HD DVD group cancels pre-CES press conference

[tenaciousdave]

In the wake of the recent announcement of Warner Bros' new allegiance to the Blu-ray format (and, as result, sister company New Line Cinema's similarly adopted format loyalty), the HD DVD group has canceled their pre-Consumer Electronics Show press conference. We're not sure if the announcement will impact the HD DVD Promotion Group's booth at the show, though we imagine it will create an atmosphere for their visitors with a level of awkwardness similar to that of a nursing home.

In a mass email to CES attendees, a representative for the group said they are "currently discussing the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluating next steps." If these "next steps" don't include lining the pockets of every remaining film publisher on the market to convince them your format's still viable, HD DVD could go the way of the Betamax with a quickness.

Source: Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/05/hd-dvd-group-cancels-pre-ces-press-conference/)

[code34]

Had Microsoft packaged the HDDVD drive IN the 360 and jacked the price to holy hell maybe they'd be winning this war.

Honestly, I bought the HD DVD drive for my 360 and have watched a grand total of about .... 4 HD DVDs. I'm considering trading it in, honestly. I watch more "High Def" movies by downloading them over XBL than I have rented or bought them.

The truth of the matter is, no matter what Sony wants, it's all going Digital Distro anyway. It's all about "ease of use" (aka people being lazy and not wanting to leave their homes) when it comes to media. Look at MP3/iPod/Zune and the effect it's had on the music industry. People still buy CDs, but the better market is MP3. People are more willing to pay $1 a song for tracks they actually like than they are willing to pay out the ass for tracks they don't like on top of the one they do.

It will be the same with movies soon. Hell, it already is. The popularity of turrent downloading of movies (illegal or not) is proof enough. I've asked my wifey numerous times, "You want to watch a movie? ... Alright, I'll download it" three times in the past month or so. The selection might not be as good right now, but that's just a matter of time.

"ZOMG! Blu-Ray is teh winnar!" won't be said, typed, or otherwise. In the end, who really cares? You won't see Microsoft adding a Blu-Ray drive, they'll just dish out the cash to get BR movies onto XBL and we'll download them. Sony will make the discs so people can rent them from blockbuster.com and have them delivered to their homes.

The only issue will be games.. But that's another story completely.

[tenaciousdave]

I'm not a fan of digital distro myself. I like having the media in my hand. Lots of people like having the media in hand. It becomes alomolst a trophy for me when I have shelves full of games and DVD's. I hope full digital distro is very far off myself.

[v0lum3]

I'm not a fan of digital distro myself. I like having the media in my hand. Lots of people like having the media in hand. It becomes alomolst a trophy for me when I have shelves full of games and DVD's. I hope full digital distro is very far off myself.

lol, I love digital distribution... I download about 20 or 30 songs... then I slap them on a disc and stick it in my binder... at about 15 cents per license track I spend a LOT less than I ever did buying full CD's...

[tenaciousdave]

lol, I love digital distribution... I download about 20 or 30 songs... then I slap them on a disc and stick it in my binder... at about 15 cents per license track I spend a LOT less than I ever did buying full CD's...

The problem is that I don't mind paying extra. It's not about the money. I like the physical presence of the media. I would gladly pay a few extra bucks for it.

[codedigital]

The problem is that I don't mind paying extra. It's not about the money. I like the physical presence of the media. I would gladly pay a few extra bucks for it.

This is a throw back to the old days and I'm with you for the most part.

Just recently have I been feeling myself letting go of this need.

[v0lum3]

The problem is that I don't mind paying extra. It's not about the money. I like the physical presence of the media. I would gladly pay a few extra bucks for it.

You're missing the point... I HAVE the physical presence... I burn them to a CD ;)