Horror film Blu-ray disc plays only on PS3 [update 1]

by Ross Miller { Jan 9th 2007 at 2:25AM }

If you've been looking to watch cave-diving girls chased by evil, flesh-eating Gollums in high definition, then you better have a PlayStation 3.

According to IMDB news, the Blu-ray version of The Descent is confirmed to not work on Pioneer Elite and Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray players but functions perfectly on the PS3. The reason? The disc utilizes BD-Java technology for picture-in-picture video commentary, which is not supported by the standalone Blu-ray players.

Sony has confirmed that they are working on an update to the player's operating systems, but how are they going to deliver said updates to consumers who already have the faulty player?

[Via 1UP]

[Update 1: It's Pioneer's Elite, not Panasonic. Thanks to everyone who pointed it out.]

Tags: blu ray, BluRay, hard ware, HardWare

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kestrel @ Jan 9th 2007 2:33AM

If you bought a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player NOW rather than in a year or two, you're basically either ridiculously rich, or an idiot.

The tech is unproven, not economical (yet), and at the very least one of the two will be obsolete soon enough.

Also, PS3 sucks.

alexanderwales @ Jan 9th 2007 2:37AM

Thank you Joystiq for another sensationalist headline!

Agent MOO @ Jan 9th 2007 2:38AM

It's already starting... Early adopters are getting screwed. Aren't there supposed to be compliance standards for these formats?

Murdarer @ Jan 9th 2007 2:48AM

RE: Updating players; Wouldn't they just send out a firmware update on CD/DVD/BD that you just fire up in your player? That's the way most other (off-grid) firmware updates are applied.

DocEvil @ Jan 9th 2007 2:43AM

I bet owners of the Panasonic Elite and Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray players don't think this is a sensationalist article.

okinsama @ Jan 9th 2007 2:46AM

Why do the 2 girls in the middle of that poster, have 3 legs?

Orangecoke @ Jan 9th 2007 2:50AM

"Why do the 2 girls in the middle of that poster, have 3 legs?"

The middle 2 feet belong to the girl at the top.

NotAnElitistPrick @ Jan 9th 2007 2:50AM

Okinsama:

In the middle there's another thing crawling out the top of the cavern towards them, it provides the extra set of legs.

mocax @ Jan 10th 2007 2:34AM

So there's no standard in the BluRay standard?

Regula Oblique @ Jan 9th 2007 2:51AM

"but how are they going to deliver said updates to consumers who already have the faulty player?"

A little something called a firmware update like all electronic devices, ah duhhh. Also PS3 is pure hotness.

Otter @ Jan 9th 2007 3:11AM

.....and sony shoots themselves in the foot yet again.

Stone Temple Pilot @ Jan 9th 2007 3:16AM

Descent the videogame for my Power Mac in the 90s was pretty effing sweet.

lazyboy0172 @ Jan 9th 2007 3:17AM

according to microsoft and xbox.com, this movie is coming to the video marketplace in HD, along with Saw3, Crank, and some of them other 'blu-ray only' movies from lionsgate. cool.

Steve2 @ Jan 9th 2007 4:25AM

They'll deliver it on a disc. CD, DVD, BD or CD-R, DVD-R, BR-R.

What's the big deal? The first HD-DVD player had a ROM update within a month of coming out.

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/tacpassets-images/notices/hddvdfirmware.asp

Kestrel, I'd like to think I'm both rich AND and idiot, thank you.

I'm glad to see this stuff working. This is how BluRay implements the same stuff as HD-DVDs IME (in-movie experience).

Joshua @ Jan 9th 2007 3:33AM

It's obvious now that the better blu-ray player is the PS3. And cheaper.

If you don't like the PS3 and all you wanna do on here is post
"ps3 is a piece of shit!" - Slayer Z
"sony shoots themselves in the foot yet again." - Otter
"PS3 sucks." - Kestrel

Then GET A FUCKIN LIFE! I don't like the 360 (does yours even still work?) or the Wii (how's your dogs broken skull BTW) but you will NEVER see me bash them. Except for just now. Dammit.

jordanlund @ Jan 9th 2007 10:08PM

Larger pic of the poster here, the middle two feet are from the girl at the top:

http://www.moviesonline.ca/movie-gallery/albums/userpics/poster_descent-aith-bigg.jpg

James @ Jan 9th 2007 3:42AM

It's the Pioneer Elite player and not Panasonic Elite. Panasonic has its own Blu-ray player.

