Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Wallendo is correct. Doing 3D versions of existing CG films is trivial, and Nightmare is pretty easy due to the fact they have models to measure and motion control data, plus the still photography nature of the work (no motion blur)

I'm sure he still wants to do it, I doubt if and when he finishes it that anything he doesn't re-render will be anything special

I have to imagine that by the time Lucas finishes his 3D Star Wars fakeup, people will have experienced so much good 3D that they won't tolerate the fakey stuff.
I think the opportunity for doing a huge cashin on this has passed with Avatar.

[blindcat87]

Jeff,

Will 2010 be the year that finally sees the release of some of Disney's live action classics? I agree with what you said about them not rushing the animation schedule just to push titles out, and I don't want them to rush any of the live titles either, but it would be nice to start seeing some of them or to at least get some news about restoration work being done. I know that they want to be careful about making sure the market is ready for family titles, but the success of the holiday season seems to me to be a sign that the market is growing and that maybe some of the top titles might do well this year.

Thanks,
Chris

[Q?]

I've heard a rumor that Paths of Glory is being released this year on blu-ray!?
What are the chances for all of Kubricks movies being released on blu-ray?
Thanks...

[MerrickG]

Jeff,

What games do you look most forward to this year?

According to Eurogame Killzone 3, Resistance 3, and Infamous 2 will all be announced. Im very excited for Resistance 3.

I definitely am looking forward to Bioshock 2, Splinter Cell: Conviction, God of War 3 and I am very much hoping to see Gears of War 3.

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by blindcat87

Jeff,

Will 2010 be the year that finally sees the release of some of Disney's live action classics? I agree with what you said about them not rushing the animation schedule just to push titles out, and I don't want them to rush any of the live titles either, but it would be nice to start seeing some of them or to at least get some news about restoration work being done. ...

What titles did you have in mind?

If you are talking about Disney's Tru-Life Adventures, weren't they shot on 16mm? I was disappointed in some respects by Ken Burn's recent National Parks series, which also had major 16mm components, so I wonder if the Tru-Life Adventures would really improve on Blu-ray.

[4K display]

From the Bits:

Still, while I'm not a fan of the "flipper" format, I can at least report that Universal's new Blu-ray/DVD versions appear to work fine in our players, and I appreciate that they took the time to let me test them out and report on the results to all of you prior to street date.

If this spreads to other studios I'll be dropping BD and taking up knitting...

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by 4K display

If this spreads to other studios I'll be dropping BD and taking up knitting...

I hear HD downloads are really neat...

[blindcat87]

I was thinking more along the lines of Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Parent Trap, and even some of the less well known titles like Darby O'Gill and the Little People, The Cat From Outer Space, The Shaggy Dog and so on. But I wouldn't say no to some of their serial titles like the Davy Crockett and Zorro series and other such titles.

I am also hoping that they might start giving some attention to the non-Platinum/Diamond animated titles like The Great Mouse Detective, Robin Hood, and The Sword in the Stone, but I suspect all of those probably need as much or more work than the Platinums and it might not yet be economical for Disney to restore and release those until there is some more growth in the family film BD audience.

Just my opinion, but I think Disney has been doing some stellar work on their BD releases, but they need to ramp up the catalog output in the coming year. I know that Disney's catalog is as broad as it is deep with all of the labels they own or distribute for, but so is WB's and they seem to be really enthusiastic about catalog titles.

Chris

Originally Posted by cjamescook

What titles did you have in mind?

If you are talking about Disney's Tru-Life Adventures, weren't they shot on 16mm? I was disappointed in some respects by Ken Burn's recent National Parks series, which also had major 16mm components, so I wonder if the Tru-Life Adventures would really improve on Blu-ray.

[DaViD Boulet]

Originally Posted by blindcat87

I was thinking more along the lines of Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Parent Trap, and even some of the less well known titles like Darby O'Gill and the Little People, The Cat From Outer Space, The Shaggy Dog and so on. But I wouldn't say no to some of their serial titles like the Davy Crockett and Zorro series and other such titles.

I am also hoping that they might start giving some attention to the non-Platinum/Diamond animated titles like The Great Mouse Detective, Robin Hood, and The Sword in the Stone, but I suspect all of those probably need as much or more work than the Platinums and it might not yet be economical for Disney to restore and release those until there is some more growth in the family film BD audience.

Just my opinion, but I think Disney has been doing some stellar work on their BD releases, but they need to ramp up the catalog output in the coming year. I know that Disney's catalog is as broad as it is deep with all of the labels they own or distribute for, but so is WB's and they seem to be really enthusiastic about catalog titles.

Chris

I really hope that Disney hires some folks who can both see and hear when they prep those titles for blu.

Marry Poppins on DVD was a travesty... colors were strange with brown-orange skin tones, an overly dark image, and the 5.1 audio was noise-gated removing all musicality from the score and leaving Julie sounding like she had a head cold for every song. Not to mention the re-recorded Foley effects. It was a disaster (despite the rave reviews by most publications and websites... sigh) and hopefully we'll get a disc that really lets the spectacular image and sound of the historic masters shine through.

