Sweden's SF and Scanbox go Blu-ray exclusive

by Darren Murph posted Feb 8th 2008 at 12:01AM

Granted, HD DVD didn't exactly have a foothold on the Swedish market to begin with, but the red camp is still losing two firms that it certainly wouldn't mind having around. Reportedly, both SF and Scanbox have decided to follow in Warner's footsteps and distribute their high-definition films on Blu-ray alone. As for the near future, there doesn't seem to be a concrete date for when SF will roll out its films in Blu, but purportedly, Scanbox will get things going as early as April.

[Via Blu-ray, thanks Kiwi616]

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray, HD DVD

Tags: blu-ray exclusive, Blu-rayExclusive, exclusive, format war, FormatWar, Scanbox, sf, sweden, swedish

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Neutral

Chris Frost @ Feb 8th 2008 12:23AM

Engadget?! I submit some positive news for HD DVD and you completely ignore it. The minute you get anything negative to post about HD DVD you don't miss a beat. Are you hell bent against the format these days? It appears that way. So, since you won't post it, I will. As many of you know Studio Canal supports HD DVD in Europe so the following news is a pretty big deal for the format.

StudioCanal acquires Kinowelt
By Rebecca Leffler and Scott Roxborough

Jan 18, 2008

French movie powerhouse StudioCanal has officially bought up 100% of German independent distributor Kinowelt, the companies said Thursday.

The move makes StudioCanal the largest pan-European film distribution company with operations in the continent's three largest markets: France, Germany and the U.K., after the Gallic company bought Optimum Releasing in 2006.

"We're the only European company to have such a direct presence in the top three markets, "StudioCanal's chairman and CEO Olivier Courson told The Hollywood Reporter. With a stake in these three top territories, StudioCanal will control a market worth 3 billion euros ($4.4 billion) in boxoffice receipts and 7 billion euros ($10.2 billion) in home video sales. StudioCanal will add Kinowelt's 7,000-plus library titles to its already 5,000-strong catalog.

"Our priority is to develop our strategy in each of these three countries and band them together to create a European network," Courson said. StudioCanal is hoping to not only profit from Kinowelt's massive library of DVD rights and distribution benefits, but also aggressively develop the company's international production activities.

StudioCanal plans to invest 200 million euros ($292.2 million) per year in both local and international film production, over 30 million euros ($43.8 million) more than the group's current investment. "We're in a great position to develop international production. We want to be the choice for a European co-producer," Courson said.

He added: "We're going to partner more and more with the U.S. majors and take advantage of remake rights. This is our new strategy, and we're going to amplify it with the acquisition of Kinowelt." StudioCanal wholly funded Wong Kar Wai's "My Blueberry Nights" in 2006 and already has a slew of international co-productions in the works including Johnny To's next film featuring an international cast and a confidential "U.S. studio partner" and a prequel/remake of John Carpenter's "Escape From New York."

Kinowelt has been distributing StudioCanal's films in Germany for years, and the companies plan to extend their strong professional relationship. Michael and Rainer Kolmel will remain in their positions as senior advisers to Kinowelt, Michael for strategy and Rainer for acquisitions.

Both companies refused to comment on the price tag of the merger, rumored to be in the 70 million euro ($103 million) range.

The deal, signed late Wednesday night, will be officially set in motion "as quickly as possible," according to StudioCanal, which hopes to see the acquisition in place by the end of February or beginning of March.

Neutral

Nfinity @ Feb 8th 2008 12:59AM

Don't get upset man. They do this very often. For example, not only they completely dismiss news but they fail to report actually valid tech/gadget stuff.

For example, I posted before:

Toshiba to Keep Aloof from Chinese HD-DVD Player Sector (Massive movements on mass production and China support)
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1059124/

CyberLink Patent Included in HD DVD Essential Patent Portfolio
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/index.jsp?epi-content=GENERIC&newsId=20080131005481&ndmHsc=v2*A1199192400000*B1201839999000*DgroupByDate*J2*L1*N1000837*Zhd%20dvd&newsLang=en&beanID=202776713&viewID=news_view

Broadcom's Media PC Technology Enables Toshiba to Feature High Quality HD DVD Playback for Mid-Level Mobile Personal Computers
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-29-2008/0004744780&EDATE=#linktopagetop

and quite a few others.. but you know, you can't expect that.. but some ridiculous studio in Sweden goes Blu-ray exclusive and it's not even 100% confirmed... there goes the EngadgetBD putting their spin on it.

