Can Avatar beat DVD?

With the release of James Cameron's blockbuster Avatar, sales of BluRay discs have seen a massive boost.

"Since its launch on Monday, Blu-ray copies of Avatar have been flying off the shelves. It looks set to smash all sales records for the new format, as it did in the US, where it sold a phenomenal 2.7 million copies in just four days.

Its release comes as some retailers, including HMV, are seeing Blu-ray sales outstrip DVDs for the first time."

Experts are stating that we may be at the tipping point which will see BluRay really take off in the UK.

http://news.scotsman.com/features/Avatar-Are-we-ready-for.6258347.jp

"But is Blu-ray ready to have its day, or is this just another play from an industry frantically trying to keep people paying for its product? Is the format truly revolutionary, or is it just the MiniDisc of movies?"

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/can-avatar-send-the-bluray-technology-into-a-new-dimension-1955127.html

Personally I believe that BluRay is destined to take place as the dominant format, but there are factors that still need to be dealt with. The cost of films on BluRay upon release is usually around £20 at the present day, whilst DVDs are usually around half the price. Also, a BluRay player requires a HD TV. I think that most households only own one main HD TV today, meaning that these films would only be able to be viewed in one place.
Sony's PlayStation 3 console is the first games unit to be compatible with BluRay discs, and still, this has not really given the format a dramatic boost. PlayStation 3 consoles are more expensive than their rivals Xbox 360, which just play DVDs discs.
Technology is always being advanced and bettered. The next step ahead is high definition, which I think will have a firm dominance in households quite soon, in the form of BluRay.

TV Developments

I've also decided to look into the future developments of television, as this has been a hot subject this year, with the introduction of 3DTV and Internet TV.

I noticed that Sky3D had been added to my Sky channels a couple of weeks ago, even though 3D TVs were not available in the UK a this point. But I've just discovered that 3D TVs officially went on sale last Friday (April 23rd) in the UK!

http://topnews.co.uk/23670-3d-tv-makes-debut-sale-uk-friday

"Samsung officially released its 40-inch 3D set at selected John Lewis, Curry's and Comet stores. The set is priced at £1,799. The release of the Samsung 3D TV is followed by the release of Panasonic’s 3D TV model slated to be launched in the following week.
It has been reported that Sony and LG will also be launching their 3D TV’s in the coming months."

But it has also been stated that only the film Monsters Vs Aliens is available on 3D BluRay at present and we'll have to wait at least another year before Sky's 3D channel is fully launched.

To make the move from 2D to 3D won't be cheap though, as customers will have to already own or purchase a Sky HD box and purchase an 3D HD TV (ugh!). The first line of these TVs cost nearly £2,000. Oh, and you'll need to buy the silly glasses.

I've been to 3D cinema showings before, and to be honest I've not been impressed. The overall effect is very underwhelming, granted the technology is still in an early phase. I would much rather see technology such as this pushed further!:



Also launched this year is Sony's new range of Bravia Internet TVs.

http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/1237477937903/sony-internet-tv?campaignId=12003038&s_kwcid=sony%20internet%20tv5275876481

"From YouTube™ and Facebook™, over movies on demand with LOVEFiLM to Catch-up TV services, BRAVIA Internet Video and BRAVIA Internet Widgets put you in control of the best of the web."

Personally, I've been waiting for a development such as this for a long time and can't wait to have this technology available to me. I think this is a great development and I can't imagine what else can possibly be introduced and achieved with television technology next!


Advert for Sony's Bravia Internet TVs.

Sony Rolly

I came across this moving speaker system a while ago, but thought I'd share it as it's fantastic!



The speakers move, turn, roll, spin and flutter to the sound, beat, rhythm and pitch being played through them.
I think it's a great piece of technology and I'd love to see them on the market! Although they might need to be developed so they wouldn't roll off the end of a table!

Edit: ... according to Wikipedia, the Rolly was released in 2007, but was discontinued soon after :(

History of Games

This week's lecture was based around the history of the gaming industry. Firstly, we explored the fact that with developed intelligence, play and enertainment becomes a necessity.

Dr. Stuart Brown is a pioneer in the research of play and says humor, games, roughhousing, flirtation and fantasy are more than just fun. Plenty of play in childhood makes for happy, smart adults - and keeping it up can make us smarter at any age.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/stuart_brown_says_play_is_more_than_fun_it_s_vital.html

The first outbreak of games saw titles such as OXO, Pong, and Breakout emerge.



During the 70s and 80s, Atari was the recognized leader in all areas of videogames. Starting out and establishing the arcade industry, Atari set the stage for the gaming industry with the release of Pong, the first arcade machine game relesead in 1972.

Early platforms included Magnavox Odyssey, Atari, Vectrex and various coin operated machines. Gaming also made its way into the home on the Spectrum, BBC Micro, Commodore, Atari and Tandy machines.

Over the years, gaming has evolved dramatically to include 3D, multiplayer, virtualisation, real time and open world play.

http://www.gameinnovation.org/

^ Here we can see many of the great innovations made in the industry.

From the early part of the 90s, the industry has seen a huge market growth. With Nintendo's handheld Gameboy, Sony's PlayStation and then, later, Microsoft's Xbox consoles.

The technology has also been developed to incorporate photoreality. It is now possible to create an interactive world looking very close to "real" life.



This is Sony's advert for its Bravia recreated using the CryEngine2.