Samsung doesn't think Blu-ray will last as long as the PS3...

In a recent interview, the director of consumer electronics at Samsung UK, Andy Griffiths, has put a 5 year sell by date on the high definition disc format. That's not even as long as the PS3's anticipated shelf life and puts a gloomy outlook on the budding format.

"I think it [Blu-ray] has 5 years left, I certainly wouldn't give it 10," Griffiths said. Wait, are we sure this wasn't a Toshiba exec in disguise?

It seems particularly odd because Samsung sells its own Blu-ray players and no matter what the truth of it, it doesn't strike me as a great business practise to tell your customers and potential customers that their Blu-ray players will look like even bigger paperweights in under ten years.

On the upside, 2008 is going to be a good year for the format, Griffiths reckons, citing rental services like LoveFilm which have adopted the disc format and are offering a clear path for Blu-ray adoption.

Presumably, downloads are going to step in to fill Blu-ray's HD shoes in the end. Although there's clear indication that this indeed the way things are going, I have a suspicion it may take more than five years for the UK, BT and the various ISPs to sort out the mess they've gotten themselves into.

(via Pocket-Lint)

Related posts: Firefly heading to Blu-ray, woot | Mummy 3 better on Blu-ray than at cinema says director. It couldn't get any worse.

Firefly is heading to Blu-ray

Firefly was an all-too-familiar tale of a fantastic series getting cut off in its prime. The movie, Serenity, wasn't a bad halfway ground to appease fans but certainly nothing like the new series we were hoping for. There's no danger of that happening now so the only thing you can do to show your support for Joss Whedon and irritation at the idiot TV channel - FOX, as per usual - by buying a copy of the original and only series on disc. And now you can do that on Blu-ray, which is vaguely related to PS3, hence why you're reading this here.

I know what you're thinking. How does buying more copies of it help? Well, it probably doesn't, but we know how Hollywood and media execs think. They won't be smugly pleased with the extra sales - in fact, they'll be weeping into their pillows tonight as they think of all the money they MIGHT have made off DVD and Blu-ray sales from future series. Choke on those tears, you daft buggers.

Oh yeah, because it's the Blu-ray version you get some extra, err, extras. These include some more commentaries and interviews and other gubbins that fails to fill the gaping void left in the series.

(via HDR)

Related posts: Mummy 3 is better on Blu-ray - what's better than Complete Shit though? | FFXIII demos arriving with Advent Children on Blu-ray

Mummy 3 director reckons the film is better on Blu-ray than at the cinema

There's been very little of the beating of the Blu-ray drum in recent months, presumably because there's no longer any pesky young upstart challenging its right to succeed DVD as the next (and possibly last) generation of optical media .

Anyway, you might have forgotten that Blu-ray is the ULTIMATE disc based home entertainment system, you forgetful drone, so here's a man who makes crappy action films including xXx, Stealth, Daylight and the latest block buster The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor to remind you:

"Things that are dimensional, like the dragon lunging at the camera, in Blu-ray really knock your head off because you are seeing all the details we put in it that are even a little better defined," said Rob Cohen, director of the third CGI -heavy Mummy cinematic debacle. "The dark/light values are better so you can be darker and still see all the detail."

Yup, and also unlike the cinema, Blu-ray players can be switched off at the touch of a button, rescuing an evening from two hours of brain meltingly drab entertainment without forcing you to air your disinterest in front of a crowd of fellow cinema goers.

(via CrunchGear)

Related posts: FFXIII demo to be included on Advent Children Blu-ray release | MGS4 pokes fun at DVD

Final Fantasy XIII demo to come with Advent Children Blu-ray disc release in March

At the DSK3713 fan event in Tokyo, Square Enix announced to the baying hordes of fans that the upcoming Blu-ray release of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete will come bundled with a bonus disc including trailers for Final Fantasy Versus XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII, as well as a playable demo of Final Fantasy XIII. That's a healthy load of Final Fantasy that should see even uncertain FF fans eager to pick up the Blu-ray disc.

The precise release dates of the movie and game are currently still under wraps. The fact that Advent Children is eschewing a cinema release too doesn't help pin a precise date on it either, but it is reckoned that March 2009 would be a likely time frame.

Square Enix also revealed that Final Fantasy Agito XIII will be coming to the PSP as well as the PlayStation 3 and the trailer of Final Fantasy Versus XIII concluded with the very reassuring line "PlayStation 3 only worldwide."

(via Wired)

Related posts: FFXIII development led on PS3 | Old Square Enix titles heading to Japanese PSN

Sony to mix Blu-ray media with social networking

Sony Electronic's US head, Stan Glasgow, has some interesting ideas for the future of Blu-ray. Blu-ray apparently shouldn't just be for idle viewing of the content. Nuh-uh. Instead it should be an active, social experience instead.

