Gfk Figures Of Bd / Hd-dvd Sales In Aus

[-Bishop-]

GFk figures only report what is sold in Australia, if everyone is buying from overseas then don't be surprised if the format has trouble taking off here.

I see it the other way around, once people realise HD-DVD is region free, and you can buy from 'anywhere' on-line, it will really help drive up HD-DVD sales worldwide.

I have always thought OS sales were a big part of the market, just look at how many sites there were dedicated to getting rid of region codes on DVD players, region free cracks were big business, people were paying good money at various stages for modified DVD players and hacks!

Can someone please explain the apparent level of hatred towards blu-ray by some users on this forum?

Is it because its a Sony pushed format?

Is it because HD-DVD is seen as the under-dog and hence everyone is sympathetic?

I started off neutral, maybe it is the under dog thing, or perceived as, but also just the whole bull **** machine behind BD, the more you read the more annoyed you get, when you start reading what comes off as pure marketing lies, it really turns you off a product.

[jokiin]

That funny out of that 200 sold I have 36 hd-dvd's.God there idiots.

Didn't realise they had already released that many titles in Australia, I guess when you can't see them on the shelves at too many places its a bit hard to know how many there are

[djOS]

how many of the punters have "true blue" 1080i/p screens..djOS?

there appears a greater number of 720p screens sold

how long before 1080p screens will drop to 720p prices?

You misunderstand my reference mate, Im referring to the BluRay makers claiming that because their players output 1080p (vs 1080i on 1st gen HD DVD players) that they were superior machines when in actual fact their players are internally using a second processor to de-interlace a 1080i video stream back to the original 1080p (the Samsung, Sony & Pioneer all do this) - the irony is that with a first gen HD DVD player it is your screen that does the de-interlacing.

As for region coding with BD, it depends on the studio...and with future BD-J titles.. it will be interesting how much support the 5tudios will actually offer.

If anything, the success of the PS3 should encourage the BD asasociation to offer a greater diversity of cheaper players on the market:

Considering all the negative posts here and over at other forums like the AVS one, and the price tag, I'm actually surprised with how successful the PS3 has become.

Most BD only studios are using region coding, it's the "format neutral" studios that aren't. Case in point re BDj upgradeability, the published spec for the next versions reveal that any early adopter who may want to take advantage of any "new" interactive titles will need to bin their player and buy a whole new one.

the HD DVD forum, on the other hand, have made their HW platform compatible with future upgrades - Case in point, last night Toshiba released v2.1 of the HD-X/A1 firmware with, and I quote,:

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1. What does this update do?

A1. This firmware update adds support for certain anticipated network delivered content in future HD DVD discs, improves certain video and audio processing capabilities, as well as addresses certain disc playback and HDMI/DVI related problems identified by Toshiba.

Read thru the spec for upcoming versions of BDj and you will quickly see for yourself that current BD players will never be able to support the BDj roadmap - for starters no BD players even have network ports!

[Skid_MacMarx]

If you can only "find" HD-DVD players and titles at speciality HiFi stores .. it will only remain a niche market well in this country at least

there is something to be said about walking into my local Big W and picking up BD titles for between $25 and $29, and the nearest store (EzyDVD) with 2 or 3 HD-DVD titles priced over $40

The higher price of BD players becomes irrelevant when your library of movies builds...

[ejm]

I don't know if it is possible but couldn't both be updated via disc's? I.E, you buy/hire a HD-DVD or Blu-ray disc and it comes with the update on the disc like some Xbox 360 games do?

[djOS]

If you can only "find" HD-DVD players and titles at speciality HiFi stores .. it will only remain a niche market well in this country at least

there is something to be said about walking into my local Big W and picking up BD titles for between $25 and $29, and the nearest store (EzyDVD) with 2 or 3 HD-DVD titles priced over $40

The higher price of BD players becomes irrelevant when your library of movies builds...

EzyDVD sell both formats although I haven't been into a store to see if they have both on the shelves.

