LOL @ HD-DVD

[EMAGDNIM]

Blockbuster's decision to support Blu-ray in all of its 1,450 stores is having a bigger impact than it seems. A tipster at an unnamed retailer tells us they've had more HD DVD player orders canceled over the last few days than they've seen over the entire life cycle. The kicker? All of them were canceled because of the Blockbuster announcement. Not only that, new sales of HD DVD players are nonexistent, with Blu-ray being the only things moving now.
The more tech savvy of us rent our stuff on Netflix or Blockbuster Online (which is still supporting both formats for now), but this announcement—covered in many mainstream media sources—had a big impact on people who actually rent at Blockbuster.

Ouch...

[sphere79]

Seriously, who STILL goes to Blockbuster?

[Cheebs]

HDDVD clearly has fallen on it's face at this point, and I can't really figure out why. Is there a reason bluray won so quickly?

Won?

That's like saying that the kid who got picked second to last in gym class "won" over the last kid.

I'd say that bluray has mearly less-clearly fallen on it's face where HDDVD clearly fell on it's face.

[ElCapichan]

The way I see it is that while HD DVD is supposed to be the cheaper format, dula releases where the the HD DVD version is a combo disc, or even HD DVD excluive combo discs, end up being just as expensive, if not more, than most BluRay movies. If it wasn't for the damn combo disc, I would be buying more movies on HD DVD than BR. With the way things look, I will now be buying more BR movies than HD DVD movies.

[Andy]

Blu-Ray movies are awesome. I <3 Blue Rays.

[ElCapichan]

Blu-Ray movies are awesome. I <3 Blue Rays.

Anything done in HD right is awsome. It's just sad that both formats have their fair share of movies that look like ass.

[Wildkat]

Exactly. Having to pay $500+ for a player, plus $30-50 dollars for a half assed rushed transfer, doesnt exactly make me interested in either format.

[ElCapichan]

Exactly. Having to pay $500+ for a player, plus $30-50 dollars for a half assed rushed transfer, doesnt exactly make me interested in either format.

The problem isn't with the formats though, but with the studio. Whether it is DVD, HD DVD, BR, or by download, there are still going to be studios that release rushed or sloppy HD transfers for the sake of saving a dime. Most HD movies that are coming out now look great. he Departed, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters From Iwajima, Click, and Planet Eath all look amazing, and are well worth picking up in HD to me.

[kingoffighters]

x264 FTW.

[Wildkat]

The problem isn't with the formats though, but with the studio. Whether it is DVD, HD DVD, BR, or by download, there are still going to be studios that release rushed or sloppy HD transfers for the sake of saving a dime. Most HD movies that are coming out now look great. he Departed, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters From Iwajima, Click, and Planet Eath all look amazing, and are well worth picking up in HD to me.

Oh, I have planet earth. 2 episodes in WMVHD or .264 HD Fit fine on a Dual-Layer DVD-R and playback quite nicely on my 360.

I understand that its really the studios fault for the crappy transfers, and I think its extremely cool that Sony is going to let people trade in the shitty version for a new improved version of the Fifth Element, but companies really need to bring their A game to an emerging format, not rushed crap.