well... by jimmy rabbitte	Feb 16th, 2008 01:28:35 PM
...Sony finally gets to be on the winning side of a format battle. This should erase any residual sting from losing out with Betamax back in the 80's Blu-Ray it will be... now the prices should get more in line with regular DVD movies and players. Which is what the smart consumer was waiting for all along.
It's good of Harry to "man up by Kid Idioteque	Feb 16th, 2008 01:30:26 PM

It's good of Harry to "man up" like that. by Kid Idioteque	Feb 16th, 2008 01:30:47 PM
Well done, sir. Blu-ray FTW!!!!
Harry by skimn	Feb 16th, 2008 01:31:37 PM
I know you bought your HD player at Best Buy or Circuit City or wherever, and you just recently got a BlueRay when your expenses could swing it, but where did all the free HD players that were given away at BNAT come from?? That smells a lot like payola of some sort..sorry pal.
I don't own a HDTV so... by Evil Lincoln	Feb 16th, 2008 01:32:52 PM
...they can still suck it hard!
Did I mention... by RAVENL0RD	Feb 16th, 2008 01:33:03 PM
how happy I am that this thing is over? Also, I chose wisely. Not to sound like a prick, but I still don't see how anyone thought HD-DVD would win this. Anyway, let's play nice now. Let's be friends!
My TV by INWOsuxRED	Feb 16th, 2008 01:33:10 PM
gets HD on demand right now. The technology is already here. You don't download it, you just watch it, whenever you want, and if you watch it again, you just watch it again without ever downloading it.
what about porn? by Jubba	Feb 16th, 2008 01:33:27 PM
will all porn go obsolete because they chose hd-dvd?
Sony gets to be on the winning side..? by skimn	Feb 16th, 2008 01:34:50 PM
What would you call their domineering the video game wars with Playstation/Playstation 2?They ruled the majority of the '90s/early '00s.
regular DVDs look fine by Rupee88	Feb 16th, 2008 01:36:03 PM
how much more clear do you need the picture to be..damn.
Here's the thing... by expert_40	Feb 16th, 2008 01:40:02 PM
... unless you bought a PS3, a great many of the people who bought the $300.00 Profile 1.0 Blu Ray players over the Holidays are TOTALLY fucked. They bought a $300.00 doorstop. Those things don't have net access, which means no firmware updates, which means no Profile 1.1 or 2.0 discs. See... Sony STILL loves screwing over their customers. Like with the PSP. What's with the PSP you ask? Sony is about to dump that format, which is why the so agressively packaged it over the Holidays. Trying to get rid of their backstock. The scuttlebutt is (and I should know, I work at, well, THE video game store) that they're either getting out of the handheld market because they've lost so much money trying to fool people in adopting minidiscs again, or they're entering a new technology into the fold, forsaking all the current PSP owners, like they just did with the PS2 owners. What's that, you say? How is Sony screwing their loyal PS2 owners? Well, not only did Sony try to charge people with a library of PS2 games an extra $100.00 just for the right to play them on a PS3 (they only played on the 80 gig PS3), now they've dumped the 80 gig PS3. We've taken them all off our shelves. Sony has lost SO much money on the PS3 that they're only offering the 40 gig version (which is 80 gigs less than the XBOX Elite, so sorry people who want to download content!). And because Blu is still so expensive, and the Profile 2.0 players are going to be around $500.00 bucks, I forsee Blu Ray becoming EXACTLY what Moriarty said it would be... Laserdisc 2000. He warned us. And now you Sony sycophants will see just how bad this will get. Sony is known for screwing their customers (PS2 owners can't play PS2 games on the PS3, all of those people duped into buying $300.00 Profile 1.0 players, dumping the PSP, MINDISC, etc.). I refuse to buy a PS3 (the games suck and they don't have a single PS3 only game worth buying, all of the games that used to be PS3 only, like Final Fantasy, GTA, Unreal Tournament, etc, can all be found on XBOX 360). I prefer choice. It's the American way. I don't like companies forcing me to buy what they want me to buy. That's what Sony does. So until the price of Blu Profile 2.0 players drop to $200.00, or until Microsoft adds a Blu Ray add on drive to the 360 (which may not be far off), I won't get Blue.
Better yet, don't buy any new formats. by Fahrquar	Feb 16th, 2008 01:40:15 PM
There is no logical reason for dropping DVD, especially now that it is at the height of title availability. Blu Ray is going to need years, and what is the likelihood that it will actually match DVD in titles? Will this really be worth it several years from now? Also, since when does 1080pi make watching shitty pirate movies or special effects porn more interesting? I will still take a ratty VHS if there is a film worth watching on it, I've never once thought, "if only this were on HD, then I would be enjoying this movie."
omg lemmings break your dvds by palewook	Feb 16th, 2008 01:40:49 PM
and buy blu ray discs! yawn. 30-40 for a blu ray dvd or 10 bucks for a dvd. yeah the war is over. and dvd won.
People are forgetting the Most important thing by StuckInthePresentPaused	Feb 16th, 2008 01:42:33 PM
now that a format has won we can look forward to the announced release dates probably sooner than later of some favorite films such as the star wars saga and lord of the rings
Jubba... by Shawn F.	Feb 16th, 2008 01:43:16 PM
Porn on DVD/HD DVD/Blu-ray etc. will go obsolete because of the internet. As for this format war, thank God its over. I have both, but the majority of the stuff I own is on Blu-ray. Nice to finally be able to concentrate on just one format now.
Go fuck yourself, Harry by Frankenblogger	Feb 16th, 2008 01:45:30 PM
You're a fucking idiot who was obviously working for the HD DVD camp and who doesn't have a clue as to which format is better. Technologically Blu-Ray was the winner from the get go. Furthermore, the disc prices were roughly the same. I'd also like to point out that Blu-Ray was winning BEFORE Warner's decision to back Blu-Ray exclusively. How about doing a little research before making a post. Might make you appear a bit smarter even if you aren't. 4 HD DVD players? What a fucking moron.
mmaddox3 by lensproject	Feb 16th, 2008 01:46:21 PM
The reason those discs looked bad might have something to do with improperly calibrated TVs. I know my HDTV (the beautiful 120hz Sony XBR4) came out of the box with TERRIBLE factory settings. (All sorts of contrast "enhancement", "vivid" color, etc.) Once you turn off all those gimmicky features, and just set everything to '50', the movies look like the movies are supposed to look, in their 1080p glory. Oh, and make sure you get a BD player AND television capable of 24fps playback (many don't) and one-to-one pixel mapping (many don't).
get a hd-hard drive player by smutpeddlar	Feb 16th, 2008 01:48:53 PM
http://tinyurl.com/3yfb7m i am never buying another dvd player again,someday everyone will have a portable hd-hard drive...load the drive,turn it on,press play on the remote..i hope to someday forget what a dvd even looks like..no dvd's no cds
Go fuck yourself , Frankenblogger by godhatesyou	Feb 16th, 2008 01:49:29 PM
This is Harry's website he can say whatever the fuck he wants.
DVD "lovers" by lensproject	Feb 16th, 2008 01:50:44 PM
Anybody who claims to like movies and thinks 480i is 'good enough' for enjoying them either 1. doesn't know what they're talking about, or 2. doesn't really like movies. There's just SO MUCH more information in a movie than can be put on a standard-def DVD. Of course, the best thing to do is to see prints in theaters (roughly 4K resolution) but 1080p on a Blu-ray disc/ 1080p HDTV is a hell of a lot closer to theatrical quality.
The format war is over, and the winner is... by buckarez	Feb 16th, 2008 01:51:45 PM
Hi-Def downloads.
Physical media? I laugh at physical media! by Christopher3	Feb 16th, 2008 01:52:14 PM
Hahahaha! Hahahaha! Haaaa.
Blu-Ray is still too expensive by Mullah Omar	Feb 16th, 2008 01:54:25 PM
Why pay $20-30 for Blu-Ray when I can get a used DVD of the same film for about $3-5? Sure, high def looks better, but not THAT much better, and it's not like I re-watch a lot of films anyway. Until the prices for Blu-Ray come down by half, I won't even consider buying that format. The only part of this that really excites me is that a lot of people will probably get on the Blu-Ray express, will flood the market with their used DVDs, and will drive the prices down for the format that I'm still using.
Movie theaters HD by thenatureboy	Feb 16th, 2008 01:54:26 PM
When are movie theaters finally going to switch to HD?
Regular DVDs still work! by skywalkerfamily	Feb 16th, 2008 01:56:35 PM
I'm sticking with those!
Actually, DON'Ta buy a player just yet... by MaxTheSilent	Feb 16th, 2008 01:56:44 PM
Wait six months for the Profile 2.0 player to get released. The manufacturers, with the permission of the BDA, knowingly withheld vital piece of hardware that would allow a simply firmware upgrade to the new specs. As it is now, the PS3 is the ONLY future-proof BD player on the market. Every single stand-alone player is incapable of upgrading to the advanced features coming out. So seriously, wait.
HD DVD still lives on in our hearts, minds by thebearovingian	Feb 16th, 2008 01:57:46 PM
...and living rooms! I love HD DVD. I have a standalone HD DVD player and the 360 add-on. I have no regrets either. I have plenty of movies that aren't available on Blu-ray (...yet) just like there are plenty of exclusive Blu-ray movies. No matter what anyone says it kinda sucked for both sides b/c you couldn't get everything you wanted in your format. IMO, lots of movies aren't necessary to have in HD (on an HD disc). They look great upconverted. For example, I watched Gone in 60 Seconds (SD DVD) upconverted and it looked fantastic. Maybe when The Dark Knight releases on Blu-ray I'll pick up a PS3.
Eh. Talk to me when new show seasons cost $20. by happybunni	Feb 16th, 2008 02:02:32 PM
I still like DVD. I will go for the next format only when seasons of TV shows become cheaper than the $40-80 they cost now. I don't really care about stuff that's a tad higher quality, 1 disc compared to 10 should cut down production costs by quite a bit but it hasn't happened because all they did was up the quality. Which again, I am not a fan of.
WHAT? lensproject... by dogstar69	Feb 16th, 2008 02:03:52 PM
How the fuck can someone not know what they're talking about by saying 480i is "good enough". If a film is good you don't need the greatest resolution availible to enjoy it. you sound like one of those people who refuse to watch Clerks because its black and white (insert your own, i don't like Clerks because it shit quips here)you clearly don't know what you're talking about. did you not enjoy movies in the home enviroment until bluray appeared?, DVD is a great picture, just be grateful that video is no longer our main format
Ah, the irony! by Zardoz	Feb 16th, 2008 02:05:03 PM
Sony finally wins a format war and it's for the inferior product! (and yes, BD is inferior to HD-DVD, no doubt: more expensive to produce, less features, more expensive players, no upgrades) All your BD 1.0 players are screwed: no upgrades for you! I love my HD-DVD player and will not be buying a BD player. Period. I don't need a PS3, since I have the best gaming system, XBox360. My S-DVD's upconvert beautifully on my HD-DVD player, and I will be buying lots of HD-DVD's dirt cheap at all the fire-sales in the next few weeks. (Just bought Zodiac:The Director's Cut for $16!) So congratulations Sony! You finally won a format war! Too bad it was for the vastly inferior product. (maybe now you'll be able to turn a profit on the whole BD/PS3 financial fiasco!) As to downloadable media being the future: it's not in my future!
God damn it, I just bought an HD player YESTERDAY by Vern	Feb 16th, 2008 02:06:00 PM
Just kidding. But I'm not jubilant OR morose. This may be because almost nobody I know has an HD-TV so what the fuck are we gonna do with this invisible extra resolution? Vern has stuck with his choice of DVD and VHS, there's why.
StuckInthePresentPaused by INWOsuxRED	Feb 16th, 2008 02:07:32 PM
Are there still people out there who want to blow money on another magical box of Star Wars or Lord of the Rings? Haven't we all been milked enough?
embarrassing by Captain Katanga	Feb 16th, 2008 02:09:19 PM
the whole idea of being a "loyal supporter" of one of these faceless corporations is just plain embarrassing. I don't know what it is about adolescent males and their need to "pick a side" and then "hate" their opponent, but its pathetic. These are billion dollar corporations, they don't give a fuck about your "support" as long as they get your money. I love the way some of you fanboys gloat as some incredibly rich people now stand to get richer... YAY WHAT A VICTORY! Both formats are excellent.
Milk this. by d1138	Feb 16th, 2008 02:12:31 PM
So when a new edition of a movie (say, Star Wars on Blu-Ray) comes out, does your credit card sprout legs and jog down to the Best Buy without your approval? Quit bitching and don't buy it.
Hey, VHS was inferior to BetaMax. by Lenny Nero	Feb 16th, 2008 02:15:29 PM
We still use BetaMax in editing because of its superior visual quality to VHS.
People pay money to watch video IPOD by INWOsuxRED	Feb 16th, 2008 02:15:35 PM
Some people care more about being entertained by a good story than pixel ratios. Also, MP3 is worse than CD, which is worse in sound quality than a properly played vinyl record. Kinda fucks with the whole idea that the masses demand better quality. How are those audio DVDs selling?
INWO by StuckInthePresentPaused	Feb 16th, 2008 02:16:40 PM
if there is enough reason to buy than yes. For LOTR, it would be an added pleasure to not have to switch dvds when watching the Entended Editions plus all the alleged footage that is still in a vault somewhere. And with Star Wars well its Star wars you know people are going to buy it. Now i jus bought a samsung dvd upconverter and im very satisfied with the picture but a star wars and/or LOTR blu ray release would surely be one of my first blu ray buys
As long as HD downloads don't win by ebolamonkey	Feb 16th, 2008 02:17:52 PM
A 900GB HD master file squashed down to a 3-5GB download. It's the VHS of our time, and I pray it doesn't supplant Blu-ray. Cause it sucks. Your hard drive crashed? I'm sorry you'll have to buy that title again.
Nice! by Lord_Soth	Feb 16th, 2008 02:18:32 PM
Now that the clearly inferior format has won, the price of BR disks and stuff can skyrocket to cover the huuuge expenses of Sony.
expert_40 by rxse7en	Feb 16th, 2008 02:20:26 PM
I have the backwards compatible 60gb PS3, were the 80gb models also backwards compatible? Those 60gb models are a real steal if you can find them on eBay or Craigslist.
ughh by slkboxrman	Feb 16th, 2008 02:24:07 PM
if we have to get blue ray u might as well get a PS3, it costs about as much as a standalone bluray player, and at least u can play games on it as well.... i still got standard def, no sense gettin a better one till i get an hd tv
Zardoz by MaxTheSilent	Feb 16th, 2008 02:24:13 PM
Preach, brother! I hope all existing stand-alone Blu-Ray owners love the look of their pretty, expensive paper-weights.
Why not do HD discs this way: by theyreflockingthisway	Feb 16th, 2008 02:25:00 PM
I can't see why they can't invent a disc that plays the same film on both a normal DVD player and in HD on a HD DVD player. HD discs can store a huge amount of data so would be no trouble to stick a DVD playable version of the film on there too so it works on both players. Instead of a new format we'd still be simply buying DVDs (which we all love) only newer ones would have little "HD compatible" tags on them. There's no way I'm buying Blu Ray unless I have to (if they stop making standard DVDs). To me there's not that much of a difference to warrent the purchase - sure HD looks crisper but not enough to really change my enjoyment of a film. Hell VHS would still do me if it wasn't for the inconcenience of tapes.
Play.com by dogstar69	Feb 16th, 2008 02:26:25 PM
are offering a Bluray writer/HDDVD rom for the PC for less than £200. bought one and love it, covers all formats and you can upgrade the firmware...
Now, Vern...THAT was funny by JackIsLost	Feb 16th, 2008 02:27:45 PM
And you can quote me on that.
just buy a macbook air! by BadMrWonka	Feb 16th, 2008 02:28:48 PM
you won't have to buy an actual physical disc every again... um, right? wait a minute, where's the USB drive on this thing? oh fuck, I just sneezed and blew away $3000!
Good thing I stuck with Beta. by xannibal	Feb 16th, 2008 02:29:31 PM
And I'm waiting for this laser disc craze to catch on.
Expert_40 by Dr. Chim Richalds	Feb 16th, 2008 02:31:22 PM
Are you high? All early models of the PS3 had backwards compatibility. I should know, I have a 60 GB. The 40 GB model was reduced in price, in part, because it did not have backwards compatibility. Less features = cheaper model. That's generally how things work - for example, the 360 Elite has more features than the Live Arcade, as you probably know. And, as you should know, they're going to be rolling out a model with a disk drive in the range of 120-160GB shortly. Moreover, I have seen no indication that Sony is abandoning the PSP - I don't know where that comes from. For someone who claims to be an "expert," you are awfully misinformed.
Sony turned down a format merger early on. by MaxTheSilent	Feb 16th, 2008 02:31:26 PM
Arrogance, lies, bribery. Welcome to a Sony-controlled future, film geeks.
I called that shit awhile ago.. by Stalkeye	Feb 16th, 2008 02:32:26 PM
especially since the PS3 utilized the Blu-ray format making it the cheapest BR player out there, and not to mention it plays games with next gen graphics. It's a wrap fuckers, Sony's trojan horse worked.
HD-DVD LIVES! by SuperBurgerBat	Feb 16th, 2008 02:32:59 PM
I'm gonna go buy a 360 add-on for porn!
theyreflockingthisway by Dr. Chim Richalds	Feb 16th, 2008 02:34:41 PM
The players for both formats upconvert. In other words, a Blu Ray player will play a normal DVD and make it appear better than it would appear on a standard television (this assumes that you have a high def-compatible TV). There's no need to abandon your library, and in fact your regular DVDs will look better on the new player, if not quite as good as a Blu Ray disk of the same movie. Does that address your point?
Convenience is more important than quality. by rbatty024	Feb 16th, 2008 02:36:05 PM
Go read Walter Benjamin's Art in the Age of Mechanical reproduction. It's an incredibly prescient essay written in the 30's about, among other things, this very phenomena. Essentially, he says that people are more concerned with bringing art to them, via film and reproduction, rather than trekking to out to the Louvre to see the actual Mona Lisa. Similarly, as people have mentioned, people are more concerned with carrying around their mp3 player than listening to DVD audio. There are both good and bad implications to this.
Harry's choice by Jerri Blank	Feb 16th, 2008 02:39:49 PM
Having not bought either format yet, even though I've had a 50" HDTV for a year, I can understand Harry's choice of HD-DVD for at least two reasons: The players and software were priced to sell and you don't have to do any firmware updates. Can someone please tell me if this new 2.0 or whatever Blu-Ray player coming out will be the definitive Blu-Ray player, or will buying a Blu-Ray player mean constantly having to take the player from my downstairs den, upstairs to my office, hooking it to the internet, and performing upgrades on it? Will there ever be a player that you can just take out of the box, hook to your TV, and reasonably expect it to play all of the Blu-Ray movies? And whay are the players all $400 bucks. And I'm not being snarky. It would be cool if someone can really explain this to me, especially the whole firmware updating thing. I'm so confused.
End to the pointless loss of lives......... by Bobman46	Feb 16th, 2008 02:40:13 PM
.......wait- what war are we talking about again? Blu Ray- that's a death weapon isn't it? What? HD- That's Iraq right? What? Format for watching movies?....so fuck?
HDDVD is the 'New' Dead Parrot "'ELLO POLLY!!!!!" by HarryBlackPotter	Feb 16th, 2008 02:47:11 PM
"I wish to complain about this HDDVD what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique." "Oh yes, the, uh, the HD DVD...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?" "I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. It's dead, that's what's wrong with it!" "No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting." "Look, matey, I know a dead format when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now." 'E's passed on! This HDDVD is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't been for Universal and Paramount, 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-FORMAT!"
a little bigger than laserdisc by Bouncy X	Feb 16th, 2008 02:47:23 PM
while i wouldnt be surprised if blu-ray never really achieves "ruling status" and just becomes a niche product like laserdic, its already bigger and more popular so it has a better chance. i live in a decently sized city and i've only ever seen laserdics sold in ONE store my entire life. i dont even know anyone who's ever bought or rented or even watched any. it just never caught on at all. but blu-ray is already in every store that sells movies and i constantly see advertising for it and players. so i think whats gonna probably happen is that regular DVD will be around and doing well while blu-ray will sorta be there in the background. me personally, i'm not gonna rebuy all my dvds so if blu-ray truly does become the one and only and regular dvd dies, well then that'll just mean i'll be buying all my future movies on blu-ray from that point. i dont have a huge collection like some people but hell if i'm rebuying. i never even completely re-bought all my VHS movies when i moved to DVD. but i do have a question, i'm not super tech savvy so whats this about HDDVD having better features than blu-ray? do people mean those little extras that are HD/blu-ray exclusives or what?
Great by Bone-In Foray	Feb 16th, 2008 02:51:06 PM
Now Harry can focus solely on Blu-ray releases for his "weekly" "DVD" Picks & Peeks.
Harry is unfamiliar with how to use a hyphen by Gwai Lo	Feb 16th, 2008 02:51:26 PM
Now - don't get offended Harry -- but you just don't know how to use these. Why? Hard to say - but they aren't comma replacements - or run on sentence fixers.
So much for Porn deciding the war. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 02:52:23 PM
So much for what people think they know eh?
Ok... by RAVENL0RD	Feb 16th, 2008 02:53:05 PM
Everywhere I have gone, HD-DVD and Blu-ray movies are the same DAMN price. I don't know what mystical shop these people went to where HD-DVD software was "priced to sell." Of course, that is likely to change now that HD-DVD titles go disco, but back when it mattered, they were the same price.
Sorry i'm a bit slow.... by Giant Ape Balls	Feb 16th, 2008 02:53:47 PM
Could someone please explain why I would need either of these?
Pnuematic 8 system rules! by Uncapie	Feb 16th, 2008 02:54:46 PM
NOW THAT'S A SYSTEM!
Blu-ray movies are cheap. The players are fine. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 02:55:04 PM
If you can afford an HD TV a blu-ray player shouldn't be out of your price range.
regarding blu-ray players upconverting by Bouncy X	Feb 16th, 2008 02:55:46 PM
does the ps4 do this cuz i think it doesnt. me and my brother did a test, he owns the 3rd pirates on regular dvd and i rented the blu-ray version and we popped both into the ps3 and watch the same scene. we even popped the regular dvd version into my dvd player and even my 360 and it looked the same in each machine. and to be honest, the blu-ray version didnt look THAT much better. but the odd thing is i've bought 4 blu-rays since and they indeed look much better than DVD...so maybe its an issue with the pirates blu-ray. now i gotta admit, my tv is only 1080i but as i said, the other blu-ray movies looked amazing and when i watched HD tv channels its amazing too. so maybe disney just screwed that one up.
Giant Ape Balls: You need it if you have an HDTV. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 02:56:37 PM
Cause why did you buy an HD TV if you aren't going to watch things in HD?
Stupidity Reigns by Bramton1	Feb 16th, 2008 02:56:41 PM
In every...single...forum...I've ever...seen...on the...format war, there are two comments that opponents of Blu-Ray or HD discs in general make. And every time, someone explains that the comments are baseless. Yet instead of these idiots backing up their comments or adding something, they just say the same damn things over and over again. So here I go. To anyone you makes these comments again without anything to add to it, I reserve the right to beat you to a bloody pulp. STUPID COMMENT #1: "I'm not going to want to abandon my DVD collection, or spend hundreds or thousands of dollars switching my DVD library over to Blu-Ray." YOU DON'T HAVE TO, ASSHOLE! DVDs will work fine in a Blu-Ray player. They're compatible. In fact, they'll work better than fine. The Blu-Ray player will upconvert the DVD to better quality. STUPID COMMENT #1: "Blu-Ray won't last long when we're downloading high definition movies onto our television." Hey Einstein, how long are you going to want to wait to download a 25 GB movie? Got 4 or 5 hours, probably longer in a lot of places? You think the average consumer will want to wait?
knowthyself by Bouncy X	Feb 16th, 2008 02:58:09 PM
depends what your definition of cheap is. i'm in canada and blu-ray movies are still 34$ and up. sure they had some sales around xmas where older titles were 20 and under but i've noticed they're back to 34 and over. but from what i've seen, the US have decent prices, 3 of the 4 movies i own were bought online through an american site due to this. but yeah, movies are still expensive over here, its the main reason i havent fully abandoned dvd for movies.
Long Live Standard Def by Super Rabbi	Feb 16th, 2008 02:58:27 PM

ps4? by Bouncy X	Feb 16th, 2008 02:58:49 PM
wow, i must be thinking ahead, sorry about that...i obviously meant ps3.
Bramton 1, THANK YOU. Always the same stupid comments. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 02:59:05 PM
Against HD media. People really are stupid. If you have an HD TV, HD movies is a logical
Superstar Talkbacker has chosen Torrents and here's why by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 02:59:37 PM
because Sinestro Corps War is TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION!
Frankenblogger/God posts... by Uncapie	Feb 16th, 2008 02:59:59 PM
Those have got to be the best headings ever! Frankenblogger creates life from a dead blog as God tells him to fuck himself! You know Mary Shelly is eating this up! Frankenblogger-"It's alive! It's alive! Oh, now I know how it feels to be God!" God(Looking down from the heavens.)-"Go fuck yourself, Frankenblogger!" Genius!
So tired of the lame blu-ray b.s. by tubuku69	Feb 16th, 2008 03:00:04 PM
1-I have an HD DVD player and don't/won't regret buying it. It upconverts regular DVDs and the HD movies are all great and aren't going to suddenly stop working. They do things Blu-Ray can't (picture in picture, web interactive) and were all built to an established standard from day one (unlike Blu-Ray-who actually complained that the reason that Blu-Ray is on the market but incomplete is Toshiba forced its hand by coming out sooner and complete-wow...). 2-Blu-Ray isn't a complete standard. I CAN'T WAIT until the new standard is implemented and Blu-Ray discs come out soon with up to 3 stickers indicating which of the features work in which players. I can't wait for consumers to buy a movie and then realize their current player can't do everything that's on the disc and most likely can't be upgraded to do so. 3-If the "war" ends, Sony will stop lower the Blu-Ray prices-why bother without competition? 4-Apple TV Take 2 isn't there yet, but as a lot of commentators have noted-mass consumer will ALWAYS go with fast/easy/cheap. Sure Apple TV (or other VOD devices such as Vudu or what have you) aren't fully 1080p, don't have extra features, and don't have all the bells and whistles related to the new audio formats-but most people won't care and don't have home theaters that have those capabilities any way. People will have a device that downloads movies quickly and is "good enough". So enjoy the "victory"-battles won don't always mean you've won a "war."
Now slay that fucking X-Box 360 by Hoots Mon	Feb 16th, 2008 03:00:28 PM
and hurry the hell up with GTAIV
Well amazon.com has the best prices. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:00:36 PM
Lots of deals all the time. Many films are 15-24. A few are pricey at 26. Just don't be dumb enough to buy them in a store. Last I checked some two disc sets on DVD still go for 22.99 so blu-rays aren't too far from the norm. Again..just don't go to stores, buy online.
DVD had zero competition outside of VHS. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:02:16 PM
Prices lowered when demand went up. Same will happen with HD media. I remember paying 30 dollars for the first DVDs before it became mainstream.
knowthyself by Giant Ape Balls	Feb 16th, 2008 03:02:30 PM
I haven't bothered with one of those either. So that's OK then. I don't see the point as yet. When there's a decent amount of stuff in HD I'll do it then but at the minute I just don't think there's enough stuff out there to warrant it.
Sort of, Dr. Chim Richalds by theyreflockingthisway	Feb 16th, 2008 03:03:04 PM
But it means those discs won't play on a standard DVD player. I know HD players will come down in price but it's not convenient for those who watch their movies on a games console or PC or those who own a number of DVD players. It'd cost a lot to replace all that or cause an inconvenience so my point was allowing discs with HD content to play on a standard DVD player. So basically downscaling rather than upscaling. It can be done and would solve the problem of people not wanting to adopt to a new system already.
Poor HD DVD adopters. Nah..I laugh at you. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:03:33 PM
Yeah. Now your just being sore losers. "DVD IS TEH NORM ANAYWAYZ" and "DOWNLOADZ ARE DA FUTUREZ". Hahaha sour grapes early adopters. Sour grapes.
What does anyone need FOUR HD-DVD players for?!? by Playkins	Feb 16th, 2008 03:03:48 PM
I can maybe see 3- One in the Lving room, one for the office, one for the bedroom. Even that's excessive. I don't even own four DVD players, and I'm not poor.
pricey at 26? by Bouncy X	Feb 16th, 2008 03:03:53 PM
man we indeed live in different countries because finding a blu-ray for 26 would be a deal for me. blame canada. lol
Bramton1 by INWOsuxRED	Feb 16th, 2008 03:06:22 PM
The last HD movie I watched on demand played instantly, all I did was hit play. That technology is just going to get better, and the shitty movie I watched won't take up any space in my home.
Harry got 4 free HD DVD players. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:06:28 PM
He had to buy his blu-ray player. Remember when Harry had "inside" information that HD DVD was going to win? LOL.
The consumer wants hard copies. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:08:02 PM
Pretty boxes that say LIMITED EDITION, SPECIAL EDITION, and COLLECTORS EDITION. Beautiful cover art. You can't do that with downloadable movies. It loses alot of its "hold in hand" appeal. Plus a hard copy is juts more reliable and the quality is guaranteed. You don't want a "this movies quality may be different depending on your internet connection."
If I have an HD TV, does that mean I can't watch Seinfeld? by INWOsuxRED	Feb 16th, 2008 03:08:35 PM
Because apparently because I have the TV, I'm now only allowed to watch shit made in HD.
Well one day all channels will be in HD. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:10:13 PM
Of course. But if you can choose between LOST on the normal channel or LOST in HD which channel do you watch it on? Now if Fox goes HD and Seinfeld reruns are shown in HD, wouldn't you choose the option that makes your 2000 TV worth the purchase?
knowthyself by Giant Ape Balls	Feb 16th, 2008 03:12:17 PM
I still don't download music as I simply prefer it on something more real. I think that makes me a technophobe.
Harry Has Chosen....All too Easy. by uss cygnus	Feb 16th, 2008 03:12:23 PM
Activates carbon freeze
Is the format war really over? by BobPalpatine	Feb 16th, 2008 03:12:44 PM
Certainly HD-DVD is in it's last throes, we knew that after the Netflix and Best Buy announcements which put the last shoveful of soil over HDs grave (the last nail in the coffin would be WB signing over). But of course the real format war, which has been raging even while HD was viable, has been DVD vs. Next Generation. How many people here have friends/family who got that nice new HDTV and bought a next gen "upscaling DVD player" and think they're on the cusp of change while watching their 10 year old Blade DVD on their 1080p tele? People are adopting HD insofar as they're getting a new fancy TV, but the knowledge of the actual players is so miniscule among the public that the war is far from over. Certainly there is folk like us who know the difference and will choose accordingly, but it seems for the majority of the public the choice can't be made since they don't realize the option exists! For those that were waiting to buy one or the other, trepidation over which would win out is now replaced by trepidation in buying a format that could be extinct as quickly as HDDVD was.
Not a technophobe. I prefer hard disc to downloads. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:13:49 PM
I will always physically own it. No matter what happens to my hard drive, itunes account, or MP3 player. That CD guarantees me years of ownership that no download can match.
Bobpalatine: Now is the time to finally advertise to new HD TV o by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:15:14 PM
One format means you can sell it to them without the confusion of a format war. Its an easy sell "want to get the most out of that expensive TV?" Who doesn't?
tubuku69 by Bramton1	Feb 16th, 2008 03:16:52 PM
You say that Sony won't have to lower prices now that HD-DVD is dead? Someone else suggested prices will go up? Yet others are arguing that DVD is still the norm, and Blu-Ray isn't. So how is there no competition? In fact, I would say it's more likely to see prices drop. Sony had to beat out Toshiba and HD-DVD before it could go after standard DVD. Now that's over and won, and the war to unseat DVD as the dominant media option will begin. Now, Sony won't be able to win that war, unless (a) Prices drop on the players and the discs, and (b) HDTVs become more commonplace. If you have a regular TV, what's the point of going to Blu-Ray?
Umm..the stanley kubrick collection and blade runner in HD. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:18:45 PM
And you say theirs nothing for the film lover in HD? wtf? I must imagine owning Volver, The Fountain, Blade Runner, and Close Encounters on blu-ray.
The PS3 by Ckuouka	Feb 16th, 2008 03:21:04 PM
it does upscales regular DVD's. it's not the default option, though. you have to set it in the settings. plus, you also have to have downloaded the latest system update, but, yeah, it's able to upscale. and i'm glad someone else corrected "expert," since he had no idea what he was talking about. the 20 gig, 60 gig, and 80 gig ps3's all played ps2 and ps1 games. most likely the new 120/160 gig model will, as well. there is also NO evidence whatsoever that sony is getting rid of the psp.
to anyone that knows, is the PS3 a good blu ray player? by JimmyJoe RedSky	Feb 16th, 2008 03:22:12 PM
id get one before id get an actual blu ray player - but only if its a quality disc player - ive heard rumblings that claim its not
Bramton1 you're stupid by JimCurry	Feb 16th, 2008 03:22:59 PM
STUPID COMMENT #1 and... STUPID COMMENT #1?? Try going with a "2" next time, dildo.
PS3 is a great blu-ray player. by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:23:20 PM
Not like the PS2 which was a crappy DVD player.
DVD will be around for a while by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 03:25:29 PM
too good and convenient a format. titles available, cheap, great picture. blu ray will be niche.
So, if some of the previous format wars is any indication... by mrmgp	Feb 16th, 2008 03:25:53 PM
Blu Ray was the shittier format, just like VHS was shittier than Beta and NTSC was shittier than PAL, right?
All I can say is... by Tourist	Feb 16th, 2008 03:27:52 PM
....HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH HAHAHA. No, really. Are these dicks serious? Like I'm gonna buy a fucking HD player when all the good shit is on regular DVD anyway. Just bring me my fucking Downloadable content already.
Who needs DVD when I have VHS? by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:29:56 PM
I have all the movies I want on VHS and all the music I love on Vinyl. Who needs DVDs and cassette tape? Just give me a live concert performance any day. And who needs a cable modem when my dial up is free?
ps3 is still the worst console to have ever been released by slappy jones	Feb 16th, 2008 03:32:45 PM
and that is why it has failed to take off and this totally ridiculous format war does nothing to help it. this format war was being fought by like 12 guys...no one out side of those 12 guys GAVE A SHIT OR GIVES A SHIT NOW THAT IT IS OVER. I mean if a war is fought in the forest does anyone hear it....
Great now both formats and consumers lose by Darth_Inedible	Feb 16th, 2008 03:33:09 PM
So now we have Sony standing alone with their hugely overpriced format, trying to use it as a tool to sell their crappy overpriced next gen consoles. With most people happy with DVD the adoption rate will be glacial...
No I won't buy a blu ray. by Pipple	Feb 16th, 2008 03:34:19 PM
I don't have one of those fancy schmancy hd tvs so there's no point. Though if anyone wants to get me one, feel free...
4 HD-DVD PLAYERS - WTF?! by ninjatracksuit	Feb 16th, 2008 03:34:27 PM
Why so many players, Harry? I don't understand that, but so be it. I have a Blu-Ray player, the one that came in my PS3...But believe it or not, that was the main reason I bought a PS3. Yeah, I feel for Toshiba, but Sony was just the smarter company here, and aggressive when the needed to be. And jeez, give 'em some time to get to pressing a wider variety of discs - it WILL happen, and faster now, too. I also don't think prices on the discs will really drop that much (and it isn't like they are outrageous, either), but they should start slashing the stand-alone player prices. For all you computer-tech geeks, though, I suggest getting a PS3 - it plays divx files now. This isn't really something they can market in the mainstream, but it should be a HUGE factor to those that know what this means. I'm not suggesting that everyone start wearing an eyepatch, but it is nice to download those hard to find on DVD flicks and then transfer them to your PS3 (umm, or should I say hard drive with uber video/sound card?) to view.
well, thats nice. i think i'll stick to the old DVDs for quite a by BMacSmith	Feb 16th, 2008 03:34:40 PM