[djOS]

I don't know if it is possible but couldn't both be updated via disc's? I.E, you buy/hire a HD-DVD or Blu-ray disc and it comes with the update on the disc like some Xbox 360 games do?

Updating Fw is easy, adding features is not - it requires the kind of forward planning (HW design features) which only the HD DVD forum have so far displayed.

Basically you cant add features to a unit that doesn't have the hardware available for use - a classic example is BDj v2 which requires a network port that none of the current BD players have. Apparently (according to Panasonic) the reason no BD payers have network ports is that the maker dont know how to implement them because the BDj v2.0 spec isn't yet complete.

[Skid_MacMarx]

sorry djOS I was only pointing out that the majority of consumers have 720p screens at this time rather than 1080p, and may not consider the additional benefits compared to cost are not worth it..

I think you will find greater interest in these HD formats when 1080p screens drop to the price of the current 720p screens.

I think this and poor transfers probably explains the mixed reactions to the HD media so far.

I agree the "early adopters" will miss out on the BD-J PIP interactivity .. although I gather they will still be able to play the movies on these players

If you are an early adopter at heart and are tempted to spend some money now on a Blu-ray stand-alone player, you are probably better off waiting for a few months. The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) recently mandated that all Blu-ray hardware released after October 31st must support BD-Java, which is used to provide interactivity features such as picture-in-picture.

"Blu-ray player requirements and BD-Java specifications have been gradually changed over and over again, which has caused a good amount of grief for player manufacturers," said optical storage analyst Wesley Novack. "The new specification and requirements will ensure that all Blu-ray players manufactured past October will be able to support the full range of BD-Java capabilities, including picture in picture and more."

The Blu-ray specification does not require players to include an Ethernet port for updates and downloads like HD DVD players, but the inclusion of one in an early player might make it "upgradeable". Of course, users with older Blu-ray players will be able to play newer releases, but probably not all the interactive features that have been packed into the disc.

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/9225.cfm

[momaw]

It's far more than PIP. It also includes network delivered content. This concept is very popular with studios as it means they can release a barebones disc to *all* regions and update it with region specific items (including soundtracks and subtitle support) after you have purchased it. For example, Pan's Labarynth (a spanish film) could be released from the single pressing and in English speaking countries, an English subtitle stream would be delivered via interactive connectivity. It's a merging of the physical disc and downloadable content world. This is a much more realistic propostition as a transition to downloadable only content than a straight switch.

And these are only some of the features studios envisage. They are pushing hard for these specs, to the point where they are with-holding releases that could be dummied ala Crank was to put in the features that are out on HD DVD. They have much grander plans and if they don't play hardball to get the features in the machines they won't be able to deliver.

It's not just hype to say that early BD adoptors have been screwed. Once studios start delivering what they want to, these early players will be unable to deliver and owners will be stuck with the lowest possible settings for playback.

[migrane]

I am not looking forward to a future where I have to have my player attached to the Internet to get content I expect on the disc.

I cannot see ANY use in such attempts to combine on-line activities and HighDef disc playing.

There's no future in the format if portable players are not possible, or if you need a hard disc to hold extra content.

I enjoy extras, but film companies will charge for any extra content just as they do now by producing version after version of DVD.

For instance, I've just ordered the BD of "Fifth Element" (I've held off because of reviews, but saw it playing on a PS3 in a store

and thought it was an improvement over DVD), and this will make my 4th copy!

I find it annoying that some menus on disc allow the film to keep playing in the background. I want to be able to go back to where I

left the movie, after looking at an extra.

PIP has some merits, but interruptions to a movie sometimes annoy. Case in point the most recent "Flying High" version.

I am happy with the current method of providing extras and will have to be convinced that future features require me to buy another

player.

[bort]

owners will be stuck with the lowest possible settings for playback.

So the actual picture/sound quality will be lower?

[momaw]

So the actual picture/sound quality will be lower?

