There's a big difference now though. At that time VHS was the only way to get porn. There was no internet, or video format before those formats. It was VHS or nothing when it came to porn. Thats why VHS won... that story is COMPLETELY different now and the porn industry will have little or no effect on the current format war.
i hope you are correct! i hate wars.
VHC member #155***
Ft Lauderdale '96:::West Palm Beach '98:::Tampa '00:::Tampa '03:::Camden 1&2 '06::: DC '06:::West Palm Beach '08:::Tampa '08:::Columbia '08:::Virginia Beach '08
well, thats true. however, it's awful hard to compare a single disc to an $80.00 box set. i'm not taking sides, i just wish one format would be decided already. i've had an HDTV for a long time now, and want a HD DVD format player. Blu-Ray, or HD-DVD, don't really care which one. both have titles i want to purchase. i hate to think about how long this could draw out.
does anyone remember how VHS beat out Beta as the popular format? that's right, the porn industry. and so i hear the porn industry has staked it's claim on HD-DVD.
bad news for those of us that want a single format. i hope not.
there is blu ray porn thats an internet misnomer (wrongly reported by AICN)
one of many companies that chose blu-ray:
LOS ANGELES — U.S. adult film maker Digital Playground on Thursday said it will throw its support behind Sony Corp.'s (SNE) high definition Blu-ray format, adding spice to the multibillion-dollar standards war raging in Hollywood.
"We feel that of the two formats, it's the one that's more future-proofed," said Digital Playground's president and founder, who identifies himself as "Joone."
Sony's Blu-ray competes with the HD DVD format championed by Toshiba Corp. and appears to have amassed more allies in the next-generation DVD format war — including Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL), Panasonic and the majority of movie studios.
Digital Playground is the company behind the movie "Pirates," which has won honors from the porn industry that calls Southern California's San Fernando Valley home and is estimated to have had 2005 sales of $12.6 billion, according to Adult Video News.
But while Digital Playground, known as an innovator for bringing porn to personal computers, is endorsing Blu-ray, it has not yet found a company prepared to mass-produce its films in the new high-definition format.
Pie charts indicate Blu-ray victory over HD DVD assured
A taste of humble pie for HD DVD?
(Credit: Pixel Perfect Productions)
If a picture's worth a thousand words, a pie chart has to be worth at least 500. Well, Ken Pierce over at Pixel Perfect Productions has cooked up five pie charts' worth of data on why the HD DVD/Blu-ray war is over--and as James Carville would say, it's all about the content, stupid.
To give credit where credit is due, I first noticed this link in Bill Hunt's "My Two Cents" column on Digital Bits. (Sorry, the item was from a couple of days ago, but I've been on vacation). Says Hunt: "Ken's looked at the biggest films of the last few years and calculated the percentages of those films, by studio grosses, that are available for release on each format. It's called By The Numbers, and you'll find it in Ken's Random Thoughts blog over at the Pixel Perfect Web site."
Pierce goes through the top grossing films of 2005, 2006, 2007 (so far), as well as the top 100 grossing films of all time. For 2007, for example, he says, "Of the top 100 2007 (YTD) films, 47 are from Blu-ray exclusive studios, 14 are HD DVD exclusive studios, 29 are dual-format studios and 10 are not supporting either format currently." The rest of the pies look pretty similar. I don't care who wins, but those charts have to be pretty scary-looking if you're an HD DVD supporter
2003 Mansfield III 2004 Boston I 2006 Boston I 2008 Bonnaroo, Hartford, Mansfield I 2010 Hartford 2013 Worcester I, Worcester II, Hartford 2016 Bonnaroo, Fenway I, Fenway II 2018 Fenway I, Fenway II 2021 Sea.Hear.Now 2022 Camden 2024 MSG I, Fenway I, Fenway II
Sure, the people who shelled out the $ to get a HD-DVD player will still buy movies until they stop making them but come a point their fancy new HD-DVD player is going to get placed in a box in the back of the closet next to the Beta player, Laser Disk, and Sega Saturn.
Sure, the people who shelled out the $ to get a HD-DVD player will still buy movies until they stop making them but come a point their fancy new HD-DVD player is going to get placed in a box in the back of the closet next to the Beta player, Laser Disk, and Sega Saturn.
