NationStates Jolt Archive

Blockbuster is putting more support behind Blu-Ray and less behind HD-DVD

LINK (http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN1830104520070619)

Is this the beginning of the end of HD-DVD? the article makes a lot of references comparing HD-DVD to Betamax......

It's one video chain store.

It won't help the battle until the cost of the Blu-Ray disc players drops significantly. At the current market prices, they are out of range of most people. DVD players are cheaper and will remain popular until the newer technology is cheaper and affordable.

While it may outpace HD-DVDs in rentals, it doesn't mean it will dominate. Another franchise will pick up the HD-DVD and the battle will continue until there is someone who can produce a cheap player that can handle one of those two formats. Once the player is available that's when we'll see a true turn in the tide.

Blockbuster is not a god. This means nothing.

Porn industry will decide, as they did with VHS vs Beta.

Porn industry will decide, as they did with VHS vs Beta.

porn industry doesn't decide anything now that we have the internet.

Blockbuster is not a god. This means nothing.

Better not let the Church of Blockbuster hear you say that...:p

Blockbuster is the biggest video rental chain in North America though...

and IIRC Blu-Ray is also outpacing HD-DVD in sales...

porn industry doesn't decide anything now that we have the internet.

*tune of video killed the radio star*

Internet killed the porn-industry...:p

I think neither HD DVD nor Blu Ray will win due to their heavy Digital Restrictions Management. I prefer good old tapes or good new Ogg theora files on any medium.

Better not let the Church of Blockbuster hear you say that...:p

Blockbuster is the biggest video rental chain in North America though...

and IIRC Blu-Ray is also outpacing HD-DVD in sales...

Here's a relatively easy question for you: Do I live in North America?

Also, as for the church of Blockbuster, it does not matter. I have been attacked by churches many times already.

Porn industry will decide, as they did with VHS vs Beta.

Nah, porn on DVD is more or less tepid compared to the last format war, when the only kind of direct-to-consumer media was really video tapes. Their entire industry hinges on the internet these days, so even if they go with HD-DVD they're not going to have that much of an impact. Back in the early 80's, VHS tapes were at the forefront of direct-to-consumer sales; now, pretty much nobody physically buys porn because it's easier and more discreet to get it online (not to mention a better value).

The porn industry is probably going to give up and switch to Blu-ray pretty soon, simply because the market is much stronger for that format and it is technically the superior format for delivering HD porn.

Here's a relatively easy question for you: Do I live in North America?

Nope. You're one of 'dem Poles; long n' skinny. ;)

i've never even heard of it. i thought this was going to be about some new range of ray bans or something.

Here's a relatively easy question for you: Do I live in North America?

I dunno...where's the Sahara Desert?...

Here's a relatively easy question for you: Do I live in North America?

No, but North America is one of the biggest markets in the world for media delivered on Blu-ray. It doesn't matter if you don't live in North America, North America is the most important market for this kind of media and decisions made by companies in the region will affect other parts of the world. Like it or not, the decisions of American companies and the American market will affect Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia because it is the biggest in the world for these products.

So, Blockbuster's decision is going to have a big effect both in North America and abroad regardless of whether they actually operate in other markets. A European electronics manufacturer that sells to the US is a lot more likely to back Blu-ray if they know the companies selling the media used in their products back that format.

i've never even heard of it. i thought this was going to be about some new range of ray bans or something.

What rock have you been living under and where can I find one?

Porn industry will decide, as they did with VHS vs Beta.

Nah. The porn industry is mostly on the internet now.

What rock have you been living under and where can I find one?

umm, well, i don't rent movies and i don't have an HD tv or dvd player.

Who the hell goes to Blockbuster anymore?