Picture no (unless you don't have a HDCP enabled display device - but this was always the case), sound highly probably you will be restricted to vanilla Dolby Digital as current players (except the PS3) do not have Dolby True HD decoders (nor DTS HD Master decoders), also, the studios want access to these tracks via BDJ to deliver "value added" content meaning the higher quality audio tracks will be intimately tied into the interactivity features of the format - some thing the current players will not have the hadware to enjoy.

[davep]

Theme'd with sales figures: 83% drop in PS3 sales in the UK for the second week:

http://www.gametrailers.com/viewnews.php?id=4359

According to GamesIndustry.biz a spokesperson for Chart Track has confirmed that the PS3 has seen an astronomical sales drop of 82% in its second week on UK shores. The data Chart Track has gathered is based on 7000 UK retail outlets, which represents approximately 90% of UK's software market.

Don't know what this is like compared to the 360 release of Wii, but meh

[THammer]

Alternate headline based on same data:

JB HIFI MAY SOON BE FORCED TO DROP BLU-RAY.

In the 5 months to the end of March, each JB HiFi store (70 in total) has sold (on average) less than 2 Blu-ray disks per week!

Unless Sony pays JB HiFi substantially more for the valuable floor space currently being occupied by Blu-ray displays management may be forced to pull the plug on this whole sorry episode!

[Skid_MacMarx]

It's far more than PIP. It also includes network delivered content.

Are you referring to BD Live momaw?

Profile 2, also known as BD-Live, adds network connectivity to the list of mandatory functions and increases mandatory local storage capability to one GB. No released players have been announced as compatible with this profile. However it has been speculated that the PS3 will be upgradeable to this profile.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc

I must say I don't know if the studios have released any BD titles that support this feature as yet momaw..

I suppose I look at BD-J and HDi very differently to you, where I see them as "added" features which don't diminish the quality of the film itself.

Better quality picture and soundtracks are my main reason for uptaking HD optical media

I agree with migrane that I should not need to have my player constantly connected to the internet to get the "full experience" of a title.

The idea of mandatory connection to the internet actually upsets me more than region coding.

I feel I'm an AV enthusiast as I like to keep-up-to-date with the latest equipment but I suppose unlike you momaw I would not consider myself a movie buff as well..

I can understand why "movie buffs" would want these additional features but personally I very rarely listen to the "Director's commentary" nor watch the supplementary material.

And if I had a choice in the matter.. I would just buy the movie rather than outlay a further $10 on all the "additional material"

Furthermore, considering most people are forking out a premium for these new formats.. I would rather the director's cut and higher quality transfers.

I don't mind a "hyperlink" which is on DVDs atm, and you choose to go there if you want to hear how many tacos Jack Black ate while making Nacho Libre

This is why I have no issues with the functionality of the BD players and others do.

As long as I'm getting a better quality picture and sound I'm happy.

I must say I was glad to see Universal here in Australia release "single disc" SD DVD editions rather than I have to fork out an extra $10 on a Special Edition two dics set..

Personally, I think the studios have got it all wrong, I want better quality films.. not more bloody "supplementary material" ..the money actually should be spent on scripts.. scripts with substance not all just novelty special effects that have no story whatsoever behind it.

I'm actually questioning if I would really be interested in PIP.. Is this like seeing the director or producer actually giving the commentary in a little window? sounds like a wank to me...an expensive wank I and many others must fork out more money for

And internet usage is not free..

I remember my friends raving about the Beatles Help Cd-Rom when it was released, I just saw it as a novelty..

[momaw]

again,

It's far more than PIP. It also includes network delivered content. This concept is very popular with studios as it means they can release a barebones disc to *all* regions and update it with region specific items (including soundtracks and subtitle support) after you have purchased it. For example, Pan's Labarynth (a spanish film) could be released from the single pressing and in English speaking countries, an English subtitle stream would be delivered via interactive connectivity. It's a merging of the physical disc and downloadable content world. This is a much more realistic propostition as a transition to downloadable only content than a straight switch.

