UK Blu-ray launch delayed
by David Hinkle 
{ Jul 11th 2006 at 9:47AM }
You could count this as a small win for HD-DVD, I suppose, as manufacturers say they're not ready to bring Blu-ray over to Europeans just yet. This could come off as very troubling news for Sony as it's going to already be difficult enough to get Europeans buying their console due to an even more expensive price tag than in Japan and the US. While the Blu-ray supporters are having issues, Toshiba has stated that they'll be on time with their release of the HD-DVD medium in Europe when the Berlin show opens.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jc @ Jul 11th 2006 10:40AM
Another peice of bad news for Sony. WOW I'm so shocked! How is it that anyone still wnats to be on board buying this console? The flags are up everywhere.
PS3 needs good press @ Jul 11th 2006 11:34AM
You know what?
If Sony and Toshiba had come to an agreement and they used perhaps HD-DVD as the go ahead medium for the future, PS3 would be cheaper and probably come out sooner and they could use the multi-layered format to give us 30GB discs considerably fast. All these delays with Blu-ray turn my stomach. We keep getting our console pushed back because of this format war with the possibility of a severe shortage on release. Hopefully when the Blu-ray players drop like 500 bucks in price, the PS3 sees a similar drop in its first 18 months from $600 to $400, if we're lucky. Hence why I won't be picking up a PS3 until 08.
Mr BoomStick XL @ Jul 11th 2006 12:25PM
How about that, Blu-Ray having trouble!! Well if Sony did'nt skip a generation and use the very good HD format then maybe I would'nt have to take out a small loan on Nov 17ht when the PS3 comes out!!
P.S Sony, my system better work. If not I will never buy a Sony product ever again!!
SuicideNinja @ Jul 11th 2006 12:57PM
This format war is ridiculous, especially in relation to gaming. We don't need these formats yet, unless you want to bloat a game with unnecessary prerendered movies. This generation should allow the meeting of real-time scripted and gameplay graphics for cutscenes, leaving no need for the extra space and costs involved. Sony should have just released the PS3 on time, with DVD. And saved themselves and us some serious money.
ben furneaux @ Jul 11th 2006 5:59PM
We really do get a sore deal here in the UK. We even pay more than the rest of Europe for everything aswell. I honestly don't know what to say other than it proves that it's all about the money. The least profitable reigons lose out.
Kudos to MS, Sony and Nintendo for launching consoles in EU at the same time as US. I Hope this a trend that will follow through future generations.
OkayItsMe @ Jul 11th 2006 6:14PM
Studio Briefing posted the following today...
Yet Another Delay for Blu-Ray Players, Says Chinese Paper
And the delays keep coming for Sony's Blu-ray high-definition DVD system. China's Commercial Times newspaper is reporting that Sony's production facilities have not been able to meet the demand for the diode that generates the blue laser at the heart of the HD system. Both Sony's own plants and those of Japan's Nichia Corp., the only two suppliers of the diodes, have been plagued by production problems, the newspaper said. The supply problem, it observed, could not only delay production of Blu-ray DVD players for Sony and other manufacturers, but could also delay the release of PlayStation 3 models, now scheduled for November.
Personally, I find this news odd, considering early July Sony said it delayed delivery of it's BDP-S1 to 'fall' but said it would not affect other Blu-Ray offerings, including the PS3.
matjet @ Jul 12th 2006 1:37AM
if its the blue laser that is the problem then wouldent it affect hd-dvd too?