Paramount/DreamWorks fallout... a primal scream therapy thread for Blu-ray fans

[JaysDomain]

Who were you expecting, jack sparrow?

I was bored and couldn't resist.

[JaysDomain]

Here is my response and what I think, a little shorter but to the point...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

I was bored and couldn't resist.

[insom187]

...could it be that Paramount has taken this route as they may have decided they could make more money right now declaring exclusivity and taking in HD-DVD sales and then when this format war is closer to over down the road in a year or so they could get out of this deal, keep the money given to them and then release the their movies in Blu-ray anyways? If $150 million is the amount, maybe they thought they wouldnt make that much in Blu-ray/HDDVD sales between now and the end of the format war and decided to just get some quick money. Plus, when they hopefully finally release their movies on Blu-ray people will gobble them up after waiting a while to see them in pure HD (Transformers comes quickly to mind). This may be nonsensical but I think Paramount wins now whichever way the format war goes.

[Soco]

If you just got paid $150,000,000 to go exclusive, would you give it back because some people wrote you some emails and letters?

[JadedRaverLA]

I would never advocate piracy, but...

To those thinking of renting the HD DVD versions of future Paramount titles, and then burning to BD-R, just keep in mind you would need to support HD DVD by buying the drive, and then again by renting the HD DVD to do so.

Of course, a simpler solution would be to simply "acquire" the scene releases of the ripped HD DVDs online, and then convert those for burning onto BD-R/RE discs. Those that are direct HD DVD rips, all pretty much fit onto a single-layer BD-R, and if a 720p recode will suffice, those run anywhere from 4-9 GB, allowing you put multiple films on one disc. Maybe Microsoft was right after all... downloading is the future of HD DVD.

Again, I definitely don't condone piracy... at least of material from studios who didn't just accept a multi-million dollar bribe to screw over their customers.

[Slackr89]

Originally Posted by Soco

If you just got paid $150,000,000 to go exclusive, would you give it back because some people wrote you some emails and letters?

Of course...wouldnt you
although they are being paid 150 mil, overall they will lose more money than that since their Blu-ray sales were higher than HD DVD. shortterm is good but their longterm sucks

[zombieking]

Or they could've stayed neutral, selling even more titles until 1 format perishes, in which case they also win.

[BTBuck1]

So we always talk about the Effects certain things have on the format war.
Well, it's become apparent to me at least (and not recently) almost from the beginning, that if you are a Lover of Home-theater you will have to own BOTH formats. Like it or not (I do not)

Or else, You are "sticking to your guns" one way or the other and Hating on Sony & DRM or Microsoft's hidden agenda & Toshiba's Greed. meanwhile missing out on half the HD content thats out there...isn't enjoy movies why we got into this? Anyways...thats not the point of this.

As I see the events unfold today I am surprised nobody has seen this point of view yet:

This has in essence simplified things extremely for retail stores. And when Total High Def comes (like it or not, Warner hasn't forgotten about it) It will even more so. Now you add in Combo players like the Samsung which is pretty much a Hometheater wet dream in a box, and you basically have ONE FORMAT viewed through the eyes of the average Joe. Sooner than we think, combo players will be near the price of players only able to play one or the other....Then what?

Some will disagree, hell many will. But this is the situation we are potentially facing, The writing is on the wall for all of this to happen. If I were a store owner who wasn't that up on all this stuff, I'd be thrilled that know I don't have to have two or 3 versions of the same damn thing hogging up space.

Lets face it folks, we were screwed from the gate with this stuff when the studio's were split and Toshiba & Sony couldn't come to a compromise.

Lets discuss,


Brian

[ReduxInflux]

let the metal do the talking

http://www.myspace.com/allthatremains

All That Remains
The Air That I Breathe

I will not relent no no
Never live with defeat never falter
This like the air that I breath
I will not choke on failure

I am a mortal man
But I'm not falling I'm not broken yet
I'm am a mortal man
But I'll hold tight to my beliefs now

I have suffered defeat, pain, loss
Still I push to the edge, never falter
For this cements my beliefs
I'll remain my own master

I will not relent no no
Never suffer defeat, never falter
For this cements my beliefs
I will not choke on failure

I will not relent


any other songs to suggest??? music is awesome.

