Yeah, I'll never understand the idea of, "Let's create content that you can only download, rather than put it on the disc in the first place!"
My thoughts are that if they know about the content before the disc is released... put it on the damn disc! Downloadable content should only be used for stuff they thought of after release. For example, say someone involved in the movie wasn't able to record a commentary track but after the disc is released has the time to do so... make that downloadable content!
Or say some deleted scenes are discovered that they forgot to include... downloadable!
Someone creates a documentary on a conspiracy theory regarding the movie? Download it!
I completely aggree with you. You made excellent points. I think Sony is just trying to do this so that can say they can do what HD-DVD could do since DAY 1.
I personally think HD-DVD should have won and was suposed to win, they were gaining steam and kept it close despite being outsold 5-10 to 1 because of the PS3 and until Sony paid everyone off. Blu-ray isn't even finished yet, is not region free, riddled with DRM, and is more expensive. Did anyone notice when the format war ended the price of blu-ray movies and players jumped a little? My friends who work for best buy noticed it and were talking about.
Plus all the early adopters are going to be screwed when profile 2 comes out because they can't do java based movies and sony knows about it and doesn't even care they expect their loyal followers to keep buying their crap.
I know, i know you are all going to flame me. Well go ahead i don't care.
There is one more thing i wanted to say. Everyone saying Blu-ray was not the new beta was wrong and everyone saying HD-DVD was the new beta was right but not for the reason you think. Because beta was better then VHS but lost so seeing how HD-DVD was better and lost which means HD-DVD was the new beta haha. :-p
Phoenixxx1974, HD DVD only mandated at least 128Mb persistent storage compared to the 1Gb in profile 2.0. The use of Java also better for content too. So if you must have internet connectivity (as every PS3 is shortly about to receive), you'll have a far better experience in Blu Ray than in HD DVD. It even means in theory that you could download full movies or TV shows and not just trailers. I think profile 2.0 is optional so we're going to see a mix of 1.1 and 2.0 players for some time yet. Take your pick.
I think they will start publicizing Live with games and content that is easy, but eventually they can do what you mention, additional stuff that was not ready when the movie shipped. Or something like Oscar season interviews, and so forth. Essentially keep the title up to date.
But you have to start off with stuff available on the first day, rather than say, hey heres the capability, but we dont have any stuff ready for you to play with yet, wait until they record another commentary track in 2 years.
The idea is to get people used to it, get people connected, and then start exploiting the possibilities to the max.
I still don't see the point of BD-Live. What content it offers could be stuck on the disk, or it will be so generic that it will be a total waste of time even bothering. Yippee so I can buy a Disney plush toy from my Blu Ray player! And there was I thinking that was what my computer was for.
I also expect that in five years we'll see a new phenomena in HD content - dead links. Internet content suffers bit rot all too easily and its bound to impact blu ray in time too.
I guess you didn't read some of the ideas we put out regarding what cool things could be included.
For example, I really liked the commenter above you's idea about Oscar stuff. I've seen "Oscar Edition" DVDs before, so why not, "Oscar Edition" downloads? Or why not downloads for the movies the studios were too lazy to include special features for? Ya know the ones, where the studio thought no one would care and the fans are outraged?
I'm not saying you couldn't do cool things. I just question whether any studio will bother. It might be a lovely surprise to see oscar downloads etc., but is that really something that would make you buy a disk or wire up your machine for? Why not just use your computer?
You're kidding right? Please tell me you're kidding.
Because not every one has or even wants an entire computer in their damn TV room.
All you geeks here think the people surround themselves with a computer everywhere they go. Just because you might doesn't mean everyone else does.
I like watching video content on something else besides a 19"-24" monitor. I like watching it on my 61" screen tv with my surround sound kicking without worrying about having a PC hooked up. I don't want to sit on a stupid office chair, I do that all day. I don't want to have a mouse and keyboard combo, I have it all day.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Yeah, I'll never understand the idea of, "Let's create content that you can only download, rather than put it on the disc in the first place!"
