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[VanMardigan]

Someone a few pages ago mentioned a problem playing Chuck & Larry on their 360 add-on, and I can now confirm there is definitely an issue. I got a BRAND NEW disc from Netflix (which actually shipped the disc a day before the street date), and it gave me a "can't read disc" error.

Thankfully, it's on a combo disc, so I just flipped it over and watched the SD side upconverted to 1080p. Looked decent enough. The movie really is terrible, though. Oh well, at least the combo disc format was actually good for something.

I'd ask folks to test it out on their A2/A3s, but I don't want people beating me up for suggesting that they watch that movie.

 

[Kolgar]

I'd ask folks to test it out on their A2/A3s, but I don't want people beating me up for suggesting that they watch that movie.

But, cripes, isn't that the movie with jiggly Jessica Biel in her skivvies?

I'm planning to rent the movie for that scene alone!

 

[VanMardigan]

But, cripes, isn't that the movie with jiggly Jessica Biel in her skivvies?

I'm planning to rent the movie for that scene alone!

Dude, she looks UNBELIEVABLE in that scene (and throughout, of course). I wish I could've seen that scene in HD. :lol

 

[Xisiqomelir]

Hey Blu guys, just talked to a friend of mine who really wants to buy into BR, but absolutely 100% detests gaming and games. I've tried to talk reason with him, but I think there is 0 chance he'll buy a PS3.

So, which BD standalone is the best right now? Priority on easily updatable FW if it's 1.0

Bump?

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Bump?

Well, the cheapest/best option *is* the PS3. He doesn't have to play games on it.

After that, it's the Sony BDP-S300. It's supposed to be a great player, but then again, so is the PS3. It lasks some of the advanatges of the PS3, like a hard drive, web browser, remote media player, and playing back content from the HD. It will also run you slightly more, but it come with a remote whereas you buy that seperately for the PS3.

If you can convince him that the PS3 is less game machine than media center (which is certainly true for me) then that's the way to go.

Edit: Oh, based on comments, it's shipping with updated firmware already, and is upgradable. No word on how t will handle the transistion for Profile 1.1 or whatever. Another plus for the PS3.

 

[VanMardigan]

Buying anything other than a Ps3 as your BR player is plain stupid. Considering what we know of the changing specs, and that the Ps3 is the ONLY player on the market that has all the hardware necessary for "full spec", plus it's various other functions, plus its price..........it's the only choice as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Yup. Which makes all the nay-saying about the PS3's relevance to studios even more baffling, or perhaps is just wishful thinking.

 

[plagiarize]

I'm not sure what happened with iHD. I don't think Sony veto'ed it at all, I doubt Matsushita or Philips would have either. Maybe Apple and others. Then again Java is an industry standard.

i'm not sure either. i do know that BDA voted in favor of HDi, and that Disney were actually heavily involved in designing the format (i'm sure they've been heavily involved in creating the java profiles since HDi was thrown out).

i don't know who the power players were so i'm not going to pretend i presume to know. i just know that a few companies had a lot more power than all the other companies put together.

 

[VanMardigan]

Yup. Which makes all the nay-saying about the PS3's relevance to studios even more baffling, or perhaps is just wishful thinking.

The two are totally separate issues, but you unfortunately insist on merging them. If the Ps3 had a halfway decent attach rate, the studios wouldn't care, but I can't blame them for preferring to see standalone sales increase and move to the forefront given the current attach rate. It's good enough to win weekly sales percentages while the market is still niche, but given that the Ps3 is unlikely to sell the amounts its predecessor did, and given the attach rate, it behooves the BDA to have their standalones take off and sell much better than they currently are. The current scenario with the Ps3 just won't scale anywhere near what the BDA is hoping in order to generate the profits they set out to get with the format. The fact that the Ps3 IS currently the best BR option doesn't change any of that.

i don't know who the power players were so i'm not going to pretend i presume to know. i just know that a few companies had a lot more power than all the other companies put together

Sony/Phillips/Matsushita at the time. Amir, who was involved with Disney and the BDA during the whole HDi/Java fiasco, has pretty much expounded on the politics behind the decision. None of it is surprising since that's pretty common in business, but it's more than a little disingenuous to suggest the BDA is an equal partnership in any way shape or form.

