- LOCK - Format War - HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray - LOCK -

Status
Not open for further replies.
[quote name='gizmogc']
hdbrzz5.jpg


Amazon numbers as of today...HD-DVD has really turned in the past few days/week. Could be because of the recent 50% + Buy 1 Get 1 Free BR sales that people are broke, could be because HD-DVD has The Matrix, could be alot of factors. I expect these numbers to turn even more once the A2 is officially $400 at retail outlets next week (along with 4 free HD-DVDs from Circuit City + 5 free from Toshiba). Happy Feet, release today, on HD-DVD is outselling the Blu-Ray counterpart even though its $4 more and a Combo. Wonder if Disney will take notice?[/QUOTE]

Trend lines for 6 days? AHAHAHAHAHA! Lemme go hunt down 6 days worth of presidential polls from 2004, 2000, 1996, 1992, and 1988.
 
Well, if I'm spending $70 for the triology, honestly, I would go all out for an extra $13. Maybe people think differentyl, but the price difference is pretty small considering how much you are spending.

The original Matrix was good, but the other two were let downs. They would be good HD movies though.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']Trend lines for 6 days? AHAHAHAHAHA! Lemme go hunt down 6 days worth of presidential polls from 2004, 2000, 1996, 1992, and 1988.[/QUOTE]

Hunt down the polls for HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray from June until December while your at it. HD was killing BR.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']Hunt down the polls for HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray from June until December while your at it. HD was killing BR.[/QUOTE]

Keyword: Was.

BR suffered from inferior PQ, much higher price, smaller movie selection, and later release. Those problems have all been fixed now.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']Hunt down the polls for HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray from June until December while your at it. HD was killing BR.[/QUOTE]

That's precisely my point, Nancy. You show a "chart" like it's something meaningful, interpreting three whole days of sales to indicate that "HD-DVD has really turned in the past few days/week."

Three days of sales is irrelevant. So is a single week. Show me overall sales, sales trends over the past 6 months/year or however long each brand has been available. Then we'll play with data.
 
[quote name='dpatel']Keyword: Was.

BR suffered from inferior PQ, much higher price, smaller movie selection, and later release. Those problems have all been fixed now.[/QUOTE]

?

Last I checked PQ is still not up to par of HD DVD on some titles, Fox titles continue to be $40 for barbone releases, and we have seen over a dozen titles delayed. Blu-Ray titles also seem to be catering toward more of the 'PS3 Gamer; crowd with very few classic released like the HD DVD camp has done.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']Last I checked PQ is still not up to par of HD DVD on some titles,[/QUOTE]

That's going to depend on the movie and not the format. Before, it was a widespread problem because of inferior codecs.

[quote name='gizmogc']Fox titles continue to be $40 for barbone releases, [/QUOTE]

When I said 'higher prices', I was referring to the fact that BR players were double in price. Movies generally tend to be about the same, on average, for the two camps, but yea, there will be a few movies that are higher/lower than the average.

[quote name='gizmogc']and we have seen over a dozen titles delayed. [/QUOTE]

Your point? BR still has the bigger movie selection (albeit very slightly) and the bigger 07 release list for now. And what 12+ titles were you referring to?

[quote name='gizmogc']Blu-Ray titles also seem to be catering toward more of the 'PS3 Gamer; crowd with very few classic released like the HD DVD camp has done.[/QUOTE]

I'm guessing you mean 'casual/mainstream' crowd. In which case, you would be correct. But, looking at the top movies, who can blame them.


Anyway, that's beside the point. I was just pointing out reasons as to why BR was behind last year. You still pointed out that problems are apparent, but the sales show this isn't as much of a factor any more, and doesn't seem like it will be in the future either.
 
[quote name='dpatel']Anyway, that's beside the point. I was just pointing out reasons as to why BR was behind last year. You still pointed out that problems are apparent, but the sales show this isn't as much of a factor any more, and doesn't seem like it will be in the future either.[/QUOTE]

Gotcha. Blu-Ray still does not have everything up to par yet. $40 for a barebones disc is atrocious, and only having sequels out blows (X-Men III, Underworld Evolution etc.)
 
[quote name='gizmogc'] and only having sequels out blows (X-Men III, Underworld Evolution etc.)[/QUOTE]

I agree 100% with that. They really need to get xmen 1 & 2 out.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']Gotcha. Blu-Ray still does not have everything up to par yet. $40 for a barebones disc is atrocious, and only having sequels out blows (X-Men III, Underworld Evolution etc.)[/QUOTE]

Well, Blu-ray in general does seem to have everything up to par. You are just citing specific examples of certain expensive titles, and certain movies with inferior quality. I'm sure both formats have their share of both.
 