Basically, HD media is dead by JoeSixPack	Feb 16th, 2008 03:36:31 PM
With the "success" of blu ray. I don't see any potential of BR catching on like DVD did. HD downloads will be the next frontier.
I'm a dumbass... by Rando Calrisian	Feb 16th, 2008 03:36:32 PM
I too bought an HD-DVD player. But I don't feel to bad. I needed a new DVD player anyway, and got 11 free movies with it for $200. So I made a bad mistake, but I've enjoyed the hell out of the player. Looks great. I'm sure I'll get a Blu-Ray some day. Now that the war is over, more companies will be making Blu-Ray players, and they will be affordable soon. I bet they stop giving away free movies with them though. Anyone want to buy some HD-DVDs?
Sheeeeeet... by Tourist	Feb 16th, 2008 03:37:39 PM
...I'm with Vern. I rent, don't buy (much), and I mostly go with DVD-R's of fucked up cult stuff, regular DVD, VCD from chinese video stores and old fashioned VHS. Still pick up the odd 5 dollar laser disc too. Mostly though, I like to download shows and oddities and watch them on my computer. Which is where I watch everything anyway. Funny thing is, I'm just about the last person I know who actually rents or buys media. Everyone else downloads and burns. The thieveing cunts.
i got the hybrid plays all player so it doesn't matter to me by slappy jones	Feb 16th, 2008 03:37:57 PM
all I know for sure is that the ps3 is an awful machine and the one I got for my birthday went to ebay a few months later....its awful
Mr. Nice Gaius by snowtires	Feb 16th, 2008 03:38:18 PM
As crazy as it sounds, I've been saying that since the beginning. HDDVD has three more syllables than Blu-Ray and, not only that, HDDVD is a bit of a tongue-twister. The PS3 helped a lot, but I think the names were a big factor as well.
ALL disk media will be DEAD in 5-8 years. by hollywoodsummers	Feb 16th, 2008 03:39:32 PM
I work in the DVD special features biz and Blu-ray will be the last form of tangible media. Your film library will be downloaded onto multi-terabyte hard drives over HD ISDN lines. It will contain a menu and special features content similar to a DVD, but there will be no disks. It'll be very similar to iTunes now.
Ckuouka, you're full of shit and misinformation... by expert_40	Feb 16th, 2008 03:41:59 PM
... Sony hasn't sold a 20 or 60 gig PS3 since last summer. They starting selling 40 gig and 80 gig PS3's, with only the 80 gig PS3 able to play PS2 games... and NONE of them play PS1 games, so you lie there. So yes, Sony basically decided to charge their loyal PS2 owners an extra $100.00 for the right to play their PS2 games. And now, Sony has dropped the 80 gig PS3, meaning any PS2 owners who couldn't afford the $500.00 80 gig PS3 but want backwards compatibility are totally screwed. And yes, all the whispers and signs are pointing to Sony ditching the PSP, either for good, or to be replaced by new tech, thus screwing everyone who they conned into buying one over the holidays. If you don't believe me, you into your nearest GameStop and look at the release list for the PSP. It's about ten games deep. No big games besides God of War. No Madden. No NCAA Football. No GTA IV Stories. No big, tent pole games. The PSP is toast, and if you bought one, just like if you bought the $300.00 doorstop Profile 1.0 Blu-Ray players, you're screwed. Don't fucking spread your Sony propaganda here. I come armed with facts, not your bullshit.
Bouncy X by snowtires	Feb 16th, 2008 03:42:05 PM
The PS3 does up-res, but you have to actually turn that function on in the settings. I have the first Pirates movie on DVD and on Blu-Ray and it definitely looks worlds better on Blu-Ray. I have a 1080p set, though, so that might be your problem.
"Hey, lets hang out, bring over that download." by knowthyself	Feb 16th, 2008 03:45:11 PM
haha.
expert_40 by snowtires	Feb 16th, 2008 03:47:58 PM
My 60 gig PS3 has no problem playing PS1 games, so you can't really say that 'NONE' of them are completely backwards compatible. To be honest, though, the main reason they are doing this is because, with a PS3 with a bigger HD, they can sell the PS1 and PS2 games as downloads on the Playstation store and get even more money for games you already own. But hey, for once, it pays to be an early adopter.
So fucking glad I waited by Dashing Roger	Feb 16th, 2008 03:48:11 PM
Early adopters always get hosed. That's why I still use a rotary phone! Go fuck yourself, technophiles!
noiretblanc by Tourist	Feb 16th, 2008 03:48:54 PM
This is how it actually goes, already, right now: "hey, dude, I haven't seen that movie, burn me a copy, would ya?".
Everyone saying BD players won't be able to play all features by tjhksig	Feb 16th, 2008 03:49:37 PM
Are dead WRONG. All you need to do is download the latest firmware, burn it to DVD, then pop it into your DVD players and hig "PLAY". Vioals, your BD player is updated and can use all the features. Look it up.
Guys... by expert_40	Feb 16th, 2008 03:51:24 PM
... you're mincing words. I'm sorry, I should have spelled it out for y'all... the 40 and 80 gig PS3's don't play PS1 games. There... happy?
RE: tjhksig by MaxTheSilent	Feb 16th, 2008 03:58:18 PM
ONLY the PS3 has the required chip-set that will allow the 2.0 update, or BD-LIVE as it's more commonly known. Like I said, the BDA was complicit in companies holding back on these vital components (not to mention ethernet ports) simply to try to keep cost down of this exhorbitantly priced second-rate format. With that guy launching a class action lawsuit against Samsung, I can't wait for the lawsuit against the BDA for allowing this to happen. Mark my words, when the 2.0-compatible players come out and every single stand-alone BD owner is faced with the 'choice' to upgrade, the consumer backlash will be HUGE!! And I'll be sitting back, laughing my ass off.
AND YOU 'DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT' PEOPLE ARE FORGETTING... by ninjatracksuit	Feb 16th, 2008 03:59:05 PM
While this is the way of the future (and something I use from time to time right now, though not HD), you guys have to keep this in mind - One: The target audience for movies in general aren't as tech saavy as some of you. Two: the studios are archaic, for the most part the big money is still moved by and older generation. Three: they (the studios) are fiercly protective of their property. Combine this with the previous statement (where, you know, most people still like to lay hands on the thing they are purchasing), and you can see why there will be physical discs for years. These will be whittled away when this and the younger 'hi-tech' generation becomes the majority of movie-goers, and when the PC becomes the real entertainment center for households. On the downloadable front - though movies are ripped and uploaded almost immediately these days, having all media go strictly non-tangible is like a welcome mat for illegal downloading. The analysts that the studios have know this, and are probably waiting for security developments to advance further so they can protect their new release HD products. Ha - and with the open sea that is the internet...well, they'll never be able to fully protect anything for very long.
Just the name "blu ray" is so gay by hktelemacher	Feb 16th, 2008 04:04:05 PM
I've got my image to worry about here.
PS3 worst console? And what does that make Xbox 360? by Stalkeye	Feb 16th, 2008 04:05:33 PM
A system that is notoriously know for hardware defects ( Can you say Red Ring Of Death?) and expensive add ons like the wireless adapter,an HD DVD strap on and $50 for a fucking Xbox live subscription?(PS3 has built in wifi,a high def player and free online service mind you.) If not for exclusive games like Gears of War,Mass Effect,Bioshock and HALO 3, this doorstop would be just a fucking shelf piece. Now that the PS3 sales are surpassing Xbox 3-shitty and the Wee Wee, the console war has just gotten more interesting.
Bluray won the war in November of 2006. by Horseflesh	Feb 16th, 2008 04:05:39 PM
Anyone that didn't realize it then was short sighted and kidding themselves.
by Pariah74	Feb 16th, 2008 04:07:22 PM
Anyone who says people who are still using DVD don't like movies is a complete tit. It completely possible that they are unable to understand that to a normal person looks at HD and DOES see an improvement...but we look at it say is it enough of an improvement to warrant the money. No it's not. But at any rate I love movies, but I don't see any reason to lay out tons of cash on any format yet. It doesn't make me love movies less. I means that I'm not a moron who likes to waste money. I like movies so much that when I do upgrade, I do it once and I do it right. And when I buy a player with twice the features as yours I'll get it for half the price. Oh and loving movies means more than just the stupid hollywood blockbuster pirate movies made with super sony deluxe digital cameras. I love just as many (probably more) small films made with a rickity old 16mm film camera. What difference does it make how I watch that film? Yer an idiot.
Harry Bamboozled you. by Gay Jesus Christ	Feb 16th, 2008 04:07:41 PM
Harry totally steered you wrong. I feel bad for all those guys that respected Harry's opinion and blew all their hard earned money on a system that bit the big one. I can just see someone confused on the the whole HD format and was swayed by Harry's whole " I choose HD-DVD, here's why" speech. that tipped the scales into buying the ill fated format while Harry lined his pockets with Toshiba money. I don't understand how someone who could buy a format knowing that going into it that you would never ever ever get SONY Columbia movie titles? did that even register? I just want to round up all the HD-DVD buyers and get a gang and point and laugh at them and yell "SUCKERS!" while holding my right hand and making a L Shape with my index finger and thumb pressed to my head. Harry fucked you guys up.
Blu-Ray won the war... by MaxTheSilent	Feb 16th, 2008 04:08:14 PM
When Kaz Hirai said: "Games? Fuck games!!"
This won't replace DVD by Funketeer	Feb 16th, 2008 04:10:12 PM
Doesn't matter if the prices on the players and the movies come down. Most people don't own an HD TV and they're not going to until the prices on THOSE come WAY down. This format change came too soon and anyone who buys into it, especially anyone who buys a movie on Blue Ray that they already own on DVD is a sucker. The companies push format change solely so they can make you buy stuff a second or third time.
I hate geek-tech talkbacks, and here's why... by ebonic_plague	Feb 16th, 2008 04:10:55 PM
NERDS!!!!!!!!!
What you HARD FORMAT people have to remember... by Tourist	Feb 16th, 2008 04:13:39 PM
...Is that the target audience for movies is ALREADY downloading most of the studios content. You can get middle class young folk to roll out to the cinema once in awhile, but nearly all of them download movies or share downloaded movies. Fuck, even broke ass folk simply buy stacks of burnt flicks now. You can walk into net cafes all over the world with a hard drive, pay some student behind the counter, and download gigs of flicks and music. If they don't get their ass into downloadable content soon, they are just gonna lose more money.
this is my last ever talkback to aicn...why? by dalbatron	Feb 16th, 2008 04:14:17 PM
Many reasons... In short here they are... People who personally attack via talkbacks. Why? could you, would you do this face to face? Why so personal? Have you never heard of an opinion? I joined to participate in constructive discussion on movies and the industry. This has degenerated into personal attacks and foul language. So sad.... I just dont want to read infantile abuse levelled at individuals anymore.Thanks guys for all the interesting chats but I think its time to grow up and get back to what you originally came here to talk about... I'll be of now. Cya guys.
Noir... by Tourist	Feb 16th, 2008 04:15:44 PM
...? What? Um, people already do download, or burn, and swap just about everything thats available. What the fuck are you talking about?
Stalkeye by Funketeer	Feb 16th, 2008 04:16:07 PM
In defense of the 360, no one is making you buy those add ons and I don't know anyone who has. I'll also take my $50 ANNUAL Live subscription over the free Sony online play which leaves the online support up to the game company. Yes the red ring of death exists but it's a fixed problem and Microsoft extended the warranty on the product by 2 years to make sure they covered anyone who would be affected by it. And by exclusive games, do you mean those games that anyone can also buy for the PC? PS3 users are sheep. PS2 owned the market based on the sheer number of games available (most of which were crap). Both Xbox and Nintendo have a much better selection of quality games.
Last I heard DVD was doing pretty well by skywalkerfamily	Feb 16th, 2008 04:18:06 PM
It always comes out with more than 100 titles a week.
dogstar by lensproject	Feb 16th, 2008 04:18:26 PM
Well, black and white movies are often visually superior to color movies, so your analogy isn't quite right. Until I became serious about movies, I thought DVD was adequate. But DVDs are travesties if you care about the art of film. 480 shitty lines is not enough to capture good cinematography. That's why theatrical prints are the best way to watch great films. DVD can never compare. If the film is not shot entirely in closeup, you're just missing vast amounts of qualitative information. What's nice about HD is that it allows us to see the things we've been missing for so long. Case in point: the first Blu-ray I watched was Dog Day Afternoon. You can read the signs on the wall of the bank or on the stores across the street. These kinds of little details make up what a film is. Another case in point: anyone who saw the restored Blade Runner in theaters (especially good theaters) recently can attest to the fact that it was like watching the movie for the first time. No matter how many times you had seen it prior.
by PedroM	Feb 16th, 2008 04:22:11 PM
Harry´s right, blu ray needs to get better. But it will take a long time to the mass population to make the leap from dvd to blu ray. Here where i live, blu ray players are VERY expensive, so something´s not right. Sony has to invest money on that.
The Giants win, Obama's gonna win, the Coen's will win... by Canada's King	Feb 16th, 2008 04:24:52 PM
...and now Blu-Ray comes out on top. I'm likin' this streak.
Married with kids by call7000	Feb 16th, 2008 04:24:52 PM
Means I'll be staying with DVD indefinitely. And I'm cool with that. Why be a puppet on a string for the companies that just wanna make a buck on a format that in my oh-so-amater eyes isn't any great leap forward? Unless a Blu-Ray Finding Nemo means you have to actually wear goggles while watching.
To all the frigtards who say downloads are the future, I say.... by 69DUDE	Feb 16th, 2008 04:25:04 PM
FFFAAAAAAKKKKK ORRRRRRFFFFFF!!!!!
by PedroM	Feb 16th, 2008 04:25:33 PM
Come to think about it, i am a blu ray supporter all the way, but it sucks that the winner was decided by the studios, and not us, the consumers.
sony by Dradis Contact	Feb 16th, 2008 04:28:10 PM
Why in the world would sony start lowering prices now when there's no longer a competitor?
my psp is a doorstop? by soup74	Feb 16th, 2008 04:30:04 PM
damn.. cause it makes a shitty doorstop.. it only weighs a few ounces.
This has been a paid advertisment. by TiPPiDa	Feb 16th, 2008 04:33:19 PM
AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR Harry, Is your whole house networked?.. Get yourself an AXONIX HD Media server and a few players.. it loads both formats to the sata drives so you can watch them in any room in the house/ same movie in multiple locations at the same time/ different movies at the same time etc... just awesome. Best 20 g's you'll ever spend. Seriously... OR wait for Kaleidescape to release a bluray capable series which would (I did the math, the Axonix was more economical and Kaleidescape wont handle HDDVD), so seriously, buy one Or don't, I couldn't really give a fuck.
PS3/PSP = Same. by MaxTheSilent	Feb 16th, 2008 04:34:39 PM
Both systems are worthless as games machines, and are only useful for playing movies. And even then, they don't do that very well.
lensproject by dogstar69	Feb 16th, 2008 04:35:03 PM
I'm not doubting the quality of bluray, i have a player myself, but to say that someone cannot be a serious film fan because they think DVD is adequate is a wrong assumption. i love DVD, and in my opinion it would take a lot more than a few artefacts on the screen to dispell my love of a film. I wish i could watch everything at the cinema and see films as they should be seen, your right about that, but seeing as my nearest cinema is 30 miles away, DVD is my cinema, and i don't think i'll have a new found love of Indepedence Day if i watch it on Bluray, sometimes you can't polish a turd
lensproject by dogstar69	Feb 16th, 2008 04:35:07 PM
I'm not doubting the quality of bluray, i have a player myself, but to say that someone cannot be a serious film fan because they think DVD is adequate is a wrong assumption. i love DVD, and in my opinion it would take a lot more than a few artefacts on the screen to dispell my love of a film. I wish i could watch everything at the cinema and see films as they should be seen, your right about that, but seeing as my nearest cinema is 30 miles away, DVD is my cinema, and i don't think i'll have a new found love of Indepedence Day if i watch it on Bluray, sometimes you can't polish a turd
edit by TiPPiDa	Feb 16th, 2008 04:35:17 PM
"OR wait for Kaleidescape to release a bluray capable series which would" BE ROUGHLY THE SAME THING. Sorry about the fragment.
Sorry by dogstar69	Feb 16th, 2008 04:35:42 PM

To the, "I'll wait for download" crowd... by Banshee7	Feb 16th, 2008 04:35:57 PM
You're not going to be able to download the extra material that comes on a DVD. Documentaries, making of's, interviews, commentaries, etc. So physical media isn't going anywhere.
Noir... by Tourist	Feb 16th, 2008 04:36:07 PM
...It ALREADY is big! The local housing estate welfare living losers who can barely tie a shoelace here already just buy burnt movies en masse from corner stores. The rest of us, the middle class kids who are the bulk of the studios change ALREADY do burn and swap and download movies. Maybe not everyone knows how to do it, but they all KNOW people who DO. I get handed copies of movies weekly that I dont even want to fucking see. Same goes with music. I have friends, who are pretty run of the mill, who cant recall the last time they ever paid for any kind of media.
The best part about this by The_Squid	Feb 16th, 2008 04:36:47 PM
Dvds are gonna start to get cheaper and cheaper. I have no hdtv and therefore no need for blue-ray.
Yes you will Banshee, because you already can. by Tourist	Feb 16th, 2008 04:37:57 PM
Should add that I work in a Supermarket in a pretty run down neighbourhood, and even the fucking single mother, never finished high school GRANDMOTHERS are getting their evil offspring to download them shit like Alvin and The Chipmunks and Meet The Spartans and giving copies to their fellow moochie grannies.
im joe schmoe dvd/HD consumer. by soup74	Feb 16th, 2008 04:38:35 PM
i really am, but im a hardcore gamer. i have a HD tv, and all three systems (lots of credit card debt im trying to get out of now.) anyway, I enjoy my PS3, and i can tell the difference between upconverted DVDs and Blu-rays, but im with the sentiment thats been said plently of time already, that if i have a choice for a $15 new release DVD, or $25 of the blu-ray im going to buy the DVD. in fact, if i have a choice between $15 dvd, and a $20 blue ray im still gonna buy the DVD. when they're the same price ill start considering switching over to blu-ray. and then ill only consider it, even though i notice the blu ray disc is better. thats because i travel often and i have lots of ways to watch DVDs on the road, and only no way to watch the blu rays (unless i start lugging around my PS3). if sony wants to start hardcore pushing a new format every angle has to be addressed. like affordable portable players. (not just laptops with blu ray drives in them) i do believe the first step is making the prices equal. unfortunately its another hit the studios are gonna have to take. there are just too many dvd loyalist out there to do it any other way.
Wow, look at me getting blood from a stone... by Horseflesh	Feb 16th, 2008 04:39:16 PM
And playing all these damn games on my PS3 as it sits happily beside my 360 and Wii and DS and PSP and all the other shit I got. Kids, saying an entire game system is worthless is a dumb statement, and it makes you look like a silly fanboy.
by Playkins	Feb 16th, 2008 04:41:51 PM

As far as DVD goes... by Tourist	Feb 16th, 2008 04:42:26 PM
...Yeah. Its definately going to be bigger than HD, until HD tv's become the norm. I'd probally buy HD if I had a HD tv. But like most people, I don't and probally wont bother. Plus, like I said, all the good stuff is still only available on DVD. This "your not a real film fan" unless you go HD is bullshit. Because theres not even remotely enough content in HD to satisfy an actual film fan. Maybe if your a fucking noob who wants to watch Casino Royale and shit over and over.
horseflesh by soup74	Feb 16th, 2008 04:43:00 PM
i have all that shit too, but really not everyone can afford it. (i cant really afford it) so there is reason for people to do their homework and become brand loyal. they have to believe in the choice they end up making.
Goddamnit, there needs to be a "delete post" button by Playkins	Feb 16th, 2008 04:45:30 PM
...that way jackasses like me that accident push the "post talkback" button can erase evidence of their stupidity.
How about, ALL game systems are worthless? by ebonic_plague	Feb 16th, 2008 04:47:43 PM
Waste of time and money. But, hey, we're posting to a talkback, obviously quality time is not an especially valuable commodity for us.
TOURIST... by ninjatracksuit	Feb 16th, 2008 04:47:53 PM
Hey, mate - think you've got it kinda right. But you are wrong in assuming that most people download, use netflix, etc. Most people - even the young 'uns below thirty - still buy DVDs. A lot of people here might not - but a majority of other people elsewhere don't waste their time on boards like us either. Also - none of my friends with PS3's have had any problems with them (the dvd player, gaming, online, etc.). I have three friends with 360's - and they have gone through (no shit) EIGHT of them so far. Red ring of death in each and every case. Maybe they're just shipping the shite ones to this particular part of the country - and I have no problem with the 360. When it works it is easily on par with the PS3 in the gaming arena. BUT: The PS3 does a helluva lot more (ie, the larger price tag). And come on - free online play? My xbox buddies light-heartedly but jealously curse me anytime it is mentioned in conversation.
your vs. you're by Jonesey1111	Feb 16th, 2008 04:48:19 PM
look it up, kids.
the jump in quality from DVDs to BLU RAY is bigger than from VHS by lavatory love machine	Feb 16th, 2008 04:48:34 PM
until you see it on your house you won't understand this
Stalkeye is full of shit... by expert_40	Feb 16th, 2008 04:54:15 PM
... PS3 has only passed the 360 in one month out of what, 14 months now? The Wii has doubled the sales of the 360 and quadrupled the sales of the PS3. And the 360 is again outselling the PS3, as it has 13 out of the last 14 months. And yes, it has EVERYTHING to do with the fact the games are just BETTER. Ever heard of Mass Effect? Bioshock? Gears of War? Halo? Soon to be Halo Wars? What about Prototype? 360 games are the balls. And the thing is, they always will be. 3rd party companies HATE working on games for the PS3. Oh, and BTW, no more red ring of death, and Microsoft has taken the UNPRECEDENTED road of offering full 3 year warranties, for FREE, on any 360 that gets the red ring of death. PS3 is the single worst console debut since the Dreamcast. I'll leave you with a quote from the since fired President of Sony. Interviewer: Sir, aren't you worried about the $600.00 price tag for the 60 gig PS3? Sony President: I am not worried. Americans will get TWO jobs to afford my machine. This is an ACTUAL quote from Sony's President. And you people think Blu Ray will become affordable any time soon? SUCKERS!!! Sony is totally ready and willing to fuck over every customer they have. When Microsoft offers a Blu Ray add-on drive this Christmas for $150.00, that's when I'll buy it.
who cares...skipping to the next by jambone	Feb 16th, 2008 04:54:30 PM

A triumph of corporate bullying and insider deals... by BurnHollywood	Feb 16th, 2008 05:00:57 PM
Hooray! The more expensive format by the greedier company won! As a consumer, I'm so-o-o-o relieved...
Not to mention the fucking wait list for blu rays from Netlfix by Judge Briggs	Feb 16th, 2008 05:02:20 PM
it's hard to get blu discs because Sony or whoever else aren't selling as many Netflix wants ... so ppl like me wait for like a month to finally get a disc... hopefully that will end because gawd, those discs new are ridiculously priced... Sunshine for $35. fuck that... though that movie fooking rocked hard
Node32774 Blu-Ray of fucking men!!! by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 05:02:44 PM
That is one of the funniest things i've ever heard on aicn.
Fuck you and your disposable income, you fat fucking asshole. by Warrior Angel	Feb 16th, 2008 05:02:55 PM
"I have 4 HD players, I have 300 discs, look how big my geek dick is." FUCK YOU. Some of us have to work and pay bills, you ugly cocksucking sell-out shitcock.
Should add... by Tourist	Feb 16th, 2008 05:03:12 PM
...That yeah, I do download from time to time (not movies) and I do purchase bootlegs frequantly, but nearly always for content that is completely unavailable any other way (uncut Kill Bill, Pyschic TV First Transmission etc). However, even though I downloaded the last Arcade Fire album, I enjoyed it so much that I didn't worry about spending 80 dollars on a ticket to their live show. So they won out in the end. Also, for the studios to hurry up with the downloads will not only curb some of their losses, but bring in more profits from people like me. I consume WAAAAAY more music now that I can just obtain it with a click of the button and I prefer to get it through legit, quality, reliable sources. With movies, I probally purchase on average 2 dvds a month, rent 5-10 flicks a week and see a movie once a week. This is despite the fact that distirbutors, retailers and exhibtors treat their customers like complete and utter dirt, for a service/product that is a complete luxury. There is ALOT of content that I watch that is unavailable in retail outlets or cinemas, that I purchase. I would purchase more of it if it were cheaper (which it would be without the shipping and handling and packaging overheads) and I didn't need to wait around and wait for the mail. I a total consumer, at the middle-lower end of the market, like the bulk of their customers, and I dont want their fucking new fangled hardware. I want conveniant content, and they either get used to that, or they get used to everyone stealing it, like they already do.
snowtires I was saying that too. blu Ray sounds cooler by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 05:04:31 PM
but it won't matter, this won't catch on like DVD.
Pyrrhic victory. by DocPazuzu	Feb 16th, 2008 05:05:51 PM
Whoever won, they both lost. As soon as the war broke out they both lost. The only way Blu-Ray or HD-DVD could have won is if the "losers" suddenly plowed hundreds of millions of dollars into reissuing their product in the "winning" format, thus enabling the "winner" a complete dominance on the market. Let's see if the backers of HD-DVD actually end up doing this in the foreseeable future. The only true winner and still champeen is regular DVD. You think Blu-Ray will have even half of the titles available on DVD before this is over? Not a chance. Like LaserDisc, Blu-Ray will hobble along for a few years before being overcome by the next HD format, which will be dictated by the same section of the population who finally decided to abandon VHS for DVD. Those folks have NOT taken part in this format war on any scale that matters in the long run. Here's another thing: in America, they're STILL issuing two releases of many big title DVDs, one in widescreen and one in pan and scan. As long as there's a sizable market for pan and scan movies, HD will NEVER have the power to outsell regular DVDs. And that's without even getting into the percentage who own HD televisions. Also, I don't believe that most people view storage media as a nuisance. On the contrary, I believe most movie geeks want to own their movies on some sort of storage media. Direct downloads and hard drives are great as an addition and a tool, but hard storage media will NEVER disappear any more than real books will. Don't get me wrong, HD is very impressive to look at and listen to, but Blu-Ray is just as much a stop-gap technology as HD-DVD was.
Fuck you all. i still love my nintendo 64 with zelda by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 05:05:57 PM
now that is a game that never gets old, don't need your next gen shit.
I still think Mori had it nailed by Theta	Feb 16th, 2008 05:08:15 PM
Laserdisc 2k7. As of right now, there's no reason for me to buy one of these beasts. The title selection sucks and is probably going to stay Hollywood crap for the foreseeable future. Also, I have a twenty-inch tube TV. I suspect Blu-Ray will ultimately fail as well: standard-def DVD is cheaper, there are more titles, and it's not the quality upgrade that DVD was.
Now it is time for... by SUPERJIM	Feb 16th, 2008 05:08:28 PM
...Them to drop the price of BD discs in the UK. I mean come on, we get screwed over here. No free discs with the PS3 and £20-25 per disc, correct me if I am wrong but isn't that somewhere in the region of $50?
Thats what you get for by Phategod1	Feb 16th, 2008 05:09:00 PM
being a early adopter lol. Now does anyone want a X-box 360 HD DVD player. j/k
dalbatron by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 05:10:55 PM
aicn has always been like this. And I am the king of violent personal attacks.
It's Hard Media that's dead. by chumpmonkey	Feb 16th, 2008 05:11:42 PM
Guaranteed: You will own an HDD media player in the next handful of years, if you don't already have one. Storage technology is improving by leaps and bounds; portability (despite "arguments" to the contrary) is NOT an issue; new technology ALWAYS sells to Hayseed P. Middleamerica when marketed properly (iPod, anyone?); and the "old men" who run the studios will ALWAYS go where the money is (otherwise this very talkback wouldn't exist and we'd all still be using VHS). If you can't see how the ease and popularity of services like iTunes, combined with the rapid development of HDD media player technology, combined with the rapidly improving "tech savviness" of the general public all adds up to the impending crash of Hard Media's saleability, then I have a Blu-Ray bridge to sell you.
Wow. Trek fans are screwed again by skywalkerfamily	Feb 16th, 2008 05:12:23 PM
What about Season Two?
lensproject Fuck i thought you were joking by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 05:13:00 PM
mass populace doesn't see it the same way you do.
In all fairness by INWOsuxRED	Feb 16th, 2008 05:17:52 PM
Harry has no idea how big his dick is, he hasn't seen it in years.
Expert 40 The Wii has doubled the sales of the 360 and quadruple by Mr Cairo	Feb 16th, 2008 05:18:53 PM
because its cheap and doesn't play either format ... it cant be counted as its not a next gen Blu-ray/Hd-DvD player its just a games console
Gen Con is bankrupt! by skywalkerfamily	Feb 16th, 2008 05:19:36 PM
Lucasfilm sues Gen Con.
expert_40 by JMcLovin	Feb 16th, 2008 05:23:18 PM
" Americans will get TWO jobs to afford my machine." Thank you so very much. For a while, I thought that I had dreamed that comment up, a couple of years ago.
YEAH!!! by TiPPiDa	Feb 16th, 2008 05:23:24 PM
ColecoVision in Color BITCHES!! WOO!
Why does this morbidly obesce fat fuck feel like every article h by Warrior Angel	Feb 16th, 2008 05:26:21 PM
Hey, Harry, trade in your toys for a Bender Ball you cum clot. Die in Hell screaming like they piec of useless shit you are, you fucking pop culture footnote.
If you guys don't like this site by skywalkerfamily	Feb 16th, 2008 05:29:26 PM
why do you keep coming back day after day. Did you get fired from your low paying job or something?
I love the idea that technlogy here and now by INWOsuxRED	Feb 16th, 2008 05:29:32 PM
is some sort of Jetsons flying car in the distante future. HD On Demand is here right now. They have PPV HD, they have HD on the premium channels for no additional cost to subscribers, they even air HD versions of shows like Breaking Bad at no additional charge! Downloading "extras" is here now and has been for a long time. OnDemand is also showing extras to some of their films, usually for free. Those extras are all data that can be moved around any way people want. Portable USB hard drives right now are huge and will just get bigger and cheaper, while BD will likely remain the same size. Of course you could take a bunch of downloaded HD movies over to your friend's house right now on your portable drive, and he could even throw some of his movies back onto your hard drive before you leave.
Warrior Angel by Mr. Nice Gaius	Feb 16th, 2008 05:31:25 PM
Loser.
i like how... by CombatDave07	Feb 16th, 2008 05:32:48 PM
the rabid 360 fans always pull out the "big guns" like halo, bioshock, mass effect and gears of war whenever they talk about all of the great games on their system.... when the rest of the games are multiplatform. ps3 has great exclusives like UNCHARTED (one of the best looking and playing games ever made) and ratchet and clank (mario with guns) and METAL GEAR and all sorts of stuff in the pipeline that prove to be part of an already strong history of great exclusives. but that's what i like. you like what you want. no reason to HATE a machine unless you're just jealous. .. oh yeah- when a company says they "hate" developing for a platform, it's because THEY are the ones lacking in talent. THEY can't figure out how to successfully create something with a new, forward thinking.. yes, forward thinking- sony wants to be in this for the long run- not just rush out hardware to win a "war" like microsoft did with their defective machine... "hating developing" for a machine you don't understand is like hating a pencil cuz you can't draw like art adams. so keep your halo, your 3 year warranty (on a guaranteed piece of shit- to quote tommy callahan) keep your halo wars and halo 4-12.. and halo halo halo... keep your red rings.. but i'll enjoy stuff like bioshock(coming to ps3) and gears of war 2 (also coming to ps3) and prototype (multi platform, buddy)
JMcLovin... by expert_40	Feb 16th, 2008 05:35:45 PM
... no prob. As bad as people think Microsoft is, Sony is far worse. The price of Blu won't come down, and I guarantee that the least expensive, upgradable Blu Ray player in the near future will be the one you can add on to the XBOX 360. So guess what, everyone who bought the best next gen system will still be one up on the people who bought the piece of shit PS3. And Mr. Cairo, I know the Wii isn't next gen, hell, it isn't even a DVD player in its current configuration. I was trying to correct the LIES that Stalkeye was trying to spread about the single worst marketed and supported console since the Dreamcast.
Headgeek is bummed, here's why... by Lloyd Bonafide the Korean War Veteran	Feb 16th, 2008 05:36:13 PM