Neutral

Nfinity @ Feb 8th 2008 1:11AM

Also, no mention of Warner movies too that clearly give more value to consumers once more.

I'm LEGEND HD DVD offers more to consumers then Blu-Ray version despite the price.
HD DVD version includes all of the features from Blu-Ray, better menus and COMBO disc (with SD DVD version for playback on regular DVD players)

http://www.movieweb.com/dvd/news/55/25755.php

Highly Ranked

HD4ME @ Feb 8th 2008 2:50AM

Yeah, lets see if my post gets pulled again, as soon as you have an opinion about this site supporting blu it gets yanked, no bias here!
I see Walmart has sold out of A3s as the player numbers are surging, no mention of that fact of course, but Sven's Sandal factory in outer Sweden is huge news!

http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2008/02/07/hd-dvd-box-sold-out-at-walmartcom-in-hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-war/

Neutral

HD4ME @ Feb 8th 2008 2:56AM

Toshiba�s price cut may be paying off as retailers like Wal-Mart and Amazon discount the player, bringing it even closer to the magic $100 mark. If the number of consumers who own an HD DVD player continues to grow, it will be difficult for studios to ignore the potential sales dollars.

oops, sorry for double post!

Highly Ranked

John Drinkwater @ Feb 8th 2008 6:06AM

erm, isn�t StudioCanal one of those few companies supporting both Blu-ray and HD DVD? And so is Kinowelt.
How is that good news for HD DVD?
It�s no different to yesterday.

Neutral

DrXym @ Feb 8th 2008 6:13AM

@Chris Frost, So where is the positive news for HD DVD? Studio Canal+ (who have released some HD DVD titles) have bought another studio. It doesn't say anything about their future commitment to HD DVD. It's certainly hard to see why you think they'll stay with the format when virtually every other European distributor is going Blu Ray. Not surprising really since Blu Ray dominates HD DVD in Europe.

I think you're just setting yourself up for a major fall by pretending some random business news is good news for HD DVD. It can only be a matter of time before Canal+ dumps HD DVD too.

@HD4ME, Walmart selling out of A3 players is a meaningless observation without knowing how many they had to begin with, if they intend to restock them and so on. After all, the whole point of firesales is to get rid of stock as fast as possible. It doesn't mean its especially profitable for the retailer or any indication that the format will succeed.

Indeed, if I were Toshiba and my format was doomed, I would stay schtum on my intentions and try to clear whatever players I had in my supply line for whatever price I could get just to cut my losses. Then I would announce the format was discontinued. The same thing appears to be happening here although some fanboys appear too emotionally invested to recognize the signs for what they are.

Highly Ranked

HD4ME @ Feb 8th 2008 6:27AM

Of course Xym you wouldn't do what Toshiba is doing, because you are a one eyed fan boy who wants the death of HD DVD.
And there in lies the fundamental difference between red and blu supporters, sure I want my side to win and i wont support blu, but i couldn't care less if blu ray died or not, as long as my choice is viable, good luck with yours, HD DVD is about consumer choice, blu ray is about forcing the product onto consumers no matter what the cost.

Highly Ranked

DrXym @ Feb 8th 2008 6:36AM

HD4ME, "Of course Xym you wouldn't do what Toshiba is doing, because you are a one eyed fan boy who wants the death of HD DVD." - Perhaps your reading comprehension is lacking. I said, "If I were Toshiba", as in "If I were in Toshiba's shoes with all their concerns, issues, financial stakes etc.".

The simple fact is that companies NEVER tell you when they're about to dump or usurp a device. You just have to read their intentions from what they're doing. Firesales of players should be a major clue that the format is dead.

"And there in lies the fundamental difference between red and blu supporters, sure I want my side to win and i wont support blu, but i couldn't care less if blu ray died or not, as long as my choice is viable, good luck with yours, HD DVD is about consumer choice, blu ray is about forcing the product onto consumers no matter what the cost."

Yes, for as we all know, squads of armed goons are rounding up citizens and forcing them to buy blu ray players at gunpoint. Idiot.

It's funny you bleat that its "about choice" and then whine that every single sales chart shows consumers are exercising their choice overwhelmingly for blu ray.

Neutral

Truth Teller @ Feb 8th 2008 7:32AM

Studio Canal are supposedly format neutral.

