One week ago, Warner studios, previously releasing movies on both HD DVD and Blu-ray dropped HD DVD and became Blu-ray exclusive. This move triggered what many believe to be the beginning of the end of HD DVD because currently only Universal and Paramount are studios releasing movies to HD DVD. Paramount is said to have a contract that will now allow them to opt-out of their exclusivity contract, and the exclusivity contract with HD DVD and Universal possibly appears to be expired, so that has left a lot of questions on the future of HD DVD. Paramount and Universal have since stated that they are still committed to HD DVD which may only prolong the HD format war. To add fire to the flames, Microsoft is standing behind HD DVD as well, and even produce an HD DVD drive for the XBOX 360.

But whichever side you look at it, this HD format war is horrible for the consumer. Right now, while this is being prolonged, the consumer loses. Many people, and rightfully so, are hesitant to buy a high def DVD player be it Blu-ray or HD DVD or fear of the other format winning and then being stuck with today's equivalent of the Betamax. The players aren't cheap either so if someone were to buy for the losing format, they'd be out a sizeable amount of money. Until one format becomes the true standard, we, the consumers are pretty much stuck. Do we go with Blu-ray or HD DVD? I mean right now, Blu-ray seems like it will be the winner, but who's to say HD DVD is somehow magically going to make a comeback and either prolong the war much longer or overtake Blu-ray entirely. Yes, right now that does not look possible, or even plausible, but at the same time, it's not outside the realm of possibilities.

In the end, we need one format, and personally even though I have an HD DVD player and not a Blu-ray, I can honestly say I don't really care who wins. Both formats look amazing, and if Blu-ray wins out, I'll pick up a Blu-ray player. I just want to be able to buy one format and be done with it.

Tags: bluray, hddvd, hdwar, welose, thoughts