Ohh how I remember the Saturn, Panzer Dragoon looked so good, until I actually played it. Have you seen Lair on the PS3? wow.:)
"We feel that of the two formats, it's the one that's more future-proofed," said Digital Playground's president and founder, who identifies himself as "Joone."
i want to be a president and founder... with a nickname
Here's a stupid question.. My 768p Sony TV only accepts 720p and 1080i HD signals.. will it understand and be able to convert 1080p???
Probably not. You don't have to input 1080p signals exclusively anyway, as whatever source you're using almost definitely has the option to send 1080i instead of 1080p.
Sure, the people who shelled out the $ to get a HD-DVD player will still buy movies until they stop making them but come a point their fancy new HD-DVD player is going to get placed in a box in the back of the closet next to the Beta player, Laser Disk, and Sega Saturn.
I don't really care either way because I don't have either.
But back in the day when I was ten, my parents did purchase me a Sega Saturn. I thought it was the greatest thing in the world, until I realized I made a bad Christmas wish soon after, and the stupid Sony Playstation eclipsed it. I thought I couldn't be wrong after the amazing Genesis.
Maybe this is why I have sympathy for HD DVD.
yes.
I was a Sega Saturn owner :(
2003 Mansfield III 2004 Boston I 2006 Boston I 2008 Bonnaroo, Hartford, Mansfield I 2010 Hartford 2013 Worcester I, Worcester II, Hartford 2016 Bonnaroo, Fenway I, Fenway II 2018 Fenway I, Fenway II 2021 Sea.Hear.Now 2022 Camden 2024 MSG I, Fenway I, Fenway II
I don't really care either way because I don't have either.
But back in the day when I was ten, my parents did purchase me a Sega Saturn. I thought it was the greatest thing in the world, until I realized I made a bad Christmas wish soon after, and the stupid Sony Playstation eclipsed it. I thought I couldn't be wrong after the amazing Genesis.
Maybe this is why I have sympathy for HD DVD.
yes.
I was a Sega Saturn owner :(
So was I! :P
There was some awesome games for that machine's too short life.
I don't really care either way because I don't have either.
But back in the day when I was ten, my parents did purchase me a Sega Saturn. I thought it was the greatest thing in the world, until I realized I made a bad Christmas wish soon after, and the stupid Sony Playstation eclipsed it. I thought I couldn't be wrong after the amazing Genesis.
Maybe this is why I have sympathy for HD DVD.
yes.
I was a Sega Saturn owner :(
It's ok, you were not the only one(although it probably felt like it).:)
Damn thing had some good games in the short period it was out. I remember getting a Playstation a few months later and that was that...the old Saturn was boxed up for good.
Probably not. You don't have to input 1080p signals exclusively anyway, as whatever source you're using almost definitely has the option to send 1080i instead of 1080p.
Blu-ray Disc Nielson VideoScan data for last week reports that Blu-ray has topped its high definition rival for yet another week - this time with a very impressive 72.6% market share. The sales data includes titles sold on Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving characterized by deep discounts and enormous amounts of consumer spending.
Possibly leading the pack was Fox's Blu-ray release of 'Live Free or Die Hard' - the latest installment in the "Die Hard" franchise. Early reports show that the title managed to sell nearly 100,000 units last week alone.
Blu-ray has yet to lose a week to its rival this year, with Blu-ray holding a 2-to-1 average sales advantage. Achieving a nearly 3-to-1 sales advantage for the important shopping week despite an influx of sub-$100 HD DVD players shows that consumers continue to choose Blu-ray as their preferred high definition format.
Blu-ray Disc Nielson VideoScan data for last week reports that Blu-ray has topped its high definition rival for yet another week - this time with a very impressive 72.6% market share. The sales data includes titles sold on Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving characterized by deep discounts and enormous amounts of consumer spending.
Possibly leading the pack was Fox's Blu-ray release of 'Live Free or Die Hard' - the latest installment in the "Die Hard" franchise. Early reports show that the title managed to sell nearly 100,000 units last week alone.
Blu-ray has yet to lose a week to its rival this year, with Blu-ray holding a 2-to-1 average sales advantage. Achieving a nearly 3-to-1 sales advantage for the important shopping week despite an influx of sub-$100 HD DVD players shows that consumers continue to choose Blu-ray as their preferred high definition format.
This was huge. There has definitely been a big surge in BR player sales since Sony dropped their price to $400. We also had a $100 gift card with purchase on Black Friday and the following Saturday. Sold out on Friday. HD had a huge surge in the previous months though.
Seems to be swinging back and forth. But it's sure hard to argue with the disc sales..
