How many people use their videogame systems as their DVD p..

<richardhutnik.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:bdc765bb-db79-455c-be94-b78a305867cd@e25g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> In this generation war for console supremacy, the movie format is
> supposed to be a major issue, one which Sony is banking on winning so
> that the PS3 will come out on top.
>
> However, I have a question. What percentage of people actually use
> their videogame systems now as their DVD players? I am curious if I
> am a rare few (more of an issue of space, and owning all systems). If
> it isn't that large, then why would whatever format wins the next gen
> war have an impact on console sales? Last gen, Sony did get a jump by
> having the PS2 as one of the cheapest DVD players, but what about this
> generation? Why will it matter that much?

In my gaming room the PS3 is my primary DVD player. It's better then my
other upscaling DVD players and it offers superior sound as well.
 >> Stay informed about: How many people use their videogame systems as their DVD p.. 

On Jan 21, 4:20 pm, Doug Jacobs <djac... RemoveThis @shell.rawbw.com> wrote:
> richardhut... RemoveThis @gmail.com wrote:
> > However, I have a question. What percentage of people actually use
> > their videogame systems now as their DVD players? I am curious if I
> > am a rare few (more of an issue of space, and owning all systems). If
> > it isn't that large, then why would whatever format wins the next gen
> > war have an impact on console sales? Last gen, Sony did get a jump by
> > having the PS2 as one of the cheapest DVD players, but what about this
> > generation? Why will it matter that much?
>
> Well, going back to 1999, my first DVD player was in my laptop. Smaller
> screen, sure, but much better picture. Watched a few DVDs on that, then
> heard the PS2 would feature DVD playback. I had already decided to get a
> PS2, so the DVD playback feature wasn't really a big deal to me at the time.
> The PS2 did well enough as a DVD player, despite the horrible reviews it
> got from the more technical websites. However when I found a cheap enough
> region-free player, I bought that and stopped using my PS2 for DVDs.
>
> Note: when I bought my PS2 for $300, most DVD players were around $300 as
> well.
>
> This time, things are different...
>
> Why anyone would buy a $400-600 game console to use as their primary DVD
> player (NOT blu-ray! plain old DVD!) is beyond me. Even the most
> space-conscious person is already going to have a small DVD player
> already, and it's not as though the PS3 or 360 are particularly small or
> slim...
>
> If you're interested in blu-ray, however, the PS3 makes more sense.
>
> I wonder if anyone over in the HD-DVD camp has realized what Sony has
> managed to do with the PS3, and why they haven't accused Sony of unfair
> trade practices.
>
> I most industries - like automobiles - it's considered illegal to
> intentionally under price your products to the point where you're losing
> money on each unit sold, just so you can force out any competition. This
> is called dumping, and was what Japan's automakers were accused of doing
> back in the 70s and 80s with their cars.
>
> However, in the video game market, it's standard practice to underprice
> the console hardware even by hundreds of dollars to entice customers to
> buy the hardware - and then buy many many expensive games, each of which
> results in a chunk of money to the hardware manufacturer in the form of a
> license fee.
>
> By calling the PS3 a "game console", Sony has, in effect, managed to
> create a blu-ray player that's priced hundreds less than even Sony's own
> standalone blu-ray player.
>
> So, how is Sony's PS3 not an example of dumping from the standpoint of the
> home theater market?
>
I think it's different. What console makers do is more akin to what
printer companies do with their inkjets. Printer costs almost nothing
but then you have to spend big $$$ on the ink cartridges.
I don't even think it's illegal to 'undersell' your products. I mean,
Blockbuster tried to kill Netflix by losing money on their online
rental programs that also included in-store rentals. They could do it
for months while Netflix tried to stay afloat with their customers
going over to Blockbuster, but eventually Blockbuster couldn't afford
it anymore and had to raise their prices, posting millions of dollars
in losses. It's a gamble.
 >> Stay informed about: How many people use their videogame systems as their DVD p.. 