[quote name='rodeojones903']I agree 100% with that. They really need to get xmen 1 & 2 out.[/QUOTE]

Summer...apparently. But since Fox delayed nearly every title they announced at CES maybe around Thanksgiving?
 
Be honest d. With what I've heard about X3 the average person would want 1 and 2. I'm mad as fuck Rattner turned Juggernaut into just a big normal guy myself.
Gizmojc is the 4 free HD DVD's only this week or next as well and does it include new releases as well because I told my bro about the deal.
 
[quote name='Sarang01']Be honest d. With what I've heard about X3 the average person would want 1 and 2. I'm mad as fuck Rattner turned Juggernaut into just a big normal guy myself.[/QUOTE]

Definitely. X3 was terrible. I wasn't disagreeing with that.
 
[quote name='dpatel']Definitely. X3 was terrible. I wasn't disagreeing with that.[/QUOTE]

It was AWESOME! Well, I'm just a big Kitty Pryde fan so....
 
[quote name='gizmogc']It was AWESOME! Well, I'm just a big Kitty Pryde fan so....[/QUOTE]

Wow was she hot in it? Nice tight fitting outfit like Shadowcat has in the comics?
 
[quote name='gizmogc']It was AWESOME! Well, I'm just a big Kitty Pryde fan so....[/QUOTE]

You just went down a few points Gizmogc.

Kitty Pryde aside, did you really like it?
 
[quote name='Sarang01']Wow was she hot in it? Nice tight fitting outfit like Shadowcat has in the comics?[/QUOTE]

Yes, but she was like 12. :D

I didnt think x3 was that bad. Not as good as the first two, but not horrible.
 
[quote name='dpatel']You just went down a few points Gizmogc.

Kitty Pryde aside, did you really like it?[/QUOTE]

It was OK. I have always hated Cyclops so I was glad to see him killed. I love the Phoenix so it was nice to see her (even though it was nothing like the comics). Kitty Pryde was hot (even though she was only 16 when she was in the movie; watch the movie Hard Candy, the actress is awesome in it). I really enjoyed watching it and picking out all the different X-Men characters.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']It was OK. I have always hated Cyclops so I was glad to see him killed. I love the Phoenix so it was nice to see her (even though it was nothing like the comics). Kitty Pryde was hot (even though she was only 16 when she was in the movie; watch the movie Hard Candy, the actress is awesome in it). I really enjoyed watching it and picking out all the different X-Men characters.[/QUOTE]

Well, 3 had the best and biggest variety of X-men, so yea, in that sense, it was pretty cool to see them in action. But the movie itself sucked, in my opinion.
 
[quote name='Sarang01']
Gizmojc is the 4 free HD DVD's only this week or next as well and does it include new releases as well because I told my bro about the deal.[/QUOTE]

If you're refering to the deal at CCity, actually it's only next week. Specifics have been hard to come by though, but the way the BD sales there and the ones at BB have worked new releases are elegible.
 
[quote name='rodeojones903']Yes, but she was like 12. :D

I didnt think x3 was that bad. Not as good as the first two, but not horrible.[/quote]

Ellen Paige the canadian chick who played kittie was 19 at the time of filming not 12 so dont feel bad. Yes she was damn hot in the movie.
 
[quote name='Sarang01']Be honest d. With what I've heard about X3 the average person would want 1 and 2. I'm mad as fuck Rattner turned Juggernaut into just a big normal guy myself.
Gizmojc is the 4 free HD DVD's only this week or next as well and does it include new releases as well because I told my bro about the deal.[/QUOTE]

4 Free HD-DVD at time of purchase is next week at Circuit City only. Must be in-stock, and must be movies, not boxsets.

Once again, HD-DVD is up on Amazon. The overall ranking is getting closer...and closer....
 
In the first example of a studio "demoting" a combo release, Universal Studios Home Entertainment will re-issue 'Army of Darkness' and 'Unleashed' as stand-alone HD DVD titles this June.

Universal first released both 'Army of Darkness' and 'Unleashed' last year as HD DVD/DVD combos, at the format's slightly higher $34.95 price tag. The studio is now discontinuing those versions from the market, and re-issuing both as $29.95 HD DVD-only versions on June 26.


