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

[MerrickG]

Jeff,

Plan on playing Starcraft 2?

[Jeff Kleist]

My system is about 2 notches above minimum requirements, probably not until I upgrade my PC next year.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

My system is about 2 notches above minimum requirements, probably not until I upgrade my PC next year.

Anything fans of Brood War should know about the sequel? I will admit I wasn't very good at the last installment so not sure I should get the new one.

[Jeff Kleist]

Don't look at me. My Blizzard connections are fairly indirect and since I'm not a WOW player and can't run SC2 well, I haven't had a lot of reason to talk to them. I assume there will be cheat codes or trainers that can help

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

My system is about 2 notches above minimum requirements, probably not until I upgrade my PC next year.

What are your specs?! Blizzard has always been known for making their games so that they can play on a wide range of systems.

Given that Starcraft 2 has reportedly cost over $100M to develop it kinda makes sense for them to make a game so that it can reach a large audience ESPECIALLY since it is a PC exclusive game.

I upgrade my PC too much.

I'm hoping it will be good enough to do Crysis 2 and Rage.

[jaaguir]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

That's a good question and the answer is I don't know. I'll ask. I doubt it at first - any new format (which 3D on BD is in a way) is going to focus on big new release titles at first. But it might make sense in the next year or two to release a box of vintage titles converted to active shutter 3D if it can be done. If I learn anything, I'll let you know.

Hi Bill,

What that guy asked made sense to me, considering the push Hollywood is giving to 3D. And aren't the studios planning on converting all their libraries to 3D anyway? That would be a way to sell catalog again, certainly, and to make blu-ray even more indispensable for any future film collector. Look at this quote I found recently from DP John Leonetti:

"We watched scenes from classic movies, including Titanic, King Kong and Singin' in the Rain that were converted to 3-D and were blown away. That convinced us that shooting with a single film camera is a viable alternative."

Here is the link with his complete interview about the upcoming movie Piranha 3D:
http://motion.kodak.com/US/en/motion...s/leonetti.htm

So, what do you make of that? Maybe the future release of "Singin' in the rain" on blu-ray will include a 3D version of it? Will that be the trend now?

[DaViD Boulet]

Originally Posted by jaaguir

Hi Bill,

What that guy asked made sense to me, considering the push Hollywood is giving to 3D. And aren't the studios planning on converting all their libraries to 3D anyway? That would be a way to sell catalog again, certainly, and to make blu-ray even more indispensable for any future film collector. Look at this quote I found recently from DP John Leonetti:

"We watched scenes from classic movies, including Titanic, King Kong and Singin' in the Rain that were converted to 3-D and were blown away. That convinced us that shooting with a single film camera is a viable alternative."

Here is the link with his complete interview about the upcoming movie Piranha 3D:
http://motion.kodak.com/US/en/motion...s/leonetti.htm

So, what do you make of that? Maybe the future release of "Singin' in the rain" on blu-ray will include a 3D version of it? Will that be the trend now?

If consumers do acquire a taste for "processed" 3D of classic 2D titles, eventually the 3D synthsizing chips build into their 3D HDTV sets will do the job well enough to cause them to not want to spend $$ on a new software purchase even if the dedicated software purchase does an arguably better job. Why buy a new Wizard of Oz just in 3D when I can just push the "3D" button on my HDTV?

Chances are that, except in cases where studios really spend $$ on after-the-fact 3D processing, the results shouldn't be too different anyway, but more to the point, the average consumer who wants 3D on everything won't be a discriminating videophile who really cares about the difference even if there was one.

The window for "remarketing 2D films by re-releasing in fake 3D" to motivate a new purchase will be a very short window at best as most 3D televisions and 3D blu-ray players will build in circuits to perform the synthesis on the fly within the next couple of years which, for better or worse, will more than satisfy the majority of the consumer base who would want to watch classic 2D titles in 3D.

[jaaguir]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

If consumers do acquire a taste for "processed" 3D of classic 2D titles, eventually the 3D synthsizing chips build into their 3D HDTV sets will do the job well enough to cause them to not want to spend $$ on a new software purchase even if the dedicated software purchase does an arguably better job. Why buy a new Wizard of Oz just in 3D when I can just push the "3D" button on my HDTV?

