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06 Dec 2007
A Hollywood director has accused Microsoft of deliberately stoking a format war between Blu-ray and HD-DVD.
Michael Bay, who directed Transformers, Armageddon and Bad Boys, alleged that Microsoft had deliberately tried to cause confusion over the next media format so that it could sell downloads.
Bay was asked by a fan on his web forum why his films were so slow to be released on Blu-ray, which the fan favoured. Bay blamed Microsoft for his use of the HD-DVD format.
"What you don't understand is corporate politics. Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads," he said.
Bay alleged that Microsoft is "handing out $100m cheques to studios just to embrace HD-DVD and not the leading, and superior, Blu-ray".
"They want confusion in the market until they perfect the digital downloads. Time will tell and you will see the truth," he said.
Bay's complaints echo those who claim that Paramount dropped its Blu-ray titles after receiving a payout of marketing funds.
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Do you agree?
Michael Bay is Ignorant.
First, Microsoft is a for profit company and by law they are to do the best they can to increase the profits for their shareholders. So if they had the power to do what Bay suggest, it is totally a great business move. Second, Microsoft does not have the power to control all of the HD manufactures as much as Bay may think. Ignorantly think I may add. Third, Downloading is the next technology and is already here albeit not fast enough yet. So Bay is just a self absorbed idiot who likes to hear himself talk.
Posted by: Greg 07 Dec 2007
How About Sony Caused The War ?
Sony is the interloper that caused the HD disc format war. HD DVD was developed to meet DVD Forum specs for the next generation format. Sony chose to try once more to interject their own proprietary alternative ( Read: We at Sony want to make all the money ). DVD Forum rejected the Blu-Ray spec and have never accepted it. Nevertheless, Sony chose to press on with their plans putting us where we are today. Sony started and perpetuates this HD battle.
Posted by: BDRand 06 Dec 2007
real cause of the war
It would be silly for MS to go blue ray - that would result in MS paying a royalty for every blue ray player in the xbox360 console. The real cause of the war is the failure of sony and toshiba to agree on a hybrid format. Their stupidity has opened the door for Microsoft to capitalize on the war and perfect online downloading.
Posted by: fred 06 Dec 2007