Specs and features remain the same -- Universal is simply dropping the HD DVD side, with no other changes to the discs' content.

The move comes as a bit of a surprise, as only a couple of months ago, the studio was touting an aggressive release strategy that would see an estimated 90 percent of its entire HD DVD 2007 line-up go combo. However, in the past several weeks, the studio has announced its HD DVD release schedule all the way through July, and not a single catalog title is a combo.

Of Universal's 2007 titles announced thus far, only new release theatrical hits, including the recently-announced 'The Hitcher' and 'Alpha Dog,' are slated to be combos.

No word has come from Universal on just what the strategy is behind their seeming about-face on combos. Perhaps the lower price point on HD DVD-only catalog titles will prove more attractive to consumers, and help further drive sales? Certainly, with the news of Blu-ray's success with titles like 'Casino Royale,' which last week became the first next-gen title to ship over 100,000 copies, the battle for sales bragging rights is certainly more competitive than ever.

We'll keep you posted on any further Universal conversions of combo titles to HD DVD-only releases. We've also added new listings for both 'Army of Darkness' and 'Unleashed' to our HD DVD Release Schedule, under June 26.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Seems like a waste to re-release previous Combo's though. $5 cheaper is nice, but its not that big of a deal. If these were re-released at the prices of most Warnter titles ($24.99) I'd be all over Army of Dakrness.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']Interesting. Seems like a waste to re-release previous Combo's though. $5 cheaper is nice, but its not that big of a deal. If these were re-released at the prices of most Warnter titles ($24.99) I'd be all over Army of Dakrness.[/QUOTE]

That's just the MSRP.

You can currently pick up the combo for 23.9x from Amazon or I'm sure the rerelease will only be 20.
 
[quote name='Sporadic']That's just the MSRP.

You can currently pick up the combo for 23.9x from Amazon or I'm sure the rerelease will only be 20.[/QUOTE]

I know that Amazon has them cheaper. With a cheaper MSRP means a better chance of Fry's selling them for $19.99
 
[quote name='gizmogc']Interesting. Seems like a waste to re-release previous Combo's though. $5 cheaper is nice, but its not that big of a deal. If these were re-released at the prices of most Warnter titles ($24.99) I'd be all over Army of Dakrness.[/QUOTE]

Well, while it seems like a waste to go back and re-release them these are things that needn't have been combo titles in the first place. Especially Army of Darkness, a niche type of film like that (espeiclaly since it's from 1992) they should've known everyone who truely likes the film bought one of the several DVD releases already so a combo disc never made sense. Why I'm still against the whole combo disc thing in general, nothing should need to be one, save for new or fairly recent releases. It's going to be somewhat interesting though to see just how many titles maybe re-released in only the HD format later on...
 
[quote name='Duo_Maxwell']Well, while it seems like a waste to go back and re-release them these are things that needn't have been combo titles in the first place. Especially Army of Darkness, a niche type of film like that (espeiclaly since it's from 1992) they should've known everyone who truely likes the film bought one of the several DVD releases already so a combo disc never made sense. Why I'm still against the whole combo disc thing in general, nothing should need to be one, save for new or fairly recent releases. It's going to be somewhat interesting though to see just how many titles maybe re-released in only the HD format later on...[/QUOTE]

Combo's make sense for new releases though. When a new movie comes out (Happy Feet, for example) it gives someone the ability to buy it for the HD side, and the DVD side to watch somewhere else. Most people only have 1 HD or Blu-Ray player in the house. If its a new title, they may want to watch in somewhere else. It also gives someone the extra 'boost' to get an HD DVD Player since they already have some movies that work on it.

However, when they price combos $10+ more then the DVD release its incredibly lame.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']Combo's make sense for new releases though. When a new movie comes out (Happy Feet, for example) it gives someone the ability to buy it for the HD side, and the DVD side to watch somewhere else. Most people only have 1 HD or Blu-Ray player in the house. If its a new title, they may want to watch in somewhere else. It also gives someone the extra 'boost' to get an HD DVD Player since they already have some movies that work on it.

However, when they price combos $10+ more then the DVD release its incredibly lame.[/QUOTE]

I said save for new releases, they do make some sense in that regard. And I'm no fan of flippers, but I'm in total agreement the price is what really kills the idea, esepcially with the low prices regular DVDs are released at anymore.
 
Committed to 50GB

Going forward, Sony is committing to rolling out 80% of all its forthcoming Blu-ray titles as 50GB discs.