VHC member #155***
Ft Lauderdale '96:::West Palm Beach '98:::Tampa '00:::Tampa '03:::Camden 1&2 '06::: DC '06:::West Palm Beach '08:::Tampa '08:::Columbia '08:::Virginia Beach '08
This was huge. There has definitely been a big surge in BR player sales since Sony dropped their price to $400. We also had a $100 gift card with purchase on Black Friday and the following Saturday. Sold out on Friday. HD had a huge surge in the previous months though.
Seems to be swinging back and forth. But it's sure hard to argue with the disc sales..
Yeah, those numbers are pretty huge.
I just wish the format war would die so I can get all of my fav. HD-movies on one format.
That said, I went to my local Blockbuster a couple weeks ago and was pretty disappointed in their Blu-ray selection. I went tonight and they had an entire aisle of Blu-ray!!!
They were sold out of a few (new releases) but I was very much impressed! The guy that worked there said every week they pretty much double their Blu-ray rentals and they think they will have to go to multiple aisles and perhaps put them with the regular DVDs soon.
Yeah, those numbers are pretty huge.
I just wish the format war would die so I can get all of my fav. HD-movies on one format.
That said, I went to my local Blockbuster a couple weeks ago and was pretty disappointed in their Blu-ray selection. I went tonight and they had an entire aisle of Blu-ray!!!
They were sold out of a few (new releases) but I was very much impressed! The guy that worked there said every week they pretty much double their Blu-ray rentals and they think they will have to go to multiple aisles and perhaps put them with the regular DVDs soon.
Yeah I don't want to have to buy Transformers on DVD just to hold me over for the time-exclusive BS with WB or whoever it is to end and get it on BR as well.
The Blockbuster stores here are carrying HD DVD and BR in stores now too.
Yeah I don't want to have to buy Transformers on DVD just to hold me over for the time-exclusive BS with WB or whoever it is to end and get it on BR as well.
The Blockbuster stores here are carrying HD DVD and BR in stores now too.
Yeah, I'm holding out on getting "just" the DVD when I know in good time the HD-DVD only movies will hit Blu-ray...
Well...hopefully it's somewhat soon. Seeing how this "format war" has gone so far, it might be in a couple years! LOL
even the hd-dvd fanboys are quiet over on the hi-def digest
(January 4, 2008 – Burbank, CA) – In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros. Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.
“Warner Bros.’ move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want,” said Meyer. “The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers.”
Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008.
“Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware prices,” said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. “Today’s decision by Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner.”
“A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry,” said Tsujihara. “Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high definition media and we have enormous respect for their efforts. We look forward to working with them on other projects in the future.”
and MF
its a reuters story
so lets just save us both time
hd-dvd is the divx of the 00's
from d bits.com
TOKYO, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba is quite surprised by Warner Bros.' decision to abandon HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray, despite the fact that there are various contracts in place between our companies concerning the support of HD DVD. As central members of the DVD Forum, we have long maintained a close partnership with Warner Bros. We worked closely together to help standardize the first-generation DVD format as well as to define and shape HD DVD as its next-generation successor.
We were particularly disappointed that this decision was made in spite of the significant momentum HD DVD has gained in the US market as well as other regions in 2007. HD DVD players and PCs have outsold Blu-ray in the US market in 2007.
We will assess the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluate potential next steps. We remain firm in our belief that HD DVD is the format best suited to the wants and needs of the consumer."
Toshiba must now be the last company in this industry to seriously believe that.
Let's call a spade a spade: What Warner has done today is to effectively pull the plug on this format war. Think about it. Their decision to go Blu-ray exclusive is the only change they could have made that makes any kind of business sense. It's become clear now to nearly everyone in this industry that the continuation of this format war - while it's certainly helped to drive hardware prices lower - has now become the sole major roadblock to high-def discs moving past the early adopter market and into more widespread consumer acceptance.
Warner could have done one of three things: Go Blu-ray exclusive, go HD-DVD exclusive, or stay neutral. It's apparent from their statement this morning that Warner knows as well as we do that this format war is confusing consumers and hurting the chances for high-def packaged media in the long run. While early adopters online have been happily back-biting each other these past two years, most folks elsewhere on planet Earth have just issued a collective yawn. Meanwhile, those non-early adopter consumers who are actually interested in high-def discs have sat on the sidelines waiting for the axe to fall on one of these formats. So for Warner, staying neutral just wasn't an option anymore. The question then becomes, if you're going to make a change in strategy, you want to make one that's going to impart genuine forward momentum on the situation. Warner going HD-DVD exclusive would have effectively created a 50/50 split in Hollywood studio support for these formats, resulting in an even bigger stalemate than already exists, and probably closing the door completely on either of these formats ever gaining widespread acceptance. On the other hand, Warner going Blu-ray only makes that studio split 70/30. It effectively gives Blu-ray exclusive access to 70% of Hollywood studio content. And that's not only a game changer, it's a game ender.
