410°

Blu-ray vs HD DVD replication costs revealed

When it comes to replicating high definition content, there has been quite a lot of publicity about Blu-ray costing a lot more than HD DVD to replicate in bulk, mainly put down to Blu-ray's design that makes it impossible to modify existing DVD stamping equipment to replicate Blu-ray discs with. Even the adult film makers have been complaining about Blu-ray's costs. However, one thing that has not been made clear is how much of a difference there really is between the two competing formats. Well, Wes at WesleyTech went to investigate by contacting a few optical disc industry contacts and published an article with some very interesting results:

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wesleytech.com
DJ6300d ago (Edited 6300d ago )

"From these figures taken from 3 different replication sources, we can see that Blu-ray media replication does not cost significantly more than HD DVD. In fact, we found that Blu-ray is actually cheaper per GB in many situations! It is also interesting to note that at this point, most HD DVD-ROM movies are DL, while most BD-ROM movies are SL, which would make HD DVD more expensive to replicate in most situations."

This surprised even me. Props to Voluptuary!

*If Dusty sees this, the report history comment by Boink is completely False. The article actually does provide total costs of the two formats: "$1.15 per single layer HD DVD (15GB) and $1.30 per single layer Blu-ray Disc (25GB)" And apparently dual-layer versions of each format are equal in pricing.

DoctorJohnson6299d ago

Still, Blu-ray discs are way more expensive than regular DVD discs. On the flipside they hold significantly more, but I've never minded a game coming with multiple discs... I feel like I've gotten a better value on my money.

nice_cuppa6299d ago

isnt that odd !
still i dont know.....

guy on internet.....
or
companys who want to mass produce their hd movies.....

who do i believe ?

techie6299d ago

He did interview industry people. And can we trust MS or Sony? They do come up with a load of BS. I think this guy is pretty trust worthy from his sources.

He goes on to say in another article that the set up costs are not that much more expensive for Blu-ray either. In fact for a Blu-ray SL (25gb) it is cheaper/same to set up in a factory as HD-DVD DL (30gb) and at this moment in time most HD-dvd movies are double layer, and Blu-ray movies are single layer.

DJ6299d ago

can't reach the capacity of dual-layer BD discs, that adds up to even higher costs in Toshiba's camp. No wonder most studios prefer Blu-ray.

nstott6299d ago

How is comparing the per gigabyte cost relevant to movies especially since I doubt they are filling them up? It costs movie studios less to produce hd-dvd discs on a per disc basis in either sl or dl.

DJ6299d ago

It says that dual-layer blu-ray and hd-dvd discs cost the same amount to manufacture. However, you also have to take into account that studios are shipping Blu-ray movies on single-layer discs, while they have to use dual-layer HD-DVD discs to achieve the same result.

Thus, it actually costs more money to put a movie out on HD-DVD than it does to put it out on Blu-ray due to differences in storage capacity. BD-ROM stores 25GB per layer while HD-DVD stores only 15GB per layer. The pricing information a bit surprising, but makes sense.

bung tickler6299d ago

Yes this surprised me I had thought that the cost to make a HD-DVD was much closer to that of a regular DVD. I think in the end though there will be no winner, dual format players will come out and titles will be released on both formats so as not to leave either side's early adopters in the dark. Also this is ONLY production cost so it doesn't take into account the money required to licence the use of either format which I believe is much cheaper with HD-DVD.

techie6299d ago

Dual format players are really not a very good idea. It would be much better for one to win.

bung tickler6299d ago

why would dual players not be a good idea? i don't know how much you are into computers and what not but a little while back when writable DVDs first came out there were two formats trying to "win" dominance and everything was all slow going and stupid, much like how HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are now, then dual format burners came out and... tada problem solved. now nether format "won" but both types of media are still around, and none of the early adopters were asked to bend over and grab their ankles. the only people dual format players might be bad for would possibly be the Blu-Ray camp (Sony and their supporters) if only because the titles that are released on BOTH formats at the same time tend to be $5-$10 cheaper on HD-DVD at this current state and time due to heavy licensing fees charged by Sony (hence why Sony wants Blu-Ray to win so much) but after a while I would expect this to even out. There can be BOTH formats, i mean right now they make multiple formats on plain old DVD for many movies, you got standard and widescreen, you got standard and collectors editions. i expect both formats to be around until something better comes around, something like digital distribution.

100°

Former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider pours scorn on EA's AI dreams.

"They want you to believe the devs under them are super stoked to work generative AI into their processes," continued Gaider, "but I assure you what they took as excitement was really a veiled wail of despair not unlike the time that team was informed of their new 'really cool' live service mandate.".

LordoftheCritics1d 15h ago

Publishers see gaming as another stock market.

isarai1d 14h ago

I think anyone with some common sense knew this, im glad i don't support their games anymore, what a sh!t company.

Psychonaut8523h ago

Friends don’t let friends buy EA or Ubisoft.

Chocoburger22h ago

I said this yesterday. AI isn't what we want when it comes to crafting artistry. Alas, these soulless corporate morons don't care about their work, only about cutting corners as much as possible.

120°

Phil Spencer and the Battle for Xbox’s Soul

Has the rapid growth of Xbox made the ship too heavy? Following the closures of Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, and Roundhouse, we explore what the future of Xbox could look like.

LG_Fox_Brazil1d 20h ago

This ship was never meant to sail, this ship was made from the get go to sink as fast as possible. It almost feels that they want to lower the standards of quality in the industry so that they can fit in

rlow11d 1h ago

I disagree, Xbox from the get go innovated and changed the industry. They did a lot of firsts and standardized a lot of others. It wasn’t till the beginning of the Xbox1 era that things started to go south.

