Sony Caught With Their Britches down? ... Nope

[Onea]

Recently developments in the recent "Blu-ray is a sham" conspiracy covered in Sony caught with their BluRay Britches Down? (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12850), reveals that the conspiracy is just that: a conspiracy.

To review, Gearlog posted an article claiming that Sony's presentation of the movie "The House of Flying Daggers" on their new VAIO laptops was a fake. Was Sony's HD-quality, Blu-ray exclusive content actually running from a DVD?

Apparently not. It turns out that Gearlog's reporter failed to realize that the presentation actually involved a side-by-side comparison between the normal DVD movie and the Blu-ray copy. If the reporter had simply popped open the other laptop's drive, we would have had a nice glimpse of a shiny Blu-ray disc.

Gearlog's follow-up and correction can be found here (http://gearlog.com/blogs/gearlog/archive/2006/05/17/11993.aspx).
A complete and professional summary of the event can be found here (http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2939).

When you assume, it make an ass out of you and ... well ... just you.

[Varsity]

WTF Sony hating websi- oh, wait.

[AspectVoid]

When you assume, it make an ass out of you and ... well ... just you.

Actually, it made an ass out of him and everyone who jumped on Sony for it, including a lot of people here. Sony had enough royal fuckups at e3 this year that people really don't need to make up ones to show what a bad job they did. Hell, the price point alone...

[Cool AN]

Ouch for that guy.

[Varsity]

people really don't need to make up ones to show what a bad job they did.
Did you read the article?

[HumpYourWay]

Actually, it made an ass out of him and everyone who jumped on Sony for it, including a lot of people here. Sony had enough royal fuckups at e3 this year that people really don't need to make up ones to show what a bad job they did. Hell, the price point alone...

what are the royal fuck ups if I might ask? The price of PS3 isnt a fuck up just because you cant afford it doesnt mean its a fuck up so what else?

[bapenguin]

Things still sound rather fishy though.The rep did not know why the left-hand laptop had a DVD+R instead of a commercial DVD. He said, "We're still trying to find out. Obviously, internally we own the rights to [that movie]." However, he thinks it may have had something to do with wanting to get the right kind of content playing on the standard DVD laptop so Sony could show off an "apples to apples comparison."

[outontheporch]

Evil avatar will crash soon from all the pwnage going on in teh faces of its users.

[Reanimated]

Protect The Hive!!

[phantomhitman]

what are the royal fuck ups if I might ask? The price of PS3 isnt a fuck up just because you cant afford it doesnt mean its a fuck up so what else?

I am sure that everyone can dump AT LEAST $700 (ps3 plus tax plus one game) when the hits. I want a ps3, some games look great and they finally have an online system in the works, but I am not dropping that much on one. A lot of people from here alone say they cannot drop that kind of money just for a game system and we are the more hardcore gamers. The ps2 was in every house because of the value it was/is, you cannot say the same for the ps3. You average joe on the street cannot afford to play now.

[Borys]

Another BS story by Kamalot.

Protect The Hive!!

Bah, don't you own a PSP anyway?

[theguido]

I am sure that everyone can dump AT LEAST $700 (ps3 plus tax plus one game) when the hits. I want a ps3, some games look great and they finally have an online system in the works, but I am not dropping that much on one. A lot of people from here alone say they cannot drop that kind of money just for a game system and we are the more hardcore gamers. The ps2 was in every house because of the value it was/is, you cannot say the same for the ps3. You average joe on the street cannot afford to play now.

I don't see why anyone HAS to buy the $600 version, honestly. If I were to buy a PS3 at launch (which I likely won't) I'd just go with the $500 version of it because I likely won't have a TV capable of 1080p for a long time.

And you know what, you'd be surprised how much people will drop on their entertainment. Maybe most of here can't afford that much, but there are enough people who have that kind of disposable income to make it a perfect feasible option.

I don't understand exactly what this has to do with the first post in the thread, but anyways.....

[HumpYourWay]

A lot of people from here alone say they cannot drop that kind of money just for a game system and we are the more hardcore gamers.

A question: If I want a mercedes but cant afford it do I go in car forums and bitch about how Mercedes Benz is a big fuck up or do I try to get a better job/education in order to earn more?

Or did I mistunderstand the american way of live - so if I cant get something I want, I stay home, grow fat and start to become bitter in forums? :eek:

[eth3rton]

Notice they said "IF". No one but Sony actually saw the alleged "BlueRay" disc....