[Canada]

Blu Ray HD DVD Winner


Ugly Aliens Aliens, Predator Pitch Black Alien Predator
Spy vs Spy Bond Bourne Bond
Submariners Das Boot U571 Das Boot
Super Hero Spiderman Aeon Flux Spiderman
In the Sky Steath Top Gun Top Gun


I had to give HD DVD at least one category

If Blu Ray manages to nab the WB as an exclusive I know Blu Ray will win but if HD DVD manages to get WB exclusivly on there side I could be damn near fifty (23 now) when this thing ends.

[oldmike]

the cost of the disks is way to high

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by oldmike

the cost of the disks is way to high

Elaborate...I'm not seeing the relevance?

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by BTBuck1

Now you add in Combo players like the Samsung which is pretty much a Hometheater wet dream in a box, and you basically have ONE FORMAT viewed through the eyes of the average Joe. Sooner than we think, combo players will be near the price of players only able to play one or the other....Then what?

They have to drop below the sum of two different players first.

A2 + S300 = $299 + $499 = $798

LG: $999
Samsung combo: $1049

I believe the extra royalties needed to support the other format will always guarantee the cost will be higher for a combo.

Gary

[oldmike]

combo disks cost 2 times of a one formatdisk and who wants to pay the extra cost not me
same with combo players
its more likely MS did this in the hope that No HD will win and my fear is this
will give them the time they need to get downloading movies off the ground
we need good news fastor this war mite go bad

[shadowmoon]

Originally Posted by BTBuck1

So we always talk about the Effects certain things have on the format war.
Well, it's become apparent to me at least (and not recently) almost from the beginning, that if you are a Lover of Home-theater you will have to own BOTH formats. Like it or not (I do not)

Or else, You are "sticking to your guns" one way or the other and Hating on Sony & DRM or Microsoft's hidden agenda & Toshiba's Greed. meanwhile missing out on half the HD content thats out there...isn't enjoy movies why we got into this? Anyways...thats not the point of this.

As I see the events unfold today I am surprised nobody has seen this point of view yet:

This has in essence simplified things extremely for retail stores. And when Total High Def comes (like it or not, Warner hasn't forgotten about it) It will even more so. Now you add in Combo players like the Samsung which is pretty much a Hometheater wet dream in a box, and you basically have ONE FORMAT viewed through the eyes of the average Joe. Sooner than we think, combo players will be near the price of players only able to play one or the other....Then what?

Some will disagree, hell many will. But this is the situation we are potentially facing, The writing is on the wall for all of this to happen. If I were a store owner who wasn't that up on all this stuff, I'd be thrilled that know I don't have to have two or 3 versions of the same damn thing hogging up space.

Lets face it folks, we were screwed from the gate with this stuff when the studio's were split and Toshiba & Sony couldn't come to a compromise.

Lets discuss,


Brian

Yes this event does simply a lot for the retail stores, and I agree with you on the shelf space issue. If the combo players can become affordable, we wouldnt have this issue, we all would just go out, buy a combo player, and call it good. This war then will not be decided by studio support as all movies can be played on the combo player, but it will come down to quality of the discs and the extra features/PQ/AQ it contains. To be honest, if the combo players were affordable from the start, BD will never live to see the light of day due to BD-J and other specs were not finalized. But yes, to your point, if the combo players are affordable by most people, then Paramount switch and THD will not make any difference.

[pro-bassoonist]

If you truly are interested in achieving something use the BIG 3 Rule:

1. Letter
2. Email
3. Phone call

I was once associated with one of the major's promo branch in Europe and this is how it is done!

Good luck!

Pro-B

[TJandBLU-RAY]

Someday, when this war is over, and DVD has won because, secretly, they were funding both sides, (a bit like supplying arms to both sides), and DVD is once again the only format and Pan and Scan is king, because the average Joe is not accepting of wide screen, we who were willing to support both sides will be pissed at those who only could see one side over another.

Frankly, and this is the point missed by both sides, is that CONSUMERS who shop at WALLY WORLD and think that AMERICAN IDOL is the best thing on TV, those who don't give a rats ass about High Def as long as SUPERBAD comes out on DVD in Pan and Scan because they hate 'them black bars', those CONSUMERS are the ones who will ultimately decide the fate of a little niche format called High Def. Need proof? Ask all of those who have DVD AUDIO ONLY Players, or SACD players, how many titles have come out in the last year. Ask them what a format war can do to a superior product.

[TJandBLU-RAY]

And while you are at it, ask the folks who have Mini Discs (a far better product then CD every was), how it goes with buying that product. Never underestimate the stupidity of the average consumer when it comes to A/V products.

[Khalel]

Thanks for the contact info, below is what I emailed, I think I went overboard, but it at least was a good way to vent. I feel better now, but I'll feel better with some more pro-blu announcements.