My thoughts are that if they know about the content before the disc is released... put it on the damn disc! Downloadable content should only be used for stuff they thought of after release. For example, say someone involved in the movie wasn't able to record a commentary track but after the disc is released has the time to do so... make that downloadable content!
Or say some deleted scenes are discovered that they forgot to include... downloadable!
Someone creates a documentary on a conspiracy theory regarding the movie? Download it!
I completely aggree with you. You made excellent points. I think Sony is just trying to do this so that can say they can do what HD-DVD could do since DAY 1.
I personally think HD-DVD should have won and was suposed to win, they were gaining steam and kept it close despite being outsold 5-10 to 1 because of the PS3 and until Sony paid everyone off. Blu-ray isn't even finished yet, is not region free, riddled with DRM, and is more expensive. Did anyone notice when the format war ended the price of blu-ray movies and players jumped a little? My friends who work for best buy noticed it and were talking about.
Plus all the early adopters are going to be screwed when profile 2 comes out because they can't do java based movies and sony knows about it and doesn't even care they expect their loyal followers to keep buying their crap.
I know, i know you are all going to flame me. Well go ahead i don't care.
There is one more thing i wanted to say. Everyone saying Blu-ray was not the new beta was wrong and everyone saying HD-DVD was the new beta was right but not for the reason you think. Because beta was better then VHS but lost so seeing how HD-DVD was better and lost which means HD-DVD was the new beta haha. :-p
Phoenixxx1974, HD DVD only mandated at least 128Mb persistent storage compared to the 1Gb in profile 2.0. The use of Java also better for content too. So if you must have internet connectivity (as every PS3 is shortly about to receive), you'll have a far better experience in Blu Ray than in HD DVD. It even means in theory that you could download full movies or TV shows and not just trailers. I think profile 2.0 is optional so we're going to see a mix of 1.1 and 2.0 players for some time yet. Take your pick.
I think they will start publicizing Live with games and content that is easy, but eventually they can do what you mention, additional stuff that was not ready when the movie shipped. Or something like Oscar season interviews, and so forth. Essentially keep the title up to date.
But you have to start off with stuff available on the first day, rather than say, hey heres the capability, but we dont have any stuff ready for you to play with yet, wait until they record another commentary track in 2 years.
The idea is to get people used to it, get people connected, and then start exploiting the possibilities to the max.
I still don't see the point of BD-Live. What content it offers could be stuck on the disk, or it will be so generic that it will be a total waste of time even bothering. Yippee so I can buy a Disney plush toy from my Blu Ray player! And there was I thinking that was what my computer was for.
I also expect that in five years we'll see a new phenomena in HD content - dead links. Internet content suffers bit rot all too easily and its bound to impact blu ray in time too.
@DrXym
I guess you didn't read some of the ideas we put out regarding what cool things could be included.
For example, I really liked the commenter above you's idea about Oscar stuff. I've seen "Oscar Edition" DVDs before, so why not, "Oscar Edition" downloads? Or why not downloads for the movies the studios were too lazy to include special features for? Ya know the ones, where the studio thought no one would care and the fans are outraged?
I'm not saying you couldn't do cool things. I just question whether any studio will bother. It might be a lovely surprise to see oscar downloads etc., but is that really something that would make you buy a disk or wire up your machine for? Why not just use your computer?
Why not use your computer??!?
You're kidding right? Please tell me you're kidding.
Because not every one has or even wants an entire computer in their damn TV room.
All you geeks here think the people surround themselves with a computer everywhere they go. Just because you might doesn't mean everyone else does.
I like watching video content on something else besides a 19"-24" monitor. I like watching it on my 61" screen tv with my surround sound kicking without worrying about having a PC hooked up. I don't want to sit on a stupid office chair, I do that all day. I don't want to have a mouse and keyboard combo, I have it all day.