The practical effect of this is that there are several HD DVD movies out from them (including many of those supposedly 'Bu-ray exclusive' titles which are not, Studio Canal do them in HD DVD).

So what is on the Studio Canal Blu-ray side for the Blu-ray gang to get so excited about?

! French movie & 2 other French films which are supposedly coming some time later this year.

LMAO

I can really see the English-speaking PS3 owners buying those in large amounts, not.

Kinowelt is also a source of those supposedly 'Blu-ray exclusive titles' which are not.

Kinowelt isn't earth-shaking stuff but Studio Canal - Europe's biggest movie studio (bigger than Fox & Lionsgate combined) - are.

Studio Canal not only have a list of great movies to their name but they are involved in numerous international rights, publishing & distribution deals (going back decades) that ensure HD DVD gets many of those US Blu-ray exclusive movies.

Every time you see those lists of new Blu-ray releases it is thanks to people like Studio Canal & Kinowelt that many of those movies on the list will appear on HD DVD.

Nice.

It's another smart move which is keeping things going towards keeping HD DVD alive & well for us HD DVD owners to enjoy for many years to come.

Great.

Blu-ray have won nothing, merely the PS3 market (and even there they have a job convincing many PS3 owners to bother to buy BD movies).

But remember Blu-ray/PS3 fans, as Blu-ray fails to escape the niche & take off & they bilk your senseless for the captive market that you are, grit your teeth and pretend you love it, eh?

Neutral

DrXym @ Feb 8th 2008 8:59AM

Truth Teller, I know you have only a passing relationship with reality but if you bothered to look up what films StudioCanal produce or distribute you would see quite a few recognizable titles, some of which are currently doing quite well in the HD DVD charts. http://www.imdb.com/company/co0047476/.

If StudioCanal did dump HD DVD entirely then it wouldn't be good news for HD DVD at all.

Neutral

Truth Teller @ Feb 8th 2008 9:13AM

DrXym I think you're the one with the slight & light grasp on reality here.

Studio Canal have indeed released many HD DVD titles (where the hell did I ever say any different?).

But several months ago we were 'treated' to the Blu-ray/PS3 gang crowing about them going format neutral.

I have merely pointed out what that means, 1 French BD movie & 2 other supposedly following.

Quite how you've managed to work your Blu-ray uber alles wet-dream of Studio Canal dropping HD DVD into this
(when they have in fact extended HD DVD's title range & reach with the Kinowelt deal)
is something only you can explain.

Fail.

Highly Ranked

DrXym @ Feb 8th 2008 10:02AM

Truth Teller, the point is that Christ Frost is hyping up some business news regarding StudioCanal as if it's great news for HD DVD. It isn't. It doesn't even mention HD DVD.

And since every EU distributor is dumping HD DVD, it doesn't sound wise at all to be mentioning StudioCanal since the chances are, their own decision for dumping HD DVD can't be far off. You can pretend of course in whatever magical fairytale land you inhabit that they'll continue to support HD DVD forever. The reality of course is that HD DVD is already as good as dead in Europe and no distributor is going to bother with it for much longer.

Neutral

Jonathan @ Feb 8th 2008 1:47AM

Hm... That's funny. The link you posted actually lists two featurettes as being Blu-Ray only, and makes no mention of "HD-DVD only" extras. Though you are correct about the combo disc part.

Highly Ranked

HD4ME @ Feb 8th 2008 2:54AM

Walmart online that is...

Quote:
"Toshiba�s price cut may be paying off as retailers like Wal-Mart and Amazon discount the player, bringing it even closer to the magic $100 mark. If the number of consumers who own an HD DVD player continues to grow, it will be difficult for studios to ignore the potential sales dollars."

Neutral

Nfinity @ Feb 8th 2008 4:32AM

As I said buddy.. we will soon see 2+ million HD DVD players. Once this happens, the Blu-Ray studio and retailer payoffs to stop supporting HD DVD will seem like the DUMBEST move they've ever done because the base will just get stronger 100% guaranteeing purchasing power.

Now watch as walmart, amazon, circuit city and other major retailers start ordering larger numbers of units as they are pretty much all sold out.

Microsoft is obviously talking as well. $129 MSRP for HD DVD add-on for Xbox 360 will bring $100 regular prices for it everywhere and gamers will have nothing to lose to add the HD capability to their Xbox 360. Of course, as friendly as HD DVD format is, the key word here is CHOICE. Nothing is forced, just GREAT pricing and quality.