I didn't know 3D TV-s will be able to do that on the fly (I guess it shows I have no interest whatsoever in 3D). What you say makes sense then. I was just "shocked" by Leonetti's comments, and let my imagination fly from there. Anything to help blu-ray deliver more classic catalog to the market, that was my motivation. Anyway, I guess what he saw are nothing more than sample scenes 3D software companies are allowed to do to show off their stuff.

[Jeff Kleist]

3DTVs are able to do it on the fly, but it's headache enducing to many people and only works close to what one would call "well" with stuff like video games. Like other enhancement modes like MotionFlow and its ilk, IMO they should stop concentrate on better, cheaper TVs and stop wasting time and money on them. David "Nope, never will fix that sticky shift key" Boulet is right, for 90% of the populace pushing the fake 3D button will do. Frankly, it's not something I expect people will use past the 6 month mark of owning a 3DTV anyway, cause the novelty will wear off of being able to 3D everything

3-Dizing catalog in any large amount is a quick recipe to 3D fatigue. Last night at the IMAX they read off the calendar of what was booked through next summer, and EVERYTHING was "3D", including Pirates 4. They're going to kill it if they don't keep it special

This was the first movie I paid the extra for IMAX for since Dark Knight, and it was well worth it. Nolan and his crew absolutely had the BIG screen in mind when they shot it, and the 70mm stuff stood out nicely. I just wish it wasn't such a murky movie in general. Hopefully Batman Begins Yet Again will at the very least move up to a 70mm/IMAX split. Definately the best movie of the summer thus far.

OT

Even if you don't speak Mandarin, you'll enjoy this new news reporting CG animation from Taiwan, and see that it's one of the more accurate stories filed on the topic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn-Ye...layer_embedded

[DaViD Boulet]

Originally Posted by jaaguir

I didn't know 3D TV-s will be able to do that on the fly (I guess it shows I have no interest whatsoever in 3D). What you say makes sense then. I was just "shocked" by Leonetti's comments, and let my imagination fly from there. Anything to help blu-ray deliver more classic catalog to the market, that was my motivation. Anyway, I guess what he saw are nothing more than sample scenes 3D software companies are allowed to do to show off their stuff.

The studios will no doubt show us their best stupidity as they find every way to kill the potential cash-cow of 3D capability.

We've already seen the start of that with all of the exclusive 3D titles offered with various brands of 3D BD players... you need to by this brand if you want Avatar in 3D... but you'll have to buy the other brand of BD player if you want Coraline in 3D. Insane... talk about a text-book way to snuff out enthusiasm for a new feature buy hijacking 50% of the cool titles worth owning and buying by making them exclusive to the "other" brand of hardware that the consumer didn't buy. But it's cash in the pocket of the studio for today, even if it means they'll lose $$$ in the long-term by delayed acceptance and adoption of 3D.



Given the limitless depths of stupidity resources, I'm sure that we'll see some studios try to push fake-3D on BD for 2D catalog titles in a misguided effort to motivate sales which will in the long term turn consumers off to 3D more and more as "fake 3D" becomes the norm.

Hopefully I'm wrong. But the stupidity of the studios, demonstrated time and time again (can we say HD DVD/BD format war anyone?) certainly sets a low bar for success. If the studios succeed in proper marketing of 3D software, it will most likely be by accident.

[MerrickG]

Jeff,

I noticed that the specs of the Alien Anthology mentioned two versions of ALien Evolution. Can you elaborate on why their would be two versions? I googled it and came up with nothing.

I also noticed that back in 2002 (my god was it THAT long ago?!) you reviewed the Vista Series of Pearl Harbor and I was wondering if Disney has ANY plans to port that over to bluray since I felt the R-rated cut was far superior to the theatrical.

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by jaaguir

...What that guy asked made sense to me, considering the push Hollywood is giving to 3D. And aren't the studios planning on converting all their libraries to 3D anyway?...

If I'm the guy you are referring to, to be clear, I was talking specifically about true stereoscopic catalog titles and not conversions.

