The
big boys of game industry analysis are back to tell
GameDaily what they think this
new Blu-ray tide of exclusivity will mean to gamers. Sure, the big talk is that Blu-ray winning could mean a PS3 price cut, but that'll only benefit those who don't already have the latest console Kutaragi built. For consumers with a
PS3 snug at home, they should breathe a little easier knowing they won't have to buy
another HD movie player in the near future. But what do the boys with the crystal balls think?
- Mike Hickey, Janco Partners: The PS3 will eventually receive an awakening as Blu-ray becomes the winning format, this will lead to larger install base and motivate third-party developers to the PS3.
- Michael Pachter, Wedbush Morgan Securities: Says Sony once said 70 - 80% of PS2 owners treated it as their first DVD player, he believes the same will hold true for HD movies -- except that there is currently only a 10% penetration with 1080p televisions. He also says there will be a sales spike later this year coinciding with another price cut.
- Colin Sebastian, Lazard Capital Markets: He says when consumers decide they "need" a Blu-ray player it certainly can't hurt the PS3, especially if its games improve and hardware prices decline.
- David Cole, DFC Intelligence: Doesn't believe Blu-ray is a determining factor in the console wars, but it is a nice bonus. He believes if a consumer were stuck choosing between two gaming platforms that were equal, then the Blu-ray might tip them over to the PS3. But he says the list for consumers goes: Price, good exclusive games, and, finally, Blu-ray.
The boys of analysis have spoken, what do the ladies and gentlemen of these here internets believe?
(Page 1) Reader Comments
But even I have to admit the PS3 becomes tempting if Blu-Ray is the only HD disc format in town.
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I am upscaling to 1080i on my DLP.
I have 3 or 4 right now, but seeing as we own about 500 movies on DVD, I can't see spending the money on Blu_ray when my eyes can only see so much resolution anyway.
When it comes to a game machine I care about the game selection more than I care about what movies I can watch on it.
or since there is no pressure on them to compete the prices will decline slower.
When (at this point, not if) HD-DVD finally croaks (seriously, can you see it coming back?), it will sound like a much better bonus.
"Plays HD movies." > "Plays one of these two HD movie formats, but not everyone has decided yet... hope you don't want to watch Paramount movies on this thing."
In regards to the HD-format war, the market seems to have the advantage: Blu-ray wins, standalone players drop dramatically.
For the console wars, if MS even gets a whiff of a PS3 price drop, they'll drop the 360's price (and hopefully some SKUs) to have the price advantage.
Basically, since the Blu-Ray format has won, nothing really encourages Sony or others to make the format itself better, or disc prices cheaper, but the players still have to outdo each other.
"when my eyes can only see so much resolution anyway."
lol!
Yeah, because Blu Ray is just too much resolution for our eyes.
My eyes only see in 480p!
Belive it or not there is room on the market for both formats in the near future. HDDVD could go cheaper than BD, but the problem is people will then associate it with bad quality, and well, the rest is history :\
Anyways, i think it's too early to claim victory for BD... and i would like to hear input on what these guys think if BD loses.
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Warner will be BRD exclusive.
Paramount will use Warners drop of HDDVD for reason to get out of their contract.
Universals exclusive contract with HDDVD has just ended.
Blu ray will win. Its not a question of IF anymore.
As a gamer, it doesn't change anything for me. But, you 360 fans need to figure out what you want to do. I mean, you machine currently uses SD-DVD and as all games will be making bigger and better games as time goes on, DVDs are going to hit thier limit where as the HD format disks are able to hold much more data and game goodies.
Just like when you move into a bigger place you find a way to fill it with more stuff. Developers of both movies & Games will be taking full advantage of the extra space on the HD formats. And it wont be that far off down the road.
And the universal news is true.
And two weeks before Warner announced itself exclusive to Blu ray they also denied rumors.
Warner was supposed to speak at the CES08 HDDVD event....remember?
1. I'm not re-buying my DVD collection over
2. DVD is not dead and only costs $15,not $30 fucking dollars for a MOVIE.
3. I could care less about high def and the price tag all this equipment carries. I own all 3 consoles and play them on an SDTV.
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When you own a HDTV, you may tend to care a little more.
After watching sports on a HDTV, I wanted all my media to be that impressive.
lol
Yes, some movies are still $30. Most movies are not. And depending on the movie, it's not even worth it to have it on DVD vs. Blu-Ray. High budget action movies, such as 300 and Casino Royale, make a huge difference when they are in Blu-ray - at least $30 worth of it.
But when buying movies from now on, if you had the choice between DVD and Bluray wouldn't you get Bluray?
I don't understand why people use that as a reason to not get a high def movie player. Nobody's forcing you to rebuy all your movies.
You don't have to re-buy your DVD collection. That's one of lamest excuses give for not wanting to move to an HD format. I'm not rebuying all of my DVDs outside of a select few favorites. Personally, I'm mostly just buying new released in HD.