Of course, there's already finger-pointing in some quarters, including comments that "large sums of money were obviously involved" to get Warner to switch. If anyone thinks payoffs were the sole reason for Warner's decision, they don't know as much about this business as they'd like to think. It's well worth nothing that BOTH camps these past few weeks were offering extraordinary up-front payments and other incentives to Warner to go exclusive to their format - sums that make the Paramount/DreamWorks deal to go HD-DVD exclusive look like unsalted peanuts. Warner clearly took the deal that offered them not just short-term gain, but also the best potential long-term benefit as well.
You can bet that Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks aren't going to want to be left holding the bag. Now that the industry momentum towards Blu-ray is clear, sales of Blu-ray hardware and software are surely going to increase, and none of these studios are going to want to be left out. Their shareholders simply won't allow it. Paramount and DreamWorks almost certainly have have out-clauses in their deals with the HD-DVD camp. Steven Spielberg has repeatedly made his desire to move DreamWorks back to Universal clear, and he's also a committed Blu-ray Disc backer - Universal going Blu is almost certainly going to be a sticking point in the negotiations, especially when you consider that Spielberg has TWICE now required the HD-DVD camp to retract statements claiming that his Universal films were coming soon to that format. And our sources are now telling us that Universal - knowing Warner was about to go Blu-exclusive - has already begin taking steps to prepare for their own future Blu-ray efforts. Our guess is that Universal in particular will go format neutral, to put the best P.R. spin on their situation. But we'd be VERY surprised if all three studios don't announce their own Blu-ray Disc support by mid-2008 at the latest, so as benefit from 4th quarter holiday sales. In fact, we're betting those announcements happen much sooner.
Even before the Warner news, Blu-ray Disc software was outselling HD-DVD here in the States by nearly a 3 to 1 margin, and it's an even greater margin around the world. Despite the HD-DVD camp's claims that low priced hardware was the key to winning this format war, stand-alone Blu-ray Disc hardware has now begun to outsell HD-DVD hardware here in the States, despite its average higher price. The overwhelming majority of consumer electronics manufacturers back Blu-ray over HD-DVD. A huge portion of the computer industry backs Blu-ray as well. And now Blu-ray has 70% of the Hollywood studios, a percentage that will certainly increase by year's end. As Blu-ray sales increase, economies of scale will kick in, meaning that hardware and software prices will continue to drop. Blu-ray hardware prices are already lower than ever - now under $300. Every Blu-ray supporting company is going to want to prime the pump for sales in the weeks and months ahead, so there will be plenty of deals and sales to be found. And you can bet that retailers will very soon start to seriously favor Blu-ray in their stores and with their customers, if they aren't already - retailers have wanted an end to this format war more than anyone. And all those technical details that have been sticking points with a few early adopters - like audio specs, online interactivity and region coding - will work themselves out with Blu-ray just like they did with DVD over time.
We've been telling you all for two years now, here at The Digital Bits, that the smart thing to do as consumers was to sit this format war out. But we've also been saying - much to the irritation of some online - that our many years of experience in this industry suggested to us that, if you WERE going to take a risk on high-def discs, Blu-ray Disc was the better bet. It was, and it is.
The bottom line has finally become obvious to all: Blu-ray Disc is now the clear choice for mainstream consumers.
So when you head out to buy your new flat-panel HDTV in the weeks ahead, go check out those spiffy new Blu-ray Disc displays too. We're confident that you'll be glad you did.
One other thing is abundantly clear today as well: CES is going to be absolutely fascinating this year. We'll probably post something on Sunday night from the show itself, so be sure to check back then.
Wow, that is pretty huge! The spanking HD-DVD was taking before the holidays got really bad...and this news will all but make it over much sooner then expected.
The Paramount, HD-DVD fiasco slowed things up a bit at first but the consumer clearly showed the format they want.
I just hope it's over sooner then later because I want more Blu-ray options!