Porn industry will decide, as they did with VHS vs Beta.

as i understand it the porn industry is being won over by HDDVD, but that may just be hearsay.

what's also important is that the adoption of this new technology, unlike CDs or DVDs, is really slow. people i know are only really buying HDTVs because they're buying new TVs anyway after their old ones died. i think this is a doomed tech war, as i believe the public to not only be confused, but largely ambivalent. 5 years down the line i believe either we'll have a new format of choice (streaming on-demand HD movies/TV over IP anyone?), or perhaps HD video will be the standard technology, but not because of its merits or any kind of positive adoption.
i mean... what's so good about HD video? when you moved from cassetes to CD you had digital sound, surround sound, greater audio range, the ability to skip tracks. when you moved from VHS to DVD the difference was staggeringly better. now what? from DVD to HDDVD/Bluray its.... a bit better. meh.

but of course, that's just imho. i do have an HDTV and my xbox360 plays games and stuff at HD resolution. yet to try a HDDVD though

I dunno...where's the Sahara Desert?...

In africa. However, I really live in Warsaw, Poland. What i have in the location field is just a joke.

Do any of you really actually give a shit about proprietary encoding formats? I sure as fuck don't.

In africa. However, I really live in Warsaw, Poland. What i have in the location field is just a joke.

yea...my post was a joke too...

Nope. You're one of 'dem Poles; long n' skinny. ;)

I kinda figured out where you are from...but, North America is a huge market and will undoubtedly have a big impact on which format wins...

Do any of you really actually give a shit about proprietary encoding formats? I sure as fuck don't.

well, i just really dislike Sony as a company. well, to clarify, i dislike the way some people seem to lurve Sony when they suck just as much dick as every other big company out there.

i just want HDDVD to win out of spite for these irritating people :D

I kinda figured out where you are from...but, North America is a huge market and will undoubtedly have a big impact on which format wins...

Only if Blu-Rays prove to be a viable option and aren't likely to be an easily corrupted data format. There are reports of Blu-Ray discs having black spots on them, which could be a legitimate concern for some, especially if the medium costs more initially than others.

Blu-Ray is already expensive to produce. Sure it holds more data than an HD-DVD but that doesn't make it better. If the disc gets damaged easily and there are wide-spread reports documenting this, it could be a problem. Even if Blockbuster picks it up, if there are problems with the durability of the disc, consumers will be turned off.

Actually yes. It really pisses me off when people with legally purchased items are being treated like criminals.

How are they/we being treated like criminals?

(That's an honest question, I'm not being snarky...)

Luckily for us, HD-DVD isnt made by Sony.

Hence it isnt a complete ripoff and wont break in 10 minutes.

Aside from capacity issues (which arnt really a big problem...) and the fact that they are pretty much identical on quality.

Blu-ray is a complete ripoff, and made by sony. Like the ps3..

I do not own an High Definition television, thus, I have no interest in HD-DVD or Blu-Ray. Nor will I for some time. DVD works perfectly fine for me at this current stage in my life.

Do any of you really actually give a shit about proprietary encoding formats? I sure as fuck don't.

In fact, some of us actually do.

It's people like you who don't, though, who are making it harder for us to enjoy our legally acquired stuff.

On a side note...Betamax all the way!

How are they/we being treated like criminals?

(That's an honest question, I'm not being snarky...)
You have to listen to these commercials saying that copying is illegal and you can not skip them
You have to deal with the crappy copy protection, which makes it impossible to watch movies on certain hardware.
Your 'key' for the player can be revoked at any time if the platform can be used to copy discs. The key here is a cryptographic key which is needed to play HD DVD/Blu ray discs.

Do any of you really actually give a shit about proprietary encoding formats? I sure as fuck don't.Nah, Ogg Theora FTW!

Before the release of the PS3, everyone criticized Sony for including the Blu-ray player, which explains much of the added cost over competing game systems. It was widely predicted that the move would backfire because no one would want to pay $600 for a PS3 when they could get a 360 or a Wii for much, much less.