Mr. Nice Gaius by Warrior Angel	Feb 16th, 2008 05:36:43 PM
I'd rather be a "loser" than a Knowles follower. Shiver in his long and majestic shadow, you retarded fuck nugget.
At least I can download Trek remastered by skywalkerfamily	Feb 16th, 2008 05:36:46 PM
for my ipod. At least I can downlaod my favorite episodes without having to pay 200 for episodes I already have.
Warrior Angel by Mr. Nice Gaius	Feb 16th, 2008 05:41:20 PM
What's the matter, chum? Is Harry making more money than you? Are you jealous that he's a "pop culture footnote"? Does he weigh less than you? Did you buy a bunch of HD-DVD stuff because of him? You know Warrior, guys like you crack me up. You come to this site and do nothing more than take pot-shots at the owner. Congratulations on being such a loser you big girl.
CombatDave... by expert_40	Feb 16th, 2008 05:42:26 PM
... Uncharted is the ONLY game out right now for PS3 that's even worth mentioning. Also, the next Final Fantasy game might not even be released on PS3. The PS3 stand alone games so far have sucked. Ratchet and Clank? Can't touch anything XBox has released. Same with Metal Gear Solid. As for 3rd party companies being pissed about the limitations placed on them by Sony for making games, it's true. The stand alone XBOX 360 games win the awards, buddy. You can flame on about Uncharted, but I do find it funny how the vast majority of games that were formally in Sony's camp have either left altogether for the 360 or have gone multi-platform, while Microsoft grows their stand alone games. It says something when everyone is jumping ship on you, isn't that the argument the Blu Ray people used when Warner's jumped? You can't have your cake and eat it to. Then again, I may be pissy if I bought the single worst console to be launched since the Dreamcast, too.
The Boogens chose HD-DVD by classyfredblassy	Feb 16th, 2008 05:42:39 PM
They did not choose wisely.
What Format Wars by Homer Goes DOH	Feb 16th, 2008 05:46:48 PM
Let's see. XBox 360...check. PS3...Check. I can play Drake's Fortune AND BioShock. You girls need to make more money.
Will the HD-DVD codec be used for Torrent? by Orionsangels	Feb 16th, 2008 05:46:56 PM
Sameway divx was
Yeah !!! Let's celebrate Comercialism !!!!! by picardsucks	Feb 16th, 2008 05:47:39 PM
Yippee a megacorporation beat another megacorporation !!!!! Is it too late to choose sides, can we profess our love and loyalty to Sony Corp??? Yeah for branding, can Ralph Lauren make my pony even bigger on my Polo shirt?? Let's paint Nike swooshes on our weiners!!!! Soooooooo so many of you got so pissy over one company's product or another, not like there isn't real shit happening around the world. Sony can I massage your clit??? Oh yeah, Sony, oh SONY!!!!!!!
Star Wars to be on Blue RAYYYY! by skywalkerfamily	Feb 16th, 2008 05:50:41 PM
Lucas to make more money.
Dunno about this stop gap tech some people think this is.... by pax256	Feb 16th, 2008 05:56:20 PM
I was disconnected 3 times when downloading the Indy 1080p trailer by my isp. It took forever and I have their fastest dsl. Not to forget Canada has faster trunk lines generally than the US so our infrastructure is one gen ahead of yours. Theres no way in hell Im paying 20$ for an electronic copy of a movie. I want my hardcopy media and I dont wanna wait days to dowload it to a HD thats already filled to the brim. Heck even if I switched to 2 terabyte drives vs the 2 250 gigers I have now it no way could hold all my shit.
Expert_40 by sambrook	Feb 16th, 2008 05:56:23 PM
Using that exact same quote about "single worst console to be launched since the Dreamcast" is making you look like a dick. We read it the first time. And second. And third. All I've got at the moment is a decent-sized standard-def widescreen TV, a Wii (and PS2) and a decent DVD player with DTS-surround. I haven't felt pressured at all to upgrade yet, absolutely no point with prices as they are and movie sbeing split all over the formats. Doesn't mean I love movies any less - most of my viewing is done at the cinema anyway. Blu Ray would have won eventually, what with Spider-Man, Pixar etc being exclusive, and the PS3 seems like the machine for me based on what I'm after in a machine. The worst thing is this is just going to encourage the smarmy twat(s) who post "Can't wait to see this on Paramount Blu-Ray!" in every Indy talkback (despite the fact Spielberg's films weren't part of the HD DVD-exclusive deal anyway so, erm, good point well made?)
Wow, why do people get so mad at each other about this? by mraig	Feb 16th, 2008 05:57:08 PM
The only thing that makes me mad is when I'm over at someone's house, they have an HD-TV, but they're watching a pan and scan DVD and stretching the 4:3 picture to fill the 16:9 screen. And if you point out to them that everything is stretched and distorted, they don't understand what you're talking about. But see, I've learned (1) not to point things like that out to people, and (2) not to let myself get so worked up over it. As long as they're happy watching what they're watching, that's great for them. And as long as I'm happy watching what I'm watching, that's great for me. In fact, you could argue that the people who watch the stretched out SD picture on their 50" HDTVs have a lot more peace of mind than I do, compulsively adjusting brightness and contrast and testing different modes while my wife just wants to sit down and watch the movie. What is it about video formats that makes everybody so mad at everybody? The only other thing that's so good at causing pointless anger is time-travel plots in science fiction.
A silver lining... by tailhook	Feb 16th, 2008 05:57:19 PM
HD-DVD owners that bought their dirt cheap players can now buy HD-DVD used discs at ultra-cheap prices($10-$15) while Blu-Ray'ers are out paying full price($25-$35) and waiting for the HD-DVD movies to come to Blu-Ray.
You know what this means: CHEAP HD-DVD PLAYERS AND MOVIES! by GimpInMyPants	Feb 16th, 2008 05:57:36 PM
Get 'em before they sink in the ether!
Not to mention by pax256	Feb 16th, 2008 05:58:23 PM
I couldve downloaded all my regular dvds years ago. But why grind the pc all to hell and burn a shitty dvd-r copy when so many dvds are 5$??
"I also have a habit of picking the winning formats" by MeshGearFoxx	Feb 16th, 2008 06:00:34 PM
eh, guess not huh?
As for downloads by sambrook	Feb 16th, 2008 06:03:25 PM
1. Once they try and launch this as the main format - if they do - then I'm almost certain they'll be some sort of encoding going on so you can't burn copy after copy after copy for your friends. Otherwise one person will buy the perfect digital copy and, boom, straight onto the torrents. Why would anyone pay for it when it's bascially a file you can get for free? 2. People - not just geeks, but I'll concede it's not everyone - like to show off their colelctions. Of everything. DVDs, books, CDs. Christ, I love being able to see and touch my collection. I'm proud of it. And people like having physical items. If they're paying for it, why not? Why shouldn't they? Downloadable books have been around for ages yet people still prefer physical copies. And did those newspaper tablets that update daily ever take off? I'm not saying the format won't work, just that all the snobs smirking that physical movies buyers are wasting their time are too busy trying to look cool and ahead-of-the-game to consider every point.
TomBodet by Mr. Nice Gaius	Feb 16th, 2008 06:04:23 PM
What's up you crazy bastard? I don't understand a word of what you just said but I support you 100%.
"It started with the Warner Brothers move"? by Batou	Feb 16th, 2008 06:06:59 PM
Mate, it was way over before that. HDDVD has been in solid decline in the US since mid last year. And elsewhere in the world it was a fucking non-event. 96:4 in Japan, 80:20 Europe, 95:5 in Australia
expert 40 by CombatDave07	Feb 16th, 2008 06:09:27 PM
Same with Metal Gear Solid. now this means war! lol. not really. everyone's entitled to their opinion. too bad yours sucks...only because it comes from a very bitter place. but then again... i'd be bitter too if my machine had a 16 percent failure rate and spent a bunch of money on a useless hd periferal as well as wifi and all sorts of stuff that should have come with the system when i paid for it, like it did with the ps3.
The problem with downloaded content by snowtires	Feb 16th, 2008 06:10:28 PM
is that, until hard drives become more stable, there will always be the problem of failure and complete content loss. At least with DVDs, if there's a problem with one DVD, you can replace that DVD. If your hard drive fails, you run the risk of losing everything on it. I am in the process of ripping my DVD collection to hard drive (one problem with DVDs is that they take up a LOT of space, once you have 300+) and dreading the point where I have everything ripped, because then I'm going to have to buy twice that amount of storage space to use as a backup, in case the original hard drives fail. Even as hard drive space comes down in space, that's still going to be a hard sell for your average consumer.
by redkamel	Feb 16th, 2008 06:15:39 PM
yeah right. First, blu ray us useless unless you have an HD TV (which everyone wont for a few more years). Second, all the movies on blu ray are the crap ones that just came out of the theatres. You cant go get a bunch of sweet 80s movies on blu ray or all your old favorites. Third, you (or me, actually) has spent A LOT on a dvd collection. Should I start completely over, just to improve the image quality, when DVD is actually pretty good? considering there are no other benefits (for example vhs-> DVD: no rewind, skip easily, better FF/RW ability, wont wear out, menus AND better quality...while DVD->BR only better quality). Screw that. I am going to stick with DVDs until downloads.
hey sambrook by redkamel	Feb 16th, 2008 06:20:23 PM
1. ...Why would anyone pay for it when it's bascially a file you can get for free? A blu ray disc is a file on a disc. So it doesnt matter if you download it or put it on a disc, once you crack the code, you crack the code. 2. People - not just geeks, but I'll concede it's not everyone - like to show off their colelctions. You can show a collection off on your computer too. Especially when its media, not when the item is meant to be viewed. No one wants to look at your DVD collection, they want to see your MOVIE collection. Also, e books failed cause you are looking at a bright screen (basically a light) while you are reading.
redkamel by snowtires	Feb 16th, 2008 06:26:02 PM
If you're saying DVDs look 'actually pretty good,' then you obviously haven't seen a movie on Blu-Ray. There's no comparison. Keep in mind the feed you're seeing at Best Buy and Circuit City is from one box, split to fifty different TVs at once, so the picture looks awful. When you actually have this set up at home on a good 1080p set, the different between Blu-Ray and DVD is immeasurable. I can't tell you how many people have watched movies at my apartment and commented on how amazing everything looks. If you're a true movie fan, 'only better quality' isn't something you throw out there like it's a problem (also, it's not the only improvement, not by a longshot), greatly improved image quality is a huge incentive to buy.
When Mr. Nice Gaius smiles... by Warrior Angel	Feb 16th, 2008 06:29:07 PM
...you can see Harry's shit in his teeth.
Redkamel by sambrook	Feb 16th, 2008 06:29:35 PM
But the difference is that, with downloads, it's paying for a digital copy or illegally downloading a free digital file. At least there's a difference in product when downloading a digital copy of a Blu Ray movie or buying the actual disc. Sure, to guys like you it's a difference that you don't care about, but it's one that obviously sways some people. I'm just saying it's going to be hard to educate the masses into paying for digital copies that they've been downloading for free en masse for what will be almost a decade by the time it hits the mainstream. Legal MP3s took ages to shift in the numbers they do now. And yes, you can show off your collection on a computer. But I've got a decent-seized collection of about 700 DVDs - do you really think my DVD Profiler list looks as impressive as my (geeky) shelves upon shelves of DVDs (especially my, maybe unhealthily-so, displays wheer collections are concerned)? Yes, the film is ultimately what people pay for. But if packaging and pride in the appearance of a physical collection meant nothing then we'd all be buying discs in plastic sleeves with the film title stamped on.
You know who doesn't have time for this shit? by Dr.DirtyD	Feb 16th, 2008 06:31:17 PM
...Poor people.
Oh, and Harry... by Dr.DirtyD	Feb 16th, 2008 06:36:53 PM
...You have one of the most visually potent films of all time and all you use for your animation is, essentially, a close-up still?
what the fuck ever mang by Pipple	Feb 16th, 2008 06:39:38 PM
Remember when you were a kid and you had a whole pile of shitty quality vhs tapes but you loved them to death because that shitty stuff was your whole life, you grew up on those shows? That's the future. Kids, everybody's going to have a whole pile of shit on their hard drives at home they'll love to watch and it'll be so much better than having to adjust the little tuner on the vcr like we used to. downloads forever baby.
I love all the anger from... by Dav8515	Feb 16th, 2008 06:43:04 PM
the people who say PS3 sucks. You are all spoiled little brats. Its a great machine that offers a lot to the consumer. I own all 3 machines(xbox wi ps3) They are all good in their own way. But people please, GET A LIFE. U are lucky that u have the options to all 3 systems. Stop bitching and appreciate that ur not stuck in 1977 and playing PONG. All the haters are losers who can't get laid, and have no cash. GET OFF UR LAZY ASSES AND GET A BETTER JOB instead of bitching
HD movies by Don Lockwood	Feb 16th, 2008 06:46:07 PM
Let me start by saying that I don't even own an HD anything right now. I've shopped around some and, like probably a majority of the public, decided to wait until there was a clear winner to the content war because frankly DVDs and game systems are the only way you're gonna get a true HD experience right now. Broadcast HD isn't 1080p. When will it be? Who knows? Here's my thing, though. When I've seen HD movies, I haven't liked them. They don't look like film. I watched the new POTC and SM3 and they looked like they were shot on video. Is that "realistic"? I guess, but you know what? I want my movies to look like they were shot on film. Crystal clear film? Sure. Crappy high-definition video, though, isn't gonna cut it for me.
Damn You Michael Blu-Ray by DamnMichaelBay	Feb 16th, 2008 06:46:11 PM
My post's subject is a pun.
Karma for Sony by gumbercules	Feb 16th, 2008 06:48:55 PM
Anyone remember betamax? Better format and it lost to VHS.
Go ahead, convince yourself you don't regret it by Emperor_was_a_jerk	Feb 16th, 2008 06:50:09 PM
I think it's kinda cute the great lengths Harry is going through (and many other HD-DVD owners I assume) that he does not regret being an early adopter of HD-DVD. "Two extra players mint in the box". Cute. Everyone who says that the interactivity of HD-DVD is better than BR or that HD-DVD is better than BR needs to remember that these are the very EARLY versions of BR disks and players. In a year or two they will be chock full of goodness I am sure. I am glad I never bought either one! In fact, I won't get a BR player for another year or two. In 5 years digital downloads will put an end to all of this.
Spamster by MaxTheSilent	Feb 16th, 2008 06:50:33 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=5fc81Mw0Y4E
SK229 by SebastianHaff	Feb 16th, 2008 06:52:03 PM
Your post about the camcorder market is already pretty high up there, but I have to comment anyway. The Sony EX1 owns. I love it more than anything from Panny, and not even Canon's XL-H1 can compare. The rolling shutter could be a problem depending on what you use the cam for, though. I know this is off topic, but I had to show some love for the Ex1. It is my baby. However, who knows, I may change my tune when the new RED comes out....
Jesus Christ has chosen HD-DVD, here's why... by Johnno	Feb 16th, 2008 06:53:32 PM
It is because the format is dying... DYING for the SINS of Microsoft and Toshiba! But comfort ye my people, for your salvation is at hand. The world is about to be embraced by the heavenly blu rays of light! The eyes of the blind shall be opened! And the ears of the deaf unstopped! Clarity is at hand, it is coming! Prepare your hearts and minds and shelf space and welcome the year of the PSTrinity! The price of entering these gates is high... but so are the number of your iniquities...
Rings by JeremyM1	Feb 16th, 2008 06:54:34 PM
Am I the only one that finds it hilarious that people bitch about having to get up and throw in disc 2 of the LOTR extended editions? Oh no, a walk to the TV!
CombatDave... by expert_40	Feb 16th, 2008 06:54:51 PM
... how am I bitter? I have 120 gigs of memory, plenty of room to download HD movies I want to see, I will have the ability to Netflix through my XBox, I don't have any issues with hardware, my games are BETTER, 3rd party software companies actually want to work on my console, and on yeah... my online service is FAR superior to whatever Sony is offering. As for the rest of the stuff that you think is a drawback, I and the rest of AMERICA (based on sale figures) like the idea of having some CHOICE with being able to add on what we want and not having to pay for what we don't. Like with the wireless. I don't need the wireless. I plug my XBox 360 right into my router. Why do I need a wireless? In fact, the vast majority of people don't need the wireless. Yet ANOTHER choice that Sony doesn't give you the chance to make. Because they believe stupid Americans will get two jobs to afford their piece of shit doorstop. It's all about choice, CombatDave. Sony never really offered anyone any kind of a choice, and now, they offer you NO choice. 40 gig PS3, with NO backwards compatibility is all anyone will be getting for awhile because Sony has lost so much money on their doorstop. I'm bitter? Hell no. I'm giddy. And now, I can't wait for my $150.00 XBox 360 add-on Blu Ray Drive. See, CombatDave... CHOICE. It's what makes America great, and something Sony has never, and will never understand.
You are all forgetting QUINT in this mess! by Luvs269er	Feb 16th, 2008 06:58:47 PM
Sorry Quint... but if you were looking for Harry to blow up your birthday with some righteous discs-- it sounds like you're fucked.
Console war is not format war, it won't end by Stormwatcher	Feb 16th, 2008 06:59:53 PM
360 have sold so much (nothinglike wii but wtf) that it doesn't matter if they sell fewer right now than PS3. EVERYTHING comes out for 360 that matters and much is exclusive. There will NEVER been 1 game console format nor should there ever be. I got the HD add on and on't regret it. It works, it was cheap, I got great deals on HD discs that are exclusive and many warner's that aren't but I never understood how having shitty FOX on your side meant they won. Oh well. When I can get a BD for 150 I will buy one.
Damn Blu trolls by ugh	Feb 16th, 2008 07:10:39 PM
Ok, your format won. It's still not cheap. It's still not complete. You weren't paid $500 million to switch like Warner did. And you will never benefit from it, either. Now could you just stop with your childish behavior on forums. Move on to other things to flame about.
Forgive me if this is a retarded question: by Charlie Murphy	Feb 16th, 2008 07:21:06 PM
blu-ray will continue to be released alongside regular dvds, instead of phasing them out? also, what the big deal with these high def players anyhow? do you need a high def tv for them to work right or can you hook up a blu-ray player to any old tv and get great picture? i'm a guy who doesn't really give a shit if my tv's picture is clear or really clear, but if i'm gonna have to buy one of these blu-ray gizmos i'd kind of like a heads up.
Napster killed the Music Industry by skywalkerfamily	Feb 16th, 2008 07:26:00 PM
It wasn't itunes.
expert_40 by wash	Feb 16th, 2008 07:36:04 PM
Totally wrong about the PS1 thing. ALL PS3 systems play PS1 games. Time for you to do your own research and chill.
expert_40 by wash	Feb 16th, 2008 07:36:07 PM
Totally wrong about the PS1 thing. ALL PS3 systems play PS1 games. Time for you to do your own research and chill.
Blu ray SUCKS! by Lashlarue	Feb 16th, 2008 07:40:20 PM
i don't own a HD player, but everything I've seen at Best Buy makes me not want to buy one. It makes the movies look like total and utter shit. Who could really watch something that crappy?
Bouncy X by Johnno	Feb 16th, 2008 07:41:17 PM
PS3 upscales DVD only through HDMI, and you should also update the firmware. And why is anyone bothering to argue with this expert_40 faggot? As you can clearly see he's communicating to us from some alternate universe where up is down and hamburgers eat people and Xbox 360s don't break and the PSP isn't selling HAHAHA good one! And physical storage will still be around people... what the fuck do you think HDDs are? Where are you going to store and burn all that downloadable content to? And here's the kicker... which one do you think is going to be more controlled? And can you take it to your friends house? And will cable companies let me download as much as I want with my current setup or start charging me more or put bandwidth caps and charge me by the Mb? Which they are already doing when they're not too busy plugging in more people into one server and slowing down my connection. So I end up spending more money on HDDs, discs to burn content to, possibly and ironically, a blu-ray burner, pay more for cable internet fees, and pay for legitimate downloadable movies... what a fascinating prospect! You call me and tell me when all those little issues are out of the way. And I'm sure someday they will be, say 10 years from now at the earliest! And the only reason people don't mind waiting and downloading crappier quality films is because they come for the low price of FREE! Downloads are here to some extent, and they'll exist alongside physical media... But hell already HiDef disc sales are more than double that of legal downloads! Downloading being the dominant standard is for the far far future, like after World War III and flying cars. Not anytime soon, outside of piracy...
Blu-Ray has more units sold than DVD did... by wash	Feb 16th, 2008 07:41:56 PM
..at this point in DVD's age. To those saying it has a smaller market share are missing the point. All signs are pointing to it being pretty successful.
i liked my choice, 40 by CombatDave07	Feb 16th, 2008 07:45:01 PM
just so happens that i utilize EVERY option that sony has given me with my console. i have backwards compatibility... and soon i'll be able to download sony librarys. so i chose the machine with the format i don't have to buy an add on for. so i chose a machine that ALREADY uses that format to create more space for great games on a disc. and third parties ARE working on sony's console. and will continue to work on that console long after microsoft dumps the 360 like they did the original xbox, to get guys like 'not so expert' 40 to spend more of mom's cash to get a newer cheaper fast food machine that caters to the chad and josh crowds that enjoy their empty minded fragfests and watching their lame red vs. blue videos... i chose a machine that works. and will work. long after your red rings, baby. enjoy waiting for your refurb and sony is in the black. quit reading the internet as fact, douche. and stop thinking that sony is evil because they are japanese as a company- microsoft is BEYOND evil... in fact... all companies are evil. they all want our money and will do everything in order to get it. there is no choice when you live in america. we have all been bought and paid for LONG AGO. enjoy the illusion.
Screw High Definition in general... by EvilGeek1	Feb 16th, 2008 07:46:05 PM
That and the digital revolution while I'm at it! I'm never going to buy into that crap. Why would I want to watch a movie where they take out the celluloid hairs, scratches and cigarette burns???!!! It's like going to Starbucks! Looks nice but where's the substance? 35mm for life!
Aint it Cool Blues by YAYBLUERAY	Feb 16th, 2008 07:46:44 PM
The most dissapointing thing to come out of all this format war mess was AICN's uneducated endorsement of HD-DVD format. And guys, being a geek is cool, but not when it makes you look like white trash who digs for bargains at the local Wal-Mart.Your biasness for HD-DVD was based on mindless and reckless analysis. It reminds me why I don't watch most news stations anymore. Your reporting on this should have been with hard data and facts instead of wishful thinking. Guys, face it, you didn't do your homework. And as far as I'm concerned, your site lost alot of it's integrity with the way you handled this format mess. Common sense, critical thinking skills, honest reporting, would have led you to NOT looking like fools. You'll be wiping egg off your face for a long time because of this,,and as a daily reader of your site, I will be more cautious about what you have to write and report on in the future (wondering if its accurate reporting or not)
Charlie Murphy by Johnno	Feb 16th, 2008 07:47:26 PM
It'll be like VHS to DVD, DVD will eventually be phased out slowly and blu-ray will take it's place. It'll take a long time, hell there are still VHS tapes around in some places, but slowly and surely the industry will want you on blu-ray and begin phasing down the number of things releasing on DVD, it's part of the plan. And yes you do need a HDTV to appreciate these players. If you don't have one, then don't bother. HD media is already growing quite a bit faster than DVD, so things are looking good.
YAYBLUERAY by zacdilone	Feb 16th, 2008 07:49:17 PM
As your user name indicates, and the haughty tone of your post confirms, you are a little too close to this. Get out and get some fresh air.
CDs killed the music industry by Funketeer	Feb 16th, 2008 07:59:48 PM
The record companies shot themselves in the foot when they release music in a digital format and didn't expect the rest of the world to catch up with the technology. As soon as CD-Rom drives became available for home use, the end was near. Record companies want to use the same business model they have for the last 50 years but the technology and needs of the consumer have changed around them.
blu-rays are a thousand times harder to scratch up then hd by angrykirby.tk	Feb 16th, 2008 08:02:44 PM
good news for the few remaining video stores, as well as netflix users
This thread. by Rando Calrisian	Feb 16th, 2008 08:12:02 PM
Just made me scream at my computer. ...end of line.
If they do release Star Wars on BluRay by Orionsangels	Feb 16th, 2008 08:14:39 PM
They better add all the deleted scenes
It is a shame, HD-DVD is better. by nicegoogly	Feb 16th, 2008 08:14:45 PM
I have both players, but HD-DVD was always superior in picture quality and reliability. A lot of blu-ray disks are total crap (that does not even include the issues caused by the lack of ethernet support. As far as cost, HD-DVD were, on the average, $5-$10 cheaper than blu-ray. The selection for both was, and still is paltry. Batman Begins and Dune were what made me decide a while back to get an HD-DVD player. I would assume that it is finally coming out for blu-ray (promised in 2006 when it was released on HD-DVD and never came out). The picture-in-picture and other features that run as the movie plays were terrific and unparalleled. Blu-ray has more titles, but not necessary greater titles. Pirates, big fuckin' deal, I would not watch it if it was on HD-DVD. Fantastic Four, Spiderman 3? Ick. Hellboy and the Die-Hard films is would is usually playing in my Blu-ray player. Remember, Sony never used any of the extra space on the damn disks, and the java crap they use to program for the blu-ray disks is too difficult to program for, just like the cell-broadband engine in the idiotic PS3.
What about my laser discs? by theBigE	Feb 16th, 2008 08:16:32 PM
Anyone want to help me with that one? I've still got over 100 LD's!
Damn you, Michael Blu-Ray! by MrMysteryGuest	Feb 16th, 2008 08:19:20 PM
I'll never give up my standard DVD discs! I'll kill you first!
without Star Wars by sith_rising	Feb 16th, 2008 08:19:36 PM
neither format means shit to me
About the PS3 and Xbox 360 by nicegoogly	Feb 16th, 2008 08:27:18 PM
PS3, as a gaming machine is a huge failure for Sony. As the one real way they were able to get Blu-Ray into homes, it was a success. So many of the games sucked or had been out already on the Xbox 360, ble-ray movie purchases were the only way a lot of PS3 owner justified their investment in an overpriced unit. I will probably get one when MGS 4 comes out...but at the rate Sony is going, it might be multi-platform when, if ever, it comes out.
Nicegoogly, do some research by MattmanReturns	Feb 16th, 2008 08:39:21 PM
"HD-DVD was always superior in picture quality". Goddamn it. They are EXACTLY THE FUCKING SAME in picture quality. When there are two titles on both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, they use the same fucking transfer. Any given Blu-Ray/HD-DVD review on hidefdigest.com backs me up on this.
I don't get this.... by Stevie Grant	Feb 16th, 2008 08:53:33 PM
can somebody explain why it matters what format my high-def viewing pleasure comes in? Unless, that is, one is more likely to last longer than the other.
$$$ by Stevie Grant	Feb 16th, 2008 08:54:00 PM

