Archived: Insiders Thread

[CAB]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Great Blu Catalog titles may well be kept in reserve for use as counter measures, if HD DVD is still alive and kicking in ’08.

Is it legal for and do BDA studios discuss and coordinate catalog release dates? I'm thinking mainly the Blu exclusive ones.

As always, thanks much for hanging out with us and imparting information and humor.

[Azumi]

hi Penton,

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Great Blu Catalog titles may well be kept in reserve for use as counter measures, if HD DVD is still alive and kicking in ’08.

I have the impression that the real strategy of BDA isn't to strike hard and gain an edge on installed base -- but simply to let HD DVD overspend until the point where their ROI will become unlikely or at least less attractive.

I mean, the 99$ player is a powerful weapon. But you can only use it once -- a 79$ player won't be much sexier than a 99$ one.

If we only had to look at the financials and disregard everything else -- the Paramount exclusive and the 99$ promotions are costly measures. And it seems that the BDA simply countered them by maintaining an "adequate" balance with the lesser expenditure. And if we believe this reasoning, perhaps the goal of BDA would be to keep the war running through 2008, or at least until HD DVD will no longer be viable.

Is there any truth in this?

[BillCable]

Originally Posted by spam.curitiba

LOL BDA have a secret bomb they are going to drop soon?

Crosses fingers for Star Wars...

[Frode]

2009 though... it has "Death of HD DVD" written all over it.
Spiderman 4, Metal Gear Solid, 24 The Movie, X-Men:Origins (Wolverine), and specially those:
Battle Angel Allita and Avatar (the 2 new James Cameron).

Alita is set for 2011 now.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/trivia

I think you'll just have to keep waiting on it until those 3D HD cameras James Cameron wants are available.

[androvsky]

Originally Posted by Frode

Alita is set for 2011 now.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/trivia

I think you'll just have to keep waiting on it until those 3D HD cameras James Cameron wants are available.

Curse you Frode, stop making me cry.

Any insiders comment on Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children? I'm really looking forward to that one, and, well, I figure I'd try to ask something that's on-topic. Heh.

Oh, and for anyone who works anywhere near Sony, please apologize to everyone who reads and/or works on the playstation blog for me. The ps3 fans have gone nuts on there because the latest firmware update doesn't have a feature the 360 does, and I just wanted to say we're not all like that. If I were Sony and saw responses like that, I'd shut down the blog and delay Home an extra month. And the next firmware update would make the background a picture of a kid sitting in the corner.

But that's just me.

[WickyWoo]

LOL BDA have a secret bomb they are going to drop soon?

Well, HD DVD has a small thermal exhaust port, right above the HDMI......

(no, that's just funny, not a hint)

[ryoohki]

Well the PS3 already have a big feature that the 360 hasn't... it actually work and it's stable LOL!!!! sorry.... since i know nodoby wihtout a bad 360 (everyone i know at least gotten 1 replacement from 3RL)

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Azumi

I have the impression that the real strategy of BDA isn't to strike hard and gain an edge on installed base -- but simply to let HD DVD overspend until the point where their ROI will become unlikely or at least less attractive.

Not so sure I agree. One thing the Insiders, mainly paidgeek, have hinted at which everyone needs to understand is that there are MULTIPLE big parties/constituents in this BD thing. Every one of these "players" needs to see the value proposition of BD, otherwise what is the point from their perspective??? Do you think the BD CE companies want a race to the bottom on the Blu side? I'm sure the Blu studios wouldn't mind, but they also understand that they have just about the entire CE and Hollywood industries on board Blu-ray. Numbers and "weight" are in BDs favor if they stick together cohesively and make sure everyone is "happy".

This is why I am still pissed at the Alan Bell interview in the latest Widescreen Review. All of this talk about how HD DVD is better, blah, blah, blah came AFTER they accepted the "promotional considerations". While I have no problem with the financial/business decision they made (as a CFO I must say that it is brilliant based on what I've read), I DO have a problem with twisting the logic/facts around this financial decision. They turned their back not only on their BD customers, but on the whole industry as well.

