DVDs Finally Become Common (relates to blu-ray)

[stonecoldsays1]

The DVD celebrated its 10-year anniversary this fall, but DVD players have only just this week surpassed VHS players in number, according to a survey by Nielsen Media Research, as reported by the New York Times.

Because Microsoft and Sony have entangled gaming in a new format war, we often blog on the HD-DVD versus Blu-ray debate that began this year. If DVD took ten years to reach this important milestone, how long will it take one of the new formats to "win," considering that the DVD didn't have to battle against a rival format? In 2016, won't the whole idea of physical distribution of digital content seem rather archaic? Will the DVD last long enough to bridge the gap to the all-digital utopia, or will we need a stopgap format like Blu-ray or HD-DVD?

Nobody knows, but we do know that so long as games like fl0w and Geometry Wars exist, Luddite gamers can rest easy knowing that there will be at least some very good games that don't require a $200 gamble on stopgap formats.

Really makes you wonder....

Please do not post under the 5 word limit. - Keesie

[hardcandy2]

Really makes you wonder....

...on why this was posted on a gaming forum and not on AVS forums.

[gcubed]

1) not sure MS entangled gaming in a format war, sony most definitely did though. Until MS releases a game on HD-DVD (which i doubt) then MS has nothing to do with involving gaming in a format war

2) as long as i am alive, i want a physical possesion for something i own. I am definitely NOT alone on this. So people with this grandiose idea of all digital distribution have a greater hurdle to jump then hd-dvd/blu-ray does.

[Zap2]

2) as long as i am alive, i want a physical possesion for something i own.

Is a harddrive not "real" enough for you?

[Rubics Cube]

Most people I know, and most forums I read feel that digital distribution is the future, not some media disk. Not only is it believed to be the future, many are excited at the thought of direct download, I want it now convenience. The thoughts of driving to a store to buy a plastic medium some some 1's and 0's has almost become laughable in this day and age. We have actually seen it move to this more recently on the latest generation of consoles.

[shambles2]

A) Your "average joe" will always wants something physical when they spend money
B) Bandwidth will never reach the levels needed for a HD digital distribution system, at least not in our lifetimes

Physical media will always be around.

[gcubed]

Is a harddrive not "real" enough for you?

my hard drive isnt easily swappable with any one elses computer/player. I cant neccessarily grab my hard drive on the way out the door when i go to my friends/parents so we can watch a movie. I havent ever had a dvd "fail" on me (most shouldnt if they dont toss them on their table or leave them laying out for months on end, yes i know, things happen, but its always easier to spend 10-15 dollars to get a replacement then it is to spend $100 and have to spend 4-5 hours downloading again). And do you think they will just let you play them anywhere? You will have to download a license to your player, so there's more work to get it to run if you want to move it to another computer. A hard drive isnt "real" when it comes to portability, sorry, at least not yet. For my reasons above, this also pertains to USB/Firewire hard drives.

As for current digital distribution, internet speeds arent fast enough yet to support digital downloads of HD movies, nor are ISP's jumping at the idea of people downloading gigs of a movie every day to watch (if the servers arent located on network, which will probably be a requirement)

I have no problem with digital distribution to some extent, but I cant see it taking over a physical medium in 10 years.

[Rubics Cube]

A) Your "average joe" will always wants something physical when they spend money
B) Bandwidth will never reach the levels needed for a HD digital distribution system, at least not in our lifetimes

Physical media will always be around.

The bandwidth for HD digital distribution is already covering the entire Japan population, and over half the homes in the US and Canada. In 5 years, it most likely be the prefered distribution.

[Mbbest]

Online distibution, with HDD 3-5TB (3000-5000GB) and memorystick with 50-100GB is future. It will become standard at 2010..or something like that. So yes, media format is stupid..blu-ray at 200GB will be cool if price dont be big.

[Naboomagnoli]

Who here genuinely doesn't prefer to actually have a CD case with booklet, art/photos etc rather than just having a bunch of mp3's on their hard drive?

Possession of a material form of media is a much more rewarding and satisfying experience than just sticking something on my iPod or in "My Videos". Downloading may end up being more popular by 2010 or whatever, but there will always be a market for physical media as long as there are people who buy others gifts or value the whole media package.

[marker01]

A) Your "average joe" will always wants something physical when they spend money
B) Bandwidth will never reach the levels needed for a HD digital distribution system, at least not in our lifetimes

Physical media will always be around.

A) the "Average" IQ of people is only 90, i do not believe in making sacrifices for the dumb.

B) not "it will never" but "it not currently capable" take a look at Verzion FIOS service. but we people running around with an IQ of 90, they just will not understand this for some time... look at HDTV for an example, its been around for almost 10 years now and people are "just" learning about it...

[Rubics Cube]

Who here genuinely doesn't prefer to actually have a CD case with booklet,.

Me, if it's more convenient, which it has been. I can download an entire CD from iTunes in about 2 minutes, which includes album art, and full metadata, which I can then sync to my iPod and Zune and plug into my home theater, PC, car, truck and have my album immediately. No longer do I need to drive to the store for a CD, wait for lines, rip, etc. I get it now, I get it fast, and the metadata includes everything I need. And to top it off, I can elect to back it up on to CD if I like. But with my 1TB RAID drive, it's backed up, as well I can redownload from my music services since I already paid for it.

Convenience is nice.

[gcubed]

A) the "Average" IQ of people is only 90, i do not believe in making sacrifices for the dumb.

B) not "it will never" but "it not currently capable" take a look at Verzion FIOS service. but we people running around with an IQ of 90, they just will not understand this for some time... look at HDTV for an example, its been around for almost 10 years now and people are "just" learning about it...

well unfortuantely for you, the people with the IQ of 90 have way more buying power then you do.

Yes, he should have used not currently capable. FIOS isnt enough to download an HD movie quickly, you can stream it, but then that doesnt get to the fact of "owning" it.


Rubics... yes, there in lies the problem. You can download a CD in 2 minutes. Thats convienent. An HD movie will not download in 2 hours let alone 2 minutes

[sonics6]

Who here genuinely doesn't prefer to actually have a CD case with booklet, art/photos etc rather than just having a bunch of mp3's on their hard drive?

Possession of a material form of media is a much more rewarding and satisfying experience than just sticking something on my iPod or in "My Videos". Downloading may end up being more popular by 2010 or whatever, but there will always be a market for physical media as long as there are people who buy others gifts or value the whole media package.

I know I prefer having a physical copy of a game and I am very sure I am not the only one!
BTW: Naboomagnoli, LMAO at the guy in your sig. Oh and you forgot Evolution Studios/Motorstorm

[dathitman42]

A) Your "average joe" will always wants something physical when they spend money
B) Bandwidth will never reach the levels needed for a HD digital distribution system, at least not in our lifetimes
Physical media will always be around.

ummm read up on what they will do with the bandwidth they gain when all television stations have to broadcast in all digital.
also when new developments are being built with fiber optics.