Agreed with Bapenguin. Fishy.....

[Eran Hawke]

The PS3 isn't a Mercedes.

The PS3 is far too expensive for that it does.

The PS3 is a colossal risk considering Bluray may flop like UMD and Betamax. Then you'll be stuck with a $200 extra price tag on a dud of a format.

Sony sucks for asking gamers to pay extra to try and support their over-priced new format war.

And, this story wasn't a scam or a conspiracy. I saw lots of news sites covering the same story due to th way it was reported.

The sad part is, Sony have lied about so many things in the past, that people believe they are up to something shady.

Dishonesty isn't a good trait to be associated with your company.

[Limech]

So basically the guys couldn't tell the difference between DVD and Blueray since he ejected the disc from a laptop he was under the impression it was playing blueray.

[WileE.Coyte]

This really isn't spectacuilar news for Sony. This is a question I asked a little while ago and now I have my answer. You can't tell in a side by side comparison which is Bluray or not. I'm a bit of a picture whore and the quality of the original DVD House of Flying Daggers really wasn't too impressive. The Bluray HD 1080p upgrade should be blowing people out of the water, the effects and colors of this movie are awesome. This guy just might be a true blue Sony basher so I'll have to wait and see for myself but honestly if HD is the new big deal this is a mistake that shouldn't have been made.

[HumpYourWay]

The PS3 isn't a Mercedes.

The PS3 is far too expensive for that it does.

The PS3 is a colossal risk considering Bluray may flop like UMD and Betamax. Then you'll be stuck with a $200 extra price tag on a dud of a format.

Sony sucks for asking gamers to pay extra to try and support their over-priced new format war.

And, this story wasn't a scam or a conspiracy. I saw lots of news sites covering the same story due to th way it was reported.

The sad part is, Sony have lied about so many things in the past, that people believe they are up to something shady.

Dishonesty isn't a good trait to be associated with your company.

LOL
So I understand now; if you cant get something you want, you stay home, grow fat and start to become bitter in forums?
And dont tell me that you dont want a PS3 why else would you become so bitter about it and start a crusade :p

PS:
>And, this story wasn't a scam or a conspiracy. I saw lots of news sites >covering the same story due to th way it was reported.

So you saw this false news reported on lots of news site and that means its true? You need to grow up.
Just like when Bush said Iraq has WMDs and it was reported by many news outlets? That made it true? No I dont think so...

[Dirty Harry]

LOL
So I understand now; if you cant get something you want, you stay home, grow fat and start to become bitter in forums?
And dont tell me that you dont want a PS3 why else would you become so bitter about it and start a crusade :p

PS:
>And, this story wasn't a scam or a conspiracy. I saw lots of news sites >covering the same story due to th way it was reported.

So you saw this false news reported on lots of news site and that means its true? You need to grow up.
Just like when Bush said Iraq has WMDs and it was reported by many news outlets? That made it true? No I dont think so...
Another thing, being he is an xbox fanboy, he loves MS's cock. The most evil of all cocks.

[drakkarim]

doesn't say much for the format if he coudln't tell them apart when side by side thought does it.

[HumpYourWay]

Another thing, being he is an xbox fanboy, he loves MS's cock. The most evil of all cocks.

If you cant use the word cock at least once a day you are unhappy. Not happy with our cock or not enough cock in your live? :D
Why am I supposed to be a fanboy?!?! :confused:

[Eran Hawke]

I have plenty of money to buy a PS3. Having the money or having a job isn't the point.

The PS3's price point offends my sensibilities. It is far too expensive for what it does.

I could also buy an exensive car, but I don't need an expensive car. I could also buy expensive shoes, but I don't need expensive shoes.

I, like many, feel ripped off when I spend more than necessary. I like to feel like I am getting a deal, a bargain, when I purchase something.

Sony's attitude with the PS3 is that the device will be a luxury model of a game system. I don't want luxury, I want fun.

I especially don't want to pay more for something I didn't ask for in the first place, like Bluray. Bluray does not help me, as a gamer. It only helps Sony, but I have to pay more for it.

Can you imagine buying a Mercedes that performs just as well as a Toyota, breaks down more frequently, and comes with an extra BBQ grill built in that costs an additional $2000? WTF does a grill have to do with driving?

[phantomhitman]

I like you comparisons hump, they are spot on.