To Whom It May Concern,

It has recently been brought to my attention of the withdrawal from the support of the Bluray Disc Optical Format, and in my view and many more high definition consumers, it has severely and permanently tarnished my respect for the integrity and foresight of Paramount and Dreamworks.

It is one matter to go format neutral, but to switch to hd-dvd exclusivity is truly insulting - a slap in the face. I have never felt more angry about a decision a company has made. This act violates propriety and long-term interests of the high-def disc formats and the consumer, just so Paramount/Dreamworks benefit from the obvious and lucrative benefits such an irrtaional decision might imply.

In addition, in official statements, to solely address Paramount's reasoning to make such a drastic betrayal (consequently affecting and enraging an install base of millions) with the arguments of the technical and cost advantages of hddvd is fundamentally flawed.

Cost wise, prices of all media formats are dropping and high def TVs are only finally gaining ground in this market. Pricing of Bluray players are becoming close to on par with HD-DVD, and the cheaper HD-DVD players are not proficient at all, such as the external 360 hddvd add-on that doesn't even have hdmi, ( except few elite sku owners ) or no hardrive for core sku owners, wifi for updates, notorious hardwarde issues, etc. Conversely, the PS3 is an adept internal bluray player for example, with phenomenal value: upscaling, gaming, all fps capability, hdmi 1.3,upgradeable HDD, wifi, memory card readers, free online, solid build quality, etc. There are many features that its competitors lack, that protect the consumers investment, and not financially exploit them. Paramount by sabotaging Bluray, which was clearly of the two formats closer to standard adoption, has exploited consumers. The PS3 alone, will make the Bluray install base perpetually bigger than HD-DVD, and if the PS3 which is recently already outselling the 360 in ALL major markets, can obtain a modicum of the success of the hundreds of millions of Playstations sold, than your return to neutrality should be inevitable.

Speaking, technologically, Bluray with higher bitrate, BD-J interactivity, copy right protection, hard disc coating, region encoding, and of course destroying hd-dvd in capacity with up to quad layered 200gb abilities... etc. is essentially protecting consumers long term interests.

Paramount's official statements may be enough to fool many uninformed consumers, but hundreds of thousands if not millions, know of the more than likely reasons that I have said, such an irrational decision would imply. Myself, and I would think many others feel so scorned and aggravated, that we will express these emotions to Paramount, and other consumers as well.

Also, in rise of high-definition, this business decision serves only the agenda of a certain company that I will remain undisclosed, to promote their public preference for downloadable content adoption over discs. Paramount is helping to compromise the very future of high-def discs in my opinion. By essentially prolonging this war when Bluray dominates countries like Japan, and Australia, growing in Europe, and of course in North America, where bluray had all the momentum and was significantly outselling hd-dvd...is not of good conscience.

I have never been more angry at a company. Blu-ray, of the two formats had the greater potential to expand and standardize the high-def market. The former sole supporting major studio exclusively backing hddvd recently, albeit only subtlety suggested that they would, that if things continued the same way of continued bluray growth, that they would do what was best for the consumer.

Is Paramount doing what is best for the consumer?

This studio in question, at least out started neutral, for hddvd indeed did have many advantages early on, and I can respect their reluctance to support the BDA, but Paramount’s decision is not deserving of such respect. The increase in tension, animosity, and overall frustration in the high def wars, will continue to turn off consumers from high-def discs altogether (again what a specific company would logically want in order to promote downloadable content) and maybe might even forever marginalize high-def discs in the realm of the niche. This is ridiculous. Paramount is purposely agreeing to cause this.

How do you expect us to understand such as decision?

Bluray, was on pace to become the sole next-generation format, but at worst hd-dvd and bluray could have co-existed, but Paramount's business decision has almost effectively made it so where a winning format will be nearly impossible I think.

Perhaps, the true compensation of this decision is justified from Paramount's position, but in this age of mass information, this action will forever taint the integrity of Paramount. Personally, I can't say I won't watch your movies, but every time I do and see your logo, I will feel resentment, even hate, and I don't want to feel that way, lied to and cheated...I for one, no longer respect Paramount.

I am sorry if I was not as tactful as I should be, but this betrayal is inappropriate and should not be of practice of company in your position.

Disappointed and Distraught,

Michael Chan
mochan@ualberta.ca

[diatom]

I wrote a e-mail, and now I have pre-ordered all the Paramount releases on Amazon. Make them turn down all the dollars from sales as well...