Now here's where Sony screws us all... by jakeblues	Feb 16th, 2008 08:58:04 PM
Now that they won, their plans to force everyone to toss their old DVD players in favor of Blu starts. They'll start releasing blu-only titles, features, and even delay the releases of movies to DVD after they get Blu out first. They have to make up the cash they've been throwing away somewhere. That, and they're looking at disks that you can never trade in used. They license to YOU and will play nowhere else. They'll claim it stops piracy, but it will be all about control. They were going to do this on the PS3's games but Gamestop shat themselves over it. Now that they have all the power, it's over. And for the record, HD-DVD was a more solid format. Played better, faster, and was more durable. Sure the image was identical, but the hardware was lacking.
Sony PWNS OUR HOLES by performingmonkey	Feb 16th, 2008 08:59:25 PM
I got a PS3 with a free copy of Casino Royale on blu-ray. Since then I've never looked back. However, unlike all the NUTJOBS who've bought hundreds of BDs/HD-DVDs even though HD formats were in their infancy, I RENTED the fuckers. I've rented Pirates, Spiderman trilogy, Blade Runner Final Cut, Close Encounters, The Prestige, 28 Weeks Later, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Order of the Phoenix, Full Metal Jacket, Superman Returns, Big Fish, Eragon (bah), Kingdom Of Heaven, Hellbody, Die Hard 4 and many more. I may still get the Blade Runner case but apart from that I don't want to buy these fuckers because they WILL come out with better releases in the future. I rent the movies, watch the fuck out of them with my surround system blasting the fuck out, for at least 5 days, then send them the fuck back, all for at least 5 times less money I'd pay for owning the fuckers. I will eventually get the entire Potter series on blu-ray, I know that for a fact, WHEN they re-release them with real extras on them and in an amazing case.
Jakeblues by MattmanReturns	Feb 16th, 2008 08:59:55 PM
I wouldn't worry... DVD is in no danger for quite a while. It's doing too well. Sony would shoot themselves in the foot to not release titles on DVD.
jakeblues by Stevie Grant	Feb 16th, 2008 09:01:53 PM
stopping piracy is about control. and, why the fuck would they back a less profitable product over a more profitable product?
Why do you have 5 high def dvd players, Harry? by Hellboy	Feb 16th, 2008 09:03:58 PM
Seems so damn wasteful.
I'm ready for the sci-fi shit.... by Stevie Grant	Feb 16th, 2008 09:04:06 PM
you know, those know-all, do-all crystals. buy one of those bad boys and you are set.
for people who want real advice and truth by comicgeekoidtoo	Feb 16th, 2008 09:08:38 PM
I have both, like both. HD-DVD discs have more interactive features. As the BR firmware is updated, BR will adopt many of the same features, so no worries there. Technically, BR discs have a potential to hit 50gb. VERY FEW DO. Most authored BR discs come int he 25gb flavor, meaning that in most cases HD-DVD discs have 5 more gbs. BR can boast uncompressed audio. Most don't. That's up to the studio. The few titles I've seen on both formats, visually they seem identical. So there you go. If I were you assholes, I'd buy a PS3. Even if you care nothing for games, it's a wonderful media center and is currently the MOST adaptable and updatable BR player. Now, I'm off to buy some cheap hd-dvds.
Meh. by Juggernaut125	Feb 16th, 2008 09:10:16 PM
Still got my DVDs, and my PS2 games, and even some PSOne games that I like playing. I got a PSP for free basically so I'm not too upset about that, but until DVDs become the next VHS tapes (hard to find in stores) I'll hold off on the whole HD format.
That sucks by Turd Furgeson	Feb 16th, 2008 09:12:01 PM
I have been going to the store for months tryiing to compare the formats and I thought HD looked more authentic that Blu Ray. I dont want my movies looking like a video game and the blue ray disks made me feel that way. My solution- I have an older Mitsubishi HD 55 inch and was planning on upgrading this year to the 65 inch pioneer plasma, put it on the wall and have a cabinet built for my gear. I am just going to have a computer set up put there with TV output to the Pioneer and just do HD downloads on the PC, output to the TV... Fuck Sony...
stalkeye you are hilarious by slappy jones	Feb 16th, 2008 09:17:50 PM
So your argument is pretty much "if it wasn't for the fact xbox 360 has better games it would be a doorstop" ...hahaha. the ps3 is an awful machine and sure it can play blu ray..but where are the games?? where is its exc lusive kick ass games?? IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY....like I said I sold mine. got rid of it....as for bragging about the ps3 ionline play being free..well if i have to pay for one that works as well as xbox live then i really don;t mind at all. the sony one is free...thats because if they tried to make anyone pay for that shitty system it would be a ghost land. red ring of death?? i wouldn't know...I have not had one problem with my xbox 360 in the 2 years I have had it. and I never get into these silly types of wars as I have always got every console. I love games....I never really like the first x box...i was always a ps2 guy but the ps3 is terrible. the interface...the way it works...its just inferior on every level.
PS3 is the only future proof system at the moment by TygerClaw	Feb 16th, 2008 09:19:38 PM
The problem with Blu-Ray is those who bought the standalone players are getting screwed cause there not firmware upgradable, While the PS3 can get the latest upgrades through firmware updates all the time. Right now the PS3 is the only viable solution as a Blu-Ray player.
TURD FURGESON by Stevie Grant	Feb 16th, 2008 09:21:18 PM
Just in case you didn't know, the actual Burt Reynolds was set to storm in on a SNL's "Celebrity Jeopardy" skit, interrupt Norm's Burt, punch Norm's Burt out, take that Burt's place, and then give even dumber responses. It was too bad Norm MacDonald got fired for constantly mentioning OJ is a serial murderer.
By the way, by Stevie Grant	Feb 16th, 2008 09:25:26 PM
My Guitar Hero band's name is "Turd Ferguson". Kickass.
Mattman...chill your shit by nicegoogly	Feb 16th, 2008 09:30:30 PM
It was my opinion. Thank you for referencing someone else's opinion for not fuckin' reason. I have a 1080 P 50 inch plasma, and that is how I fuckin' feel about it. I will say that blu-ray has superior sound, but it is Sony. When I am devising a subjective opinion about something (that means how I view the material), I don't need to see how the fuck everyone else is seeing it, jackass. I am sure to you, your wife is beautiful, but maybe the guys on hidefdigest disagree...will that change how you feel about her?
Mysterious Yobo by nicegoogly	Feb 16th, 2008 09:33:43 PM
Yeah, I would get both. don't have a need for the PS3 until MSG 4 comes out since I have the Blu-Ray player. Disposable income is nice.
mraig by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:37:37 PM
same type of people that got disney to release mainly pan scan titles because they didn't like the black bars, thinking the top and bottom was cut off, when in fcat the sides are cut off for pan and scan. some people are dumb fucks.
mraig by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:39:01 PM
also true about the time travel. i fought 50 people once arguing about how Kyle Reese could be John Connor's father if he was from the future, and whether they used BTTF linear timelines, DC style maleable timelines or alternate timelines.
sambrook by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:40:30 PM
Humans will always want something physical. Hard media of any type will never die.
Stevie Grant by Turd Furgeson	Feb 16th, 2008 09:42:25 PM
Huh? WTF are you talking about with the SNL stuff? It sounds cool but I think you mixed up a post and a name. BTW, nice Guitar Hero band name.
All I know is, we should piss in Sony's face... by BurnHollywood	Feb 16th, 2008 09:43:09 PM
This anticompetitive backroom-deal shit deserves an answer from the consumers...don't buy a player until they drop below $200 (like HD-DVD players already are!), and sure as shit don't buy a Sony. They'll collect a small fee from the competing manufacturer for using the Blu-Ray technology anyway, but at least all the money won't wind up in their pockets.
How to upgrade a 1.0 Bluray layer by Pooty	Feb 16th, 2008 09:43:11 PM
Okay losers. You don't need internet connectivity on your Bluray player to upgrade. Did anyone read the instructions that came with their players? Didn't think so. Go to www.blu-ray.com and click on firmware. You'll find instructions on how to download the firmware update and burn it to a disc that the player can read. It's easy and works. I've done it.
redkamel by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:43:36 PM
You live in a fantasy land. My friend tries to show off his media collection and people don't give a fuck, but another dude shows his sweet DVD collection with boxsets and it's impressive.
snowtires by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:45:00 PM
I think it's more that DVD is good enough, that Blu Ray doesn't warrant spending ultimately thousands of dollars on a 'better' picture. It's not the massive jump from vhs to dvd.
What do I do with my DVD-I from Circuit City? by rsswope	Feb 16th, 2008 09:45:23 PM
I could save the movies on Beta-max
Blu Ray Drank HD DVD's Milk Shake!! by Headless Roland	Feb 16th, 2008 09:45:43 PM
HD DVD ain't nothin' but a bastard in a basket.
sambrook you win by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:47:14 PM
"Yes, the film is ultimately what people pay for. But if packaging and pride in the appearance of a physical collection meant nothing then we'd all be buying discs in plastic sleeves with the film title stamped on." - Pretty much owns everyone.
Aw, fuggit...just go to iTunes... by BurnHollywood	Feb 16th, 2008 09:49:20 PM
That's what really keeps the greedy bastards involved in this circus up at night, and it gives you what you want (and they don't) in the here and now: movies over the net, without the easily scratched polymer coasters...
Ashok0 by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:49:34 PM
Exactly. I like the physical media. I prefer going to a store, looking at a movie, buying it, coming home, looking at the cover, popping it in my dvd player and watching it. beats going to a torrent site, looking for the movie, looking for the best quality version with enough seeders, downloading it, organizing it, burning it to a disc cos i hate watching movies on a computer and then putting it in my shitty divx player and going through it trying to find the right file. Only nerds enjoy that shit.
Ashok0 by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:49:38 PM
Exactly. I like the physical media. I prefer going to a store, looking at a movie, buying it, coming home, looking at the cover, popping it in my dvd player and watching it. beats going to a torrent site, looking for the movie, looking for the best quality version with enough seeders, downloading it, organizing it, burning it to a disc cos i hate watching movies on a computer and then putting it in my shitty divx player and going through it trying to find the right file. Only nerds enjoy that shit.
Pipple shut the fuck up by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:50:37 PM
you never have any idea what you're talking about.
TURD FURGESON by Stevie Grant	Feb 16th, 2008 09:52:24 PM
I don't know if you were joking... been on a bar-crawl... but Norm MacDonald impersonated Burt Reynolds on SNL's Celebrity Jeopardy. One on SNL Celebrity Jeopardy, Norm as Burt, changed his name to "Turd Ferguson" on the Jeopardy competitor stand.
Prossor by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:53:32 PM
Yah. Apart from Metal Gear Solid, they aged like shit. Whilst I still enjoy my Ocarina of Time.
JeremyM1 by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:55:15 PM
that walk cuts my progressive enjoyment and flow of the movie.
skywalkerfamily by messi	Feb 16th, 2008 09:57:44 PM
you mean the mainstream music industry, music that is made for music rather than money is still doing fine. I really could not give a shit if shitty mainstream singers and bands dont make millions of dollars. Most of the stuff I listen to are on indepandent labels.
PS3 is loud and hot (like my ex-girlfriend) by MikeSal222	Feb 16th, 2008 10:00:18 PM
If you want a machine that sounds like a vacuum cleaner running at full blast, and gets so hot that you can grill a steak on it, then the PS3 is for you. As for me, I'll wait until a cheap, reliable standalone player comes along. Even then I'm not sure I'll buy into Blu-Ray. It's just one last chance for Sony to dip into your pockets (and double dip, and triple dip) before the inevitable switch over to downloads. Blu-Ray is a placeholder format in between DVD and downloads. But if you enjoy spending $44 to own Walk Hard, by all means, go for it.
Warrior Angel by Mr. Nice Gaius	Feb 16th, 2008 10:11:04 PM
Kiss me you fool.
I just Bought an HDTV and 1080i progressive.. by hoorayforeric	Feb 16th, 2008 10:14:13 PM
I just bought a sweet new 40 inch samsung..and got a 1080i progressive scan DVD player at wal-mart for $45. The picture is great...the sound is great...it's HDMI outputable and will do until Blu Ray is affordable...or at least worth paying for. Right now...just like all new technology...it's all about waiting. Soon...and I hope...all Blue Ray DVD players will format for both HD and non-HD. That will cover all the market...not just the HD market. But my $45 DVD 1080i/HDMI player looks amazing...so I figure the PS3 will be that much soon. My PS2 is on the shelf and I couldn't sell it if I wanted. Blu Ray is the way to go...but wait...soon...it'll be cheap. But give non-HD people a choice with DVD and just let it work on both. Maybe it does already..I don't know... I just can't wait to see Indy 4!!
Moore's Law by RandySavage	Feb 16th, 2008 10:16:01 PM
Is it possible that in 5 years, hard drives that measure in petabytes (1000 terrabytes) will be common and easily hold entire HD film collections, making discs of any type obsolete. Too bad for Toshiba, though. I find their electronics to be highly reliable: my Toshiba DVD player is over 6 years old and still plays like new. Hope the company weathers this (and doesn't cut into the quality of their products).
Harry's 4 HD DVD players by Balian1193	Feb 16th, 2008 10:24:53 PM
It is quite obvious why Harry have 4 HD DVD players ...because they were free. This explains the sudden, uninformed endorsement of HD DVD. The HD DVD PG probably cut Harry a check along with unlimited HD DVD titles(300+ titles according to Harry himself) and players for his personal use to promote the format.
My Toshiba gave me 6 valiant years of service by caruso_stalker217	Feb 16th, 2008 10:30:04 PM
It only recently took a shit on me. The fucker.
noisy ps3? by Bouncy X	Feb 16th, 2008 10:31:39 PM
you must have gotten a bad machine. my brother has one and so do i now and they are so quiet you'd think it wasnt even turned on. i was shocked and amazed at how quiet they are.
Re: by MikeSal222	Feb 16th, 2008 10:37:26 PM
I don't own a PS3. But I've heard one when the fan kicks in, and it's LOUD. Besides, if Blu-Ray is ever going to become "mainstream", they need to bring out cheap standalone players. The PS3 effect has pretty much taken the format as far as it can go. But by the time Blu-Ray does become mainstream (if ever), the next format will come along to replace it. Blu-Ray has about a 5 year window of opportunity until the next format arrives. Better get cracking!
My PS3 is quiet by Razorback	Feb 16th, 2008 10:40:43 PM
Can't say I hear much noise.
Wow Expert_40... by Boober	Feb 16th, 2008 10:52:41 PM
You are SO unbiased as a salesman,eh? How about 33% fail/RRoD? How about letting the original XBOX drop off a f*cking cliff while PS2s still make Sony millions? I see what you are saying about Sony, but COME ON..a little "2 pts of view", maybe? Don't worry, the 360 will get dropped of a cliff as well when Microsoft either begs out of the console wars all together or creates something like the "XBOX TERA" (as in terabyte) where you need to pay $40 a month for a service to download all games and movies. You will be able to play 360 games...if you pay and download them.
I hear Flash is doing pretty well. by skywalkerfamily	Feb 16th, 2008 10:57:21 PM
Hey websites! Keep those Flash plug ins!
Does it matter yet??? by Philvis	Feb 16th, 2008 11:04:19 PM
Until the Blue Ray player is down to $100 or less, you are still only able to sell it to two niche markets. The first being, people who actually have an HD TV. The 2nd niche is actually people who can afford a $25-30 DVD to go with their $350+ Blue Ray machine. My upconvert DVD player is just fine. In fact, I will probably still buy a Toshiba in the coming months when they are clearanced out so I can have a better upconverting player that is region free. Piss on this new fangled technology that is charging 1980's prices! Technology is supposed to get cheaper, not more expensive.
Alright... by RAVENL0RD	Feb 16th, 2008 11:08:14 PM
Enough beating Harry over the head with this. Yes, he was wrong. He knows it. End of story.
Sony can suck a fat one... by poeticwarriorII	Feb 16th, 2008 11:11:00 PM
and stick their bluray players up their ass sideways. Those fucking slants have done nothing but fuck customers with shitty unusable software and third-rate useless players. I smell a class-action on the horizon for these fucks.
INDUSTRY SHOULD HAVE SETTLED ON ONE FORMAT by BringingSexyBack	Feb 16th, 2008 11:11:52 PM
instead of some dumb format war that now untold people wasted good money on (HDDVD side). That's why I don't buy shit until it's become standard. Also because I'm a cheap fuck.
HDCP is a big stumbling block. by The Outlander	Feb 16th, 2008 11:12:43 PM
The big problem with Blu-ray is that most people won't get the benefit of it unless they go out and buy a new 1080p HDTV (and a new hdmi 1.3 amplifier/receiver). Not to mention they should wait for a profile 2.0 Blu-ray player.
POETICWARRIOR: "FUCKING SLANTS"? by BringingSexyBack	Feb 16th, 2008 11:14:08 PM
Who do you think is running Toshiba you fucking retard? Go crawl back into your yesteryear hole you dumb fuck.
BUT THEN AGAIN THEY OBVIOUSLY FUCKED YOU OUT OF MONEY by BringingSexyBack	Feb 16th, 2008 11:15:37 PM
so the joke's on you, haha fucktard.
loud PS3?!?! by snowtires	Feb 16th, 2008 11:15:49 PM
Are you kidding? I can barely tell when my PS3 is on, whereas when the 360 turns on, it sounds like a Cessna landing.
BringingSexyBack... by poeticwarriorII	Feb 16th, 2008 11:21:49 PM
you ignorant cunt, Toshiba is not the one trying to piss in my pocket and tell me it's raining you dripping shit filled douche. In closing, fuck you very much for being a fan you dripping twat. I just wonder how much the lawsuit is gonna be when people find out Sony fucked them.
MONGOLOID PORN INFERNO!!!!!! by EvilGeek1	Feb 16th, 2008 11:22:37 PM
Sorry. Had to say something...
ACTUALLY SONY CAN'T AFFORD TO BE ARROGANT by BringingSexyBack	Feb 16th, 2008 11:22:48 PM
They've lost a lot of money in the last few years, and this 'win' probably cost them a lot too in some kind of consideration to the major companies involved. As a business move, they needed to get Blu-Ray standardized for the long-term return. Toshiba probably didn't have deep enough pockets to compete, and so they didn't really lose on an inferior product.
But then again you obviously should stop... by poeticwarriorII	Feb 16th, 2008 11:24:08 PM
hanging a set of slant balls off your nose on lonely Saturday nights for a buck because I have yet to buy shit from either one of them.
Ashok0... why so short sited? Let it go... by Emperor_was_a_jerk	Feb 16th, 2008 11:25:33 PM
Really? End of discussion? Look, I don't care either way about where or how I get my media- as long as it looks good and is priced right. That said, the future IS digital downloads. You say that CDs are selling (or as you put it "setting") just fine in the year 2008? What rock do you live under? CDs are a dying breed. Any form of physical media will die. My 7 year old is growing up in a world of iPods, iTunes, TiVo, on demand HD movies via broadband, high speed internet and wireless EVERYTHING. He barely even knows what a CD is and that is because it is not necessary for his modern entertainment life.By the time he is a teenager the very idea of having to put in a disk for each movie he wants to watch will be akin to us thinking about changing sides of a record to hear the rest of the sons- ANCIENT! Dude, we are done. We are old and our time, with all our cumbersome disks, cases, plastics and scratched media, is over. I know you want to desperately cling to what you know best and believe to be the way things SHOULD be, but you end up sounding like and old man screaming at the kids to get off my damn lawn".
this is sort of bullshit by comicgeekoidtoo	Feb 16th, 2008 11:26:44 PM
for a long time, record companies put out titles in both cassette and cd. i assume for a long time, titles will be released in both DVD and BR. But by artificially curtailing HD-DVD, Sony has essentially formed a monopoly and cut the market out of the equation. the MARKET should be allowed to choose, ie. US. I won both, couldn't care less about "brand identification" as some of you pussies seem to do, if you have some sort of personal emotional investment in the outcome, you're a sheep. What you should give a fuck about is how the consumer is written out of the equation, yet again.
POETICWARRIOR: TRY MAKING SOME SENSE YOU MORON by BringingSexyBack	Feb 16th, 2008 11:28:49 PM
When the fuck did I say I was a 'fan' of Sony, you idiot? I was calling you out on your racism you stupid motherfuck. Do you get royalties for being the posterchild for our dysfunctional educational system? Anyway, where's the lawsuit against Sony coming from? People who bought HD-DVD products? What are the damages you are claiming? Man you are a walking talking joke with no punchline.
POETICMORON: SO IF YOU HAVEN'T BOUGHT HD-DVD OR BLU-RAY by BringingSexyBack	Feb 16th, 2008 11:30:50 PM
Why are you so outraged and screaming lawsuit? Jesus, you are one, dumb, fucking, bitch.
Whoever wins we lose!!!!! by armando	Feb 16th, 2008 11:33:01 PM
OK... I had to say it...
Just bring me.... by armando	Feb 16th, 2008 11:34:11 PM
Heat, and Batman Begins on Blu-Ray..... The two best movies of all time!!!
i dont care about HD in any way but I knew Blu-ray would win by themagus	Feb 16th, 2008 11:35:39 PM
I have no investment in HD entertainment, I really could not have cared less, and I actually really dislike Playstations but I always had a feeling Blu-Ray would win. it just seemed cooler... or something.
Music to My Ears by Mr. Winston	Feb 16th, 2008 11:36:29 PM
I just bought an AD-H3 player when my standard-def DVD went out over Xmas. It cost me $50. Now, HD-DVD disc prices will bottom out and I'll be able to pick up dozens of movies for less than $100. GLORIOUS. I'll ride those until my player dies and then switch everything over slowly. I say if you can, wait a few weeks 'til prices on HD-DVD players go through the floor and stock up.
At the end of the day... by EvilGeek1	Feb 16th, 2008 11:40:20 PM
Whether it's Hd or Blu-Ray, you'll sit down and watch a sci-fi movie from the 90's and what once was passable CGI, will look shit because the picture is so sharp and clear. Ergo, High Definition pisses on the idea of suspending disbelief; something us movie geeks need. And if you think I'm full of shit, go watch something like The Relic on Blu-Ray and come back to me.
Blue Ray is a cooler name by skywalkerfamily	Feb 16th, 2008 11:45:20 PM
Say it loud!
Told ya so! by CreatureCantina	Feb 16th, 2008 11:49:56 PM
I've been saying for months that Blu-ray would prevail before summer. Woe are those who ignored me! But I gotta ask... what's up with all these AICN staffers with no HD-TVs? You guys need better jobs or something. You guys can't drop $900 on a 40" 720p? What the hell?
No. by greenstyle92	Feb 16th, 2008 11:51:49 PM
I have a 38" television. I have Surround. I have DVD. I will NOT drop thousands of dollars on new equipment that does the same shit as my old equipment, except that I'm told it looks better, (but really you can't see any noticeable difference.)
re: noisy ps3? by Playkins	Feb 16th, 2008 11:56:14 PM
I got one, and it can be a little louder when the fan kicks on (only seems to happen after playing for awhile in a warm room). It's nowhere NEAR as lound as the goddamn helicopter that starts up in the room when a 360 turns on.
Just look at I Am Legend! by EvilGeek1	Feb 16th, 2008 11:58:35 PM
Shot with HD Camera's. Apart from the ridiculous design for the "monsters", Do you know what they looked like? They looked like CGI monsters! And aside from the fact that I think High Definition is the "final solution to the audience problem", the CGI we have today is nowhere near good enough to be shown in HD. And if you didn't get the above inverted comma's, it was a holocaust reference.
um... by OBSD	Feb 17th, 2008 12:00:13 AM
I'm glad you blu-ray lover backed a winning horse, but it seems there's an upside to this that nobody else has talked about. It's not as if all hd-dvd players and disks all just vanished into a void, correct? I mean, there's still stores full of those things, right? To make room for more blu-ray, in the next few months HD-DVD players and disks will be really, really cheap! Even if the format is "obsolete", they'll still play all of the thousands of titles that have already been released (and soon to be released). So the idea of buying a HD-DVD disk for $5.00 that may be re-released on Blu Ray for $30.00 or more sounds like a good one to me. Here's my plan. I'm going to wait until I can get a HD-DVD player for around 50-60 bucks and then go nuts buying a whole bunch of super cheap HD-dvd's. Then mabye, if Sony ever releases a cheaper Blu-ray player down the line (ha!) I pick that up. but right now, I'm going to use HD-DVD's 'loss' to make out like a bandit. Anyone with me?
Fuck Sony... by BurnHollywood	Feb 17th, 2008 12:00:24 AM
...Up the ass with a big rubber dick. Then snap it off, and beat them with what's left. *** Hope it's molded in the shape of a Chinese dick. Or better yet, a Korean's. :-D
I got a real HD Player. by Pipple	Feb 17th, 2008 12:01:57 AM
My fucking eyes.
XBox 360 + Apple TV for me. by ZeroCorpse	Feb 17th, 2008 12:12:02 AM
I might grab a PS3 later, when they're cheaper, for use as a Blu-Ray player (there are no PS3 exclusives I like. Ratchet and Crank? BLOW ME. That shit sucks.) Even if I get a PS3 some day, for now I'm taking the following actions: 1. Telling DirecTV to go fuck themselves (sick of their bullshit repricing in the middle of a contract, and their nickel-and-dime shit). 2. Use my XBox 360 to download HD version of the TV shows I absolutely MUST see in HD (LOST, Battlestar Galactica, etc.) 3. Pick up an Apple TV to rent movies in HD, and watch non-HD cable television shows ala carte (I don't need to pay for a bajillion channels just to watch The Daily Show and a few others. I can just subscribe to an entire season of a show for less than the cost of one month of DirecTV). 4. Use $15 Comcast basic cable for the local network channels, TBS and WGN. 5. Get foreign shows online and stream them to the XBox 360 or Apple TV. 6. Watch YouTube and hundreds of free video podcasts on Apple TV when I feel like "flipping channels" to find something interesting... Best part? NO FUCKING INFORMERCIALS. 7. Purchase the occasional DVD to keep, and watch upscaled on my XBox 360 or DVD recorder (I really don't like the DVD recorder's control scheme, though). ,p> 8. Say "good bye" to 99% of television commercials. I'd rather pay for the shows and watch them without ads than have to sit through a fucking advert every ten minutes, anyway. Eventually, I'll jump on board Blu-Ray, but I'm in no hurry. Upscaled standard DVDs look fine, and if I really want an HD movie, I can rent an HD movie instantly. Oh, yeah, and with Apple TV, I can automatically get my shows on my iPod Touch, so I can watch them on the go without having to transfer them with iSquint/Handbrake. I figure this way will save me a lot of money in the long run.
OBSD... Re: Buying up all the cheap movies. by ZeroCorpse	Feb 17th, 2008 12:21:17 AM
A lot of guys did that with VideoDisk and Laserdisc. The problem is that when your player dies, there's no way to play your movie collection. Getting obsolete, unsupported tech fixed is usually oppressively expensive, and unless you play on stocking up on PLAYERS (like Harry has!) you'll be looking at the HD-DVD player crapping out on you in about 2 years (considering the tendency of today's tech to be built to fail just after the warranty ends). If you have a stack of HD-DVDs, and a dead HD-DVD player, you'll be scouring the Internet for old ones, until the supply dries up and they're all DEAD and NON-FUNCTIONAL, at which point you have a lot of shiny discs with nifty plastic boxes that are worthless. I have family members with crates full of Video Disks. I'm not talking about Laserdisc, but those big 33 RPM record-sized, magnetic video disks inside a plastic case. Finding a working player is not easy-- At least not a reasonably priced one that won't break down in a month-- and that makes those damn disks useless, even though they were a "bargain." Same thing is happening to LaserDisc fans. Players are dying out, and components to repair them are fading too. No players = no movies. And you just try to find an 8-Track player that works!!! I have a stack of the damn tapes, but I haven't seen a functional 8-Track in about a decade.
downloads by slkboxrman	Feb 17th, 2008 12:25:33 AM
i too believe the future is downloads...and i think format is pointless if the players are so expensive. even HD tvs for the most part are too expensive...well unless u want a 20in...most people will download what they want from the net...u can get DVD quality movies off the net for free...even some of currently running movies...why goto the theatre if u can download a dvd quality copy on your own computer and burn ur own dvd from it.....and hard drives in computers will soon be obsolete in favor of flash drives...making them lighter and smaller and making batteries last a long long time.....the future looks good
Dragon's Lair by Staldo	Feb 17th, 2008 12:28:38 AM
My bitch aunt who works for Disney kept pushing Bluray on me like it was a fucking cult, which is what turned me off. But the fact is, I was looking forward to playing Dragon's Lair on my 360 with HD DVD add-on when I could swing the price. The price will go down, but now I'll probably have to scour E-bay or something to get it. What a pain in the ass. Other than that I think format wars are stupid and didn't care either way except that Blu-ray sounds like a name invented to impress idiot ghetto clowns with no ability to manage money.
How does firmwareupdates work without internet? by Stereotypical Evil Archer	Feb 17th, 2008 12:28:49 AM
Does anyone know? Does Sony provide free internet access for the updates or does someone also have to PAY for the internet to watch High Definition?
Drop The Price On The PS3 To About $200-$250 by LaserPants	Feb 17th, 2008 12:32:29 AM
Thats when Blu Ray will win the "war." Until then, neither HD nor Blu Ray have won since 99% of people who enjoy watching moobies in the comforts of their own home are still using regular olde DVD players, and most likely will for the forseeable future until Mr. Sony drops the price on their PS3 console by to no more than $250.
More on VideoDisc (aka CED) by ZeroCorpse	Feb 17th, 2008 12:39:47 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S electavision Now CED and LaserDisc have a new friend in video format heaven.
AAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA by Pizza The Hut	Feb 17th, 2008 12:43:49 AM
See. This is why I don't own a hi-def player as of yet. At least now I have some clarity on the issue.
Vern said it right up above... by REMcycle	Feb 17th, 2008 12:48:08 AM
...the cost of good sized 1080-ready flatscreens hasn't even come down yet, so those of us mere mortals still watching big screen TV's are still stuck at 720 x 480 x 256. No HD or BluRay player in the world is going to change that. Hell, I know so many idiots here in Austin fretting about making their movies on HD and I'm like "no one will see what makes it so special! When it's downconverted back to DV or to DVD or even output to 35mm it's going to lose all those extra lines of res and those millions of colors you're loving right now? GONE!"
the level of stupidity here is incredible by lavatory love machine	Feb 17th, 2008 12:51:56 AM
1.until you see it on your own home you won't understand that the diference between any HD format and DVDs is HUGE, in fact, is bigger that the jump in quality from VHS to DVDs, anybody who says different has only seen one HD player connected to at least 10 TVs on a store.------------------------ ----- 2. the PS3 and X360 have pretty much the SAME game catalog, each with a handful of exclusives (360: gears, halo, mass effect, PS3 uncharted, final fantasy, metal gear), even if 360 aren't really exclusives because they'll on PC sooner or later, so to dismiss the PS3 because it has no games it's the same as saying the 360 has no games------------------------- ---- 4. do I need to remind people that 360 was released a full year before the PS3? so total sales numbers mean nothing, on their first years on the market both machines sold pretty much the same--------------- 5. on feb 2009 all TV station will stop analog transmitions and start in HD digital, so at point you¡ll need to get an HDTV or a deco box, most people will get the TV and realise their old DVDS look awful and will get the only HD format---- 6. about digital downloads, I work fo AT&T and 30% of our area can only get dial up (no high speed from other companies there either) and only 20% can get 6 mbs which out fastest service at the moment, so how will these people move 30 gb files? and I'm talking about millions of people, and it's not going to change-------------------- 7. upconverting is NOTHING compared to true HD-------------------------
Man what is with you pitiful whining bitches? by Johnno	Feb 17th, 2008 12:59:14 AM
PS3 sucks. PS3 has no games. Sony is evil, they killed my father and raped my mother, we should all throw lawsuits for no good reason... waaah wahhh waaah! Listen you lost, accept it like a man and move on. PS3 is built tougher than Xbox 360, it won't fuck up and is fucking silent. Two, no games for PS3? Then what the fuck have I been playing? That's right some great games! And a sizable number of games are available on both systems, or don't those count? And have you guys seen the big lineup of games slated for this year? All exclusive! Take your pissing matches elsewhere, you've run out of juice and excuses! HD-DVD failed, your Xbox 360s break because Microsoft wanted to ruch them out to beat Sony and count on you to be their whipping boys! "Oh Sir, please replace my 4th, no 7th, no 15th console! It red ringed on me, please sir I'd like some more, yum yum!" SHUT -THE - FUCK - UP! Your sanity is as misplaced as your facts and beliefs about Sony and the blu-ray disc association. I would love it if when you die you can arrange it so that your tombstones read "Sony fucked me!" to describe your bitterness over backing the wrong horse and so then the little children of the free and big blu world can desecrate them!
I have one HD-DVD by SlickyVonBoner	Feb 17th, 2008 01:05:04 AM
got it for christmas. my silly sister got it for me by mistake, and I don't have a player to play it on. I was waiting a year or so to see how this Blue-Ray/HD DVD thing turned out. I learned my lesson when I bought a Laser-Disc player and spent nearly 100 bucks on Empire Strikes Back (or was it 50?) and then a few months later the DVD came out. It doesn't pay to jump on these new technologies right away.
I don't understand people who choose sides... by SG7	Feb 17th, 2008 01:05:28 AM
...it makes no sense...Both formats used the exact same codecs. BRDs capacity advantage was totally irrelevant. Besides, I'm with the CEO of Seagate on this one: BluRay won the battle, but they have already lost the war. I can pull down a 1080p/24 film via fios in less time than it takes me to buy the physical disc. It's all about online. MSFT didn't back HD-DVD just be be against Sony. They did it to just slow things down. Physical media is dead and it doesn't even know it. Ohhh, a shiny disc. How quaint.
And EVERY new product starts out EXPENSIVE!!! by Johnno	Feb 17th, 2008 01:05:47 AM
And then gets cheap later on! Some of you bitching about the price act like blu-ray is the first product in the world to debut at a high price! Guess what! if Toshiba weren't so desperate, their players would be practically as expensive!
Reuters it's calling it, Toshiba will pull the plug this week by lavatory love machine	Feb 17th, 2008 01:08:32 AM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200 80216/bs_nm/toshiba_hd_dvd_dc_ 1
all i know is i had a ps3 for a few months and it sucked by slappy jones	Feb 17th, 2008 01:12:53 AM
and what exactly did i lose johnno?? i have a combo played that plays both hd and blu ray which is able to updated to keep up with the blu ray updates so on that front i am o.k. and I once owned a ps3 but got rid of it because it had no games worth keeping it for. the online play on xbox is better then that shitty service on ps3. plain and simple...I don't mind paying for something when it works as well as xbox live does.if ps3 goes on to become the number console in the world i still won;t give a fuck as I am perfectly happy with my xbox. I have had it for 2 years...no red ring of death ... no problems ever. if some day ps3 winds up having some games that make it worth getting i might look at it again but for now I couldn't give a shit. I have a wii and a 360 and I am perfectly happy but you ps3 guys get so angry whenever anyone dares mention ps3 with anything but love. I didn't dig the machine...you do...so what did i lose again? cos you are obviously a big winner.
At leasy Sony gets it revenge after the failure of BETAMAX in th by BadWaldo s Revenge	Feb 17th, 2008 01:16:13 AM
Toshiba must know how it feels after losing the so-called "format war". I'm not fanatical about hi-def because I'm holding for a substantial price drop on PS3 and, uhm...plasma HDTV. Give or take a couple more years. I'm with PlayStation 2 slim as a decent standard DVD player. I choose being a financially sound person over a tech geek spending too much money trying to create the ultimate movie theatre which is best left to middle class to rich homeowners. I'm still sad about the demise of laserdisc, I had a good time with that hobby. If they do release Zodiac and The Thin Red Line in DTS-HD Master or Hi-Res Audio on Blu-ray, among the number of film classics, I will definitely purchase PS3 which is "future-proofed" for a limited period of time until Blu-ray laser technology improves over time. I seriously prefer watching older classic films in high-def, and I hope the studios, along with Criterion Collection, will work on developing the finest hi-def film transfer so the viewers can bask in the glory of black & white film noir. Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia, Walt Disney's Pinocchio and The Bicycle Thief HD transfers will be glorious.
Screw 'em both; waiting for the "Netflix Box" by Gawdfather	Feb 17th, 2008 01:18:16 AM
They are already working on it with LG. That or a Netflix component in my cable box. Imagine Netflix's library available on demand, direct into your TV. Film-geek Nirvana. And it's in the works...
Slappy Jones re: PS3 by BadWaldo s Revenge	Feb 17th, 2008 01:25:36 AM
I thought of a few games worth owning for PS3 are Metal Gear Solid 4 and Resident Evil 5. Throw in Grand Theft Auto IV if you will. The first two games mentioned may not be PS3 exclusive, because the production budget for both games are in the high tens to low twenties so the software developers will look to XBOX 360 to recoup the cost. I too sold PS3 because PS3-specific games are shit and owning PS3 isn't aesthetically appealing, not to mention 'financial liability' to hold on for over a year and half until the good games finally arrive. I regret giving into the hype of owning a PS3 when it turns out PS3 is way overhyped with the lack of decent software outside of Blu-ray playback feature. I will buy PS3 just for Metal Gear Solid 4 and Resident Evil 5 alone, when one of them actually arrive on the shelf for purchase.
God chooses stone slabs, here's why by Pipple	Feb 17th, 2008 01:26:43 AM
ok, that's all i got for tonight.
I don't know about this either way by Sick Fixx	Feb 17th, 2008 01:50:39 AM
But I do know women are better with ballgags...
CGI by Olee Starstone	Feb 17th, 2008 02:06:07 AM
CGI looks shit in HD though. It looks like a cartoon. This is not progression...
I'm Glad Blu-Ray Won! by grievenom	Feb 17th, 2008 02:13:10 AM
Like Harry, I own both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Unlike Harry, I strongly prefer blu-ray. I have a PS3, so I get all the firmware updates. It's played flawlessly and I love the features and picture. My Toshiba HD-DVD player takes F'n forever to boot up. The remote-control is weak-ass shit that the console hardly picks up. And a number of HD-DVD rentals I've received from Netflix have been problematic (freeze up part way through the movie). Nothing like that has happened on my PS3 when playing blu-rays from netflix, or any of my blu-rays from my collection. I now have to deal with liquidating whatever HD-DVD discs I can. I'll use the HD-DVD player as an upconverting dvd player for my standard def dvds. I'm happy Blu-Ray has come out the victor.
JimCurry by Bramton1	Feb 17th, 2008 02:13:41 AM
While we're nitpicking on typos and grammar, there should have been a comma between "Bramton1" and "you're."
I'll stick with my HD DVD and heres why by Mace Tofu	Feb 17th, 2008 02:16:14 AM
It was cheap. I got 10 free movies with it. And my regular DVDs look great on it. HD DVDs will go on clearance so I'll get 'em in the $5 bin at Walmart. Even if I shop for the next 2-3 years I will not go thru all the HD titles I want ( I'm not like Harry so it will take me time to collect 300 HD DVDs) and if China goes CHD DVD I'll just get titles as imports. I have about 4,000 movies on DVDs, 16mm FILM, LASERDISC, VHS and BETA so I'm not really hurting on movie titles in the house. I'll skip Bluray for now just to see if SONY will screw everyone on price in the Future- when LASERDISC was king they never really cut the price on those even when DVDs came out. . The funny part is how everyone goes on about how Bluray was bigger size disc and bitrate but that was because the original Mpeg-2 files they used needed those specs. HD used a better codec that didn't require "bigger files" to do the same thing. I've seen both formats in action and like Harry said the better one did not win. I still choose HD DVD because it looks better. With my HD DVR from DISH HD recorded content looks great so I still can get new HD movies without bending over to SONY.
expert_40 by Bramton1	Feb 17th, 2008 02:19:55 AM
None of the PS3s can run PSone games? That's awesome! Does that mean that my 80GB PS3 is the only one that can? I wonder what else it can do?
fuck Sony by mrbong	Feb 17th, 2008 02:29:01 AM
this is the worst outcome - Sony do not place any value or concern on their consumers, they never have. it is disappointing, considering how they fuck over their staff, the people who make & release things via them and us mere consumers, to learn that they have some sort of victory in this regard.
lavatory love machine... by RAVENL0RD	Feb 17th, 2008 02:29:15 AM
Thank you for the insightful post. I couldn't have said it better myself.
Also... by RAVENL0RD	Feb 17th, 2008 02:32:23 AM
"Fuck Sony," "Fuck Microsoft," "Fuck Ben Stein." Stop it. Just stop it. Companies are out to make money. No company puts their customers first. They always put money first. Get over it and grow up.
Why the "porn always wins" argument proved false by zacdilone	Feb 17th, 2008 02:33:28 AM
Two words: The Internet. Back when the VHS/Betamax war was going on, home video was your only access to porn movies. Not anymore.
Agreed, zacdilone by RAVENL0RD	Feb 17th, 2008 02:34:49 AM
Nobody buys porn anymore. That was the lamest argument for HD-DVD winning this thing.
All the porn is on the net by skywalkerfamily	Feb 17th, 2008 02:36:54 AM
Thanks to webcams even your ugly neighbor can be a porn star.
YAY!!! by DigitalBeachWar	Feb 17th, 2008 02:44:15 AM
blah blah blah who really gives a fuck!?!?!?!?
Ill switch to Blu Ray... by Tourist	Feb 17th, 2008 02:50:34 AM
...When its multi region, plays VCD's and burnt stuff and all that, has the same catalouge as DVD's, costs the same as DVD's and the HD TV's cost the same as regular TV's. Hows that.
ZeroCorpse Re: Buying up all the cheap movies. by Mace Tofu	Feb 17th, 2008 02:52:33 AM
OBSD... "Re: Buying up all the cheap movies. A lot of guys did that with VideoDisk and Laserdisc. The problem is that when your player dies,..." My LASERDISC player from 1991 is still going strong. I have 800+ Laserdisc some titles still NOT ON DVD even 7 years after the death of LASER. I have 4 Back-up LASERDISC players two I picked up on EBay for about $20 each and two friends gave me because they were getting out of the LASERDISC game. I have 3 16mm projectors. And 2 Beta Decks. If you collect old tech you need to stock up a back-up deck. I'm all for loading up on low price HD DVDs on clearance and can't understand why anyone who is KEEPING their HD DVD player to use as an upconverter would sell their HD DVD movies?
PS3 truths by FalconJones	Feb 17th, 2008 02:54:47 AM
i bought a 60gig PS3 on November 30, 2007 from circuit city for $499. came with a free extra controller, free blu-ray remote, & 5 free movies. It plays my entire library of PS1 & PS2 games (which no XBox will ever do), updates over the net, and the Blade Runner Final Cut blu-ray looks AMAZING.
Blu-Ray add-on for XBox 360 by Bramton1	Feb 17th, 2008 02:55:34 AM
Can someone explain why Sony would grant Microsoft a license to add Blu-Ray to the 360, cause expert_40 says he's waiting for one (and he's an expert cause it says so on his handle)? The Blu-Ray player is the PS3's biggest advantage; why would they give that up to their biggest rival?
HD DVD lovers are sounding like the old Laserdisc fanatics by Playkins	Feb 17th, 2008 02:58:00 AM
"NO REALLY, IT'S A MUCH BETTER FORMAT!!!!" Blahblahblah. It sucks, it failed. Move on. You guys will be clutching onto your players like the old laserdisc players, futile in the effort to keep them perpetually functional. Then it will die and with it will your library. Then, like the users of OS/2 Warp and NeXT, you'll be screaming "WHY OH WHY CAN'T I FIND SOMETHING THAT I CAN USE THIS SHIT ON?!?! Then I'll laugh because I'm playing my PS3, enjoying my movies, and god help me, the wonderful games. OH THE GAMES! It will happen.
slappy jones: by Playkins	Feb 17th, 2008 02:59:58 AM
YOU GOT ALOT OF FUCKING NERVE. Abandoning your PS3 like that for a TICKING TIME BOMB. Shame on you. SHAME.
Bramton1 by Mr Cairo	Feb 17th, 2008 03:00:18 AM
only reason i can think of is the 360 owners would then buy bluray disks to play on the 360 giving sony some form of income off the 360 .. kinda funny really
I've never come across so many idiots by CeejayNightwing	Feb 17th, 2008 03:00:39 AM
who seem scared of change in technology so much that they honestly believe there is barely a difference between HD quality and standard DVD. Worse than that I can't believe people can mention watching VHS which literally looks like colourful-mud! Only a fool who simply has not seen a true representation of HD on a 42 inc or higher Plasma or LCD screen can honestly beleive his regular DVD is comparable. HDDVD was a great format but it was half supported by Microsoft who basically had the oppotunity to kill Blu ray early by including the format as the main drive for the 360 - SONY didn't make that mistake with The PS3 and that's why this war is over before Mothers Day, go get your Ma something Blu! The scared-of-change idiots out there need not worry about their DVD collections, BLURAY PLAYS STANDARD DVD'S AS WELL FOOLS! Better still, it upscales them so they look better on a HDTV because without that upscaling feature, standard DVD looks like VHS did to DVD when we all made the last switch. But this isn't a medium change like VHS to DVD, this is a capacity change, Blu Ray is still a DVD, buying a Blu Ray Player is simply buying a player that plays what you have already and also plays stuff that'll look ten times better on a HD TV which is what you need to have to keep up with the shift to HD viewing the entire world is making! And as nice as Toshiba's HD format was, it was inferior to storage single disc capacity than Blu Ray. A Blu Ray disc holds nearly twice as much info than an HD one at 25gb(BR) to 15gb(HDDVD). HD downloads are great but in the end of the day harddrives fail and get corrupted, Joe Average in the public will always want his movie on some form of permanent storage other than resident memory. Blu ray upgrades etc, that's another thing people want to moan about being unsure about the future and the reliability of disc playing properly. Well who remembers when DVD was young and the sheer amount of titles that failed to play on some players properly or even at all, like The Matrix or the Terminator ultimate edition with three versions of the movie seamlessly branched on a DVD18? The format got over these problems with updates and tweaks, these are just the way new technology cuts its teeth. New tech is always expensive to start and eventually it reduces in price, VHS tapes were even more expensive than DVD's when they first came out beleive it or not, now you can see DoDo's selling them in Atlantis for a dime! Blu ray WILL eventually replace standard DVd because it's backwards compatible and allows the user to watch HD sourced material on their HDTV's when they get one, something they'll find impossible to do with a standard DVD player if they choose to play scaredy-cat all their lives. Standard DVD will eventually phase out like VHS when the studios make less and less new titles instantly available on them for the New Consumer Generations i.e the Teens with spending power! The right format won this war thank god and for all you who spent a small fortune backing HDDVD, well you can eith play Die Hard or adapt and overcome. Moan all you want, this is what talkbacks are for, but in the end of the day, Your Master will no longer be feeding you fresh material, no more new films, no more technical support etc, so move on!
CeejayNightwing: by Playkins	Feb 17th, 2008 03:14:19 AM
Well, maybe there are people out there that like scanlines and interlacing. Who are you to argue? Next you'll be saying something crazy like "higher bitrates equals better picture". The nerve of you!
The loser is the consumer, and here's why by phantom_of_teh_paradise	Feb 17th, 2008 03:16:54 AM

Wow, phantom. Good point. by Playkins	Feb 17th, 2008 03:19:41 AM

"Hey, lets hang out, bring over that download." Ha Ha Ha by Mace Tofu	Feb 17th, 2008 03:21:29 AM
knowthyself, Did you want me to Burn it to a 10 cent CD-R or bring it over on a USB Flashdrive. You don't think people can transport downloaded information? a 2 Gig Flash drive is like $20 and you can fit 3 Divx movies on it
I hope data pipes get so fat by Flipao	Feb 17th, 2008 03:23:57 AM
They render optical media obsolete altogether. And people finally realize it's all about the movie and not the fucking disc. Enough already.
CeejayNightwing, we covered the bigger is not better by Mace Tofu	Feb 17th, 2008 03:36:32 AM
Mpeg-2 the Bluray codec was a bigger file size for the same movie. Bigger file size is not better quality if the codec sucks. The First version of THE FIFTH ELEMENT on Bluray was so bad they had to redo it because the regular DVD looked better. I just watched COBRA and CONEHEADS on my HD DVD player and at no time did I think these two movies would look better on Bluray. They both looked FINE upconverted on a 42 inch LCD HDTV. Both were SHARP with plenty of details. Both titles I got in the $5 bin at Walmart. I would not pay $60 for these two movies on Bluray.
To be fair I would not pay $60 for COBRA & CONEHEADS by Mace Tofu	Feb 17th, 2008 03:39:49 AM
on HD DVD.
Finally this nonsense is over by moviemaniac-7	Feb 17th, 2008 03:40:54 AM
About fucking time. I haven't bought a high-def machine thing yet, but I will now soon. I couldn't care less about which one would have won, but it reeked of VHS Beta all over again, but luckily for the consumer this battle was fought quick and clean.
The war ot the high-tech geeks... by joergn	Feb 17th, 2008 03:44:19 AM
seems to be still on. Sorry, won´t buy Blue Ray like all you lemmings any time soon, just too expensive for my taste. Yep, call me a morron but I´m happy with my DVD´s. Fact is: a good movie is a good movie on any format and a bad movie is still a bad movie, if it´s high-def or whatever. If I want to see a movie in the best possible way I go to a cinema, that´s it. But he if you´re to comfortable to move you fat asses, I´m ok with that but don´t act like you are film-lover, you´re just high-tech geeks, believing every hype that´s coming at ya!
and BTW by joergn	Feb 17th, 2008 03:48:42 AM
as long as my favorite movies are all in "standard" DVD-format, I don´t need any BLU, cause honestly there isn´t any new movie worth buying that shit!
About Downloading HD And Why It Won't Work by Real Deal	Feb 17th, 2008 03:52:56 AM
Portability. How do you take the movie you supposedly legally downloaded over to play at your friend's house on his 50" plasma? For one thing do you really think movie companies are going to let you download HD content and burn it to a disc? Do you really think that they'll let you load it on an ipod like device and carry it around to transfer to like a TV? No. If you can transfer it you can copy it. What they'll want you to do is rent it again and again and again. Paying each time of course because you'll never really own the movie. And you'll only be able to play it on the devices they'll let you play it on ( your computer, ipod, or Apple TV if you have it ). So this is why it'll never be mainstream. Because the movie companies are paranoid about piracy. Really honestly people did you really think video was going to be just like music on the internet? Geez! Not to mention how this would clog up the internet big time. ISP are already talking about limiting video downloads to keep this from happening. The pipes would have to get a lot fatter. When I read about physical media going away and I think about all the problems that would have to be overcome to make that happen I just laugh. People haven't really thought it through.
Real Deal you don by Flipao	Feb 17th, 2008 03:58:51 AM

Real Deal you dont understand by Flipao	Feb 17th, 2008 04:03:05 AM
The way technology is heading, you will not need to carry media around. It will be in one place, and you will be able to access it from anywhere.
And in case someone tries to be a smartass and come swinging at by Flipao	Feb 17th, 2008 04:17:24 AM
Look at the CD format. See it being replaced by digital music distribution services. Look at Valve's Steam network. Now look at E-Ink technology devices. Now look at all the work that's being done on online video content delivery. And finally look at technologies like HSDPA, WiFi and WiMax... the pieces are in place, it's only a matter of time before a succesful implementation appears.
"The war to get the populace to abandon standard def DVD" by James Westfall	Feb 17th, 2008 04:20:20 AM
Put me into the "likes a new format every 30 years or so" camp. I didn't buy HD-DVD and I didn't and won't buy any Blu Ray. To quote Dennis Miller from back when CD's became the standard... "How many times do I have to buy the White album?"
by fitz-hume	Feb 17th, 2008 04:27:30 AM
I'm glad that the superior format won this time around. Many have declared here that the future belongs to HD downloads and that's a given. Personally however I collect movies and I do like to have them in physical format, be it DVD or Blu-ray.
HD Wars: The Betamax Strikes Back by fitz-hume	Feb 17th, 2008 04:29:32 AM
Forgot the title...
If I pay $600 for a PS3, bitch best play my 8-tracks! by Cletus Van Damme	Feb 17th, 2008 04:30:08 AM
Word up!
Interactive features of HD-DVD? The fuck?!? by Han Cholo	Feb 17th, 2008 04:43:01 AM
People prefer navigating menu buttons? I don't get what you mean by that. The players, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray were made to do one thing: play movies in Hi-def, not to be a fucking videogame console but I guess that was some progressive thinking by Sony. Now that they've won I guess the whole PS3 fiasco is starting to pay off for them.
HD-DVD Dead? Good friggin riddance! by Rogue_Leader	Feb 17th, 2008 04:44:13 AM
The format has been a "dead man walking" for some time now and has been merely preventing THE REAL High-Def format Blu-Ray from taking off. THE WORLD IS BLUE BITCHES! Go Blu-Ray and PS3!!!!!
PWNED! by by Motoko Kusanagi	Feb 17th, 2008 04:47:44 AM
the power of PlayStation. Muarharharharharhar!!!
Tech Geeks - Question by hamslime	Feb 17th, 2008 05:16:47 AM
I'm still having trouble figuring out the difference between Blu-Ray and DVD, aside from storage capacity. Here's a scenario: You have a three minute video shot in HD. If you had a DVD player with an HDMI output, could you theoretically get the same quality from a DVD as you could from a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD? If not, why? The reason I ask is because if you can, couldn't you produce HD quality movies on DVD? Isn't that what the whole Superbit DVDs were. Sorry if I sound ignorant, it's because I am.
slappy jones your thinking is flawed by Stalkeye	Feb 17th, 2008 05:19:42 AM
obviously you can't comprehend the message I was conveying.The Xbox 360, despite it's great exclusive titles has major faults. So (far) you never experienced the RROD(good for you) but I know there are thousands who have myself included and (what's up with that loud noise emmiting from the 360? It's like a have a mini jet engine on my enteainment center.).That's why Microsoft had to spend 3 Billion dollars to extend their warranty, ergo exchanging one defective console for a referbrished console that will eventually burn outafter the warranty expires. $100. for a wireless adapter is a bit too much for a piece so small.Eventually Sony will gain momentum now that programmers are having a better learning curve on how to develop games for the Blu-ray format. Eventually MS might have to use Sony's format when creating their next console (Xbox 369?) Truth be told I enjoy my 360, but aside my previous complaints about the system, I love the custom soundtrack feature,force feedback and exclusive games like Halo 3 and so forth.Otherwise the shit would be auctioned off on Ebay. I love games, but I don't appreciate having to pay additional costs when I should'nt.Maybe you don't mind. What's in your wallet?
Finally! now I aca by FILMFUNK	Feb 17th, 2008 05:21:16 AM

Finally now I can buy Blueray by FILMFUNK	Feb 17th, 2008 05:22:55 AM
and i think i'll go get a PS3 coz my X(shit)Box is due for retirement.
Nicegoogly, it's not a matter of opinion by MattmanReturns	Feb 17th, 2008 05:29:01 AM
It's fact. Movies that are on both HD-DVD and BluRay have IDENTICAL transfers. HiDefDigest confirms this FACT. Would you like to argue about the color of the sky next?
Correction by Kragmose	Feb 17th, 2008 05:32:54 AM
"this decision is going to cost Toshiba hundreds of millions of dollars". Nope, this decision is going to SAVE Toshiba hundreds of millions of dollars.
re: Kragmose by Kizeesh	Feb 17th, 2008 05:37:30 AM
No it'll cost them. Million to dismantle the aetups in their factories, schedule alterations and implement them, buy up rights to manufacture Blu-Ray, not to mention the thousands of HD-DVD unit's that won't sell after this. They stand to lose a shitload. The only companies who will save money are those backing BLu-ray already and those who hadn't decided which to back yet. I've got me a PS3 but I don't see any reason to start buying HD format media yet. I would rather have had the HD-DVD for the added extras though.
So sad. by Knuckleduster	Feb 17th, 2008 05:39:12 AM
I liked HD DVD. I liked the setup and the features; and I like the cool red boxes a lot more than those flimsy blue Blu-ray ones. And goddammit, I hate the Blu-ray cover art. At least HD DVD mostly stuck to the original posters.
Why would someone qoute Dennis Miller now? by wash	Feb 17th, 2008 05:39:13 AM
He's a right-wing radio douche now. His career is basically over.
quote* by wash	Feb 17th, 2008 05:40:18 AM

