Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

Gary, you might want to read that quote again. He said it's 70/30 for BOTH the "Godfather" films AND Indy IV... but that it's less for us to get the first THREE Indy films this year...

~Alan

There's a 90% chance that Indy 1-3 are coming out later this year, but there's only a 56% chance of that.

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Yes it's a vocal minority. no matter how many of them happen to be on this board.

There may indeed be a minority of us who voice our displeasure over so-called 'special' packaging, however, I believe the majority would prefer standard keep case packaging. The steel books, digipaks, coffee table books, brief cases and the like serve a consumer niche. However, I would be more than willing to wager that the vast number of consumers prefer the good 'ol keep case. We are not a minority.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

Gary, you might want to read that quote again. He said it's 70/30 for BOTH the "Godfather" films AND Indy IV... but that it's less for us to get the first THREE Indy films this year...

~Alan

Well, I think it would be an odd thing to combine the probabilities of two different franchise unless he was saying the probabilities were the same.

So, 70/30 for both means ~70/30 for each. Not 50/50 for Godfathers + 90/10 for Indy IV = 70/30 combined.

Gary

[jkwest]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Well, I think it would be an odd thing to combine the probabilities of two different franchise unless he was saying the probabilities were the same.

So, 70/30 for both means ~70/30 for each. Not 50/50 for Godfathers + 90/10 for Indy IV = 70/30 combined.

Gary

Oh, Gary....quit being so facetious..

[WickyWoo]

There may indeed be a minority of us who voice our displeasure over so-called 'special' packaging, however, I believe the majority would prefer standard keep case packaging. The steel books, digipaks, coffee table books, brief cases and the like serve a consumer niche. However, I would be more than willing to wager that the vast number of consumers prefer the good 'ol keep case. We are not a minority.

The vast number of the consumers don't care one way or the other. Why do you think there's the slipcases over the disc? The foil and embossing and holograms and whatever else they do are to create a more attractive package to stand out on a shelf

[BluDomain]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

.... The foil and embossing and holograms and whatever else they do are to create a more attractive package to stand out on a shelf

I certainly do not think those coffee book editions are
an attractive package. They look cheap. Luckily, on the
shelf they are held together by the shrinkwrap. I'll not buy
another.

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

The vast number of the consumers don't care one way or the other. Why do you think there's the slipcases over the disc? The foil and embossing and holograms and whatever else they do are to create a more attractive package to stand out on a shelf

I like the way the slip cases look as well. What I really like about them is the keepcase that is underneath. The vast majority may not care or maybe, just maybe they are content. Look, I don't care what monkey heads, plastic clamshells or brief cases the studios choose to use as packaging. I am just making my voice heard in an appeal to get alternative keep case packaging for those who are not interested in all the silliness. Is that really too much to ask?

I've said my piece. This is meant to be a question forum for Bill Hunt.

[WickyWoo]

I like the way the slip cases look as well. What I really like about them is the keepcase that is underneath. The vast majority may not care or maybe, just maybe they are content. Look, I don't care what monkey heads, plastic clamshells or brief cases the studios choose to use as packaging. I am just making my voice heard in an appeal to get alternative keep case packaging for those who are not interested in all the silliness. Is that really too much to ask?

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm saying the number of people who will refuse to buy a disc based on the box it comes in is so small that you're not going to change the world

People are working on trying to find a solution that works for all parties, and I think I've come up with a simple answer,but as I said there are about 10 other things that are more important to solve before we even approach Warner with that. As Bill has said, you can't put too many things on their plates at once or it all gets scraped into the trash

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by AaronSCH

There may indeed be a minority of us who voice our displeasure over so-called 'special' packaging, however, I believe the majority would prefer standard keep case packaging. The steel books, digipaks, coffee table books, brief cases and the like serve a consumer niche. However, I would be more than willing to wager that the vast number of consumers prefer the good 'ol keep case. We are not a minority.

There's no way to know exactly what most people are thinking in their heads, but it's at least safe to say that the majority don't dislike special packaging enough to not buy it.

There are a few instances of special packaging in which the primary job of transporting the disc is not performed - i.e. BSG s1 on HD DVD, and the recent There Will Be Blood standard DVD releases. But for the most part, the package is plenty secure and it comes down to a matter of personal preference. You may not personally like steelbook packages, for instance, but they keep the disc just as safe as standard Blu-ray cases - I'd argue even more so as they're harder to crush, and the disc holding mechanism inside is sturdier.