 

[mabuza]

this week`s numbers should be fun. im expecting bluray to be in the 70s

 

[plagiarize]

The two are totally separate issues, but you unfortunately insist on merging them. If the Ps3 had a halfway decent attach rate, the studios wouldn't care, but I can't blame them for preferring to see standalone sales increase and move to the forefront given the current attach rate. It's good enough to win weekly sales percentages while the market is still niche, but given that the Ps3 is unlikely to sell the amounts its predecessor did, and given the attach rate, it behooves the BDA to have their standalones take off and sell much better than they currently are. The current scenario with the Ps3 just won't scale anywhere near what the BDA is hoping in order to generate the profits they set out to get with the format. The fact that the Ps3 IS currently the best BR option doesn't change any of that.

what it does change though van, is stand alone sales.

right now, there isn't another blu-ray player that gets you so much for so little. a large number of people looking for a blu-ray player, disinterested in games, buy the PS3, which costs stand alone figures a sale.

it's a complex equation. the PS3 is hurting the sales of stand alone players... but it's greatly helping the software sales in this early stage.

stand alone sales *aren't* going to take off until there is a standalone that can do all the PS3 can as a Blu-Ray player for a cheaper price.

 

[VanMardigan]

Totally understood that it's a catch 22 situation, I was just explaining why standalone sales are important to studios and analysts.

edit: The problem lies in getting a full spec standalone to match the Ps3 in price. While Sony is willing (like Toshiba) to sell below cost for gaming and format war reasons, onix has explained repeatedly here why the BDA CE companies are unwilling to do so. This only compounds the problem for the BDA, since the Ps3 will continue to drop in price, and full spec BR players will likely be higher cost for the foreseeable future.

 

[Xisiqomelir]

Well, the cheapest/best option *is* the PS3. He doesn't have to play games on it.

After that, it's the Sony BDP-S300. It's supposed to be a great player, but then again, so is the PS3. It lasks some of the advanatges of the PS3, like a hard drive, web browser, remote media player, and playing back content from the HD. It will also run you slightly more, but it come with a remote whereas you buy that seperately for the PS3.

If you can convince him that the PS3 is less game machine than media center (which is certainly true for me) then that's the way to go.

Edit: Oh, based on comments, it's shipping with updated firmware already, and is upgradable. No word on how t will handle the transistion for Profile 1.1 or whatever. Another plus for the PS3.

Thanks Ignatz. Is there a way to get a PS3 working with a Logitech Harmony? Like an IR usb add-on or something?

 

[Oni Jazar]

Thanks Ignatz. Is there a way to get a PS3 working with a Logitech Harmony? Like an IR usb add-on or something?

Yes, Nyko has a "Blu-wave" USB-IR adapter that works great. You can buy it on Amazon.

 

[plagiarize]

Yes, Nyko has a "Blu-wave" USB-IR adapter that works great. You can buy it on Amazon.

linku? i'm currently using a ps2 ir receiver which doesn't work that great... but it's functional. been meaning to replace it with something that can navigate the xmb and doesn't take quarter of a second to move from option to option now that my blu-ray collection is growing...

just a question, does leaving that in the ps3 still player 2 the joypad by default even if you turn the system on using the joypad?

 

[Oni Jazar]

linku? i'm currently using a ps2 ir receiver which doesn't work that great... but it's functional. been meaning to replace it with something that can navigate the xmb and doesn't take quarter of a second to move from option to option now that my blu-ray collection is growing...

just a question, does leaving that in the ps3 still player 2 the joypad by default even if you turn the system on using the joypad?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R5H7KE/?tag=neogaf0e-20

It works well with some tweaking, and there is a 2 second delay when receiving the first response but after that it's instant. There is also the occasional "controller not found on port 1" message (which can be fixed quickly) but there have been reports that this has been resolved with FW2.0. I haven't been able to verify yet.