Studios have plans far beyond simply PIP which will be so tied into the movie process, incompatable machines will not be able to process the streams. This may even result in playback issues such as judders and skips as the player tries to decode information it can't because it is embedded into the film information itself.

Sure, I don't want to be restricted to having net connections and the like (like so many modern games force you too if you want the "experience" the games developers intended) and chances are you can elect to turn off such features and enjoy the film, but if your player doesn't support an "off" for such features it's stuck reading info it doesn't understand and this *will* cause playback issues.

Like it or hate it, it's the studios playground and we can either accept it or turn off. They have DVD for what it does now. They are looking at "Next Gen" with HD, not just HD quality picture and sound, but revolutionary playback and interactivity. As has been said, HD is a "drop in the ocean market" and may be more a test, firstly, to see if the technolgy does yet what studios want and, secondly, to see if consumers will accept it. Despite claims that DVD is "dead" it is still a massive revenue stream for studios so they have time to explore the future.

Don't forget, the games industry now canes the movie industry. Why? People want to take control. The Studios want to capture this market back and see this as a means to that end.

[Skid_MacMarx]

again,

It's far more than PIP. It also includes network delivered content. This concept is very popular with studios as it means they can release a barebones disc to *all* regions and update it with region specific items (including soundtracks and subtitle support) after you have purchased it. For example, Pan's Labarynth (a spanish film) could be released from the single pressing and in English speaking countries, an English subtitle stream would be delivered via interactive connectivity. It's a merging of the physical disc and downloadable content world. This is a much more realistic propostition as a transition to downloadable only content than a straight switch.

Studios have plans far beyond simply PIP which will be so tied into the movie process, incompatable machines will not be able to process the streams. This may even result in playback issues such as judders and skips as the player tries to decode information it can't because it is embedded into the film information itself.

Sure, I don't want to be restricted to having net connections and the like (like so many modern games force you too if you want the "experience" the games developers intended) and chances are you can elect to turn off such features and enjoy the film, but if your player doesn't support an "off" for such features it's stuck reading info it doesn't understand and this *will* cause playback issues.

Like it or hate it, it's the studios playground and we can either accept it or turn off. They have DVD for what it does now. They are looking at "Next Gen" with HD, not just HD quality picture and sound, but revolutionary playback and interactivity. As has been said, HD is a "drop in the ocean market" and may be more a test, firstly, to see if the technolgy does yet what studios want and, secondly, to see if consumers will accept it. Despite claims that DVD is "dead" it is still a massive revenue stream for studios so they have time to explore the future.

Don't forget, the games industry now canes the movie industry. Why? People want to take control. The Studios want to capture this market back and see this as a means to that end.

hope your mate johnny brings down the price of internet connections

well DVD doesn't offer 1080 resolution video movies and that is the only reason I support the HD formats

the consumer, in principle, should always be able to choose the "added online features"

Like I said, compulsory internet connection everytime you play a movie would be a greater issue than region coding for me.

every time you watch your HD movie disc,, you also have Telstra with their hands in your pocket (that really sucks big time)

.

Considering how many here praised Microsoft for allowing Xbox 360 users the choice to have a HD-DVD player or not

I feel the studios should give HD movie enthusiasts the same choice....to connect or not connect

Some could argue there is a big difference between pulling the plug after you downloaded a movie, and having a player connected to the internet, every time you watch a HD flick..

If they can fit English subtitles on SD DVDs .. I can't see any reason why they can't put them on these higher capacity formats

From what I've read there won't be issues with standard playback with the introduction of BD-J interactivity but time will tell. ,,

glad the PS3 has wifi now Microsoft, Toshiba and Sony should chuck in a wireless router

[momaw]

Don't confuse my presentation of the situation as my endorsement of it one way or the other. Simply putting the information out there.

further

you said.....

Like I said, compulsory internet connection everytime you play a movie would be a greater issue than region coding for me.

every time you watch your HD movie disc,, you also have Telstra with their hands in your pocket (that really sucks big time)

I had previously said.....