Except for the fact that you apparently do not visit many forums. Go into ANY forum ANYWHERE and you will see this. If people do not like something, or something is overpriced, overhyped, slightly bad in any way they will get ripped. Visit a car forum today and I promise you will find people fighting over what car is the better deal, what is faster, what looks better, etc. If you read any of my posts, especially the one you quoted, you see that I do not hate Sony. I wish I could afford to drop the $600-700 on one, but that is a bit of a reach for me. I do not think it is worth the money, I am entitled to that.

[theguido]

Wow. Some guy posts a news story and everyone believes it. Now that he's clarified and said that he's wrong people start talking vaguely about "lies" and conspiracy theories. I guess people will believe what they want to.

[AniAko]

The ps2 was in every house because of the value it was/is...

The PS2 was in every household because of playstations reputation and popularity. I was employed at EB when the PS2's came out. People didn't even know what the fuck it was called. "Can I have that new gamestation 2?" They were buying it because everyone was talking about it. I fully believe that the 360 cut into that threshold with it's massive marketing campaign, but the PS3 would have still come out on top, again because of it's popularity... until Sony hired Dick Cheney to shoot them in the foot. You're absolutely right about the price cutting out the average Joe. Sony THOUGHT a massive amount of their players were "Hardcore" and wanted a $700 system. When in reality most of it's gamers were actually casual gamers who bought what their friends had.

[theguido]

I have plenty of money to buy a PS3. Having the money or having a job isn't the point.

The PS3's price point offends my sensibilities. It is far too expensive for what it does.

I could also buy an exensive car, but I don't need an expensive car. I could also buy expensive shoes, but I don't need expensive shoes.

I, like many, feel ripped off when I spend more than necessary. I like to feel like I am getting a deal, a bargain, when I purchase something.

Sony's attitude with the PS3 is that the device will be a luxury model of a game system. I don't want luxury, I want fun.

I especially don't want to pay more for something I didn't ask for in the first place, like Bluray. Bluray does not help me, as a gamer. It only helps Sony, but I have to pay more for it.

Can you imagine buying a Mercedes that performs just as well as a Toyota, breaks down more frequently, and comes with an extra BBQ grill built in that costs an additional $2000? WTF does a grill have to do with driving?

Luxury item or not, the Blu-Ray will only end up costing you $100 more than the Premium Xbox 360. I don't understand how that little bit extra is something that you find offensive, honestly.

I agree more with Nintendo's philosophy of game-making, but I don't get the bile against Sony that gets spewed around here.

[Reanimated]

Bah, don't you own a PSP anyway?




Yeah.

Does that make me a bad person?

[krackmonkey]

What is much more likely is that the real reason the second disc was a copy was that they used something like DVD Shrink to transcode HOFD down to fit on a DVD-R, creating a much more visible difference in quality. Blue Ray content is high quality (as is any HD DVD-Based source), but to the average schmuck on the street, you really have to slap 'em across the face to convince 'em of the difference- at least until there are more 100% HD productions available. This just gives them a little more control over the first impressions they make by delivering an only slightly dishonest version to compare against, and one that lots of people still wouldn't recognize or appreciate.

It's a dirty trick, and Sony sidesteps the issue with a "hmm, that's weird- hey look a PUPPY!!!" response, which is more or less what I'd expect from an outfit that has been spinning out of control for almost a year now.

I love how everyone is convinced this site is "anti-sony" when just a few months back, it was "anti-MS" being bandied about on post after post. People need to calm down and realize that sometimes their sacred cow is just going to be someone elses' hamburger.

[AniAko]

Another BS story by Kamalot.
Bah, don't you own a PSP anyway?

A note on that.

I own a PSX, PSP, and was fully prepared to buy a PS3, the 1080p on my monitor would look superb :D.

Just because you own a company's product doesn't mean you have to defend every decision a company makes. I've seen a few of Sony fanboys turn-coat after the E3 debacle, which is cool because they're seeing things in a new way, and they've made the choice for themselves to criticize them.

[HumpYourWay]

I have plenty of money to buy a PS3. Having the money or having a job isn't the point.

The PS3's price point offends my sensibilities. It is far too expensive for what it does.

Yeah sure if you think so.
But then just dont buy it. But instead you write lengthy and bitter posts about sony. Somehow makes you appear to actually want a PS3 pretty bad...

