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Blu-ray lands the big fish, Sony must be jubilant
1:59 PM on 02.15.2008, Gameboi 72 comments

Blu-ray lands the big fish, Sony must be jubilant photo
     Sony

Right about now, the executives at Sony who were initially sweating out their decision to include Blu-ray in the PlayStation 3 must be giggling like a bunch of little schoolgirls. What was once attacked as one of the biggest mistakes in gaming history is starting to resemble a good idea. The momentum  for the Blu-ray camp may have been slow in coming, but today it would seem that they've found a friend, and landed the motherload -- in Wal-Mart -- who will be completely phasing out HD-DVD disks over the next couple of months:

"We've listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases," said Gary Severson, Wal-Mart's Senior Vice President of Home Entertainment in a statement.

Considering how powerful a force Wally's World is, that has to sting pretty bad -- but it gets worse for HD-DVD fans. The Hollywood Reporter is circulating the rumor that industry insiders are expecting Toshiba to walk away from the HD-DVD table at any moment. Is the format war finally over?  We sure hope so. It overstayed its welcome as it was.

Catch the Press Release, after the jump: 

 

Wal-Mart Moving Exclusively Toward Blu-ray Format Movies and Players 

Bentonville, Ark., Feb. 15, 2008 - Wal-Mart Stores, U.S. today announces that its 4,000 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores will move forward this year with one hi-definition movie and hardware format: Blu-ray.  The change will take place quickly over the next several months whereby the retailer will phase out HD DVD offerings and reorganize shelf space.  By June, Wal-Mart stores, Sam's Clubs, www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com will offer only Blu-ray movies and hardware machines, as well as standard definition movies and DVD players, and up converts.

"We've listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases," said Gary Severson, senior vice president, Home Entertainment, Wal-Mart, U.S.  "With the customers best interest in all we do, we wanted to share our decision and timeline with them as soon as possible, knowing it will help simplify their purchase decision, increase selection, and increase adoption long term.  We anticipate enhancing our selection with continued great values in hi-definition Blu-ray products, so our customers can further enhance their entertainment experience at home."

Wal-Mart will continue to sell through remaining HD DVD product, but in less than 30 days customers will see a more predominant move toward Blu-ray in stores, clubs and online.  As the nation's largest retailer, Wal-Mart thoughtfully reviewed all areas and impact in making its decision, and is excited to move forward with one format and share its future plans with customers.

[Via CNNMoney -- Thanks, dvddesign, Jonothan, and whoever else I may have overlooked]

Next page: More Blu-ray stories




Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 02/15/2008 13:59
Kind of surprises me, since I always got the impression that HD-DVDs were easier to make. Wasn't it said that it was far cheaper to convert existing factories to produce the format, as compared to Blu-Ray?

Having said that, I still think regular old DVDs suit our needs just fine...for movies. As for games, I can see the need for extra space.
big filth's Avatar
big filth at 02/15/2008 13:59
the average person has no idea what an HDDVD is. Blu Ray just sounds soooo cool.

When dealing with the American consumer, one thing matters over everything else. what is that one thing you wonder?

the coolness factor.

sadly.
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 02/15/2008 14:04
The whole name confusion argument doesn't fly with me. High Definition DVD makes more sense, and you'd think it would be recognizable by consumers.

It's easy to say otherwise now, but who the hell would've thought that consumers would recoginize the Blu-ray name as the next step in DVDs? It doesn't even have DVD in the title.
Nyteshade's Avatar
Nyteshade at 02/15/2008 14:05
Forcing PS3 owners to purchase Blu-rays is what won the "HD" war, but it's also one of the major reasons the PS3 is more expensive and has sold less than the 360.

