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

[PrinceLH]

I have already raised the black flag, no quarter to the enemy. That would be the axis of MS, Toshiba, Paramount and Universal.

[CAB]

Originally Posted by blublublu

They should have been more proactive, meaning:

- Fox should never have been on the sidelines as long as they were, and Disney should have stepped things up

Fox likes BD for DRM and the security features. I'm very happy they are bursting releases before BD+ is done.

- BD 1.1 Hardware should have been out (e.g. PS3) and they should have gotten Warner on board to leverage with The Matrix and other titles

I think rushing a product to market creates a bad product. I've heard wonderful stories about HD-DVD player QC. Further turning releases into a bidding war is bad business. BDA has exclusive studio support without having to stoop to bribing.

- Price desparity should have been dealt with
Slashing prices means limiting vendors in the marketplace. I don't want to be like HD-DVD and only have manufacturer. Toshiba is losing money on every player. Blu-ray manufactures are making money. Where there is profit there is competition. Pioneer, Panasonic, Sony, Denon, Samsung, who did I miss? - all quality manufacturers.

Play clean - get the message out there and BD will win. It's better now and it'll be better with 1.1 and beyond. BDA has it right. I can't wait until the Panasonic/Disney tour hits Austin.

-CB

[newtype311]

This is all feeling like whats always happening with PS3 all over again. I always get the feeling like Sony is alseep at the wheel. Maybe thats not really true, and its probably not, but thats how I feel. Im not trying to say things are in the dumps completely, but I feel that the BDA could really go after things more aggressively if not with pricing then atleast with marketing.
No matter what I read about BD's success; you wouldn't know anything about it as the average consumer since HDDVD's seem to always get the lime light in weekly adds displays, promotions, etc. I mean I havent heard nearly as much about Blu Ray's buy a player get 5 movies free, as I did when HD DVD's discount came out. I mean that was even on NPR.
I guess what I'm scared of most is that the average consumer will make the decision on the outcome of this war for us based on the price point of the players and marketing availability for releases. I mean the average consumer doesnt even now the difference between 1080i or 1080p even the actual name of the formats makes HD DVD more available to the layman. have you ever tried explaining what BD's are to someone, i mean my mom asks and i have to say 'well, its like an DVD in HD..."

Don get me wrong, Im a die hard Blu Ray supporter,and take every oportunity to preach the ghospel, but im just concerned...

[LeoneFan]

I just like to take this opportunity to extend a big fat F U to all the sacks of shit at Paramount who made the deci$ion that they made. I hope you all choke on that dirty money.

Blu-ray owners just need to keep doing what they've been doing all along and HDDVD will be crushed this holiday season with out without Paramount.

[dakota81]

Just a thought... could the decision to throw bags of money at Paramount be because Paramount was doing AVC encodes & planning PCM audio for Blu, with VC-1 encodes & DD audio for HD DVD? Maybe $150 million was worth it to prevent reviewers from performing serious picture & audio quality comparisons between the two formats.

[CAB]

Originally Posted by dakota81

Just a thought... could the decision to throw bags of money at Paramount be because Paramount was doing AVC encodes & planning PCM audio for Blu, with VC-1 encodes & DD audio for HD DVD? Maybe $150 million was worth it to prevent reviewers from performing serious picture & audio quality comparisons between the two formats.

I certainly believe that was a threat to both M$ and Toshiba. When the cost difference evaporates in the coming months and the price of 1080/24p displays hitting rock bottom the choice would come down to quality.

-CB

[sodrock]

Understand the average consumer has no idea what has transpired the last couple of days, and frankly don't care. Check out the Disney Magical Blu-ray Tour video here

It will take a major Retail store like Wal-mart or a studio like Universal or Fox to change it previous stance to eliminate either one of the formats. They aren't going to base the success of a format on 170k vs. 90k titles sold, ie "300". It will be awhile, if there ever is a resolution to this war. I have come to the conclusion that I am just going to enjoy Blu-ray for what its worth and hope in two years I don't need to buy into an additional format.

Also, remember something like 40% of people who own HDTV's don't even watch HD content in any form at home.

The lady at the end of the video tells all.

