Thoughts from a frustrated HD-DVD supporter (1 Viewer)

[ppltd]

What is with all the doom and gloom? Neither format is going away, and probably won't until something new comes out. Having both systems they live quite well together, and will continue to for some time to come.

To be perfectly frank, after looking at the release notes from all of the studios at CES, none have what I would consider steller schedules, mostly older b rated releases they can cash in on. Where is the day for day releases of their product?

I am getting sick of purchasing HD or BD releases that I just bought in SD a little while ago. I do not mind purchasing older box office smashes rereleased in HD, like maybe Spiderman, Matrix, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, and certianly would support releases of all classics from yerteryears gone by, but when a new release comes out in SD and not HD, it is just a way for the studios to gouge the collectors that will tend to buy both.

If the studios really wanted to put there support behind these formats, they would start making the day for day releases the norm, not the exception. Until then, HD is a niche, and the studios will ensure it stays that way.

With the lackluster schedules released, maybe Universal made the right choice.

In the meantime, there are more releases coming out then I will be able to afford to buy, and for the HD-DVD only house, studio canal (Europe) is releaseing many US BD exclusive titles, most with DTS HD soundtracks.

 

[BrettGallman]

I don't see any reason to worry, personally. The fact that over 300 titles should be coming to the format this year is actually pretty promising as long as they are quality titles.

Also, I own both formats and I can't say that I'm exactly overwhelmed with anything that was announced for Blu-Ray. Casino Royale is going to be nice, and there are a few others, but I can't really say that BD blew HD-DVD out of the water. Universal's silence is a bit disconcerting, but I don't put a whole lot of stock into it. Also, another thing that may be leading to this perception of disappointment is the fact that BD has many titles AND dates confirmed, whereas many of the HD-DVD announcements were along the lines of "these titles are coming, we promise."

I am sure we have at least a couple more years of this to go yet, and there will be many victories for both sides along the way. By the end of the summer, HD-DVD may well have again regained momentum if Universal makes some big announcements.

 

[Edwin-S]

I think UNIVERSAL will eventually crack and announce that they will be pursuing a non-exclusive release strategy. People here like to write off the potential of the PS3, but you can bet that the management at UNIVERSAL is looking at the potential market, for movie sales, that the PS3 represents.

 

[Ryan-G]

I'm sure they are, but you also must remember that the potential it represents is probably something on the order of 10% of the installed base or less.

I'm not going to go into the full analysis again, but the number of 360 add-ons sold is precisely representative of the percentage of PS3's that can be expected to be used as players regularly.

Additionally, the installed base of HDTV's is also representative of the full potential of PS3 driven sales. It cannot exceed that number by anything over a fractional percentage.

In short, it's a very small number, especially when one remembers the fight to 40 million DVD Players sold.

 

[Tim Glover]

Good post Thomas and Brett.

Really, the more I have thought about this the better I feel. Nearly ALL of the HD-DVD backers desparately wished for more hardware companies doing HD-DVD. Toshiba, while doing a noble job, can't do this alone. We got several on board plus a rather HEAVY push from Microsoft. In fact, Microsoft's backing may prove to be more helpful than we know.

Not many "rational" HD-DVD types like me ....never thought we would get a studio to cross over. I really didn't. Not yet at least.

The biggest issue I had and still have is Universal's quietness. I did see where their president was indeed at CES and among those speaking at the HD-DVD Group's Press event. He feels Combos are a good way to go etc...

I do think it's a LONG way from being decided and might even be mid 2008 before we really know anything, especially if Warner's TotalHD discs take off. Who knows?

It's all good

 

[Joseph Bolus]

I've currently got my HD-A1 hooked-up to a 480p native resolution projector (Infocus SP4805). The main benefits from this combination are fewer compression artifacts and better color saturation. (Also, believe it or not, there is perceived increased detail on wide shots.) As a result, I'm perfectly content to purchase SD-DVD's from the four Blu-ray exclusive studios for the time being. In fact, I just recently purchased the four "Ultimate Bond" sets and could not be happier. If I had owned a Blu-ray deck I'd probably still be waiting for the HD iterations of the Bonds.