Although replication companies are not yet at full Blu-ray production capabilities, Bishop is confident they can handle the studio’s push for 50GB titles.

“It’s important, especially in this phase, that we make sure we are showing the absolute best quality in video and audio, and 50GB accomplishes that,” said Bishop.

However, Sony is still easing into the Blu-ray format. The studio is planning to hold off releasing The Da Vinci Code in the format until next year, when more of the movie’s target audience will have purchased Blu-ray players.

“That audience who saw and loved it on DVD is primarily older and in the next wave of adoption,” said Bishop. “We will have another opportunity when Angels and Demons [like Da Vinci Code, also based on a book by Dan Brown] comes out theatrically in 2008.”
Click to expand...

Good news, but I wonder if this will bring more then just the movie and a trailer. The lack of 'extras' on Blu-Rays REALLY suck. 50GB is enough for a HD transfer and ALL if not MORE extras then the current SD versions. Eragon for Blu-Ray had NOTHING! (Which sucks as my girlfriend loves the books so I have to buy it on Blu-Ray for picture and SD for extras)
 
Now you can hate Panasonic (not just the user) as well as Sony Giz.

"It's safe to say that Blu-ray is on its way to being victorious in this format war," said Panasonic's vice president of technologies and alliances Jeff Cove, during the company's 2007 line show in New York. He said that Blu-ray is outselling HD DVD at a two-to-one rate.

Panasonic also issued a public thank you to film studios using Blu-ray for their high-definition video disc releases. It was kind of like they were accepting an Academy Award.

"With over 80 percent of the major studios committed to issuing Blu-ray releases and the majority of consumer electronic companies supporting this technology, we are quite confident that Blu-ray will succeed," says Gene Kelsey, vice president, Panasonic Entertainment Group.
Click to expand...
 
[quote name='dallow']Now you can hate Panasonic (not just the user) as well as Sony Giz.[/QUOTE]

Hehe, Panasonic. Yeah, lets thank the studios for the awesome trailers they provide on the superior 50GB discs :roll:

The war is FAR FAR FAR from over. Its just cute to read these little announcements like they think they have won.
 
I agree. I work with several people who have HD tvs, but don't know the first thing about 420p, 720p, etc. One thing they all have in common is they all ask me about Blu-ray. Not because they're up on technology, but because of the commercials. Most of the bigger hits are coming out on blu-ray, and those commercials that tell you "also available on Blu-ray Disc" catch alot of peoples attention. I think which format is superior Blu-ray or HD-Dvd is still up to debate, but I think Blu-ray is winning the marketing war. And as we all know that can go a long way, just look at Ipod.
 
[quote name='daroga']I am very interested to see how long until (or if) the mainstream market adopts the HD movie format (either one). I have this strange feeling that both are going to end up being footnotes in the format history, and that plain old cheap DVD will be dominant until bandwidth and codecs allowed digital distribution to be the new norm.[/QUOTE]

Bit late to the party, but I wholly agree with this. Slighlty better picture and sound, with pretty much the same extras (just less discs). I'm really hoping that both formats go belly up and that DVD reigns supreme until digital distribution over takes it.

BR should fail because Sony pretty much took a giant shit on there fanbase saying taht the fanbase will buy whatever Sony deems worthy enough for them to buy, not to mention creating a subpar system to be a trojan horse for BR.

HD-DVD, well HD is just to expensive, even with the 360 ad-on and cheap deals.
 
I would hate to be stuck with DVD until Digital Distrubution hits mainstream (whenever that may be). I don't see the point in having both formats fail. It's not like our DVDs will become obsolete, and its not like these formats will always be expensive.
 
[quote name='-Never4ever-']HD-DVD, well HD is just to expensive, even with the 360 ad-on and cheap deals.[/QUOTE]

HD players are as low as $400 at any retail store with discs being as low as $20. Thats not 'too expensive' unless you live on welfare checks.

Digital Distribution won't matter much until every has a high-speed internet connection and movie rental stores goes belly-up. How many people have digital cable but still drive to Blockbuster, wait in line, pay, drive home, to watch the same movie available RIGHT then on demand? Alot apparently.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']HD players are as low as $400 at any retail store with discs being as low as $20. Thats not 'too expensive' unless you live on welfare checks. [/QUOTE]

Wow... you're not serious are you?
 