As for your second point, try buying only. You would stupid to pay $30 for these HD movies at retail B&M stores when the same movies can be had for $20 online. Plus, there have been numerous buy one get one free offers at laces like Amazon. I picked up 4 Blu-ray for movies during the last BOGO for LESS than $40... which is LESS than $10 per movies. No tax and no shipping charges. I think it worked out to like $9.98 per movie. Sadly, these BOGOs may be less frequent now that the format war looks to be ending, but I certainly haven't paid $30 for any single movie.
No,because it's still cheaper to get a DVD. Then on that,every person I know has a DVD player but not 1 own a Blu Ray player,so i'd basically be limited to watching the movies in my room or lugging around my PS3 everywhere.
And on top of it even though Slysoft has a Blu Ray/HD-DVD copying program,the burners are still over $600.
She sees the difference. I reccomend not buying any more movies until you have a HD set - Really.
If the film is a feast for the eyeballs, I will snag on BluRay. Period. If it's a second or third tier movie in terms of my interest, I either Netflix it or wait for one of Blockbusters 4 for $20 sales and snag a ton of second stringers simultaneously.
2. DVD isn't dead, you're right. However, only older movies, you get to choose between $10 for the DVD or $17 for the BluRay. Most new BluRay releases are $25 whereas most DVD new releases are $20. Frankly, for me, the glory of hidef Pixar is well worth the extra cost. But if I'm looking at something that's less than jaw-dropping in effects and scenery, DVD for me.
3. Why is this even an issue for you then? SDTV isn't HDTV, so all this means nothing. Your rant on this subject has about as much to do with anything as my artwork has to do with the plight of the african barnswallow.
I've seen HDTV's, and I'm not rushing out to replace the SDTV in my living room. Shelling out thousands of dollars just to have a higher resolution TV isn't 'impressive' to me, with the possible exception of it being only an impressive waste of money.
It's neat technology, and eventually, everyone will have it... for now though, seeing every pores people's faces via my TV just isn't interesting / a good use of my money, and most of America agrees with me.
"Why is this even an issue for you then? SDTV isn't HDTV, so all this means nothing. Your rant on this subject has about as much to do with anything as my artwork has to do with the plight of the african barnswallow."
I've used an HDTV before. My girlfriend's folks recently bought 2 24' inch HDTVs and a mammoth 50 some inch HDTV for their living room. The quality difference doesn't even come CLOSE to the price tag it carries to me. If it does for you,then be my guest and spend $800 on a 36 inch HDTV,i'll spend $200 for an SD one that size because to me that's what it's worth.
Back in the day, I remember DVDs being $30 or more. Hell, when the LOTR movies came out, they were more than that, and that was just a few years ago. BRD will go down in price, just like DVD did in its day. Mind you, DVD had no competition to speak of, so dont gimmie that "no competition means high prices" BS. Also, when DVD was gaining popularity, the players were $500 - $900.
Maybe its not your fault you're ignorant ... your ass was probably still being wiped by your mommy when DVD came out.
Same, I have both my ps3 and computer hooked up to the same monitor. I have a 24' Westinghouse which has hdmi also. It's is 1080p so everything looks beautiful and i can easily just press a button and switch to my computer.
It's funny what the Blu-Ray fanboys have been missing. Don't reply unless you have both formats. If you don't then you're just a corporate sheep.
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All good things in time
DRM Will eventually consume HDDVD too, eventually we'll all have to accept a contract in order to ride the bus, it's coming, don't worry, we've thought of that.
Personally, i don't have an HDTV, so i really don't buy into either, however, i do know that more room = more content or higher quality content. Period, i don't care about implimentation right now, because that can/will change.
We don't need to experience a car crash to be able to say 'Do not want." And wouldn't buying both formats put you more in the 'Corporate Sheep" column?
As for the format war: Well, injustice does happen. But apparently those features weren't important enough to put HD DVD on top. Consumer interest in those features can be addressed now that they're being added with blu ray spec revisions. Add that to the larger storage capacity, and you have a format that will soon leave HD-DVD fanboys missing a lot too: Content.
And, yes, I do own both formats.
While I don't own and HD-DVD movies I have seen some demos and am a little jealous of the interactivity although thats what these new Blu-ray profiles coming down the pipeline are going to finally give us.
That's not to say that I don't think they shouldn't keep working toward better extras like that, but I just haven't seen anything yet that makes me go, "Wow". Besides, BR profile 2.0 has that stuff and will be here soon enough for those that care. Me personally, I just put in the movie and watch it 95% of the time.
HDTV's are having a hard time penetrating the market as it is - and looking at a recession ahead, or at least, a much slower economic period - one can only assume that HD has a tough road ahead of it in the near future as people find their money going towards more important things than higher clarity screens.
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I agree with Marty - Nielsen says that 13.7% of TV households in the United States are equipped with HD televisions. Then the CEA estimated that HDTV household penetration in July 2007 stood at 32%.
Either way, there are a lot of standard television users out there and a lot of folks not making the jump. Someone isn't using HD just because they buy a plasma.
its an expression... much like were you born yesterday, i guess you have never heard it before... it doesnt imply thats he is new to joystiq, it implys that he is new to the world, hence being like a newborn with less knowledge then an older person who has lived longer and has greater knowledge.
so now can i ask are you new?