Allow Mr Glasgow to explain: "We're going to have to open this up as a social network--not just contributions of Sony and other Blu-ray partners," he said. "There are going to be contributions from actual customers."

Hmm, still clear as mud. Let's try again:

"If we had a dream for Blu-ray [other than handing HD DVD its arse, presumably], it would be much more interactive than it is today: No. 1, where you could interface and change things as you want to see them on the screen. No. 2, you could socially interact with other people, it's connected through the Internet...but theoretically you and your friend could watch the same movie, and you could change themes, change endings, all sorts of strange things in the future. Some type of social interaction in the future..."

Metal Gear Solid 4 pokes fun at ancient DVD format

Oh those crazy chaps at Konami. They stuffed MGS4 full of Sony products and references. Rumour has it there's a PSP, a SIXAXIS controller and Sony mobile phone all in there to be spotted. This one seemed most pertinent though: it's Otacon having an absolutely HILARIOUS laugh at old DVD's expense.

Ahhh, remember those tiresome days when you had to get up, hump it all the way across the living room, carefully negotiate furniture and controller cables, open the game box, find the right disc and insert it into the console when prompted? I know, I know - it was like the fucking STONE AGE, right? Well, thanks to Blu-ray - nay, dual-layered Blu-ray - those times are way behind us now.

As Otacon says: "What an age we live in, huh, Snake? Wonder what they'll think of next!". Jeez, I dunno, maybe a way of letting me come on in there to punch your smug little weasely face in?

(via GameTrailers)

Related posts: Ironically, most of the disc space is being used to house absurdly long cut scenes | Which in turn has cost the game a perfect set of review scores | And Konami clearly wanted them, given that it has been gagging reviewers

PlayStation Day - KillZone 2 delayed until Feb and more

KillZone 2 - Feb 2009, LittleBigPlanet - October, Home - "end of the year". Sony's PlayStation Day seemed to be all about delays to interesting stuff. Bah.

Fortunately, it wasn't all bad news. DICE's FPP (first-person parkour-er) Mirror's Edge looked bright, breezy and brilliant, and the trailer for Guerrilla's much-awaited shooter sequel did at least look the part, even though it's been put back. Weirdly, the footage of Resistance 2 showed a game which looked far less complete, though perhaps KillZone 2 only has one level so far. Either way: spiffy destruction.

Other stuff - PS3 has outsold 360 in Europe already (completely, or just over the same relative timespan? We don't know) and Motorstorm Pacific Rift looks like being the game the original promised to be. Loads of other media-related nonsense - BD LIVE will allow you to do strange things with compatible films (changing viewpoint in rewind-a-thriller Vantage Point; playing quizzes during Men In Black), PlayTV digital recording service will be £99, Go! View (June 30th release) is Sky on your PSP. Echochrome is ace, but we know that already - just give us the bloody thing, Sony.

Not the world's most exciting conference then - but attendees thereafter got the chance to go hands-on with all the games mentioned above and plenty more, like Buzz, Crisis Core, Space Invaders Extreme, Siren: Blood Curse (new name!) and, er, EyeToy: Pom Pom Party.

Sony is still clearly pushing the PS3 as an all-encompassing multimedia device, but its interest in user-generated content and more casual-focussed titles could see it take giant strides towards attracting a mainstream audience this year. Though for core gamers there might not have been too much excitement in the words of Hirai and Reeves, Sony has set down a solid foundation for the rest of the year. A potential killer FPS in the first quarter of next year won't do any harm, either.

Eurogamer

Blu-ray victory not quite as impressive as most think - relies too much on PS3

According to ABI Research analyst (yes, another one of those people unfortunately) then the Blu-ray victory isn't quite as encouraging as most may think due to the formats reliance on the PS3 as a Blu-ray player.

"The studios better hope that people are playing movies on their Playstations, otherwise there's a very little installed base." Which is a fair point, with - according to ABI - about 85 per cent of Blu-ray players to be found in the guise of a gorgeous PS3.

In fact, it's a very good point indeed. With Blu-ray movies still priced at an obscenely high level, what are the chances that a large number of PS3 owners are going to shell out masses of cash for multiple Blu-ray films?

Let's be honest, most will happily watch the Blu-ray films they obtain in their PS3 bundle deal, and perhaps purchase their favourite so as to witness it at its true HD glory. But after that, won't they spent a fraction of the price and buy the latest releases on standard DV and utilise the PS3s upscaling capabilities?

Source: Next-Gen
Related posts: BD-Live update, Microsoft isn't interested in Blu-ray

In ten years the majority of game sales will be online, says Maguire

Sony UK MD Ray Maguire has made a prediction, albeit a fairly safe one, that by 2018 the vast majority of game sales will be online.

Annoyingly, he didn't specify whether he meant online as in Play.com or online as in Steam. So there goes any chance of us claiming that the PS4 won't have an Blu-ray drive.

