Michael Bay Blows Up On Microsoft
How odd that after I let you all know about Xbox Live launching movie downloads in Europe, I run across this little item about Michael Bay accusing Microsoft of promoting confusion in the HD format wars in the hopes of making everyone sweet on the idea of digital downloads instead!
"Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads," he said in a forum post on his Web site. In August, he got pissed because Paramount decided to release Transformers exclusively on HD-DVD instead of what he calls the "leading, superior" Blu-ray. It was revealed later that Paramount was rumored to have taken a hefty "incentive" from HD-DVD promoters to make that switch.
"That is the dirty secret no one is talking about," he writes. "That is why Microsoft is handing out 100 million dollar checks to studios just [to] embrace the HD-DVD and not the leading, superior Blu-ray. They want confusion in the market until they perfect the digital download. Time will tell and you will see the truth."
Right. Well, personally, I'm sticking with DVD's until the dust settles, but honestly, I can't imagine ever switching to downloads. At least not until they can make it faster and offer more storage space. To store the content on all the DVD's I own would take a hard drive the size of a 1950's supercomputer. And my room at the castle is simply too small for such a monstrosity (and it would clash with the drapes). Still, it's probably not a good idea to argue with Michael Bay. After all, the guy does know how to destroy things. You know, cars, buildings... beloved cartoon franchises...
MIchael Bay on Microsoft's "dirty secret" [GamesIndustry.biz]
Wootini
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 5 December 2007
· Comments (10)
Other stuff like this: blu-ray, digital downloads, hd-dvd, michael bay, microsoft, transformers, xbox live
Seriously? I have nearly 200 DVDs here, counting multiple discs within boxed sets, and assuming each one would compress down to an average of 900mb using DivX, that's not even 2 terabytes.... less than $400 worth of disk, $600 if you want to take it with you. What do you have, an entire wall full?
I own something like 786 DVDs, and about 50 or so HD DVDs... To download all that info would take centuries, and the storage is simply too huge.
ESPECIALLY HD content. I use my 360 to download movies all the time (often in HD), and I don't like that I have to literally plan a couple days in advance to watch something.
HA! I'll listen to Bay as much as he listens to Transformers Fans. Which is not one damn bit LOL.
How does the saying go "Opinions are like @ssholes, Everyone has one" This guy is a tool!!!!!!!! Cuz he has creditability. Cuz we all know that Ben Afleck and his buddy saved the day during Pearl Harbor
Joke
Hey, his movie got an inferior HD format release for an inferior movie, as far as I'm concerned.
And as sure as I am that Blu-Ray is going to win, I'm still not touching either until it's 100% settled (excluding my eventual PS3, that is).
Also, if the headline simply read "Michael Bay Blows", it'd be pretty accurate, too.
Someone tell Michael Bay that he's a little late with his big insight. Microsoft has not been hiding the fact that they don't really care about who (if anyone) wins this format war, because the future is not physical media.
This may not be the best or earliest related quote, but it was the first one that popped into my head. From an Engadget interview with Bill Gates on January 9th, 2006:
"In terms of movies, I often say that this is the last format battle there will ever be, because everything is going to go online -- you're going to download it." Bill Gates
So is it a big secret that MS is happy to push right past this format "war" and keep pushing their digital offerings? Hardly.
he's afraid Microsoft will reduce his films to Youtube quality.
Wow, you mean he's afraid the video quality of his movies will finally match the creative quality?
Wow, you mean he's afraid the video quality of his movies will finally match the creative quality?