...chances are you can elect to turn off such features and enjoy the film....

Perhaps I stutter, perhaps I have poor grammar, but this is the second time today you have "missed" a portion of my post that would, coincidentally, lessen the impact of your assessment. Do I express myself poorly, is that what is happening?

but since we are quoting......

well DVD doesn't offer 1080 resolution video movies and that is the only reason I support the HD formats

I doubt the studios care what you or I personally prefer. They have a plan, we haven't seen it, who are we to complain then?

Considering how many here praised Microsoft for allowing Xbox 360 users the choice to have a HD-DVD player or not

Meanwhile the BD crew are claiming it is a sign Microsoft are not committed to HD DVD (which completely ignores the real reason and substitutes one they prefer - "I reject your reality and substitute my own" comes to mind).

If they can fit English subtitles on SD DVDs .. I can't see any reason why they can't put them on these higher capacity formats

It's not a question of space, but one of control and localised product specialisation. Ran on HD DVD from France does not have English subtitles (thankfully a UK press will), but these could be added live or stored to memory in the future meaning multiple pressing of the same film are not needed. English probably will be on many titles by default, but English is spoken as a first language by 380,000,000 people (courtesy of your much beloved wikipedia) while the world population is 6,525,170,264 (June 2006).

Also consider the custom possibilities by the moding community. No native language Japanese HD DVD's or Blu-ray discs have English subtitles. With Net capabilities a moder community could provide downloadable subtitle streams, or we could end up with some very entertaining custom soundtracks to favourite films. To be honest, by providing a gig of onboard memory, BD will give more opportunities for this too. Imagine the possibilities once recorders with hard drives come on line, or if the PS3's hard drive can be utilised for this?

From what I've read there won't be issues with standard playback with the introduction of BD-J interactivity but time will tell.

With the final spec not even completed, this can not be ascertained. But as a famous engineer once said "the more they overtake the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain". As you yourself said, "time will tell", but lets be realistic about this. They are messing around with the video and audio stream to add these features in - hence the audio decoding done in the player and "raw" outputs being disallowed. Even with basic releases to date they have had problems on current machines, how do you think these machines will handle content encoded with these flags and features?

hope your mate johnny....

See my sig. I haven't voted for Johnny ever and I don't intend to start any time soon.

[Skid_MacMarx]

Studios have plans far beyond simply PIP which will be so tied into the movie process, incompatable machines will not be able to process the streams. This may even result in playback issues such as judders and skips as the player tries to decode information it can't because it is embedded into the film information itself.

....chances are you can elect to turn off such features and enjoy the film

I feel sometimes momaw we reside in different worlds

As many have expressed that Microsoft have given consumers the choice, I'm only stating that the studios should give the consumers the choice to disregard the interactivity features without it affecting playbacK.

Just you initially implied that there will be playback issues if consumer don't connect...

I was just attempting to clarify the issue and express my opinion. Naturally, this is an informal setting, my opinions don't carry any weight at all, and I wouldn't entertain for one minute, the thought that the studios would at all be interested in what we have to say on the topic.

I'm asking you as a movie buff, what do you want from this BD-J PIP and BD Live..

What are the advantages of PIP from a movie buff's pov? why is online content so important to you?

You have expressed numerous times that the lack of interactivity features is a significant issue.

Its this statement which I find problematic, and in all honesty, this is the issue, I'm trying to clarify..

As I'm not a movie buff, I can not see the "real" need for these additional features.. I would be happy with just higher resolution audio and video

If in fact, I'm forced to connect to the internet for every viewing session .. what advantages will there be from a movie buff's pov?

As I said, just supplying the info, what people do with it is their choice.

Simply putting the information out there.

I have said before, I appreciate how you keep us all up-to-date but I also come here to hear others' opinions and discuss the issues.

This is why I would like to hear your opinion regarding why interactivity should be seen as a crucial feature..

As I gather your posts are open for discussion.