Sony pushed their format at the expense of early PS3 adopters, pushing a "media center" over a game console. It's exactly why I went from a Sony fanboy to a disappointed onlooker, but good for Sony I guess.
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 02/15/2008 14:06
Whether you like to admit it or not, the PS3 had a lot to do with this.
SDogg554's Avatar
SDogg554 at 02/15/2008 14:09
@Gameboi
thats exactly the point. when consumers see hd-dvd, they think to themselves "oh an unnecessary upgrade to dvd's". When they see blu-ray, it sounds like a new technology they should check out.
CALkulon's Avatar
CALkulon at 02/15/2008 14:11
Excellent.

/hug pstriple

Bought at launch, I feel vindicated. Now, if only they'd realise more actually good games...
brosef's Avatar
brosef at 02/15/2008 14:11
@monosylabic
couldn't have said it better myself

I'm glad the format wars are ending. I wasn't going to buy either one until I was sure that it wasn't going to lose and be phased out. I don't think I'm alone in such a position either.

I for one welcome our new high-def overlords.
please don't kill me oh benevolent masters
wraith808's Avatar
wraith808 at 02/15/2008 14:17
I just don't get why people don't understand a couple of things.
1) the HD market is currently nascent. it has zero penetration. so winning this war is like winning an argument on the internet.
2) Competition is *good*. There's no reason to pick one format over the other. While there was choice, both sides tried to make their format better, while not alienating their customers. Now? As much as people talk about HD-DVD players being worthless, let's see how fun things are when BR 2.0 comes out. There's absolutely *no* reason for sony to keep backwards compatibility in. *none* And we see what happened to PS2 backwards compatibility for the PS3...
3) This whole thing is a non-issue created by the stupid exclusivity deals and media hype machine. Several movie companies were developing for both, and not losing money doing it. Why does it have to be either or?
4) "Consumers have chosen." right. Not even. Consumers have had it chosen for them. There aren't enough consumers invested in either format to have chosen as a body.

But whatever...
ZonerDude's Avatar
ZonerDude at 02/15/2008 14:19
Like this means anything. It ain't exactly pushing DVD out of the way. And frankly, the difference is hardly worth the cost of crappy and overpriced blu-ray players. I am bypassing blu-ray.
big filth's Avatar
big filth at 02/15/2008 14:19
the funny thing is, sony put the gamers on the back burner, basically assumed their loyalty and put their interests in pushing this format over everything else.

luckily its looking good now, but silly ps3 fanboys are acting like theyre happy. little do they know they were all just pawns in sonys money making chess game.

down with the man.

fuck blu ray and hddvd. I watch all my movies on laser disc.
Quisling's Avatar
Quisling at 02/15/2008 14:20
I don't think this makes a bit of difference. I think that before even blu-ray has the chance to become as widespread as it needs to be we'll see a better format for cheaper that will overthrow it. HD-DVD may have lost, but that doesn't make the logical progression VHS -> DVD -> blu-ray.

The jump to DVD was so vast that it was inevitable. This just won't cut it and before next gen we'll see a better format, hopefully hardware open source (though I wouldn't stake my money on that either).
Release82's Avatar
Release82 at 02/15/2008 14:21
Prediction. Blu ray xbox 360 drive for sale soon.
catsithx's Avatar
catsithx at 02/15/2008 14:22
yeah yeah go sony I still not buying a ps3 until the price goes down more
CaptainApocalypse's Avatar
CaptainApocalypse at 02/15/2008 14:24
Honestly, I'm afraid to see Sony get this type of power. With all the insane decisions they've been making lately, I don't know how well this will work out. I can say this though, I'll prolly end up getting a PS3 now. I still don't look at it as a great game console, but with Blu-Ray becoming the standard, It might make it worth picking up for the few games I'd play, see MGS4 and Final Fantasy Anything. Now I'll just need to find one that is PS2 backwards comp.
Septon's Avatar
Septon at 02/15/2008 14:26
It's definitely about time. I'm sorry for all of the poor fools that made the mistake of buying the 360 add-on. It never seemed logical to buy an add-on for a system that didn't use the format for its games. I purchased the Sega CD knowing it would fail but at least it played games. Also, Snatcher and Rise of the Dragon. Willy Beamish was alright.
Crunshii's Avatar
Crunshii at 02/15/2008 14:27
And here is where it shows that all the losses made by the Sony bet to put the BR player into the PS3 and making Sony loose on each sold console pay off: Netflix, Blockbuster, Walmart, Warner Brothers, P O R N, pony porn, and now just missing Paramount and Universal, and there are rumors are there they will be switching soon.