Highly Ranked

Anthony Pivac @ Feb 8th 2008 5:23AM

Nfinity

Actually rumours are that the HD DVD version may have less content

http://formatwarcentral.com/index.php/2008/01/23/is-warner-dumbing-down-hd-dvd-releases/

Low Ranked

D@n @ Feb 8th 2008 5:33AM

Yup, lets see Nfinity, Truth Teller, and their marketing possy spin that one

"...but it is certainly conceptually possible that either due to capacity limitations or due to Warner having chosen their side, that they would have content exclusive to the Blu-ray release compared to the HD DVD"

Oh dear!

Low Ranked

DrXym @ Feb 8th 2008 6:23AM

I expect with Warner going Blu Ray they no longer feel bound by the 30Gb limitation of the format. They can give the main movie a better encoding and if the movie and extras don't fit on HD DVD, well... some of the extras have to go.

Its actually good news for HD DVD too since it probably means a better movie picture, less DNR and so on. But the lack of extra extras highlights another deficiency of the format.

I'm sure of course idiots like Nfinity will chime in about some mythical triple layer HD DVD. Too bad that movies in that format will only ever exist in their imagination.

Neutral

John B @ Feb 8th 2008 8:36AM

News flash. A 30 GB disc not enough? There's a simple solution: ADD A SECOND DISC. Studios have been creating multiple-disc sets for years now. In fact, most use that in marketing (e.g.: "A special 4-disc DVD set!") to make it seem like you're getting more bang for the buck.

So, the BD camp's constant yammering about more storage space is pointless. Multiple discs have been a marketing tool since DVD became mainstream. If the average Joe sees two sets -- one BD with "only" one disc because of the higher capacity or one HD DVD in a 2-disc "special edition" ("special edition" in marketing terms only) for the same price -- which one do you think will have the perception of a better value on the average Joe?

Multiple discs is a Hollywood staple. The fact that BD won't require it as often as HD DVD is a ridiculous argument.

People like you and D@n are just as pathetic with your vitriol as TT and his ilk. Pot. Kettle. Black.

Neutral

DrXym @ Feb 8th 2008 9:15AM

@John B, using 2 discs is a kludge, and an expensive one in time and cost at that.

Neutral

John B @ Feb 8th 2008 9:40AM

No, it's not. It's been proven to be a good marketing point time and time again, especially with the movie on one disc and features on another. Just because it doesn't fit your "Death to HD DVD" mindset doesn't make it incorrect.

Neutral

DrXym @ Feb 8th 2008 10:06AM

John B, yes it is a kludge and it is more expensive in time and money. I don't see why you deny this.

Here, let me break it down:

1. Is it more expensive in time and money to author one disk or two?
2. Is it more expensive in time and money to QA test one disk or two?
3. Is it more expensive in time and money to master one disk or two?
4. Is it more expensive in time and money to publish, label and package one disk or two?

Now it may well be some DVDs do get the 2 disc treatment. That doesn't mean that it wouldn't have been cheaper if they could have fit all the content on a single disk.

And with HD content the issues are amplified since HD disk costs are so much more than DVD.

By all means pretend that studios are going to waste a couple more bucks on an extra disk for HD DVD. This on top of the combo disks some are already producing. Reality says different. They'll just chuck the features overboard or lower the movie quality with DNR and other techniques to make everything fit.

Neutral

John B @ Feb 8th 2008 10:17AM

As far as you know, I'm only denying it to piss you off because I'm tired of your "Death to HD DVD" chants like its existence is somehow a personal affront to your ability to watch movies.

Again, as far as you know...

Highly Ranked

DrXym @ Feb 8th 2008 11:09AM

I don't know why you think you're pissing me off. It amuses me to watch the mental hoops that some people jump through to keep faith in their moribund format.

Neutral

alienclays @ Feb 8th 2008 11:23AM

question for jhon b.

can HD-DVD run a long movie like lord of the rings extended edition or dune with a lossless audio codec (preferably LPCM, but DTS HD MA and Dolby HD are acceptible as well) on one 30gb disc?

remember laserdisc, i do, and fliping/changing discs sucks.

the whole arguement against two discs is stupid. PotC had two and i had no qualms. as long as there's no breaks in the main content i'm happy.