But now it looks like the PS3 is selling at a rather respectable rate--it's not PS2, but it's moving. I certainly didn't wait in line ten hours to get it for Christmas, but a few weeks ago I finally did it: and I have been rather pleasantly surprised. There's a lot I like about it, but I won't go into that now.

I suspect that I am not unique in the fact that one of the first things I did was to buy several Blu-ray discs to check out the new format. And it does look like this is boosting Blu-ray sales overall. So, in retrospect: good move, Sony.

There's also better news (for me). While the Blu-ray disc is clearly superior (and not just a "little," as someone suggested) to DVD, the PS3 also has extremely impressive upscaling from DVD resolution to HD resolution, so I see no need at this point to start replacing my extensive DVD collection with Blu-ray copies of the same films. New stuff I'll buy on Blu-ray from now on, but my old DVD's play satisfyingly enough in HD that I'll only replace them if, say, Blu-ray can put on one disc what required two for DVD.

For instance, I expect I'll be purchasing the Director's Cut of Kingdom of Heaven on Blu-ray. I hate having to switch discs in the middle of a film!

Blockbuster is putting more support behind Blu-Ray and less behind HD-DVD

LINK (http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN1830104520070619)

Is this the beginning of the end of HD-DVD? the article makes a lot of references comparing HD-DVD to Betamax......

*points to the bottom of his signature*
Blu-ray: -1,000
HD-DVD: -1,000
DVD: -10^10^100

If I can get a grant for development of a prototype, of course...

Before the release of the PS3, everyone criticized Sony for including the Blu-ray player, which explains much of the added cost over competing game systems. It was widely predicted that the move would backfire because no one would want to pay $600 for a PS3 when they could get a 360 or a Wii for much, much less.

But now it looks like the PS3 is selling at a rather respectable rate--it's not PS2, but it's moving. I certainly didn't wait in line ten hours to get it for Christmas, but a few weeks ago I finally did it: and I have been rather pleasantly surprised. There's a lot I like about it, but I won't go into that now.

I suspect that I am not unique in the fact that one of the first things I did was to buy several Blu-ray discs to check out the new format. And it does look like this is boosting Blu-ray sales overall. So, in retrospect: good move, Sony.

There's also better news (for me). While the Blu-ray disc is clearly superior (and not just a "little," as someone suggested) to DVD, the PS3 also has extremely impressive upscaling from DVD resolution to HD resolution, so I see no need at this point to start replacing my extensive DVD collection with Blu-ray copies of the same films. New stuff I'll buy on Blu-ray from now on, but my old DVD's play satisfyingly enough in HD that I'll only replace them if, say, Blu-ray can put on one disc what required two for DVD.

For instance, I expect I'll be purchasing the Director's Cut of Kingdom of Heaven on Blu-ray. I hate having to switch discs in the middle of a film!

I agree with you completely.

*points to the bottom of his signature*
Blu-ray: -1,000
HD-DVD: -1,000
DVD: -10^10^100

If I can get a grant for development of a prototype, of course...

Ilaerian Digital Video Disc?

Here's a relatively easy question for you: Do I live in North America?

Also, as for the church of Blockbuster, it does not matter. I have been attacked by churches many times already.

What does your living in north America have to do with anything?

The quoted poster was describing the impact on overall impact as such stating that the company in question is the largest in a rather big spending region is completely relevant while your particular location is not at all

Ilaerian Digital Video Disc?

I was actually thinking of the acronym RSDDS, or alternatively RSDS.
Don't expect to get what those letters stand for, though. :)

I was actually thinking of the acronym RSDDS, or alternatively RSDS.
Don't expect to get what those letters stand for, though. :)

[Your initials] (Digital) Disc System

[Your initials] (Digital) Disc System

Disc Data Storage are the last three.
My initials are D.R.-M., for Daniel Rhodes-Mumby. :)

Disc Data Storage are the last three.
My initials are D.R.-M., for Daniel Rhodes-Mumby. :)

OK, then...

Rhodes-[Partner's Last Initial] Disc Data Storage?