Okay with this bit of ambiguity, this arguably the most predictable, err, prediction he could possibly have made, but seeing as Sony has made a number of extremely successful forays into digital distribution territory, it's probably safe to assume that Sony not expecting to retain an iron grip on physical media for too long. That drive less PS4 is an option yet,

The context of this statement was interesting though: Maguire was speaking at an ELSPA press conference alongside Dr Tanya Byron. Naturally Byron's presence meant this was related to finding of the recent Byron Review which outlined a few reasonable changes to make to the UK's games ratings system.

Sony man reckons Microsoft played its best hands too early (and other analogies)

Sony's marketing VP has been doing the rounds on various publications banging the Sony drum much as you'd expect a head of marketing to do. Previously he's downplayed the importance of exclusive DLC in the GTA IV launch and now's got to bagging the competition in more general terms.

Speaking on the topic of Sony's Blu-ray victory and the PS3, he claimed that "[Sony's] competition has already leveraged all their big assets in the first couple of years and may have punched themselves out of the fight".

These words are probably music to the ears of Sony's most ardent fans but there is danger in writing off the competition prematurely, particularly when - at this moment - the competition is actually ahead of Sony in terms of install base. The recent Xbox 360 price cuts have probably also stemmed the brief period of Sony's lead in hardware sales.

Why do only some PS3 games suffer mandatory installs?

MTV Multiplayer has an interesting article discussing why some PS3 games force hard disc installs on eager players. Why do you have to wait around for twenty minutes after you first insert the disc so that it can fill up your hard drive space with necessary data? And why do some offer it as option and others get round it entirely?

The reasons vary significantly, but they're basically dependent on how the game developers choose to manage the data on the Blu-ray discs. Blu-ray, despite offering considerably more storage space than DVD, suffers as a result of only being able to move at a single speed. That means that accessing all that data can take a fair old while, which may result in unacceptably long load times.

The ways around it are quite fascinating. Some devs choose take the more obvious route of optimising the streaming techniques. Others simply dump multiple copies of the data on the disc so that there are more areas to seek from at any one time. But the fastest method is to move the core data to the console's hard drive where it can be accessed extremely quickly. That's what requires an install.

PS3 Firmware 2.20 is now live

Well, that was a refreshingly short wait - only announced last week, PS3 Firmware 2.20 has now gone live, meaning you can update your machine the next time you switch it on.

As far as updates go this is definitely one of the better ones. The upgrade to BD Live may have been the big news but there's actually lot more practical benefits to the update than that.

The single best new feature is the arrival of Resume Play for Blu-ray and DVD discs. There'll be no more waiting for an endless succession of unskipable opening credits and warranty statements each time you load disc, because the PS3 will remember where you were when you stopped the disc (just like an Xbox does).

And it will still remember even if you pop the disc out and play a game or two in the meantime. Neat eh?

BD-Live update landing on PS3 this month

Let's be honest, the Blu-ray Profile 1.1 didn't exactly revolutionise the Blu-ray playing experience. Some might have argued that all it did was pull the technology in line with HD DVD, but they can all see where that got them and shut the hell up. Err, anyway, Blu-ray 1.1 is nothing, Blu-ray Profile 2.0, or BD-Live as it has been christened, is a fair bit more exciting and it's due to arrive in the next PS3 firmware update, due some time later this month.

BD-Live's biggest feature is that it requires a mandatory internet connection. A bit of a problem for older Blu-ray players perhaps, but not for the PS3 of course. This will be used to enable certain Blu-ray titles to access the internet and acquire additional content.

Like me you're probably thinking 'oh brilliant, now we can swamped with even more pointless behind-the-scenes extras and making -ofs'. That will no doubt be true for a while - the first BD-Live releases are shit, frankly: they consist of Walk Hard and The Sixth Day (the only Arnie film that's worse than Junior). But there is much more potential in the idea...

Now Microsoft isn't interested in Blu-ray - is everyone confused yet?

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer has only recently confirmed that, yes, the Redmond giant would be scaling up its support for all things Blu-ray now that the messy business of the format war is over with. Therefore the natural semantic leap from here is that the Xbox 360 division would sooner or later be introducing a Blu-ray replacement for the now defunct HD DVD add on, with the possibility of a full blown integrated Blu-ray drive in its higher end models. Well, that's wrong apparently.

Following this speculation, Xbox group product manager Aaron Greenberg has told Reuters that it is definitely NOT in talks with Sony or Blu-ray. See: "Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience," he said. There. So drop it, okay.

Although this is a Blu-ray story, it isn't really related to PS3 and so it probably isn't suitable here on PSPSPS. Well I'd like to weigh in with another point: it probably isn't a great idea for Sony to farm out its format to its main console rival anyway. The integrated Blu-ray player is one of the PS3's best and most important differentiating features - to offer it up to the 360 completely eliminates it as a USP.