The breaking point for me will be the Disney animated classics. If and when Disney starts releasing titles like Snow White, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast exclusively to BD, then I'll have to crack. I'm hoping that by that time we'll have second generation combo decks available for around $500-$700 and/or all the studios are releasing to "Total HD" discs. (Hah!)

Gosh, I just *hate* format wars!!

 

[Edwin-S]

This makes more sense to me. HD disc penetration on either the XBOX360 or PS3 is limited to the percentage of people who also own or have access to HDTVs. Therefore, the market for HD discs potentially is limited. However, it stands to reason that a gamer who purchases an XBOX360 or PS3 is either an owner or soon to be owner of an HDTV; otherwise, the potential of either system is wasted for games and movies. If the game system owner does not own a HD set then there is a good likelihood that they, at some point, have access to one.

 

[MarekM]

like higher pitch soundtrack on Basic Instinct2 ? no thanx.........

Marek

 

[Edwin-S]

Really? As I remember it, BTTF was a pretty big hit in its original theatrical run. Maybe I'm recollecting wrongly.

 

[MarekM]

you are right about first part,

Back to the Future Uni. $210,609,762 1985 number 1
Back to the Future 2 Uni. $118,450,002 number 6
Back to the Future 3 Uni. $87,727,583 number 6

Marek

 

[Brent T]

For me its pretty simple, I bought a 360 a year ago to play games. I enjoy gaming and IMO the 360 is/was the way to go for a console. When the HD-DVD unit came out it was a no brainer for me to pick one up for under $200.00 at BB with a 12% off coupon. I have bought several HD-DVD's, I have really enjoyed them and even if the format loses I still have a cheap player with some titles that I love.

As soon as Blue Ray comes out with a good player that I can get in the $200-$300 range I will be sticking with HD-DVD until there is determined winner.

 

[JonZ]

"I'll have felt I've gotten my money's worth worlds over."

Exactly.

We'll be hearing some HD news soon - along with the really nice imports coming starting in Feb, this should be a great HDdisc year.

Im not worried about the slow news,as we've gotten some release news only a few weeks in advance.Im more worried about the pisspoor support HD has gotten from the retail stores.

 

[Geoffy]

In the UK it's worse - in the shops I've asked in, I've either received blank looks from the staff, been pointed to the DVD section, or the meagre selection that are available are priced at £20-£25 (about $40-$48 US at today's exchange rate.)

For something that's only recently launched there's been no fanfare whatsoever :/

 

[ppltd]

?????

 

[Edwin-S]

I think he may be referring to pitch changes caused by PAL speed up. I'm not sure if it is applicable to HD releases.

 

[MarekM]

yes, it seems they used pal soundtrack for their release and they converted already speeded up soundtrack (with pitch changes)...........

there is a thread on avs,.......

Marek

 

[DeeF]

If they wished to cement the reputation of HD-DVD, Warners and Universal and Paramount could get together and release a beautiful Hitchcock set, which would be complete for his US films, except for Rebecca, Notorious, Spellbound, and Lifeboat. These films probably wouldn't require more than a normal 15 gig or 30 gig disk, each.

 

[MarekM]

well Thomas...

- you are in very very minority, who thinks that a LIST is "lackluster list" and I am talking only about Blu-ray list !! and Blu-ray list seems so far much much better comapre to HD DVD list...

- I already posted about first BTTF...

- about Universal, so far you are ONLY one I know who thinks it is OK....

- you are disssapointed with LACKLUSTER LIST OF MOVIES and on the other hand you are OK with Universal putting out NOTHING ???? just visit avs and you will see hehe

- if Studio Canal+ will do same as they did with Basic Instinct, I will never buy from them any release, not before professional REVIEW that soundtrack is OK

Marek

 

[ppltd]

It isn't

 

[ppltd]

I have 5 of their releases and no problems with any, other than the lack of any special features. As far a Basic Instict 2, don't have it and wouldn't buy it.