Warner Bros. has announced it will release its high-definition movie titles exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format...
Joystiq reports that Bill Gates could use his final CES keynote to reveal a new Xbox 360 model with an integrated HD-DVD player...
Right, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the add-on HD-DVD player previously sold for the 360 did absolutely nothing to decrease the lead Blu-ray already had (and is still gaining) on HD-DVD. Blu-ray was winning pretty handedly before the holidays and their numbers jumped a lot over Nov-Dec.
It's great that Microsoft is still on the side of HD-DVDs considering the two largest computer companies Dell, and Apple (one being a PC/Windows format) are offering Blu-ray players and the only MAJOR exclusive HD-DVD currently has is Paramount...which is rumored to be reconsidering.
That said, I just want HD-DVD to go ahead and die off so the consumer will benefit from the far superior format sooner.
That said, I just want HD-DVD to go ahead and die off so the consumer will benefit from the far superior format sooner.
By far superior, do you mean the extra space it holds?
Here's my gripe. Blu-rays only advantage is extra space, however most movies fit onto HD with no problem. Both put out 1080p.. so now Blu-rays only real advantage is data storage.. but flash drives and hard drives are getting so big now, there's no point to burning data anymore.
I could really careless which one wins. I just want a definitive format... And I refuse to pay more than $20 for a movie. Fuck that.
Right, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the add-on HD-DVD player previously sold for the 360 did absolutely nothing to decrease the lead Blu-ray already had (and is still gaining) on HD-DVD. Blu-ray was winning pretty handedly before the holidays and their numbers jumped a lot over Nov-Dec.
It's great that Microsoft is still on the side of HD-DVDs considering the two largest computer companies Dell, and Apple (one being a PC/Windows format) are offering Blu-ray players and the only MAJOR exclusive HD-DVD currently has is Paramount...which is rumored to be reconsidering.
That said, I just want HD-DVD to go ahead and die off so the consumer will benefit from the far superior format sooner.
i don't really get caught up in the whole hd/blu-ray "wars".
this just seems to be typical microsoft to shaft early adopters. i mean, how many different versions of virtualy the same console have they released now? they released a low spec system and are upgrading it bit by bit.
i really hope the other rumors about the CES are true...possible talks of microsoft preparing to licence the Xbox platform out to consumer electronics companies.
Esther's here and she's sick?
hi Esther, now we are all going to be sick, thanks
Comments
i hope you are correct! i hate wars.
Ft Lauderdale '96:::West Palm Beach '98:::Tampa '00:::Tampa '03:::Camden 1&2 '06::: DC '06:::West Palm Beach '08:::Tampa '08:::Columbia '08:::Virginia Beach '08
one of many companies that chose blu-ray:
LOS ANGELES — U.S. adult film maker Digital Playground on Thursday said it will throw its support behind Sony Corp.'s (SNE) high definition Blu-ray format, adding spice to the multibillion-dollar standards war raging in Hollywood.
"We feel that of the two formats, it's the one that's more future-proofed," said Digital Playground's president and founder, who identifies himself as "Joone."
Sony's Blu-ray competes with the HD DVD format championed by Toshiba Corp. and appears to have amassed more allies in the next-generation DVD format war — including Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL), Panasonic and the majority of movie studios.
Digital Playground is the company behind the movie "Pirates," which has won honors from the porn industry that calls Southern California's San Fernando Valley home and is estimated to have had 2005 sales of $12.6 billion, according to Adult Video News.
But while Digital Playground, known as an innovator for bringing porn to personal computers, is endorsing Blu-ray, it has not yet found a company prepared to mass-produce its films in the new high-definition format.
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9740033-1.html?tag=cnetfd.mt
Pie charts indicate Blu-ray victory over HD DVD assured
A taste of humble pie for HD DVD?
(Credit: Pixel Perfect Productions)
If a picture's worth a thousand words, a pie chart has to be worth at least 500. Well, Ken Pierce over at Pixel Perfect Productions has cooked up five pie charts' worth of data on why the HD DVD/Blu-ray war is over--and as James Carville would say, it's all about the content, stupid.
To give credit where credit is due, I first noticed this link in Bill Hunt's "My Two Cents" column on Digital Bits. (Sorry, the item was from a couple of days ago, but I've been on vacation). Says Hunt: "Ken's looked at the biggest films of the last few years and calculated the percentages of those films, by studio grosses, that are available for release on each format. It's called By The Numbers, and you'll find it in Ken's Random Thoughts blog over at the Pixel Perfect Web site."
