Fanboy Addicts Hooked On Format War

When it comes to HD DVD vs. Blu-ray Disc, people are bound to hear passionate arguments, angry words, and even outright threats. But it's not coming from Sony, Toshiba, or even studio spokesmen with a vested, financial interest.

It's the fans who have been most vocal - and controversial - about the new millennium's format war.

"Status symbol, bragging rights or just the fact that people want to show off their tech knowledge, what they are doing is presenting their opinions on forums and blogs and then defending these opinions - and their 'tech' - with fanaticism," said Xiao Fang, webmaster of DigitalDigest.com, one of the many Web sites where HD DVD and Blu-ray fanboys express their thoughts. "It is unique in that I don't think something like this has happened before on such a scale."

[neogeo]

360 4 life!
Wii 4 life!
blueray 4 life!

HDDVD? never herd of it.

[thereapersson]

The same could be said about the console war

[snoop_dizzle]

BUERA IS TEH FUTR"! BOW TO IT!

NO!

TEH HDDVDD IS A GNNA PWN YUO!

Anyways yes it is kinda sad people put that much energy into a format. They are important, but gee, there is overkill. I buy bluray or just dvd(i might start buying hddvd though), but i don't really go on saying anything.

[fury]

Once they've made their decisions, they spread fud, bs and hate on the other format, even if they can't back their hatred with valid arguments. It's like you've been born in a certain country and develop national pride and hate or discriminate against another country and their citizens. The same applies to religions, which is an even better example. People have a certain religion, for example the Christianity or the Islam. Now the extremists of the respective religions hate on each other because they do not share the same thoughts, or basically the same "decision".

Now, for some people Blu-ray is a "religion" and for others HD-DVD is. Any why do they hate and can't get along? Because they are different (even just slightly) and don't share the same thoughts and decisions. But there is one thing they share, actually the most important thing, they both want to watch movies in HD but with _one_ precondition. "Their" format (religion) has to win this race.
This is really odd if you think about it...shows you how dumb the average joe is.
Of course it would be the best solution to let one format win not to confuse the mass-market, but in the end it will boil down hybrid players, which can play both Blu-ray and HD-DVD.

[blackmagic]

Nice thought out comment FuRy.

[eagle21]

They are the ones who fed and were paid to write North American FUD like back in the Genesis and SNES days. I'm sorry but I do not blame fanboys, I blame the media. And this article was written by the media, blaming it on fanboys. But fanboys are consumers and have the right to like whatever they want. If the media would be responsible and recognize sales trends, not reporting every variable like it can't change, we may have a comfortable blog community. I myself, never read blogs and stuff about (Sony, Nintendo, MS...Blu Ray HD DVD) till this past summer. Some stuff was too funny not to read! But I know that hundreds of millions of potential consumers (billions for the movie market) are out there and it will take 5 years of hardwork to win anything.

[DFresh]

Both formats are gonna be around forever might as well just accept it that way.
I do know that Blu-ray has a gigantic lead over the HD DVD format and more support from movie industries.
All the videogame consoles will still be around.
There's really no point in arguing because the only person that loses is you.
In my opinion I like Blu-ray better because in movies and games it has more space on a disc to work with 2X the space as a matter of fact.
This format war is almost like the Cold War just a stalemate with no victory.
I think every console has it's great things and then it has it's bad things.
I'm more long term
and
Sony to me is more reliable than MS
and
they offer a lot of stuff for free.
ex.) Home, Online, Firmware Updates, etc.
PS3 is the better deal in my opinion.

[PimpHandHappy]

i guess your focus is on the format stuff and yes

you are addicted

its sad

ADD ON: Hey Bloodmask are you telling me you dont just post OTHER ppl's storys and most of these OTHER ppl storys are about the format war? Are you then saying your not a fanboy? How is me calling you out on every format SH!T u post personal? I know u didnt write them and i know your a tool bag.

What i bring to this site is nothing big just like u hitting the goodle search and finding HD-DVD news is nothing big! I bring my view and sometimes i call out ppl that need calling out!

Get a grip dude! What you do here means nothing in the world of gaming! You might want to think your doing your part for your faction but all your doing is wasting ur life looking for STUPID sh!t

if you take what other ppl say about your profile(avitar) then maybe you need to step away from all your time spent looking for your next news post that just happens to be written by someone else and just so happens to have HD-DVD or Blueray in the title

[BIoodmask]

get over yourself. It must be nice to pop in on articles and just spread random hate. I'm sorry that that I posted an article that was in the tips section.