And save them millions in the long run by Kragmose	Feb 17th, 2008 05:41:06 AM
Keeping a format alive artificially with the excuse "We'll keep fighting" is not cheap.
Expert_40 and other uninformed by spire_walk	Feb 17th, 2008 05:41:50 AM
You do realize that Blu-ray had several founders, not just Sony. Sony AND Pioneer developed the technology. With blu ray, you have several companies producing standalone players, while with HD-DVD you only had one. Toshiba. I can't predict the future, but the fear that prices won't go down because the competing HD format is dead is likely FUD. Blu-Ray won the easy battle with HD-DVD, but now it has to compete with DVD. The only thing DVD has going for it is low prices. So they either lower their prices or they die. The PS3 does play PS1 games. I should know.. I just played FF7 the other day. Expert_40, you are fucking stupid for saying otherwise because you don't know jack shit about researching the bullshit you spout off. Expert_40, you say you are armed with facts, which is fucking retarded. The PSP dead? I see about 20 games coming up according to this link between now and July: http://www.gamefaqs.com/ portable/psp/ And the PS3 is not profile 1.0. It's 1.1 with a firmware upgrade, with assurances from Sony that it will become 2.0 compliant soon. Oh, and the Dreamcast had an excellent debut, by the way -- with games like Soul Calibur, Sonic Adventure, Power Stone, and Hydro Thunder. These games actually sold quite well that first year. So, stop pretending to be an expert at anything. I play Halo 3 online, and I see 13 year olds like you on there frequently who wouldn't be able to tell you who the guy on the 1 dollar bill is, but at the same time try to be industry analysts. Oh and by the way, I do work 2 fucking jobs, and guess what? I own a house, a car, a PS3, a 360, and a Wii, so maybe the Sony president was onto something. Imagine! If you earn more money you can buy more stuff! The nerve of that mean old man!!!
Flipao by messi	Feb 17th, 2008 05:42:29 AM
You are obviously a mainstream person. People like physical media, why do you think bands who play for music don't give a shit, the people who listen to underground bands are a different cultured breed, they like having the thing in their hands, looking at the artwork, browing through the layout. Same goes for DVD's or else there would not be collectors editions and limited box sets etc. Wake the fuck up idiot.
The fate of HD-DVD proponents: by wash	Feb 17th, 2008 05:43:08 AM
http://tinyurl.com/2sog2j
EXPERT_40 by ninjatracksuit	Feb 17th, 2008 05:49:36 AM
No offense, and I'm not arguing with any statement you've made about anything else, but I did want to let you (and everyone else) know that 120G storage capacity (on the 360) ain't shit - I have almost twice that in music rips on an external. And of course, neither is 40G, 60G, or 80G (on the PS3). All these people talking about ripping their movie collections and favorite shows, and downloading HD content...Man, you are talking about more than terabytes here - it adds up fast. My brand new terabyte 'container' is almost full, and I'm not even ripping the shit at optimum quality.
Im not a gamer... by Tourist	Feb 17th, 2008 05:50:11 AM
...Personally I got over that once I hit puberty. However, my room mate and all my friends are rabid gamers. They all own Wiis and 360's. None bar one own a PS3(which he got for the blu ray player). Because, according to them, the PS3 has shit games.
Puny humans! by drwilliamweir	Feb 17th, 2008 06:03:43 AM
I laugh at your idiotic statements of profanity and allegiance to conglomerates. You will all fall in the new dawn!
Oh and expert_40 by Stalkeye	Feb 17th, 2008 06:05:56 AM
..I have'nt for got about your asinine post, well actually I have since it was so banal and reeks of fanboy bias. And the "Dreamcast being the worst console" shows your ignorance Sega's Dreamcast was the first gaming console in which you can play online against or with another gamer via modem.Of course Sony and Microsoft followed suit with the PS2 and Xbox.Not to mention some of the graphics for the DC were equal if not superior than Sony's PS2. (can you say "Soul Cailbur"?)The major reason wht DC was discontinued had something to do with casual gamers being lured to PS2's capabilities: A console that plays movies. And now history is repeating itself with PS3's new format. it may not seize the throne from 360 or Wii (yet), but it had it's hand in winning the format war. Oh and what good is 360's $100 Hard Drive when you can only rip music and not Divx files? MG4 will no doubt further boost sales for the PS3 and then there's the game system/Blu-ray player all in one. Sony needs more and better games I admit that, but the technology of the Cell processor and BD is still somewhat new to some game programmers, but evenally more quality games will come out. With your erroneous comments, I think it's YOU who are full of shit, here's the Charmin asswipe.
On the "portability" issue with downloads: by chumpmonkey	Feb 17th, 2008 06:07:55 AM
The people who are railing against the idea of downloadable content being a viable option seem to be in three camps: the "you could never fit enough HD quality films onto a HDD player to constitute a collection" camp, the "technology isn't up to the task" camp, and the "the MAN will never let you share your files" camp. For those who argue that storage space is too prohibitive, let me point out that once we get to the point where the infrastructure is fully in place, the odds that you'll be running a computer with a 160gb hard drive are extremely slim. It wasn't long ago that I got my first 6gb hard drive, and literally thought, "there's NO WAY I'll ever fill this thing up!", but now I'm maxing out several 500gb hard drives. Just a year ago, a 1tb drive was REALLY pricey. Now? $250. Maybe less. We're only going to get smaller, cheaper drives with more and more storage. Their stability will increase as the fear of data loss will become a mainstream issue. The era of stable, fast, cheap, quiet, cool petabyte (1000tb) drives is on the horizon, and they'll likely keep going from there. Moreover, the internet itself will also function as virtual storage for On Demand-style viewing, and likely for individuals as well. Storage ain't an issue. For those who think that our technology can't handle the demands of this proposed format, I would like to point out that you're making assumptions based on our CURRENT technology, as if it were to remain static from here on in. Just about every aspect necessary to bring quick, high-quality HD downloads is currently in a very active state of development, and new technologies will improve the potential of this sort of service every year until a 30gb download is instant, and the quality is uncompromised. If you think iTunes and Netflix aren't working their asses off right now to get a big ol' slice of this pie, you've got another think coming. For those who complain that one can't take intangible media to a friend's house, there are two responses -- One: Flash drives. Have you heard of them? You use them to transport data from one place to another. Like for example, from YOUR place to YOUR FRIEND'S place. Get it? And Two: Even if you CAN'T use a flash drive to do this (due to some sort of limit on the number of devices you're allowed to use the media on, for example), this argument assumes that you have ANY SAY IN THE MATTER. We've already seen similar limits on MP3s from iTunes, and even on physical CDs and DVDs. It was immediately unpopular with the public, and people bristled at it (which led to most of this kind of thing going away, mind you), but it was ABSOLUTELY THE PREROGATIVE OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS to establish such limits. That's all there is to it, kids. TV and the internet are in the process of merging, downloads are a second language to the next generation (under 20s), and physical media is ON ITS WAY OUT. The Blu-Ray vs. HDDVD argument misses the point, unless you simply MUST have the absolute latest, incrementally improved format between now and a few years from now, when your amazing array of Blu-Ray discs will become an enormous coaster collection.
HD or Blue Ray ? Who gives a fuck ? by Toby___Wong	Feb 17th, 2008 06:21:49 AM
Both suck anyway. Who gives a fuck about picture clarity ? For years you have been watching VHS and was that so bad ? Bunch of overconsuming people you are. I still have a 1990 tv and I refuse to go with this stupid clear picture hype that changes every goddamn second.
Funketeer by Stalkeye	Feb 17th, 2008 06:39:04 AM
As i said in an earlier post, sure MS extended the warranty but only to exchange one defective console for another? The motherboard on the refurb consoles are simular to the the ones that were manufactured (2005-2006) which have been known to overheat leading to RROD. MS had created a newer motherboard (Falcon) which is less likely to overheat.The motherboard is now included with the Arcade edition and most 360 Elite models.Microsoft would do far better to replace the old consoles with one that is less likely to "burnout".Hey Gate$ has the money. As for playing the exclusives on PC, are you serious? thas why i bought a 360 for. Although my HD LCD TV has PC inputs, why shell out ore money for video card upgrades, when I can play it on a console. That kinda defeats the purpose dontcha think?
The Problem with PS3...` by TheAllSeeingEye	Feb 17th, 2008 06:44:59 AM
That many people have, is that Sony forgot they were making a games machine and used it to pimp their HD format. It's a shrewd business practice, but to actually overprice the hardware to the point that developers find it financially inviable to develop exclusively for; well that just fucked them up nicely. It totally screws the loyal fanbase, (even if the majority won't actually ADMIT to feeling screwed), because they SHOULD be getting great exclusives. The only good games you can expect anytime soon are the first party titles and they won't be here for at least another Six months. And don't hold your breath that MGS4 will save PS3; it's well known that Konami are talking of making it multiformat. A direct quote from the president of Konami himself "As we are aware of the popularity and hardware-driving power of this software franchise, going forwards we are open to taking this franchise across to other platforms." That's what happens when your games system is too expensive to buy.
Oh and playing games on PC by TheAllSeeingEye	Feb 17th, 2008 06:47:59 AM
Is even more essential these days since the latest round of PC GPU's and DX10. I have Unreal 3 on PC and it wipes the floor with the PS3 version; i expect it will do the same with the 360 one. The time has finally come where, once again, you will see vast differences between consoles and PC games. Sucks..but it had to happen.
TheAllSeeingEye by Stalkeye	Feb 17th, 2008 07:08:28 AM
I can't refute your comments regarding ony using the PS3 as a means to pimp thier new format,actually I always found it to be a brilliant business strategy.However to be fair, I agree that they should have paid equal attention to their user base which mostly consist of gamers.It's been almost three years since the Killzone 2 demo, and yet it still feels like vaporware as the release date is pending.The PS3 has so much potentual,(Blu-ray,WiFi and Bluetooth)it just needs more games to level the playing field. On another subject I can't see myself buying a Wii anytime soon, although No more heroes and RE Umbrella Chronicles look "hella" good.Anyway gotta get my frag on with either Halo3 or Resistance.(0:
TheAllseeingEye by spire_walk	Feb 17th, 2008 07:09:04 AM
Well actually, latest NPD sales figures shows PS3 ahead of the 360 for the month of January and nearly overtaking the Wii. And yes, they should have concealed the expense of the console like MS did with the 360 -- where you have to buy a $99 wifi adapter, $50 xbox live membership, and $179 (initially) for the HD-DVD addon. And so what if Metal Gear goes multi-platform AGAIN? The original Xbox and the Gamecube saw Metal Gear ports. It's the 360 this year that has a weak line-up compared to the PS3's Killzone 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, Gran Turismo 5, Resistance 2, Afrika, and MAYBE FF13. And, those are all just the bigger titles....
Spire_Walk by TheAllSeeingEye	Feb 17th, 2008 07:32:08 AM
I find it amusing to hear people complain of paying $50 for an xbox live subscription when they can get online for free on PS3. The difference between PSN and XBL though, is that XBL is a solid online community that actually works whereas PSN is, on the whole, rather poor. I also despise the fact that in order to talk to other players in a game, i need to press AND HOLD the d-pad while i wish to communicate; not very easy when playing Unreal or a driving game. As for MGS4. I only mention it because it's constantly touted as pretty much the messiah of PS3 and regarded, for some reason, as the "killer app" ps3 needs; not much use having a killer app which will appear on other systems. I originally thought Gran Turismo 5 would be the killer app but i find Prologue rather "meh". See how the final game plays. Also, you're deluding yourself if you believe that 360 has no games coming out this year; GoW2 is certainly going to make a year end appearance, but you've got Too Human, GTAIV (with episodic content), Splinter Cell V to name just afew games on the radar. Not to mention the fact that multi-platform games are always BETTER than on 360 becuase it's the lead SKU for development. Oh and sales, dear oh dear. NPD consists solely of the North American market, it fails to take into consideration the rest of the world where 360 is the clear cut winner in total sales and, don't forget, overall Sony have a 5.5 million strong userbase as opposed to 14 million strong 360 userbase. It's no wonder PS3 has lost most of its exclusives...i guess the wi-fi/XBL costs don't worry as many people as you think.
messi by Flipao	Feb 17th, 2008 07:34:58 AM
Whether or not I am "a mainstream person" is fucking irrelevant. This discussion is about a mainstream content delivery system. The whole reason Sony and Toshiba (and their allies) have been locked up in the format war is simply because the winner will make a fucking fortune on licensing costs. And the whole "people who listen to underground bands are a different breed" crap, no they're not. Bands like Cop Shoot Cop aren't even around to make something you can "hold in your hands", some people are collectors, some people just want to enjoy music. Same for films. Why don't YOU wake the fuck up?
TheAllSeeingEye by Flipao	Feb 17th, 2008 07:37:03 AM
XBL is free, there are subscription packages with more crap thrown in, but the "free" version offers online play just good, if not better as in the PS3 network. Not trying to defend either, just pointing it out.
Wait... by DocPazuzu	Feb 17th, 2008 07:37:24 AM
...There's porn on the internet?
I wonder how that'll affect PS2 vs XBOX360 by The Chosen	Feb 17th, 2008 07:38:03 AM
I mean.. Is that a mighty blow for Microsoft's console?
TheAllSeeingEye by spire_walk	Feb 17th, 2008 07:48:27 AM
LOL! Where is the 360 winning in worldwide sales? It used to be leading in North American sales, which is the world's largest consumer market. Used to. I tell you what, bring some figures supporting that claim and I'll bring you some of my sources and we'll see which one of us lives on Planet Reality. North America was the only place. Asia is firmly Wii/PS3 land. Ps3 has led in Europe as well for quite some time. Australia? PS3 outsells Wii and 360 there. I dunno, maybe the Latin Americans are buying them like gangbusters. Free online play with Xbox Silver?! Wow, you are the delusional one there. I had to upgrade my service to Gold to play Halo and Gears of War online. Not to mention that you now have to have Gold to download demos.
thenatureboy by ACE NY	Feb 17th, 2008 07:51:00 AM
"When are movie theaters finally going to switch to HD?" I'm assuming by this you mean digital, not HD. HD is much lower resolution than film, so an HD quality projection on a film screen would look really bad. HD is 1k and film is really more 6k but can be shown 4k and look really nice. Now back to your question as I think you meant it. The switch to digital projectors from film projectors is happening as we speak. There are a few bumps in the road though. The projectors currently available for theaters are only 2k (with a TI DLP chip). Sony has been promising a 4k projector for years but have been unable to make it work and I believe they have now stopped trying. There is another up and coming company that has the technology for 4k+, though so high resolution digital projectors are on the way. The decision will be made for Hollywood and the theater owners whether they want to go digital or not, because companies like Kodak just wont be making film stock in the near future anyway. Thank goodness that Red Camera was actually able to make their 4K camera work.
Who gives a shit? by PUSSY ON OPTIMUS	Feb 17th, 2008 07:54:38 AM
The only thing this bullshit "format war" has produced is a lot of fucking retards, which is precisely what the companies backing these totally un-revolutionary products need to turn a profit.
spire_walk -> crap, you're right by Flipao	Feb 17th, 2008 07:58:04 AM
I stand corrected :). Thought it worked like the Vista version, what a ripoff. PSN does suck as a gaming community atm, but it's mostly placeholder until they release HOME, which looks stunning.
Stupendous Man has chosen Blu-Ray AND here's why... by Stupendous Man	Feb 17th, 2008 08:30:44 AM
cos HD-DVD is DEAD! hehe
Harry the Oldies will be back! by kikuchiyoboy	Feb 17th, 2008 08:45:58 AM
I wonder why everyone always points out that Blu doesn't have certain films, yet HD-DVD doesn't certain films either. It's hard to say which one is preferable, both had good PQ's and film selections. It two months or so Casabablanca, Robin Hood... will all port over to Blu Ray anyways. So I don't know why you have to say something dire like "Blu-Ray has a bigger battle now. Anyways, I'm happy that it's over because I want quite a few HD-DVD titles ported over PRONTO! And for those that say you can't see the difference between HD discs and DVD... you need to watch Unforgiven, 2001, The Shining, Pans Labarynth, , Corpse Bride, Pirates, and Hell Boy. ,br> Oh... and Lost S3 looks friggen AMAZING in HD.
MGS4 On The Xbox 360? 360 Is Already Obsolete. by chickeneae	Feb 17th, 2008 08:48:18 AM
Although Konami already confirmed that MSG4 is an 'exclusive' for the PS3, how exactly is MGS4 going to be on the Xbox 360? MGS4 is coming on a Double-Layer 50GB Blu Ray Disc. Tell me how is the Xbox 360 going to handle all that data unless this 'imaginary' MGS4 port will come on 10 DVDs. In the year 2008, the Xbox 360 is already obsolete. FYI although already stated, the PS3 outsells the 360 everywhere in the world except for North America. And last month, the PS3 outsold the Xbox 360 in North America.
Say goodbye to Classics in High Def by FlyingToupee	Feb 17th, 2008 08:57:42 AM
Now that the dominant High definition format is being marketed to pimply face gamers, with a game console as the main player, we can say goodbye to classic releases. Don't expect to see CITIZEN KANE, VERTIGO or THE RED SHOES anytime soon. Instead, we'll have crap likeSTEALTH: JESSICA BEIL TITS EDITION(not that I don't love Jessica's tits, but still...)
You don't need to buy a zillion movies to have a great collectio by romanocc	Feb 17th, 2008 09:06:00 AM
The one thing I will not do is buy hundreds and hundreds of movies on BluRay, I will pick and choose between 25-50 of my favorites, and leave it at that. There were so many movies I bought on DVD that I just watched once, and they sit there collecting dust. If people would just limit their collections, and just buy the 'A' movies, it won't be that expensive to eventually upgrade your movies to BluRay. Movies like Star Wars, Godfather, and Back to the Future, Caddyshack will be part of my collection, cause I know I will always watch those movies, but most movies today are renters, and don't hold any replay value. Take a less is more attitude for this format, and you won't blow all your money, yet still enjoy the movies you love in 1080 resolution.
chumpmonkey , That's why I added a HD DVR by Mace Tofu	Feb 17th, 2008 09:11:29 AM
I'm recording HD to my DVR from DISH. I could just take the DVR over to a friends house and hook it up with HDMI to watch HD movies and HD TV shows off the hard drive. It's about the size of a VCR and only has the power and 1 HDMI cables to unhook. EASY
Flying Toupee by kikuchiyoboy	Feb 17th, 2008 09:12:50 AM
For Blu they are already prepping Gone With The Wind, Wizard of Oz, Dirty Harry and Lawrence of Arabia. There's more Oldies on the way but I can't recall the list. Jesse James just came out and No Country For Old Men is coming. Not really "pimple face" movies. So your point is moot. I recall DVD starting the same way until Criterion really kicked in to high gear.
and 2 coaxials by Mace Tofu	Feb 17th, 2008 09:14:58 AM
: ) whoops
THIS IS WHY I DOWNLOAD by birdy birdman	Feb 17th, 2008 09:21:09 AM

