Rough Day for HD DVD, Good Day Blu-Ray
February 11th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Well, the studio exclusivity announcement back at CES sounded a lot like a fat lady warming up, and today might be remembered as the day that she started singing and marking the final phase of the HD DVD format.
Best Buy announced that it’s going to "focus on Blu-Ray products" and recommend them to consumers over the competing HD DVD format. The Best Buys in my area already seemed to be devoting more shelf space to BD movies, and now it all makes sense.
Meanwhile, Netflix announced that it’s done stocking new HD DVD releases and will be completely rid of them by the end of the year.
A friend of mine, who is too busy playing Call of Duty 4 to keep up on this nonsense, sent me a text message yesterday because he noticed that the price on the 360’s HD DVD add-on had dropped, and he was thinking about getting one. After thinking on it for a bit, and realizing he’s such a huge SOCOM fan that he’ll end up with a PS3 eventually, I told him to save his money.
Today’s announcements already read like Step 2 in an HD DVD exit strategy to me. That’s not to say that it’s a dead format and the format war is finished… but now it just feels like a matter of time. Please note that I’m saying "feel" and not quoting sales or anything like that. Facts are, like, sooooo overrated. And most of the ones out there these days are probably spun by whatever PR department issued them.
The third HD DVD RIP item today is a note I saw about Amazon’s HD DVD sale. They dropped an extra ten bucks off the 360’s add-on (making it $119.99) and they’ve got a half-off sale going for around 150 different movies. Since a lot of the movies were already 30 percent off, the savings aren’t quite as dramatic as that sounds. But as someone who already has an HD DVD player and is looking for some movie bargains, this might be the right time for me to get stuff like Transformers, Shooter, Face/Off, The Last Starfighter, The Warriors, Bulletproof, and so on. Or I could just buy three more copies of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, just in case the copy I already own spontaneously bursts into flames. But at the same time, I think there will be bigger, better closeout sales ahead, provided the HD format continues to slide out of the market. So, for now, I’m probably going to hang onto my money.
(new Points! video this week, by the way)
February 11th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Blu Ray still isn’t anywhere near relevant even if HD-DVD were to leave the market.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Pity that the HD-DVD is going to Heck, but I honestly couldn’t care less! Blue Ray is all we need. That’s gonna sell those PS3s the same way that the DVD player sold the PS2s. Looking forward for the Points vid, hope you took a look over our questions and you’ll answer some of them.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:08 am
This could be a lifeline for UMD’s since it’s probably hard(er) to rip a Blu-Ray film for viewing on a PSP than what it would be to do the same thing with HD-DVD (if I’m not mistaken that’s the disc that allows for a regular DVD version of a film on one side of the disc, HD on the other).
February 12th, 2008 at 12:11 am
I am really glad I stayed out of this format war, even though I still have fond memories of Beta-Max
Now I just hope microsoft joins the rest of the world and releases a Bluray add-on. But I may end up buying a PS3 when they have a bundled rumble six axis and a price drop not to mention MG4 and FF13 if they ever come out =p
February 12th, 2008 at 12:39 am
Well, looks like I bet on the right horse so thats good news. And definitely looking forward to that new Points! Expect to hear a ton about Burnout Paradise.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:41 am
In other news, “next-gen format war” is still the silliest term the public has bandied about in years.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Soon pizza deliveries will arrive with a free HD-DVD movie - that’s my prediction.
February 12th, 2008 at 3:00 am
Points! Woot!11one.!1
February 12th, 2008 at 4:27 am
About time this war ended. I know that competition fosters innovation and creativity, but I really want all my movies on one format. I only wish an NFL license agreement war would erupt again. That’s a battle I would enjoy.
February 12th, 2008 at 4:43 am
wow, I never thougt someone could like so much Tokyo Drift. I liked, in a watched-it-two-times-in-a-row-liked it. But never praise it to the lever of something like transformers.
February 12th, 2008 at 4:57 am
What do you think about the theory that Microsoft got into the format war to sabotage both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD? Basically, they wanted to make the war last for long enough for them to make digital downloads seem like the correct route for potential buyers to go down. I don’t necessarily believe that, but it makes some sense.
February 12th, 2008 at 5:10 am
I will be glad when the war is over. I still need to ring Sony to get my blu ray player fixed. I mean PS3. Its a right pain cos Ive got a few BDs I want to watch.
February 12th, 2008 at 6:01 am
50% off!? That does sound like they are pretty desperate to get rid of their stock.
February 12th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Here’s me saving for a Macbook when I should buy a Xbox 360 HD-DVD player and a bunch of movies. Only problem is, there is no Navy SEALS. What a joke. It is easily in the top ten movies featuring a “from the hip” head shot, which makes it in the top ten movies ever.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:09 am
I’m a business man…and this is my business. My soldiers are legion. Method Man, NORE, Capone, Luda, DMX… You want a shot at me? You’ll have to make it past these fighters.
