The View of Japan - Blu-ray Forum

Chris Beveridge · 10-19-2006, 08:44 PM

One way to get an idea of how things are playing out in Japan is to look at software support. HD DVD was launched there on March 31st, Blu-ray begins with the PS3 on November 11th.

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/bdhdship/

You can change the dates to view the larger picture of all announced releases for both formats. They also list codec when known.

Suffice to say, if Universal wants to make money in Japan some day, they're going to have to release Blu-ray there. HD DVD is pretty dismal with hardly any releases outside of a batch from Warner in November.

Jazar · 10-19-2006, 08:54 PM

If BD controlls Japan that will be great news.

JTK · 10-19-2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazar

If BD controlls Japan that will be great news.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=2976

They're off to a very promising start thus far.

Rio · 10-19-2006, 09:57 PM

In Japan, there is very tiny, almost negligiable amount of market for HD DVD. Xbox360 also has faild to grasp the market. HD DVD title support is very weak, even Warner has not release enough titles unlike US market. All the Japanese only titles are sponsored by Toshiba (Toshiba pays for their authoring costs) to back the format up. Universal is expected to start suppoting BD after the contract period with Toshiba will be expired at some time next year (main reason of this is, of course, PS3).

Chris Beveridge · 10-20-2006, 01:54 AM

It's surprising and yet not at how badly HD DVD is doing there. I know a lot is riding on recorders so there's a sense of waiting for that, but the PS3 is just expected to once again roll over everything there even with the price. Add in that most of the companies there aren't interested in HD DVD and it's a very bleak picture. I wonder how much of the Microsoft association is actually hurting the product now. "HD DVD? That's that xbox thingy isn't it?"

PurpleAardvark · 10-20-2006, 05:17 AM

Sony has always been very big in Japan. Alot of people are loyal to it and view M$ as nothing worth bothering with, so yes IMO MS is hurting HD DVD overthere. It seems despite all of the HD Fanboys bosting BD is starting to really prove itself and show what can be and what it is like to stay in lingo. Anthor thing that absolutly cracked me up today. I went to Best Buy and saw the new dual DVD/HD disc, Fast Times At Ridgemount High. Now if the $29.99 price tag wasn't enought to make me chuckel, you look not 5 feet away and there is a copy on DVD FOR $5.99. I had tears in my eyes I was laughing so hard. To me I think that the dual side DVD/HD thing might make sence on a new movie but still is not worth it, but an old film like that come on. Now how can you take HD DVD seriously when they waste money like that. I am sure if they did that in Japan HD DVD would be done over there (which it pretty much is anyways). Maybe they should make a dual side BD/HD DVD disc so when HD fails the fanboys won't cry as hard.

Dave · 10-20-2006, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazar

If BD controlls Japan that will be great news.

From what i have seen it does with a big lead

Chris Beveridge · 10-20-2006, 02:23 PM

Here's a somewhat relevant news item I posted today to my site:

Quote:

Japan Wants Anime on Blu-ray (10:12 AM EDT): It's purely anecdotal evidence, but as it gets pointed out a lot in the US market, it's worth noting in the Japanes market as well. The Amazon Japan site has put up a top ten list of the Blu-ray titles that are being pre-ordered by people in anticipation of the PS3 release and three anime titles, as of the 10/20/2006 snapshot, are in that top ten. The Air box set took the #1 spot while today it's now #4 with the Innocence movie at #5. Brave Story clocks in at #13 while Project Papo is at #14. On the HD DVD side, Brave Story hits #5 but it doesn't look like Project PAPO, the only other dual-format release, is listed.

The rankings are interesting to look at as well. Air for example is ranked #380 in the overall DVD/BD/HD DVD category. Mission Impossible 3 is listed at 281 for Blu-ray while the HD DVD release is at 1785.

Blackraven · 10-20-2006, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Beveridge

Mission Impossible 3 is listed at 281 for Blu-ray while the HD DVD release is at 1785.

Waaah, super huge gap.

I don't even know what to say about it.

Rio · 10-20-2006, 07:01 PM

Don't put too much trust on Amazon ranking, like HD DVD supporters

Chris Beveridge · 10-20-2006, 07:04 PM

If you've seen some of my posts at AVS, I railed against the amazon rankings being indicative of anything substantial, so believe me, I know. They do point out some interesting information though and are worth talking about but not as a barometer of how things are in a big picture sense. It's a snapshot of a very specific thing at a very specific time.

Rio · 10-20-2006, 07:48 PM

Yes, I'm aware that you don't rely on Amazon ranking. Amazon is well known for "long tail" phenomenon, so unless the ranking number is at very high level, like top 10-20 level, ranking has virtually no meaning to count actual volume of sales. Difference of just 1 copy could cause 1000 ranking number differnce.