romanocc by kikuchiyoboy	Feb 17th, 2008 09:31:02 AM
Yeah. That's the way to do it. I don't think I'll re-buy many of the Criterion films, that's even if the slip over anytime soon. I had duplicates on Laserdiscs. So I doubt I'm gonna buy many of those 3 times. It is funny that some people are freaking out and saying they don't want to re-buy their collection. Why would you? I'm not gonna get Dumb and Dumber, Bad Boys or my TV shows in HD. They look decent enough. But I will buy things like Fight Club, Fear and Loathing, In The Mood for Love, Punch Drunk Love, Apocalypse Now, and quite a few epics like Lawrence of Arabia again. In a heartbeat. Ifd you love films and the art of behind films, HD is a wonderful thing. It's a wonderful experience. There's no reason to knock it. If you don't care for it, so be it.
Game Consol war by Rustle	Feb 17th, 2008 09:35:03 AM
I work in games. And 360 is currently the better consol to try and fit a game on. My company has been hurt because it's had trouble getting games out for the play station at the same time it's released their XBox versions. The reason is simply, that an XBox can handle more. Trying to optimize a game to run on a Playstation is a bitch. In order to get games out for both systems on time, we're going to design for the Playstation and then port over to XBox, because we've learned, that's a lot easier than the reverse. So the art bar for both consels will suffer because of playstations shorcomings. Back on topic; I bought a Blu Ray player last week, and it has replaced my XBox as my primary player for standard DVD's. It's nice to not have to hear that jet engine of a fan that the Xbox uses..
PS3 by jae683	Feb 17th, 2008 09:35:17 AM
It's a decent Blu-Ray player, but it's a crap game machine. Why? Because the architecture is so screwed up. It's graphic chipset is inferior to the 360, and it doesn't use a unified ram architecture, for some reason. I doubt will ever see the theoretical potential of the Cell processor because of that. It's like taking a high-powered 12 cylinder engine and bolting a single barrel carburetor to it.
birdy birdman by kikuchiyoboy	Feb 17th, 2008 09:38:35 AM
I haven't seen a download that comes close to HD-DVD and Blu's PQ and sound. Especially on a 52 inch TV. It's big enough to see the difference. But that's not to say they look horrible. They look better than some DVD's. Once downloads look and sound like the disc counterparts than I'll be excited about them. I also like knowing that a hard drive failure won't wipe out my collection. But that's just me. I can't wait till they get encodes better for downloads. Then you could walk around with an iPod sized device to plug into any TV. That would be awesome.
About the PS3 by kikuchiyoboy	Feb 17th, 2008 09:43:04 AM
That's sad to hear. I really dig the games and graphics so far. Drake's Fortune plays and looks awesome.But if developers are having problems getting good results, that sucks. Oh well. Is that why the games are porting over so slowly? Just wondering. It's definitely a top notch Blu-Ray player though.
The Rule w/ Any New Technology -- It Pays To Wait by LaserPants	Feb 17th, 2008 09:49:39 AM
The longer you can wait, the longer you can resist the urge to splurge on the latest cybertastic gew-gaw, the better off you are. Why? 1) The longer you wait, the cheaper it gets - make the corporations sweat it, don't you sweat it. If you make the companies sweat, THEY have to bow to US. And by bow I mean, lower prices, and suck our money-cocks. $400 for a new game system? FUCK YOU. Lower it to $200 and you just may have a deal. 2) The original issue of any new technology almost always sucks -- riddled with bugs, unstable, untested. Why spend more money then you have to on a device that is going to be cheaper and better in a year or two? 3) See the story written above. All you retards who couldn't wait, who just had to have that new technology right away, are now shit out of luck. Hopefully you've learned something from this debacle. In the meantime I'll sit back and wait until Mr. Sony is forced to lower his prices on his PS3 / Blu Ray machine.
360 is obsolete, final fantasy and gran turismo PS3 exclusives by lavatory love machine	Feb 17th, 2008 09:49:49 AM
360 has nothing left, check the release dates over at ign, nothing besides GTA, sony has mo and more titles added, and metal gear it won't be the only game to use 50 gb dual layer blu ray, 360 is obsolete, there're rumor anout a new system for 2010, I'm wondering what excuse 360 fanboys will come up with then
Mattman...so your woman is ugly then. by nicegoogly	Feb 17th, 2008 09:49:55 AM
Compare Casino Royale to Batman Begins. I looked at 300 on both...slighter better edge. It is not simply about the transfer shitnut. You also need to understand the different video codecs involved. I never said it was leaps and bounds better, slightly, you need to right equipment to pull it off. That is simply the way I see it and the way my shit is calibrated. So, asshole, do I like fruit loops or cookie crisp...what's your answer on that?
Are studios lowering picture quality on standard-def to promote by The Tao of Joe	Feb 17th, 2008 10:01:24 AM
The picture quality on DVD's these days looks like crap compared to a year ago. There have been several reports that most HD-TV owners can't tell the difference between standard-def DVD's and HD or Blu-Ray. This begs the question, have studios begun watering-down the picture quality on standard def to help push their new, expensive product?
re: lavatory love machine (aka douchenozzle) by Ultron ver 2.0	Feb 17th, 2008 10:03:09 AM
Mass Effect is a planned trilogy for the 360, with episodic content between releases. 50G disks sound slick, but they'll never use the full capacity of it. Gran Turismo? Roofles! I'll take Burnout Paradise anyday. Now go back to smoking Sony's pole, Bluboi. Inhaling yards of Sony-cock must come easy for you. lol
360 is not obsolete by nicegoogly	Feb 17th, 2008 10:04:13 AM
I am not taking anything away from the PS3, it has great potential, but is difficult to program for. But if you think that simply because Sony says a game is going to be released on a 50GB Blu-Ray disk, that means it cannot be multi-platform, your just naive. First, all of their games are released on Blu-Ray, even the multi-platform games. If that is the case, why are the graphics for the Xbox 360 multi-platform releases always scored higher (see IGN on nearly every head to head). Konami is getting nervous and has been discussing a multi-platform release. As a Xbox 360 owner, I don't care. I will probably get a PS3 by the time that happens. I agree with an earlier post that Drake's Fortune looks fantastic and I would love to try Heavenly Sword. In the short term, Xbox 360 has the superior online experience and I end up playing multi-player games more often than not. Also, remember the big argument for Blu-Ray was that it had so much space for its movies and features and was criticized for not using it, it is no different with the games. If Sony wasn't so greedy and selfish, like Microsoft, and tried to come up with a gread new media for everyone to use, instead of trying to rape every studio they don't own with usage rights for the proprietary software, maybe the PS3 would have been a better gaming console and there would have been no war to begin with. Also, PS3 fanboys, if Sony cares about you so much, where are your fuckin' games? MSG 4 was delayed four times. GTA went multi-platform, DMC went mult-platform, then they both got delayed (DMC just recently released). How about little big planet...delayed...again. How about the Home to navigate the console. It was supposed to be released in November, delayed until March, then possibly July. Great, advanced technology. Have fun not fuckin' using it.
Waste of fucking money by Wyrdy the Gerbil	Feb 17th, 2008 10:09:02 AM
HD-DVD Blu-Ray fuck them both i`ll stick with my external hard drives and BT thank you
re: Ultron ver 2.0 by lavatory love machine	Feb 17th, 2008 10:14:29 AM
it's funny you mention burnout paradise since I'm paying it right now on my PS3, my point it's that since now PS3 has the wining HD format, MS has to come up with new exclusive stuff, name ONE 360 important exclusive coming up. Keep in mind that most of the people don't have a next gen console yet, that happens on the third or four year of the run, what can 360 offer people over sony for the next couple of years? price? I don't think so when you get a blu ray player and gaming console for 400 or less, exclusive content? MS will need new ones, they can't milk Halo 3 and Gears of War forever, HD movies? not anymore
re: nicegoogly by lavatory love machine	Feb 17th, 2008 10:21:59 AM
sony can delay their exclusive stuff as much as they want, it actually it's the better idea since the PS3 is for the long run, and about the no games stuff: I've played Uncharted, COD4, Oblivion, Resistance, Burnout, Assanssin's creed, ratchet, DMC, rainbow six vegas, the darkness, heavenly sword, virtua tennis and motorstorm , I guess that keep me to busy to notice that there weren't any games on the PS3, also the PS3 has been out for a year, we can all agreed that the PS2 has lots of great games, right? well only one of them (DMC 1) was release during the first year
When someone starts releasing Jess Franco & Jean Rollin films.. by Frank Black	Feb 17th, 2008 10:25:13 AM
On Blu Ray and all the old European cult stuff that is finally coming out on standard DVD, then I will buy a PS3 for the BluRay... not until...
Blu-ray still too expensive by shitstorm23	Feb 17th, 2008 10:29:11 AM
I might blow a bunch of money on beer and going out, but I'm not spending it on a $400 dvd player and I'm REALLY not going to re-buy my entire collection of DVDs. I would have to get a player as a present and even then I'd probably only get 10-15 movies including the free ones. The extra features and menus look AMAZING, but the movies do not look THAT much better. Plus, I can get like 4 for $20 at blockbuster. They are used, but I couldn't give a shit. There will always be collectors, but they do not represent the mass public who likes cheap.
Blu-ray still too expensive by shitstorm23	Feb 17th, 2008 10:29:20 AM
I might blow a bunch of money on beer and going out, but I'm not spending it on a $400 dvd player and I'm REALLY not going to re-buy my entire collection of DVDs. I would have to get a player as a present and even then I'd probably only get 10-15 movies including the free ones. The extra features and menus look AMAZING, but the movies do not look THAT much better. Plus, I can get like 4 for $20 at blockbuster. They are used, but I couldn't give a shit. There will always be collectors, but they do not represent the mass public who likes cheap.
The "wining" HD format does mean anything to 360 by Ultron ver 2.0	Feb 17th, 2008 10:36:25 AM
It never was marketed as a do-it-all system, unlike the PS3. I like your logic about the PS3 in for the long run...with all it's vaporware out there. You should work for the Duke Nukem Forever marketing dept.
The consumers never decided on this one by WolfmanNards	Feb 17th, 2008 10:38:11 AM
The war on these formats took place in corporate offices. The consumers never had a fighting chance. If the consumers had any say, HD would be the winner because it is cheaper. But the studios were too afraid of how long this war might last, so they took the first payoff they got, which was from sony. That way, they cash in from the payoff, and they don't have to worry about the future. Another thing: HD was region free. Which is another factor that affected the wallets of the studios. If you want to make a list of pros and cons for the consumers, HD outweighed BluRay in the pros and Bluray outwieghed HD in the cons. And a personal nitpick- what the fuck is "Blu-Ray"? What does it mean? It's a hip slang term referring to I assume the use of a blue laser. Well, fucking call it "BLUE RAY!" not Blu, dipshits. At least HD stood for something HIGH DEFINITION DIGITAL VIDEO DISC. It's a technology, not a hip fad.
Another few items by tubuku69	Feb 17th, 2008 10:55:55 AM
In all fairness I posted without adding a flip side-blame is 50/50-Toshiba and its group had a BIG head start. They should have bitten the bullet and lowered prices a year ago and pumped out classics. Warner Bros for the most part was the main studio putting out quality classic movies (Casablance in 1080p is one of the best looking movies you can see now-period). They should have positioned themselves sooner as: affordable, the library of classics and true heir to the name DVD in consumers minds (consistently studies of consumer show "Blu-Ray" means nothing-Toshiba had the better name. So I definitely throw a LOT of strategic blame towards the HD DVD camp-they had the lead to keep and lose and they made too many missteps. The other thing to consider-unless your TV is larger than 50" or so (mine is 60", ironicaly a Sony rear projection but that's a different story)-most people can't see any difference. As many commenters in this thread have noted, prices have to come down, people have to have HDTV's (larger than 50") that can do 1080p and they need to be convinced it's worth dumping DVD (including the new cheap upconverting players they probably have bought in the last year). Until then "good enough" is the true winner for now.
Final Fantasy & Gran Turismo? by GORGUTS	Feb 17th, 2008 11:07:33 AM
Their hasnt been a good FF game since 7 and Burnout is 100 times more fun then Gran Turismo will ever be.
Spire_Walk by TheAllSeeingEye	Feb 17th, 2008 11:08:49 AM
1)MGS4 is exclusive now, "exclusive" doesn't have to been permanently exclusive and since Konami are pretty much sounding out the idea that it's going to go multi-format, that exclusivity will be for at most 6 - 8 months. 2)You're either blind or mentally retarded to not know, or be able to find out, that 360 creams the PS3 in hardware sales globally. It's not an opinion but an undisputed fact. Try looking on google. And yeh, you're right North America is a bigger market and guess what? It's outosld PS3 there too. 3)BluRay for games is not a good thing. Developers have a hard enough time to fill 9GB of space; the only people rejoicing at 50gb of storage are japanese developers who just love to fill their games with pre-rendered cgi animation. Also, BluRay access times are proving to be somewhat of a pain, see GTAIV delayed until Rockstar could get their disc to load properly. Oh Spire_Walk, where did i say Silver allowed free online play? Er i didn't....i'm a great believe in the old adage that "you get what you pay for". I'm happy to pay $50 a year for a subscription to a well designed, functional community like XBL. Better than the free PSN which is slow, unappealing and poorly made. Oh and whatever happened to "HOME". The revolutionary online environment. That got forgotten about very quickly. Also let's not forget, that on EVERY multiformat game the 360 is clearly the superior option. Why? Because it's nearly ALWAYS the lead SKU for development.
Expert 40 by Ckuouka	Feb 17th, 2008 11:13:50 AM
have you ever seen a ps3? you're spewing so much misinformation it's not even funny. let's see, where to begin? i guess i'll just correct you point by point. the 80 gig model DOES play ps1 games. the 60 gig model wasn't actually discontinued until november 1st. the ps3 DOES allow you to play either wired or wireless. it even comes with an ethernet cable. final fantasy xiii and it's spinoff final fantasy xiii versus are ps3 exclusives. prototype is coming to both the ps3 and the 360. as for that quote, yes, ken kataragi did say that, and he did get forced to resign a few months later from sony, because of how shitty a job he did launching the ps3. i don't think anyone can deny that it had a crappy launch, but around the fall, the system improved so much, and i have loved it since i bought mine in november. not to mention the fact that anyone who thinks the dreamcast was a bad system knows nothing about videogames. and as for games getting delayed, i'd rather a game get delayed for a year or two, then come out and be a glitchy piece of shit. look at assassin's creed. they rushed that out and it was freezing up on people, had an inferior framerate. a month later, they released a patch for it and it look and plays equal to the 360 version. i don't care if a game is delayed as long as it's good. and as for the ps3 architecture being hard to program for, if i recall, people said the same thing about the ps2 when it was new, and look how that turned out.
PS3 worldwide by Ckuouka	Feb 17th, 2008 11:20:36 AM
Oh, and as was mentioned above, the PS3 is beating the 360 in every territory but North America and England. The rest of Europe, Asia, Australia, the PS3 is above them. I would say the Wii is the number one next-gen console, but as someone else said above, I don't count the Wii as part of this generation. It's a two horse race as far as I'm concerned. Saying that it creams the PS3 globally...show me your statistics? Give me some links with proof. Hell, they've barely sold a quarter million 360's in Japan. The PS3 may not beat the 360 again next month, but January won't be the only month is does win this year. It's picking up steam. It's gaining momentum. Everyone who wants a 360, at this point, pretty much already has one (or are on your fourth, for you RROD people). The PS3 has some great games out for it and great games coming. Not to say the 360 doesn't, but seriously, some of the 360 fanboys act like they have stock in Microsoft or something.
screw sony by Gungan Slayer	Feb 17th, 2008 11:25:13 AM
HD-DVD should have won, now we're stuck with bullshit Sony hardware and format. Great. whatever, I'm content as it is for now...no way in hell I'm going to rebuy all the movies I already own on DVD...hell no...
Toshiba co-developed Blu-ray with IBM & Sony. by JDanielP	Feb 17th, 2008 11:32:56 AM
We will see a widely available Blu-ray Xbox 360 manufactured by Toshiba by the end of 2009. Count on it. (And it will have a HUGE, spacious hard-drive for downloads of every kind, via XBOX LIVE. Lots of room for HD movies, downloadable for rent.)
TheAllseeingEye by Ckuouka	Feb 17th, 2008 11:33:09 AM
1) Konami has, time and time again, denied there are any plans for Metal Gear Solid 4 to come out for the 360. The only ones saying its going multi-platform are people like you. 2) As I said above, only in England and North America does the 360 beat the PS3. Show me links to your proof. 3) Rockstar games also said that they begged Microsoft to allow them to say the game required a hard drive to do some of the things they wanted to do. Translation: they had to dumb the game down to fit it on the 360. And didn't one of the big head Microsoft guys come out and say a few weeks ago that the 360 was the better version because of its online multiplayer and such...only to have the head of Rockstar say that was going to be on both systems, and that the Microsoft guy was obviously mistaken. At this point, wouldn't be surprised to see some episodic content on the PS3 as well, just different content. And as for your other points, actually, there's a press conference about Home on the 21st at the GDC, and games have started having updates to integrate them with Home, so it should be out by April or May, at the latest. And a lot of companies have said that they've started using the PS3 as their lead platform because it's easier to convert games from PS3 to 360, than 360 to PS3. The creators of "Dead Space" for example. Maybe they're doing this because they don't WANT there to be one version that's better and another that isn't. Seems like the 360 games being better will be a thing of the past by summer, at the latest.
Actually JDanielP by Ckuouka	Feb 17th, 2008 11:36:45 AM
If Microsoft does do any kind of Blu-Ray equipped 360, it'd probably be the next system, as they have made no secret of the fact that they are probably going to release the follow-up to the 360 in 2009/2010, which means they'll probably drop the 360 like they did the x-box then. Yet another reason I like Sony. PS2 games are still being made, a year after the PS3 debuted. They have a ten year plan for the PS3. When the PS4 comes out, they'll still be supporting the PS3. You can say that's bullshit, but they did it with the PS1, they did it with the PS2. No reason for them to stop now.
Hd or Blue Ray are... by Banditmania	Feb 17th, 2008 11:52:22 AM
...the Emperor's clothes.
Ckuouka, what do you work for Sony? by jae683	Feb 17th, 2008 11:54:44 AM
Seriously man. Show me the links to all 'your' facts, also.
Digital Delivery by Gozu	Feb 17th, 2008 11:55:55 AM
Investing heavily in either format is stupid to begin with since it's fairly obvious the future is direct download. At least both Steve Jobs and Bill Gates seem to think so. And they're pretty smart guys.
get HD player and movies from bargain bin by George Newman	Feb 17th, 2008 12:04:12 PM
If that stuff goes on heavy discount i'll buy it all and then continue on with blu-ray later
RE : Flipao by Real Deal	Feb 17th, 2008 12:05:16 PM
No you don't understand. The ability will be there ( except for major chnges in the internet ) but the studios won't let you. Especially HD content. You'd have to get them to change their minds first. Good luck with that one! The reason the Steve Jobs and Bill Gates think the future is downloads is because they both have services that give you limited access to the media. Only on your own tv or ipod or computer. So you've really just rented the movie you don't actually own it. And wait until you want to take it over to your friend's house and watch it on his new tv ( by the way this friend doesn't have Apple tv or anything of the sort ). Get the picture now?
Digital downloads now by cylack	Feb 17th, 2008 12:05:20 PM
This is a moot point. Plenty of folks I know are content to watch DVD quality video downloaded off the net in DIVX format for free. Wal-Mart sells a $35 Magnavox DIVX player. Each DIVX rip is around 700 meg which takes about 5 minutes to download...and 6 of those can be burned to a DVD.
Re : cylack by Real Deal	Feb 17th, 2008 12:14:07 PM
However HD media in one form or the other is the future. There's really no question there. NTSC will be going the way of the Dodo bird. And soon. I'm just saying that HD ( which is what we've been discussing ) will not be a likely candidate for studios to let you download and burn to a DVD for portability for some time to come. They are very paranoid about piracy and until that goes away ( long time ) the most you'll be able to do with HD content is download for rental purposes or limited access ( only your TV or computer ) . Therefore it won't be the mainstream format. Because people are already used to portability ( for years now with VHS and DVD ) and believe it or not they still like to hold something in their little hardworking ( I paid for it ) hands.
Don't buy old catalog stuff.... by Mindworm22	Feb 17th, 2008 12:29:12 PM
...just buy new stuff in BluRay, and get the old stuff if you're so inspired when B-Day's or X-mas hits. It's not that hard, folks. And with all the BOGO stuff on Amazon and the sort, they come out to about 15 bucks a BRD. Not bad at all for a new medium in it's second year of use.
Not to get all Fight Club on you, but... by Dashing Roger	Feb 17th, 2008 12:34:41 PM
...all you pseudo-technophiles (who learn all this arcane bullshit about products someone else made) do is buy shit you really don't need. It's not an insult, more of a encouraging admonishment. I mean, I guess I should thank you for trying to keep the economy healthy, but, seriously, who gives a pile of fetid shit about a format war in a medium that will be dead possibly before the decade closes? You like entertainment, you like gaming, you want the cutting edge, I hear you. But investing even small amounts in a HD solution is a waste for any reason, since EVERYTHING will move to downloads faster than you can rub one out all over your already-sticky keyboard. For now, you're just buying what they're selling. Congratulations, you're a massive, blind, sheep-following tool.
Headgeek Credibilty = down the toilet by otto maddox	Feb 17th, 2008 12:34:44 PM
Ok, its his site but dont believe the bull shit - stick with Vern, Quint, Moriarty and Neil (who arent all corporate whores)
All the X-Bots... by Mindworm22	Feb 17th, 2008 12:35:57 PM
...can continue to pile money into their systems with add on HDD, BluRay players, Live subscriptions, etc., while PS3 folks are built for the future. 2008 is going to be interesting from a console perspective.
Sorry Harry, HD is dead, period ! by stamper	Feb 17th, 2008 12:38:16 PM
Yeah, we all got SD players, why bother with blu ? A format where all masters are 10 years old, edge enhanced, low resolution SHIT. DIE HARD LOOKS BETTER UPSCALED ON MY PLAYER AND FOR A THIRD OF THE PRICE, THAN THE 10 YEARS OLD MASTER THEY SELL AT 35 BUCKS APIECE
Re : Dashing Roger by Real Deal	Feb 17th, 2008 12:39:00 PM
Read above ( in multiple posts ) why that won't happen.
MGS4 by ninjatracksuit	Feb 17th, 2008 12:40:10 PM
Kojima hates all things XBOX - he views it (and I don't agree with him, I think they're almost the same) as an inferior machine to the PS3, and dislikes their basic marketing campaign. You gotta admit - Sony has more style and taste when it comes to promoting their products. Microsoft comes off as the Mountain Dew of the consoles (same basic color, hmm...), though some people prefer such a product. That said, I think the chances are very, very slim that you'll see MGS4 on a Microsoft product (they don't have the history or are respected nearly as much as Nintendo). Kojima only commented - once - that it would be technically (on the hardware side) to reproduce MGS4 on the 360. I'll give you this: If you see a contract to put Sony's Blu-Ray on a Microsoft product, then you might see MG on a 360 (that is how Koji rolls). Also, seriously - you XBOX guys do bring out the SAME 4 games when you talk about exclusives, to the PS3's 3 exclusive games...And they have had how long of a headstart? And 'hard to design for' is old news, so stop quoting old gamespot articles. You 360 guys (as I don't have one yet) have a great gaming system - I've seen it in action - and the PS3 is right there with it, on the hardware front. All this talk of 'crap gaming system' reeks of being completely uninformed, especially considering how 'young' the system is. It's like calling a child an idiot - it isn't a fair comparison to place it side by side to the 360, and you know it. After this year, though - with great games (exlusives and multiparties) we'll start to see a shift to PS3 just like things starting getting stacked on Blu-Ray's side.
Once Again For Clarity by Real Deal	Feb 17th, 2008 12:48:01 PM
HD is the future. Downloading will be in the future but only for a rental format. Some form of physical media for HD will be the only way it works for the mainstream consumer. And if BR doesn't play their cards right ( stop trashing the opposition and let it go. Lower the price on their players and discs ) DVD will still be around and mainstream for some time to come. I mean back in the days of VHS people settled for a format that produced a picture only half of what their sets were capable of for years. And now have the same situation with HD sets and DVD. So we'll see what happens.
slappy jones by Johnno	Feb 17th, 2008 12:49:40 PM
Let's get one thing out of the way. I have one problem with the Xbox 360, and it's the high failure rate adn the fact that MIcrosoft knowingly put it out there, also it really ought to sting those who bought the HD-DVD add on when MS knowingly only put it in there to throw a temporary wrench at Sony when they themselves have no reason to support it over their digital service. Other than that the Xbox 360 is all well and good. I don't play online games, I'm the single player campaign kind of guy so LIVE has no use for me. Though I might be tempted to try playing some PS3 online only because it's free, but I doubt I'll use it that much except to downoad demos and videos and stuff. I am here bashing the Xbox 360 only to put ants in the pants of the morons on here saying stupid shit like PS3 sucks, has no games, PSP doesn't sell and so on and so forth. I'm sure you're also sick of it, but we're not dealing with people here who are thinking rationally. These folks lost a lot of money on HD-DVD, probably have their 360 in the shop waiting months for it to return and are firing off their frustration on all cylinders at the other team. So I'ma keep whacking the ball back in their court because it's fun to kick these idiots when they're down, just as something to pass the time in between college and collecting stars in Mario Galaxy.
hamslime by Johnno	Feb 17th, 2008 12:50:20 PM
The difference that HD discs have over DVD is bigger capacity and higher bitrates. For one, you could store HD content on a DVD, but due to the size of it you won't be able to fit a full size movie because it would far outweigh it. Also the larger file size requires a disc and laser that can read teh data at higher speeds, think about it kind of like watching a streaming video over phone line internet versus cable/DSL. The faster the speed, the better it si to watch a streaming video of a higher quality. The DVD technology could only be taken so far, to get HD to work well you need a better laser and a better tech in the discs layers to hold more data. Also the better tech and standardized faetures in HD discs will also allow for better features than DVD could ever have by having better menus, PiP and other fancier options and things to play around with for interactivity on the part of the viewer.
DASHING ROGER by BringingSexyBack	Feb 17th, 2008 12:54:44 PM
I appreciate your personal financial conservatism but as nice as it is to watch content online (I do that a lot on Netflix and various network websites for current shows), nothing beats OWNING your own physical media. I like knowing I can go through my library and pick out an old movie without and hold it in my hand. Downloads are great. Physical media is king.
Real Deal by Dashing Roger	Feb 17th, 2008 12:56:02 PM
With Bill McNeal. I can see you fancy yourself the expert, but I humbly disagree. Yes, downloads will start in the rental market (already has, with purchase options as well) and will progress to all media stored on household servers that will not only run/store your entertainment systems/content but the other systems in your house. Not a dream, not a Star Trek episode, but a reality that is coming. Some people will always want to hold a jewel case in their hand. This is true. But a few backwards-ass posts on a AICN Talkback does not change how the technology will really progress. Downloads will be cheaper, faster and will long outlive HD media. Believe it.
The stubborn people who stick with DVD will feel pretty stupid by Johnno	Feb 17th, 2008 01:02:48 PM
And here's why... Over the short course of time, blu-ray players and media will have their prices dropped down to that of standard DVD players and discs... And studios are NOT going to drop down the prices of DVDs to compensate for it. Reasons are that as more places start turning to blu-ray manufacturing, manufacturing an outdated disc like DVD will actually be less cost efficient and harder to do, also they are well aware that people like you will continue to buy new DVDs at the price it's at because you're oh so fine with that! So you're going to feel pretty stupid soon when you're paying the same amount for DVD that others are paying for on better quality blu-ray. And that's also part of the studio's plans to get you to feel like switching over. Not only that, but as soon as blu-ray players can be sold for the same price as DVD ones, nobody will continue making DVD players! Everyone will drop manufacturing DVD players and only put out blu-ray players... after all blu-ray plays DVD anyway, so stubborn customers who chose only to stick with DVD will not only find themselves purchasing blu-ray players and not enjoying blu-ray, but they'll be paying the same price for regular DVDs too until they eventually start phasing out. And that's why you'll feel stupid! I'm just warning you ahead of time, by all means wait till the players and discs get cheaper, but it's pretty much inevitably going to go down that road.
Flipao you idiot by messi	Feb 17th, 2008 01:08:36 PM
what i'm trying to say is that there still will be hard media, because the people into underground music like physical stuff, they're the ones who still buy the albums with the artwork because music is different to them, if the mainstream just switches to digital downloads you can bet that underground hip hop, punk rock, indie rock, and all the non mainstream music will still be making CD's.
DASHING ROGER by BringingSexyBack	Feb 17th, 2008 01:09:25 PM
A home-based server is still physical media. As long as I have the content in my possession and not offsite where it may or may not be available to me on demand (say, a network outage) is all I want.
Nicegoogly by MattmanReturns	Feb 17th, 2008 01:11:57 PM
From HiDefDigest's review of 300: "Warner presents both the Blu-ray and HD DVD versions with identical 1080p/VC-1 encodes in the film's original 2.40:1 projected aspect ratio, and if nothing else, this is a very accurate reproduction of the theatrical experience of '300'." Identical encode means it's the same damn thing, right down the bitrate in every frame. On an unrelated note, I gotta say, that "Your woman is ugly" headline cracked me up... props for that. But I'm afraid the analogy just doesn't work. With HD-DVD vs. BluRay, you're comparing Carmen Elektra to her image in a mirror and claiming one of them looks better than the other.
HOWEVER IF AN E-M BOMB EVER GOES OFF by BringingSexyBack	Feb 17th, 2008 01:13:36 PM
All servers will be useless and you won't be able to download anything. So I think I'll stick with DVDs and my $25 Cyberhome player.
360 by MattmanReturns	Feb 17th, 2008 01:15:11 PM
I do agree with you on 360... not obselete. I'm not sure why people think the death of HD means the death of 360. I play far more games on my 360 than PS3.
Missing the point... by clem_snide	Feb 17th, 2008 01:15:39 PM
(oops – be warned - I wrote an essay….) Cost & convenience is what makes a format popular. Whatever the attraction of either HD format in terms of its improved features, it was always mass market take-up that that would determine if it survives. At the moment I’m not sure Blu Ray can survive other than in a niche. Let’s take a little trip thorough history to illustrate my point. Audio cassette tapes survived for so many years because: a) They were cheap (20 copied albums for the price of one) b) They were easily portable physically c) Everyone had a cassette player d) (The Mix-Tape) CDs replaced vinyl because: a) They were physically easier to deal with b) They sounded better on the same price point hardware as vinyl c) They price difference between CDs & vinyl closed fairly rapidly in terms of hardware & software d) Easy copying to audio cassette e) Support for vinyl was relatively quickly withdrawn by record labels and retailers as CDs took off However CDs were slow to take off, partly because of the lack of back catalogue titles initially (remember how long it took for Pink Floyd and David Bowie to come to market for example) and were relatively expensive as a replacement purchase as they were generally priced the same as new releases. Additionally it took several years for the hardware prices to come down. Audio cassettes only really started to die out with the advent of cheap home CD recording technology followed by cheap mp3 players which have pretty much killed them off completely. Movies and to a certain extent TV never had an equivalent technology to audio cassette until very recently. VHS would record from TV, but trying to copy VHS tapes was not easy. All that was required was a replacement for pre-recorded tapes with all their limitations, a relatively easy sell, but it took a few attempts before DVD succeeded. DVDs had the following advantages: a) The quality of the format was significantly better to VHS. Not only in terms of picture but also sound as stereo & limited surround sound were available on relatively cheap TVs & Home Cinema was already being sold to VHS owners. b) The format had a better lifespan, making it worthwhile to more people to build a library (the selling on this had been done with CDs) c) They were physically easier to handle (again the selling was done with CDs) d) Hardware prices dropped quickly. My first DVD player was a second generation machine that cost $900 (and only died last year), within 6 months “basic” players were selling at $150 dollars, with sub $100 players hitting soon after that. e) The price difference between DVD & VHS movies came close fairly rapidly f) Tentpole releases that demonstrated the capabilities of the format (early budget machines were sold bundled with The Matrix) g) New releases were very quickly available day & date on both formats h) Back catalogue releases came quickly and cheaply. Again encouraging people to build a library i) Extra features (which still only appeal to a small part of the audience) j) Hardware prices became “disposable” (a new DVD player where I live is the price of a new release movie, or 10 beers in a bar, or 4 packs of cigarettes, or half the price of a VHS machine, depending on your universal currency of choice) k) Format convergence – that one disposable DVD player plays pretty much all formats of music & movies except for HD All HD formats, TV included, suffer the following problems: a) Although undeniably better quality – does the picture quality really impress most people enough to upgrade (the differential between VHS & DVD is (arguably) more noticeable than between DVD & HD formats). b) HD hardware is nowhere near the affordably price range for most people. Given the choice between screen size & picture quality for the same price people would go for size (particularly when the move to flat screen has effectively put prices up for screen size – at least where I live where you can’t find tube TVs between 14” & 28” in shops anymore) c) Apart from picture quality HD has very little new to offer the mass audience except the possibility of having several movies or episodes on one disc d) For the first time people have experienced the audio cassette choice of having movies or TV for the price of a blank disc or a cheap download. HD does nothing for those people willing to watch Lost on an ipod, or beam a bootleg of Spiderman compressed to CD size onto an uneven grey wall (It might be interesting to note that I don’t know anyone who owns a HD-TV and that covers a broad income & age range across a swathe of Northern European countries including several movie fans with expensive home theatre set-ups. However many of them do have with HD capable consoles & PCs.) Both HD disc formats missed the boat by remaining far too expensive with hardware and too slow with the volume of media. The (accidental?) success (in terms of Blu Ray players in homes) generated by having Blu Ray in the PS3 inflated apparent uptake as it sold players to people who don’t necessarily have the ability to watch HD movies. The phenomenon of the internet, and downloadable/on-demand content is misleading. On-demand has been available for years and off-air recording has always been a possibility. What the studios need to address is a portable (ie limited DRM) product which is available quickly (at least as the same time as the disc release) and at a price/quality balance that makes sense compared to “free” illegal copies. A lot of people will still buy the disc of a favourite movie even if they have downloaded it. (look at what Radiohead did with their last album). The market for those people who collect discs will remain, if diminished. However, for Blu Ray to succeed they need to be getting people (who may still be watching on a tube TV) to replace their disposable DVD players with Blu Ray ones and bring the media price in line with DVDs to encourage people to invest for when they can afford a HD-TV, but that’s not the Sony corporate model for consumer goods. As it stands Blu Ray is either going to do a CD slow take up (unlikely as technology is moving too fast for that model to work), or in my opinion become another LaserDisc unless hardware pricing & media volume/pricing are addressed very quickly.
SK299 by ACE NY	Feb 17th, 2008 01:15:45 PM
Well, I appreciate the detailed followup, except that you make several statements that are incorrect. Perhaps my typo, that HD is 1k, got you off on the wrong foot. HD is a little less resolution than 2k, but the DCI 2k spec is a higher-quality spec and does not only include resolution specifications. It also includes color space spec and that is beyond the HD spec. If they were substantially identical, the Digital Cinema Initiative, ASC, and SMPTE would not have had to do much other than simply adopt the HD spec for the 2k part of the DCI spec. Why do you suppose that the ASC would write a 4k spec to begin with? Yes, prints in theaters are generations down from camera negative, but you are way to loose in referencing that as an argument that you lose 3/4 of the information between 4k and 2k. In addition, in a well-known research paper, Kodak studied the limits of human perception of digital-equivalent resolution to 35 mm film. In tests, they found that he human visual system could detect significant difference between 2k and 4k, and some difference between 4k and 6k. At 6k equivalent, there is no more real information to be captured from the negative, because you are getting to down to the limits of the grain structure. If its better to be precise about this, rather than a bunch of loosy-goosy talk, "shit" this and "fuck" that, and admitting that you aren't an expert and then making one vague but categorical pronouncement after another. I'm also interested in Red being "revealed" to acquire at 3k rather than 4k. Hm. Really? They acquire at 3k when overcranked at 60 fps. Do you know what proprietary algorithm solution they have to work around the Bayer filter limitations that Kodak and Sony have run into? Until you do or you can point me to something definitive, you can't say "revealed" because of questions, speculation, and a lot of ignorance on blogs.
Re : Dashing Roger by Real Deal	Feb 17th, 2008 01:15:59 PM
Yes I am somewhat of an expert as Video/home electronics have been a hobby all of my life. I'm 54 soon to be 55. I even sold them at an old job 20 years ago. So back to downloading. Just one question ( albeit there are many others )how do you get past the studios on this one?
Re :Johnno by Real Deal	Feb 17th, 2008 01:24:42 PM
You may have heard of an old technology called the Laser Disc? It was superior to tape in many ways ( picture quality, sound, durabiltiy etc. ). But it couldn't record. So people stuck with the worse quality of VHS and the Laser Disc stuck around for 20 years as nich product. This could happen with BR. If they lower the price NOW it'll help the cause. But waiting for the price to go down won't help if they don't sell big time against DVD which already has the market. This is a real possibility. Pure and simple.
Sorry.... by clem_snide	Feb 17th, 2008 01:29:48 PM
I didn't check the formatting when I did cut & paste - d'oh
Real Deal, et al. by Dashing Roger	Feb 17th, 2008 01:31:48 PM
RD, okay, good to know I'm not banging around with a kid - you should know the same. I'm a 36 YO engineer for a what-will-remain-unnamed cable/media company. Forgive my insults - and you are right, tsngible media will always be around. BUT the technology is moving in the direction in which I described. Adoption will take a while, and the studio problem, as you mentioned, is considerable. But studios will eventually have to bow to pressure like other media content owners (e.g., the record companies) when the technology becomes so fast, easy and omnipresent that they will need to cut deals if only to counter rampant piracy and mass adoption of technology. Some days, there will be young people who were born post-HD DVD and will view download as the norm. All tangible media in current circulation will go the way all past like media (8 track, audio & video cassettes, etc.) have gone before - landfills. Look, there are people who still buy vinyl records. Just like books, DVD will go away completely. But I guarantee, especially if you're a hobbyist, you will also invest in a download/storage system within your lifetime. You'll want to keep up with the Joneses and will want to purchase/rent/access media available that way. Disagree?
Here's the facts MaceTofu.. by CeejayNightwing	Feb 17th, 2008 01:33:27 PM
To judge BluRays picture quality potential on their codec choice is ridiculous and to determine that their extra 10gb storage beyond that of HDDVD doesn't matter is being narrow-minded. First off, playing back movies is only one potential of the disc all be it the popular one, the superiority of having a larger storage space is for when we computer geeks will be using the medium the way we use recordable DVD, for data storage. Secondly, i bought Highlander on DVD when the format was in its early days, the transfer was so bad it looked worse than a VCD. The same year I bought the Matrix on DVD that wouldn't play properly because of the white Rabbit feature, my player had to get a firmware update to solve the problem. What does that tell you? It tells you that new formats have stumbling blocks and learning curves just like everything else, BluRay is not going to be only produced by Sony and not every film released on the format will be the best transfer it can be just as things were in the early days of the now standard DVD format. Quality control is down to the studio production, not the format! The format works, it capacity is superior and as for watching standard discs on BluRay, well i watched my standard Kingdom of Heaven on my upscaling DVD and it looked nice. But i watched the directors cut on BluRay at my friends house and it looked better than i saw it in the cinema by a mile! There is no grading for being content with a simply ok picture which is what you feel with your upscaled Discs. That's down to the individual, but the fact is I like tremendous amount of extra detail that makes for a truly better high definition picture, so anything in my DVD collection that is of a visual nature like Star Wars, LOTR or Matrix etc will be getting purchased again on BluRay. Anything else that's performanced based like Glengarry Glenross, Millers Crossing or The Godfather etc, will not be getting purchased again. And as for prices, When DVD's came out, they were even more expensive than the price of BluRay and HDDVD discs not to mention the insane price of prerecorded VHS when it first came out, some titles were £60 here in the UK (that's about $120). Prices for all these formats always come down gradually so its not even a factor anymore. VHS came out in 1976 and only really took off in the early 80's. DVD came out in 1993 and quickly killed of VHS in only a few years. BluRay and HDDVD are merely two years old so roughly all these formats have ruled for about a decade before something else has turned up and killed it off. Be Thankful that unlike before with VHS, we don't have to forgo our existing movie collections, just buy additional titles at better spec. I really don't know why anyones moaning unless they spent a fortune on HDDVD!
Correction by Dashing Roger	Feb 17th, 2008 01:33:28 PM
That should be: "Just like books, DVD will NEVER go away completely." Talk about a complete change in meaning...
Let's get some of this PS3 stuff sorted out too. by Johnno	Feb 17th, 2008 01:44:08 PM
The times for complaining about programming for the PS3 are pretty much over. For evidence take a look at Insomniac Games and all that they've done and accomplished. Take a look at what they're attempting with Resistence 2 and see how exciting it is! PS3 hard to program for? No just to some people, and it's not hard, it's reportedly different! Of course if you made your game on an Xbox 360, then you're going to have fucking problems thinking you can just toss it onto a PS3! So developers are instead making the PS3 the lead platform and will port to the 360 or co develop the games a the same time. And that's just multiplatform games that have to worry about it. PS3 exclusives I'd expect to see jumping ahead in leaps and bounds! Everyone was talking the EXACT same shit about the PS2 back in the day... "Ohh the PS2 architecture is too hard to program for! Ohh why'd you put DVD in it? No games need DVD! DVD made the PS2 too expensive!" Sony is using the same strategy that made the PSOne and PS2 successful, and guess what! It's doing the same for the PS3 too! Say what you want about Ken Kutaragi. If you look at the history of internal politics at SOny they've been trying to get rid of him since before the PS2 era... Why? Because he was too proud and too ambitious and in the company's estimation spent too much money and took too many risks. The reason they couldn't get rid of him though is because the stuff Ken did always paid off BIG in the end for Sony and made the PSOne and PS2 some of the biggest commercial successes in consumer history! Time came for the PS3 and Ken once again got ambitious and insisted on the CELL and inclusion of blu-ray into the PS3 spec. Once again the console got more expensive and the strategy risky. And in the early launch days of the PS3 amidst all the fanboy FUD and negative press and all the shit that went down, the company suits found a good time to use an excuse for Ken to retire and remain as a consultant. But guess what! Ken being the engineer that he is built the PS3 superbly! Reliable! Feature filled! Future proof and quiet! Not only that, but as you can see with the recent news, Ken's strategy of blu-ray and the PS3 has paid off BIG for Sony AGAIN! Developers like Kojima Productions, Insomniac, Naughty Dog and Square Enix are loving blu-ray and the Cell! And I'm glad these talented devs are making good use of it, and so far they appear to be doing it without long load times, big HDD installs or any other shit! I think it's the multiplatform development for Xbox 360 that's screwing shit up. I don't see why developers have to cater to have limits placed on them by DVD or lack of HDD or any stupid shit like that! Xbox owners should play their games and be happy, stop begging for PS3s! Frankly I'm also fine with it if there were no multiplatform titles at all or for the sake of Madden fans, fewer of them. Just make the game you want and optimize it for the console you're on, which ever one it is... if for some reason it tanks or you want to make more money, then maybe you can think of porting it over, but I'd prefer that stuff be only after the fact. Honestly, give me a reason to own both consoles. But as long as one of them is a shitty one that's guaranteed to fall apart then no game or price in the world will get me to waste my time on it. Moving o to LIVE, I don't play online and I don't care, but for those touting LIVE's superior service, I'd agree that Xbox 360 gives you mroe features. However with the coming of PS Home and in game XMB and messaging and chat and stuff, pretty much anything LIVE has will piece by piece be provided on the PS3 and remain free which begs the question of why the hell anyone would continue to pay for LIVE in the first place. Oh is there a lot more digital content for sale since the 360's 1 year lead? Whoop de friggin doo!
Explain This One ... by FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord	Feb 17th, 2008 01:44:52 PM
CNET, Wired, & many TBers have expressed the opinion that the "format war" was a hose job all along, and that the real winner will be the HD digital download, right? How, pray tell, is that going to be the case, when almost 1/3 of the nation doesn't even have broadband yet? And how about the fact that, in many rural areas, broadband internet service IS NOT EVEN AVAILABLE YET, unless you opt for a $300 or more satellite service? Now factor in the notion that both Comcast & Time-Warner are routinely scaling back their bandwidth services, and in Comcast's case, terminating downloads made by customers who represent "bandwidth hogs"? Now, think about the fact that the majority of American consumers haven't even upgraded to HD TVs yet, let alone toyed around with the notion of using media server technology to feed said TV that they don't yet own.
EvilGeek1: by Emperor_was_a_jerk	Feb 17th, 2008 01:44:58 PM