I really can't see the attraction of Blu-Ray.

You can fit any film onto a single DVD. It will be very high-quality, certainly nothing to complain about, at the very worst.

Unless you actually wanted to project a film up the side of a skyscraper or something, Blu-Ray is an unnecessary expense.

So meh.

I'm miffed the Blu-ray drives can burn DVD at 8x at best, which is a little wimpy. Probably means I need a Blu-ray and DVD drive, the DVD drive for normal DVD burning so I don't kill the Blu-ray drive.

You can fit any film onto a single DVD.I can think of at least five films off-hand that need two (or more!) DVDs.

It will be very high-quality, certainly nothing to complain about, at the very worst.Have you ever actually seen HD? The difference is dramatic. You don't know what you're missing on DVD until you see something better.

(By the way, another nice feature of the PS3: after a very easy downloadable software upgrade, it now upscales PS1 and PS2 games to HD resolution. Final Fantasy XII in HD... awesome.)

Having read the rest of the thread, I stand by my initial post.

But now it looks like the PS3 is selling at a rather respectable rate--it's not PS2, but it's moving.

Actually if you look at the numbers for May.

http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=16507
More hardware sales numbers are coming in, thanks to Bloomberg. The Wii sold 338K units in May, while the 360 sold a disappointing 155K. The PS3 meanwhile dropped from 82K last month to just 81K sold (81,604 units to be exact, according to SCEA). At least the PSP sold a healthy 221,120 units, according to SCEA. We also found out (via Sony ironically) that the GBA sold 80,554 units and the GameCube sold 10,728 units.

move would backfire because no one would want to pay $600 for a PS3 when they could get a 360 or a Wii for much, much less.

i like to know who only paying $600 for the PS3 as we in hell are not paying

i like to know who only paying $600 for the PS3 as we in hell are not paying

Especially at the current exchange rate 1000 AUD is way too much.

Currently - 1000 AUD = 824.50 USD

Actually if you look at the numbers for May.Those are only the numbers for the United States.

Especially at the current exchange rate 1000 AUD is way too much.

Currently - 1000 AUD = 824.50 USD

and we the only ones paying $1000 for the PS3

i like to know who only paying $600 for the PS3 as we in hell are not payingUmm... what?

I don't know what you just asked, but I know everyone around here is offering the PS3 for $600, which is the price I paid about three weeks ago.

*tune of video killed the radio star*

Internet killed the porn-industry...:p
Not true.

The Internet broadened the porn industry.

It is true that porn will not influence this battle as no one buys porn DVDs when they have limewire and many great sites.

Umm... what?

I don't know what you just asked, but I know everyone around here is offering the PS3 for $600, which is the price I paid about three weeks ago.

$600 USD change to AUSD is times 2 and we'er paying $1000 AUSD for a PS3

Those are only the numbers for the United States.

Okay, find and post the numbers for the rest of the world then. It might be winning here, but there aren't enough of us to actually make a difference.

Okay, find and post the numbers for the rest of the world then. It might be winning here, but there aren't enough of us to actually make a difference.Well, here (http://www.vgchartz.com/hwcomps.php?cons1=Wii&reg1=All&cons2=PS3&reg2=All&cons3=X360&reg3=All&align=1) is a useful chart which shows total sales according to a "time from launch" variable so that we can get a better comparison.

It's no surprise at all that the Wii is a runaway success. The price, the innovation: all good. But that's only bad for Sony if you assume that people only buy one system and stick with it. I don't think that's the case anymore--certainly I own both a Wii and a PS3.

Anyway, the comparison to the 360 is more interesting. Looks like the PS3 is pacing the same numbers as the 360 was several months after its launch. Given the price differential, that's impressive indeed.