[Johan]

On of the problems with getting information so quickly is that events are often misreported (intentionally or not) initially, and the speed of forums and blogs to pick up, respond to, and echo such events often perpetuates the misinformation.

I especially don't want to pay more for something I didn't ask for in the first place, like Bluray. Bluray does not help me, as a gamer. It only helps Sony, but I have to pay more for it.

Right on the freaking money...I've posted the same thought several times before. Sony is out for domination of the next format, and the billions in licensing fees that will follow; we, if we purchase the product, have the privilege of funding their potential format domination. Consider me OUT of that deal.

[jBusy]

doesn't say much for the format if he coudln't tell them apart when side by side thought does it.
Maybe because he was drunk? (http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=1384523&postcount=8) Let's face it, this guy was trolling for a story and couldn't be bothered to do some basic reporting. It has nothing to do with the quality (or lack of) of blu-ray.

[Stormwatcher]

There is one sure thing that we all learned in this story: Hump is really a big jerk.

[Eran Hawke]

Hump:

If you are the demographic that will be buying the PS3, count me out.

I don't need to put others down in order to feel better, or make a big stink about how much money I have. What a turn-off to the entire system.

Imagine playing online with people who consider themself elite because they spent more on a console, but plays the same old games. Not fun.

HumpYourWayToTheTop-Exactly what Sony is trying to do, screw over gamers to win the next DVD format war. They are trying to hump their way to the top, and gamers are the ones being screwed.

[M-Extra]

The Blu-Ray disc fiasco is pretty stupid. They wouldn't just lie about that kind of thing. Really, if the Sony guys would keep their stupid mouths shut Sony wouldn't have nearly as much bad press. I have to say "nearly" because we would still have the super-sticky price point, which disallows working-class family men like myself from even considering one, especially in light of this oft-overlook fact: Playstations break down after one year or less.

[Snowmit]

Recently developments in the recent "Blu-ray is a sham" conspiracy covered in Sony caught with their BluRay Britches Down? (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12850), reveals that the conspiracy is just that: a conspiracy.

That's not what conspiracy means. Conspiracy means
# An agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act.
# A group of conspirators.
# Law. An agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime or accomplish a legal purpose through illegal action.
# A joining or acting together, as if by sinister design

I think what you meant was: there is no conspiracy, just idiocy.

[Soap]

This is a CLASSIC example of shitty gaming journalism.

To quote from the article:

"While it's true that I did not check the drive of the second AR laptop, I thought both laptops were showing the same thing and saw no need to investigate the second seemingly duplicate setup."

What a fucking moron. If the reporter of this story actually did his/her job, wouldn't he or she just ask, "Hey, what's the difference between these two EXACT setups here?"

I honestly don't know if any of these gaming reporters actually earned a degree in journalism...

/rude

(and in case you're wondering...Yes I have a degree in Journalism)

[AversionFX]

Oh, Sony fanboys. Clamoring to defend your dying owner.

[torrefaction]

A question: If I want a mercedes but cant afford it do I go in car forums and bitch about how Mercedes Benz is a big fuck up or do I try to get a better job/education in order to earn more?

Or did I mistunderstand the american way of live - so if I cant get something I want, I stay home, grow fat and start to become bitter in forums? :eek:

First of all, you're an asshole for defending a corporation trying to take advantage of it's brand name, *and* attempt consumer lock-in of a media type in the same play using it's customer base.

Second, I probably make more now than you will in the next 2 years. I paid $100 over list for a core system, and I spent more than neccesary. Probably the equivalent of the PS3 price. I wanted a next-gen system. But that $100 dollars went to a guy willing to wait overnight in line. I'm not that guy, I had work to do. I don't want another $200 going to a company who doesn't give a flying fuck about their customer's.

Sony has shown it again and again.
DRM.
Rootkit-Gate.
"Work more to get one"
Here's our controller...oh wait..no..this is it!
Killzone 2 trailer

Besides, did you even watch the fucking E3 video's. Not a single one compares to Gears of War.

Game over, man.

[askheaves]

Yeah, that was some pretty piss-poor reporting. I'd probably throw a little onus on the Sony show just for not making it clear what the demonstration was (little signs)... assuming that they didn't. However, the reporter should have taken his picture and then asked somebody at the show for clarification. It's not like they would have taken the memory card from his camera and broken it in half. But to sneak a pic and then skulk away with your precious little scoop is not journalism.

