AfterDawn: News

Universal speaks about HD DVD playback issues

After weeks of constant complaints from HD DVD buyers, Universal has finally issued a statement regarding the playback issues on a few of their new releases.

In late March, many users complained of playback issues for the title "Children of Men" especially on their Xbox 360 HD DVD add on. More recently, the title "The Good Shepherd" and a couple other Universal titles have had reported playback issues.



Today, the studio acknowledged the problems and launched a new disc replacement program for those affected. The full statement from the studio is as follows:

"Universal is currently investigating reports that Children of Men, The Good Shepherd, and select other discs not playing properly in some HD DVD players. While we believe this is limited to a small number of HD DVD discs, Universal is offering a replacement service for any customers who are experiencing this problem. We are still investigating the cause and will provide further updates as we get them. Any customer problems should be directed to USHE.ConsumerRelations@worldmarkinc.com."

If you have had any playback issues with Universal titles, hopefully these new replacement discs will solve them.

Source:
HD Digest

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 3 May 2007 22:28

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• 36 comments

• reloadSE

  Lol wotabout Blu-ray? o yea 1ST POST!!!

  3.5.2007 23:35 #1

• lxfactor

  blu ray works good!

  4.5.2007 03:19 #2

• 26r0cK

  reloadSE is just tryin to cause a war. This article is clearly just one HD DVD so lets just keep it this way.

  4.5.2007 03:35 #3

• NexGen76

  Originally posted by 26r0ck:This article is clearly just one HD DVD so lets just keep it this way.You might want to read it again.This is nothing new that HD-DVD owner having problem with disc not working.
  
  a couple other Universal titles have had reported playback issues.
  
  You hear all these anti-Blu-ray people talk about how Blu-ray unstable i wish they would do some research before they start trashing Blu-ray because HD-DVD has alot of issue the need to fix.

  4.5.2007 03:54 #4

• StewieGri

  Originally posted by reloadSE:Lol wotabout Blu-ray? o yea 1ST POST!!!Blu-Ray works fine. It's just the inferior HD-DVD that has problems.

  4.5.2007 04:04 #5

• error5

  Quote:Blu-Ray works fine. It's just the inferior HD-DVD that has problems.BluRay has had its share of playback problems mostly related to the non-finalized BD-J specs:
  
  http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/9376.cfm
  http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/9225.cfm
  http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/8558.cfm

  4.5.2007 04:46 #6

• gozilla

  Quote:Blu-Ray works fine. It's just the inferior HD-DVD that has problems.Blu-Ray is hardly inferior

  4.5.2007 05:04 #7

• hughjars

  What an ignorant load.
  
  First of all the "issues" some deem so inferior on HD DVD are in most instances just some of the iHD features not working in a handful of specific instances on the XBox 360 HD DVD add-on when it is connected and used with the XBox 360.
  They don't apply if the unit is connected to a PC.
  
  IIRC some people report trouble playing 2 discs at the mo.
  (some people, not everyone).
  
  It's ridiculous nonsense to try and claim these "issues" show HD DVD itself to be "inferior".
  
  It merely demonstrates that the software in the XBox 360 'base unit' requires a firmware upgrade.
  
  But don't worry, one is coming this summer (and as the report says Universal is offering replacements).
  That's actually a demonstration of good customer service.
  
  Show me the new tech that is perfect everytime and in every instance and I might consider some of this obvious partisan bashing reasonable.
  Yeah right. *rolls eyes*
  
  Secondly error5 is absolutely right you'll find BD has many issues concerning it's Java based system where extras and features will not work on all players.
  
  I often wonder at the age of the posters here, obviously many of you are far too young to know what SD DVD was like when it began.
  Players not playing discs at all (with no coming fixes to put it right) was not exactly uncommon.
  
  ......but I guess few of you want to let mere facts and reasonable consideration of those facts stand in the way of bashing one side in this and trying to talk up the other, eh?

  4.5.2007 05:35 #8

• StewieGri

  Originally posted by hughjars:
  Show me the new tech that is perfect everytime and in every instancePS3...
  
  It works, as advertised, none of the horrendous reliability issues that dog the rushed to market 360....

  4.5.2007 06:16 #9

• eatsushi

  The PS3 had problems with BluRay playback after the 1.5 update.
  
  http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/8558.cfm
  
  Add to this the well-known downconversion issue for 720p games for people whose HDTV's could not accept a 720p signal.
  
  The issue with the Universal discs was purely software in origin and sporadic in nature.. It was a bad batch of defective pressings. Thus, a replacement disc is all that's needed to fix it. It was not a hardware issue.

  4.5.2007 06:30 #10

• ChromeMud

  Blu-ray and HD-DVD are both new formats and just like DVD
  when it launched,players had problems with dropped frames,
  stuttering playback,etc.
  Everyone is basicaly Beta testing until they get the formats
  stable which is the sad predictable truth.
  Just like HDMI being upgraded ever so often,the High Def
  formats have got some way to go before players are fully
  compatible with all the features that they will offer.
  Thats why I won't bother buying into High Def until
  the hardware is at a certain level of acceptable competence.

  4.5.2007 07:07 #11

• StewieGri

  Originally posted by eatsushi:The PS3 had problems with BluRay playback after the 1.5 update.
  
  http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/8558.cfm
  
  Add to this the well-known downconversion issue for 720p games for people whose HDTV's could not accept a 720p signal.
  
  The issue with the Universal discs was purely software in origin and sporadic in nature.. It was a bad batch of defective pressings. Thus, a replacement disc is all that's needed to fix it. It was not a hardware issue.
  Utter tripe, there is no playback issue with the 1.50 update, there are some users with dodgy wifi connections that kept re-requesting IP addesses, which causes Blu-ray stuttering, if that's what you are referring to, but nothing wrong with the PS3 or Blu-ray playback itself. As for anyone foolish enough to buy a 720p only TV, then they simply got stung as all early adopters.
  
