Sauce - Eurogamer interview with Michael Bay http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=88791
Very interesting theory to throw about, especially from somebody in his position.
Discuss?
Microsoft want both Blueray and HD-DVD to fail...
- Thread starter Booner!
- Start date
Sauce - Eurogamer interview with Michael Bay http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=88791
Very interesting theory to throw about, especially from somebody in his position.
Discuss?
Not a new theory as such. I have seen other "insider" threads on other forums, where people have commented similarly. MS can't lose really as they get license money from their VC1 codec that is used on both disc based HD formats. Digital distribution is years away to be honest due to broadband penetration worldwide.
I believe MS's current video downloads use VC1 as well, although the ones on 360 are 720P (I think) so are a smaller file than the "full" 1080P stuff on disc (usually 20gb + video), and I imagine most people do not have decent enough broadband to get these in a timely fashion, let alone when these are "upgraded" to 1080p.
Also, Michael Bay is very bitter since he wanted to go Blu-Ray but his studio for Transformers (Paramount?) went HD-DVD and made a fool of him, basically.
rp2000
I'm sure I read it wasn't that he wanted to go blu-ray exclusive, its that he wanted Transformers on both formats for everyone to see it in HiDef.
I also think his peers at the studio spoke to him afterwards as he had a climbdown from his high horse not long after claiming he was a tad bit drunk when he made his forum rant.
Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Oct 2006
- Posts
- 8,152
- Location
- Surrey
http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=607&page=4
Bottom of the page, the comment referenced above is further back in the thread
Bottom of the page, the comment referenced above is further back in the thread
?
Thing you need to know about Bay, is that he is a pillock.
The theory about downloads have been going on for a while now. As for movie downloads, you don't get all the extras that the HD format of any film gives you. MS would have you believe that digital distribution is a big upcoming thing, but what they don't realise is that update of it will be slow as hell. It won't catch on for ages, and tbh I can't see it happening right away.
The comment about MS handing out payments to studio's is a load of tripe too. 100million or any sum like that is nothing to a studio, and why one would suddenly switch to a inferior (for now) selling format because of a payout doesn't make sense to me.
Paramount themselves stated that there wasn't a payout and that their decision to ditch blu-ray was because the format wasn't finalised. That eurogamer link is blocked over here so I can't read the full article
The theory about downloads have been going on for a while now. As for movie downloads, you don't get all the extras that the HD format of any film gives you. MS would have you believe that digital distribution is a big upcoming thing, but what they don't realise is that update of it will be slow as hell. It won't catch on for ages, and tbh I can't see it happening right away.
The comment about MS handing out payments to studio's is a load of tripe too. 100million or any sum like that is nothing to a studio, and why one would suddenly switch to a inferior (for now) selling format because of a payout doesn't make sense to me.
Paramount themselves stated that there wasn't a payout and that their decision to ditch blu-ray was because the format wasn't finalised. That eurogamer link is blocked over here so I can't read the full article
Associate
- Joined
- 28 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 257
- Location
- Manchester
I'm not too sure about this, physical purchases are not likely to go away any time soon so wouldn't it be in Microsoft's interest to be leaders in both virtual and physical purchases? Microsoft does have a vested interest in HD-DVD so it's quite expected for them to push in that area whilst also trying to get a firm grip of the digital distribution business.
I do agree though that digital distribution is the future, I just think it's a quite distant future and to sacrifice physical distribution is not a good idea.
I do agree though that digital distribution is the future, I just think it's a quite distant future and to sacrifice physical distribution is not a good idea.
Associate
- Joined
- 12 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 443
Personally I don't think this is the reason. I think it's just to stop sony's blu ray taking off because then the ps3 would look more of the a bargin if people could buy it safe in the knowldge that it will be the next format replacing dvd.
Then of course the xbox would have a harder time in dominating the market and their eventual goal of a microsoft product being the centre of your home entertainment needs et al.
Then of course the xbox would have a harder time in dominating the market and their eventual goal of a microsoft product being the centre of your home entertainment needs et al.
Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Oct 2006
- Posts
- 8,152
- Location
- Surrey
Soldato
- Joined
- 27 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 14,081
- Location
- Between Realities
I don't think Microsoft want HD-DVD to fail.
I think it's more of a case that, IF it does fail, They have movie streaming in place. That said, Although a lot of homes own a 360, How many of those homes use the 360 in the main living room, I do, I know many on here probably do. But in my family, I'm the only one.
Family homes, Like my parents house, won't have a 360 to stream anything. They will always use DVD/HDDVD or bluray under their TV, Because it's what they know.
Unless Sky release something.
I think it's more of a case that, IF it does fail, They have movie streaming in place. That said, Although a lot of homes own a 360, How many of those homes use the 360 in the main living room, I do, I know many on here probably do. But in my family, I'm the only one.
Family homes, Like my parents house, won't have a 360 to stream anything. They will always use DVD/HDDVD or bluray under their TV, Because it's what they know.
Unless Sky release something.
73% of disc sales in Europe are Blu-Ray
Hence 27% are HD-DVD.
so ~3:1
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=176439
Many many sites have received these figures in the last week, this is just one link I have given above.
rp2000
Soldato
- Joined
- 27 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 14,081
- Location
- Between Realities
Rather coincidental that we find out MS aren't that bothered about HD-DVD now then isn't it
Soldato
- Joined
- 16 Nov 2003
- Posts
- 9,682
- Location
- On the pale blue dot
That's all that really needs to be said!
Rather coincidental that we find out MS aren't that bothered about HD-DVD now then isn't it
cynic
Seriously though MS make the same amount of money from every HD-DVD, Blu-Ray sold (assuming their license for the VC1 codec costs the same on both formats). To my knowledge they are not an actual member of the HD-DVD consortium of the Blu-Ray equivalent. So any oterh intersts they have are purely for plugging other products they sell (ie HD-DVD drive for 360 will help 360s).
rp2000
It just didn't make any sense to me when Paramount went HD-DVD exclusive though, sure they can say the format wasn't finalised and that they didn't recieve any pay off and so on but bottom line why would you go exclusive to a format thats being outsold 2:1 (as it was at the time think it still in is in the US) why not just stay format neutral.