Rumour: Sony and Microsoft in talks over Blu-ray 360 add-on - how will this affect the PS3?

Hmm, this record appears to be stuck on repeat. This certainly isn't the first time we've heard this rumour floating about, but it may be the first time the Financial Times has broken it though so maybe that counts for something.

As the headline suggests, Sony and Microsoft may be getting close to ironing out details of a Blu-ray add-on for the Xbox 360, or even thinking about installing a Blu-ray drive inside the machine. It might even be one that doesn't sound like an air-raid siren.

Microsoft is of course denying everything even though there's not much need to do that now that HD DVD is well and truly dead. The source of the rumour is cited as a senior executive at Sony, although Wired has received confirmation of the same from none other than Sony Electronics US president Stan Glasgow.

So this time it could definitely happen, but where would that leave the PS3? Blu-ray is one of the PS3's more effective differentiators between it and the rival Xbox 360. If the 360 were to gain a Blu-ray drive or add-on that would surely undermine this advantage.

All the big boys love the Blu-ray - all major Hollywood studios backing the format

Nothing like the death of a high-definition format to get a not-so-well-hidden double entendre into a title. In not too surprising news, Paramount have quietly stated that they’re now backing the Blu-ray format thanks to the recent death of HD-DVD.

“We are pleased that the industry is moving to a single high-definition format, as we believe it is in the best interest of the consumer,” said the statement from Paramount, the last major Hollywood studio to back the Blu-ray high-definition standard.

It does make you wonder if a single gaming format is the future too. Just think, all that money that was utilised to design and produce the Wii and Xbox 360, could instead have been invested into knocking hundreds of stunning next-generation titles for the PS3.

Of course there are a huge number of flaws with such a theory, as come up EVERY SINGLE TIME a single format gets mentioned. But just imagine only having to shell out for one single console, yet getting the opportunity to play EVERY big franchise that are currently spread across all these expensive formats. Makes you think, huh?

Source: Reuters
Related posts: Victory for Blu-ray: Toshiba admits HD DVD defeat, Sony gleeful after Toshiba kill off HD-DVD

Analysts, industry members rush to predict the future following HD DVD demise

Unless you’ve been living in a dimly lit underground bunker for the past week, you’ll have probably heard about the unfortunate demise of HD DVD. By Monday, pretty much every news outlet knew it was happening, on Tuesday it finally did happen and today Sony put the icing on the cake by having a jolly good crow about it. So that’s it then – Blu-ray won, PS3 is looking set for a stellar year, and along with the format war, the console war must be practically in the bag, right?

Well that’s really the multi-multi-million dollar question, and where there are ludicrously over priced questions, there are analysts willing to answer them, as well as disgruntled industry types to add their two pennies worth for extra amusement.

Wedbush Morgan’s superstar games analyst Michael Pachter has made his prediction: Sony will enjoy a 10% boom in PS3 sales as a result of this victory.

Actually, 10% doesn’t really seem all that great to me, especially considering that last year’s sales – particularly through out the first six months – weren’t overpoweringly enviable. This year there’s a whole lot more promising games on the horizon and a ton of decent games already out, making the console into a far more appealing package than it ever was before. Then again, this is a quiet time of year for gaming anyway so any boost is a good thing.

Sony gleeful after Toshiba kill off HD-DVD

With Toshiba finally admitting defeat in the HD movie war, Sony believe that, “the emergence of Blu-ray as the de facto high definition standard is one more reason why PS3 is a great value to consumers.”

“The combination of strong sales, Blu-ray dominance and widely-anticipated games all point to 2008 as a breakthrough year for PS3,” said Sony America boss Jack Tretton, taking the opportunity to big up the only console that packs a Blu-ray player.

Can’t really blame him for having a bit of a boast really can you. HD-DVD is dead, and Blu-ray is the obvious winner, making the inclusion of said format in the PS3 a fantastic decision when you look back with a touch of hindsight.

You thought he might have stuck the boot in to Microsoft, and bigged up the fact that Microsoft are being forced to turn their attention to the Blu-ray format. Knowing Sony, expect a few snippets of such dripping through in the next few days.

Source: Eurogamer
Related posts: Toshiba deny that they're ready to give up the HD war just yet, Sony proclaimed as "hip" - weirdest comment from the HD DVD vs Blu-ray war

Victory for Blu-ray: Toshiba admits HD DVD defeat

In a statement released this morning, Toshiba has thrown in the towel and declared that it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. The news comes as little surprise following a spate of falling support for the high definition disc format.

“We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called 'next-generation format war' and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop,” said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. "While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality.”

