digital bits

[theknub]

anyone read today's edition? saw they have a new hi def review article. every movie they reviewed was on the hd-dvd side (or so it seemed) and not a blu-ray release.

poor IMO since not giving equal treatment to both new formats. anyone know different or did i miss something?

[Spankey]

I just read the article. You are absolutely correct. The amazing thing is, that most of the titles reviewed are available on both formats, so they should be reviewing both. The bias is blatant. It has been for some time. Maybe Bill Hunt still thinks the Toshiba can't play dual layer discs?

But with only a handful of players available for each format

There may be a handful of players available for Blu-ray, but since I last checked there really is only one for HD-DVD.

[Chris Beveridge]

I dunno, it's a thing of where you review what you receive and if you already review a ton of material, you tend to avoid double dips.

I don't intend to review anything on HD DVD that is released on BD as well. Bias is obvious there. At the same point, I've got a backlog of 10-15 discs to watch as is. Do I spend time basically repeating myself since odds are the discs are identicle? Or do I get to fresh material?

[Spankey]

Do I spend time basically repeating myself since odds are the discs are identicle? Or do I get to fresh material?

Chris, I would say that the best thing to do is take a look at certain scenes on both discs. The reviewer the bits should at least mention that the movie is available in either format and comment on how they may or may not differ. The bits should also show the cases for both the Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs.

[theknub]

the closest it came to a BR mention was a also available in BR subtext. no graphic or anything.

i can't say i am mad, just diapointed in what should be a of a neutral forum.

chris, i understand your dilemna but don't feel your pain. i'd do a full review then at least compare four or five scenes if possible. i know a pain in the ass and obviously not a first choice. if nothing else, at least stating and disclaiming that you reviewed the BR or HD-DVD title. obviously, i don't do reviews, but an "idea" i guess.

[Chris Beveridge]

Now, take this into consideration; what do you do if the studio who releases in both formats only sends you one?

Mind you, this isn't happening to me (yet, maybe, if ever). But I got grief right from the start over PRoject PAPO. GDH released it in Japan on both formats, with the BD widely available and the HD DVD through their online store only.

I could easily get the BD and did. Now, why should I buy the HD DVD version, spend an additional $70-80 for it?

For most sites, especially those that buy stuff on their own, supporting both releases is just unworkable. There are a number of factors that will work into the decisions about what to review.

The bits I believe doesn't deal with buying their own discs and generally just reviews what gets sent to them. So they may be "hamstrung" in that regard.

[theknub]

chris,
sorry, i wasn't trying to be too critical or condescending. i understand that portion of it and from a reviewers aspect it sucks because you get labeled with bias even if it is not. anyway, i'm not sure what to think of it. i just was unhappy (for obvious reasons) that everything seemed to be hd-dvd only with no BR mention.

[Chris Beveridge]

No worries, sorry if I came off the wrong way with my post. I'm critical of reviewers myself, which makes me stay on my own toes as well. But sometimes if you don't do the reviewing, or run the site, you may not be aware of all the factors for it which is all I was trying to present. I've been plenty critical of Bill and of Peter at the HDDigest. More so in that they're so US centric which makes little sense now that region A is so large for BD. They'll do mild coverage for the PS3, but if there are key movies available in Japan or first that happen there, it gets no mention. That's their choice, but it presents (to me) a very narrow worldview of a format war that IS happening on multiple fronts.

[theknub]

glad, we're of the same understanding then.

i guess it all boils down to wanting to see equal (at least somewhat equal) treatment for both formats rather than a ton of reviews for one format or the other. what i do understand (for both sides) is that some studios are exclusively releasing so we may have more reviews at some points for one format than another.

[Chris Beveridge]

At this point, I'd rather see sites devote themselves to one side or the other. When you get people reviewing product they don't like, it colors it. See HDDigest for that. It's like having someone who hates science fiction review the Star Trek movies. What's the point? I obviously want someone who can be critical, but not someone who just despises an entire genre.

Same sort of applies here. The new formats give enterprising people a chance to strike out on their own and provide some fresh views on things. Bits, DVD File, DVD Talk, myself, we've all been around eight or nine years now. More competition from fresh voices will make US work harder and provide more views for readers.

[phloyd]

Bits gets hammered by everyone.

The HD DVD people said he had a Blu-ray bias and now BD people say the opposite... so I guess he has no credibility at all now