AND NOBODY.
EVAH.
BEATS ME.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Hurray!! Blu-ray!! =P
February 12th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Bring on the Points.
Didn’t you once say something about making it weekly or something?
February 12th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Well lets hope that Playstation doesn’t take this announcement to heart, because we still need a few more PS3 exclusives to get it back in the console wars.
February 12th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Can’t wait for Points!!
I recently watched Tokyo Drift after remembering your undying love for that film, and while it wasn’t in HD, it was everything you made it out to be; it all just made sense for some reason!
Here’s hoping the fourth will be just as good, but I doubt it.
I assume that studios have more or less stopped releasing movies on HD-DVD at this point, so anyone know the final number that made it out?
February 12th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Yep! HD-DVD ’seems’ to be on its last, pretty wobbly high-def legs, and it seems like Sony has finally managed to push a formt; maybe it’s because the discs are blue…
Looking forward to points!
February 12th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Why can’t they sell all movies like they are going out of style? lol. It sucks for HD DVD companies… but won’t they rake it in for a short amount of time?
February 12th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I hope in your news Points! video you answer the question of what exactly Adam Sessler was talking about when he mentioned that Virtua Fighter 3tb review.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Thank you for paying attention to this…ha ha ha, I’m so old. DVDs are still good enough for me. Be nice to know that my PS3 will benefit from having the winning format though. May do something for sales…but not much for games I suspect.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:55 am
There is NO way that Microsoft can pull this plane out of it’s nose dive.
Yes! Points! Awesome.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Feel sorry for all the folks who put money down on the HD DVD format. Perhaps there will be an affordable dual format player sometime in the future. For now at least there is a method to backup their movies to Hard Drives.
Looking forward to the latest Points!
February 12th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Although I haven’t got behind any format exclusively I’m glad that Blu-ray is winning, not because it is Sony and it’s the PS3 format of choice but because it is WINNING, If it had been HD-DVD i would have been just as happy, I am excited that one format is finally pulling away, I don’t want to have to pick between the two.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:17 am
I’m holding out for more legitimized downloadable content at descent prices.
That big ass hard drive you slapped into your PS3 could turn out to be more useful than the Blu ray drive.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:07 am
so now that more and more people are buying bluray movies, i hope they lower the price tag on those things soon.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Stick a fork in her, she’s done. Movies on the cheap only go so far when you have to keep a dead format player in your entertainment center.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:43 am
HD-DVD was dead to begin with. Blu-Ray was always a smarter choice. Same price, same quality. Blu-Ray just had more memory. Why wouldn’t you pick Blu-Ray?
February 12th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Quote=Joe
‘HD-DVD was dead to begin with. Blu-Ray was always a smarter choice. Same price, same quality. Blu-Ray just had more memory. Why wouldn’t you pick Blu-Ray?’
Because blue Ray has more space, that makes it better? Even tho youve said that its same price same quality?
It doesnt make a difference, i preffer 2 Disc DVD sets, that way it makes DVD’s without packed special features cheaper, if they’re gunna put more content on a blu ray disk, then its going to cost more.
Personally, i reckon this is knowwhere near the end for HD dvd, as theres been a price plummit of HDDVD and players in the past 3 months, so this could mean its a cheaper market, meaning more affordable, and could easily just replace standard dvd’s
February 12th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I’ll just be glad when this format war is finally over and done with. It’s good for Sony that they’re finally winning a format war for once, though, since the ones I remember were all lost by them in the end, even if they offered the superior format of choice.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Blu who!?!?! HD wha!?!?!?
Ah, now Points! there’s a term i’m familiar with.
Points!
Points!
Points!
Points!
Points?
It loses meaning.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Who cares about HD DVD and Blu ray? New points! video YAY!!11!!!!1! WOOT!11!1!
February 12th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I bet the Call of Duty 4 friend is Rich Gallup.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I think HD DVD is pretty much dead at this point. But lets see if Blu-ray can catch on well enough before something comes along to replace it. With no competition I see little incentive for the price of hardware and movies to ever drop to DVD-level prices and replace DVD.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Don’t give a crap about format wars.. but WOOOOOT NEW POINTS!!
February 12th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
new points yay. Dont really care who wins i play dvd’s in my dvd machine HD or Blue ray ill get whatever wins
February 12th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
allright, new POINTS coming our way!
February 12th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I have two HD-DVD add-ons to my two 360s and I love my HD collection. However, my girlfriend really needed to have high definition versions of Across the Universe and Golden Compass (only available on Blu-ray). I was talked into buying a Blu-ray player (but I made sure it was a PS3).