There were approximately 50 3-D Hollywood features shot and exhibited between 1952 and 1955, commonly referred to as the 'Golden Age' of Hollywood 3-D.

[Jeff Kleist]

Alien Evolution is a question for Charlie, I haven't seen any of the new materials

I also noticed that back in 2002 (my god was it THAT long ago?!) you reviewed the Vista Series of Pearl Harbor and I was wondering if Disney has ANY plans to port that over to bluray since I felt the R-rated cut was far superior to the theatrical.

Not that I'm aware of

[DaViD Boulet]

Originally Posted by JamesN

If I'm the guy you are referring to, to be clear, I was talking specifically about true stereoscopic catalog titles and not conversions.

There were approximately 50 3-D Hollywood features shot and exhibited between 1952 and 1955, commonly referred to as the 'Golden Age' of Hollywood 3-D.

looking forward to seeing our heratige of sterescopic 3D films finally come to home-video in a way that does them justice!

dave

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Alien Evolution is a question for Charlie, I haven't seen any of the new materials



Not that I'm aware of

it would be a good 70th anniversary release.

[Taffy]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

If consumers do acquire a taste for "processed" 3D of classic 2D titles, eventually the 3D synthsizing chips build into their 3D HDTV sets will do the job well enough to cause them to not want to spend $$ on a new software purchase even if the dedicated software purchase does an arguably better job. Why buy a new Wizard of Oz just in 3D when I can just push the "3D" button on my HDTV?

Yeah...I see your point. Similarly...if consumers desire to see their favorite classic movies in high definition, they can watch and record them off cable. Broadcast HD does a credible job well enough to satisfy most consumers demands. Why buy expensive Blu ray software when you can record your classic favorites off a HD channel.

Chances are that, except in cases where studios really spend $$ on after-the-fact 3D processing, the results shouldn't be too different anyway, but more to the point, the average consumer who wants 3D on everything won't be a discriminating videophile who really cares about the difference even if there was one.

Not a discriminating videophile certainly...who wants to see suspended "dots" in 3D. No... we're potentially talking about a new creation here...a 3D addict.

Several weeks ago I decided to check out 3D TV for myself at BestBuy. I saw "Avatar" on a 3D Samsung set converted from 2D and it was just awful...no depth to speak of. I had to wait several minutes to watch a 3D demo disc on a Panasonic 3D set and it was simply AWESOME!!!

The window for "remarketing 2D films by re-releasing in fake 3D" to motivate a new purchase will be a very short window at best as most 3D televisions and 3D blu-ray players will build in circuits to perform the synthesis on the fly within the next couple of years which, for better or worse, will more than satisfy the majority of the consumer base who would want to watch classic 2D titles in 3D.

I don't think so especially if the "Avatar" experience I already talked about is any indication of how poor this process works. Consumers aren't going to be fooled with sub par 3D gimmicks especially when they can compare against 3D HDTV PQ. My monies on James Cameron. I believe his 3D "Titanic" will do for the 3d conversion industry what "Avatar" did for theatrical 3D. I just hope Hollywood doesn't drop the ball here by dragging their heels.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Not that I'm aware of

That's a shame. Also a shame is that Disney has only released 4 non-animated catalog titles this year, with one of those being a re-release (Gangs Of NY).

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

That's a shame. Also a shame is that Disney has only released 4 non-animated catalog titles this year, with one of those being a re-release (Gangs Of NY).

Isn't Tron supposed to be coming out when the new movie gets released later this year? I wish they would release The Black Hole.

[Jeff Kleist]

Isn't Tron supposed to be coming out when the new movie gets released later this year? I wish they would release The Black Hole.

The same crew doing Tron 2 is looking at a Black Hole remake for their next go.

That's a shame. Also a shame is that Disney has only released 4 non-animated catalog titles this year, with one of those being a re-release (Gangs Of NY).

Transformers 3 is a year away

[abintra]

The following article speaks mostly in DVD specifics but thought it might be worth sharing here. Talks a little about the smaller boutique labels, catalog titles and some of the business end of sales.

http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2010/07/clean-up.html