AndyDursin wrote:In BIOSHOCK do I have to rescue every little sister (or harvest them)?

Ah, you see...that's completely up to you.

There's three different endings to the game. The arguably best ending that I got is if you save all the sisters. No harvesting.

But again: It's up to you.

I've got 2/3 on the level I'm at and I want to move on, but I can't find the last little sister. Can I just move forward or should i find it?

You can come and go as you please for the most part.

I found it to be in my best interest to not leave a level until I'd dealt with all the sisters, because I needed all the help I could get.

Damn, what an amazing game. I really am sad that I beat it the other day.

Yuck!

Fox Says No to Unrated 'Live Free' Blu-ray

Alas, we've now received the full press release for 'Live Free or Die Hard' from Fox, and despite earlier indications, it seems that although two (of the three) DVD editions will include the unrated edition, the Blu-ray will contain the PG-13 version of the film only. When asked about the discrepancy with the box art displayed on their own web site, the studio told us that the "unrated" box art is inaccurate, and that revised artwork will be revealed in the coming days.Yuck.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/ ... u-ray_/926

The only thing I can think of is that this is an appeal to younger viewers. ULTRAVIOLET only came out here in its PG-13 version too.

I don't understand Fox's obsession with DTS-MA audio either but otherwise those discs look hot.

AndyDursin wrote:Yuck!

Fox Says No to Unrated 'Live Free' Blu-ray

Alas, we've now received the full press release for 'Live Free or Die Hard' from Fox, and despite earlier indications, it seems that although two (of the three) DVD editions will include the unrated edition, the Blu-ray will contain the PG-13 version of the film only. When asked about the discrepancy with the box art displayed on their own web site, the studio told us that the "unrated" box art is inaccurate, and that revised artwork will be revealed in the coming days.Yuck.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/ ... u-ray_/926

The only thing I can think of is that this is an appeal to younger viewers. ULTRAVIOLET only came out here in its PG-13 version too.

I don't understand Fox's obsession with DTS-MA audio either but otherwise those discs look hot.

Andy,

I'm not up on the exact technology, but what is issue with DTS-MA? Is it like SACD, where you need to have a set of analog 5-channel inputs on your receiver in order to take advantage?

AndyDursin wrote:Yuck!

Fox Says No to Unrated 'Live Free' Blu-ray

Alas, we've now received the full press release for 'Live Free or Die Hard' from Fox, and despite earlier indications, it seems that although two (of the three) DVD editions will include the unrated edition, the Blu-ray will contain the PG-13 version of the film only. When asked about the discrepancy with the box art displayed on their own web site, the studio told us that the "unrated" box art is inaccurate, and that revised artwork will be revealed in the coming days.Yuck.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/ ... u-ray_/926

The only thing I can think of is that this is an appeal to younger viewers. ULTRAVIOLET only came out here in its PG-13 version too.

I don't understand Fox's obsession with DTS-MA audio either but otherwise those discs look hot.

Pretty stupid to shortchange the BD while the DVD version is loaded, especially given the premium prices Fox puts their discs out at.

Ed wrote:
Andy,

I'm not up on the exact technology, but what is issue with DTS-MA? Is it like SACD, where you need to have a set of analog 5-channel inputs on your receiver in order to take advantage?

No.

You either have an HDMI 1.3 receiver or any other HDMI receiver will simply convert it to PCM anyways, which still sounds uber amazing.

In other words, you don't have to reinvent the wheel on it to enjoy its advantages.

What people are doing with BD and HD-DVD standalone players are either using HDMI for everything, which is ideal, or if they have an older receiver, they are using multichannel analogs for all the "new higher end audio."

No.

You either have an HDMI 1.3 receiver or any other HDMI receiver will simply convert it to PCM anyways, which still sounds uber amazing.

In other words, you don't have to reinvent the wheel on it to enjoy its advantages.

Right but it's the "core" DTS or something, I believe...not the full DTS-MA...not that it would be an earth shattering difference.

All I know is the standard 5.1 optical out from either the HD-DVD or Blu Ray player provides a much fuller sound on these high-def titles than ANY standard DVD ever could.

Gone are the days of horrid DVD compressed audio like CLASH OF THE TITANS, which still is one of the worst, pinched sounding stereo soundtracks I ever came across.

I am planning on picking up an Onkyo 605 which will decode these formats, to go along with the XA2's firmware update (which ought to pass TrueHD/DTS-HD/etc thru HDMI bitstream) once it happens. The Blu Ray can still do PCM thru HDMI so I ought to be okay there for sure.

Pretty stupid to shortchange the BD while the DVD version is loaded, especially given the premium prices Fox puts their discs out at.

Doesn't look like much of anything is changing with these new Fox discs. MASTER AND COMMANDER, for one, seems to have a very small portion of the standard def DVD extras, which is just ridiculous, and all of them are still retailing in the over-$30 price range.

I'm not up on the exact technology, but what is issue with DTS-MA? Is it like SACD, where you need to have a set of analog 5-channel inputs on your receiver in order to take advantage?

The issue Ed is that there aren't any players in the market that can process the actual DTS-MA or DTS-HD tracks right now on either side -- and literally only a few receivers can too.

I think they're coming (I know the new Toshibas will via HDMI), so while you CAN hear a very outstanding soundtrack via HDMI (PCM for the DTS "core" as they call it) or even the optical out (downconverted to 5.1, but still better than DVD audio), it's not the actual, full DTS-MA or DTS-HD soundtrack.