I would like to know more about the studios' plans in regards to interactivity, Considering you don't want to discuss the topic further, have you got any specific url references so myself and others can get a better insight?

For the record, I'm only opening up the topic for greater discussion, as I'm interested in it and others maybe; it appears, you mistake my questions, opinions etc as some type of personal attack or some type of attempt to misinform the general public....

.

[momaw]

Just you initially implied that there will be playback issues if consumer don't connect...

Sorry, I wasn't trying to say that. I was trying to get across that current players without the hardware will have issues when the film itself contains instructions that the player doesn't know what to do with/can't do anything with due to being a prior revision. I would say it is safe to never connect and never use these features and fully spec'd players will be able to ignore these flags, etc, but older models will not have such luck.

Does that make more sense.......

Personally, as a movie buff, I don't want this either. I wasn't advocating it, just explaining the situation to my understanding. I have always been a proponent of Movie Picture and Sound Quality first, all other considerations second. As such I was an early supporter and defender of the Superbit format when it was getting majorly bashed due to a lack of extra features and premium price. For premium picture and sound, I'll pay it. I watch the movie for the movie.

That said I do think there is some merit in some of these features (and keep in mind the real "wow" stuff is still under wraps and what I have mentioned is just some of the possabilities put out there with the technology). As has been made clear, I am a foreign (particularly Asian) film fan and I love my animé. Some option I see are as mentioned previously, downloadable English subtitles on foreign films. One idea I think could be exciting is if you buy an anime from, say Japan, and later the AV channel gets the rights and does a dub, you could purchase that dub and overlay it onto your existing HD copy. There could be a whole market for this kind of thing. Now these aren't "mainstream" application, they are more fringe (which is where the tech sits at the moment anyway), but with use and imagination the possibilities could be interesting.

My "fear" on the lack of the ability to process advanced interactive features, is that these features will be so woven into the film encodes themselves, machines without the ability to separate film information from feature information, will struggle. I am not an expert on how these things work, but for example in the Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift, there is a feature where you can change the colours of the cars in the film as it runs. It is only an early example of this type of feature, but imagine films where you can change items in the film to suit your tastes, needs, etc. For you, lets say the ability to remove blood and gore when your boys watch a film. Crank on BD has two audio tracks, one which is sanatised of all profanity, or "family friendly" as they like to call it. With the interactive hardware the Studios want, they could do the same with only the one track by setting flags in the audio itself which is decoded within the player. Rather than the old parental control locking out films, you could as a parent remove objectionable material (enter Disney's support on BDJ). As you can imagine this will require extensive work on the films picture and sound encode and non-compliant players may struggle with or even refuse to play these encodes.

But back to the point, me personally, I want my disc that I can play. No region coding, no required net connection, no product activation (you can bet they are exploring that option too). Just the movie, great picture, great sound and a comfy couch

[Skid_MacMarx]

Just you initially implied that there will be playback issues if consumer don't connect...

Sorry, I wasn't trying to say that. I was trying to get across that current players without the hardware will have issues when the film itself contains instructions that the player doesn't know what to do with/can't do anything with due to being a prior revision. I would say it is safe to never connect and never use these features and fully spec'd players will be able to ignore these flags, etc, but older models will not have such luck.

Does that make more sense.......

hopefully future firmware fixes like the one for the "The Decent" address your concerns

[momaw]

For the record, I'm only opening up the topic for greater discussion, as I'm interested in it and others maybe; it appears, you mistake my questions, opinions etc as some type of personal attack or some type of attempt to misinform the general public....

.

No, not today Skid

I was genuinely addressing some of your points.