My main gaming platform will remain 360.
February 12th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Anybody else read on Kotaku how M$ft treated that kid, Kevin? The one whose 360 broke and couldn’t get back any of his downloads with the replacement? After I saw the article I went down to Gamespot and sold my 360, then bought a new PS3. Something I should have done a long time ago. Who else is with me? Jeff?
February 12th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I’m happy with Blu-Ray i buy a lot more once they go down to the price of normal DVD’s
February 12th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I have both formats, because I couldn’t stand having just one of them and missing out on even one film. Now, if all the stuff I have that’s exclusive to HD gets ported to Blu… I will probably buy it all again. I have a sickness.
Also, I am stoked about the new Points! video, much like the exclamation mark in the very title of the thing I’m looking forward to.
February 12th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Now one format can slowly fade into obsolescence instead of two. HD is cool and all…but really, do we need $400 players and $35 movies? I haven’t used the PS3 as a movie player but if it’s anything like the PS2’s DVD playback I want none of it. That thing was garbage for watching movies.
February 12th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Jeff, can you cover your reactions to the season finale of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Greag Job! in the new Points! video?
February 12th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
yo, jeff! in case you missed it, maybe you could answer this in the next points:
Pick a winner from the following groups and add a little comment:
1) Phantasy Star 1-4 v.s. Final Fantasy 1-6
2) Super Mario 1-3 (&SMW) v.s. Sonic 1-3
3) Super mario 3d (all 3 games) v.s. Sonic 3d (all Dreamcast & modern consoles, not the crappy 3d Blast)
Thanks, I hope you’ll give me your opinion on this in one of your Points! videos. Peace!
February 12th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Good news for Blu-Ray and the announcement of Points! made this a great day for me!
February 12th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Die HDDVD die, the sooner the better. I want my Transformers in Blu!
February 13th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Go blu! now that they’re on the verge.
YaaaaaY new Point!
February 13th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Points! sorry
February 13th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Stu- “Because blue Ray has more space, that makes it better? Even tho youve said that its same price same quality?
It doesnt make a difference, i preffer 2 Disc DVD sets, that way it makes DVD’s without packed special features cheaper, if they’re gunna put more content on a blu ray disk, then its going to cost more.
Personally, i reckon this is knowwhere near the end for HD dvd, as theres been a price plummit of HDDVD and players in the past 3 months, so this could mean its a cheaper market, meaning more affordable, and could easily just replace standard dvd’s”
My original post came out wrong. What I tried to say that Blu-Ray just has a very slight edge over HD-DVD. And since nearly everything else is identical with the two formats besides that slight edge, Blu-Ray should have been the choice from the beginning. The way I see it: Blu-Ray= DS Lite while HD-DVD= DS. Why buy a DS when you can a DS Lite? Hope that makes sense.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Points!
February 13th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Joe - HD-DVD did have more extensive capabilities for special features and a better initial video codec. Even if the format continues its nosedive the competition will have ensured that Blu-ray took steps to not suck. Or they will once revision 2.0 comes out, at least.
February 13th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Damn you jeff, tokyo drift for me tonight
February 13th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Have you tried the epilogue on veteran yet in call of duty, cause it takes a while to get right? keep on gaming
February 13th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Hey Jeff whens the new midnight brown cd coming out? I heard its going to make the shawtys snap. Also what are some good events video game fans can attend? I heard E3 and TGS are more of a media thing that fans can’t attend.
POWER UP!
February 14th, 2008 at 7:38 am
hey Jeff, i’m a purple supporter but even I think all these things is kiling HD-DVD slowly. oh well…
btw, nice job on X-Play *POW!*
February 14th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
you, ryan davis, rich gallop, alex navaro need to make your website. it would be freaking awsome. you guys were the backbone of gamespot, while gamespot will continue to be great, you guys could be greater!!!!!!!!! c’mon do it now
February 15th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
God CES. like Jeff said they need to kill that convention, especially when this is the KILLER news next to the flat-screen televisions. But back to the HD stuff, um yeah if this is a thing that you follow which I do somewhat because I have a high-def bravia you might consider throwing your chips in for blu-ray. Hd-dvd just never really got its day in the sun like the dvd and blu-ray did. But I do have like three hd-dvds and like ten blu-ray disks and rent only blu-ray because I just like the format better. I don’t know if its the menus or the slick play screens or what but it is really my preferred format. I think they actually look a little crisper and cleaner as well but thats just me I bet a lot of people see no difference because they both support 1080p but I don’t know. And plus theres the fact that the hd-dvd is slowly dying and everyone is giving up on it, and I don’t know about you but thats kinda a issue for me. Tokyo drift won’t hold me over forever