Globally, PS3 sales are expected to surpass XBox 360 by the end of 2007. (http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/RDM.Tech.Q1.07/8709A21F-1899-4AA2-8283-CAF3F4B353FF.html)

Globally, PS3 sales are expected to surpass XBox 360 by the end of 2007. (http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/RDM.Tech.Q1.07/8709A21F-1899-4AA2-8283-CAF3F4B353FF.html)

The PS3 is doing just as well, if not better, than the 360 did in its first year. It's technically the best system and has some of the best developers and publishers in the industry behind it. The system is going to do very well, especially as the price of Blu-ray players continue to plummet and the price gets slashed lower and lower.

For reference, I'm buying my PS3 in about a week or so.

The PS3 is doing just as well, if not better, than the 360 did in its first year.

Unfortunately this is 2007. It's all well and good to say "it's doing the same as the 360 was the same time after launch". This is the real world, and a head start matters.

It's technically the best system and has some of the best developers and publishers in the industry behind it.

Technical superiority historically means next to nothing and is completely debatable. I hear the PS3 is a bitch to program and that while it does floating point calculations really well, the 360 is ahead when it comes to AI (at least for now, but if it's possible for the PS3 to pull ahead it won't be for a long time).

In the end it comes down to what games you want to play, and many of the good PS3 games that people want to play are coming out for the 360 as well. Most of the games out at the moment can't justify $600+ (depending on country, games, accessories etc.). If that doesn't get better and the price doesn't start coming down before the end of the year they have problems. Even with Sony being my most disliked of the three.. I want to see a 30-30-30 war because then the competition will probably get stronger.

The Australian PS3 has the PS2 compatibility chip missing - so the PS3 uses software emulation to make up for it (badly). The US an European versions aren't cripplied in this way.

The Australian PS3 has the PS2 compatibility chip missing - so the PS3 uses software emulation to make up for it (badly). The US an European versions aren't cripplied in this way.

I thought the European one's did too :confused:

Oh well, they'll probably all be like that in a while.

EDIT: Yep according to Wikipedia the European ones also have the chips missing, they're not planning on working on the BC much and they're going to pull the chips from the US/Japan ones eventually.

I thought the European one's did too :confused:

Oh well, they'll probably all be like that in a while.

EDIT: Yep according to Wikipedia the European ones also have the chips missing, they're not planning on working on the BC and they're going to pull the chips from the US/Japan ones eventually.

Really, OK. Sony is EVIL! It's like - hey you PS2 game owners, we don't like you.

Blu-Ray, if only because it doesn't add to acronym hell.

Really, OK. Sony is EVIL! It's like - hey you PS2 game owners, we don't like you.

No, I think their official comment was along the lines of "Why play old PS2 games when you can play their sequels".

No, I think their official comment was along the lines of "Why play old PS2 games when you can play their sequels".

Gamers would reply - because you just want to make more money off us you !@#$%.

Gamers would reply - because you just want to make more money off us you !@#$%.

Then I would give the standard "That's what a company exists to do". Then they would point out that they should still have more respect for their fans. Then I'd agree. Sounds good.

Then I would give the standard "That's what a company exists to do". Then they would point out that they should still have more respect for their fans. Then I'd agree. Sounds good.

It just makes PS2 game libraries useless unless you have a working PS2.

I do not own an High Definition television, thus, I have no interest in HD-DVD or Blu-Ray. Nor will I for some time.

Yep. I don't feel like shelling out for the TV I'd need...so I don't really even care which format wins.

Besides which, Blockbuster is practically a case study on how to NOT run a business. They're jumping in too early, and it will bite them on the ass eventually.

For instance, I expect I'll be purchasing the Director's Cut of Kingdom of Heaven on Blu-ray. I hate having to switch discs in the middle of a film!

To change the subject completely....the directors cut of that movie was freakin awesome.

I thought the European one's did too :confused:

Oh well, they'll probably all be like that in a while.

EDIT: Yep according to Wikipedia the European ones also have the chips missing, they're not planning on working on the BC much and they're going to pull the chips from the US/Japan ones eventually.

lol.