Neutral

alienclays @ Feb 8th 2008 11:24AM

Neutral

alienclays @ Feb 8th 2008 11:29AM

Neutral

D@n @ Feb 8th 2008 5:29AM

"Oh please Engadget, publish my news! pleeeeeeease!"

LOL! 3 HD DVD marketeers in a row and shouts about Engadget being wrapped up in blu conspiracy.....for a change!

@Nfinity

Sorry, but the only thing that is "forced" is your marketing sales pitch!

You make nothing but assumptions and your "guaranteees" ALWAYS turn out to be nothing more than wishful thinking and fud.

As for the HD DVD version of I am Legend having the same features as Blu-ray? Read your posted article again...

Neutral

HD4ME @ Feb 8th 2008 6:10AM

It's blu supporters like you with your sand in the face, FU attitude that makes me more determined, no matter what the outcome i will never support blu, the format is fundamentally corrupt, and it's faithful are arrogant school yard bullies, relentless in there vicious attacks on anyone not supporting their twisted views.

Lowest Ranked

John B @ Feb 8th 2008 8:47AM

@HD4ME:

Exactly. The BD camp has now become a group of sore winners. This is completely evident from people like DrXym, who is acting like a vulture hovering over a person in the desert who isn't even dead yet, not to mention the numerous posts that are nothing more than the equivalent of "Nyah, nyah, nyah! You don't have no ice cream! You didn't get none!"

To continue the Eddie Murphy allusion, there have been several posts from BD people who HAVE ACTUALLY SAID that if you don't buy a $500 player, you're not a true HD fan. And others have said that if you can't afford it, you need to get a better job so that you CAN afford it! ("...cause you are da welfare, and can't afford it! And his mother is an alcoholic. He didn't get none!") Need to get a better job just to buy a BD player? That is the pinnacle of arrogance!

If there's one thing that I've noticed over this whole "war" it's this: the BD camp has been calling for blood, the HD DVD camp (not including its extremists, and you know who I'm referring to) has been calling for compatibility.

1980s Childish Fight of the Decade: Commodore 64 vs. IBM PC
1990s Childish Fight of the Decade: Star Wars vs. Star Trek
2000s Childish Fight of the Decade: BD vs. HD DVD

Neutral

John B @ Feb 8th 2008 11:13AM

Giving me a Low(est) Ranked doesn't make it any less accurate just because you don't like hearing it.

Highly Ranked

luvincharity @ Feb 8th 2008 6:02AM

@Nfinity

Christian Bale should sue you for defamation of character. You are constantly bashing the people that diagree with you. At least you could pick an avatar that is more appropriate. I think he would disagree with you with all the royalty checks he will be cashing in from sales of The Dark Knight on Blu-ray.

Highest Ranked

D@n @ Feb 8th 2008 6:26AM

@HD4ME

Pot, Kettle, and Black spring to mind!

Extremely ironic considering all your posts were removed from a recent article for excessive abuse!

*rolls eyes*

Low Ranked

HD4ME @ Feb 8th 2008 6:34AM

My abuse was directed at engadget for what IMO was never ending one eyed anti HD DVD articles, not you buddy!

Neutral

DrXym @ Feb 8th 2008 11:37AM

HD4ME, the last month has been a constant stream of bad news about HD DVD. I don't know why you think this blog telling you as much means it is biased against the format.

Highly Ranked

Blake @ Feb 8th 2008 6:54AM

LOL, found this on another site? Now WHO does this sound like?

750 million movie discs were sold last year alone.
Neither high def format has even 1% of that market.
This is just the usual Blu-ray BS to try and talk-up the game console format.
It's a hit with PS3 owners it's invisible everywhere else.
Nothing has been won.
Posted by: DaveBG | Jan 28, 2008 5:05:32 PM

Now I swear this sounds word for word like Truth "copy&paste" Teller himself!!! Or is it Dave? Hmmmm

Lowest Ranked

Truth Teller @ Feb 8th 2008 7:39AM

It's more than a little laughably thin when you're quoting someone talking about "conceptual possibilities".

Not exactly a hard fact about what they are going to do, is it?

Still no comment on Warner not delaying HD DVD movies (like they said they were going to) or continuing to use combo discs (when they said they were dropping them at the end of 2007).

Is 'The Brave One' the new & true reality of Warner's position (what they are going to do as opposed to merely say)?

Now that their claimed reasoning for going Blu-ray exclusive is never going to happen
(they have not forced everyone to go Blu - no matter what BS that lying Blu-shill Hunt has told you guys); where do Warner go from here?

