630°

Reports: Warner Bros. will back only Blu-ray

New York/Los Angeles, 2008-01-04 - Reuters via USA Today:

Time Warner's Warner Bros. studio plans to announce it will release next-generation DVDs on Sony Corp's Blu-ray format exclusively, two sources familiar with the plans said Friday, dealing a big blow to Toshiba's HD DVD format.

Warner Bros., Hollywood's biggest seller of DVDs representing about 18 to 20% of sales in the United States, had been one of the few studios that backed both formats.

News Corp's 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney, and Lions Gate Entertainment are among studios backing the Blu-ray format. Viacom's Paramount studios and General Electric's NBC Universal, owned by General Electric Co and France's Vivendi, release movies in HD DVD format.

An announcement is expected shortly, the sources said.

Read Full Story >>
usatoday.com
resistance1005948d ago

Well this really could be a major factor, Warner blu-ray exclusive that just leaves Universal and Paramount (18months) left on the HD camp, i feel sorry for those who brought HD DVD players, and gald i held off getting the HD DVD add on for my 360

CeruleanSky5948d ago

Here is the official press release:

WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE ITS HIGH-DEFINITION DVD TITLES
EXCLUSIVELY IN THE BLU-RAY DISC FORMAT BEGINNING LATER THIS YEAR

Decision Made in Response to Strong Consumer Preference for Format

(January 4, 2008 - Burbank, CA) - In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros.
Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the
Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry
Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment Group.

"Warner Bros.' move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a
strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give
consumers what they want," said Meyer. "The window of opportunity for high-
definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We
believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for
mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most
importantly, consumers."

Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format
and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray
releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end
of May 2008.

"Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to
provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware
prices," said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner
Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. "Today's decision by
Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is
the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner."

"A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward
high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and
becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry," said
Tsujihara. "Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that
recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home
entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner
Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high
definition media and we have enormous respect for their effort

CeruleanSky5948d ago

"Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format
and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray
releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end
of May 2008."

So Warner will continue selling HD-DVD for the next three months and then drop the format.

marinelife95948d ago

LOL xbots still can't wait to get that 360 Ultimate with the built in HD-DVD drive and the Kung Fu Grip.

marinelife95948d ago

I'd like to hear what Michael Bay has to say. I'm sure he's laughing his @$$ off somewhere.

marinelife95948d ago

Here is the link right from Time Warner's mouth.

http://www.timewarner.com/c...

darkside5948d ago

DAMN I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE Ultimate: 360 COME OUT lol!!! Useless HDDVD $hit!!lol

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 5948d ago
tethered5948d ago

Nice find.
Reuters news is a very reputable news agency.

hella whip5948d ago

Yeah Reuters are one of the biggest news agencies there is.

Real gamer 4 life5948d ago

And thats all folks, the end of hd-dvd is here. Rip hd-dvd on 1/4/08. And now it couldnt have came in a better time now that microsoft is reasdy to waist money on releasing a xbox 360 with hd-dvd. now only is this a blow to toshiba but also a blow to microsoft.

resistance1005948d ago

'And thats all folks'

lol Bubbles for you

Cyrus3655948d ago (Edited 5948d ago )

Just when you thought there might be some sort of stalemate, Warner Bros. Goes Blu.

Anyone know the upcoming "Big titles" released by warner in 2008 in the theatres, that will be coming out later obviously on Blu-Ray/DVD?

I don't mean in theateres now, I mean coming in the summer, like Iron Man, or Indiana Jones (I know that's lucas Arts and Fox I believe), what other big upcoming movies in the summer 08 are Warner Bros?

Edit- Wow forgot about Dark Knight, and future Harry Potters! :O Those shall be big.

Tru_Blu5948d ago

I am legend

Only one I can think of off the top of my head

vloeistof5948d ago (Edited 5948d ago )

the dark knight !!!!!!!!! o and harry potter 6

vloeistof5948d ago (Edited 5948d ago )

dubble post

MK_Red5948d ago

vloeistof, Agreed on first film.
I'm a Sony / Blu fan but even if I was a HD-DVD fan, this announcement alone would have made me change sides since I HAVE to go with the site that has Smile on it's faces and is So Serious :)
The Dark Knight will own 2008.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5948d ago
5948d ago
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120°

70 percent of devs unsure of live-service games sustainability

With so many games fighting for players' attention and interest losing out over time, time sink games are at risk of eventually losing steam.

Read Full Story >>
gamedeveloper.com
thorstein17h ago

It was worrisome to begin with.

It's a niche genre with only a handful of hits that can stand the test of time.

CrimsonWing6916h ago

What’s to be unsure of!? Look at the ratio of success to failure!

shinoff218315h ago

Yes. Stop all the live service bs.

jznrpg14h ago

Only a few will catch on. You need a perfect storm to be successful in GaaS and a bit of luck on top of that. But a potential cash cow will keep them trying and some will go out of business because of it.

MIDGETonSTILTS1714h ago

Helldivers 2 manages just fine…

Keep production costs low… don’t just make custscenes until the mechanics and enemies are perfected first.

Make so much content that you can drip extra content for years, and the game already feels complete without them.

Most importantly: make weapons, enemies, levels, and mechanics that will stand the test of 1000 hours. This might require more devs embracing procedurally generated leveled, which I think separates Helldivers 2 from Destiny’s repetitiveness.

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50°

LG Gaming Week deals kick off with $500 off this 45-inch UltraGear OLED curved gaming monitor

Save a bucket load on this massive curved gaming monitor- with the potential of even more savings in LG's Gaming Week

60°

The Battle Pass Is The Worst Thing To Happen To Modern Gaming

Nameer from eXputer: "Some exceptions aside, I don't think the battle pass is a net positive for gaming with how they're implemented in most live service titles."

got_dam18h ago

Battle passes AND meta gaming both.

DivineHand12516h ago(Edited 16h ago)

I like the way Helldivers 2 does battle passes. It allows you to make purchases on each level of the battle pass and gives you the option of choosing which item to unlock first. The more purchases you make using medals the further you progress. There is no timer and you can earn medals towards purchasing stuff via personal orders and Major orders.

I haven't played much live service games that have battle passes but I remember some games that have battle passes where you progress through it linearly using an exp system. What makes it really bad is that the battle pass will have like 50 or more levels with the cooler stuff being closer to the end. They also have an in-game shop that sells exp boosters so you can reach the end of the pass before it refreshes. Everyone ilse will have to grind their way through.

lucian22916h ago

battle pass in fortnite is perfect; buy one and it buys the rest for every other season as it gives you more money than the first cost. so 8.50 and season ends with you getting 13.00, it pays for the next and you have some pocket change to save up for cash shop. All of which is optional