Silly me, I thought that the comments posted in the threads were actually supposed to be "about the article" Not used to try and degrade and slander other people on N4G. Thanks for making N4G a better place for everyone Pimphand. I will strive to set a better example as you do

You do know that personal attacks are against the guidelines, and may result in loss of your comment bubbles. I think the website needs better moderation so people can actually post in the threads without being attacked.

Grow up.

[tk]

That is all it is. Rooting for a soccer team or a console.

[fury]

Once they've made their decisions, they spread fud, bs and hate on the other format, even if they can't back their hatred with valid arguments. It's like you've been born in a certain country and develop national pride and hate or discriminate against another country and their citizens. The same applies to religions, which is an even better example. People have a certain religion, for example the Christianity or the Islam. Now the extremists of the respective religions hate on each other because they do not share the same thoughts, or basically the same "decision".

Now, for some people Blu-ray is a "religion" and for others HD-DVD is. Any why do they hate and can't get along? Because they are different (even just slightly) and don't share the same thoughts and decisions. But there is one thing they share, actually the most important thing, they both want to watch movies in HD but with _one_ precondition. "Their" format (religion) has to win this race.
This is really odd if you think about it...shows you how dumb the average joe is.
Of course it would be the best solution to let one format win not to confuse the mass-market, but in the end it will boil down hybrid players, which can play both Blu-ray and HD-DVD.

[Skerj]

I'm a fanboy for women, nachos, Macgyver, and Optimus Prime. ..and Streetfighter.

[GrooveChampion]

I support your fanboyism!

[games4fun]

people who are fanboys of that are some of the greatest fanboys ever.

[PimpHandHappy]

please please please

DONT EVER

compare Blueray and HD-DVD camps to those of Islam and Jesus

please please please

Dont ever call a fanboy a fanatic/extremist and dont ever compare the world of gaming to the world of faith.

I will say thou gaming is a way of life just like Islam

but

thats just a step to far and if u make that step you are way beyound lost.

Hail Satan

[fury]

But it pretty much hits the nail on the head I think. People are too narrow-minded.
I know I am pretty objective regarding this matter, because I am agnostic. I am not bound to any religion.
Why is it a step too far? I think we can talk pretty freely here.

[Antiomo]

xbots keeping saying hd-dvd is the best. yet we dont see much evidence that they are contributing to the war.

[blackmagic]

Why are all people who support HD DVD 'Xbots'? Are playstation owners not allowed to choose HD DVD? How about someone like FuRy? He owns an Xbox and he owns a Blu-ray player. Does that make him an 'xbot' or a 'droid'?

What about me? I own both a stand alone HD DVD player, a standalone Blu-ray player and a 360. I don't have a PS3 yet because I already own a Blu-ray player so it doesn't have as much value to me. I plan to buy one in the future when prices drop lower though. I also post pro HD DVD tips on N4G all the time. What am I then?

Come on people, take some time to think about what you post. Try to add some value here.

[PMR_21]

are lame..period

[supnub5]

and soulja boy sucks

[Skerj]

That's just wrong man, now I'm genuinely sad.

[PimpHandHappy]

i agree on the narrow minded part. Both gaming and faith do have that problem.

i myself havnet been to church in 15yrs unless its for a wedding or a funeral. I think all faiths where created by man and not by God like they all want to think

[Tsukasah]

fanboy addicts???? well im about to create another fanboy soon, my friend wants to buy a PS3 or a 360 but cant choose... so i made him this list:

Reasons to get PS3
Better hardware
More Variety of games
Free online
PSHome
folding@home
blu-ray support
backwards compatability with all games(minus 40gb)
entertainment center
multimedia hub
PSEye is cool
HD Audio
1080p support
7.1 audio support
plays DVD's
low failure rate
Everything comes with it
You can see tits in 1080p
easily upgradeable SATA hard drive
ADDED: International install base
ADDED: No region lockage, you can import games from other countries and they will work!