But really, I feel that's a moot point. WickyWoo is correct that there are much bigger issues right now. Warner is leading the pack in terms of releasing classic catalogue films as high-quality BDs, and it's a shame to see every bit of news about this turn into "Packaging bad, RABBLE RABBLE!" I understand people don't like the book-style packaging, and I'm not saying you should change your opinion and suddenly love them. But can the constant uproar over a relatively small issue take a backseat for awhile?

[pellucidity]

If the studios believed that the majority of customers cared about their collections being uniform they would have made some effort to get the trade dress more uniform, especially the spines. They didn't and apparently they don't. Instead, they seem to think most don't care, and clearly special packaging for marketing reasons works.

If it bothers you, get some replacement cases anduse a custom covers site, then dump the original packaging in the same box you keep all those slipcases in. Write a letter for them to ignore. I can't see how this is really worth the aggravation. If you want to boycott something, boycott Nestlé. They deserve it.

</rant>

[Vendetta-akk]

In regards to the whole Godfather on Blu conversation, I can't believe there is even a question at all. Why spend all the money on the restoration, get all the press, launch a marketing campaign, and then not get ever dollar you could.

I understand how some things are held back, like say LOTRs, because they want to tie it in with a new release (The Hobbit) to maximize their profits, but this is that time for Godfather. If they do not release it on Blu at the same time as standard DVD they are morons. But this is Paramount we are talking about, so there you go.

And as for Indi, the same logic applies. If it is ever coming out of Blu-Ray, why not release it when the market is most favorable to maximize your profits, and obviously that would be to go along with press of Indi 4. The only different is Indi, perhaps, has Lucas just flat deciding he doesn't want it released.

[WickyWoo]

And as for Indi, the same logic applies. If it is ever coming out of Blu-Ray, why not release it when the market is most favorable to maximize your profits, and obviously that would be to go along with press of Indi 4. The only different is Indi, perhaps, has Lucas just flat deciding he doesn't want it released.

Because with the current installed base of Blu-ray, it's not the time to maximize your profits

[saprano]

So the possibility of the set coming this fall is slim to none? what about part4.

[WickyWoo]

So the possibility of the set coming this fall is slim to none? what about part4.

Never said that. But people seem to think that they're going to put all their eggs in one basket

Putting them out now definately helps push the format for the future with the tie-ins and the big push on godfather, but it will not maximize their profits in the short term, which is what they chiefly look at

Don't forget that whatever they pimp now, they won't be dipping again on until 2013 or so, and these are big Christmas titles

[dakota81]

Originally Posted by Vendetta-akk

And as for Indi, the same logic applies. If it is ever coming out of Blu-Ray, why not release it when the market is most favorable to maximize your profits, and obviously that would be to go along with press of Indi 4. The only different is Indi, perhaps, has Lucas just flat deciding he doesn't want it released.

That's what Lucas did with Star Wars, it was years after Episode 1 was out on dvd, that the originals were finally released. I suspect the same for Indiana Jones.

[WickyWoo]

That's what Lucas did with Star Wars, it was years after Episode 1 was out on dvd, that the originals were finally released. I suspect the same for Indiana Jones.

Lucas expected HD media to be available around 2000 instead of 2006. That's a big reason he held his stuff back as long as he did. He thought DVD was a stopgap

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Because with the current installed base of Blu-ray, it's not the time to maximize your profits

But as some point the install base will catch up, is it believed that later adopters will not go back and purchase the film? The logic seems to be that releasing it later to a bigger install base will make more profit then releasing it earlier to a smaller base + all the later purchases as the install base grows?

[wallendo]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Lucas expected HD media to be available around 2000 instead of 2006. That's a big reason he held his stuff back as long as he did. He thought DVD was a stopgap

I remember having to buy Episode 1 on VHS because the DVD wasn't released until much later. (And the original trilogy much later than that).

I hope lessons have been learned.
Lucas will get his best bang for the buck releasing Indy 4 on blu before Christmas. He can then turn around and release the entire series boxset when the blu market is better established. (And sell us Indy 4 again in the process)

[Caligula]

Mr. Hunt,

Im following up from my previous post. ANY NEWS ON CALIGULA on blu ray????

[Vendetta-akk]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Because with the current installed base of Blu-ray, it's not the time to maximize your profits

It is not like all those future adaptors will not buy it as well. 300 and Casino Royale are still at the top of the Blu-Ray sales list, that is new customers buying the mediums best titles after picking up the player.

If big releases like Godfather, Indi, Star War, and LOTRs were release now it would only persuade more people to adapt, and increase Blu-Ray's chances of lasting. And all those future adapters will likely pick these titles up almost immediately upon buying their players. The sales come out the same way in the long run, and Blu-Ray is more likely to last.