HD DVD or BluRay? It's all up to porn.

[Razer]

from www.gamepro.com-

"HD DVD gets boost from porn industry

Early support from the adult film industry may be helping HD DVD to take an early lead over Blu-ray Disc in the battle to become the next-generation DVD format.

Wicked Pictures, one of the leading names in adult films, released the first HD DVD adult video at a trade show this week in Las Vegas. Digital Playground Inc. plans to release its first HD DVD adult film on Jan. 18, and several others say they'll follow suit later in the year.

It may not seem like a big deal. But, like it or not, the adult industry has long been a first mover in using new technologies, and urban legend says the industry played a huge role in making VHS the winner in the video cassette fight with Betamax years ago.

"If Blu-ray isn't adopted by the adult industry, then HD DVD will win out," said Jake Richter, an analyst at Jon Peddie Research.
There are several reasons the adult industry is turning to HD DVD instead of Blu-ray Disc, including primarily the lower production costs and better technology support, adult companies say.

"It's a lot less expensive to use HD DVD," said Jackie Ramos, vice president of DVD production at Wicked Pictures. Wicked faced a huge hurdle because neither the HD DVD nor Blu-ray Disc camps seemed willing to help the adult industry mass-produce their films on high-definition discs, Ramos said. But some members of the HD DVD camp -- whom Ramos declined to name -- finally lent a hand.

"Suddenly we got help, and boom, we were able to move forward and do it," he said.

Blu-ray never offered such help. Wicked had no access to the "stampers" it needed to reproduce its films in bulk, Ramos said. Still, Wicked has not ruled out Blu-ray Disc and hopes to work with the format some time in the future.

Another concern raised about Blu-ray was its installed user base. Part of the reason ClubJenna Inc. plans to release its first high-definition title on HD DVD is due to concerns that the rival format isn't aimed at its target audience, according to Jay Grdina, the company's president. The PlayStation 3 appears to be a central part of the plan to increase the number of Blu-ray Disc players in use, but game consoles target a younger audience than ClubJenna would like, he said.

Richter says the HD DVD name will ultimately help it win the format war because it's an easier connection for consumers. "If you buy an 'HD TV,' the natural choice is to buy an 'HD DVD' player to go with it," he said. "Are there any 'Blu-ray TVs'? No."

He said there is truth to the legend that the adult industry helped decide the battle between Betamax and VHS, and that the comparison appears to fit the current situation. As in the current fight, it was harder for adult film makers to get technical help from Betamax.

But Wicked's Ramos has his own prediction on who will ultimately decide the winner between HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

"It will probably be Wal-Mart," he said. "


Porn also boosted the DVD format and helped the PSP more than Sony would like to admit. Like it or not, we like our porn more than any other single video genre, movie or game.

[Doot]

Aside from the porn boost I had my heart set on HD DVD anyway. I feel it's pretty silly that this whole split is going on. It overall is just screwing the consumer.

[Silver Adept]

This happens with most new format releases. And more often than not, the adult industry is either a major player or the total decider as to which format wins out in the end. So if pr0n's going for HD-DVD, then that gives a huge boost to the survival chances of that format.

[Shino]

VHS vs Beta was won b/c Beta refused to let the porn industry print on their tapes. Well, part of the reason anyway.

Beta was the superior format.

In this case, Blu-ray is not refusing to let the industry use thier format, but they apparently aren't offering any help either.

I guess with all of the movie companies signed on to Blu-ray, HD-DVD decided they needed all the help they could get so they are offering some sort of help to the porn industry to get on their format.

Blu-ray COULD BE the superior format, all they have to do is get their codec right. Apparently the picture quality isn't what it should be.

[Ming]

I find it frustrating that REGULAR DVD technology is still fairly young compared to when DVDs finally took down VHS tapes for good. After all the investing I've done in my DVD collection over the past few years, I'm now expected to go out and buy into the next new thing? I don't think so...at least not right now. Especially when I think the quality of the regular DVD is perfectly acceptable as is.

[Shino]

Don't be too frustrated. All next gen movie disc players are backwards-compatible with DVD, and I'm pretty sure they all upscale to 1080i.

So you don't really need to get a new copy of your movie unless you really want the full high def experience at 1080p.

[Silver Adept]

They had better do that, or there will be bloody murder screamed from here to the ends of the technological earth.

[Tobias]

no kidding...but honestly, i like the original screen rate of the normal wide-screen 16x9, and not the HD format. It just feels fat.

I dunno...maybe i'll just keep going to the movies

VIVA FILM!!!!

[Graillik Tur]

Help fight the degridation of our society...buy Sony Products!

...ugh...

[ScrumYummy]