@Legion

So let's say I wanted to make an adult video (I can't think of anything worse!) and I was choosing a format...

What would be the costs involved in me choosing between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD in terms of manufacturing and licensing? What about as a dual-format disk?

Chris

@Toaks

Quote:

Toaks wrote: @Yo Its just the usual "lets find something bad to say about MikeB" crap again.

That is entirely unfair. Why do you want to skew my response into something 'personal'? I have NO issues or adverse history with MikeB, nor do I believe I ever will.

MY stance is a calm voice and a call to step back and reflect, this is what I always hope to achieve.

As for being 'sold something' and how that IS a negative, perhaps it is the language barrier, so I apologise for not being clearer in my explanation.

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@clebin

I dunno what is all involved in cost, but this article explains it better. Porn was a major reason why VHS succeeded over betamax.

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@Legion

Quote:

Quote: Here is a nice 15". I'm not saying its not possible, I'm merely commenting on the odd cone size. I have a friend with a 18" Velodyne, its an experience.

Sorry if I somehow came across that you didn't know it was doable. I thought you were querying because you'd like to acquire such a beast.

Quote:

I just read an article that state the porn industry has chosen HD-DVD. Show's over, folks. Blu-ray is official DOA.

Supposedly Sony is refusing to license Blu-Ray to p0rn companies.

@wegster
Thank you for the review. Nice to see some personal review that is not completely biased.

@BrianK

Quote:

Supposedly Sony is refusing to license Blu-Ray to p0rn companies.

Ahahaha... its like watching the betamax saga all over again. Some executives are going to get fired over this.

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@Wegster
Nice review,shame your thread is now starting to turn in to arguing lol oh i dunno....

@Trezzer

Thx for the game insight. I probably will go with Ridge Racer (darn, if at least Burn Out would be available) - or maybe I don't I can download 2 racing games already (Motorstorm and GT HD). Maybe I'll try to find something else (my wife will never let my kids play Ultimate Alliance, though).

Quote:

One Danish guy who is currently traveling around the place (California, Nevada, Arizona) has been to EB/Gamestop stores on the lookout for certain GBA/DS titles and he says there were PS3s in stock in more than half of those stores. Two stores in Vegas even had what he described as huge piles.

Don't trust these reports. As I said, that depends if you have your lucky day. Sony ships in bulks. Usually when they do, everybody gets a pile. What that means, all of a sudden all stores have a palette standing around somewhere (like Best Buy did when I had my second opportunity). I was thinking, "well great, so they are available and I don't have to line up any more". That was too optimistic as it seems. Since then, nothing. And you have to take these reports with a grain of salt. "In stock" usually mean "on the shelf ready to be sold" (not in stock in the warehouse to fill the shelf whenever this is empty). The difference is, whenever they have a pile, they don't get sold in minutes any more, but maybe in hours (or - god forbid in days). And maybe one is left behind, if you are lucky.

BTW: When Best Buy had a pile of PS3s, they had a pile of 360s, too (and they have every day, actually). Does that mean they don't sell either ? Its just so funny (and obviously so easy) to make a story out of everything Sony.

Last edited by Jorge on 14-Jan-2007 at 05:07 PM.

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@clebin

Quote:

The question on pre-owned PS2 prices, if that's not off-topic?

Well, I am still waiting. I was at Gamestop asking for used PS2. These guys are crazy. Still $129. For used ones! What they do is, they bundle a crap of stuff with it and sell them as a "super bundle". The stuff is usually worthless, but keeps the price up. I'm in need for a European old PS2. My DVD doesn't work any more (but I have a HD in there and a mod chip). I thought about getting a cheap used one and replace the drive (hard to get an European PS2 here in the US). But it still costs the same as a new one. Sorry, no. I'd go with a new one instead - incl. warranty.

Also, I think Sony could easily drop the PS2 price to $99 (and later even below that - well, $79 and it's cheaper then repair parts). I think they won't any time soon, as long as the PS2 is still the best selling console (only beaten by the DS - isn't that crazy ?). A $99 would be even more competition, and will most likely happen when the PS2 numbers will drop (and maybe not before the PS3 number are going up).

Last edited by Jorge on 14-Jan-2007 at 05:06 PM.