For those in the industry watching, Paramount will ALWAYS have a black mark with me for helping to delay (or possibly even stall) acceptance of high definition movies with Blu Ray as the de-facto "future proof" standard. I said this before this financial decision they made...they are a follower and not a leader in Hollywood. They were one of the last to support DVD. As a home theater enthusiast, I don't forget these things...

[sj001]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Not so sure I agree. One thing the Insiders, mainly paidgeek, have hinted at which everyone needs to understand is that there are MULTIPLE big parties/constituents in this BD thing. Every one of these "players" needs to see the value proposition of BD, otherwise what is the point from their perspective??? Do you think the BD CE companies want a race to the bottom on the Blu side? I'm sure the Blu studios wouldn't mind, but they also understand that they have just about the entire CE and Hollywood industries on board Blu-ray. Numbers and "weight" are in BDs favor if they stick together cohesively and make sure everyone is "happy".

This is why I am still pissed at the Alan Bell interview in the latest Widescreen Review. All of this talk about how HD DVD is better, blah, blah, blah came AFTER they accepted the "promotional considerations". While I have no problem with the financial/business decision they made (as a CFO I must say that it is brilliant based on what I've read), I DO have a problem with twisting the logic/facts around this financial decision. They turned their back not only on their BD customers, but on the whole industry as well.

For those in the industry watching, Paramount will ALWAYS have a black mark with me for helping to delay (or possibly even stall) acceptance of high definition movies with Blu Ray as the de-facto "future proof" standard. I said this before this financial decision they made...they are a follower and not a leader in Hollywood. They were one of the last to support DVD. As a home theater enthusiast, I don't forget these things...

Like I have been saying for a while, I can't wait until Paramount is forced to go Blu-ray again, and Alan Bell has to play the fall-guy, and they can his sorry a&*!

[Rob Tomlin]

This is the Insider's thread, so I don't want to go too far off topic, but that WSR interview was, indeed, pretty bad. I think I was as upset with the way Gary Reber constantly felt the need to chime in and say things like "I was saying that back in 2004 but nobody paid attention" about things such as replication cost etc. as anything Alan Bell was saying. Completely annoying.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

The numbers are being disputed as we speak, 90,000 were available and at the moment it is assumed they sold out completely. This may not be the case.

I can't talk about Funai or the Chinese unfortunately.

Went to a Wal-mart today in Peoria, AZ that had about 10 A-2's for $198. They did not sell out.

[blu2]

Originally Posted by androvsky

Oh, and for anyone who works anywhere near Sony, please apologize to everyone who reads and/or works on the playstation blog for me. The ps3 fans have gone nuts on there because the latest firmware update doesn't have a feature the 360 does, and I just wanted to say we're not all like that. If I were Sony and saw responses like that, I'd shut down the blog and delay Home an extra month. And the next firmware update would make the background a picture of a kid sitting in the corner.

But that's just me.

Well, there's a certain capability (BD-J 1.1) that I'm sure many people here are hoping to see in a PS3 firmware update. No luck for the just released firmware 2.0 it seems, unless it's unadvertized.

Any update on plans regarding this insiders?

[oldmike]

guys keep in mind this is for talk of Blu-ray not for PS3 news
only thing the insiders mite let us know is if 1.1 is comeing to PS3 soon and they have hinted at it if its in 2.0 i dont know yet to download it or read all the news

[WickyWoo]

Indeed Please keep in mind that none of our insiders works for the PlayStation division, so please stop asking so many PS3 questions, as they're busy enough as it is.

Maybe someday we'll be able to get someone in here from SCEA or SCEE

[hanser]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I had my office confirm that the original English is 24bit THD. The Germand DTS HD MA and Dolby THD are 20 bit. What information do you have that is indicating otherwise?

on the following site (one of the major DVD info sites in German) ist is stated that English ist only Dolby Digital:

http://www.cinefacts.de/news/news.php?newsid=9157

Anhänger der Originalsprache werden beim Blick auf die Tonspuren enttäuscht sein. Während die deutsche Sprache mit DTS HD und Dolby TrueHD gleich in zwei HD-Tonformaten daher kommt, ist die englische Originalspur lediglich in Dolby Digital auf der Blu-ray enthalten.