I do commend him for coming clean and hope he learns a valuable lesson about journalism from this.

[thecrazyd]

So, a non-story is proven to be non-true, thus creating a non-story about the first non-story being non-true.

[rjcc]

Wow, someone doesn't at all know the meaning of the word "conspiracy" or the word "correction". If you actually read the links. But hey MAYBE SONY WASN'T CAUGHT FAKING BLU-RAY PLAYBACK LETS HOOT AND HOLLER

[Shifteh]

I am sure that everyone can dump AT LEAST $700 (ps3 plus tax plus one game) when the hits.

Then man are you going to love it when it's released at $450.

[Zolf]

On the price point, one other thing to consider is that almost every one of the PS3 consoles sold for the first few months after launch will be coming in bundles from retailers, which basically means you won't be able to sit at the table for less than $999 once you add in a couple games, an extra controller and accessories. Also, don't forget the HDMI cable (even the cheap ones cost $100).

To be honest, I think MS did well not to tackle 1080p and HDMI in this generation, just because there's no economy of scale to temper the price of setting up that kind of system. That means the consumer is shelling out at least $500 more for a negligible upgrade in picture quality. I mean, who can tell the difference between 720p and 1080p from ten feet away, anyhow?

One last thing to think about is HDMI inputs and new audio formats as well. I bought a new HD set last year, and it only includes one HDMI in (and many people's sets have zero.) I also have a nice two-year-old Onkyo receiver that doesn't offer HDMI switching or support Digital Sound Processing for the new sound formats (http://www.dolby.com/about/news_events/press_releases/pr_23.09.04.html) being release with Bluray and HD-DVD.

[Pumped'Up]

Yep I knew it. I was totally right about the fraud of the original story. :D

PS3 ftw!

[Mephistopheles]

I notice in his "retraction" he doesn't really seem to want to accept any responsibility for his error. Like he shouldn't have to investigate or ask any questions like you might be expected to do when collecting the FACTS for a story. The fact that he is trying to blame Sony for his shoddy investigation makes it look like he really has an agenda against Sony and that led him to jump to the wrong conclusion.

If he ever makes it to mainstream journalism he'll fit right in.

[Thenetcase]

Wait a second... if it was a side-by-side comparison, how come there wasn't something on the display actually saying that? And how come both screens looked exactly the same? Don't you think someone would have noticed and commented on the fact that one looked nicer?
Hmm... I'm not buying it. It sounds like someone in Sony is trying to make a PR spin here to protect their asses. The only reason they CAN say this is because the guy DIDN'T open the other drives. That means they can't be proven wrong OR right.
Personally, I believe sony is full of shit.
They've fucked with everyone-- even their fan base. They've insulted everyone too and yes, once again, even the fans. Why can't people realize that?

-TNC-

[Dracula-X]

Wait a second... if it was a side-by-side comparison, how come there wasn't something on the display actually saying that? And how come both screens looked exactly the same? Don't you think someone would have noticed and commented on the fact that one looked nicer?
Hmm... I'm not buying it. It sounds like someone in Sony is trying to make a PR spin here to protect their asses. The only reason they CAN say this is because the guy DIDN'T open the other drives. That means they can't be proven wrong OR right.
Personally, I believe sony is full of shit.
They've fucked with everyone-- even their fan base. They've insulted everyone too and yes, once again, even the fans. Why can't people realize that?

For fucks sake, this shit was already covered in the other thread. Maybe, just maybe, they had someone there announcing the comparison when they unveiled the AR130G, AR150G and AR190G (http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2939), the new flagship in the Vaio laptop series. The person reviewing the laptops for NBR seemed to magically know there was a DVD and BD playing for comparison, side by side on AR190Gs, despite the lack of a visible sign stating as such, for seething internet forum morons. The reviewer also clearly stated the difference between the two was instantly noticeable. So it looks like someone "noticed" and already "commented" on it.

The same reviewer also confirms it later in the NBR forums (http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=54374) after the retarded story broke:The PC Mag editor who wrote that was drunk, was walking by while I was taking my pic with the drive open, didn't know that that one of the laptops was playing a DVD for comparison purposes, thought he had a scoop, walked away to have more drinks. The laptop on the right was playing a BD, the laptop on the left (the one pictured) was playing a DVD. I feel bad for Sony, since if it wasn't for me, this guy would never have taken the picture - and now it's been picked up by all sorts of sources.