Stevonidas21h ago

Yep, although I’d argue it started going to shit when they tried to hock Kinect on their audience instead of continuing to invest in their studios and IPs. 2001-2010 Xbox was peak gaming, though.

rlow120h ago

@Stevonidas
I agree they never should have focused on it after the 360 era. But you do have to remember they were faked out by the huge volumes of Kinects sold. To quote info on Wikipedia, “Project Natal, It was first released on November 4, 2010, and would go on to sell eight million units in its first 60 days of availability.” So if your Xbox and see these huge sales on a peripheral where are you going to put some money? Criticism in hindsight is worthless…..if only we could all see our future. In other wards they had no way of knowing. Plus they had engagement numbers and a lot of signs pointed to people wanting it.

Their biggest mistake wasn’t the Kinect, but unlike Sony after the PS3 debacle. They didn’t double on down on exclusive good games. The other huge mistake was letting Call of Duty go to Sony.

Hedstrom1d 4h ago

Phil wants Xbox to be as soulless as him!

Tacoboto1d 4h ago (Edited 1d 4h ago )

Xbox has no soul and Phil has no confidence, and it's impossible to say either do when they killed Tango and Arkane Austin.

Everything they've said since has only made them look worse to a point that they're actually less competent than Embracer.

Markdn1d 4h ago (Edited 1d 4h ago )

Whe you release something like the series S and expect it not to hurt your business model, and developers have to have parity with games. Then you know Microsoft don't care. Series s is the final nail that broke developers,

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360°

Sarah Bond dodges questions on Xbox studio closures

While on stage with Dina Bass at The Bloomberg Technology Summit the President of Xbox, Sarah Bond, was asked about the Xbox studio closures of Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios

2d ago
ApocalypseShadow2d ago

Of course she did. She's part of the problem and will just tow the company line.

VenomUK2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Bloomberg’s Dina Bass could barely read her scripted question without looking at her notes, whilst Sarah Bond who WAS expecting the question spoke without saying anything of substance or answering the question in any meaningful way. Clearly she’s had the same expert PR training as Phil, but this avoidance was disrespectful. In time the short-sighted decision to shut down Tango Gameworks will be seen as of the most notorious examples why Phil Spencer messed up his tenure in charge of Xbox. That’s a fully built out talented team that could’ve been put to work on any project.

Additionally, Phil Spencer should not be using Sarah Bond as a patsy for his mistakes- he should be answering that question.

gleepot2d ago

I think you are all really overselling Tangos value. Hi-Fi rush was a lot of fun. Ghostwire was incredibly dull. Evil within 1 and 2 were just okay.

lucasnooker2d ago

Evil within 2 was incredibly under rated. I thought that game was surprisingly good

NotoriousWhiz2d ago

Someone else said it best. I don't think it was a Phil decision. It was most likely a Satya decision. I think Microsoft is done giving out free money to Xbox.

Cacabunga1d 23h ago

people please boycott Activision Bethesda next release and support Hellblade.
these people mus understand that they cannot treat their fans and employees that way.
scumbags.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 23h ago
XiNatsuDragnel2d ago

Yikes you don't help Sarah 😬 making a problem worse

Christopher2d ago

She's playing her role. There's absolutely nothing any of them can say other than the truth, this is about profit margins and not quality, so they just don't answer anything and wait for gamers to forget.

shinoff21831d 21h ago

I think news is coming of more ps5 release but they gotta be careful cause Xbox is still sitting on store shelves. They can't get left holding all that stock

Lightning771d 19h ago

Come next month they'll flash nice looking games in our faces and expecting us to forget.

The only thing that'll be going through my mind at their showcase is how many of those studios will get shut down after release.

I'm not joking around either. MS probably expects every game to be like COD and do COD numbers. What a way to destroy gaming for the entire industry because they're dumb af at being realistic in what success means for each game.

-Foxtrot1d 18h ago

Always feels she was brought in / promoted for this. Happened just before things started to be out in motion.

Phil and co have someone to throw under the bus and share the blame with

zaanan1d 22h ago

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

darthv721d 13h ago

....won't get fooled again

Hofstaderman2d ago

Like a deer caught in the headlights.....

notachance2d ago

I always wondered why xbox had multiple leaders with similar titles like Phil Spencer, Matt Booty, and Sarah Bond, like, how many heads do you actually need?

Seems to me it would be more cost efficient to cut 2 of them instead of all those studios.

DarXyde2d ago

Frankly, I suspect she is the most competent of them. I don't mean that I like her more, I mean that she's the best at articulating herself and giving the talking points MS wants to give. The others are starting to sound more like her than her sounding like any of them.

Are any of these people "responsible" for what's happening? No. This reeks of Nadella. But that being said, I don't see any of the Xbox heads stepping down in protest.

"Don't shoot the messenger", sure, but at the same time, the messengers don't seem to take umbrage with the message. Not enough to remove themselves from it, anyway.

CS71d 18h ago

I disagree. Nadella is looking for profit as a CEO should in my opinion.

The problem is Dr. Phil & Co. had 10 years to bring Xbox back on track and have been failing woefully.

Phil needs to sell to Nadella that if we are to make a profit, we need to make great games. And to do that we need employees here for the long haul and the freedom to work on creative projects.

But as Phil said himself he doesn’t believe great games sell consoles.

RpgSama2d ago

Dude, 100%, forgot Major Nelson and Aaron Greenberg, like what is the point for all these suits? They have more C-level executives than games released in a generation.

This is just so they can all pass along the hot potato one at a time and in between all of them can say a lot without actually saying anything, misinformation at its finest.

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