Pierce goes through the top grossing films of 2005, 2006, 2007 (so far), as well as the top 100 grossing films of all time. For 2007, for example, he says, "Of the top 100 2007 (YTD) films, 47 are from Blu-ray exclusive studios, 14 are HD DVD exclusive studios, 29 are dual-format studios and 10 are not supporting either format currently." The rest of the pies look pretty similar. I don't care who wins, but those charts have to be pretty scary-looking if you're an HD DVD supporter
2004 Boston I
2006 Boston I
2008 Bonnaroo, Hartford, Mansfield I
2010 Hartford
2013 Worcester I, Worcester II, Hartford
2016 Bonnaroo, Fenway I, Fenway II
2018 Fenway I, Fenway II
2021 Sea.Hear.Now
2022 Camden
2024 MSG I, Fenway I, Fenway II
Wow that rhymes with the fat lady sings.;)
It's over.
Sure, the people who shelled out the $ to get a HD-DVD player will still buy movies until they stop making them but come a point their fancy new HD-DVD player is going to get placed in a box in the back of the closet next to the Beta player, Laser Disk, and Sega Saturn.
Ohh how I remember the Saturn, Panzer Dragoon looked so good, until I actually played it. Have you seen Lair on the PS3? wow.:)
i want to be a president and founder... with a nickname
That closet is getting pretty full.:D
Probably not. You don't have to input 1080p signals exclusively anyway, as whatever source you're using almost definitely has the option to send 1080i instead of 1080p.
No.
I don't really care either way because I don't have either.
But back in the day when I was ten, my parents did purchase me a Sega Saturn. I thought it was the greatest thing in the world, until I realized I made a bad Christmas wish soon after, and the stupid Sony Playstation eclipsed it. I thought I couldn't be wrong after the amazing Genesis.
Maybe this is why I have sympathy for HD DVD.
yes.
I was a Sega Saturn owner :(
2004 Boston I
2006 Boston I
2008 Bonnaroo, Hartford, Mansfield I
2010 Hartford
2013 Worcester I, Worcester II, Hartford
2016 Bonnaroo, Fenway I, Fenway II
2018 Fenway I, Fenway II
2021 Sea.Hear.Now
2022 Camden
2024 MSG I, Fenway I, Fenway II
So was I! :P
There was some awesome games for that machine's too short life.
It's ok, you were not the only one(although it probably felt like it).:)
Yeah, me too!
Damn thing had some good games in the short period it was out. I remember getting a Playstation a few months later and that was that...the old Saturn was boxed up for good.
What he said. You'll be able to watch in 1080i.
Posted November 29, 2007 by Josh
Blu-ray Disc Nielson VideoScan data for last week reports that Blu-ray has topped its high definition rival for yet another week - this time with a very impressive 72.6% market share. The sales data includes titles sold on Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving characterized by deep discounts and enormous amounts of consumer spending.
Possibly leading the pack was Fox's Blu-ray release of 'Live Free or Die Hard' - the latest installment in the "Die Hard" franchise. Early reports show that the title managed to sell nearly 100,000 units last week alone.
Blu-ray has yet to lose a week to its rival this year, with Blu-ray holding a 2-to-1 average sales advantage. Achieving a nearly 3-to-1 sales advantage for the important shopping week despite an influx of sub-$100 HD DVD players shows that consumers continue to choose Blu-ray as their preferred high definition format.
This was huge. There has definitely been a big surge in BR player sales since Sony dropped their price to $400. We also had a $100 gift card with purchase on Black Friday and the following Saturday. Sold out on Friday. HD had a huge surge in the previous months though.
Seems to be swinging back and forth. But it's sure hard to argue with the disc sales..
Ft Lauderdale '96:::West Palm Beach '98:::Tampa '00:::Tampa '03:::Camden 1&2 '06::: DC '06:::West Palm Beach '08:::Tampa '08:::Columbia '08:::Virginia Beach '08
Yeah, those numbers are pretty huge.
I just wish the format war would die so I can get all of my fav. HD-movies on one format.
That said, I went to my local Blockbuster a couple weeks ago and was pretty disappointed in their Blu-ray selection. I went tonight and they had an entire aisle of Blu-ray!!!
They were sold out of a few (new releases) but I was very much impressed! The guy that worked there said every week they pretty much double their Blu-ray rentals and they think they will have to go to multiple aisles and perhaps put them with the regular DVDs soon.