Low Ranked

Truth Teller @ Feb 8th 2008 7:41AM

@ Blake (or whoever you really are)

Can I help it if such obvious pearls of wisdom & solid truth are not confined to one site/person?

Highest Ranked

Blake @ Feb 8th 2008 8:39AM

@Troll Teller

LOL! Way to big up a neutral studio and point out exclusives will come to the other format! as per your post, so will come true of Blu-ray of HD DVD releases!

and MORE good news for Europe! Next month we will be enjoying the REGION FREE release of Beowulf on Blu-ray, a not so exclusive HD DVD release from Paramount!!! That's one worth importing for the fans in the US.

Low Ranked

Truth Teller @ Feb 8th 2008 9:20AM

Blake clearly you're working very hard to ignore the practical effect of Studio Canal's supposed 'neutrality'.

They've been supposedly 'neutral' for (depending on the source of the story) 1 year - 6 months.

So what have they actually done uin that time?

Released a stack of HD DVD titles (including the supposed Blu-ray exclusive titles mentioned earlier) and released 1 Blu-ray title.

One French Blu-ray movie, in French with 2 other French movies to follow.

Wow, well that proves it, the war must be over. *rolls eyes*

.....and as for Beowulf?
I'll wait until we see an official announcement, not rumours & gossip.

It is rather funny tho how importing is now such a big deal to the Blu-ray gang yet it was a worthless expense no-one would bother with when the boot was on the other foot.

Highest Ranked

Truth Commenter @ Feb 8th 2008 9:50AM

TruthTeller-Dave

Five posts by 9:20AM, good grief son.

Rather than spending all this time and
energy trying to put a good spin on what
is not good news for HD-DVD, why not pop
a disk in and enjoy an HD movie you do
have.

Low Ranked

Truth Teller @ Feb 8th 2008 10:00AM

I'm in Europe.

It's the middle of the afternoon here. Idiot.

Highest Ranked

Truth Commenter @ Feb 8th 2008 10:19AM

TruthTeller-Dave

We're both in Europe. My point this
format thing needn't be some holy war
with you. It's like the DVD+ DVD- war,
kind of silly in hindsight.

So take a breath son, and enjoy an HD
movie. That is what it's about, isn't it?

Highly Ranked

XDragon @ Feb 8th 2008 10:08AM

You HD-DVD fanboys better grow up and get over it. The war is over, move on. Any further procrastination is bad for everyone, cut you losses and deal with reality. Does Toshiba pay you to support them? I could care less who won as long as someone did.
Ok now you can rant on my comment and defend a dead format because you were an early adoper that picked the wrong side. The rest of the world has gone Blu and the Americas are following suit. Stop being poor losers.

Neutral

John B @ Feb 8th 2008 10:34AM

No, the issue is with BD people being poor winners.

With obvious exceptions, most of us who bought HD DVD did so solely because of player cost, not format loyalty. Right now, my "hatred" for BD is not hatred for the technology or the format, but rather hatred for the arrogance of its supporters. Your post and the numerous posts from DrXym are *exactly* what I'm talking about.

Rather than take victory graciously, the BD crowd has instead taken an attitude of suppression with condescending remarks for those who don't or can't (for financial reasons) own BD, a continual display of hate for anything positive related to HD DVD under the guise of "prolonging the format war", and an automatic labeling of those who don't want BD (for whatever reason) as being on Toshiba's payroll or worse. Even those, like myself, who FROM THE BEGINNING have been neutral and have been calling for dual-format players so that people can use either format are looked upon by the BD crowd as some kind of pariah because we don't blindly follow Sony.

The issue here is not one of poor losers, although there are clearly some of those around. (*coughTruthTellercough*) The issue is one of poor winners, and right now the BD camp is loaded with them.

Neutral

CassilineKnight @ Feb 8th 2008 10:35AM

Stop being shitty winners then.

I'm a fence sitter and while a part of me just wants the war to be done and over with the other part of me can't the fact that sony might just win this format war.

Add in the fact that the majority of you bluray fanboys are arrogant assholes who seem to think that you're better than everyone else and I frankly just don't see myself buying bluray even IF bluray wins.

The way the bluray crowd is acting don't be surprised if HD DVD does the exact opposite of what you want just to spite you.