Funny thing is I still remember how badly game bloggers trashed Sony for doing that, jumping into the hate bandwagon. That it didn't need BRD installed, that DVD was more than fine for gaming and that Sony could have learned from Microsoft in just giving it a add-on player.

I Wonder where they went...
Velt's Avatar
Velt at 02/15/2008 14:34
I always thought blu ray was a better choice, like betamax over vhs back in the day... vhs won but betamax was better.

anyway where i live the sooner the war is over in the US the sooner i will get my hd content here.
BluDesign's Avatar
BluDesign at 02/15/2008 14:39
I sent this tip in last night.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 02/15/2008 14:46
Oi, I'm glad I predicted the end of this right, or else I would be sitting here with an HD-DVD of Planet Earth as a gift.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 02/15/2008 14:50
@Dexter

Planet Earth is AMAZING eh?

Yeah good for Blu-Ray. Soon I'll have an excuse to buy a PS3.
Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 02/15/2008 14:53
Oh shit.
Huangism's Avatar
Huangism at 02/15/2008 14:55
well since blu-ray holds more data therefore better picture quality under a magnifying glass so it is the better format. who cares about hd dvd. it doesn;t even sound like an upgrade
free touch's Avatar
free touch at 02/15/2008 15:00
bummer, oh well, looks like ima get some sweet deals on some hd-dvd's soon.
Xbudz's Avatar
Xbudz at 02/15/2008 15:05
I think the market is going to split nicely between downloadable movies and Blue Ray.
joshandrox's Avatar
joshandrox at 02/15/2008 15:12
Kinda fresh. Is it possible that HDDVD failed because more people trust the companies that backed blu ray as apposed HDDVD?
TheExit's Avatar
TheExit at 02/15/2008 15:21
All I want is to get all the movies on one format. Thats all I want. Hopefully this is a reality soon.
Ascythopicism's Avatar
Ascythopicism at 02/15/2008 15:23
I just want to third that Planet Earth is the shit.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 02/15/2008 15:27
Yeah, this format war is all but over now. For those of you claiming that there’s going to be a “new format” before this generation is over...what is it? Don’t give me digital distribution, because the broadband internet infrastructure is simply not there in this country to allow for widespread downloading of high-quality movies over the internet. Blu-ray is here right now, and it looks like it’s here to stay...so hop on the bandwagon. I’m certainly glad I got my PS3 a while back...

Also, the people saying that HD-quality video isn’t much of an upgrade over DVDs...come on! Have you even seen what Planet Earth looks like in HD? Granted, the difference becomes more pronounced as you go up in screen size, but I have a 26" LCD, and I tested out my copy of Planet Earth on Blu-ray versus a friend’s DVD copy. The disparity in quality was like night and day.
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 02/15/2008 15:31
Ah.... but so is the disparity in price, BrOnXbOmBr21. Right now plenty of people are having a hard time just affording DVDs and TVs, let alone, the HD goodies.
Narishma's Avatar
Narishma at 02/15/2008 15:33
Gameboi: Actually HD-DVD seems to be more confusing. You won't believe the number of people buying HD-DVDs then returning them because they don't work on their DVD players and complaining they should work because they have an HDTV...
BluDesign's Avatar
BluDesign at 02/15/2008 15:34
DVDdesign's PS3 is pleased...


Thank you for supporting me!
Churchhills Dog's Avatar
Churchhills Dog at 02/15/2008 15:43
now we just have to wait out about 3-4 more years to get rid of optical media altogether.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 02/15/2008 15:45
I'm just glad the format war is over. Holy crap.
vexed alex's Avatar
vexed alex at 02/15/2008 15:46
What the fuck is wrong with you, DVD? Get that Wii out of that heat trap. Poor little guy.