1. Samsung - Nope
2. Panasonic - Nope
3. Sony - Nope
4. Pioneer - Nope
5. PS3 - Yes

1 out of 5 ain't so bad.

klinko @ Jan 9th 2007 3:46AM

I don't understand peoples' logic (or lack there of) for hating on the PS3 here. Read closer, the PS3 is the one that DOES work. It's the other players that are crap.

B-Ri @ Jan 9th 2007 3:52AM

"JOSHUA I GUESS YOU HAVENT HEARD THAT THE ps3 IS EVERYWHERE AND EASY TO GET... NO 1 WANTS BUT sonys FANBASE..."

well then that means that theyre going to get about 120 million units sold then? Even if they get half that number they hold a LARGE leverage of the industry, so go take your fanboy bullshit somewhere else. If you love your 360 then go play it, but if Xbox original could hold its place and get its own exclusives, so can the PS3, and the brand alone isnt going ANYWHERE. So while you throw a lot of bullshit on the PS3 now, when you buy one youll feel like a jackass.

Fuzzmosis @ Jan 9th 2007 3:53AM

Well, Panasonic may also be held in question, I didn't research it. But here's something funny: On the amazon.com's press release for Sony's player:
"The BDP-S1 adds extra excitement to films and concerts by enabling interactive capabilities with BD-Java—offering a new dimension in "bonus features."".

Sounds like it really should be playing. You'd think if it mentions BD-Java, it would... be able to play a disc that uses BD-Java. Plus, it costs 400 bucks more than a ps3. Is... Sony just having a mindfart, or is it actively believing consumers won't notice or care?

If it's in the press release, it would be in the manual. I wonder if that's fraudulent.

What The @ Jan 9th 2007 3:53AM

Joystiq, you're totally incompetent. Freakin IDIOTS.

It works on the PS3, Samsung, Philips and Panasonic Blu-Ray players. And its not a Java problem, as the Sony/Pioneer players play BD-J properly, its how the files on the disc are arranged and the Sony/Panasonic isnt reading them in the proper order. Will be fixed via Firmware update. Man, you guys are beyond pathetic. Do some research.

SURIKO @ Jan 9th 2007 3:57AM

klinko: it also doesnt work on sony's very own blu-ray player

Burnt Meatloaf @ Jan 9th 2007 1:10PM

I can understand certain features not being supported by all players, but if the movie won't play at *all*, that's pretty damn stupid.

GoonieGooGoo @ Jan 9th 2007 4:20AM

DOH!!!

ss @ Jan 9th 2007 4:23AM

@ 9.
"Also PS3 is pure hotness."
I would stop using my PS3 in enclosed media centers if i were you.

dsub @ Jan 9th 2007 4:25AM

"but how are they going to deliver said updates to consumers who already have the faulty player?"

Chalk up another advantage for HDDVD. HDDVD players have a 10/100 ethernet port on the back of them which allows for quick and easy firmware updates. Blu-Ray players lack this and require a Firmware disc to be mailed out.

v1cious @ Jan 9th 2007 4:38AM

why is this a bad thing? the ps3 is a cheaper player anyway.

phranctoast @ Jan 9th 2007 5:55AM

hmm. news is 10 days old, and theres already been a fix.

To the people that need this to rip on blu ray, and believe hddvd is better.. please...go out and buy an hddvd player. I really want you to. I dont know what CES you were paying attention to but certain doom has already been spelled for hd dvd.

Hak Foo @ Jan 9th 2007 8:20AM

You people are nuts. Everyone bashing the PS3. I just don't get it? Another gaming system is great in my mind. I can only guess that you are mad because they are expensive and you can't afford one?

I mean you guys are comparing Sony to Microsoft! They are both evil, major corporations.

I've got my 360 and love it. I've got my PS3 and love it. I've got my Wii and am happy with it.