[gand41f]

Originally Posted by LeoneFan

I just like to take this opportunity to extend a big fat F U to all the sacks of shit at Paramount who made the deci$ion that they made. I hope you all choke on that dirty money.

Blu-ray owners just need to keep doing what they've been doing all along and HDDVD will be crushed this holiday season with out without Paramount.

Amen to that. F U Paramount!!! How dare you take movies away from me! I'm the consumer, damnit!!!

gandalf

[mwhing]

After hearing about this Microsoft deal with Paramount and Dreamworks,i got to thinking. Why would they trust a company that dont even equip there xbox 360 with a built in HD DVD drive when they keep saying they exclusively support HD. Sony have support there format with a playstation3 blueray drive. Microsoft have had a few chances now to include it built in. so whats the deal apart from getting hold of some new hi-def transfers for your download site. to me thats not supporting HD DVD. What do you think.

[AlaskaDon]

I'd like to suggest a really cool marketing gimmick for Paramount HD DVD...

When they put the artwork on the disks, they should print the Paramount logo using that temperature sensitive stuff, so that when you have to boil the disk, the snow melts off of the mountain

[stockstar1138]

FLOOD THEIR LINES! LET THEM KNOW THE MISTAKE THEY HAVE MADE. IF THEY WANT TO NOT GIVE US OUR BLU-RAY for 18 MONTHS, THEN WE WILL CALL DAILY DEMANDING IT, DON'T LET THEIR BE A MOMMENT OF SILENCE AT THAT PLACE. DRIVE THEM UP THE WALL UNTIL THEY CRACK FROM THE SOUND OF THE PHONE. BE POLITE, BUT BREAK THEM, MAKE THEM CAVE (ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO DO THIS IS TO BUY MORE BLU-RAY!).

[w_tanoto]

my opinion is just let them see it themselves, even without them we still can beat HD DVD, maybe better with FOX back.
Let them broke into pieces

[partridge]

To those who argue that we are hassling paramount employees I simply say this:

This is people power, it's a protest and we have the right to voice our opinions. If Paramount choose not to listen then let them be damned. History is littered with situations where the people determined the future, if we all sit quietly moaning to ourselves nothing will change.

Some companies do listen. Let's hope Paramount is one of them.

Look at it this way; if we do nothing then Paramount will believe they have made the right choice. They have to know how strongly we feel.

[MOONPHASE]

Originally Posted by shatta

lets take a road trip and beat some sense into their heads

Thats a great idea lets all make a road trip to Paramount and show them how disappointed we are

[Bullseye]

Has anyone got a reply from Paramount? Have any of their reps been invited over here to explain their position?

[Blue]

Any official from Paramount (or any other relevant company) is welcome to put their views forward. If you have a look at the news section other companies have talking. Unless there has been a contact within the last few hours Paramount have not made contact with us.

I would not expect them too as how do you defend the indefensible. The only logical argument is the $150,000,000 payment and that's already known. They are more than welcome, but don't hold your breath.

[lokus]

I apologize for posting this as I am sure it has either already been said or many of us are feeling like it. I recently purchased a PS3 (I'm not a huge gamer, if one at all) to support Blu-ray. I am growing a little concerned at the fact that, regardless of why, Paramount has jumped ship. They carry a lot of titles that I like. I am concerned that I made an impulse buy ($500). I should have just waited until after Christmas like I was going to. In any event, it is hard for me to swallow because I consider Disney and Fox to be two huuuge studios. Let's face it, Disney movies suck in consumers. Can anyone calm my concerned thoughts?

[CptGreedle]

Stick with it. Blu-ray still has better support and Paramount is receiving a lot of $h!+ from this they will not forget. I do not think this is a permanent deal and they will surely give in eventually.
If the HD-DVD camp has to PAY-OFF studios to join them, then they are in a very bad place. This is a desperate move to keep in the game another year.
But just watch and you will see that this will pan out and the stronger and BETTER format will prevail.
Fight on Blu-ray brethren! Fight on!

[The Big Blue]

Read through this thread, it helped me.

[Iceman_II]

^^^ Ya... what CptGreedle said! I couldn't have said it better!