 

[plagiarize]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R5H7KE/?tag=neogaf0e-20

It works well with some tweaking, and there is a 2 second delay when receiving the first response but after that it's instant. There is also the occasional "controller not found on port 1" message (which can be fixed quickly) but there have been reports that this has been resolved with FW2.0. I haven't been able to verify yet.

ordered (along with 2001 after all the rave reviews here). if it solves the joypad thing that'll be a nice bonus. been putting up with what i had for too long. 2 seconds to wake up will be a lot less annoying than quarter of a second to move from one item to the next in the film's menu.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

The two are totally separate issues, but you unfortunately insist on merging them. If the Ps3 had a halfway decent attach rate, the studios wouldn't care, but I can't blame them for preferring to see standalone sales increase and move to the forefront given the current attach rate. It's good enough to win weekly sales percentages while the market is still niche, but given that the Ps3 is unlikely to sell the amounts its predecessor did, and given the attach rate, it behooves the BDA to have their standalones take off and sell much better than they currently are. The current scenario with the Ps3 just won't scale anywhere near what the BDA is hoping in order to generate the profits they set out to get with the format. The fact that the Ps3 IS currently the best BR option doesn't change any of that.

That's a LOT of text to say that you want ot discount the BluRay sales lead.

Of course PS3 can't scale like standalones. But price are dropping quickly on standalones.

No problem.

 

[Kolgar]

Yup. Which makes all the nay-saying about the PS3's relevance to studios even more baffling, or perhaps is just wishful thinking.

Like I said: it's psychology. What position a product or brand owns in the consumer's mind.

What's a DELL?

What's a Nike?

What's a Xerox?

What's a PlayStation?

Right, a PlayStation is a video game player. It doesn't matter that Sony's built features into PlayStation3 that make it a media hub and "more than a game machine." When most people think of "PlayStation," they think video games.

Could be a barrier for some consumers looking to buy a new movie player, don't you think?

Back in the day, when IBM was known for desktop PCs, they wanted a slice of the copier market. They wanted to own the office. So they took on Xerox head to head. And lost miserably. An IBM is a computer, people thought. Not a copier.

Likewise, Xerox wanted a piece of IBM's PC business. They entered the PC market and they too failed miserably. In people's minds, an IBM was a computer and a Xerox was a copier. It'd be like McDonald's putting tacos on the menu. Who would go to Mickey D's for tacos? That's what Taco Bell is for.

A PlayStation is a game machine to everyone but the small group of techno-savvy gamers and AV enthusiasts who post at forums like this. The name that serves Sony so well with that audience suddenly becomes a hindrance to mass-market acceptance.

The "Blu-ray" brand is better, but at this nascent stage, it's perhaps too tied to PS3 to be a big factor. Until Blu-ray can stand on its own, without being held up almost exclusively by PS3, the brand and the format just isn't very strong.

Now, if PS3 can help Sony and the other BDA members bridge the gap to the point in time where low-cost BD players are available--thus negating HD DVD's primary advantage at this point--then they will be in great position to win this war.

But they have to hold onto their studio advantage through all of this. As I said, I'm pretty sure that standalones are preferable to game consoles in the eyes of most studios, but other factors could come into play too: such as replication costs and other things I don't know about and am not privvy to.

I'm not discounting PS3 by any means, as it's clearly had a positive effect for Blu-ray and given the format the advantage in disc sales. But as I've said before, it's a bit of a double-edged sword.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

I really don't see the issue when

a) standalones are selling reasonably well compared to the competition
b) software is outselling the competition
c) standlone sales have nowhere to go but up as prices drop


The theme for today seems to be to try to rationalize away the BluRay lead. Wishing doesn't make it so.


Edit: 80 posts to 20,000! Is this the longest GAF thread ever?

