The next generation high-definition video format war may soon be over…and HD-DVD looks to be the winner. Variety.com is reporting today that Paramount and DreamWorks Animation have officially decided to completely abandon Blu-Ray support and have all future releases distributed exclusively in HD-DVD. What this means to the average consumer is that if you’re looking to buy a high-def version of “Blades of Glory”, “Shrek the Third”, or “Transformers” this Christmas, you better have a player that supports HD-DVD!
Paramount chairman and CEO Brad Grey is quoted as stated the following, “I believe HD DVD is not only the affordable high quality choice for consumers, but also the smart choice for Paramount.” While DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg added the following, “We believe the combination of this year’s low-priced HD DVD players and the commitment to release a significant number of hit titles in the fall makes HD DVD the best way to view movies at home.” Being an Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player owner myself, this is more than welcome news. With Heroes and the Office also being released exclusively on HD-DVD, I would expect most high-def early adopters to shift their format focus to HD-DVD with the release of Transformers the Movie.
If you thought the Linkin Park / Jay-Z mashup was cool, check out this LP/Transformers mashup…
“This sci-fi action saga follows a global group of young, everyday people who, in the midst of perfectly normal lives, awake to discover they each have special powers — from stopping time to reading people’s thoughts. The newly minted unlikely superheroes eventually join forces to defeat their mutual foe, who plots to steal their super-DNA and destroy the world.”