[quote name='dpatel']Wow... you're not serious are you?[/QUOTE]

No, but the poster makes it out to be like its A $2000 investment. The only expensive thing is the player itself. The movies are slightly more expensive then normal DVDs unless they are the same 200 or so catalog titles on sale every week at every store.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']No, but the poster makes it out to be like its A $2000 investment. The only expensive thing is the player itself. The movies are slightly more expensive then normal DVDs unless they are the same 200 or so catalog titles on sale every week at every store.[/QUOTE]

Really, I'm using the HD-DVD attachment, VGA cables and a 19" widescreen computer monitor I got on Black Friday for $160.

Overall my jump was only $370 which would be around $4somthing without the deals I got.
 
[quote name='Sporadic']Really, I'm using the HD-DVD attachment, VGA cables and a 19" widescreen computer monitor I got on Black Friday for $160.

Overall my jump was only $370 which would be around $4somthing without the deals I got.[/QUOTE]

But to use the $200 HD-DVD you would have to have a 360 which only 10 million people have so that can't count :roll:
 
[quote name='gizmogc']HD players are as low as $400 at any retail store with discs being as low as $20. Thats not 'too expensive' unless you live on welfare checks. [/quote]There's a difference between being able to afford something and being able to wisely spend money. If you want to spend $400+ on a new movie player and $20+ a pop on movies, knock yourself out. That's an atrocious waste of money in my book, though.

I have a nice, $100 upconverting DVD player that can make all my standard DVDs look really nice. An extra $300+ for a player and $5-15 per movie is certainly not worth it for the slight extra "pop" that an HD format offers.
 
[quote name='daroga']An extra $300+ for a player and $5-15 per movie is certainly not worth it for the slight extra "pop" that an HD format offers.[/QUOTE]

I can understand and appreciate this argument, but I think that false logic comes to the conclusion that says "oh boy, I hope DVD wins out over BR and HD until digital distribution comes around." It's false because it assumes that the price of BR and HD, both players and media, will be higher than what you're willing to pay for them. That's never been the case technologically - DVD became cheap enough against VHS over time, CDs became cheaper than cassettes (or, rather, in the case of both, the cost was identical but the quality difference made the upgrade to new tech a wiser choice).

I'm sure you'll see $200 HD-DVD and BR players by the end of 2008. It's always been the case.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']No, but the poster makes it out to be like its A $2000 investment.[/QUOTE]

Which part? All I saw was someone saying the HD-DVD add-on was still too expensive. Which is fine, seeing as how 'expensive' is a pretty relative term.

[quote name='gizmogc']The only expensive thing is the player itself. The movies are slightly more expensive then normal DVDs unless they are the same 200 or so catalog titles on sale every week at every store.[/QUOTE]

Maybe not expensive to you, but that's not what was said. The poster clearly said the HD-DVD add-on and the cheap deals, were still too expensive for him/her. I have no idea why you are trying to convince someone else what they should and should not think is expensive.

I personally think $200 is reasonable. Had I not been forced to go with blu-ray with the PS3, I probably would've waiting for a $200 player or add-on. Movies are still a bit expensive for me. I'll always wait for some sort of sale before purchasing movies. I can see why people would think HD is expensive. Sure many people can afford it, but most can't justify the relatively large price tag for what they might see as a 'slight' bump in quality.
 
[quote name='gizmogc']No, but the poster makes it out to be like its A $2000 investment. The only [size=+1]expensive[/size] thing is the player itself. The movies are slightly more [size=+1]expensive[/size] then normal DVDs unless they are the same 200 or so catalog titles on sale every week at every store.[/QUOTE]


Weren't you saying that HD was NOT expensive? :lol: I guess, if you don't count the movies and the player, HD is pretty cheap and anyone who doesn't live on welfare checks should have HD by now. :roll:
 
[quote name='dpatel']Weren't you saying that HD was NOT expensive? :lol: I guess, if you don't count the movies and the player, HD is pretty cheap and anyone who doesn't live on welfare checks should have HD by now. :roll:[/QUOTE]

:lol:
 
Members of the AVS HD DVD forum made yesterday 'Buy an HD DVD at Amazon day'. The Blu-Ray camp did as well soon after...but it didn't help. HD DVD Crushed Blu-Ray yesterday in sales, which is still trickeling over today. Planet Earth on HD DVD currently holds the #5 spot, and is the #1 selling "next gen" disc beating Casino Royale but 2 spots (as per how high on the charts it got). Pretty impressive for $70 educational boxset vs. a $25 popcorn movie. Even before the sale the HD DVD version was outselling the Blu-Ray buy 5-20 spots.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
bread's done
Back
Top