Yeah I don't want to have to buy Transformers on DVD just to hold me over for the time-exclusive BS with WB or whoever it is to end and get it on BR as well.
The Blockbuster stores here are carrying HD DVD and BR in stores now too.
Yeah, I'm holding out on getting "just" the DVD when I know in good time the HD-DVD only movies will hit Blu-ray...
Well...hopefully it's somewhat soon. Seeing how this "format war" has gone so far, it might be in a couple years! LOL
even the hd-dvd fanboys are quiet over on the hi-def digest
(January 4, 2008 – Burbank, CA) – In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros. Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.
“Warner Bros.’ move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want,” said Meyer. “The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers.”
Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008.
“Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware prices,” said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. “Today’s decision by Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner.”
“A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry,” said Tsujihara. “Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high definition media and we have enormous respect for their efforts. We look forward to working with them on other projects in the future.”
and MF
its a reuters story
so lets just save us both time
hd-dvd is the divx of the 00's
from d bits.com
TOKYO, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba is quite surprised by Warner Bros.' decision to abandon HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray, despite the fact that there are various contracts in place between our companies concerning the support of HD DVD. As central members of the DVD Forum, we have long maintained a close partnership with Warner Bros. We worked closely together to help standardize the first-generation DVD format as well as to define and shape HD DVD as its next-generation successor.
We were particularly disappointed that this decision was made in spite of the significant momentum HD DVD has gained in the US market as well as other regions in 2007. HD DVD players and PCs have outsold Blu-ray in the US market in 2007.
We will assess the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluate potential next steps. We remain firm in our belief that HD DVD is the format best suited to the wants and needs of the consumer."
Toshiba must now be the last company in this industry to seriously believe that.
Let's call a spade a spade: What Warner has done today is to effectively pull the plug on this format war. Think about it. Their decision to go Blu-ray exclusive is the only change they could have made that makes any kind of business sense. It's become clear now to nearly everyone in this industry that the continuation of this format war - while it's certainly helped to drive hardware prices lower - has now become the sole major roadblock to high-def discs moving past the early adopter market and into more widespread consumer acceptance.
Warner could have done one of three things: Go Blu-ray exclusive, go HD-DVD exclusive, or stay neutral. It's apparent from their statement this morning that Warner knows as well as we do that this format war is confusing consumers and hurting the chances for high-def packaged media in the long run. While early adopters online have been happily back-biting each other these past two years, most folks elsewhere on planet Earth have just issued a collective yawn. Meanwhile, those non-early adopter consumers who are actually interested in high-def discs have sat on the sidelines waiting for the axe to fall on one of these formats. So for Warner, staying neutral just wasn't an option anymore. The question then becomes, if you're going to make a change in strategy, you want to make one that's going to impart genuine forward momentum on the situation. Warner going HD-DVD exclusive would have effectively created a 50/50 split in Hollywood studio support for these formats, resulting in an even bigger stalemate than already exists, and probably closing the door completely on either of these formats ever gaining widespread acceptance. On the other hand, Warner going Blu-ray only makes that studio split 70/30. It effectively gives Blu-ray exclusive access to 70% of Hollywood studio content. And that's not only a game changer, it's a game ender.
Of course, there's already finger-pointing in some quarters, including comments that "large sums of money were obviously involved" to get Warner to switch. If anyone thinks payoffs were the sole reason for Warner's decision, they don't know as much about this business as they'd like to think. It's well worth nothing that BOTH camps these past few weeks were offering extraordinary up-front payments and other incentives to Warner to go exclusive to their format - sums that make the Paramount/DreamWorks deal to go HD-DVD exclusive look like unsalted peanuts. Warner clearly took the deal that offered them not just short-term gain, but also the best potential long-term benefit as well.
You can bet that Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks aren't going to want to be left holding the bag. Now that the industry momentum towards Blu-ray is clear, sales of Blu-ray hardware and software are surely going to increase, and none of these studios are going to want to be left out. Their shareholders simply won't allow it. Paramount and DreamWorks almost certainly have have out-clauses in their deals with the HD-DVD camp. Steven Spielberg has repeatedly made his desire to move DreamWorks back to Universal clear, and he's also a committed Blu-ray Disc backer - Universal going Blu is almost certainly going to be a sticking point in the negotiations, especially when you consider that Spielberg has TWICE now required the HD-DVD camp to retract statements claiming that his Universal films were coming soon to that format. And our sources are now telling us that Universal - knowing Warner was about to go Blu-exclusive - has already begin taking steps to prepare for their own future Blu-ray efforts. Our guess is that Universal in particular will go format neutral, to put the best P.R. spin on their situation. But we'd be VERY surprised if all three studios don't announce their own Blu-ray Disc support by mid-2008 at the latest, so as benefit from 4th quarter holiday sales. In fact, we're betting those announcements happen much sooner.