In alt.games.video.xbox Tascam Holiday <tascam.holiday.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
> Unfortunately I can't abandon the old DVD player completely because of the
> region locking, but it's rarely used.

Eh, give it a few years and we'll start seeing blu-ray players that have
that correct that "flaw" that is region-locking soon enough.

--
It's not broken. It's...advanced.
 >> Stay informed about: How many people use their videogame systems as their DVD p.. 

richardhutnik.RemoveThis@gmail.com wrote:

> However, I have a question. What percentage of people actually use
> their videogame systems now as their DVD players? I am curious if I
> am a rare few (more of an issue of space, and owning all systems). If
> it isn't that large, then why would whatever format wins the next gen
> war have an impact on console sales? Last gen, Sony did get a jump by
> having the PS2 as one of the cheapest DVD players, but what about this
> generation? Why will it matter that much?

Well, going back to 1999, my first DVD player was in my laptop. Smaller
screen, sure, but much better picture. Watched a few DVDs on that, then
heard the PS2 would feature DVD playback. I had already decided to get a
PS2, so the DVD playback feature wasn't really a big deal to me at the time.
The PS2 did well enough as a DVD player, despite the horrible reviews it
got from the more technical websites. However when I found a cheap enough
region-free player, I bought that and stopped using my PS2 for DVDs.

Note: when I bought my PS2 for $300, most DVD players were around $300 as
well.

This time, things are different...

Why anyone would buy a $400-600 game console to use as their primary DVD
player (NOT blu-ray! plain old DVD!) is beyond me. Even the most
space-conscious person is already going to have a small DVD player
already, and it's not as though the PS3 or 360 are particularly small or
slim...

If you're interested in blu-ray, however, the PS3 makes more sense.

I wonder if anyone over in the HD-DVD camp has realized what Sony has
managed to do with the PS3, and why they haven't accused Sony of unfair
trade practices.

I most industries - like automobiles - it's considered illegal to
intentionally under price your products to the point where you're losing
money on each unit sold, just so you can force out any competition. This
is called dumping, and was what Japan's automakers were accused of doing
back in the 70s and 80s with their cars.

However, in the video game market, it's standard practice to underprice
the console hardware even by hundreds of dollars to entice customers to
buy the hardware - and then buy many many expensive games, each of which
results in a chunk of money to the hardware manufacturer in the form of a
license fee.

By calling the PS3 a "game console", Sony has, in effect, managed to
create a blu-ray player that's priced hundreds less than even Sony's own
standalone blu-ray player.

So, how is Sony's PS3 not an example of dumping from the standpoint of the
home theater market?

--
It's not broken. It's...advanced.
 >> Stay informed about: How many people use their videogame systems as their DVD p.. 

On Jan 20, 6:14 pm, DarkKnightProductions.deezin... RemoveThis @gmail.com wrote:
> On Jan 20, 5:40 pm, "Rob" <bucfa... RemoveThis @SPAMtampabay.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > No way do I use my console. I can buy a DVD player for $25, why would I wear
> > out a $400 gaming system?
>
> > "khee mao" <a... RemoveThis @asdf.asdf> wrote in message
>
> >news:Cuydna9B4pi8Og_anZ2dnUVZ_vOlnZ2d@cablespeedwa.com...
>
> > > <richardhut... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
> > >news:bdc765bb-db79-455c-be94-b78a305867cd@e25g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> > >> In this generation war for console supremacy, the movie format is
> > >> supposed to be a major issue, one which Sony is banking on winning so
> > >> that the PS3 will come out on top.
>
> > >> However, I have a question. What percentage of people actually use
> > >> their videogame systems now as their DVD players? I am curious if I
> > >> am a rare few (more of an issue of space, and owning all systems). If
> > >> it isn't that large, then why would whatever format wins the next gen
> > >> war have an impact on console sales? Last gen, Sony did get a jump by
> > >> having the PS2 as one of the cheapest DVD players, but what about this
> > >> generation? Why will it matter that much?
>
> > >> - Rich
>
> > > I use my 360 for hd-dvd, my PS3 for Blu-Ray and DVD...- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> i use my ps3 to watch blu ray sometimes but your right why wear out a
> 400 system when u dont have to