Reasons to get 360
Cheaper than ps3
bigger game library
XBL is mroe sophisticated than PSN
HDDVD support
some backwards compatability with xbox games
entertainment center
plays DVD's
Windows support
It can cook eggs when RRODed(so i guess it does have a use when it's bricked)

Reasons not to get PS3
High price - 399-499
Current "lack" of games
PSN is still a bit behind
Many promises given by Sony, not all fulfilled(atleast not yet)
Playstation STore is a b!tch to navigate in
Putting the PS3 in a hole in your back hard and digging it back up voids your warranty

Reasons not to get 360
High failure rate
Have to buy the higher priced ones to have better game experience(HDD and/or HDMI)
Not everything comes with it(wireless internet, hddvd add-on, etc)
Pay to play online
Disrespectful userbase
More children have a 360(they get annoying online)
Cant see tits in full uncompressed HD unless you buy the HDMI enabled 360
Less freedom to do things(no modding, etc)

i know its a little off topic, but anything else i should add to it? just bored.....

[bloodzombie77]

Dude, kudos to you on what is probably the most comprehensive, non-fanboy comparison of the two systems. You get bubbles for that.

yes, the 360 has one hell of an EXTREMELY disrespectful user base, I know PS3 fanboys are bad, but the 360 fanboys are just vultures. The 360 user base alone has forever turned me off to the 360 again.

[eagle21]

I love when the world buys a console. There are games like Okami that would have never left Japan if the Playstation brand was not large everywhere. And Killzone 2 is coming out of the Netherlands and looks so awesome. It adds to the morale of the brand and now with psn online could help make international friendships.

[resistance100]

'Reasons to get 360
Cheaper than ps3
bigger game library
XBL is mroe sophisticated than PSN
HDDVD support '

You contradicted yourself.

If you want HDDVD support it works out more expensive than the Ps3

[PimpHandHappy]

u about nailed it

[jackdoe]

I know. It is only a freaking disc format. Were people this invested in betamax vs. vhs? Did people even care? Should people even take an insult against Blu-ray or HD-DVD as an insult on their honor?

[Wozzer]

This article's pretty rich coming from Bloodmask

[Tsukasah]

Also, kinda ironic don't cha think?

[games4fun]

when i saw it was bloodmask and it is ironic.

[n_n]

ahh... c'est la vie... oui oui

to be honest, after hanging out at PSU & Xbox forums the xbox camp really turned me off from getting a 360. it's really funny how immature these fanboys are because most of them are grown men. sad, sad world.

[bootsielon]

He's over 30 years old, can you believe?

[DevastationEve]

Flamewars go BEYOND the disc format. Some people feel a compelling urge to go all "righteous crusader" on other people's butts, so yeah. It IS a lot like the actions of religeous extremists. I have a 360...am I'm happy with it. Shouldn't that be what matters the most? It may not have the oodles of space that BluRay does. And HD-DVD may or may not win the war. But that doesn't stop it from releasing great games. And we all should know by now GAMES come from GAME DEVELOPERS, not the hardware. That's just the platform.

[harv052]

It's still so hard to predict who'll win...Like a lot said, both format could be here to stay. Funny thing is, the Betamax VS VHS. VHS was the crappy format and still won. So what happens if you have 2 formats who are "almost" identical? Very hard to predict...

[Cherchez La Ghost]

95% of fanboys on this site slander the name of HD-DVD. The sales numbers of Blu-Ray & HD-DVD combined are still a small fraction against DVD9. Rant, rave, shout, holla until your Blu(Ray) in the face, both formats have a way to go. And please don't give me "Blu-Ray outsells HD-DVD" crap!!! Someone please give me the stats of Blu-Ray & HD-DVD blockbuster hits against DVD9 sales. If Transformers DVD9 ran about 8-9 million in sales and the total combined numbers of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD (year to date) totaled to estimated 5 million, that's still some low numbers. If I'm wrong about these numbers, please someone correct me.

[Zeevious]

The image quality...and on BOTH FORMATS it's essentially the same!

VIDEO?
Both use the same MP4/VC1 or similar quality compression.
Both are 1080 - p or i doesn't make a damn bit of difference since all plasma/LCD panels convert either to 1080p.
(Comparisons of projectors had 1/2 the people claiming 1080i was 1080p and the reverse, I.E. makes no difference at all!)
The difference between 720 vs 1080 or upconverted DVD vs Hi-Def on anything short of a 60+ inch screen is negligible to irrelevant. Skip the media hype and compare them yourself.