 

[Kolgar]

I really don't see the issue when

a) standalones are selling reasonably well compared to the competition
b) software is outselling the competition
c) standlone sales have nowhere to go but up as prices drop


The theme for today seems to be to try to rationalize away the BluRay lead. Wishing doesn't make it so.


Edit: 80 posts to 20,000! Is this the longest GAF thread ever?

Yes, it's the BDA's game to lose.

But as I mentioned in my other post, Toshiba's trying to turn time against them this holiday by capturing mindshare and selling a boatload of HD DVD players.

The HDM market is small right now and a helluva lot of people have no idea about anything beyond DVD. What I think Toshiba tried to do with the Wal-mart doing is punch through and imprint "HD DVD" on the public consciousness. In essence, they want to "get there first," which is the #1 rule of positioning and a huge boon if they can do so.

But they need to follow up that first haymaker with several more or it's an opportunity lost.

 

[FnordChan]

Right, a PlayStation is a video game player.

Yes, but that particular bit of marketing was then followed by "a PlayStation 2 is a video game player that also plays DVDs", so it's not like people aren't used to the notion of their video game system doing dual duty as a media player.

Edit: 80 posts to 20,000! Is this the longest GAF thread ever?

Not quite. On the gaming side, the Smash Bros. thread is at 39,000 posts and counting, while the Halo 3 thread is a bit shy of 32,000 posts and still chugging along. Finally, on the OT this thread is running second to the 2007 MLB thread by around 3,000 posts. So, fourth place overall.

FnordChan

 

[mrklaw]

The two are totally separate issues, but you unfortunately insist on merging them. If the Ps3 had a halfway decent attach rate, the studios wouldn't care, but I can't blame them for preferring to see standalone sales increase and move to the forefront given the current attach rate. .

why does the attach rate to playstation matter?

this is a new model for the content providers. previously they took sold hardware from Circuit City etc and knew how many DVD players were on the market and how much software, and did the math.

Now they have to factor in a grey area - the PS3. While not 'a standalone' as such, the uptake means they have to include that in their numbers. They can't just say 'oh 1 million PS3s selling 10k software titles, attach rate is terrible'. They have to factor in the lesser usage of a PS3.

Its new and may take some time before they have comfortable measurements in place. But eventually they should be able to absorb the PS3 into the equation.

then it just becomes your normal installed base Vs software sales (albeit with some kind of multiplier on the PS3 side where perhaps the PS3 counts as 1/10 of a 'normal' standalone)

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

why does the attach rate to playstation matter?

this is a new model for the content providers. previously they took sold hardware from Circuit City etc and knew how many DVD players were on the market and how much software, and did the math.

Now they have to factor in a grey area - the PS3. While not 'a standalone' as such, the uptake means they have to include that in their numbers. They can't just say 'oh 1 million PS3s selling 10k software titles, attach rate is terrible'. They have to factor in the lesser usage of a PS3.

Its new and may take some time before they have comfortable measurements in place. But eventually they should be able to absorb the PS3 into the equation.

then it just becomes your normal installed base Vs software sales (albeit with some kind of multiplier on the PS3 side where perhaps the PS3 counts as 1/10 of a 'normal' standalone)

That wouldn't allow for dismissing the sales lead or the PS3 altogether, which is required for HD-DVD hopefulness, especially after the sale doesn't kick up the software numbers.

In other words, it makes sense.

 

[captive]

So if AVS HD media area is closed where we going to get the numbers from?

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

So if AVS HD media area is closed where we going to get the numbers from?

:O

 

[Jeff-DSA]

So if AVS HD media area is closed where we going to get the numbers from?

How long is it going to be closed? This is crazy. We're not men, people.

 

[captive]

:O

You're just trying to up the post count to 20k, i wont have it, i see what your doing.

How long is it going to be closed? This is crazy. We're not men, people.

Whatdog.jpg?

And i think it was closed permantly because they didnt want to deal with the so many fanboys and trolls.

 

[Kolgar]

That wouldn't allow for dismissing the sales lead or the PS3 altogether, which is required for HD-DVD hopefulness, especially after the sale doesn't kick up the software numbers.