Chris Beveridge · 10-20-2006, 07:52 PM

Yep. I'm assuming the .JP works the same way and it was something I was trying to get others to understand in that you could really easily manipulate the numbers. A simple planned group-buy of a title on one day could radically shift things for a single title.

phloyd · 10-20-2006, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Beveridge

Yep. I'm assuming the .JP works the same way and it was something I was trying to get others to understand in that you could really easily manipulate the numbers. A simple planned group-buy of a title on one day could radically shift things for a single title.

A group buy? Who would do a thing like that? hahah...

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10-19-2006, 08:44 PM	#1
Chris Beveridge Moderator Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Hudson, MA Blu-ray reviews:3	The View of Japan One way to get an idea of how things are playing out in Japan is to look at software support. HD DVD was launched there on March 31st, Blu-ray begins with the PS3 on November 11th. http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/bdhdship/ You can change the dates to view the larger picture of all announced releases for both formats. They also list codec when known. Suffice to say, if Universal wants to make money in Japan some day, they're going to have to release Blu-ray there. HD DVD is pretty dismal with hardly any releases outside of a batch from Warner in November. Last edited by Chris Beveridge; 10-19-2006 at 08:48 PM.

10-19-2006, 08:54 PM	#2
Jazar Active Member Member since:Jun 2006	If BD controlls Japan that will be great news.

10-19-2006, 09:57 PM	#4
Rio Active Member Member since:Oct 2006	In Japan, there is very tiny, almost negligiable amount of market for HD DVD. Xbox360 also has faild to grasp the market. HD DVD title support is very weak, even Warner has not release enough titles unlike US market. All the Japanese only titles are sponsored by Toshiba (Toshiba pays for their authoring costs) to back the format up. Universal is expected to start suppoting BD after the contract period with Toshiba will be expired at some time next year (main reason of this is, of course, PS3).

10-20-2006, 01:54 AM	#5
Chris Beveridge Moderator Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Hudson, MA Blu-ray reviews:3	It's surprising and yet not at how badly HD DVD is doing there. I know a lot is riding on recorders so there's a sense of waiting for that, but the PS3 is just expected to once again roll over everything there even with the price. Add in that most of the companies there aren't interested in HD DVD and it's a very bleak picture. I wonder how much of the Microsoft association is actually hurting the product now. "HD DVD? That's that xbox thingy isn't it?"

10-20-2006, 05:17 AM	#6
PurpleAardvark Active Member Member since:Jul 2006 Location:Cross Plains, WI	Sony has always been very big in Japan. Alot of people are loyal to it and view M$ as nothing worth bothering with, so yes IMO MS is hurting HD DVD overthere. It seems despite all of the HD Fanboys bosting BD is starting to really prove itself and show what can be and what it is like to stay in lingo. Anthor thing that absolutly cracked me up today. I went to Best Buy and saw the new dual DVD/HD disc, Fast Times At Ridgemount High. Now if the $29.99 price tag wasn't enought to make me chuckel, you look not 5 feet away and there is a copy on DVD FOR $5.99. I had tears in my eyes I was laughing so hard. To me I think that the dual side DVD/HD thing might make sence on a new movie but still is not worth it, but an old film like that come on. Now how can you take HD DVD seriously when they waste money like that. I am sure if they did that in Japan HD DVD would be done over there (which it pretty much is anyways). Maybe they should make a dual side BD/HD DVD disc so when HD fails the fanboys won't cry as hard.

10-20-2006, 07:01 PM	#10
Rio Active Member Member since:Oct 2006	Don't put too much trust on Amazon ranking, like HD DVD supporters

10-20-2006, 07:04 PM	#11
Chris Beveridge Moderator Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Hudson, MA Blu-ray reviews:3	If you've seen some of my posts at AVS, I railed against the amazon rankings being indicative of anything substantial, so believe me, I know. They do point out some interesting information though and are worth talking about but not as a barometer of how things are in a big picture sense. It's a snapshot of a very specific thing at a very specific time.

10-20-2006, 07:48 PM	#12
Rio Active Member Member since:Oct 2006	Yes, I'm aware that you don't rely on Amazon ranking. Amazon is well known for "long tail" phenomenon, so unless the ranking number is at very high level, like top 10-20 level, ranking has virtually no meaning to count actual volume of sales. Difference of just 1 copy could cause 1000 ranking number differnce.

10-20-2006, 07:52 PM	#13
Chris Beveridge Moderator Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Hudson, MA Blu-ray reviews:3	Yep. I'm assuming the .JP works the same way and it was something I was trying to get others to understand in that you could really easily manipulate the numbers. A simple planned group-buy of a title on one day could radically shift things for a single title.

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