The internet is glorious in it’s ability to democratize information, opinion and influence. However, everything in existence (no matter how good) has a down side. Take for example this issue of the allegation that the reason Paramount and Dreamworks went exclusively with the HD DVD format in the current HD civil war is because Microsoft (one of the major backers and developers of the HD DVD format) bribed them with $150 million to do so.
This rumor got repeated so many times that a lot of people just started to accept it as fact. But the truth is it’s bull. It never happened. Then more whispers get started when Michael Bay (who I will forever be grateful to for the great job he did on Transformers) started telling people the only reason Microsoft is backing the whole HD DVD system is to keep the HD Disc issue in confusion for the public so in a couple of years they can just get everyone to switch to digital downloads. This is also false:
Microsoft provided no financial incentives to Paramount or DreamWorks. Michael Bay’s additional comments about our commitment to HD DVD are similarly unfounded. We have major technology investments in HD DVD…and have more than 100 staff at Microsoft dedicated to the success of HD DVD.
Jordi Ribas, GM of the HD DVD Group at Microsoft
Movie Blog reader Daryl also sent me a great little article over at Gizmodo which talks about why the HD DVD format is still around, and why it’s a BETTER system and stands a much better long term chance of survival. You should really check the article out.
Personally I don’t care. I’m not switching to either HD format until one universal format is agreed upon.
