Blu-Ray
HD DVD wearing down - Blockbuster goes Blu-Ray
According to El Paso Times Home rental giant Blockbuster will be renting out high definition DVD’s only in the Blu-Ray format in 1,450 of its stores in next months update. This, of course, is a huge step for Sony and a massive blow to the HD DVD format. Blockbuster have been renting out both Blu-Ray and HD DVD in 450~ stores only to find that 70% of the time the consumer was choosing Sony’s Blu Ray Disc.
“The consumers are sending us a message. I can’t ignore what I’m seeing,” Matthew Smith, senior vice president of merchandising at Blockbuster.
HD DVD isnt completely out though,as Blockbuster will still be renting them at 250 stores and online. Huge movies like Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Spider Man 3 and Casino Royale are all exclusive to the Blu Ray format which also helps Sony along the way. Can we say the format war is over? Not just yet. But its getting close and I think we can see the winner…
Sony claims 91% BluRay sales in Q1 2007
APC Mag is reporting that Sony have sold 91% of the total HD media format sales in Austrillia, which is very impressive.
This information was released along with Sony’s new Blu-Ray player, BDP-S1E which retails at $1399 (AU) but despite the heavy price tag, looks rather sexy.
Blu Ray Disc player BDP-S1E by SONY [Image]
So where does HD DVD stand in all of this? Only time will tell, but at the moment it looks like the Blu-Ray disc is in clear runnings to defeating its rival, HD DVD.
World’s first ever Blu-ray demo disc with OPMUK!
On May 2ndIssue 6 of Official Playstation Magazine UK will be on sale, and with it will be the worlds first Blu-Ray demo disc!
“Important announcement from Official PlayStation Magazine. Playable PS3 games. From 2 May every issue of OPM will come with a Blu-ray disc packed with PS3 demos. No other magazine can do this.”
Sweet. Im glad the UK is getting this fancy treatment first. :P This is cool, however how will it take off? The Playstation Store will offer all the demos more than likely before the magazine gets them. It could help out people who dont have internet access i guess and OPMUK’s DVD’s usually dont only have demo’s on so they could fit alot more HD videos and such on the disc. Although, PlayThree.net had this to say:
“What’s more important is that the demo disc provides something unique for PS3 owners who already have an Internet connection, such as exclusive game demos and trailers before they hit the PlayStation Store.”
Before? Nice.
Warhawk downloadable AND Blu-ray?…
Looks like the confusion over which it would be is justified, because now, apparently, Warhawk is going to be released on Blu-Ray to buy in shops AND downloadable from the Playstation Store. Price difference hasn’t been decided yet, but im betting the Playstation Store version might be a bit cheaper, though i’ll probably buy it on Blu-Ray anyway. :p
Spain gets 110,000 and sells 100,000
More great news for Sony and Europe! MeriStation is reporting that Spain were shipped 110,000 PS3 units and sold a stunning 100,000.
A spanish Sony spokes person has said:
“Es la primera vez que un sistema de entretenimiento ha conseguido una penetración en hogares tan rápida en tan breve periodo de tiempo. Igualmente, este lanzamiento ha supuesto un impulso en la venta de películas en formato Blu-ray (alta definición), cuya demanda se ha multiplicado por 30, comparando esta semana con la anterior a la llegada de PLAYSTATION 3″
Which roughly translates to:
“This is the first time than an entertainment system has made it so fast into homes in such a short amount of time. Also, this launch has promoted the sales in films on the Blu-Ray format (high resolution), who’s demand has multiplied by 30 in comparison with this week and last week before the launch of the PLAYSTATION 3.”
All these people saying “Sony is failing” and “The PS3 is doomed” really don’t know what they’re on about. For us living in the UK, the PS3 is the fastest selling console we’ve ever seen, so what does that say? Maybe UK and PS3 is going to turn out like Japan and Pokémon? :P
Final Fantasy XIII, Metal Gear Solid 4, Devil May Cry 4 already released!
If only. :P
Sony’s Blu-Ray website has a nice section dedicated to Blu-Ray discs being used for games. This page features a list of games “Already available on Blu-Ray” these are:
- 6Gun 2
- Avalon
- Dark Sector
- The Darkness
- Devil May Cry 4
- EA Sports Fight Night Rd 3
- Eyedentify
- Fifth Phantom Saga
- Final Fantasy PS3
- Formula One PS3
- The Getaway PS3
- Heavenly Sword
- I-8 – Insomniac Games
- Infraworld – Quantic Dream
- Killing Day
- Killzone PS3
- Metal Gear Solid 4
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- MotorStorm
- Ni-Oh
- Omikron 2
- Possession
- Project Delta
- ShadowClan
- Tekken PS3
- Vision GT
- Warhawk PS3
As you may or may not know, alot of these titles arent even finished yet. It’s probably mis-communcation butits still pretty funny. :P
Source: Blu-RayDisc.com Via QJ.net
Warhawk is apparently now a download and not a blu-ray
Earlier we reported that Warhawk is now going to be available on Blu-Ray disc, but now according to QJ.net’s “switcheroo” its now a download…again. Apparently a semi-official PS3 log Three Speech have now reported that it will be a download.
So, at the moment Warhawk is now a download and not going to be on Blu-Ray, apparently. Subject to change? :p
Blu-Ray outsells HD-DVD for the second month running
Blu-Ray has once again outsold the HD-DVD for the second month in a row at a ratio of 2:1, meaning that every time someone bought an HD-DVD, two people bought a Blu-Ray. Keep in mind that Blu-Ray discs still havent been released in the UK and Europe yet, so the launch can only secure the Blu-Ray’s win.
In February 250,000 Blu-ray titles were sold compared to only 125,000 HD-DVDs. Hopefully this is healing the huge dent in Sony’s profits from the Playstation 3.
Warhawk on Blu-Ray
A while back there was no word on whether the multi player online-only, Warhawk PS3 would be downloadable from the Playstation Store, or available in the shops on a Blu-Ray disc.
A sony spokesperson has resently confirmed that it would be on Blu-Ray in the shops.
“Officially, Warhawk will be released as a Blu-ray-based product,” commented a SCEA representative. “It will see release in late summer.”
So there you have it. This summer you will be able to buy Warhawk over the counter. :D
Phil Harrison confident that Blu-Ray will move PS3s
Sony’s own Phil Harrsion has earlier commented that he believes the so-far sucess of the Blu-Ray Disc will ultimatley help Sony maintain their #1 place in the gaming world and win the Next-Gen war. He states;
“In America, where PS3 disc is already out, Blu-ray disc is surging ahead as the next-generation movie format of choice. It’s absolutely trouncing any other formats, and I think we’ll see the same in Europe and the UK.”
While the Blu-Ray might be beating other formats, I dont believe that everyone “Rents a Blu-Ray”, theyre still renting DVD’s. Though, more and more movies are coming out on BLu-Ray and IGN.com’s recent review of the latest James Bond, Casino Royale, on Blu Ray was a pretty good one, so I hope the Blu Ray has a bright future too. :p
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