Microsoft made a statement yesterday, claiming "We do not believe the recent reports about HD DVD will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace." Given that the HD DVD player add-on for the Xbox 360 was HD DVD's best chance of fighting back against Sony's sly tactic of including Blu-ray players inside PS3 consoles, this could well have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

Sony and the Blu-ray group have not yet responded to this breaking news, but it's safe to say that, yes, those are the sounds of champagne corks popping. Toshiba has declared that it will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players to retail channels, aiming for cessation by the end of March 2008. Hint: it might not be a great idea to buy one at this point, unless of course the discs are really, really cheap.

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Toshiba deny that they're ready to give up the HD war just yet

Sony proclaimed as "hip" - weirdest comment from the HD DVD vs Blu-ray war

This ‘war’ between HD DVD and Blu-ray is finally at an end. I think that’s a pretty safe thing to say since no bugger seems to want to stock any HD DVD’s in this glorious year of 2008.

But comments from a ‘Toshiba official’ on the whole situation are a bit, well, weird. "Sony is hip, Panasonic tries, but Toshiba stays geeky," said some form of insider to Reuters.

Hip? Have I suddenly dropped back into the early nineties again? Am I going to have to start cheekily trying to record those late night shows on Channel 4 all over again, just so my early teenage mind can get a glimpse of a bit of naked female flesh? Come on, we all did it didn’t we?

Seriously now, hip is not a word that anyone in the 21st century should be using, never mind some stuffed shirt from Toshiba. Know your stations people.

Oh, and I realise this is about as newsworthy as a freakishly large tomato, but anyone using the word hip deserves to be mocked. Plus, we need a little humour to round the evening off.

Source: Reuters
Related posts: Toshiba deny that they're ready to give up the HD war just yet

Toshiba deny that they're ready to give up the HD war just yet

With company after company turning their backs on HD DVD in order to proclaim support for the Blu-ray format, speculation over the weekend claimed that Toshiba were ready to stop production of the failing format, sending the final nail crashing into the HD DVD coffin.

A statement this morning from Toshiba however proclaims that they have, “not made any announcement concerning this,” so far, and, “although Toshiba is currently assessing its business strategies, no decision has been made at this moment.”

Not quite an admission that Blu-ray has won, but not quite the staunch denial that HD DVD fans would have been hoping for. Safe to say with Blu-ray enjoying such an incredible level of supports in comparison to Toshiba’s chosen format, it’s merely a matter of time.

Further rumours that Microsoft are all set to roll out Blu-ray Xbox 360 before the summer only add to the obvious that Sony’s chosen format has indeed won the war.

Source: GamesIndustry
Related posts: HD DVD Group lashes back at Netflix / Best Buy news with a devastating lack of enthusiasm, Blu-ray wins a major battle - Woolworths drop HD-DVD

HD DVD Group lashes back at Netflix / Best Buy news with a devastating lack of enthusiasm

I’m actually starting to feel a little sorry for Toshiba and the rest of the HD DVD Group. Things so nearly went their way but then, almost at the drop of a hat, everything went arse over tit. Former allies are starting to abandon the ailing format like rats from a sinking ship fleeing from hideous crab monsters in a New York subway tunnel. Upon hearing of Netflix’s decision to abandon their format entirely and Best Buy’s decision to promote Blu-ray as the format of choice, HD DVD Group seems to have at last run of ways to find a positive spin.

"We have long held the belief that HD DVD is the best format for consumers based on quality and value, and with more than 1 million HD DVD players on the market, it's unfortunate to see Netflix make the decision to only stock Blu-ray titles going forward,” the official statement reads. “While the Best Buy announcement says they will recommend Blu-ray, at least they will continue to carry HD DVD and offer consumers a choice at retail." [Bold added for emphasis]

It reads like anywhere still prepared to stock the defunct disks is considered a blessing, even if they are actively telling customers that Blu-ray is better. If I was an HD DVD customer right now I wouldn’t be particularly impressed by that show of confidence.

But for us PS3 owners this is all good news. The death of HD DVD should mean more Blu-ray player sales (and therefore more PS3 sales) and more Blu-ray disc sales, all of which will start to drive the price of discs down to something less than its currently extortionate level.

Source
Highdefdigest

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Netflix, Best Buy hammer more nails into HD DVD coffin

We’ve not heard much about the high definition war since the painful thing that happened to HD DVD just prior to CES. Does this eerie silence, the absence of heavily spun graphical data, the lack of amusing marketing lies, mean that HD DVD is staging a secret comeback? Does it f*ck. Two more companies are lining up to give the ailing format a heavy boot in the groin – Netflix and Best Buy.

Netflix – the world’s largest online movie rental service – has gone whole hog and stated that it will no longer be stocking the failing format. It cited the decision by four out of six of the major movie studios to turn exclusively to Blu-ray as the reason for the move. Its HD DVD offering will be phased out entirely by the year’s end.