AUDIO?
Yeah one has lossless compression, the other sometimes uses compression, does THAT make it superior?

Please...can someone in these media fanboy departments try harder? Everyone with an iPOD is listening to COMPRESSED audio and that's perfect for any type of audio you wanna' store on it but not for the audio in a movie?

SHOPPING?
Yeah, I said shopping! Did you buy your HDTV for the wonders of Amazon.com available in the middle of watching a movie...so you too can buy your own Franklin Mint replica Orgazmo Chodaboy helmet?

Whats with all the ridiculous rantings of interactive features? I'm sorry if no one noticed, but when was the last time you went to a theater specifically to BE interrupted during the movie?

Why don't I just leave my computer on and sign up for every piece of Spam I can, and make sure my email alert is patched into the surround sound so during the movie I can be interrupted incessantly?

NEWSFLASH
I actually want to WATCH the hi-def video with less, NOT more interruptions than at a theater! Who actually WANTS to make your first priority the ability to chat, shop, rearrange video clips, or stick interactive crap all over the actual movie you want to watch?

There's a reason movie theaters are dark, with no talking or cellphones.

Just because you can have something like movie-interrupting features, should you care? No, because what actually matters is the actual hi-def movie. Special features are great, but interrupting the actual movie? I don't think that adds anything but interruption, and that's one part of the movie-going experience I'll leave at the theater.

BLU-vs-HD
This is all the biggest BS FUDfest I've ever seen. It is promoted by the companies and media with the fanboys as the end result.

Absolutely none of it matters.
Please, put your fanboy efforts somewhere that counts...not about the SAME VIDEO on two SLIGHTLY different disc formats...

Does that actually matter or are fanboys corporate media puppets in some petty licensing feud?

If your nothing but a corporate puppet...you still have a choice:
Choose to be something better than that.

[thereapersson]

" BLU-vs-HD
This is all the biggest BS FUDfest I've ever seen. It is promoted by the companies and media with the fanboys as the end result.

Absolutely none of it matters.
Please, put your fanboy efforts somewhere that counts...not about the SAME VIDEO on two SLIGHTLY different disc formats...

Does that actually matter or are fanboys corporate media puppets in some petty licensing feud?

If your nothing but a corporate puppet...you still have a choice:
Choose to be something better than that."

-----

Everyone is a puppet

[Zeevious]

I retract this post because after a PM with Thereapersson I found I had misunderstood the intent of their posted message.
This doesn't apply to the previous message but for reference, here is my original reply . . .

.
If you think your a puppet, please take a moment to change the way you think!

I don't think I answer my own question, because I think it's more a question each person can only answer for themselves.

You and every consumer, including myself, have some very simple choices:

Be mislead by corporate bullsh!t.

Pull your own strings.

Choose to be you, and not some corporate toy.

Or pick a choice that matters...which is not some Bullsh!t format war.

I'm no-ones puppet, but if you are, your wasting time online that could be spent looking for a sharp pair of scissors.

[smoothdude]

I take it you are a Blu Ray fanboy.

[Zeevious]

Smoothie,

Uhh, if you actually read my post, I'm not a fanboy...whatever that is supposed to be, and as far as I can tell neither is Thereapersson.

Please READ before posting. You'll save alot of pointlessness like thinking I'm a Blu-ray fan, when I hate the whole format war.

Books like See Spot Run may help.

.

Don't label me something I'm not and I won't call you a morox geuzing twixelated fuklen-felghering ignotomous . . .

. . . And I promise you that.

[smoothdude]

I don't own either format, and I i believe that DVD is still the best so I guess I will call myself a DVD fanboy. I don't believe that any format is going away, but I do believe each will have their purpose.

BLUE RAY - Storage Media for things like computers and software.

HD DVD - Movies.

I say that because I can't afford Blue Ray and most DVD owners like me feel the same. If HD DVD becomes cheaper I will buy it. Blue Ray has more space and that is it. I don't think there is anything other than that.

[smoothdude]

NO, Zeevious I just need to learn how to click. I clicked on the wrong dude. But I will take your advice and pick up a copy of See Spot Run. It will definitely be more entertaining that watching people defend something silly like which format is better.

[crank]

LOL Tsukasah

Reason not to get a PS3:

Putting the PS3 in a hole in your back hard and digging it back up voids your warranty

I'll be trying that soon with my Wii.