Even before the Warner news, Blu-ray Disc software was outselling HD-DVD here in the States by nearly a 3 to 1 margin, and it's an even greater margin around the world. Despite the HD-DVD camp's claims that low priced hardware was the key to winning this format war, stand-alone Blu-ray Disc hardware has now begun to outsell HD-DVD hardware here in the States, despite its average higher price. The overwhelming majority of consumer electronics manufacturers back Blu-ray over HD-DVD. A huge portion of the computer industry backs Blu-ray as well. And now Blu-ray has 70% of the Hollywood studios, a percentage that will certainly increase by year's end. As Blu-ray sales increase, economies of scale will kick in, meaning that hardware and software prices will continue to drop. Blu-ray hardware prices are already lower than ever - now under $300. Every Blu-ray supporting company is going to want to prime the pump for sales in the weeks and months ahead, so there will be plenty of deals and sales to be found. And you can bet that retailers will very soon start to seriously favor Blu-ray in their stores and with their customers, if they aren't already - retailers have wanted an end to this format war more than anyone. And all those technical details that have been sticking points with a few early adopters - like audio specs, online interactivity and region coding - will work themselves out with Blu-ray just like they did with DVD over time.
We've been telling you all for two years now, here at The Digital Bits, that the smart thing to do as consumers was to sit this format war out. But we've also been saying - much to the irritation of some online - that our many years of experience in this industry suggested to us that, if you WERE going to take a risk on high-def discs, Blu-ray Disc was the better bet. It was, and it is.
The bottom line has finally become obvious to all: Blu-ray Disc is now the clear choice for mainstream consumers.
So when you head out to buy your new flat-panel HDTV in the weeks ahead, go check out those spiffy new Blu-ray Disc displays too. We're confident that you'll be glad you did.
One other thing is abundantly clear today as well: CES is going to be absolutely fascinating this year. We'll probably post something on Sunday night from the show itself, so be sure to check back then.
Wow, that is pretty huge! The spanking HD-DVD was taking before the holidays got really bad...and this news will all but make it over much sooner then expected.
The Paramount, HD-DVD fiasco slowed things up a bit at first but the consumer clearly showed the format they want.
I just hope it's over sooner then later because I want more Blu-ray options!
Joystiq reports that Bill Gates could use his final CES keynote to reveal a new Xbox 360 model with an integrated HD-DVD player...
Esther's here and she's sick?
hi Esther, now we are all going to be sick, thanks
i found it hilarious that the fire saled toshiba hd-dvd players still didnt outsell blu-ray players in december.
Right, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the add-on HD-DVD player previously sold for the 360 did absolutely nothing to decrease the lead Blu-ray already had (and is still gaining) on HD-DVD. Blu-ray was winning pretty handedly before the holidays and their numbers jumped a lot over Nov-Dec.
It's great that Microsoft is still on the side of HD-DVDs considering the two largest computer companies Dell, and Apple (one being a PC/Windows format) are offering Blu-ray players and the only MAJOR exclusive HD-DVD currently has is Paramount...which is rumored to be reconsidering.
That said, I just want HD-DVD to go ahead and die off so the consumer will benefit from the far superior format sooner.
Here's my gripe. Blu-rays only advantage is extra space, however most movies fit onto HD with no problem. Both put out 1080p.. so now Blu-rays only real advantage is data storage.. but flash drives and hard drives are getting so big now, there's no point to burning data anymore.
I could really careless which one wins. I just want a definitive format... And I refuse to pay more than $20 for a movie. Fuck that.
i don't really get caught up in the whole hd/blu-ray "wars".
this just seems to be typical microsoft to shaft early adopters. i mean, how many different versions of virtualy the same console have they released now? they released a low spec system and are upgrading it bit by bit.
i really hope the other rumors about the CES are true...possible talks of microsoft preparing to licence the Xbox platform out to consumer electronics companies.
Esther's here and she's sick?
hi Esther, now we are all going to be sick, thanks