Meanwhile, US retail giant Best Buy hasn’t axed the format entirely, but it has chosen to recommend Blu-ray as “format of choice”. Clearly this is going to be good for PS3 too because it still remains as one of the cheaper means of picking up a Blu-ray player and it’s the only one that comes with a kick ass console built-in.

Anyone want to guess how long it’ll take for Microsoft to drop the pretence and launch a Blu-ray drive add-on for the 360?

Source
Technabob

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Blu-ray wins a major battle - Woolworths drop HD-DVD

As much as some are intent to still bitch and moan about the delights of HD-DVD, today saw yet another victory for Blu-ray as retailer Woolworths has announced that from March it will no longer stock HD-DVD movies.

According to Woolworths, “sales figures clearly show that the market is moving towards one format of high definition DVD,” with blu-ray their love buddies. They even state that Blu-ray has been outselling HD-DVD by a factor of ten to one in the period over Christmas.

Obviously the sheer number of potential Blu-ray players in homes (the PS3, obviously) in comparison to the pitiful figures of HD DVD players and the Xbox 360 compatible drive that have been sold plays a huge part in Woolwroths decisions.

Fingers crossed all this will leave us with a mere single format to choose from. No bloody way do I want to start shelling out for a HD DVD player in addition to my PS3.

Source: GamesIndustry
Related posts: No HD DDs for HD DVD – Porn studios turn to Blu-ray, CES 2008: Xbox 360 could still turn to the Blu side

No HD DDs for HD DVD – Porn studios turn to Blu-ray

While HD DVD isn’t clinically dead quite yet, its demise feels like it is slowly starting to snowball. Warner’s announcement made damned sure that CES wasn’t a fun packed ride for the HD DVD camp, forcing them to cancel their press conference at short notice, put up with all the Blu-ray types looking smug and answer hundred of pertinent questions from passing journalists who formerly had little interest in the format war. The latest blow is that Digital Playground, a major adult film studio, has decided to back the Blu-ray format.

The porn industry is often seen as a good indicator of what happens with format wars at large, mainly thanks to its decision to back VHS instead of Betamax. Up until recently, Sony hadn’t been so keen on allowing naughty films on its precious Blu discs, but it has very sensibly had a change of heart and given Digital Playground the thumbs up.

Universal and Paramount are now the only studios to remain exclusive to HD DVD, which you’d think would mean it would at last be possible to find a decent Blu-ray movie for less than twenty quid. Well, you’d be wrong. Still, at least now there’ll be some decent smut to choose from.

Source
Destructoid

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CES 2008: Xbox 360 could still turn to the Blu side

Although Microsoft has never yet made it as far as installing an HD DVD drive inside the Xbox 360 games console, the Redmond Giant has been a long supporter of Blu-ray's rival format. However, it has been rumoured for just as long that should HD DVD fail to take off, Microsoft could turn to Blu-ray as an alternative. Now, with the format war being rocked by Warner Bros' decision to turn exclusively to Blu-ray and rumours that a get out of jail free clause in Paramount's HD DVD exclusivity contract could see it revert to Blu-ray, Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware has indicated once again that the Xbox 360 could still turn to the Blu-ray format:

"It should be consumer choice; and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider," Penello told Reuters.

There's certainly no technological reason why it couldn't happen, but the fact that a Microsoft person was prepared to publicly admit it once more at this crucial time for HD DVD seems to be yet another crushing blow in what must have amounted to a truly nightmarish CES outing for the format.

Blu-ray 1.1 lands this month on PS3

Wahey – more Firmware upgrades are on their way! Luckily though these presumably won’t be fundamentally altering the way the XMB works, so our games of CoD4 and functioning power of the disc tray will probably remain safe. Instead we’ll be getting access to Blu-ray Profile 1.1, which is already offered by the most recent dedicated Blu-ray players bought by people who haven’t worked out that the PS3 is a brilliant excuse to sneak in a new games console AND a high definition disc player into your house.

Blu-ray 1.1 adds all sorts of goodies that HD DVD advocates will no doubt point out have been available in their players right from the get go. Well, bully for them. With the supporting discs you’ll be getting features like picture-in-picture (now you can see directors droning on through the movie in a little box) and that’s pretty much it. Still, better than a poke with a sharp stick I suppose.

Source
CVG

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Director Michael Bay claims Microsoft up to dirty tricks in movie format war

In an outburst in his personal website forums, Michael Bay, has attacked Microsoft for its role in the format war. “Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads. That is the dirty secret no one is talking about,” states the outspoken director.

Once again calling Blu-ray the “superior” format, he goes on to claim that “Microsoft is handing out $100 million dollar checks to studios just embrace the HD DVD”.

Whether Microsoft did trump up its own cash to put a spanner in the Blu-ray war machine or not, it is true that Microsoft stands to gain if either HD-DVD can pull ahead in this battle for disc format or it can secure the high definition download market. Sony has played its card by including a Blu-ray player in the PlayStation 3, effectively ruling out any possibility of full sized high definition digital downloads in the immediate future.