360 has a better live experience. 360 has games I can't get on PS3 or Wii. PS3 has games I can't get on 360/Wii.

You might not like the games on the PS3 but I'm really enjoying Resistance, GT demo thingy, Motorstorm demo, Lemmings arcade-like game, Cash guns chaos arcade like game. PS3 will have great games. 360 has and will continue with great games. Wii will have great games.

Blu-Ray movies have some great exclusives. They also have some crappy exclusives. HD-DVD has some great exclusives and crappy exclusives.

Blu-Ray movies have some amazing quality transfers and some incredibly bad transfers. As does HD-DVD.

HD-DVD seems to have better extra features on their discs. Blu-Ray seems to have better audio tracks on theirs. I'm generalizing, sure, but you get the point.

Also as for Crank coming to Live Marketplace will it be in 1080p? If it is not you can't really compare a Blu-Ray title in 1080p to a downloaded rental in 720p.

Rob @ Jan 9th 2007 8:37AM

@9: "A little something called a firmware update like all electronic devices, ah duhhh."

I expect my players to be *appliances* and not need updates.

GC never updated
PS2 never updated
XBox never updated (well, it can, but I don't go online)
My DVD player never updated
My VCR never updated
My TV never updated

Unless these things are plug, play and forget, I'm not goint to bother purchasing them.

Spence @ Jan 9th 2007 9:19AM

X-Men The Last Stand on Blu-Ray has a warning sheet that it may not be compatible with all existing Blu-Ray players. It tells you to update your firmware, and gives some rudimentary instructions on how to do so. So this isn't unprecedented.

What The @ Jan 9th 2007 9:08AM

Rob

The toshiba HD-DVD player has been updated 4 times and they are begging for a version 2.1 to fix all the problems the unit is still plauged with. The xbox 360 addon has an update FOR EVERY SINGLE DISC INSERTED ontop of a major update that happened soon after it came out, ontop of users BEGGING for another update as the sound from HD-DVD movies is too low and they want DTS support.

Welcome to the HiDef world buddy, nothing leaves the plant 100% these days.

glitched @ Jan 10th 2007 1:01AM

inaccurate, do some research before you repost digg blog spam.

Rob @ Jan 9th 2007 9:14AM

@32: "Welcome to the HiDef world buddy, nothing leaves the plant 100% these days."

And there's nothing HiDef in my house, and there won't be for the forseeable future.

Ben Hobbs @ Jan 9th 2007 9:37AM

This is what happens when you have a non-standardized format like Blu-Ray, On HD DVD players they all HAVE to have ALL the functions, for the blu-ray spec mostly they are optional.

I can hardly see these companies sending out DVD's with the patch on it to all owners, how will they have the addresses? how many will bother with the patching, seriously - how many people do you think flash the firmware on DVD players?

Mitochondria @ Jan 9th 2007 10:38AM

Also, I don't think that it's ppl bashing the PS3 so much as it is them bashing sony. This is why companies need to standardized formats. Also, I should't have to update my player just to watch a new movie, it should already work and the average person will say the same thing. The average joe is siply gonna take back the movie unless the firware is included on the disc, simple as that.

xeaxes @ Jan 9th 2007 10:02AM

The Descent... That movie is scary as hell. Highly recommended. Probably the best horror movie I've ever seen.

Turn the lights off, the sound up, and crap your pants!

Asian guy from King of the Hill @ Jan 9th 2007 10:08AM

I can hardly see these companies sending out DVD's with the patch on it to all owners, how will they have the addresses? how many will bother with the patching, seriously - how many people do you think flash the firmware on DVD players?

HD-DVD and Blu-Ray stand alone players all have ethernet ports for downloads including patches.

Generation ABXY @ Jan 9th 2007 10:25AM

Ah, so that's why they meant when some of these ads said, "Java-enabled." I never could figure it out, and I was just too lazy to look it up. Right now, apart from the PS3, I can't really see a reason pick up a Blu-ray player. I mean, there really aren't any good movies yet. I'm sure that will improve in time, don't get me wrong, but I don't see the point of being this early an adopter - at least wait until there is something to show off your equipment with. And, having to pick up the PS3, I have to say Talledega Nights may have been the worst movie to stick in the box...they should have put in something at least mildly entertaining.