In other words, it makes sense.

I don't see anybody here "dismissing the sales lead or the PS3 altogether." Perhaps you're seeing only what you want to see?

None of this is black and white. There's an awful lot of gray.

And don't try to convince me anymore that you don't care which format wins. It's pretty apparent where your heart lies.

 

[VanMardigan]

That's a LOT of text to say that you want ot discount the BluRay sales lead.

Of course PS3 can't scale like standalones. But price are dropping quickly on standalones.

No problem.

Ah, I see you're not interested in serious discussion, as kolgar mentioned. How am I dismissing the Blu Ray sales lead? Is that even dismissable? You wonder why studios care whether it's Ps3's or standalones and I answered.

why does the attach rate to playstation matter?

this is a new model for the content providers. previously they took sold hardware from Circuit City etc and knew how many DVD players were on the market and how much software, and did the math.

Now they have to factor in a grey area - the PS3. While not 'a standalone' as such, the uptake means they have to include that in their numbers. They can't just say 'oh 1 million PS3s selling 10k software titles, attach rate is terrible'. They have to factor in the lesser usage of a PS3.

Its new and may take some time before they have comfortable measurements in place. But eventually they should be able to absorb the PS3 into the equation.

then it just becomes your normal installed base Vs software sales (albeit with some kind of multiplier on the PS3 side where perhaps the PS3 counts as 1/10 of a 'normal' standalone)

Ultimately, I would think the only thing that matters in software sales is the overall disc sales. This has been in favor of Blu Ray, and it is because of the Ps3. It's also no secret that the attach rate on the Ps3 hasn't mattered because Toshiba had not been successful in moving their hardware into the mainstream, so that a 10-1 lead in hardware brute forced its way into a 2-1 software lead, regardless of the attach rate. It's not difficult to see that the model would not be in BR's favor if Toshiba can sustain the kind of hardware sales they've been having, because the Ps3 would have to sell at an exponentially higher pace, again due to its attach rate.

The attach rates on Ps3 matter to some studios and analysts because the business at some point needs to scale, and having a low attach rate on your best selling hardware is troubling. It's obvious that for the format to have mainstream success, you need dedicated players to overtake the Ps3 in terms of sales, a problem because the Ps3 is the best BR player and the only one currently theoretically capable of full spec. How long will it take for full spec standalones to match the Ps3 in price? Especially considering that the other BDA CE companies have no intentions to sell below cost, for obvious reasons. It's a bit of a conundrum, yet one that can be solved with time. Which of course wouldn't be an issue if you weren't competing with another format.

It's hilarious that ignatz takes turns alternating his debate to say that I'm either attacking current sofware sales or the Ps3, when none of those are even a factor into the discussion of why standalone sales are ultimately more important to the format than Ps3 sales.

 

[Jeff-DSA]

You're just trying to up the post count to 20k, i wont have it, i see what your doing.


Whatdog.jpg?

And i think it was closed permantly because they didnt want to deal with the so many fanboys and trolls.

Say the "we're not men, people" line in a Jerry Seinfeld voice.

Permanently? That's terrible. Why don't they just drop the banhammer a few times. It seems to clear up things pretty well when used. I don't post there a lot, but I do enough that I'll miss that part of the forum.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Van, Kolgar, I'm tired of hearing rationalizations for why BluRay software sales don;t matter, the PS3 doesn't matter, and why only dumping $99 HD-DVD players matter.

Hey Kolgar, yes I want BluRay to win, because it's the closest we are to One Fucking Format, Not Two. Watch this thread in January, and if HD-DVD has pulled it out, I'll be cheering like a little boy to be buying a new player for my One Format Future. If we're still in stalemate I'll be pissed. In the meantime, quit trying to make it sound like the PS3 is some sort of negative whan it's clearly not-- the only negative to the PS3 Trojan Horse strategy was to kill the PS3 brand as a game system by making the system waaaaay too expensive compared to the competition. A hefty price to pay, but it's working for the movies.

