PS3 Buyers : What are your film buying intentions?

[Carl B]

Well, the costs are definitely high from what I understand, and it's no small feat timewise as well. The argument has been had here before - as I'm sure you know - that 50GB MPEG2 should beat out 30GB VC-1 in quality. Now, until 50GB discs are on the scene, that's a conversation best left buried for the time being (and I myself don't have thoughts either way), but the point is that MPEG2 is only at present clearly 'inadequate' when coupled with the 25GB version of BD (20GB really) - something of a mishap in it's own right.

Warner's also been all about VC-1 from the very start as well... and Blu-ray backer though they now are, I think we can still deam them - along with Toshiba - to in fact be one of the strongest technology proponents of HD-DVD, having several claims to royalties on that front themselves.

Anyway yeah there would be royalty payments to MS for VC-1, but I don't think MS vs Sony is in and of itself enough reason for why Sony would have spurned VC-1; I really do think it's just costs. Sony works with Microsoft on plenty of other stuff such that I don't think any of their console grudge spilled over, but at the same time Sony has a vested interest in seeing Microsoft's aspirations on the A/V front contained, so I can see that angle as well now that I consider it more.

But anyway... This is a good topic in part because it's 'fresh' and free of an innate comparison setup (I voted for the first option btw!), so I think this is definitely a conversation for a different thread.

 

[ban25]

As them to player a real BR movie in the Sony player. Should get an interesting response from the sales associate

If I remember correctly, it was playing Ultraviolet. Underworld: Evolution is supposedly one of the better looking ones, but I don't think they show that one due to the R rating. But maybe Sony would make an exception? I might go there this weekend to see.

 

[Mythos]

Well, the costs are definitely high from what I understand, and it's no small feat timewise as well. The argument has been had here before - as I'm sure you know - that 50GB MPEG2 should beat out 30GB VC-1 in quality. Now, until 50GB discs are on the scene, that's a conversation best left buried for the time being (and I myself don't have thoughts either way), but the point is that MPEG2 is only at present clearly 'inadequate' when coupled with the 25GB version of BD (20GB really) - something of a mishap in it's own right.

Looks like sooner rather than later as Sony begins shipping 50GB disks and possibly get some movies release before the end of the year on them disks. Also, for those b@#tch A$$ haters/F@#nBoies (that 50GB dont exists)..how u like them Apples...

 

[scooby_dooby]

Sony has started shipping DL BR-R's, for the cheap price of $50 a pop!
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/11564/Sony-Now-Shipping-50GB-Dual-Layer-Bluray-Disc-Media/

 

[RobertR1]

Looks like sooner rather than later as Sony begins shipping 50GB disks and possibly get some movies release before the end of the year on them disks. Also, for those b@#tch A$$ haters/F@#nBoies (that 50GB dont exists)..how u like them Apples...

50GB BR recordable media has been out in Japan for some time now. It's mass quantities (millions) of the ROM media at an affordable cost to the studios that is the problem. Not many have disputed that you won't see DL50 movies out by the end of the year. How many is the question.

We'll never know but it'd be fun to know how they decide to split up the BR50 allocation. I'm sure the stock piling has been going on for some time now with Fox and Disney wanting plenty for themselves and Sony obviously needing some

 

[Bad_Boy]

Sony has started shipping DL BR-R's, for the cheap price of $50 a pop!
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/11564/Sony-Now-Shipping-50GB-Dual-Layer-Bluray-Disc-Media/

How does that compare to the first dual layer DVD-R's?

 

[Sis]

We'll never know but it'd be fun to know how they decide to split up the BR50 allocation. I'm sure the stock piling has been going on for some time now with Fox and Disney wanting plenty for themselves and Sony obviously needing some

This is it in a nutshell, in my opinion. If the majority of movies end up on BD50, then I'd say that Blu-ray has a definite advantage, compared to HD DVD DL 30 gig discs (which I think everyone agrees will be the majority for that format). But, if BD25 is the average disc size...

And yet, in my mind, there's still the argument that consumers prefer multiple discs, since psychologically it's a better value. In which case (and once Blu-ray shifts to either h.264 or VC-1) it probably doesn't matter one lick how much data can fit on the disc for the formats.

 

[gokickrocks]

Looks like sooner rather than later as Sony begins shipping 50GB disks and possibly get some movies release before the end of the year on them disks. Also, for those b@#tch A$$ haters/F@#nBoies (that 50GB dont exists)..how u like them Apples...

you mean later than sooner...the bd50 movies that were to be released got pushed back

 

[Hardknock]

Where is the option that I'll have a PS3 but intend to buy HD-DVD movies due to better picture quality?

 

[RobertR1]

And yet, in my mind, there's still the argument that consumers prefer multiple discs, since psychologically it's a better value. In which case (and once Blu-ray shifts to either h.264 or VC-1) it probably doesn't matter one lick how much data can fit on the disc for the formats.

This is a very good point and one that will be often overlooked by enthusiasts who follow this stuff.

Joe Q is much more impressed with a "2 (3,4) BOX SET COLLECTORS EDITION!" than seeing a single disc "COLLECTORS EDITION!"

We've been conditionted with the "more is better" "price to value" from birth. I'm a sucker for it just as much as everyone. The wow! factor of a multi disc set is simply hard to beat. I much rather have the job of marketing a multi disc set, than BD50 or TL45. Then you also have to consider the cost factor. For a studio, is BD50 worth the extra cost vs. 2 25GB discs AND lose out on the marketing of edge of 2 discs?

Look at re-released movies. The biggest draw for popular movies that are re-released is promoting them as "2 DISC COLLECTORS EDITION!" usually followed by directors cut/extended version. That's the tractor beam that Joe Q see's with huge letters on the front of the disc when goto buy them. Re-conditioning people is a task I would not want to take up.

 

[RobertR1]

If I remember correctly, it was playing Ultraviolet. Underworld: Evolution is supposedly one of the better looking ones, but I don't think they show that one due to the R rating. But maybe Sony would make an exception? I might go there this weekend to see.

Here's the latest update on the Sony player from a Sony Dealer at a Sony Dealer special:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=711896

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Where is the option that I'll have a PS3 but intend to buy HD-DVD movies due to better picture quality?

There's a couple of missing options as these polls are prone to have. The 'wait and see which format wins' option probably covers that in principle though, as it shows you won't be buying BRDs until it establishes itself, which may never happen and you'll continue buying HDDVD. The 'wait and see' option is also in effect a 'wait until BRD gets its act together' option if needed.