As Eric says, it's still REALLY good, but the full power of it is something only a couple of receivers in the market can do, and none of the players in the marketplace can (though that will soon be changing).

Hence, when Fox only uses DTS-MA on Blu Ray discs, it's silly, because few if anyone can take full advantage of the track with the hardware in the marketplace.

AndyDursin wrote:

Pretty stupid to shortchange the BD while the DVD version is loaded, especially given the premium prices Fox puts their discs out at.

Doesn't look like much of anything is changing with these new Fox discs. MASTER AND COMMANDER, for one, seems to have a very small portion of the standard def DVD extras, which is just ridiculous, and all of them are still retailing in the over-$30 price range.

I can live with that since I know the PQ and AQ of the movie will be outstanding.

That's what people are buying these for. That's what most people by far are buying into both HD formats for first and foremost. Internet and extras are nice but they're not the difference maker.

Personally, I couldn't care less about any extras. If they're there, fine. If not, I can get over it if I have an amazing disc with awesome PQ and AQ. That's far and away priority one to me.


Also, people who shop smart can get these discs for under $30, although I do agree that Fox needs to get over themselves in general on disc pricing.



For me, this is kind of ridiculous:

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/sit ... ewsLang=en

Here's arguably one of HD-DVD biggest exclusives for the rest of the year and what do we see yet again?

Still no lossless audio, no true HD (again), just the same ol' Lossy DD+ 640 and what's assuredly yet another in a long series of low bitrate VC-1 encodes so they can cram it and make it all fit on one of those HD-DVD 30 gig discs.

This is arguably a flagship title for HD-DVD for at least the rest of this year.

They couldn't step it up a notch from this?

Listen, I'd have liked to see TrueHD here, and I can't see why Paramount DIDN'T offer it (as it's a 2-disc set), but we all know Paramount hasn't used TrueHD on any of their earlier releases, in EITHER format..though STAR TREK will have it...but that would be a first I believe for them, in any HD format.

They've been slow to express interest in TrueHD, no question. But that has nothing to do with HD-DVD's "technical inferiority" to the BD format so much as it shows their disinterest in it so far to date.

On the BD side I just got in a few of this month's releases:

-UNDERWORLD -- looks great, has extras
-MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA -- looks really, really great, not my fave film, but gorgeous looking
-A FEW GOOD MEN -- shows its age in places but generally good, kind of like "Flatliners" from last month, a few extras too
-THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS - blecch on the movie, nice looking though so dark it's hard to make out the benefits of HD

Thanks for the PM.

I think that PM helps me understand the response you gave me to my post.

I'm not going to respond to the first part of your post because I feel like you put some words and inference in my mouth that simply aren't accurate.

I think it was an accident.

Listen, I'd have liked to see TrueHD here, and I can't see why Paramount DIDN'T offer it (as it's a 2-disc set), but we all know Paramount hasn't used TrueHD on any of their earlier releases, in EITHER format..though STAR TREK will have it...but that would be a first I believe for them, in any HD format.

^^ This is basically my point right there.

Pull out ALL the stops and go for the kill, especially for an EXCLUSIVE title.

That's what I want to see more of from BOTH formats.

They've been slow to express interest in TrueHD, no question. But that has nothing to do with HD-DVD's "technical inferiority" to the BD format so much as it shows their disinterest in it so far to date.

True.

Paramount has not earned the gold star for taking much advantage of either format in the past IMO.

All my point here was, and is: By this time we should be seeing BOTH formats putting their guts on the line, especially with exclusive titles and/or flagship titles.

That's how you try and win format wars. Simple as that.

On the BD side I just got in a few of this month's releases:

-UNDERWORLD -- looks great, has extras
-MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA -- looks really, really great, not my fave film, but gorgeous looking
-A FEW GOOD MEN -- shows its age in places but generally good, kind of like "Flatliners" from last month, a few extras too
-THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS - blecch on the movie, nice looking though so dark it's hard to make out the benefits of HD

These are nice discs.

That's how you try and win format wars. Simple as that.

I agree with you there. I still think folks will be buying TRANSFORMERS for the PQ, I have little doubt it'll look phenomenal and sound fine...just not TrueHD or lossless quality.

AndyDursin wrote:

That's how you try and win format wars. Simple as that.

I agree with you there. I still think folks will be buying TRANSFORMERS for the PQ, I have little doubt it'll look phenomenal and sound fine...just not TrueHD or lossless quality.

Prob'ly.

Fox is at it again: the ROBOCOP Blu Ray has no extras whatsoever other than the trailer. Given the huge Special Edition that just came out, that is just unforgivable for their high-end price tag.

And THE AMITYVILLE HORROR apparently got cancelled. Someone on the AVS Forum who has been right in the past is also saying MASTER AND COMMANDER has been post-poned.

Ugh.

AndyDursin wrote:Fox is at it again: the ROBOCOP Blu Ray has no extras whatsoever other than the trailer. Given the huge Special Edition that just came out, that is just unforgivable for their high-end price tag.

And THE AMITYVILLE HORROR apparently got cancelled. Someone on the AVS Forum who has been right in the past is also saying MASTER AND COMMANDER has been post-poned.

Ugh.

Yup.

I s'pose I'd rather see them take more time to get the discs right, but considering the months' of virtual non activity...Fox needs to get their @#$% together better than this, especially for the premium prices their discs command.

This is the same BS they pulled the last time before they finally trickled out a batch of discs.