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@Jorge

Quote:

Still $129

That's crazy. IIRC a new one here with a game bundled is $173 and typically $207 for the peripheral based bundles like Buzz.

Quote:

only beaten by the DS - isn't that crazy ?

Seems like the less power = the more sales. Maybe Nintendo should relaunch GameBoy?

@Trezzer

Heh, more like a combination of price elasticity and people looking for something new^H^H^Hto relive past experiences ( ;) ).

Nintendo has got all three going for them, atm. It'll change, as it has in the past, though it might take a gen. or two for it to happen.

@Eric_S

Quote:

Heh, more like a combination of price elasticity and people looking for something new^H^H^Hto relive past experiences ( ;) ).

Yes and no. And in fact the Nintendo hardware/games aren't really that cheap. You can get a fairly cheap GameBoy Advance, but here PSPs sell for as low as DKK 999. GBA SP is priced at 689,- and the DS Lite is 1099. Just like the Wii will cost as much as the 360 premium once you add decent video cables or just plain more than the Core regardless of cables.

I think people are willing to pay for something different - and these days 2D RPGs and platformers are "something different" compared to the mainstream games. I think this results in more untraditional games on the more "normal" consoles too - like EyeToy, Singstar, Buzz, LocoRoco, Gripshift and the retro titles.

So in a way I think Nintendo benefits everyone - regardless of which platform you're using. (which kind of brings us back on topic).

Last edited by Trezzer on 14-Jan-2007 at 06:20 PM.
Last edited by Trezzer on 14-Jan-2007 at 06:18 PM.

@Legion

Quote:

Ahahaha... its like watching the betamax saga all over again. Some executives are going to get fired over this.

Of course with a few differences. One is Sony's hope the PS3 takes off as the predominate Blu-Ray player. The other is the quality between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is nearly identical and not as noticeable to the end user as Beta vs VHS.

If I was a Blu-Ray player company might actually start looking at making HD-DVD players. Sony is pushing there $600 solution and losing money. It's hard to compete when your solution costs more and if marked down will lose you money too. Sony ate up blue lasers, again making it hard for other companies to push their solutions. I'd be a bit worried as a hardware company that Sony is not only going to win w/ Blu-Ray but in the process end up cornering the Blu-Ray media player market.

@Jorge

From what you're saying, pre-owned doesn't look like dropping any time soon, so I have to hope for a global price cut. I take it you've tried the disk read error tricks on the web, like rotating that little dial? It didn't work for me, though...

As far as Wii pricing goes, I'm disappointed that the games are selling for £40 here. Nintendo UK should be putting these games out at £30-35 reflecting the last-gen development costs and making it a distinguishing feature. One of the first questions people have asked me is "how much are the games?" - it matters to them.

Chris

@wegster

Nice overview. Frankly though, the PS3 is just too expensive at this point and with unproven tech. like Blu-ray. I predict the Wii to carry this round. But for me though, I find used PS2s, Dreamcasts, Gamecubes, and Xbox1s perfect at this point. How much better are the graphics really? There are tons of good games for the previous generation. That being said I'll probably get a PS3 when the price drops.

@BrianK

Quote:

I'd be a bit worried as a hardware company that Sony is not only going to win w/ Blu-Ray but in the process end up cornering the Blu-Ray media player market.

I wouldn't. The reason is just that: they ARE trying to corner the market so they can corn-hole the consumer. It didn't work with betamax or mini-disc. This time, however, they've got a trojan horse: a PS3 in most households. The strategy is... well... good, but not foolproof. Consider a) the price and b) Turning your PS3 into a movie player effectively kills any gaming you were going to do. Most "households" contain kids/teens playing games, and adults watching TV/Movies, right? Thats why you have a DVD player AND an Xbox (or at least I do ). I always wanted a mini-disc unit, but could never justify to price. I seriously doubt Sony has learned their lesson.

HD-DVD will be less expensive, and will therefore 'win' the format wars.

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@herewegoagain

Quote:

herewegoagain wrote: @wegster I would be willing to bet that after market controllers will become available from third parties for the rumble or force feedback stuff. Then games could be updated with a downloaded patch that installs on the hard disk.

Yeah, I'm hoping so. Realistically, I can do without it for most games, but not for driving games.

