Universal dropped HD-DVD?

[dialog_gvf]

With the quality of Universal's HD DVD releases recently, I'm rather thankful I'm not in the position of being tempted to buy them.

Gary

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

With the quality of Universal's HD DVD releases recently, I'm rather thankful I'm not in the position of being tempted to buy them.

Gary

Yeah, but the problem is that when they do go neutral they are very likely to just rehash these transfers on BD. So, if you like the movie, you'll be forced to buy it or wait a long time until the special edition (or remaster).

We've all heard the VC-1 encoding horror stories. Seems like Universal just went on auto-pilot to crank out quantity over quality. This is sad for all Hd optical consumers. The industry continues to shoot itself in the foot with HD optical.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Esox50

We've all heard the VC-1 encoding horror stories. Seems like Universal just went on auto-pilot to crank out quantity over quality. This is sad for all Hd optical consumers. The industry continues to shoot itself in the foot with HD optical.

The HD DVD fans are starting to mumble like people were doing with Sony titles at BD launch.

No outright hostility yet, but if the quantity doesn't result in some wins this summer, that's pretty much it for HD DVD's ammo. Universal will have blown through all the titles they are willing to risk.

Gary

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

The HD DVD fans are starting to mumble like people were doing with Sony titles at BD launch.

Quite honestly Gary, I'm at the point where I really couldn't care less what most of these HD DVD supporters think/write. 3/4 of them are downright idiotic and ridiculous, and in thier own world. Let them mumble , I suspect they're going to be mumbling more and more as time goes on. Like I said a few weeks ago, the exclusive-window release of The Matrix is likely the high water mark in the life of the HD DVD format.

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

No outright hostility yet, but if the quantity doesn't result in some wins this summer, that's pretty much it for HD DVD's ammo. Universal will have blown through all the titles they are willing to risk.

Universal has a good catalog, but what good is it if they put no effort into it? I think the end has begun. It's too much of a co-incidence to have had Universal so close to nuetral earlier this year. Then right around the same time, they come out with a statement they are HD DVD only...WB announces The Matrix, and shortly thereafter prices get cut again on players. Now we get the PR from Toshiba on how great players are selling, with their apples&oranges comparisons (standalones only on players sales, but include the PS3 in attach rates ). They've tried one last time to prop up the format heading into the 2nd half of the year. The second half of this year is going to be interesting. No doubt BD is going to win big, just how big is what I'm waiting to see.

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Quite honestly Gary, I'm at the point where I really couldn't care less what most of these HD DVD supporters think/write. 3/4 of them are downright idiotic and ridiculous, and in thier own world. Let them mumble , I suspect they're going to be mumbling more and more as time goes on...

It's good, though, that even they're starting to get upset. If 3/4 are, as you say, idiotic and ridiculus, and now they are starting to get fed up w/ the crap titles and transfers they're receiving, they're getting ever the slightest bit closer to coming over to blu-ray. If their mumblings grow and they begin thinking about getting a BD player, they pricing now helps things out.

If the "idiotic" ones are coming to grips w/ reality, and not touting or supporting sub-par releases just because it's their format, it can only bode well for Blu-ray.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Quite honestly Gary, I'm at the point where I really couldn't care less what most of these HD DVD supporters think/write. 3/4 of them are downright idiotic and ridiculous, and in thier own world. Let them mumble , I suspect they're going to be mumbling more and more as time goes on. Like I said a few weeks ago, the exclusive-window release of The Matrix is likely the high water mark in the life of the HD DVD format.

It should have been. But, it turned out all it did was stop a total masacre for that week. I'm not sure it didn't do more harm than good.

Originally Posted by Esox50

Universal has a good catalog, but what good is it if they put no effort into it? I think the end has begun.

They have a great catalog. But, if this is the effort they put into things when you imagine they have all the backing they could possibly hope for, what are the odds that when those BDs finally come they won't be simply Warner-style ports?

We all should be mumbling. MS NBC Universal is clearly more about 720p low-bitrate downloads than high quality HD discs.

Everyone cross their fingers that GE does sell off the studio to those that give a damn.

Gary

[theknub]

^^ wichful thinking of course, but if sony buys it the war is over

[bluflu]

Universal will go neutral when they tire of taking bribes.