BluRay and HD-DVD fight continues...

[Vandenh]

The HD-DVD supporters attacked BluRay in a slowly escalating battle. The Register has the latest battle report (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/08/01/hd_dvd_vs_blu-ray/).
Unable to resist the opportunity to spread a little fear, uncertainty and doubt - an activity neither camp is averse to engaging in - she added: "We also believe the Blu-ray disc format and proposed copy protection system may result in playability and reliability issues for the consumer."

3..2..1.. FIGHT!

[AspectVoid]

I find that quote VERY funny given there are already playability and reliability issues with CDs. Anytime a new game is released, go hit the developer's forum and look at all the people bitching about how the Safedisk or Securom protection stuff won't let them install the game.

[Savok]

Yeah I can't wait for the next generation of shitty copy protection that will do nothing except annoy the shit out of me.

[bean19]

Aspectvoid - Never had a problem myself. . . but I buy my games. Aren't most of these complaints from pirates?

As far as all this goes, I'm firmly behind the one that costs quite a bit less. I don't want them transferring much higher production costs to me. Which one that is. . . well, I forget.

I know that one is cheaper and one holds more data, but game companies can split up games onto separate disks. They do it all the time, but my understanding is that even the "low space" disk holds much more data than even the largest games currently out on the market (20GB. . . like half my hard-drive). So. . . no, I do not want to pay $10 for empty space on a high storage disc. Let them make two of the cheaper discs and charge me $1 extra.

The big difference for me is the read times. . . How long will I wait in load screens on each of the systems. Of course, this has a lot more to do with hardware than format. . . and I'll be buying every new game system out there (except the Revolution. . . until they get a new Zelda and I get suckered in).

[Savok]

Aspectvoid - Never had a problem myself. . . but I buy my games. Aren't most of these complaints from pirates?
Wow, just wow.

[superbo3]

its pirates who dont have problems with the games , its us legal people buying the game who does , i remember when i bought painkiller , the stupid copy protection had problems with alot of cd and dvd drive models , i was one of the unlucky ones , there i stood with a brand new game in hand i would have loved to play but couldnt until they finished a stupid patch , while the people who pirated it were playing it already with no problems, that isnt fair.... :(

[AspectVoid]

Aspectvoid - Never had a problem myself. . . but I buy my games. Aren't most of these complaints from pirates?

As it has been said, its the pirates who have no problems. 99% of games that you pirate have the copy protection removed, so they run into no problems at all.

And, like you, I've never had a problem with the protection, and I own (as in have bought with my own money at various stores) over 200 PC games. That doesn't, however, keep me from seeing the massive number of posts by people who can't play thanks to the copy protection.

[bean19]

Aspectvoid - Thanks. I really didn't know. That wasn't snarky flamebait, but a true question. (The replies made me think I was misunderstood).

[CarpeAmentum]

As far as all this goes, I'm firmly behind the one that costs quite a bit less. I don't want them transferring much higher production costs to me. Which one that is. . . well, I forget.


The notion that Blu-ray will cost SIGNIFICANTLY more is simply not true. Yes it costs slightly more, however, there are more reasons even beyond the massive storage difference. I would assume you have ruined at least one game or movie by scratching it. Well, blue-ray.... its very difficult to scratch (read coat a cd with its coating and you cant scratch it enough to make it skip with a screw driver, and that doesent include outright breaking it.) HD-DVD, at least to my knowledge, has not said anything about extra protection...

[Savok]

How about shitty defective printing? I'm sick of sending back DVDs because the disc itself is fucked.

[Twigz'N'Berries]

Aspectvoid - Never had a problem myself. . . but I buy my games. Aren't most of these complaints from pirates?

As far as all this goes, I'm firmly behind the one that costs quite a bit less. I don't want them transferring much higher production costs to me. Which one that is. . . well, I forget.

I know that one is cheaper and one holds more data, but game companies can split up games onto separate disks. They do it all the time, but my understanding is that even the "low space" disk holds much more data than even the largest games currently out on the market (20GB. . . like half my hard-drive). So. . . no, I do not want to pay $10 for empty space on a high storage disc. Let them make two of the cheaper discs and charge me $1 extra.

The big difference for me is the read times. . . How long will I wait in load screens on each of the systems. Of course, this has a lot more to do with hardware than format. . . and I'll be buying every new game system out there (except the Revolution. . . until they get a new Zelda and I get suckered in).

Current DVDs hold 9Gb.

HD-DVDs hold 15 (1 layer), 30 (2 layer) or 45GB (3 layer single sided, but with new production machines needed for this format, it negates the price advantage of HD-DVD)

BLU-Ray 25GB (1 layer), 50 GB (2 layer) or 100GB (but how this is done, I'm not sure)

HVD can hold 1 to 3 TBs of info. Looks as though it will be ready in about 1 1/2 years. I hope people say "F-U" to blu-ray and go with this technology. Otherwise, we will all be paying extra to buy the HVD players in a little while.


In my opinion...the Blu-Ray will win because it can handle a High Definition movie now without an storage issues. The HD-DVD will have storage issues once they try to pack a 135 minute movie onto a single layer disk. Secondly, Sony is packing their Blu-Rays into their Vaios and the Playstation 3s. PS3s will sell in the millions...so the Blu-Ray install base will be huge by the time PS3 hits 2 Christmas seasons on the shelf.

[pablious]

if i remember correctly, the reason why blu-ray can hold so much at the high end is because it can have quite a few layers. i'm guessing that a lot of the cost issues have more to do with the fact that blu-ray manufacturing facilities all have to be built while hd-dvd can use the existing facilities. so once blu-ray stuff is up and running for a while, i dont think theres going to be much of a price difference.

it's definently going to be interesting to see which one wins. i definently agree that because of sony blu-ray should win out, but most average consumers havnt even heard the term blu-ray yet. hd-dvd is familiar and wouldnt even be noticed as much of a change by most people. what we're ultimately going to discover is how much influence video games have now in determining the market. in the past it was all about movies, but now things are different. hopefully the better product will win out in the end.