Thad @ Jan 9th 2007 10:18AM

...Gollums?

The Dude @ Jan 9th 2007 10:30AM

"I have to say Talledega Nights may have been the worst movie to stick in the box...they should have put in something at least mildly entertaining."

Like what? Maybe a game to go with their GAME system instead of a second rate comedy to go with their trojan horse?

RAMX @ Jan 9th 2007 12:56PM

to all people speaking without knowing the facts:

blu-ray is not a "broken standard" in fact it is almost identical to hd-dvd. the major difference between the two formats is: the physical discs.

in order to gain footholds on a market, companies sometimes ship incomplete products that need updates to work according to spec. this is nothing new. move along.

remember when DVDs came out at first and some disney movies would not play on some players?

Java is used on both hd-dvd and blu-ray, it is a GREAT idea! allows for much better extras and menus than those god awful dvd menus (both from the perspective of the user and the dev.).

also sony owns the rights to something like 50% of all color movies.

David004 @ Jan 9th 2007 11:34AM

Both formats are completely pointless and Sony is shit for making people buy a completely pointless thing they don't want.

Steve2 @ Jan 9th 2007 4:24PM

dsub:
No, just because it doesn't have a 10/100 port doesn't mean a disc has to be sent out. The player can be designed such that anyone with a CD burner can download the firmware file on a computer and burn it to a disc.

Ben Hobbs:
BluRay players are supposed to support the entire spec also. As pointed out here, the problem is where the files are on the disc, not a lack of Java. Note that DVDs are always mastered with the title info file on certain sector numbers not because the spec says that, but because certain faulty DVD players looked at those sectors instead of parsing the UDF structure properly, despite the spec.

Rob:
Actually, PS2 did update, twice.
On the PS2, the first Japanese units didn't have the DVD firmware in ROM, it came on a DVD with the unit and you booted it and stuck in a memory card and it put the DVD player firmware on the memory card. All PS2s had this capability, even the ones that had DVD firmware in ROM.
The first DVD firmware that shipped had a bug that allowed people to bypass region protection, so Sony sent out an update.
Second, when the IR remote came out for the PS2 (the early one that had a receiver that plugged into port 2), support for it wasn't in the PS2 firmware either, so Sony sent out a disc with it that loaded a new DVD player firmware that did support it onto a memory card. Later PS2s had that IR remote support in the firmware, and the PS2+ and PS2 Slim have both the firmware in ROM and an IR receiver on the front of the unit.
Xbox updated a couple times, as you point out.

As to DVD players updating, a lot of people would have been rather happy if their early DVD players would update. Many early DVD players would not play the Matrix, the first disc that used certain features in their follow the rabbit feature. Some of these early DVD players were updated, but many just never were able to play it. Later players all of course worked fine. At the time this problem occured, there were a lot more DVD players sold than there currently are BluRay and HD-DVD players put together, making that a lot bigger fiasco than this.

(link of problems with the Matrix and DVD players)
http://player.interactual.com/help/help.asp?code=tshomelinks

That guy @ Jan 9th 2007 3:23PM

"The xbox 360 addon has an update FOR EVERY SINGLE DISC INSERTED"

No, no it doesn't. I have one. The only update I had to get was when I installed the disc that came with it, followed by one downloaded from LIVE. Other than that, nothing. O've watched 10 or 12 movies on it already and have had zero updates past those first two.

Try using one yourself rather than spewing crap.

Rootbeer @ Jan 9th 2007 1:11PM

"I can hardly see these companies sending out DVD's with the patch on it to all owners, how will they have the addresses?"

Well, they wouldn't send it to ALL owners, only those that call the customer support hotline complaining that it isn't working.

If this feature is working on some players but not others, the problem can be attributed to:
1. the disc authors didn't follow the BR-Java spec closely enough;
2. some player firmware developers didn't follow the BR-Java spec closely enough; or
3. the Blu-Ray Consortium failed to write a comprehensive enough spec for BR-Java features.

I wonder which of the three it is.