Earlier today,
Gizmodo and
Engadget announced that Paramount was set to move from HD-DVD to Blu-Ray, effectively killing the format.
Well, Paramount has stated thats not the case and they're sticking w/ HD-DVD. For now, at least, it does appear that HD-DVD isn't totally dead...which is good, considering I just got HD-DVD for my Xbox 360 and absolutely love the damn thing! Sorry, PS3, but your Blu-Ray discs just aren't as feature-filled as my HD-DVD's.
Personally, I kinda wish it would just stay a stalemate and let the dual format players permeate the marketplace. But, being the business minded individual I am, it merely creates confusion in the market, etc. I prefer HD-DVD, but if Blu-Ray has to win, I hope they offer some kind of monetary incentive for people to make the switch from HD-DVD...or maybe Toshiba will pull some major coup and somehow win back some major movie studio support...not likely, but let a guy dream!
Edit: Yes, I know this was posted earlier. I didn't see it. oops.
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Here goes
SDTV+DVD= Looks good
HDTV+DVD= Looks shit
HDTV+HD-DVD= Looks nice, but now you have to pay 30 dolalrs a movie.
HDTV+BD= Looks nice too, but now you are even MOAR broke.
Do people not realize that you can get a really badass picture out of SDTV's and normal def DVD's? And a lot of the older analog surround systems sound fucking AMAZING!?
This is not the time to get all excited and crazy over the highdef war, its still way too expensive and a lot of great movies are still not even HD. Remember when DVD was just coming around? Yeah, its like that, except more idiotic.
And don't anybody feed anybody shit about upscalers...they suck.
Cool post, but i just think all this shit is REALLY STUPID.
I'm sticking with BR since Spielberg said he supports BR, and I want my Back to the Future in HD.
I want the movie. Features are ancillary. Now, seeing as how any single format aligned studio is going to pump up the bit rate on their videos to pad out space on a BR disc, I really expect WB movies to really shine even more now. OoTP has a pretty transfer, as does GoF, but this will future WB titles up out of decent to stunning if they ape what Disney does with their transfers. Ratatoullie and Pirates of the Carribean are the two best looking movies I've ever seen.
Ratatoullie especially. It looks like real rats with cartoon eyes. It's damn realistic looking.
Don't get me wrong, Transformers looks nice, as do many other HD DVD's I've seen, but double space means a better looking movie, means the majority of people looking for a move to HD are going to be more likely to notice a more pristine transfer.
@Bilbo
Combo discs are flawed and are ticking time bombs. There's a reason why WB phased those out on new releases. Release: Combo disc, then 6 months later, re-release it as a HD DVD only version.
The layers aren't meshing together well on many titles and have caused playback issues for some people.
DVD-18 titles had the same problems years ago.
I don't get it, if the 37" is going in your living room where the hell are you putting the 56"?
bathroom maybe?
@weedgan: I don't agree with BluRay being more expensive than HD-DVD; they seem quite evenly matched. I do agree with SD and a DVD being really lovely quality! I don't own a HDTV and don't intend to until they've finally decided on a definitive HD format (yes, there's still debate as to 1080p being "real" HD! pff, like I care!). I use my TFT monitor for 360 gaming in HD and my PS3 sits downstairs at my SDTV. Sure, HD is impressive, but the transition from analogue to digital was so much more impressive. Long live DVDs!
Though, I must say...56" TV in the bathroom ain't a bad idea...
Also, Lost Season 3 looks amazing on Blu-Ray.
Kidding aside, I bought a PS3 so I'm going to stick with that for my HD movie needs naturally. Add in that they have the majority of movies I actually want to see in HD and I'm a happy camper.
I'll admit that it sucks for those who purchased an HD-DVD player. I was very close to buying one over the summer.
I got the Blade Runner Final Cut Ultimate Collectors Edition for Blu-ray, it is excellent. I got it on Amazon for $60, great deal.
Also, the average price I pay for HD DVD is $15 (new - sealed) thanks to Amazon's generous BOGO offerings and other sales. I paid only $20 for Bourne Ultimatum and Transformers combined. :D
If anything, HD DVDs are more expensive, because the standard price of all the HD DVD/DVD combo discs is $34.99, whereas regular Blu-ray Disc movies are $29.99.
Blu-ray/HD-DVDcombo