They aren't screwed more then anyone who has a 360 not under warrenty.

Almost all games are BC, even without the EE and using emulation.

Besides, since the 1.7 firmware update all NA PS3s use emulation instead of the EE chip.

Unfortunately this is 2007. It's all well and good to say "it's doing the same as the 360 was the same time after launch". This is the real world, and a head start matters.You're right to say that a head start can be an important advantage. That doesn't mean it always will be. Going back to the topic of the thread, HD-DVD had a significant market lead on Blu-ray, but in most areas Blu-ray sales are already exceeding HD-DVD.

As for the PS3, it is highly significant that it is keeping pace with the 360 adjusted for launch: it means that the early response to the two was nearly identical despite the 360 having an early lead. Consumers didn't just say, "well *shrug* the 360 is already out, why would I buy a PS3?" They bought the PS3 just as fast as they bought the 360.

Technical superiority historically means next to nothing and is completely debatable. I hear the PS3 is a bitch to program and that while it does floating point calculations really well, the 360 is ahead when it comes to AI (at least for now, but if it's possible for the PS3 to pull ahead it won't be for a long time).Most of what I'm reading says that it is, in fact, too early to tell since few next-gen games have been done for PS3. And I will admit that the XBox has some cool features that PS3 can't match right now (like the better online service)... but PS3 also has some serious "must haves" for me: e.g. easy wireless networking and Bluetooth.

In the end it comes down to what games you want to play, and many of the good PS3 games that people want to play are coming out for the 360 as well.Yes, but PS3 is waiting a year to get out their flagship: Final Fantasy XIII. I predict that this winter season will see a huge surge in PS3 sales as the RPG core (who don't play much else) will finally cave. Indeed, almost everyone I know says, "Waiting for Final Fantasy. Then I'll buy it."

Besides, since the 1.7 firmware update all NA PS3s use emulation instead of the EE chip.Really? The emulation is pretty good then, because I didn't even notice a difference. And isn't that also the same firmware update that let me play PS2 games in HD?

To change the subject completely....the directors cut of that movie was freakin awesome.

Yeah, it blows the theatrical version straight out of the water.

Yeah, it blows the theatrical version straight out of the water.Yes, I think we can all agree on that at least.

Really? The emulation is pretty good then, because I didn't even notice a difference. And isn't that also the same firmware update that let me play PS2 games in HD?

1.8 did the upscaling, but yes.

Sony is losing money on the short run with the PS3, but in the long run they will make money, but it won't be PS3 sales.

Sony made a gamble with the Blu Ray. They ensured that they would lose money on each product sold by putting it in there, but the sale of PS3s means that more people are getting Blu Rays than HD-DVDs. Stores are carrying much more Blu Ray discs than HD-DVDs. I can walk into Target, Best Buy, or any place and find Blu Ray movies. I have trouble finding HD-DVD films.

This is no surprise. PS3's sales mean that Blu Ray is getting better market penetration. Sony might lose money on PS3s, but they will make it up easily with future Blu Ray sales.

I hate DVDs and Blockbuster.

The XBOX 360 are getting cheaper at least, I get one for $AUS 500 now.
I'd get a PS3 - when it's around 500.

It just makes PS2 game libraries useless unless you have a working PS2.This is one (not the only) reason why PS2 outsells all other consoles in the US...except for the Nintendo Wii (and handhelds)

btw. XBox 360 sells less than half of Wii's numbers and roughly 2/3rds of PS2 numbers.

source:http://www.popmatters.com/pm/news/article/42860/can-ps3-survive-for-long/

This is one (not the only) reason why PS2 outsells all other consoles in the US...except for the Nintendo Wii (and handhelds)

btw. XBox 360 sells less than half of Wii's numbers and roughly 2/3rds of PS2 numbers.

source:http://www.popmatters.com/pm/news/article/42860/can-ps3-survive-for-long/

And probably post-PS2 consoles are DRM infested too.