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@Trezzer

Quote:

Rather than get a wall charger you *could* charge your controller using a computer (over night or something).

Sure, and I thought about that briefly, but I don't keep a PC in the living room, nor a laptop regularly. For $20, the wall charger was worth it in my case, as it sits right next to me on the couch. I am having an odd time getting the second controller to pair, however. Can't find the directions from the controller itself, and the PS3 manual says 'turn it on.' Ok, and that does nada, and there's no 'pair controllers and set IDs' anywhere in the menu system, or at least not easily found. Not annoying yet, but...

Interesting about Full Auto- it's the kind of game I generally like, just saw several less than favorable reviews, so figured I'd skip it for the $$$.

I usually check out ign and gamespot for reviews when I'm debating on a game...the biggest issue right now would seem to be there's only a small handful of titles yet, and not many are appealing enough to make me want to part with $60 each.

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@Jorge

Quote:

Jorge wrote: @wegster (the usual suspects, so I have to be here, too ) Nice report. About what I'd expect. The PS3 is at the beginning, that's pretty obvious. However there's hope there'll be constant firmware upgrades to resolve some (if not all) issues. I made about the same experience with availability, though (and I can't believe the reports about "in stock" PS3s). I had the opportunity twice since about 12/24 (once 12/24 Best Buy more by accident - I ran into a fresh pile of just delivered PS3s - and then a couple of days later at Target (7 pcs)), but hesitated to take one. But by next weekend I want one for sure (that's my birthday). However, I was looking around for the last two weeks, and there weren't any available since then (includes Best Buy, CC, Target and Wal Mart). I keep my fingers crossed Sony will make it happen for next weekend...darn. Regarding games. I agree. I need at least one "E" title, something like Ratchet and Clank or such (and one which is not a race game - and not a sports game). If not, I'd go with one shooter (probably Resistance or Call of Duty) and a race game (don't know Need for Speed or Ridge Racer). Blazing Angels would be an alternative. While for me all the available titles are great, they are not so much for my kids. Not that they wouldn't like Resistance or Full Auto, but I miss the usual PS2 blockbusters. We'll see. There's hope that my PS2 collection will still run. I also hope, that the "E" games will come for the PS3, too. However with a ongoing success of the PS2, there is still high competition to go PS2 with the "causal" stuff (from a publisher POV ?). At least Ratchet will come for the PS3...(OTHO, I'll buy a Wii later anyway).

Yeah, I do hope things improve. The niggle with the store seems cleared up, a one time occurance perhaps?

But, they need decent titles. And, compared to the headstart of the 360, they really _need_ some solid exclusives as well, or it may become a long uphill battle. Basically, it seems like around a dozen titles are available, and while there's generally a title or two to keep people 'busy' for a short time (sports fans have a few titles, car fans have a few, shooters a few, and what, 1 RPG?), they don't have all the genres covered as of today, and will need to get something moving soon. That may yet happen, from MikeB's big list, but they really need to get some momentum and excitement going in whatever way they can.

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@Valiant

Quote:

I installed YDL on mine. Because of the fact I was first using a TV as my display, I had to take a couple of extra steps to get it to boot into graphical mode, but once I got that going everything was smooth. One current problem Terrasoft and Sony are working on is the ability to rip CD's to your HD or the supposed lack thereof.

The plan is to install Linux on it (YDL or Gentoo, undecided right now) in the next free weekend I get...hopefully next weekend or the weekend after that.

A bit on Internet Browsing with the PS3.

I played around with their web browser a bit, as did my girlfriend. It uses cell phone like text input, with prediction, and isn't terrible for entering one or two addresses, but really needs a USB keyboard or bluetooth. The browser isn't bad, but doesn't seem to support tabs. Bookmarks are odd, as you can add to them, but you don't see them in the immediate bookmarks tab, only see the sony online link until you open the 'full bookmarks list.' Slightly annoying.

Using the left analog stick as a mouse works well enough (fine, actually), and the keystrokes needed for navigation aren't bad once you're used to it. With a keyboard, I'd be fine using the controller in place of a mouse.

The browser itself seems to work well, although it seems to have an annoying/odd behavior, in that it seems to treat even javascript or Flash as a 'plug-in' and prompts you if you want to display it on each page...have to see if that can be disabled (the prompt).

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