While I’m still not overly keen on the cost of Blu-ray movies, they still offer a reasonably practical alternative to being saddled with gigantic downloads which would also require larger hard drives to support them and also annoyingly long download times. There is still plenty to be said for actually having a tangible product for your money, but then Microsoft is also doing a decent job of proving that video on demand services can be pretty convenient with Xbox Live Video Marketplace – which is now scheduled for release next week in the UK . It would be nice to see Sony playing catch up in this area particularly – it’s already slated for release in Japan, now how about the rest of the world?

Source
Blu-ray.com

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Blu-ray kicks some HD-DVD bottom - Blu-ray account for 73% of all HD movie sales

Another victory for Sony, as the latest news in the high definition movie war declares that Sony’s Blu-ray format currently account for a huge 73 per cent of all HD movies sold.

Apparently total Blu-ray sales recently broke the 1 million barrier, with the likes of 300, Casino Royale, and Spider-Man 3 among the best sellers for Sony’s dominating format.

So good news for Sony, with their obviously supported format being the current number 1, and in top spot for eventually replacing the standard DVD that all us common folk who cant afford a HD TV are stuck with.

With Blu-ray playback as standard in every PS3, it’s undoubted that more than a handful of PS3 owners are swayed towards the Blu-ray format purely due to being incredibly reluctant to shell out a few hundred quid for a separate player for good old HD DVD’s. But who knows what’s going to happen next, with movie companies changing support week by week. But expect Sony to pull out all the stops to keep Blu-ray at number 1. They love making money after all.

Source: GamesIndustry
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HD format war turns nasty; Blu-ray chairman accuses rival of “gross misrepresentation of data”

Kids, kids, kids – can’t we all just get along? So far all that appears to have come out of either party in this high definition format is a whole ton of boring sales figures and attach rates that respectively show one side dominating the other depending on which week it is. Apparently HD DVD has just pushed it one step too far now, sparking angry reactions from Blu-ray Disc Association chairman, Frank Simonis.

A few days ago HD DVD was proudly boasting that its owners were buying more than 3 discs each on average, trumping the alleged Blu-ray figure of 0.6. Simonis hit back in a statement made to Tech.co.uk, stating that “The HD DVD Group have manipulated the GfK data and you can see this because they did not even supply access to the original source of their numbers.”

The most notable change is in HD DVD’s tack is that it’s bothering to include PlayStation 3 consoles in its data now, something it hasn’t done before because obviously comparing sales figures is a lot easier when you consider dedicated players and not games consoles as well. On the other hand, Blu-ray hasn’t been entirely innocent of underhand tactics, if its former assertions that the format war is already over are anything to go by.

To be honest, it’s all quite amusing watching the two rivals dissolving into lying, cheating and name calling – possibly there will even be playground scuffles to look forward to around Xmas. I’d like to know how many PS3 owners have actually started Blu-ray disc collections. As it stands, I currently own more HD DVDs (3) than Blu-ray discs (1) – all of which were free. I’d be keen to increase that, but it’ll be a cold day in hell before I shell out as much as £28 for a movie that can be simply upscaled for a bare fraction of the price. They do look nice; just not THAT nice.

Source
CNET

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HD DVD spokesman: Blu-ray 1.1 could spark class action lawsuits

The introduction of the new Blu-ray 1.1 standard could cause such an upset for existing owners of Blu-ray players that they’ll be out there suing everyone from Hollywood studios to hardware manufacturers says Olivier Van Wynendaele of the HD DVD Promotional Group. Well, he wasn’t really about to leap out of his seat and start praising the upgraded technology now was he?

“Consumers will buy a title and find it does not work. The problem is then do they go back to the hardware manufacturer or the software manufacturer? Consumer lawsuits are quite common these days,” warned Van Wynendaele.

The new Blu-ray 1.1 standard has upped the hardware requirements that any Blu-ray player must meet to be compatible. These include increased local storage memory and the addition secondary audio and visual channels. Notably, this doesn’t include an internet connection capability, which is coming in a later v2.0 update, aka BD-Live.

If that sounds confusing (and frankly a little boring), don’t worry. Blu-ray 1.1 is adding a whole ton of enormously exciting features that will completely transform your viewing experience!! Stunning features like picture-in-picture and… and er… and, well, that’s kind of it really. But, seriously, WOW – picture-in-picture; so you can actually see the director making his director’s commentary over the top of your movie. Ground breaking.

Now, when Olivier Van Wynendaele refers to finding out that “it does not work”, by ‘it’ he of course means the new interactive features NOT the movie itself, which will work fine. Unfortunately, older Blu-ray players which don’t have the required functionality won’t be able to enjoy the other underwhelming new functions and have no chance of upgrading to the new standard either.