Also, finally!
martinine's Avatar
martinine at 02/15/2008 15:50
Dammit. Now I def have to get a PS3.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 02/15/2008 15:52
@Gameboi: Oh, absolutely...no one’s disputing that. For a while, I was playing my PS3 on an eight-and-a-half-year-old 13" CRT. But then my tax refund came last year, and I was able to buy a sweet 26" Samsung LCD for $680 + tax. It just seems to me that the people who claim that there isn’t much of a difference between HD and SD must not have ever seen too much HD content, or they’ve seen it on a shitty display. Either that, or they’re old and they don’t give a shit (like my parents, who will probably stick with the eight-and-a-half-year-old 27" CRT in their living room until I graduate from college and buy them an HDTV).
Crunshii's Avatar
Crunshii at 02/15/2008 15:55
@ dvdesign

That 360 looks like its gonna RR soon if you keep it close to the BS3, lol. Ive seen it happen before on one of the topics here.

Wii looks so small...
Quest's Avatar
Quest at 02/15/2008 15:58
to all M$ bashers who were talking trash against the BR and the PS3 since the beginning
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL i'm glad many fanboys will be stock with their useless HD-DVD player


hummm what some of you said last year ??? oh yeah .. the PS3 is to expensive with is BR player and the BR format will die very fast .... sry but a 200$ (many bought it at this price at the launch) HD-DVD is way more useless and now we all know HD-DVD is dead ...

also for those M$ fanboys who thinks DL is the future instead of BR just because you don't want sony to win the console war ... i will have the same comment for you next year ... just be honnest and admit sony is not so bad after all
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 02/15/2008 15:59
@dvddesign

Judging by its center position, are we to assume that the Wii is the backbone of your gaming set-up? I see that it's managing to hold its own ;-)
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 02/15/2008 16:09
"Kind of surprises me, since I always got the impression that HD-DVDs were easier to make. Wasn't it said that it was far cheaper to convert existing factories to produce the format, as compared to Blu-Ray?"

I'm sure the consumer didn't consider the aforementioned qualities of HD-DVD.
Holiday's Avatar
Holiday at 02/15/2008 16:16
It was basically a no-brainer as to Blu-Ray winning out over HD-DVD. I mean...Sony Classic Pictures, hello!


But really...DVD over VHS big difference. Blu-Ray over DVD is marginal.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 02/15/2008 16:19
@Holiday
"Blu-Ray over DVD is marginal."

You are blind.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 02/15/2008 16:21
http://www.wfu.edu/~yipcw/atg/bd/index.htm
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 02/15/2008 16:28
@brainderailment

Good point. It's not like any discounts were passed on to the consumer, if HD-DVDs were indeed cheaper to make.
qo_op's Avatar
qo_op at 02/15/2008 16:50
People act like movie company's cant help make the consumer choose Blu Ray over DVD. Theres an easy solution and its make less DVD copies.
DrXym's Avatar
DrXym at 02/15/2008 17:02
I think HD DVD had the advantage in its name (its DVD but HD!), and in some secondary aspects of its technologies but overall Blu Ray was superior. It had wider industry support, better copy protection, greater storage, better scratch / error resistance and ultimately more studios.

Furthermore from a pragmatic point of view, it was obvious that millions of PS3s woult have some weight on this outcome. We all know that both sides probably engaged in some dubious corporate shenanigans but from a technical and user base perspective HD DVD stood no chance. Maybe if they had toss a few hundred million more at Warner or Fox it might have gone the other way but we'll never know now.

HD DVD is dead and Blu Ray is the king. The sooner Toshiba sweeps up their mess the better.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 02/15/2008 17:12
Well done, Sony. You proved me wrong. Too bad it was a gentleman's bet! Ha!
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