As for me unless Toshiba shows some more evidence that they will continue to support HD DVD and actually fight back I plan on buying a Profile 2.0 Bluray Disc Player and not look back either Winter 08 or Spring 09. It just won't be manufactured by sony.

@ Truth Teller, Nfinity.

Umm the news articles you guys are posting are really news...so why the hell would Engadget report on them?

Now I do agree that Engadget looks a lil biased in bluray favor but the truth of the matter is that most news about HD DVD is negative. The HD DVD Superbowl commercial was probably the worst commercial in the history of this format war and I'd be ashamed to call it my product if I worked at Toshiba's ad department.

Theres NO news about a 4th Generation Toshiba HD DVD Player. Hardly any news about new releases on HD DVD that are exclusive.

To top it off sales of bluray movies seem to be higher overall than sales of HD DVD movies. So what exactly indicates to you that HD DVD will win!?

Seems like you're just grasping at straws...it was a good fight and there MAY BE hoope that things turn around (however small the chance is) but I think sooner or later you're gonna have to face reality and see what a bad situation HD DVD is in and that its pretty much close to dead.

Neutral

DrXym @ Feb 8th 2008 11:18AM

John B, I'm sorry if you think responding to people who make unfounded, ridiculous or flat out wrong statements to be condescending but the issue lies with those who make them, not me. I have defended HD DVD on occasion myself (not much but I have), but I will respond to BS as and when I feel like it.

Highly Ranked

XDragon @ Feb 8th 2008 11:37AM

You guys are nuts.
I said it before and I'll say it again:
I DON'T CARE WHO WON I JUST WANT IT OVER SO I CAN BUY WITHOUT WORRY ABOUT WASTING MY MONEY.
If you can't afford the winning format, wait until the price comes down, which will happen a lot faster when more people start buying it because the confusion is gone.
I'm not a bragging winner or a soar loser but I've had it with all you idiots who want HD-DVD not to die now that its already dead. I didn't say I picked a side, I said the side has been picked so deal with it for the good of everyone.
I'm not putting HD-DVD supporters down because this could have gone either way but now that its done with, move on and get over it.
If you chose to be an early adopter of either format, you knew the risks you were taking and I'm tired of hearing about it. Someone had to lose on their investment either way so this would have sucked for a lot of people either way.
I'm sorry that this post sounds so repetative but it seems that people just don't get it.
Why in hell would HD-DVD at this stage and time when the rest of the world has gone Blu be worth fighting for? So North and South America can have HD-DVD and the rest of the world be Blu-Ray? That makes no business scense! DVD is the world's standard, you don't see some variation of DVD dominating in one area of the world so why would this be any different?
Yes buddy it sucks for you and others for many reasons but that's how it is. Let it go so we can all benifit from 1 format and have it's prices for discs and players get to DVD prices through mass adoption and production.
My comments are not based on a preference or some fanboyish foolishness, they're based on moving forward so all the fence sitter can now safely start to very slowly move away from DVD to 1 HD format.

Neutral

John B @ Feb 8th 2008 11:43AM

Responding to people who make unfounded, ridiculous or flat out wrong statements is expected. But doing it by spinning out one's own set of unfounded, ridiculous or flat out wrong statements does not justify it. I, too, have defended Blu-ray and do this day I'll argue that as a technology it is a superior format. I've never said otherwise. That doesn't automatically make BD the better format for the general public and I don't see BD's victory making HDM more accepted due to the current cost factor.

But, I've also never actively called for BD's death. I've always called for coexistence. That way everyone can use the format they prefer but still not be denied seeing any movie in HD. The BD crowd, however, has called for HD DVD's destruction while simultaneously disavowing that HD DVD is still very much alive, just not well. ("Just a flesh wound...") That complete disregard for any kind of coexistence as though HD DVD owners are some kind of plebes is what pisses me off, hence why the BD crowd comes across as sore winners.

As much as it doesn't seem, I'm actually format-neutral. I would be thrilled for both to exist via dual-format players. I bought into HD DVD *solely* because I got the $98 Wal-Mart special. Otherwise, I doubt that I'd have any HDM players. I prefer dual-format players so that EVERYONE gets something out of this. The BD crowd, however, is actively wishing for HD DVDs death, thereby intentionally isolating a segment of the HT crowd.

So, you go ahead responding to BS. That's fine. I'll keep responding to elitist arrogance. Between TT on the red side and a number of people on the blue side, we're probably going to be busy for a while.

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