Edit: While I was typing this, Van just cranked ot another couple of paragraphs of FUD and then said he finds it amusing that I think he's cranking out FUD!

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

It's hilarious that ignatz takes turns alternating his debate to say that I'm either attacking current sofware sales or the Ps3, when none of those are even a factor into the discussion of why standalone sales are ultimately more important to the format than Ps3 sales.

I've never said standalones aren't ultiamtely more important, I've addressed that several times. You keep ignoring that, however.

Again, standlone sales will matter when they can outpace the number of PS3 players actively buying BDs. Neither format is there yet, and by the time either is, the price differential between them will be negligible. Which leaves you with features (also negligible to sales appeal apparently, and will narrow) and studio support as the differentiators between the two.

Doesn't really look good for HD-DVD, does it?

 

[thaivo]

Doesn't really look good for HD-DVD, does it?

:lol Keep telling yourself that. I don't think either format is going anywhere. Especially considering the sales that both are going to have this holiday season. We're likely all going to be format neutral at some point. Say 2010..

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

We're likely all going to be format neutral at some point. Say 2010..

If that's the way it must be, so be it. But I'm not convinced and not in a hurry, so....


[Edit: this was my 1000th post in this thread! Still second to Van, though.]

 

[captive]

:lol Keep telling yourself that. I don't think either format is going anywhere. Especially considering the sales that both are going to have this holiday season. We're likely all going to be format neutral at some point. Say 2010..

Why does this make you happy? Oh your irrational hate of Sony.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Why does this make you happy? Oh your irrational hate of Sony.

C'mon, there's no irrational hate for Sony in this thread. Just irrational hate of Microsoft!

 

[Jeff-DSA]

I know I'm just one example, but a buddy of mine makes two in this. We both on PS3s, and between the two of us we own ONE game and about 20 BD films. I know others right now considering the PS3 simply as a player, not as a game console. The word might be getting out slowly to the mainstream market, but people aren't dumb. Once they know that the PS3 is a very good movie player, they won't care that the name PlayStation is slapped on there or that it can play videogames, or browse the net, or...wait, why should those be negatives.

Sony just needs to decide if they want the PS3 to be the feature player in their lineup or not. If they do, they really need to push it and run with it. The PS3 could still decide this war.

Oh, and I still prefer HD-DVD, but I'm not blind to the fact that it's very possible that Blu-ray will win this based on the strength of the PS3's ability to penetrate homes.

 

[el Diablo]

High Def Digest review of Ratatouille is up

'Ratatouille' stands tall among the tallest of Pixar accomplishments -- it's adventurous, witty, visually captivating and utterly charming. This Blu-ray release is also fantastic, boasting absolutely perfect video and audio, plus a great package of extras. I've reviewed over 500 next-gen discs over the last year and a half, and not one has received a perfect five star rating overall, but there's a first time for everything and I'm happy to report that 'Ratatouille' is it. This is a must-own disc that no Blu-ray collection should be without.

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1048/ratatouille.html

 

[captive]

High Def Digest review of Ratatouille is up



http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1048/ratatouille.html

Wow. I cant wait till i get off work and see the amazon box waiting for me.

 

[Jeff-DSA]

Wow. I cant wait till i get off work and see the amazon box waiting for me.

Same here. I already know what the wife and I will be doing tonight.

 

[Oni Jazar]

High Def Digest review of Ratatouille is up



http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1048/ratatouille.html

Hot dayum. Good news to go with some good numbers:

We: 71:29
Ytd: 64:36
Si: 61:39

Was hoping BD was do a little better, but with the $99 HD DVD players it was anyone's game.

 

[Arsenal]

I know I'm just one example, but a buddy of mine makes two in this. We both on PS3s, and between the two of us we own ONE game and about 20 BD films. I know others right now considering the PS3 simply as a player, not as a game console. The word might be getting out slowly to the mainstream market, but people aren't dumb. Once they know that the PS3 is a very good movie player, they won't care that the name PlayStation is slapped on there or that it can play videogames, or browse the net, or...wait, why should those be negatives.