[Jeff Kleist]

Me I'm hoping we get 20,000 Leagues this year, seeing as how the prequel movie has been scuttled (probably for the best). Honestly as far as catalog titles go, I get the impression that all of the studios were watching Christmas. How well did Blu-ray move? What KINDS of people are buying Blu-ray? All of that is going to shape what stuff they put into the pipe for later this year, and I don't think any of that has really been decided yet. There's certainly advocates for the kinds of things you guys are asking for though.

What games do you look most forward to this year?

Mass Effect 2 is all that's on my radar right now, counting minutes. Alien vs Predator if it doesn't suck. Force Unleashed 2. The new Tron game if it doesn't suck. Batman 2 so long as it isn't a rush job (a year doesn't seem long enough). Rock Band 3. Prince of Persia, and the Final Fight reissue.

My #1 movie right now, Tron Legacy.Everything I have seen and heard says it was made for the fans first, and invites everyone else along for the ride. I know that the people at Disney who got it greenlit wear their heart on their circuit covered sleeves. I can't wait to see what they deliver. The nature of computers is completely new now, and there are so many new creative possibilities. For example, most programs are created by teams now, but when Tron was made it was usually a single person. How does that affect people in the computer world? Are they schizo? WHose face and personality do they adopt? Obviously they can't do it all in one movie, exploring that stuff, but the little touches are what's going to make it for me.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Mass Effect 2 is all that's on my radar right now, counting minutes. Alien vs Predator if it doesn't suck. Force Unleashed 2. The new Tron game if it doesn't suck. Batman 2 so long as it isn't a rush job (a year doesn't seem long enough). Rock Band 3. Prince of Persia, and the Final Fight reissue.

I never played the first Mass Effect because it just didnt seem like my kind of game. Im just not into RPGs and could never get into them. I am playing Borderlands and absolutely loved it, so Im considering giving the RPG genre another chance.

I do agree with you about Arkham Asylum 2. It just seems like its coming WAYYYY too soon. Although it hasnt been given a release date yet so it could be 2011 before it comes.

I do hope they give Arkham Asylum 2 a No Mans Land type story.

No excitement for Infamous 2?

[Jeff Kleist]

Borderlands is a lot more run and gun than ME1, but I hear 2 has upped the ante in that category.

The story makes it worth it however. It's big, epic and involving, and the choices you made in the first game change the way the second one(and the third one) go if you import your save. Apparnelty there's about 30 or 40 events that change depending on even little things in the first game

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Borderlands is a lot more run and gun than ME1, but I hear 2 has upped the ante in that category.

The story makes it worth it however. It's big, epic and involving, and the choices you made in the first game change the way the second one(and the third one) go if you import your save. Apparnelty there's about 30 or 40 events that change depending on even little things in the first game

Hence the name "Mass Effect"

[Jeff Kleist]

Actually it's about the energy splash you get in the hyperspace gates tied into the Citadel Station

[Doctorossi]

Prices being what they are, I'm pondering Inside Man as a blind-buy. Any learned opinions out there?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Prices being what they are, I'm pondering Inside Man as a blind-buy. Any learned opinions out there?

On the Blu or the movie?

[Jeff Kleist]

I like it, great cast ,good twists

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Actually it's about the energy splash you get in the hyperspace gates tied into the Citadel Station

About Arkham Asylum 2. I do actually think a good game can be made in a year. Its not like they really have to change a whole lot much. They can reuse most of the assets from the first game. I seem to recall reading that they started work on the sequel a bit before the first one shipped.

I would be happy if they expanded the scope and gave us a section of Gotham City instead. I will be pissed if they dont put Two-Face, Penguin or Catwoman in it, but I very much expect they will.

[Jeff Kleist]

No excitement for Infamous 2?

No PS3. I have a Blu-ray player and there's no games on it warranting a $300 investment, and I got bored of Final Fantasy a long time ago. I moved to Xbox because that's where Sega went after Dreamcast died, and I pretty much have access to all the franchises I care about there. Besides I played Prototype, and Yahtzee said they were pretty much the same, and I only found that game to be OK. Some neat ideas but way too much grind.

Borderlands is sort of like Mass Effect, but it's far more run and gun. Supposely ME2 moves more in that direction. The story is so good you shouldn't care though.

Oh and I forgot Snoopy Combat Ace, if only because it looks like a total Crimson Skies clone. Hopefully the new owners of the FASA library will finally make a sequel.

I would be happy if they expanded the scope and gave us a section of Gotham City instead. I will be pissed if they dont put Two-Face, Penguin or Catwoman in it, but I very much expect they will.

Someone dissected the trailer, most of that is in there, and it seems to take place in Gotham more than Arkham

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

On the Blu or the movie?

Sorry- on the movie. I've seen enough reviews to know the Blu represents it well.