I would love to give you some URL's but really, this is a mixture of so many articles, insider debates, tech forums that I couldn't point you to one specific link that would answer any questions. The Studios themselves seem to be trying to keep their ideas under wraps as well. It's more a matter of piecing small clues and pieces of information, sorting out rumours and wishes from fact and then drawing the conclusions that fit the evidence. I understand some will dismiss this without hard evidence, but these conclusions are drawn from months (over a year) of putting the pieces together. Are they fact - no. But the evidence points to this direction and I am sure you have heard whispers that echo what I am saying here. It's no secret the studios are pushing for this interactivity (look at warners actively withholding titles til they get it, ie Matrix - which has gotta kill you skid, I know you are hanging for this one). But what do they want to do with it? You can bet it's more than just PIP which even DVD could do with some trickery.

I even tried to open a thread last month soliciting ideas on what could be done with this but it went nowhere.

hopefully future firmware fixes like the one for the "The Decent" address your concerns

That would be nice, but firmware can't address hardware deficiencies and I remain sceptical. As a non-compliant BD owner I am obviously hopeful of a solution.

PS Since you reply I added more to my previous post answering another of your questions, now trying to edit them into one since the forum has stopped auto merging I would genuinely like to hear your thoughts on those additions as they are relevant, I think, to yourself and the family (wider) community.

[Skid_MacMarx]

Maybe the subject deserves its own thread momaw? it would be interesting to hear what interactivity features other contributors would like...

BTW the boys and I enjoyed the "shorts" that came with the Pixar films like Geri's Game although I gather these "shorts" were also screeened with the main feature at the cinema....

[migrane]

It is interesting that it is said the studios are the ones wanting to do all this interactivity.

For what reason?

So that they can charge extra for it.

I, for one, do not want to change the films I buy.

That's why I never bought a pan-and-scan version of a film - at least intentionally.

That's why I hate colourised classics.

That's why I hate commentaries that obliterate the soundtrack of the film.

I want extras that are extra - separated from the film.

I am a movie buff. That's what I want to see. The movie.

I love the extras - making of's, commentarties, etc.

But not if they distract from the ability to watch the movie.

There's been an overwhelming drive to find something to use high bandwidth telecommunications for.

I haven't seen one use so far that strikes me as earth-shattering.

[momaw]

It is interesting that it is said the studios are the ones wanting to do all this interactivity.

For what reason?

My belief is it is to capture more market share. They are losing ground to the games industry every day. By making their releases more "interactive" and giving what they consider to be more options, they are hoping to stem the tide. HD realistically is being marketed for teenagers and 20 somethings. This market may not have the huge library of titles we have, they are more interested in games. If they can capture this market, it will follow through as they mature into late 20's and early 30's where they will have more disposable income to put into growing libraries.

This also, as I have said, means that one pressing of a film can be released to all regions. This is a massive saving in production costs with players editing in real time issues such as country specific censorship. With the PAL/NTSC issue removed these formats have the ability to be marketed all over the world from this single pressing.

The features to edit movies may not seem appealing now, but I am sure parent's will embrace the technology. Likewise, directors are getting bored with the film standard as it is. So many want to do new things and offer new experiences. This sort of technology gives them that sort of option. DVD sales beat theatre ticket sales hands down and are more profitable these days (I still remember the day it was announced that "Training Day" was the first DVD to make more than the theatrical release). Straight to DVD is a real viable market. Imagine the possabilities where you actually play a part in how a film develops and turns out, or that you can join the hero and help in some way. It is a merging of the film and game industry and while manny will say they don't want it, many more will embrace it. Just look how easily the Wii revolutionised gaming (don't think that has gone unnoticed - efforts to include this interactivity have ramped up since the Wii's release - coincidence?). People want interactivity and the Studios would be stupid to blindly ignore that. This is about the future and future films and features. Old favourites will always be available in the "old skool" fashion, but the Studios are looking beyond this.

I think a lot of the complaints against what I am saying here (and as I have said, I don't fully agree with all of it, just passing on the information I have), it that "I" don't want this. The studios don't care what "I" want. They care what "they" want. What those who currently aren't buying DVD's might want. What the gamer market wants. What the ipod generation and mobile phone generation wants. At $120 a game, that is 3-4 new release movies they could have sold to this market. They aren't after "you" or "I", they have "us" already, they are after everyone else.