Sony just needs to decide if they want the PS3 to be the feature player in their lineup or not. If they do, they really need to push it and run with it. The PS3 could still decide this war.

Oh, and I still prefer HD-DVD, but I'm not blind to the fact that it's very possible that Blu-ray will win this based on the strength of the PS3's ability to penetrate homes.

The PS3 is obviously a very important part of the format war, but I still disagree that it will be the deciding factor. The PS3 will always cost significantly more than a comparable standalone disc player will so it just does not make sense for it to be the primary player long term. Short term Sony can subsidize it and that works to their advantage since it was part of their gaming plan anyway, but eventually the stand alone players have to become a more viable as the "lead skus" for the format.

In the current market, with Toshiba cranking out low cost HD DVD players, the PS3 is simply not going to win the format war. It can stalemate it until the stand alone players come through, but at this point no one is clear when that will be.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Same here. I already know what the wife and I will be doing tonight.

My wife has the Rat in hand and we're having a tonof friends over to watch tonight!

Also, after renting SM3, I ended up buyng the box along with Ratatouille. My wife really, really likes SM3, and hates the other two. Go figure!

I see Pac-Man is back in effect. Spider-Man did better business than we were all talking about last week, I guess those early lowball reports were erroneous, it outsold Transformers after all (despite transformers doing 3:1 over SM3 on DVD).

 

[Kolgar]

I know I'm just one example, but a buddy of mine makes two in this. We both on PS3s, and between the two of us we own ONE game and about 20 BD films. I know others right now considering the PS3 simply as a player, not as a game console.

Question: Are most of those people tech-savvy or AV enthusiasts? There's a big difference between reaching that audience vs. convincing the moms and pops and Dicks and Janes that make up the mass-market, DVD-buying crowd.

The word might be getting out slowly to the mainstream market, but people aren't dumb. Once they know that the PS3 is a very good movie player, they won't care that the name PlayStation is slapped on there or that it can play videogames, or browse the net, or...wait, why should those be negatives.

One would think that is the way it works, but usually, it's not. I heartily recommend the book, "Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind," by Al Ries and Jack Trout. It contains many real-world examples of why this perfectly sensible, ostensibly unassailable thinking on the parts of CEOs and product managers often turns out to be completely backward.

 

[KZObsessed]

Great numbers! Would have been more if it weren't for the free HD-DVDs given away.

And Spiderman 3 + Trilogy apparently sold 223,500 units! :O

 

[Arsenal]

Hot dayum. Good news to go with some good numbers:

We: 71:29
Ytd: 64:36
Si: 61:39

Was hoping BD was do a little better, but with the $99 HD DVD players it was anyone's game.

Don't mess with Spiderman!

I don't think the cheap HD DVD players had much of an affect on the numbers this week since they were primarily from Walmart. So now we have to watch the "attachment" game and see how it affects the longer term. My guess is that the attachment rate on $99 players is going to be significantly less than it was for the early adopters.

 

[OokieSpookie]

71:29
Ytd 64:36
Si 61:39

1 Spider-Man 3 BD 100.00
2. Spider-Man: The High Definition Trilogy BD 71.95
3. Transformers HD 31.42
4. Meet the Robinsons BD 8.82
5. 300 BD 6.56
6. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer BD 5.03
7. License to Wed BD 4.24
8. The Shining BD 4.11
9. Mr. Brooks BD 4.03
10. 2001: A Space Odyssey BD 3.88

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

By the time non-tech-savvy people are buying HD media and players, $100 players will not be news stories.

This whole early battle is not for the mass market, but for the position of "preferred HD format" which will be pushed by retailers and supported by studios. It doesn't matter if the PS3 is the machine playing those discs or something else, just which one the business community decides to back.

 

[borghe]

High Def Digest review of Ratatouille is up



http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1048/ratatouille.html

heh... I was just on the site and couldn't find it. They must have just posted it.

Hopefully my copy arrives from Amazon tomorrow (with Cars and Pirates 2).