Microsoft has shown off some all-new, mildly pointless features for HD-DVD in its latest gambit in the HD format wars. With the release of Freedom, a Japanese straight-to-DVD animé movie, the format will get its first online-compatible release, with more to come with the HD-DVD release of Frank Miller's 300, and the Leonardo DiCaprio vehicle, Blood Diamond.
Freedom's online functionality will include an HD trailer for another movie as well as additional menu styles and additional subtitles.
Slightly more interesting will be the option to re-edit 300 when it gets its North American release on July 31st. In a demonstration on Friday Microsoft's Kevin Collins, a director in the Microsoft Consumer Media Technology Group (A.K.A. "director of HD DVD evangelism"), showed off how owners of 300 on HD-DVD can re-jig the order of the scenes and upload their new edit to a Warner Bros server. The edit will then be accessible to others who can download it to their player and watch it.
300 will be available on Blu-ray, but without the online features.
Similarly, when Blood Diamond (which is already available on Blu-ray) gets released, owners will be able to participate in online polls after watching the film.
Collins managed to get a crafty dig in at the PS3 while discussing the rival formats. Discussing Blockbuster's recent choice to focus on the Sony-backed Blu-ray format, he suggested that figures for Blu-ray movie sales are currently artificially inflated by PS3 owners buying films due to the lack of games available to the platform. "We've sold more players, which is what studios are really looking at," he said.
SPOnG is somewhat underwhelmed by this new raft of features. Is there any particular reason that the online features of Freedom can't be included on the DVD? Are people so bloody lazy that they can't be bothered turning on their computer to post in online polls about Blood Diamond? The editing features of 300 are a bit more interesting, but unlikely to appeal to those who aren't hardcore film buffs.
For all the talk of functionality in terms of Blu-ray and HD-DVD, studio support is still the most compelling reason to pick one format over the other, and SPOnG is dubious as to whether format is influencing anyone's platform choices in the world of gaming. SPOnG has to ask: is Microsoft getting desperate in its pimping of HD-DVD? Answers in the Forum, please.
Freedom's online functionality will include an HD trailer for another movie as well as additional menu styles and additional subtitles.
Slightly more interesting will be the option to re-edit 300 when it gets its North American release on July 31st. In a demonstration on Friday Microsoft's Kevin Collins, a director in the Microsoft Consumer Media Technology Group (A.K.A. "director of HD DVD evangelism"), showed off how owners of 300 on HD-DVD can re-jig the order of the scenes and upload their new edit to a Warner Bros server. The edit will then be accessible to others who can download it to their player and watch it.
300 will be available on Blu-ray, but without the online features.
Similarly, when Blood Diamond (which is already available on Blu-ray) gets released, owners will be able to participate in online polls after watching the film.
Collins managed to get a crafty dig in at the PS3 while discussing the rival formats. Discussing Blockbuster's recent choice to focus on the Sony-backed Blu-ray format, he suggested that figures for Blu-ray movie sales are currently artificially inflated by PS3 owners buying films due to the lack of games available to the platform. "We've sold more players, which is what studios are really looking at," he said.
SPOnG is somewhat underwhelmed by this new raft of features. Is there any particular reason that the online features of Freedom can't be included on the DVD? Are people so bloody lazy that they can't be bothered turning on their computer to post in online polls about Blood Diamond? The editing features of 300 are a bit more interesting, but unlikely to appeal to those who aren't hardcore film buffs.
For all the talk of functionality in terms of Blu-ray and HD-DVD, studio support is still the most compelling reason to pick one format over the other, and SPOnG is dubious as to whether format is influencing anyone's platform choices in the world of gaming. SPOnG has to ask: is Microsoft getting desperate in its pimping of HD-DVD? Answers in the Forum, please.
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Comments
Joji 2 Jul 2007 17:03
1/5
Pimping HD DVD is fine but I'm still happy with nomal dvd. I many aren't that bothered by 360 options like this, because 360 offers so much else besides, that films might become an after thought.
When dual Blu Ray/HD DVD players are out, then perhaps I'll bag one.
When dual Blu Ray/HD DVD players are out, then perhaps I'll bag one.
config 2 Jul 2007 19:36
2/5
Let me see. I could trust a skilled, highly paid professional editor in his or her judgement over the arrangement and inclusion of scenes in a movie
...or...
I could download the hotch-potch, half-arsed remix thrown together by a kid with the editing skills and eye for quality of your average blogger or Wikipedia contributor.
What an utterly pointless feature, seemingly powered by the current frenzy to shoehorn Web2.0 into everything.
...or...
I could download the hotch-potch, half-arsed remix thrown together by a kid with the editing skills and eye for quality of your average blogger or Wikipedia contributor.
What an utterly pointless feature, seemingly powered by the current frenzy to shoehorn Web2.0 into everything.
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hollywooda 3 Jul 2007 09:03
3/5
Jesus talk about shooting it down, At least MS are trying to add something to the Next generation of player other than a prettier picture!, must people arent bothered about HD films, the thought of having to update your entire film collection & buy a new player just to get a better resolution isnt enough to make people make the jump. But with features like extra content thought online connections & features may help to sway people The new player should be interactive, I think this is good news I'm glad they are expanding the new HD players functions, exciting times.
DoctorDee 3 Jul 2007 09:29
4/5
The editing features of 300 are a bit more interesting, but unlikely to appeal to those who aren't hardcore film buffs.
The thing is, if any movie can be improved by editing or re-sequencing - it's broken in the first place.
OK, I admit there are a few that would benefit from better editing - but it's as often cutting away to quickly as it is lingering too long.
But if a movie makes sense when the scenes are re-sequenced - there's something very wrong with it.
This smacks of we did it because we could, rather than we did it because we should.
tyrion 3 Jul 2007 12:47
5/5
hollywooda wrote:
At least MS are trying to add something to the Next generation of player other than a prettier picture!
Let's not get to sentimental here. Microsoft are quite obviously only supporting HD-DVD in order to extend the format "war" until they are ready to roll out an HD content download service. They don't want either of the disc formats to win.
Why else would a primarily software company put its weight so firmly behind what is an entirely hardware-based decision?
Why else is an OS company pushing the media format that is inferior for data storage and transfer for computer users?
Given that Microsoft's codecs are used on both formats and they get a license fee for every player (including the PS3) and disc that is distributed, why are they so invested in one particular format?