Movie watchers who are looking for more than standard DVDs have a decision to make. Blu-ray and HD DVD represent two formats of high definition media which are currently available to consumers. Some people are not aware of the existence of the two different formats. "Forty percent of people coming to buy high definition players don't know about the two different formats," said Garret Sheffield, a customer service employee at Best Buy on Picardy Street. Sheffield said the biggest factors in a wishful shopper's mind are the prices and the video selection of each format. The prices for an HD DVD player begin around $200, while the Blu-ray players usually begin at $399. The next biggest concern is the film selection of each format, he said. According to the Blu-ray Disc Association, the number of Blu-ray releases outnumbers the HD DVD's releases by nearly 100 titles. The larger number of Blu-ray releases is attributed to Blu-ray's exclusive contracts with the majority of the film industry. The Financial Times reported that Blu-ray has contracts with nearly 70 percent of the industry. Warner Bros., previously a key HD DVD ally, announced plans on Jan. 4 to become Blu-ray exclusive. The Financial Times has reported that Paramount Pictures, one of the last major allies of HD DVD, is looking to follow Warner Bros. and move to Blu-ray exclusively. Even with the most recent developments, some consumers are not ready to commit to one format. "I'd rather wait to see who wins to make a decision," said Cathryn Wagner, finance senior.
Many students on campus said they did not own a high definition player and would prefer to wait until prices drop or to see who wins.
The format war has also affected the video game world.
In 2006, Bill Gates issued a public statement saying Microsoft's Xbox 360 would support HD DVD by releasing an external HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360. The external drive costs an extra $180.
Sony's Playstation 3, which starts around $399, already has a built-in Blu-ray player.
Brandon Pennywell, a Gamestop employee on College Drive, recommended that it is a safer bet to buy a Playstation 3, because even if Blu-ray failed it would still be useful for gaming.
Ryan Johnson, finance freshman, said he chose Playstation 3 because of this versatility.
"I bought [Playstation 3] for movies, not specifically for gaming," he said.
---- Contact Alan Verdin at averdin@lsureveille.com
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