But even though America does have a reputation for suing everything that looks at it funny, getting all class actiony over a lack of picture-in-picture seems a little unlikely. Even if that were plausible, the only Blu-ray player worth buying, the PS3, actually has all the hardware necessary to meet Blu-ray 1.1 standards, and BD-Live for that matter, and can be easily upgraded with a new bit of firmware. Wishful thinking from HD DVD then?

Source
MaxConsole via Tech

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PS3’s Blu-ray laser IS good for something...

...making sweet Star Trek phasers! Oh, and of course the movies, games, blah, blah, blah. Check the video below for a informative guide on how to build your own cool laser gun – unfortunately one that won’t melt the ugly faces off of menacing aliens though – using a PS3 Blu-ray laser, a classic Star Trek phaser and some wires and crap you can pick up for a few quid from Maplins. The best part is, you don’t need to destroy a four hundred pound console to do it either. Unless you really want to.

Blu-Ray Laser Phaser! - video powered by Metacafe

Now, where can I learn to speak like that guy?

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Shock horror! Console owners prefer gaming to high definition movies

So far, the latest format war seems to have been fought over pretty dubious statistics and press releases about pretty dubious statistics. It isn’t causing consumers to flock to one format or other in great numbers, no matter what the HD DVD Promotion Group or the Blu-ray Disc Association would have you believe.

However, the latest bit of info rings a bit more true; speaking in an interview with Tech, HD DVD man - Olivier Van Wynendaele - has revealed that gamers basically are hardly watching any high definition movies. In fact only 13% of PS3 owners are actually bothering to use it as a DVD or Blu-ray disc player at all.

That doesn’t mean things are particularly rosy for HD DVD though. The Xbox 360’s HD DVD add-on is seen a beacon of hope for Blu-ray’s rival, but with less than 10% of Xbox 360 owners bothering to buy it and even those that do spending just 3 hours per month using it, things are looking grim for both formats.

Of course, sooner or later, the humble DVD standard will be dropped entirely, forcing us all to choose one way or the other (or just rely entirely on BitTorrents). In the meantime though, if gamers – who, aside from about thirty seven hardcore videophiles, are the only people who actually have high definition disc players – continue to snub Hollywood’s pathetic efforts, maybe there’ll actually be some films made that are worth buying on either format.

Source
MaxConsole

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Hollywood loves the PS3, expects to sell lots of crap movies this Xmas. Yay.

The Blu-ray association had a big ol’ shindig in Hollywood this week to remind everyone that Blu-ray is out there and has a format war to win. The PlayStation 3 was a pretty major part of the proceedings as it is still the best hope coaxing Blu-ray players into people’s homes. Hollywood execs seemed to be queuing to sing its praises, but at least being humble enough to acknowledge that the PS3 is games console first, Blu-ray player second.

“PS3 is an incredible gaming platform that just happens to be a really great Blu-ray player, too,” said Steve Feldstein, senior vice president, corporate and marketing communications, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

“It’s a mass media device that can help grow the consumer rate at a faster rate then we’d have seen otherwise,” said Ron Schwartz, executive vice president and general manager, Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

“If you’re going to hook up your PS3, take advantage of the movie capabilities,” urged Gordon Ho, executive vice president of marketing, product and business development, Walt Disney Home Entertainment.

There’s delightful hint of desperation in that latter quote, and no wonder given the frankly awful selection of Blu-ray movies coming out this Xmas (more deets on the turn). Nonetheless, Hollywood is expecting (possibly praying) that the recent PS3 price cut is going to fuel sales of the console which will in turn help to line the studios’ pockets.

New PS3 and PSP packs coming to Europe?

These are still unofficial at the time of writing, but the maths seems to add up. Sony is believed to be launching three new PS3 bundles in Spain, which could well indicate what’s happening in the rest of Europe. First up is a Movie Pack bundle – 419.99 Euros nets you a 40GB PS3 and a copy of Spider-Man 3 on Blu-ray.

Two gaming packs are available for everyone else who realises that, no matter what definition you’re watching the film in, Spider-Man 3 is still absolute shit. For 439.99 Euros you’ll be able to pick up the same 40GB console and either Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction or Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. We’re assuming that Haze was denied the same bundle offering for not containing enough punctuation.

Anyway, so far this has been pretty yawn-worthy and not really offering anything that any high-street shop couldn’t bundle together all by itself. Thankfully, the new PSP bundle is a bit more exciting. The PSP Spider-Man 3 pack comes with the Spider-Man 3 UMD movie, the Spider-Man 3 UMD game and a snazzy red Slim & Lite console. It should set you back 204.99 Euros. The red design actually looks a lot better than I would have thought and if you just throw away the crappy Spider-Man titles, you can probably pretend it’s Ferrari red instead.

Source
Neogaf

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