EvilGeek1: The Relic? Really? by Emperor_was_a_jerk	Feb 17th, 2008 01:46:51 PM
Yeah, it is the dated CG that makes a movie like The Relic suck. Man, I wouldn't watch a pice of crud like that on standard definition... for free. It isn't effects that makes a movie good or bad. Star Wars will still be enjoyable on HD.
ZeroCorpse: I like your spirit! But... by Emperor_was_a_jerk	Feb 17th, 2008 01:48:55 PM
I totally like your spirit on this but really, spend the few extra bucks a month for connivence. I agree with you about Apple TV though- as soon as we move next month, I will make my foray into HD! 50 Plasma and an Apple TV. A year or so later I will get a PS3. Thanks for the good ideas!
Thing is Real Deal by Johnno	Feb 17th, 2008 01:53:38 PM
That back in the VHS to Laserdisc/DVD days, the player wasn't backwards compatabile... You couldn't stick your VHS tape into the laserdisc/DVD player and continue to use it. Blu-ray doesn't have that problem. DVDs continue to work. People will continue burning and recording their stuff to DVDs for awhile until blu-ray burners and recorders become affordable and they can still use it in their blu-ray players. Heck I still keep a VHS player around for recording shows when I'm not around (And also because many films in my rental store are still on VHS and never released on DVD and some days I might want to check out an old flick like Jacob's Ladder or something that someone may recommend to me out of the blue)... though the internet has made it far more convenient to just find shows I've missed and download them or hell even check them out on youtube if I care not for the quality...
all positive by learnedhand	Feb 17th, 2008 01:59:10 PM
I have a PS3, so I'm glad Blu will be the HD format of the future. But I have an xbox also, and want to add my experience as a multi-console owner. Both are nice machines, the PS3 being more reliable and quite currently. Both have great games, great exclusives (Mass Effect runs HORRIBLY, though. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise. It's my only real disappointment.) Both have their strong points and weaknesses. Differences between multiplatform games is pretty indistinguishable at this point. For me personally, I really love the flexibility of the PS3. I dropped a cheap 250 gb harddrive in it that contains my home videos, over 6000 songs, all my family pictures, dvd rips etc etc. I can go from listening to music, to watching home movies, to playing downloadable games, to playing disc based games, to surfing the net...without getting off the couch. Not to mention HD movies. You can certainly tell a difference from SD to HD on my 61'DLP. Plus the sound from Blurays is amazing. Sure HD won't make a bad movie good. But it can make a good movie even better. I recognize that I'm the ultimate demographic of the ps3: a 30 something male with some expendable income; but I can say, to all those interested in info without the FUD, that the ps3 is a quality machine with a bright future. It is very flexible and customizable, online is adequate if not spectacular, and the games are great. I can see if you had a lot of friends with an xbox, and a lot of time for gamerscores, that you would prefer the 360. The community aspect is superior to that of the ps3...at the moment anyway. Plus I love the custom soundtracks on the 360. But I like movies and music just as much as games. And the ps3 has all 3 is spades. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend all 3 systems at the moment. 1. Do your research 2. Know what you want/enjoy 3. Buy what fits 4. Profit LH
by Asaraiel	Feb 17th, 2008 02:03:21 PM
I was in Best Buy recently and they had a blue ray/HD center set up. Batman Begins was one of the clips being shown and there were points when it looked like... video. Not in sharpness, but in framerate. It looked like a news broadcast or something and it really threw me off. I didn't like it. That's not how film should look. It'll take me a while to embrace HD if that's a common thing.
FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord by Dashing Roger	Feb 17th, 2008 02:04:29 PM
Re: current state of technology: You are right. But that will change. And likely faster than you think.
Johnno by jae683	Feb 17th, 2008 02:05:55 PM
I haven't seen anything on the PS3 game front that gets me excited. Not Resident, not Uncharted, not any of it. Sony has a long history of making good looking trailors and not delivering on it, in game. But hey, you keep spouting your rhetoric "I wish it could, I wish it could, I wish it could," and maybe someday you'll see a game on that system that's worth a damn. I wouldn't hold your breath though.
I'm happy with my upconverter by fastcars	Feb 17th, 2008 02:11:03 PM
Oppo, DVDs, HDTV = win. Not interested in rebuying my whole DVD collection on "Blu-Ray" right now. That's just evil. Although I hope doing so does help you reach orgasm, technophiles.
Basically I learned one thing from this war... by iontyre	Feb 17th, 2008 02:16:32 PM
DO NOT PARTICIPATE!!! Ever, in any format war. It is patently wasteful. I wasted so much time talking up OS/2, HD DVD, and even Linux in recent years. Nope, no more. I'm formatting all my Linux partitions back to Windows. I'm not wasting any more time or money on longshot formats in any technological field.
Dashing by FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord	Feb 17th, 2008 02:18:39 PM
"faster than I think"? I wish it were so, but the fact is that our digital infrastructure is fast growing woefully outdated, and the only option available involves a MAJOR retrofitting of all fiber optic lines and terminals. Good luck getting the major providers to commit to such, when they haven't even bothered to extend the current network to its full potential capacity. Also, Jae683, I'm a PS3 owner who's been more than happy with a few of the current offerings (Uncharted, Ratchet & Clank: TOD, Motorstorm), and only specifically disappointed with one (The Orange Box underperforms on PS3, and that DOES hurt), but I'm looking at it like this: look at the first year and a half's worth of output for the PS2, compared to something like God Of War 2 - NOT EVEN IN THE SAME LEAGUE! Go buy a Wii or X360, and see where you are in five years or so.
also I'm glad Nintendo Wii is the way it is by fastcars	Feb 17th, 2008 02:20:53 PM
I already have a DVD player and a computer. Why would I want them all over again, but combined with a video game system? I have nothing against X-Box or PS. They both have their share of great games. But some of their fans seem pretty insecure when they bash the Wii. "It's just a game system" - well, yeah. Is that so absurd, to just want videogames from a videogame system? Mario, Zelda and Metroid are greatness. And Wii Sports is nothing but fun. Some characters in the X-Box / PS fanboy crowd need to lighten up a bit. Sales figures shouldn't keep you up at night. Also, graphics don't make the game any more than special effects make the movie.
downloads ? maybe when they can do 1080P by skiff	Feb 17th, 2008 02:22:29 PM
And that going to be a while.
Also - by FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord	Feb 17th, 2008 02:23:01 PM
RE: Blu-Ray & HD in general - I wholeheartedly agree with everyone who's pointed out the upconversion of standard DVDs via a newer player kicking ass. I own both a PS3 and a Sharp Aquos BR player, but I still buy standard DVDs as well (Star Wars original trilogy, most recently) because they look damn fine upconverted to 1080i.
PS3 now outselling Xbox 360 by rxse7en	Feb 17th, 2008 02:24:24 PM
http://tinyurl.com/yrwq32 Looks like the format war may have an effect on console sales now. I love both systems equally, but the BD capability built into the PS3 is getting a lot of press now with the "war" stories and just adding to the PS3's bottom line. As I've said before, both systems are great. I play most of my games on the 360, download Lost and movies through the 360 and iTunes and watch BD flicks on the PS3. With both machines you pretty much have the entire media gamut covered.
Asaraiel by Bouncy X	Feb 17th, 2008 02:25:45 PM
you have to realize that those movies playing in stores like Best Buy are not all set up to show the best picture either and they play on display tvs that are on all day long, 7 days a week. you should never judge a tv's picture/sound quality by what you see in stores unless they have one of those private show rooms, those are always set up the best way. but of course the drawback there is that they're set way better than most people could ever have at home but yeah. i think right now the best way to pick and choose and HD television is to just research it and read what other customers have to say and make your call that way.
captboulder by rxse7en	Feb 17th, 2008 02:31:40 PM
Make sure to check your local Craigslist and see if you can pick up an older, backwards compatible PS3 if you own any PS2 games. Plus you can save a some cash. I bought my 60gb PS3 last year for $350 on Craigs with one game and two controllers. Worth the look. B
Johnno by Tourist	Feb 17th, 2008 02:45:23 PM
Like I said, I'll switch when HD TV prices, blu ray players and discs are the same price as regular DVD, which is plenty fucking good as it is, and they have the same back catalouge.
1080p means nothing by ebolamonkey	Feb 17th, 2008 02:46:07 PM
Without a bit rate or a file size for reference. 1080p simply means the outer dimensions are 1920x1080 and frames are progressive rather than interlaced (could be 24p,30p, or 60p, e.g.). A 1080p movie file could be ~900GB (2-hr 24fps 10-bit per channel, "uncompressed") or you could take that same movie and compress it down to 5GB. It's still 1080p24, but it's the compression that will determine the picture quality. I doubt the internet can handle the bandwidth if people were downloading the same quality files that are available on Blu-ray (~25GB). Not only that, the shear number of hard drives you would have to own to keep (and back up) your collection would be insane. The studios WANT downloads to become the norm. Pay every time you view, no disks that can be copied, no need to create content extras, cheap distribution, etc. They will go with the lowest common denominator with the highest return on investment for them.
360 will be obsolete in two years or so by lavatory love machine	Feb 17th, 2008 02:55:09 PM
Ps3 has at least 8 or 9 years to go
View Once, Discard by FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord	Feb 17th, 2008 02:56:05 PM
I would bet this (or something like it) will be the initial model, if & when all the majors convert to digital distro as the main focus. So no storage woes, ha ha.
Convenience? by ZeroCorpse	Feb 17th, 2008 03:09:43 PM
You mean the convenience of talking to dumbass customer service people at the cable or satellite company, or the convenience of having them tack an extra $10 on my bill one month because they decided something I was already getting as part of a package is now "separate" without telling me about it? Or perhaps it's the convenience of having a ton of channels full of nothing I want to watch, and having to watch commercials every ten minutes? I'm sorry. I got spoiled by downloaded television. I NEVER see commercials. I watch shows from beginning to end without interruptions from Geico, GM, or Coke, and I LOVE IT. I don't need a DVR, either-- I can pause, rewind, fast forward, or stop and come back to watch the show later if I want. I don't watch that much TV anyway. Maybe seven shows, tops, and two of those are British. Why should I pay $50 or more per month to watch only a few shows? I mean, on iTunes a season of WEEDS is $23.88 -- That's less than HALF of a month of programming, and since I don't watch sports, don't want infomercials, don't watch shopping channels, and get my news online, there's no point to paying a monthly fee when I can just purchase subscriptions to the shows I want at the beginning of a season. Oh, and if there's a show I didn't catch in it's first run-- like DEXTER-- I can start from the beginning and watch it at my leisure. I don't need to wait for reruns. There's nothing convenient about being shackled to a contract or having your TV reception cut off if you're two days late with a payment (or if it gets lost in the mail). That's not convenient. That's slavery. I don't need the satellite company or cable company to get cable shows any more. I don't need them to be able to catch my shows in digital quality. I don't need them except as a cheap back-up to watch local channels until I can get an digital converter box or digital tuner (my HDTV is actually "HDTV Ready" which means I was an early adopter and got screwed by the lack of an ATSC tuner). If the networks want to know if their shows are popular, they'd better check the number of downloads-- Not the Neilson ratings.
yeah, big shocker PS3 is leading in Japan by Ultron ver 2.0	Feb 17th, 2008 03:09:52 PM
they hate all things Microsoft, yet they kneel at the alter of Sony...who are just as bad as gouging people. I can't imagine the pressure Konami is having with MGS4......it better be a blowjob on a stick, or PS3 owners will be getting pwned across messageboards across the world.
Lemming by FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord	Feb 17th, 2008 03:10:22 PM
No, can't say I've met Sony personally. Does Sony hang out at Barnes & Noble? Fuck, man, why do the fanboys feel the incessant need to treat the console debate as if it were maternal anal-rape? I support the products developed by Sony (the multinational corporation, as oppposed to the dude you've apparently met) because they have consistently manufactured and supported a quality product for over a decade. From my first PS1 through to my current 3, I have yet to overly disappointed. This is not to say there haven't been drawbacks here & there. When I suffered through load times on Resident Evil, N64 owners laughed at me. Were they laughing 6 mos. down the road, when they couldn't get new games and I still could? Fast forward a few years, and new XBox owners jeered the PS2's lack of included network access - nevermind that A.) I'd been playing my PS2 for at least 2 years at that point, and B.) I had the network adapter, which I had purchased for about $20. I still own both consoles, they both still work, and even if they didn't I'd be playing the discs on my PS3. And yeah, it does suck that they've decided to negate the BC on newer models but the 80GB is still out there, and there will NEVER be a 360 or Wii that does the same. Talk to my buddy, who (against my advice) bought a Gamecube RIGHT BEFORE the advent of the Wii.
"Ps3 has at least 8 or 9 years to go" by Ultron ver 2.0	Feb 17th, 2008 03:18:33 PM
smoke crack much? If HD-DVD won the format war, the PS3 would already be obsolete.
Note to Harry... by Kirbymanly	Feb 17th, 2008 03:21:23 PM
I understand and appriciate you admitting to a mistake but I have to say that your credibility has gone far south in my eyes. It's pretty obvious that you were courted by the HD people to hype their product given the fact that you own four of them and only one Blue Ray. It wasn't too long ago that you were on this site shamlessly bitching about the lack of money to purchase a Blue Ray. To me, it read as not a note to the readers of this site...but to the makers of the product. I love coming to this site and reading the latest on movie news, reviews, features, etc. but I will never trust your opinion again. You moved from movie geek to pitch-man overnight and, to me, that's just not cool.
Here's the deal folks... by WillyWonky	Feb 17th, 2008 03:28:30 PM
EVERYONE will have to switch to HD content over the next few years. It's just the natural progression of technology. They don't mass produce B/W TVs anymore because of the advent of color, which leads to today when analog TVs will no longer be produced because the government has mandated HD broadcast signals. So don't be shocked in the next 5-10 years you walk into any electronics dept and ALL you can find are flat panel HD TVs. Now about discs and players falling by the wayside, I don't see that happening until the day EVERY home in America has a T1 connection and multi-terrabyte media servers. Even on my 6 Meg DSL connection it would take hours to download all the content on one of my Bluray discs. And yes, I finnaly got a PS3 a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely LOVE it! MICROSOFT is the company that screws it's customers by making you buy add ons just to make they're products work better. I sat down with my PS3 and lo and behold right out of the box I could do most of the things I can do on my PC. Where's XBox 360's web browser? Oh yeah...it doesn't have one! Free online play? NOPE! HD movies? Not a chance. So I think I got a lot of bang for my buck with my Sony product.
Kirbyman.....I agree.... by Ultron ver 2.0	Feb 17th, 2008 03:28:58 PM
Harry needs to be more honest, like Bill Hunt at digitalbits...cough
WillyWanker by Ultron ver 2.0	Feb 17th, 2008 03:33:20 PM
M$ at least gives you options, Sony force fed everything. Some people may not need wireless internet, I don't (my player is right next to my router). The HDDVD player kept the price down on the 360....not an option with the PS3. Who the fuck surfs the web with a game controller? Free online play doesn't mean anything when there is only 500 people on it at any given time. NEXT!
X Box was the best gaming machine by skywalkerfamily	Feb 17th, 2008 03:37:50 PM
X Box 360 killed my interest in gaming when you have to spend 60 bucks a game.
Ultron by WillyWonky	Feb 17th, 2008 03:43:04 PM
Gosh I guess you schooled me. I guess it really is too difficult to use the left stick as a mouse and click a URL with the X button. And I get SO depressed that I can't find ANYONE to play Call of Duty 4 with online. It just really tears me up. I gotta go now cause I think my sarcasm meter just pegged out.
Re : Dashing Roger by Real Deal	Feb 17th, 2008 03:52:00 PM
Think long term on this changing over to downloads. Maybe in 10 to 15 years or more.
Re :Johnno by Real Deal	Feb 17th, 2008 03:54:04 PM
Well you just made a case for DVD.
Criterion by theyetiiswaiting	Feb 17th, 2008 03:57:24 PM
The folks at the Criterion Collection have proved that if you're willing to put the time in, then you can produce really beautiful images on DVD. Sure, they're not high-def but they're still a thing to behold. Until Criterion switch to Blu-Ray, I'm sticking with standard definition.
Re :WillyWonky by Real Deal	Feb 17th, 2008 03:58:40 PM
The thing is that according to that logic everything will switch to digital but doesn't have to switch to HD. Two different things. So DVD could still be the format of choice for years to come. I hope not of course as HD looks much better. But people don't seem to grasp the whole picture here.
Not A Surprise At All by brakula	Feb 17th, 2008 04:02:44 PM
Harry was wrong about Blu Ray (ZOMG! It won't play standard DVD!) And he is trying to fan the flames with his straw man argument regarding the availibility of older titles in the format. Warners recently had a press event where they made it very clear that their back catalog will have a strong Blu Ray presence. It's foolish to assert that other studios don't have similar plans. They do. And which format offers the highest audio and visual presentation? Well, several studios have indicated that they will have to remaster their HD DVD titles because they are not taking advantage of Blu Ray's higher bitrate streams.
Also....... by Real Deal	Feb 17th, 2008 04:03:09 PM
Someone on another forum pointed out to me that BR has gone up in price since the Warner announcement! Well I understand that there's no direct competition now but if they want to succeed that's the wrong tact ( and direction ) to take. As I pointed out on this other forum $199.00 seemed to be the sweet spot for HD DVD. They should shoot for that. However whereas they were within $100.00 of that goal now it's $150.00!
Messi by Flipao	Feb 17th, 2008 04:07:49 PM
Here's a newsflash for you: The "mainstream" has already switched to digital downloads, as have indie artists. And don't point me to your mate bow chow's band who think noone has rocked since 77 and only release their stuff on vinyl. They're not that good, and they're not the first.
FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord by Dashing Roger	Feb 17th, 2008 04:08:01 PM
So your argument is that because major infrastructure investiment is needed and studio obstinance is a hindrance, it will not happen. I would not make that bet if I were you. You're likely the type of person that, if given a description of the Internet 40 years ago, would not believe it possible or that it would be embraced and used by so many people now. The systems I described are virtual certainty and you yourself will be using them within your lifetime. Think of me when you do.
@ Ultron, RE: M$ "options" by FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord	Feb 17th, 2008 04:10:05 PM
Wow. I guess that's one way to look at it. Of course, I could also assume that you're looking to justify buying cheap. Mommy & daddy lower the allowance? Get better grades and stop smoking the marijuana cigarettes, maybe you'll be able to afford better.
Real Deal by Dashing Roger	Feb 17th, 2008 04:10:26 PM
10-15 years is within your lifetime. I don't think it will take that long - I certainlty will adopt it long before that - but even if does, I'm not going to invest in an expensive hard media library that I will simply replicate digitally as more titles and media become available for download. If you have money to burn, a tip of the hat to you.
Dashing by FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord	Feb 17th, 2008 04:12:41 PM
Actually, I pray for the day that out nets can handle such shit, in fact I think they already should. You're likely the kind of person who makes broad assumptions about people they don't know. So am I, we can smell our own.
FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord by Dashing Roger	Feb 17th, 2008 04:14:25 PM
Believe me, it sucks being right all the time. It's a curse I will just have to bear.
Kirbymanly is right by johnyaztec	Feb 17th, 2008 04:21:51 PM
Harry inmany ways has Voided is credibility and will have to pay the consequences for doing so. But I believe in Harry and AICN and I think Harry will pay his penitence in full. Let this be a lesson to anyone who thinks they are bigger than anyone else, when you deal with the devil you pay in full. I love Harry but he is going to have to earn my trust back. And he will.
Dashing by FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord	Feb 17th, 2008 04:27:06 PM
I'm not trying to bust your balls here, I agree with you up to a point: digital download as a standard will be a reality within our lifetime, assuming we don't die next week. All I'm saying is that they won't be a worldwide "Standard" for all media soon enough to nix physical HD media altogether. As far as tech goes, I routinely bemoan the fact that more $$ and attention HASN'T been devoted to our digital infrastructure ala Britain's recent upgrades, but I think it's mostly due to the fact that our nation is so damn large.
Can't help you there jae683 by Johnno	Feb 17th, 2008 04:35:23 PM
I'm loving Uncharted. And I'm excited for Resident Evil... though that's available for both consoles... Unless you've mistakenly typed in Resident instead of Resistence. Resistence 2 is more of an online thing, most FPS games are. I probably won't play it not being into online, but I can see why the features are exciting. If you see no games there for your liking, then stick with the 360 or PC (same games on both anyway) or maybe there's a cellphone out there with something more to your liking. Maybe you might like the new N-Gage!
Real Deal by Johnno	Feb 17th, 2008 04:39:50 PM
If you mean as a good format for digital recording and burning for the next few years in terms of price and widespread usage, then yeah I did... Blu-ray as a storage medium won't be viable until the burners and discs are cheap and I see that taking a longer time, but in terms of retail movies and players, not so much... And as for blu-ray going up in price? Last I checked the PS3 didn't go up... and I doubt you would say that releasing a new better model of a blu-ray player is a price hike... but anyway if some folks are upping the price of their players, then that's a shit headed move. But I expect no enthusiast people to be smart enough to go for the cheapest one anyway which is the one whose price has nowhere to go but down, and that's the PS3, though I also believe there are some cheaper ones.
As for Sony forcing shit... by Johnno	Feb 17th, 2008 04:42:13 PM
Yeah blu-ray was included without a choice... well genius that's because it is actually being used for games on the PS3! It's like arguing that they included a controlle without giving you a choice of picking up a third party one. PSOne used CDs, Sony got shit for it, it ended up being very useful. PS2 used DVDs, Sony got shit for it, it ended up being very useful. So logical reasons dictate that since there is another new larger disc required for HD movies, maybe it isn't so hard to look at the past and think that games being made in HD might also find it useful or require more space? It'd be like complaining that the gameboy uses cartridges, only in Sony's case these 'cartridges' are also on their way to becoming the retail format for movies and data storage, so everyone wins, except Toshiba... The HD-DVD or blu-ray drive being added to the 360 will only be for movies. Games don't benefit at all from it. And as for wi-fi being included in it... there was a model out that didn't have it and was cheaper. No one wanted it believing it to be the 'gimped' model, so it was phased out and the cheapest one now does include it but at the cost of PS2 backwards compatability. And if you like all this choice, then do realize that when you finally get around to making all your choice purchases for the 360, in the end the most expensive PS3 was still cheaper.
Johnno by jae683	Feb 17th, 2008 04:58:37 PM
In the end, it doesn't matter how much crap you spew on this talkback, it's not going to change anything in the real world. You want to justify your purchase, go right ahead. More power to you, man. I will stick with the 360 and the PC, for real gaming. And if kids play, I'll load up the Wii, which at least gets them off the coach. If we're lucky, all these 'my stick is better than your stick' talk backs will die. Peace
60$ a game is a lot? by Bouncy X	Feb 17th, 2008 05:21:26 PM
maybe we just got fucked here in canada but games have always been between 50 and 60, all the way back to the sega/nes days.
MODE_7 by ninjatracksuit	Feb 17th, 2008 05:43:54 PM
You should check out the info on RESISTANCE 2 if you don't think games will benefit from Blu-Ray's capacity in new, interesting ways.
Sorry geeks... by lagomorph	Feb 17th, 2008 06:09:17 PM
Wow what a bunch of sad sack geeks. I thought geeks got excited about new formats and toys. They certainly don't say things like, "I can't afford an HDTV so I don't care". They say things like "god damn it I want an HDTV so I can cream myself to Transformers (when it eventually makes its way over to Bluray)!" You're giving geeks a bad name!
Console Obsolescence by Kizeesh	Feb 17th, 2008 06:47:47 PM
All you guys saying the PS3 has made the 360 obsolete sound like the soundbite believing idiots you are. Just like all the guys 2 years ago who told me that the PS3 was going to make every other gaming platform obsolete because of it's cell-based processors. There are a wealth of great games coming out on all systems. In addition the PS3 is pretty dry on good exclusives, so far there is 1, Drake's Fortune, and it's not exactly selling Halo 3 type figures. MGS4 will undoubtedly sell well but I categorically call you out that it won't cause the sort of turnaround that would make the 360's quantum lead on the PS3 drop even noticeably. Now stop being such system-jizzing fanboys and love gaming for what it is. No-one over the age of 12 gives a shit.
Kizeesh... by Mindworm22	Feb 17th, 2008 07:27:32 PM
....yeah, in addition to Uncharted, there's Resistance:FOM, Motorstorm, Ratchet and Clank:TOD, and Grand Turismo Prologue. Yep, those exclusives sure do blow. Ugh. Idiot. Both consoles have good exclusives. Quit spouting partisan, uninformed crap. The 360, since it's been out longer, should and does have more currently. The docket for 2008 leans in the PS3's favor, imho, but we'll see. Oftentimes killer games come without warning. Again, 2008 should be interesting from both a gaming and sales perspective. I hope both do well, since competition ultimately lets us as consumers be the winner.
Re: Games don't benifit from blu-ray...(MODE_7) by Playkins	Feb 17th, 2008 08:03:20 PM
You don't know what you're talking about. Period. I work at a developer, and the game we're working on right now will look better because of the increased storage of Blu-ray. Not to mention, Blu-ray's got faster acces, ahich enebles you to stream more off the disc for open-world games. Meaning, no install and no load times.
Yeah and it looks cooler, too! by darthbinks1220	Feb 17th, 2008 08:05:45 PM
Sony owns!!
PS3 is the way to go... by ZoeFan	Feb 17th, 2008 08:12:50 PM
Especially if you're the least bit tech minded. You can buy a PS3 without the hard drive on eBay for under $200. Then just add a 60-gig drive yourself for under $50. And then not only do you have a great game platform, but the BEST Blu-Ray player on the market (under $600). That's what I did, and it's the best $237 I've spent in a long time. Especially after upgrading with the firmware.
FatherMcGruderKicksAssForTheLord by Dashing Roger	Feb 17th, 2008 08:24:43 PM
You're not busting my balls, and I certainly don't mean to bust yours. I'm like selfish 5-yr-old - I want (and expect) everything now, now, now, and while I think the technology will make great headway, there are many obstacles to overcome, which you rightly point out. We're all good, mate.
I call bullshit on the downloading contingent by gruntybear	Feb 17th, 2008 08:41:38 PM
Anyone that - TODAY - is routinely filling multiple 500 gig harddrives with their "collection" of files isn't doing it legally. All those MP3's you're pilfering out in torrent-land were illegally acquired. Fuck iTunes. Fuck downloadable anything. If the media isn't something I can hold in my hands, I'm not buying it.
Happy Birthday Michael Bay by messi	Feb 17th, 2008 09:13:26 PM
And Damn you.
Flip63Hole It's 24 by messi	Feb 17th, 2008 09:14:10 PM
there was a world wide study and the average age of gamers is 24.
Remember: There is ZERO reason to buy a Blu in the first place.. by jakeblues	Feb 17th, 2008 10:10:07 PM
UNLESS, and ONLY if you have a sweet HDTV. There is NO improvement if you have an analog TV. Your TV will not see the better picture. At all. EVER. So unless you have an HDTV, and a real nice one at that, save your cash.
jakeblues... by ZoeFan	Feb 17th, 2008 10:27:52 PM
DUH...That's why it's called High Definition. But everyone's gonna need an HDTV in a year.
No they're not.. by jfp2007	Feb 17th, 2008 10:29:01 PM
No, everyone is not going to need an HDTV in a year. Don't be ridiculous. A converter will be required for all existing standard sets.
No, it's not 24.. by jfp2007	Feb 17th, 2008 10:31:42 PM
There was no worldwide study or at least not one that would mean anything. It's a higher age.
GRUNTYBEAR. by ninjatracksuit	Feb 17th, 2008 10:34:04 PM
Some of us have over a thousand DVD's that we are ripping to disk, and about three times as much music on CD. I'm ripping that music to mp3 and saving it on an external (I've pretty much killed a disc drive doing it, too). That will stuff a terabyte pretty quickly. So yeah - I'm doing it legally. I do agree, though, on wanting to hold the stuff in your hands. Now that I have a 'back-up,' it's not like I'm going to get rid of the master copies...It's like talking about the original piece and a print of it - you're always going to want to keep your hands on the original (DVD, etc), no matter how many prints you make.
Converter box by ZoeFan	Feb 17th, 2008 11:03:13 PM
Enjoy buying one. Enjoy trying to get your hands on one. And enjoy knowing that most of everyone else has an HDTV of some sort. You don't have to break the bank to get one.
More jakeblues wisdom right here. by wash	Feb 17th, 2008 11:17:15 PM
Do not EVER buy gasoline unless you have a car. EVER. You will not need it! Also do NOT ever buy a watch unless you have an arm. EVER! Also, do not breath air unless you want to continue to keep living. EVER.
Bringingstupidback... by poeticwarriorII	Feb 17th, 2008 11:46:15 PM
you puss filled disease ridden cunt, you run your mouth more than your mother does. That's why I have to jap slap the bitch when she's bobbing my schlong. And you can stick your racism up your sideways twat you shit eating bucket of monkey spunk. Once again, thanks for being a fan shit head.
My humble opinion by ThatOpieGuy	Feb 17th, 2008 11:48:02 PM
1) I'm not a gamer, so I cannot debate the merits of the PS3, nor would I care to. I'm a film enthusiast. 2) I decided to get a Blu-Ray player right about the time that an editorial appeared on The Digital Bits that seemed like a measured and fair assessment of the format war. Yeah, I know, call me a traitor if you must, but I read both this site and that one. Oh, and I always read the reviews at High Def Digest, whose opinions on the latest releases I trust. You may commence the stoning... Now. 3) It still took me a few months before I actually did buy it, and I was able to get a Samsung player for $499. With Best Buy's price protection policy, I went back twice, each time the price got lowered, and now the thing has only cost me $249. 4) It was another few months before I took one of the crazy financing deals offered at Super Bowl time, and got a huge 1080p lcd screen to watch it on. In the interim, I was watching Blu-Rays and upconverted discs on my little 36" 1080i HDTV, and was blown away by the clarity of the images, both on the BDs and the DVDs. "Fantastic!" I thought. "I won't have to re-buy Star Wars or The Matrix, because this machine makes it look awesome on DVD alone! I'll just get Blu-Rays of all of the titles that come out from now on, and I'll be cool!" Then came the big freaking lcd, and I was hit with an unfortunate truth: The bigger the screen, the higher the resolution you need to be blown away by the picture. On the big screens, regular upconverted DVDs look softer, and slightly out of focus. Blu-Ray discs look exactly as they should: spectacular. It helps if the DVD was mastered in High Definition, but the difference is still very, very obvious. I don't like to attack other people in the manner that other folks in this talkback do, and certainly everyone is entitled to their opinion, but anyone who says that there is no difference between upconverted DVDS and Blu-Ray discs is simply misguided. I thought that way once, too. I had a 36-inch screen, and at that small size, upconverted DVD are indeed revelatory. But blow that up to the size of a decent monitor, and you'll miss that extra resolution. Or become spoiled with Blu-Ray, and start picking out which DVDs of your current movie collection are ripe for upgrade, and which ones are fine looking softer and less defined. 5) I agree with an above poster that Dumb and Dumber isn't high on my upgrade priority list. The West Wing DVDs still look pretty damned good, considering, and all Disney classic hand-drawn animation titles hold up pretty well. But anything Pixar must get upgraded. Put Monsters, Inc. in right after you've seen Ratatouille in Blu-Ray, and it may even depress you a little. The Bourne movies, while not available on Blu-Ray, don't need upgrading in my opinion, because what good is high def when the camera's shaking too much to really make a difference -- But I've paid to upgrade the Harry Potters (The finale of OOTP in high def was worth every penny), the Pirates films, and Blade Runner (are you fucking kidding me?), and I will plunk down my cash to re-buy the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars flicks when they come out, because when you get a chance to improve the viewing experience if the films you truly love, you take it -- But only if you can afford it. 6) Those moaning about having to re-buy movies they already own... Hey, you don't have to. You can choose not to, although the air of superiority expelled by those that make this choice mystifies me. You are not smarter than me because I want to upgrade the film collection that I have, and you do not. You get what you pay for. I ain't rich, and my TV certainly isn't paid off yet, but at the end of a long day, I can come home, get high and eat cereal while I watch Great White sharks gobble up sea lions in high def (Hey, there's a reason that "Planet Earth" is the top selling Blu-Ray disc on Amazon.com)- and to me, that's worth the cost. To you, it's not. Fair enough. No need to hate, brother. 7) Yes, I am thrilled at this news, because there were many Universal/Paramount/Dreamworks titles that I wanted, but didn't buy on DVD, because I knew I'd just have to buy them again once the format war was over, when they would finally be available on Blu-Ray (I'm talking to YOU, Zodiac: Director's cut! Hurry up and switch formats, Paramount, preferably BEFORE you release Sweeney Todd!). Those of us who made a choice early on in the format war to go with one HD format over the other were limiting ourselves because of the split studio support. The positive thing to remember here is that once ALL studios are releasing their HD content on the same format, then we are actually getting MORE options, not fewer. And that means the real winner is US. -- That's the end of my opinion, for what it's worth. I'm taking my soapbox, and going home... to get stoned and watch some piranhas throw a little feeding frenzy - in glorious HD!
PS3 is a fine system but... by UnChienAndalou	Feb 17th, 2008 11:51:35 PM
...it's still somewhat slim pickings with regards to its gaming catalog. Since buying one last December I've used it way more for watching movies and the actual gaming itself has been an afterthought...the only ones I have are Call of Duty 4 and Motorcross, the latter of which came with it as a free throw in. It puts 360 to shame capability wise but right now Microsoft has the decisive edge in titles with exclusivity rights to stuff like Bioshock and Halo. PS just doesn't have the bragging rights at this juncture like they did back in the day when they had a stranglehold on GTA.
Sony actually WON ONE?? by Maniaq	Feb 18th, 2008 12:31:04 AM
This is a sad day in history when a corporate beheamoth can throw enough weight around to force a virtual monopoly - like it's tried to before on MANY other occasions - and ACTUALLY DO IT! At least I know Blu-Ray is ALREADY in the process of being superceded by superior technology... In case you've never heard of it, HVD shits all over Sony's tiny 30 gig and delivers 3 TERABYTES of data on the same little plastic disc - and it is available (although admittedly still expensive) right now... Wiki it. And FUCK SONY
Well, Maniaq by Motoko Kusanagi	Feb 18th, 2008 12:55:04 AM
do you kiss your mother with that mouth?
Do we really need MORE technology? by Sick Fixx	Feb 18th, 2008 02:03:34 AM
I think we need LESS. When is it ever going to be good enough?
Johnno by hamslime	Feb 18th, 2008 02:39:39 AM
Thanks.
ThatOpieGuy by batmans_pants	Feb 18th, 2008 02:49:42 AM
Nice post mate. I agree 100%.
Ok sorry the study was limited to Australia by messi	Feb 18th, 2008 05:25:23 AM
Friend sent me a link, 60% of them are male and the average age is 24.
Devil May Cry by Ckuouka	Feb 18th, 2008 06:57:28 AM
Actually, Capcom wanted to do that for the 360 version as well, because of the excessive loading time between screens, but were told by Microsoft that they had to keep the make sure the game could be played by people who have a 360 without a HDD. The PS3 version only loads when it switches between gameplay and cinema parts. There is zero loading between gameplay sections. The 360 version takes 3-5 seconds to even get out of the pause screen, nevermind the rest of the game, where there's a 6-7 second load time every time you enter a new room, old-school Resident Evil style. It having to do with blu-ray has not been said by the developers, ever. It's something 360 owners have suddenly taken as fact even though there is no evidence to support it. I can show you evidence that they wanted to do that on the 360 as well, but were told not to. You cannot come up with any evidence that it proves Sony's console is slower. Nice try, though.
I am spoiled by Dazzler69	Feb 18th, 2008 07:07:10 AM
from watching all my shows in HD these days. I would never go back to the tube. Blew-ray is def in the future for me but waiting for price drops. There are def differences between the DVD and Blew-ray for quality from what I have seen. In fact it's almost painful to watch standard tv on friend's tv's. We can get too spoiled to quickly these days.
ricarleite by staticneuron	Feb 18th, 2008 07:08:04 AM
The theoretical write speeds ar the same for both formats. 1X=36 Mbit/s. But blu ray is faster and has been faster from the beginning. Maximum Bitrate - Raw data transfer BR= 53.95 Mbit/s HD-DVD= 36.55 Mbit/s Maximum Bitrate - Audio+video+sutitles BR= 48.00 Mbit/s HD-DVD= 30.24 Mbit/s Maximum Bitrate - Video BR= 40.00 Mbit/s HD-DVD= 29.4 Mbit/s You can thank the numerical aperature for that. And as an added note the price per GB is lower than HD-DVD as the BDA promised would happen. And nothing was forced down anyones throat. Blu ray has been outselling HD-DVD for more than a year now. With numbers like 3:1 in the US, 7:1 in europe and 9:1 in japan, it is clear that the people have spoken. Unless you have een living under a rock then you would know the sales numbers. Obviously the "people" don't feel like you do.
From an Interview with Devil May Cry 4 Producer: Hiroyuki Kobaya by Ckuouka	Feb 18th, 2008 07:10:28 AM
1UP: With the PS3 version, it's mandatory to install it to your harddrive, yet on the Xbox 360 it is not. Why is that? Why wouldn't you just let PS3 owners put it in their console and play off the disc, like how Xbox 360 owners can play, or at least make it an option? On the reverse side, why not offer an install if Xbox 360 owners had enough room on their HD? The load times on 360 are very short in any case, so was any of this really necessary? HK: Actually, we wanted to do the same thing for the Xbox 360 version, but because there are models of the 360 that are sold without a hard drive, we received a no-go from Microsoft.
Not to mention DMC4 by staticneuron	Feb 18th, 2008 07:10:42 AM
Since I have all the consoles on the market and a friend was curious we timed the game on both consoles. The load times on general are more than 5 seconds longer on the the 360 with the longest on being about 13 seconds longer. The 360 is certainly not faster at loading the game.
That Motorstorm sucks as a game. nt by jae683	Feb 18th, 2008 07:36:27 AM

SpyGuy has chosen HVD and here's why... by SpyGuy	Feb 18th, 2008 08:57:44 AM
The idea of owning all of the surviving episodes of the original 26 seasons of DOCTOR WHO on a single disc is too awesome for words. I loves me some 3.9 terabyte goodness, so screw Blu-Ray.
Those who chose either HD-DVD or Blue Ray are retarded ... here' by Luscious.868	Feb 18th, 2008 08:59:42 AM
Those who chose either format are are making a mistake. Most homes don't even have an HD set yet and the average home in the US has more than one television anyway so even when more than 50% of consumers do have an HDTV, any HD content will only be playable on one of the TV's in the house. Thus, DVD is the format that's here to stay and by the time there is widespread adoption of HD sets such that a majority of the sets in the majority of homes are HD, there will certainly be some other "new" format that the studios will be pushing that provides a "better" picture and more DRM to further erode your fair use rights. At some point in the near future physical media will disappear all together and the studios will push for all content to be delivered "on demand" for $4 a pop. Why sell consumer a movie for $20 bucks that they can watch as many times as they want when you can charge them $4 each time they watch it?
Harry was wrong: Here's why by GunRunner	Feb 18th, 2008 09:05:58 AM
"and right now... there's something along the lines of 545 titles on HD DVD and only 62 for Blue Ray. That's nearly getting close to 10 to 1 in terms of selection. AND - a lot of Reg DVDs are beginning to master in higher resolutions - like I'm watching a reg. DVD that was actually mastered at 1080i, that I had seen in my other player - and now... it's just perfect." Harry Knowles 2007. With information that wrong, its no wonder he picked the wrong format. Even my 10 year old cousin knows that there's roughly the same number of HD-DVD and Blu-Ray titles.
CAVE PAINTINGS Pwn All by LaserPants	Feb 18th, 2008 09:42:29 AM
Fuck all your near-future bullshit gewgaws, CAVE PAINTINGS are the new awesome. Caint nothing supplant the wonder of cave paintings. LOOK! I killed this buffalo for the tribe! Yeah! Friggin' sweet!
Theyreflockingthisway...disc that plays both by zer0cool2k2	Feb 18th, 2008 09:56:29 AM
quote: "I can't see why they can't invent a disc that plays the same film on both a normal DVD player and in HD on a HD DVD player. HD discs can store a huge amount of data so would be no trouble to stick a DVD playable version of the film on there too so it works on both players. Instead of a new format we'd still be simply buying DVDs (which we all love) only newer ones would have little "HD compatible" tags on them. " They have this. (Or had this). It's called an HD-DVD combo disc. Plays HD-DVD on one side, and standard DVD on the other. It's what I liked most about HD-DVD. I could watch a combo disc in Hi-def on my home theater, or watch standard def on one of my other tv's, my pc, or in my car. not to mention, I could loan the disc to friends and family with standard DVD players. I own both formats, but when something was released on Blu-ray and HD/DVD combo, I always bought the combo disc. Oh well, sucks to be me now. My biggest complaint about this is I bought that Blade Runner collector's Edition in HD-DVD instead of Blu-Ray.
that "hd" download by comicgeekoidtoo	Feb 18th, 2008 09:59:38 AM
whether via fios or applte tv is compressed turd shit.
Imax is better :) by wowsucks	Feb 18th, 2008 10:45:13 AM
screw both of them I'm getting an Imax projector and screen for my theater room. Either way I am tired of the quality Sony products have sunk into, and refuse to give them another cent.
DVD formats transitional at best by marcmandel	Feb 18th, 2008 10:46:01 AM
While I've prided myself in my DVD collection - having amassed almost 2,000 titles legally over the past few years, I am starting to believe DVD is a dying format, regardless of SD, HD, or BD. With so much available fibre optic capacity out there, owners such as cable operators, phone companies, and brokers will likely look to fill that capacity by lowering pricing to the home and filling the pipe with rich content that consumers demand. With that said, I'm of the mindset that while we may look to buying DVD's in the future for "keepsake" titles, our day-to-day viewing will likely turn to legal downloads the way iTunes, for example, has torpedoed the CD market. Once grandma and grandpa have 20 MB fibre to their doorstep which by all estimates is before the end of 2009, the pipes will be pervasive and the content sufficient to drive wider adoption. That, at altered business models from the studios meant to push more content through legal online distribution in lieu of illegal filesharing will be the lynchpin, I think. I welcome any comments or rebuttal but regardless, stand by this position.
If you have the income by nicegoogly	Feb 18th, 2008 10:59:24 AM
Buy both the Xbox 360 and the PS3. The two offer different experiences. Xbox pioneered the online experience while PS3 has got your HD home theatre needs and several, hopefully good, exclusives. As for as specs go, remember when the Xbox first came out? It was a considerably more powerful machine than the PS2, but lacked the titles...seriously. To say that the PS3 will surpass the Xbox 360 in online once they get around to it is almost like defending the marketability of HD DVD. Sony had plenty of time in development to get this straight and really failed. I am getting a PS3, I don't knock the system and really look forward to playing it (when I have the time), but let's talk about what has been done in it's first year of release versus what the Xbox 360 has done in its first year of release. Although lacking, the Xbox 360 did a great deal more for its true intended target: gamers. The PS3 gives you Blu-Ray, and I will never argue against how awesome that is, but when I spend over $700.00 for a gaming system that has been in development since the PS2 was released, gimme a great fuckin' gaming experience. Stop making me wait. The Xbox 360 had a lot of failures in its launch, not to mention the Red Rings of Death, but at least they are trying. The PS3 figured "hey, we are winning the blu-ray war, so here are four titles you might like."
Why HD-DVD failed... by Burgundy82	Feb 18th, 2008 11:09:41 AM
What's in a name? Everything. "HD-DVD" just doesn't sound different enough from "DVD" to convince Joe Sixpack that it's a big enough technological leap to warrant the purchase. "Blu-Ray," on the other hand, really SOUNDS like a whole new medium. That may seem like a dumb reason, but I guarantee you it's part of why HD-DVD failed.
You f*ckers wouldn't have this problem if you'd stuck with.. by WatertownSurfer	Feb 18th, 2008 12:04:58 PM
LASERDICS!!!
Downloads? Really? by ILovePhysicalMediaAndFilm	Feb 18th, 2008 12:41:46 PM
So people out there really think that a sham company like Apple or Microsoft will offer true HD downlods? Riiiggghhht, because they'd be willing to deal with a REAL 1080p encode of the video and give users uncompressed audio. Physical media is king for those that actually like quality
Blu-Ray disc prices by NoCalFlicks	Feb 18th, 2008 12:43:36 PM
I have had the PS3 for about six months now, and I have Spiderman 3 on blu-ray(because it came with the console) and I just recently bought The Fifth Element. They look beautiful and believe me I want to buy more blu-ray discs. The problem? The price. 90% of what I see on shelves is at a minimum of $25. Now the masses have just gotten used to paying $15-$19 for regular dvds, so I think they are going to lay low on getting this new pricier brand for awhile until the price comes down. Also, I would say a lot of the general public is pretty naive when it comes to "HD" Sure, they know what it is and means, but chances are they pretty much expect to buy anything slapped with an "HD" label, and think what they are watching is going to be HD, and then probably wouldn't even know the difference. I think it basically just comes down to cost. I was on the blu-ray bandwagon from the beginning, even before I had a blu-ray player, but at the same time, I as a consumer willing to buy blu-ray discs, cannot endulge in my hobby because they are just too fucking expensive right now. Oh and the PS3 is still in it's infancy as far as capabilities go. Take a game like Resistence. That was a pretty damn solid game and it was a launch title, but then if you look at what they have planned for Resistence 2, it shows that as developers become more comfortable with the console they sheer technology in the system is going to blow the 360 away. My best friend has both consoles and he loves them both. I held out for a PS3 because I couldn't afford to have both and knew there would an eventual price drop.
Toshiba shouldve saw this coming by lolpops	Feb 18th, 2008 12:56:23 PM
lets look at the comparisons HD- NOT built in with a next gen console BR- built in with next gen console HD- few big name exclusive hi-def dvd's. BR- many big name hi-def exclusives but i honestly dont like wasting money on movies, i like renting them once and watching them once, unless they are REALLY REALLY good. Good news, Toshiba can focus on more important things like Laptops, TVs, etc.
Burgundy82 by dogstar69	Feb 18th, 2008 01:00:08 PM
I thought HDDVD would've one for the very reason you think it failed, strange
RE: NoCalFlicks by lolpops	Feb 18th, 2008 01:01:28 PM
agreed, but in regards to the PS3 "blowing away" the 360, PS3 is still struggling even with the BR player, the problem with selling the consoles just for the blu ray is that most people wont buy their games, unless its MGS4 or FFXIII but you should know this by now as a fellow ps3 owner.
Whats really funny. by wowsucks	Feb 18th, 2008 01:17:02 PM
Out of say 1 in 100 (if not more) that claim this is better then that, not only do they not even have good enough or should I say hi end enough systems to judge, but they are the typical fan boys who read a spec and go, but this one does... Sony and Microsoft suck equally. And I would hardly say the PS3 is blowing away the 360, unless you only get your news from Sony. (1 Month they beat the 360 in sales due to short supplies) "a phrase never used for the PS3, which is always in stock" Thats not much to brag about.
I'm trying to decide ona format. So what do you guys think is be by strosmer	Feb 18th, 2008 01:41:00 PM