I bought my 40Gb Playstation 3 specifically to watch Blu-Ray movies so
that would be a reason why I wear out a $400 system. I've rented a few
games and I own one game, but I haven't really played all that much.
I've seen tons of Blu-Ray movies, though.
 >> Stay informed about: How many people use their videogame systems as their DVD p.. 

On Jan 20, 7:11 pm, "Rob" <bucfa....DeleteThis@SPAMtampabay.rr.com> wrote:
> "khee mao" <a....DeleteThis@asdf.asdf> wrote in message
>
> news:OpadnfpeDq0oRw7anZ2dnUVZ_gKdnZ2d@cablespeedwa.com...
>
>
>
> > "Rob" <bucfa....DeleteThis@SPAMtampabay.rr.com> wrote in message
> >news:13p7jfahe3c2ic8@corp.supernews.com...
> >> No way do I use my console. I can buy a DVD player for $25, why would I
> >> wear out a $400 gaming system?
>
> > what planet do you live on?
>
> Earth.
>
>
>
> > 1) where can I buy a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player for $25?
>
> Not anywhere I know of. Why? OP said DVD player not HD.

Right, but you responded to khee mao, you stated that he used his
systems for HD-DVD, Blu-Ray *and* DVD. If you respond to him, it's
assumed you're responding in the same context he is.

> > 2) a movie runs for a what? a couple hours? games like Oblivion spin
> > the
> > disc for hundreds of hours. maybe you should stop playing games so you
> > won't wear your console out even faster...
>
> Play DVD's all you want... I do not and will not. I have a DVD player which
> is what I use.

I used my Xbox 360 as a DVD player for a while early on because I
didn't have an upscaling DVD player at the time.

> > 3) extended warranties. ever heard of them? if not:
> > 4) decreasing costs of production mean the PS3 will continue to retail
> > for
> > less, so in the off chance I might actually 'wear out the disc drive',
> > something I've had happen exactly ONCE (Thompson drive in the launch xbox)
> > in my lifetime, getting a replacement isn't going to 'break me'.
 >> Stay informed about: How many people use their videogame systems as their DVD p.. 

On Jan 19, 10:58 pm, Jordan <lu....TakeThisOut@earthlink.net> wrote:
> On Jan 19, 1:36 pm, richardhut....TakeThisOut@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > In this generation war for console supremacy, the movie format is
> > supposed to be a major issue, one which Sony is banking on winning so
> > that the PS3 will come out on top.
>
> I think it's the opposite... Sony is depending on the PS3 to make Blu-
> Ray a success in the movie format market rather than having Blu-Ray
> making the PS3 a success in the gaming market.... Right now the games
> market is many, many times the size of the HD disc format market.

Sony already depended on the PS3 to make Blu-Ray a success and it did
its job well... at least from a relative standpoint within the HD-only
market.

It's *only* because of the PS3 that Blu-Ray was able to beat out HD-
DVD. HD-DVD was leading in both hardware and software prior to the
introduction of the PS3, after which the Blu-Ray market suddenly
bloomed and people started claiming consumers were choosing Blu-Ray.
They were choosing the PS3.

> But to answer your question... Connected to the same television I have
> a 360, a Wii, a PS3 and an HD-DVR/HD Tuner. I disconnected a 1080p
> upgrading DVD player to make room for the PS3.
>
> I find the picture quality better on both the PS3 and Xbox 360 than on
> my upgrading player (Phillips DVP 5982 using HDMI) and see no reason
> to re-connect it.
>
> - Jordan
 >> Stay informed about: How many people use their videogame systems as their DVD p..