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PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service - The Beginning of the End for Blu-ray?

December 02, 2009 in Blog comments 6

Electronic Theatre reports on the recently launched PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service, citing a good initial selection of films as being hindered by a peculiar pricing strategy and extended download periods.

The Video Delivery Service has been a long time coming to Europe, having originally been announced back in April of 2008. The service launched later that year in North America as part of Sony’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) celebrations, and so it’s eventual arrival in Europe has been met with considerable anticipation. Launching with fifty titles available from day one, at a variety of price points and purchase options, it’s almost certain that those most eager PlayStation 3 will find something to watch.
kevcothirtythree via electronictheatre.co.uk »
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  • 3
    Kave En Dec 2, 09
    Digital distribution and physical copies should thrive together, not try to take over each other. Though I think charging $60 for a game in XBL or PSN is insane, especially if it's retail and you can buy it at stores. You don't get an instruction booklet, no physical copy, no box, etc. If anything, digital distribution should have lower prices because of the limitations it imposes.
  • 2
    HisServant77 Dec 2, 09
    Sheesh, another DD vs disc article? I agree with Kave there and say they should live together in harmony!

    First, internet speeds are an issue. I can more often than not, go to a store through rush hour traffic and buy a BD movie/game and get back home long before it'd take to finish downloading the same copy.
    Second, HDD space is severely limited when compared to space BDs have in the world to take up!
    Third, No resale value currently
    Fourth....far too unreliable compared to BDs I think.
    Fifth, far too many people prefer a hard-copy, a physical media.

    Physical media are going to remain for quite a few more decades until the Download/storage/price and mobility issues excel!
    • 1
      Koloth Dec 3, 09
      A few more things to consider:

      Portability, if I want to take a movie over to my grandparents or something they don't have a PS3. They don't even have a Blu-ray player. It would be DVD, VHS, or nothing. And this is even considering that there is a way to get the movie off the PS3 and on to another.

      Loaning out movies. Right now my mom has about 6 movies that she borrowed from me. This would be completely impossible with DD. It would incure the same problems as portability.

      Watching movies on other TVs in my own house for that matter. Yes I watch the majority of my TV and movies in the living room on the good TV. And the PS3 is hooked up to that one just like in most homes. But I do have a TV in my office which I watch while I'm on the computer. I'm not going to unhook the PS3 and move it into the office everytime I want to watch something. If I have it on DVD I can just bring it back here with me.

      All these are very similar in fact basically the same problem but with all of them the solution is the same. Having a hardcopy and a player to read it. I plan to get another PS3 for the office so I can watch Blu-ray back here. But transfering DD back and forth would be a huge pain in the ass.
      • 0
        ZL Dec 3, 09
        Agreed. Not to mention quality. One thing that a physical DVD or Blu-Ray disc promises, is quality. While compression rates and conversions have gotten a lot better compared to a few years, they're still not quite the same as the actual physical copy of the disc. Some of you may not care or not even notice the difference, but there is. I have downloaded so many HD Clips and Movies off the internet only to find out that they also have some serious imperfections at times, while the physical disc does not have that problem whatsoever.

        In all honesty, I rather have the quality that the physical copy promises.
        • 0
          Slumpy monkey Dec 3, 09
          Games do not have this problem I assure you. Games I have got off steam are exactly the same as their physical counterparts in terms of quality.

          Its just because games work different than movie's or videos.
  • 0
    Gamesta100 Dec 3, 09
    Yeah that's real logical for Aussies which most of have a dl limit.Hell I couldn't even dl one movie a month if they are anything over 25GB.

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