oops by strosmer	Feb 18th, 2008 01:42:20 PM
Guess my previous title didn't fit. I was trying to ask, what do you guys think is better. Blu-Ray, or HD DVD?
marcmandel... by Bone-In Foray	Feb 18th, 2008 01:44:39 PM
For matters of simplification, I'll restrict my response to movies only - God knows this is a complicated topic. So remember DivX? Yeah, yeah – I know. It was a clunky, unperfected technology and was pretty much doomed from the get-go seeing as how it was in direct competition with DVD and required more technical savvy than the average ape possessed. But do you remember what really killed it? Remember how you had to pay every time you wanted to watch a movie? The typical lazy American (myself included) was having none of that. A more realistic scenario was as follows: if you wanted to simply watch a movie once you would rent it for a minimal charge from your local ma and pa video rental store; if you wanted to watch it ad nauseum you would simply buy it for a one-time charge (a measly $9.99 at Best Buy for most 1-disc titles). Ergo the demise of DivX. Of course, DivX offered neither solution mentioned above and it was marketed based solely on the expectation that people would want to deal with the hassle of having to “unlock” video (perhaps analogous to streaming video in 2009) and then having to pay for it every time they wanted to watch a movie. By 2009, you may be able to store it locally by virtue of some slick encoding scheme + DVR, but that would require sucking up a lot of hard drive space. This, as opposed to already owning a movie and simply popping it into the player. The delivery of media in 2009 would also be much improved (and in HD) and would not require hard media per se but even if downloading movies is eventually allowed - doubtful based on aforementioned file-sharing quandry - doesn't it make sense to have a physical backup of the item you purchased? So why wouldn't you just buy the movie instead of paying to have it streamed and then backed up? I don't think the iTunes/CD analogy works in this case due to an encoded movie’s size and the fact that, really, the only place you should be watching it is in your home theater (or your rendition of one) whereas CDs can be listened to anywhere and beg for ease of file manipulation and portability. Finally, I don’t know that many features that come standard with DVD technology (and Blu-Ray apparently lacks) such as special features, audio commentary, etc. would be available in the way that you are proposing. Call me old fashioned, but I think DVDs are around to stay for a long, long time. Meanwhile, eventually HD will come into its own – the problem is that the technology is advancing too rapidly for most people with average incomes to keep up with. People will be saving up their money to buy new televisions, players, and media and then HD will be supplanted by VHD, UHD, or what have you.
strosmer by Bone-In Foray	Feb 18th, 2008 01:51:28 PM
based on the news forum title, apparently Blu-Ray is the way to go. If you want a first generation, piece-o-crap that requires firmware updates everytime you want to watch a movie, you can save a couple of bucks by purchasing a PS3 - the added benefit of course being that you get a gaming system to boot. If you just can't wait and you have the expendable income I would start researching good Blu-Ray players. If you don't have the extra cheese and can wait - I'd say wait until the smoke clears and the prices come down (and of course - for the technology to improve).
Should've called HD-DVD format DOUBLE D. by JDanielP	Feb 18th, 2008 01:59:30 PM
Combo format only. Guys love Double Ds!
Profile 1.0 / 1.1 / 2.0 by MCubMN	Feb 18th, 2008 01:59:32 PM
I'm glad this format war is over and that I picked the proper side as an early adopter 13 months ago (after doing some extensive research on both formats). Blu-Ray is the technically superior format no matter what bull-shit the HD DVD fanboys trot out. Not enough is said about Blu-Ray's storage capacity being double that (and soon to be triple that) of HD DVD. In addition, the hard clear-coat on these discs is great and is also ignored too often as a selling point. I mean, there have been demos at trade shows where steel wool is applied to these discs to scratch them and they still play perfectly. Furthermore, as far as this 1.0 profile talk goes and how these upgrades make your stand-alone Blu-Ray player a paper weight - it's simply not true. 1.0 players will be able to play Blu-ray discs just fine from now until the end of time. If there are some special features (like picture-in-picture) that are utilized by a movie disc, those special features just won't show up in the menu in 1.0 players (unlike standard DVDs where you could still click on a DTS audio track even if your audio receiver couldn't handle a DTS signal). You literally won't be able to select it as an option because it isn't there if you have a 1.0 player. And if you have 1.1 player or a soon to be released 2.0 player, then you'll be fine. Oh and that PiP window? It's in full 1080P as well (unlike the HD DVDs where that PiP was done as 480 res on the cheap as an afterthought using existing DVD branching technology). And don't whine about having to buy a new player to get the 1.1 or 2.0 spec - just get a future-proof PS3. They are the same price as a stand-alone player and the PS3 load times are fantastic - often less than five seconds per disc. Also, HD DVD lovers - don't complain that the "Blu-Ray spec wasn't fully developed right out of the gate." That's not a valid argument and, even if it were, it's a badge of honor (or price you pay) taken in stride by early adopters. Just look at 1st and 2nd generation standard DVD players from 1997-2000. I've purchased four or five DVD players over the past decade because of new features that were added after DVD's launch. Just off the top of my head, I can list the following seven new features or specs that were added late (after the format's launch) including: 1. The ability to decode a widescreen anamorphic video signal. 2. The ability to send a video signal over component cables instead of composite cables 3. The ability to read dual-layer DVDs (remember the original DVD players couldn't do this!) 4. The ability to decode and play DTS audio. 5. The ability to use an optical TOS-Link audio out to a receiver. 6. The ability to scan DVDs progressively and not use interlace (480p wasn't always standard in DVD players people) 7. The ability to up convert DVDs to an HD signal and use an HDMI output (prior to the next-gen HD players being able to do this) The main difference between the standard DVD profile being upgraded over the past ten years to do all of the above and Blu-Ray doing it is consumer awareness of the enhancements (thanks to the internet) and the (admittedly) stupid using the Profile 1.0/1.1/2.0 moniker. Had the Blu-Ray group just called them 'additional features/enhancements' instead of a profile/model spec change, you wouldn't see so many nay-sayers and 360-fanfucks whining about it.
Bone-In Foray by strosmer	Feb 18th, 2008 02:16:39 PM
Just so you know, I did post my question as a joke. I'm just bored at work. But thanks for the info all the same. It will come in handy when I do look into getting a Blu-Ray player.
mode_7 by Johnno	Feb 18th, 2008 02:25:40 PM
What you said pretty much applies to ALL games regardless of whether they're on CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, UMD, or cartridges. The budget of a game is only proportionate to what they'll attempt to do with it. Nothing at all to do with blu-ray. But if blu-ray is convincing some devs to attempt more and give us more then how the fuck can that be a bad thing??? It's as if 360 owners are terrified and trying to convince developers not to take advantage of things the PS3 has that 360 doesn't. And jae683 First you'd have to point out how I'm not making any sense. Hey you like your 360 and PC, well good for you! I don't think they're gonna fail or disappear all of a sudden, unles the 360 breaks which really is my one and only issue with it, but when it works it does everything well enough. You want to miss out on blu-ray or PS3 games, well your decision then...
Answer for XBOX 360 is codename "Jasper" by JDanielP	Feb 18th, 2008 03:09:42 PM
...and you might figure that Toshiba Blu-ray technology will play a part. And I will remind everyone that Toshiba co-developed Blu-ray with IBM and Sony.
SEND IN THE DRM by mrdinky	Feb 18th, 2008 03:16:31 PM
you also realize that SONY is now free to implement the most nefarious DRM/ICT/BD+ features of their Bluray specs. Beyond that, though, 1080p hardware is still very expensive. unless you plan to plug your $500 BD player directly into your $2,500 1080p display with a $50 HDMI cable and listen to you nice new BD movie with the stereo speakers in the display, there's another $1000-$2000 to lay down for low range HDMI receiver and speakers to consider too.
Buying nothing HD!! by Theforce23	Feb 18th, 2008 04:22:42 PM
Blu-ray will not last; and neither will dvd itself. I agree with one fellow who said that this is all going downloadable next. The physical disc is dying I believe.
Discs are dying! by Theforce23	Feb 18th, 2008 04:38:51 PM
My belief that we are heading into legal downloading of all titles(and probably for $4.00 each or whatever), is based on the fact that the compact disc itself is dying and has already headed into legal downloadable content. At some point, this fate is in store for dvd as well. I would rather buy physical discs myself but I fear that in the near future, that option will be all but a distant memory. It's a shame but with all this Ipod stuff and all the other downloadable options out there, it seems inevitable for the disc format to die out completely. :(
Will television itself become obsolete? by Sick Fixx	Feb 18th, 2008 04:40:20 PM
What makes a television better than a computer is that you don't have to constantly be on guard with firewalls and virus scans against anything corrupting the data in your tv set. Computers are very unreliable even when you've installed all the newest security measures.
mrdinky and all - Beware the great HDMI cable scam! by strosmer	Feb 18th, 2008 04:41:09 PM
Even if you are someone who needs the absolute (and I mean absolute) greatest when it comes to image quality, do not waste money on expensive HDMI cables. Not to sound like an advertisement, but thanks to Amazon, no one should ever have to pay more than $5 for an HDMI cable. I have tested picture quality on my screen image between my generic $5 HDMI cable and a $50 cable made by Monster. Even patching through an HDMI receiver - no difference. None. Don't let yourself be bullied by brand names. We're in the digital age now, so no data loss, no image loss. Buy the cheapest cable you can and put that extra dough toward a better receiver, or feature rich player. You don't need the latest and greatest to be basking in home theater glory. Trust me, the reason a $50 cable is $50 right now is because of consumer gullibility. Don't be fooled. Ok, I'll grant that maybe you'll get a more durable cable if go more expensive, but how many of you are constantly tripping and stepping on your cables? Nah. $5. Full HDMI.
Do you need a hd telly to notice the benefits of blu-ray? by oddzag	Feb 18th, 2008 04:47:41 PM
Will the benefits of a blu-ray disc (enhanced video quality etc) be onviously visible on a television that is not hd?...cos if it isn't then the companies are gonna have to get the price of hd tellys down quick cos i cant afford one at these prices.
Strosmer is Correct by Fatty Magee	Feb 18th, 2008 04:56:31 PM
Spread the word. Got my new Sony LCD just in time for the Super Bowl, and bought the HDMI cable at the store. Got home and checked on Amazon, b/c I was amazed that the cable cost me $60. Needless to say, I ordered one on Amazon for ~$5 and returned the $60 after testing them both out. No difference.
Laser Pants - Great Post by birdy birdman	Feb 18th, 2008 06:25:38 PM
I prefer to download screeners because fuck you film critics you don't deserve half the shit y'all get to watch (Harry this does not apply to you because you're a film LOVER not a CRITIC! as you already know) BUT i have always held in line with the "It pays to wait" theory even if it does take 10 years, and you're eloquent "money-cock" analogy served as better articulation than I could ever summon, hells yeah!
and my eloquent misuse of an apostrophe is ass by birdy birdman	Feb 18th, 2008 06:26:55 PM
my bad him stoned (see previous post)
BD is cool but the GIANT hurdle is hardware cost. by Orbots Commander	Feb 18th, 2008 06:45:05 PM
The adoption rate for Blu-Ray will be slow, because as others have pointed out, the cost for hardware is still exorbitantly high. And I'm just not talking about Blu-Ray players. I mean flat panel HDTV's in general. Wide-spread adoption of BD disks over regular DVD will occur when you can also buy quality brand (Panasonic and Sony) 40 inch LCD HDTVs for about $400 and 32 inch sets for about $250-$300. For most middle class people, a 40-something inch HDTV, a surround sound system and a Blu-Ray player is outside most family budgets, particularly now in a slowing economy.
Toshiba is denying that report by livahd	Feb 18th, 2008 06:52:46 PM
Toshiba is denying weekend press reports that it has decided to drop its HD DVD support, saying that the company is "currently assessing its business strategies," but that no final decisions have been made. In an official statement issued this morning, Toshiba said, "The media [has] reported that Toshiba will discontinue its HD DVD business. Toshiba has not made any announcement concerning this. Although Toshiba is currently assessing its business strategies, no decision has been made at this moment." http://tinyurl.com/362b hk
mode_7 by Johnno	Feb 18th, 2008 06:59:34 PM
That's interesting to know, but I doubt it's the same situation today, especially given that multiplatform games will be on both the DVD for 360 and blu-ray for PS3 and also most especially in light of the Wii's major success. Blu-Ray has been an asset where developers like Kojima Productions are putting in more hi fidelity sound, that's a benefit right away! Also Developers like Square Enix who like using re-rendered FMV also find it useful particularly now that they must be in HD. It's why games like Lost Odyssey come out on 4 DVDs for 360... Also Insomniac isn't fucking around and their launch game was more than a typical DVD. Not to mention naughty Dog and Guerillas insistence on requiring it because their levels are too huge. Sure they're all first party but they're proving it to us with great results! Frankly manufacturing the game on one blu-ray disc is more cost conservative than manufacturing 4 DVDs, so it cuts costs... Also for other developers by including full localized languages and content on the same disc right at launch it's better for those who want to import and for overall manufacturing. Not to mention that in order to push for more photorealistic graphics, necessitates more polygons and higher res textures whcih incrementally require storage space, so it's forward thinking to take care of that with a higher capacity disc. And frankly even if some developers are pushing to take advantage of it, whatever the reasons, whether they translate to in game assets or fun extras, it's a great thing to me who's buying it. Developers who know they don't have the funds to keep up with richer companies ought to be smart and concentrate on other areas, it's all up to them. Of course all these publishers are indeed in competition with each other... whoever can make the best use of resources with what they have wins, that's the way it is. But there's room for the expensive epics and the cheap downloadable fun, so everyone can play... It's interesting to note on photrealism, that NVidia says that they expect to hit real time photorealism within 10 years, which is when they expect and agree that Sony would rather release the PS4 thus making the PS3 the longest cycle until the next successor. but of course you'll have to realize that photorealism is relative... for example it may be possible to hit close to photorealism in a shooter or a racing or fighting game, but it'll still be awhile before you can viably make it work in a game like Grand Theft Auto... I can't see that happening anytime soon for a game of that scale, nor MMOs online... Of course such thigns will require more space as well as more powerful hardware, even with better compression techniques that PC use for installation. Better compression will help but there is still going to be a significant increase required alongside it. As for PCs, I recall when CDs were thought to be big enough, and we ended up requiring what 4-5 for install and play? If PC games on DVD aren't there already I believe they will be in due time... At least that's what Carmack and the boys at iD were saying when talking about their new multiplatform engine, game and some 20Gigs worth of textures...
Orbots Commander by Johnno	Feb 18th, 2008 07:08:47 PM
Yeah man, nobody expects HDTVs, players and discs to take over everyone overnight... it'll be a transitional thing. Already it is reported that blu-ray has been growing faster than DVD did when it first arrived on the scene... Also HD physical discs sales are also double that of downloads! So For all those saying downloads are the future, yeah... the FAR OFF future! Not anytime soon... Unless you count the illegal downloads... but it just goes to show you that people will put up with whatever is free. The only place downloads currently rule in a legal manner is for music. And I bet you people are till preferring to download it for free from elsewhere. Costs will plummet down and they'll be priced the same as DVD. Not only that but HDTVs have pretty much replaced all televisions in stores now... you'd actually have to go out of your way to find an old SDTV! Lord knows where those are still being sold. And you can bet the moment Blu-ray players can be manufactured for the same price as current in store DVD players, manufacturers will halt all DVD player production and go exclusively to blu-ray and put those on store shelves because they'll play DVDs and blu-ray discs.
Re : Theforce23 by Real Deal	Feb 18th, 2008 07:15:14 PM
You haven't been reading the rest of this talkback and why that won't happen anytime soon!
Re : Luscious.868 by Real Deal	Feb 18th, 2008 07:19:56 PM
However it's coming on fast. 8 out of 10 new tvs sold last year were HD.
5PM Tokyo time tomorrow, the format war appears to be over. by Pennsy	Feb 18th, 2008 07:23:59 PM
From the Digital Bits website: "Japanese news site Nikkei.net has just announced that Toshiba's plan is to immediately stop manufacturing all HD-DVD products (both players and recorders), and to stop selling them at end of March. The official announcement will happen at a press conference set for 5 PM Tokyo time."
Agreed Johnno, but it''ll be a looong transition. by Orbots Commander	Feb 18th, 2008 07:35:19 PM
Here a few reasons why: tube TV technology had been perfected enough that a good set can last for a decade, at least. Tube TVs were still sold in large quantities in the early 2000-s. That puts a large majority of replacement TV buyers to buy HDTVs for the family living room, around 2010-2012. Another point: check Wal-Mart.com; even there you can't find a cheapo brand Polaroid or Olevia 26 inch LCD set, usually a 2nd home TV, for under 500-600 bucks. That doesn't help Blu-Ray's cause at all. Prices for large screen HDTVs, needed in order to discern the Blu-Ray disc difference, will need to come waaaaay down. It'll take years for that to happen. After all what's the point of BD on a 26-32 inch LCD set anywaY? You can't tell the difference between a standard def DVD and BD at that screen size.
Harry, you just don't get it. by decfx	Feb 18th, 2008 08:13:55 PM
People to abandon the Standard DVD) systems? You forget that both Blu-Ray and HD DVD held only single percentages in the market COMBINED! Standard def DVD will be around for a few more years. The movies will be so cheap and people will be sucked into these upconverting players. Blu-Ray will not drop significantly in the short term. If anything, it will hold around $!50-200 bucks for cheap players. People will want HD, but to make the most out of it you are going to need all HD gear to make the most out of your experience. I know people that think because they have and HD TV, they have HD programming. Doesn't work that way. Enough of my rant.
Looks like I have to buy that PS3 by Lost Skeleton	Feb 18th, 2008 08:29:29 PM
after all. Shit!
RE:lolpops by NoCalFlicks	Feb 18th, 2008 09:03:00 PM
Well, at $60 a pop, it is not like I am going to have a 20 game library like I used to back in the day when I was a teenager/early 20's single guy who had nothing better to spend money on. As of right now, I have about 5-5 games at any given time, and one is usually being used as a trade-in for when the next big game comes out, that was I am knocking $20 or so off the price. And then there is Madden, which is a once a year update that I can afford to spend the $60 on. This strategy will of course come into question once more great games come out with more frequency. As far as the games go, I have had the system for about six months, and in that time I have played Ratchet & Clank, Resistance, Assassins Creed, Uncharted, Devil May Cry 4(just beat it yesterday), GH 3, Madden 08, Tony Hawk Proving Ground. For the money and more importantly TIME I have to spend on video games, I'd say that is more then enough to keep me occupied until the next big game comes out which I will use DMC 4 as a trade-in for.
Star Trek Remastered Season 2 DVDs cancelled by skywalkerfamily	Feb 18th, 2008 11:03:49 PM
Paramount to drop HD DVD.
decfx, you better recognoze by wash	Feb 18th, 2008 11:28:29 PM
The market for HD discs is growing at a faster rate than DVD did. So I'm not really sure how you can easily predict that Blu-Ray won't be able to hold it's own.
recognize* by wash	Feb 18th, 2008 11:29:07 PM

HD-DVD is STILL alive and KICKIN'!!! HELL YEAH!!!! by JDanielP	Feb 19th, 2008 12:19:36 AM
http://www.digitimes.com/syste ms/a20080218PD215.html
It would be cool if Toshiba develops a way to... by JDanielP	Feb 19th, 2008 12:31:43 AM
....bring down the cost of HD-DVD disk manufacturing so low...that studios would have to take notice. I'm gonna have to do some research on some rumored technology (in China) which is compatible with HD-DVD, where movies cost only $4 a pop. It would be amazing if this HD fight isn't over, after all.
www.digitimes.com ......go read it yourself. by JDanielP	Feb 19th, 2008 12:39:03 AM
Even a little hope is better than none at all.
Check this out, Blu-boys. by JDanielP	Feb 19th, 2008 01:07:44 AM
http://www.n4g.com/industrynew s/News-66305.aspx
Go buy DVD player? On purpose? by weirdoactor	Feb 19th, 2008 01:08:31 AM
Should I also buy my dinosaur a new saddle? I have a twenty TB media server networked to my HD TVs, but I should buy HD-DVDs? Riiiiiiiiight. Enjoy your brontosaurus stew, grandpa.
Theforce23 by messi	Feb 19th, 2008 01:14:41 AM
There is a part of humanity that isn't mainstream. Humans will always want something physical, especially music fans and movie fans who are a huge lot. Music fans like holding the artwork etc, movie fans like the box sets etc. They still make vinyl discs remember. And CD's and DVD's being cheaper to make will mean they won't be as niche as vinyl.
HAHAHAHAHAHA....read this (link, close gaps). by JDanielP	Feb 19th, 2008 01:26:20 AM
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/not ag/ch+dvd-like-hd-dvd-for-chin a-298376.php
How about this? -- It's good to be informed. by JDanielP	Feb 19th, 2008 01:37:01 AM
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_1 05-9776981-1.html
haha JDP by wash	Feb 19th, 2008 02:09:20 AM
Digging up ancient links FTL. The consortium has already buried HD-DVD, they ain't going back over a potential 1 GB a disc, silly man.
xbox 360 needs a blue ray add on. by GavinVanDraven	Feb 19th, 2008 03:01:35 AM
should be simple enough, they have an hd-dvd one already. and thats what i am waiting for... or for the price of a player to drop to a reasonable amount. ps3 sucks. they dont have many game titles to choose from.
Official by Jiggah	Feb 19th, 2008 03:29:54 AM
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about /press/2008_02/pr190 3.htm
Yeah, Toshiba has officially surrendered by Mullah Omar	Feb 19th, 2008 05:09:54 AM
Jiggah's link above didn't work for me, but here you go for Bloomberg's story on it: http://tinyurl.com/2cdlwb
NorCalFlicks by lolpops	Feb 19th, 2008 06:59:14 AM
not doggin ps3s recent games, just talking about their future, anyhow, i dont see why people spend money on movies,
Moving to China Daniel? by Mindworm22	Feb 19th, 2008 07:36:28 AM
just curious....
I'll buy shit by Abominable Snowcone	Feb 19th, 2008 07:40:04 AM
BluRay will die in a couple years, too.
Glad It's Over But Can't Afford Blu-Ray by BilboRing	Feb 19th, 2008 08:19:39 AM
I will have to wait until Blu-Ray comes down a lot before I get it or movies in that format. Once it does, I won't replace any titles I already have, other than Lord of The Rings. That I will have to do. But I just got a new Samsund DVD Recorder/VHS combo with 1080i upconversion and my movies look sweet on my new 1080P LCD. I'm glad I chose the 1080 LCD since Blu-Ray shoots in 1080. Just get those costs down.
GavinVanDraven by jae683	Feb 19th, 2008 08:32:50 AM
Don't let Johnny hear you say that. He'll still spewing out more bs. lol
I've chosen VHS and here's why by Abominable Snowcone	Feb 19th, 2008 09:33:48 AM
Oh wait...
Harry, you should leave this stuff to CNET, by Orbots Commander	Feb 19th, 2008 09:40:42 AM
Engadget, Gizmodo and Consumer Reports. Good effort, but you guys don't do media tech articles well. I don't go, for example, to CNET for cool news on Iron Man or The Dark Knight. Stick to your knitting which is movie, tv and comics (and let's add some cool book news too!) news and reviews.
JDanielP by RAVENL0RD	Feb 19th, 2008 09:45:57 AM
Have you given up yet? Just curious.
Re: Realdeal and Messy by Theforce23	Feb 19th, 2008 09:46:07 AM
Ive read all the posts and I did say I prefer something physical in my hand, however, I still believe that this format will be gone within 5-8 years. Therefore, until that happens im sticking to standard dvd. Ive never understood the need to jump right on the bandwagon and spend 400.00 or more for a player that is untested; ie, HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, at the time is debuted. Im just more careful with how I spend money and I just think its foolish to spend that kind of money on something that new when youve already got a perfectly acceptable standard format. It didnt take long for HD-DVD to go the way of the dodo and Blu-Ray and standard dvd is next. I dont care what follows. If its downloadable as I suspect Ill deal with that. If its another technology we arent aware of that gives us movies the size of nickels, thats fine too. Dvd isnt dead quite yet but I think its on its way.
Don't buy either. wait for the next format by StovetopStuffin'	Feb 19th, 2008 09:51:40 AM
Trust me on this. These HD DVD's and BluRays are just the next Laserdisc. It won't be long before mobile Ultra Hi-Def is here.
4 HD players and 1 Blu Ray player by Abominable Snowcone	Feb 19th, 2008 09:54:35 AM
To my $29 Kmart special DVD player. How do you watch five at once? Different rooms, I guess?
0h, fiddlesticks. by JDanielP	Feb 19th, 2008 09:55:22 AM
Where's that Xbox 360 Blu-ray already?! (snort) ...nah, actually, my wife and I decided Blu-ray isn't for us. We'll find bargains on both HD-DVD and DVD and continue to download...and watch to see what technological advances come along. Just one request, though. Could someone ask that fat lady to quit singin'? It just too damn loud in here. :-D
I'm own'd, just like ya said. by JDanielP	Feb 19th, 2008 11:05:27 AM
Yeah, those links were fantastic, weren't they? I was trying to google some info on that China tech that's HD-DVD compatible. But my hope quickly evaporated. But at least we can all laugh about it. (I'm still lookin' for bargains.)
Lazy Blurry joke by ratchet	Feb 19th, 2008 11:34:29 AM
Surely its not just me that thought of that? Meh, so all the good exclusive stuff will come to Blurry then. I want me some V for Vendetta, Star Trek, Batman Begins and Heroes. Brought a PS3 last night, and struggled to find more than a couple of worthwhile HD movies on the format. I want old classic stuff dammit! Its fun watching an old movie cleaned up, less so for a film thats new, and in some ways one you have never watched. Life of Brian was great again - Spidey 3, meh.
Check this out. by JDanielP	Feb 19th, 2008 11:36:30 AM
http://www.dvdtown.com/news/il ounge-compares-apple-tv-hd-ren tals-to-blu-ray/5258
The "Harry chose..." jokes will go on forever now by GodMars	Feb 19th, 2008 12:16:52 PM
You definitely earned them.
If you read all posts up to this point get a life!!!! by donwillymo	Feb 19th, 2008 12:18:22 PM
Standard def baby!
PS3 by dvsman	Feb 19th, 2008 12:30:14 PM
Unless you have a million dollar home theater setup - the PS3 will play / decode all the BR content you will ever need (with the exception of 1 or 2 boutique audio codecs). The upgradability of it more than makes up for any difference in price between the PS3 and the standalone BR player.
Any Bastard Who chose Any Format is the Loser by kenichi tanaka	Feb 19th, 2008 12:53:13 PM
Any of you BASTARDS who chose either format is the true loser because neither Blu Ray nor HD-DVD is going to be the winner. There's already word on the street that there's a new Hi Def format being created which will probably be introduced in five years. If I were you all, I'd just stick with standard DVD, standard def.
DVD is Not Going Anywhere by BilboRing	Feb 19th, 2008 01:03:22 PM
Want proof? VHS is STILL around. DVD's full potential is just being realized. Downloading crap sucks and it is less detailed and lower quality. PUNK BIATCHES!!!!
LG will still be supporting the format by livahd	Feb 19th, 2008 01:53:34 PM
cheggit http://tinyurl.com/36btxa
To Expert_40: PSP is FAR from being ditched by Sony by Leprechaun	Feb 19th, 2008 01:59:26 PM
What a bunch of bull! GAMESTOP shows quite a few games about to come out for the PSP. http://www.gamestop.com/coming soon.asp?platform=31
Fireworks Over Coruscant by DarfurOnTheRocks	Feb 19th, 2008 02:13:08 PM
All we need now is some Ewoks playing drums with a couple of Storm troopers'heads and Wedge Antilles laughing and joking for not doing anything....... again....
DS clobbers the PSP by DarfurOnTheRocks	Feb 19th, 2008 02:14:47 PM
I was an early PSP adopter because I wanted to play Gran Turismo Portable. Guess what? I am still waiting for that game....
delay much? by Bouncy X	Feb 19th, 2008 02:16:12 PM
i dont wanna sound like all those "aint is slow news" type of people but i'm surprised there's still no mention of the official end to HDDVD from toshiba. i mean so many websites already had it this morning when i woke up around 7:30...and even the local alt rock radio station i listen to has mentioned it numerous times through the day. this is like major news. where's the mention and the endless thread of replies and attacks we love so much?
FUCK HD and BLU RAY! BRING BACK VHS! by Violator90	Feb 19th, 2008 02:43:37 PM
This is just getting stupid. I say fuch them all and just bring back vhs. Its cheaper and EVERY one can afford a vhs player.
Whats With the Downloads? by dogstar69	Feb 19th, 2008 02:49:05 PM
Are you downloading fans remembering you need to buy a computer?, Have a phone line to have an Internet connection? many of my friends have never bothered with one, let alone all of the above. DVD players are as cheap as £18. Discs are here for a long time, live with it
Blu Ray Another Dead Format by DaveInRhodeIsland	Feb 19th, 2008 03:58:53 PM
This is bullshit and the reason I won't buy anything until it's the ONLY thing. Does anyone really think Blu Ray will be "THE" format in another 3-4 years? Something new and "better" will come out soon, with resolution so high and image so crisp that your friggin' eyeballs will melt from the intensity of it. Then Blu Ray will be relegated to all the other dead formats. I'll still be watching my plain old shitty DVDs on my plain old shitty large screen Sony CRT TV from the 1990's. It was the latest and greatest back when it came out, and you know what - it's still pretty damn great.
Cheap Blu Ray Movies by PlasmaOrb	Feb 19th, 2008 04:03:59 PM
Ive seen sales at Amazon, Frys, etc... that have blu ray movies for $10 to 15 a piece. Thats not bad considering best buy never really goes that low. As for the dumb ass above, LG has been doing a blu ray player for a while now, it was just that crappy so called combo player, but im sure they will make a dedicated blu ray player now. People who bitch and complain about this are the ones that are too poor caues they never got a proper education to go out and buy anything good, other than from thrift shops and pawn shops. Im glad blu ray won, it was a better format and the PS3 in general is a far superior product compared to the 360. What i dont get is that they compain about Sony being a bad company, but yet they dont complain about Microsoft and their products that fall apart and die on you with simple updates. Buy a blu ray player, when you watch it in your homes, then youll shut up about all this and wonder why you even opened your big freakin traps to begin with.
Thanks for the link, livahd. And thank you, LG. by JDanielP	Feb 19th, 2008 04:05:45 PM
This news from LG is encouraging to us HD-DVD fans (that they will continue the HD-DVD format). Here's to hoping that Warner Bros. will remain true to their word on releasing some selected titles to HD-DVD even after their switch to Blu-ray. I want "THE DARK KNIGHT" in HD-DVD, right along with "IRON MAN" (from Paramount, is it?). Fingers crossed.
No need to shop at WAL-MART or BEST BUY... by JDanielP	Feb 19th, 2008 04:14:56 PM
...if I can take my HD-DVD business someplace else. Sure it sucks for me. But it sucks for them, too.
Quit being strung along, Upscaled SD just as good as HD by strosmer	Feb 19th, 2008 05:21:04 PM
Even SD is an HD format. The standard broadcast resolution for most HD channels and programming is 480p, not 720 or 1080. The problem with many standard def DVDs is that many are not remastered, or were cheaply transferred from film to video, so they look like crap for that reason. But I've found that "standard def" DVDs, as long as the transfer is decent, or better yet, remastered, you've got something that will look great on any HDTV or video projector. If you use HDMI connections to upscale SD DVDs, I think the difference in image quality is negligible. Case in point: I recently watched a quality remastered SD version of Alien and then watched Bladerunner in HD. Yes, it’s just my opinion, but honestly, as someone who considers themselves a true videophile and is fully confident in their ability to assess image quality, I don’t get the big deal, both movies looked phenomenal. To say one looked better than the other is inane. Upscaled, Alien SD looked just as good as Bladerunner HD – no contest. I've also compared the same movie in both formats (HD Batman Begins to the SD version) and only saw marginally better details and contrast in the HD version. More to the point, if a movie is originally recorded in a digital format, or entirely done in CGI, you're golden. Upscaled 480p versions of Pixar films and Star Wars, Episodes 2 & 3 already look like full-blown HD. Even not upscaled, they look flawless. Blu-Ray, HD DVD, what have ya, they're better, but really, the only anything I could qualify as a major difference between the SD and HD formats is contrast. The higher resolutions do nothing more than provide a little more weight and give a slightly better approximation of film. For the purposes of home entertainment, standard DVDs, especially newer releases, still look perfectly fine. So I'd say for anyone who feels compelled to splurge on the latest and greatest, follow your prerogative (shit, I did, and I do enjoy it). For the average consumer, wondering if the step to HD is really worth it, I say step back, relax and bask in the conveniences of the digital age. Thanks to DVD (of any format), you are already enjoying something far superior in quality, value, and durability than videotape. Just wait out the technology, things will continue to change and change again, and prices will come way down, and the next evolutions will be here before you know it. In the meantime, for standard def owners, if you do own an HDTV and want to affordably close that HD gap a little more, I recommend an upscaling DVD player. Just remember, upscaling only works with HDMI cables (sold for $1 on Amazon, and work great – see previous post in this talkback). As far as the “discs are dying” argument, it seems highly speculative from both sides at this point. Regardless of what’s being developed, who really knows what will happen. Think about where the internet and technology was just 10 years ago. YouTube and hi-res Quicktime trailers weren't even available, let alone in a format that could be rapidly downloaded or played back instantaneously, cell phones were only capable of calling other cell phones, and who could even imagine the music industry being turned on its ears by mp3 players and iPods. Digital is an entirely different monster than analog. We're on the cusp of a new age. Enjoy it. It may not last for long.
PlasmaOrb by jae683	Feb 19th, 2008 06:59:28 PM
PS3 supperior? Bawahahahah. Look at all the Multi-Platform games. At best, they're even, at worst the 360 version is supperior.
About This Whole Mess by Real Deal	Feb 19th, 2008 07:28:20 PM
The thing about this is I don't think anyone on either side has anticipated the bad taste left in the mouth of the consumer by this format war. The winner of this format war wasn't decided by the consumer. It was decided by the greed of the manufacturing companies. If any of you doubt this read all the replies here saying they're going to stay with DVD. About Downloading no one here has yet to tell me how they're going to get this past the movie studios. And yes we're talking about owning the movie not renting. And once again there's the lost portability of just renting. Come people no one will go for this as the main and only way they watch movies. I understand that some people just rent but they're in the minority. Plus there's the traffic problem on the internet this would cause. Even if they expand the data pipeline it'll still be unmanagable for a long time. And yes you can compress but as many here of said with the current compression technologies it downgrades the picture quality. As far as HD not being in our future and upscaling looking as good as real HD well that's not the truth. Period. Upscaling looks better but doesn't begin to have the detail that HD does pure and simple. And if anyone tells you anything different....well as they say in the Movie " The Pricess Bride " " They're selling something ". So here we are with only BluRay. I hope it does succeed! But there's really no certainty of this. And I don't think the war helped at all. It's just more of the same mess we've had converting to HD. Truth be known if there weren't so many fingers in the pie we could have started having HD for broadcast 10 years ago. But no one was ready and everyone wanted to make sure they got their cut. I can't wait for this all to shake out because HD truly produces a beautiful picture.
The irony here... by Johnno	Feb 19th, 2008 07:43:00 PM
Comes from those who say blu-ray will fail, while simultaneously saying that the consumer didn't decide on the format, but the corporations... Then couldn't it also logically be deduced that the same corporations can also do the same for the transition from DVD to blu-ray? Like couldn't the corporations also gradually force the consumer to leave behind DVD and adopt blu ray? I believe that's what's gonna happen! They'll slowly force adoption of blu-ray by cutting back on DVD releases over a period of time. It is all within their power to do it... and while they're at it I suggest it'll be good to get rid of fullscreen and just force widescreen... Sure you're going to take a lot of hits initially, but it's for the greater good.
Re : Johnno by Real Deal	Feb 19th, 2008 07:50:43 PM
Now for the record I didn't say BluRay will fail. Did I? And it wasn't decided by the consumer. If that were true then studios would have released their titles equally and not played favorites. This means both sides. Got it?
Re : Johnno One More Thing by Real Deal	Feb 19th, 2008 07:54:51 PM
Getting the consumer to move to a different format and just staying with something they've already embraced are two different things. Especially when the format your trying to get them to embrace costs more and has less titles.
Blu Ray is the next Laser Disc by jae683	Feb 19th, 2008 09:28:09 PM
Virtually everyone I talk to, everyone with a life that is, feels no need to upgrade. People that are movie buffs, like me, will stay with the new technology, but your average joe just isn't going to go for it, not at their current price point.
wash, I never said that Blu-Ray couldn't hold its own by decfx	Feb 19th, 2008 09:56:21 PM
I was just stating that as of right now, both HD formats hold single percentages in the market combined. Blu-Ray will eventuall come into its own, but standard DVD's will be here for quite some time.
bone in foray by Maniaq	Feb 19th, 2008 10:30:57 PM
you don't know much about DivX do you? did someone market it to you? download it for NOTHING, burn it to a CD or burn a lot of them to a DVD, stick it in your DVD player and WATCH IT... If your DVD player doesn't do MPG-4 invest $35 on one that does. oh - and if you couldn't be arsed burning anything to anything, stick it on a flash drive and watch it straight off the USB - WITHOUT USING ANY DISCS OF ANY FORMAT Lesson over. continue...
It..it can't be... by billis3811	Feb 19th, 2008 10:47:40 PM
Im going to smash myself in the nutcicles if this is true...
Sony Blu Ray by nyj_et	Feb 20th, 2008 12:17:34 AM
She needed the money.
Nappy chose Super 8mm and here's why: by Napoleon Park	Feb 20th, 2008 01:11:55 AM
if it takes you more than seven minutes to beat off you're using the wrong hand.
Now Sony can up the price by The Founder	Feb 20th, 2008 03:28:15 AM
Well they will.
DVD AND HD look the same? are you for real? by snakecharmer	Feb 20th, 2008 04:46:22 AM
People who say that are like guys who see a hot girl and say she's not that hot because they can't get her. Haters!!!!!. I've been on the electronics sales for a quite a while and I spent more than 40+ Hours a week looking at HD and SD signals. THERE IS A VISIBLE DIFFERENCE. UP-scaling is a poor man's HD. Up-Scaling has so much more noise and the edges are not even close to reproduction of HD. Stop Hating and admit that you just can't really afford it but once the prices drop this year, you'll give it a try. Don't use some lame reason why you don't have it. The average person can tell the difference but they just can't afford it right now but most people will adopt the format once prices come down. Just look at the DVD format and it has evolved. Peace.
by Red Dawn Don	Feb 20th, 2008 07:33:37 AM
842 POSTS, 842 POSTS, 842 POSTS, 842 POSTS, 842 POSTS, 842 POSTS, 842 POSTS, 842 POSTS 842 POSTS, 842 POSTS, 842 POSTS, 842 POSTS, THIS THREAD HAS 842 POSTS. BY THE TIME A PERSON READS THEM ALL, BLU-RAY WILL BE OUT OF VOGUE.
Get a PS3 by in6087	Feb 20th, 2008 09:41:52 AM
In my opinion, don't bother with a standalone Blu-Ray player, just get a PS3. It has built-in wireless so you can download all necessary upgrades and HD movies when they become available. The fact that you can do this makes the PS3 more future-proof than a standalone player would be. The games are cool, especially Conan and Call of Duty 4. Home on PS3 is gonna be cool too when it finally gets released, not to mention The Force Unleashed and Grand Theft Auto 4. With the PS3 Eye thing you'll also be able to control the system by body movements in a similar way to the Wii. I got my PS3 back in November, and it's great!
Right now by Sirmausalot	Feb 20th, 2008 10:05:24 AM
Netflix is much cheaper than download and quality is much, much better (standard DVD). the same will hold true of Blu-ray for a long time. Waiting for the prices to drop a bit though...fall looks good
The price... by RAVENL0RD	Feb 20th, 2008 02:15:08 PM
The price will have to come down now. The format war is over, but it really isn't. The new front in this war is against standard DVD. The ultimate goal with any format is to get it in as many hands as possible so that they can sell as many copies of movies as possible. By Christmas, there will be at least a couple of players under $200. Mark my words.
A naive post on my part to be sure by strosmer	Feb 20th, 2008 06:33:40 PM
Certainly I understand that to pose the argument "upscaled SD looks as good as HD" will be a point of contention with in an AICN talkback. I have watched many HDs and SDs back to back, and though HD is clearly above and beyond the quality of average SDs, I'm not blown away by the difference in image quality between HD and upscaled remastered SD (I intentionally specified remastered SDs in my post for the comparison argument). That's my opinion and I'll stick by it. Snakecharmer, you didn't read my post thoroughly, I'm clearly not a hater. I did state that I own an HD player. I never said I hate the HD format. As a videophile, I love it. I think it does look great, just not substantially better than an upscaled remastered SD. Real Deal, you are sensible, no ill toward you, but I do have to stand up for myself when you accuse me of selling something. Mind telling me what that would be? I'll admit that if I'm imposing my will in any way, it is to inform people who are anxious for the latest and greatest to relax, they're not missing out on much with standard def. I honestly believe that. Thank you, gentlemen. What's that? No one's posting on this talkback anymore? Shit.
Maniaq... by Bone-In Foray	Feb 20th, 2008 07:22:19 PM
Sorry for the confusion. Apparently my clerical error has overrided the rest of my commentary as you probably could have figured out that I was referring to DIVX the failed pay-per-view format and not DivX the codec. Thanks for at least attempting to "school" me. The underachiever in me really needs that kind of unflinching discipline.
strosmer... by Bone-In Foray	Feb 20th, 2008 07:32:57 PM
Fear not - for I may have very well spared you the disgrace of being the final TBer on this thread. Though, there certainly seems to be enough heated coversation going on to last awhile. That said, I would tend to agree with you - unless you have a decent HD projector and a 108" screen used solely to watch HD formatted films, I don't understand the need to declare SD dead. I still enjoy a great (nay, awe-inspiring) picture on my SD player and television... though, the baseball looks pretty fucking great in HD.
LAST! by thebearovingian	Mar 3rd, 2008 06:10:35 PM
Yes! Eat it!
thebearovingian--denied! by 7-zark-7	Mar 6th, 2008 08:42:06 PM
"Last" posts are even easier to snatch away than "First"s! :p
indeed thebear.... by just pillow talk	Mar 7th, 2008 07:00:34 AM
How does the bitter taste of defeat taste?
FIRST! by INWOsuxRED	Mar 7th, 2008 10:50:54 AM
too late?
Damn you! by thebearovingian	Mar 16th, 2008 07:41:55 PM
LAST!! ???
No. by zool43	Mar 16th, 2008 10:39:39 PM
Blu rules.
silly ol' bear.... by just pillow talk	Mar 18th, 2008 06:30:22 AM
When will you learn?

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