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by hanser

on the following site (one of the major DVD info sites in German) ist is stated that English ist only Dolby Digital:

http://www.cinefacts.de/news/news.php?newsid=9157

Anhänger der Originalsprache werden beim Blick auf die Tonspuren enttäuscht sein. Während die deutsche Sprache mit DTS HD und Dolby TrueHD gleich in zwei HD-Tonformaten daher kommt, ist die englische Originalspur lediglich in Dolby Digital auf der Blu-ray enthalten.

FWIW, the Spanish release has:
English Dolby TrueHD
Spanish DTS MA
Spanish Dolby TrueHD

At least that is what appears on the menus as shown here:

http://www.zonadvd.com/modules.php?n...icle&sid=13002

[Azumi]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Not so sure I agree. One thing the Insiders, mainly paidgeek, have hinted at which everyone needs to understand is that there are MULTIPLE big parties/constituents in this BD thing. Every one of these "players" needs to see the value proposition of BD, otherwise what is the point from their perspective??? Do you think the BD CE companies want a race to the bottom on the Blu side? I'm sure the Blu studios wouldn't mind, but they also understand that they have just about the entire CE and Hollywood industries on board Blu-ray. Numbers and "weight" are in BDs favor if they stick together cohesively and make sure everyone is "happy".

I do agree that there is much, much more than it meets the eye. I'm really looking forward for Business Week or The Economist to publish in a few years the inside story of the format war, because we'll learn lots of details and strategies that nobody would dare to mention today.

I think the financials play a big role (both CE and software) because new industries and buying trends have to be set in motion. And if all parts involved miss the window, they'll be facing the diminishing returns of DVD and the big question mark of digital media.

This is why I am still pissed at the Alan Bell interview in the latest Widescreen Review. All of this talk about how HD DVD is better, blah, blah, blah came AFTER they accepted the "promotional considerations". While I have no problem with the financial/business decision they made (as a CFO I must say that it is brilliant based on what I've read), I DO have a problem with twisting the logic/facts around this financial decision. They turned their back not only on their BD customers, but on the whole industry as well.

For those in the industry watching, Paramount will ALWAYS have a black mark with me for helping to delay (or possibly even stall) acceptance of high definition movies with Blu Ray as the de-facto "future proof" standard. I said this before this financial decision they made...they are a follower and not a leader in Hollywood. They were one of the last to support DVD. As a home theater enthusiast, I don't forget these things...

I'm pretty sure that the Paramount board will have seen the deal as a good way to make easy money within a very limited timeframe -- provided the Blu-ray market doesn't grow dramatically, and provided their red sales and the HD DVD ecosystem meets very specific targets. If it doesn't, tough luck for them. If Transformers comes out on Blu in 18 months and sells comparatively like The Day After Tomorrow now, will they be pleased?

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by Azumi

I do agree that there is much, much more than it meets the eye. I'm really looking forward for Business Week or The Economist to publish in a few years the inside story of the format war, because we'll learn lots of details and strategies that nobody would dare to mention today.

I think the financials play a big role (both CE and software) because new industries and buying trends have to be set in motion. And if all parts involved miss the window, they'll be facing the diminishing returns of DVD and the big question mark of digital media.



I'm pretty sure that the Paramount board will have seen the deal as a good way to make easy money within a very limited timeframe -- provided the Blu-ray market doesn't grow dramatically, and provided their red sales and the HD DVD ecosystem meets very specific targets. If it doesn't, tough luck for them. If Transformers comes out on Blu in 18 months and sells comparatively like The Day After Tomorrow now, will they be pleased?

But they would be eating humble pie after their statement that "The public has decided".

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Well, HD DVD has a small thermal exhaust port, right above the HDMI......

IT'S A TRAP!!! Our deflector shields can repel firepower of that magnitude!









I'm such a geek...

[woodspoon]

Paidgeek, what is the reasoning behind including a DTS HD MA track and a trued track on CE3K? Should we expect reference titles from Sony with 2-3 lossless tracks from now on? I think it sets the reference of what can be achieved..