  In Europe, as 720p only monitor is not even allowed to carry the HD logo. (It has to support 1080i AND 720p).

  4.5.2007 07:32 #12

• eatsushi

  Quote:Utter tripe, there is no playback issue with the 1.50 update, there are some users with dodgy wifi connections that kept re-requesting IP addesses, which causes Blu-ray stuttering, if that's what you are referring to, but nothing wrong with the PS3 or Blu-ray playback itself. As for anyone foolish enough to buy a 720p only TV, then they simply got stung as all early adopters.
  
  In Europe, as 720p only monitor is not even allowed to carry the HD logo. (It has to support 1080i AND 720p).Well you just proved the point that the PS3 is not as perfect as you make it out to be.
  
  In addition, here's the very active afterdawn PS3 problems and issues thread:
  
  http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/422586

  4.5.2007 07:40 #13

• NexGen76

  Okay with out having to write a whole page on this....HD-DVD is having alot of problem so as Blu-ray but the issue owner having with HD-DVD is not on the same scale as Blu-ray.You got HD-DVD disc that will not play at all in some people system Blu-ray not having that problem.No matter how people try to hide that HD-DVD is having problem its showing up every week with a HD-DVD new release.Owner holding there breath to see if there disc work.
  
  Originally posted by Hughjars:First of all the "issues" some deem so inferior on HD DVD are in most instances just some of the iHD features not working in a handful of specific instances on the XBox 360 HD DVD add-on when it is connected and used with the XBox 360.
  They don't apply if the unit is connected to a PC.That isn't the problem its the fact that some disc will not play at all in some 360 HD-DVD drive even when hooked up the correct way.Or stand alone player.
  
  http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/news/show/552

  4.5.2007 08:25 #14

• hughjars

  Quit trying to pretend this is something it isn't.
  
  It's just a matter of replacing the disc or a new firmware.
  
  This BS that it "proves HD DVD is inferior" is such idiotic garbage, who do you think you're kidding?
  
  For the BD cheer-leaders who want to pretend no BD player ever had a glitch then I suggest you look into how the Samsung BDP1000 was when it first arrived, before it was (kind of) sorted out by new firmware updates.
  
  BD players have been known to 'blank screen' too.....and claiming no-one has ever had problems with their PS3 playback is just laughable.
  
  http://crunchgear.com/2006/11/20/blu-ray...-playstation-3/
  
  http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news/show/409

  4.5.2007 09:05 #15

• Baccusboy

  The guy who encoded the Nine Inch Nails HD-DVD and Blu-ray posted that encoding on each format presented its share of problems. The one that stood out to me, as far as HD-DVD was concerned, was that they were unable to run quality checks on HD-DVDs midway through the creation process. It had to be done at the end, and there was no way to be entirely sure that every disk would be error-free. Man, I wish I could find the post he made about it. It was somewhere on AVS, I think.

  4.5.2007 09:07 #16

• hughjars

  Yeah right, Baccusboy.
  
  After your claims about the XBox 360's HDMI where you claimed
  Originally posted by Baccusboy: Even with the new 360 Elite model, the HDMI doesn't pass through the xbox unit, so you are still stuck with the component video output on the HD add-on unit.
  http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/502664
  
  I'll just await the link (to the interview itself) and see what he actually said (if anything at all) if you don't mind.
  
  You'll be trying to tell us there is some technical reason why SD DVD can't be checked......well you ought to as the production processes are almost exactly identical.
  
  Let's see what the guy actually said.
  Let's see some proof there is some technical reason behind your claims.
  
  At best I suspect a half-understood matter of the individuals concerned being available at any particular time, or maybe admin, logistics and various arrangements clashing - or at worse you are deliberately distorting the truth.
  
  Knowing the HD DVD & SD DVD manufacturing processes are so similar I know what my suspicions are.

  4.5.2007 09:19 #17

• pigfister

  cant w8 to see all the hd movies (Blu-ray & HD-DVD) screw up once the new keys are forced on everyone by AACS LA, and Blu-ray, bd+ is switched on in the coming month.
  
  sony cant even get ARccOS right on their own players imagine the public outcries once bd+ starts shutting off ppl's Blu-ray players, permanently!

  4.5.2007 10:04 #18

• cashman91

  both players will have their problems

  4.5.2007 11:06 #19

• duckNrun

  with all this constant bickering over who's hd choice is best it makes me wonder if the posters are:
  
  1) Fanboys of the format
  2) People with a vested interest in not admitting their choice is equal to or less than the other person's choice
  
  either way that would make their OPINION worthless due to bias
  
  **sighs** some people need to logoff and get a life
  
  who cares WHICH format is better or will win or is winning? Only those people mentioned above in #1 or #2

  4.5.2007 13:07 #20

• hughjars

  Well I'll tell you why I bother to post on the topic duckNrun.
  
  I have an interest in HD purely as a private punter.
  I got thoroughly sick of the misleading half-truth and lies that are almost exclusively ( ;-) )the preserve of one side alone in this and I am deeply alarmed at what may well happen to the film industry if Sony and their DRM plans come to dominate.
  
  I have no real interest in games consoles (but even there the selective disinformation is obvious and obvious).
  
  I have no connection now and have not ever had any connection with any CE company and I keep my 'opinions' as fully backed up with a selection of info from several varied sources.
  
  I'm no "fanboy" either - not at my age, tho my preference is for HD DVD.
  
  I just don't see why these folks should be allowed to continually make false or highly biased and manipulative claims unchallenged.
  
  I happen to think those here that can provide a more balanced and complete story ought to in the hope of informing and helping their fellow a/v enthusiasts better.
  Don't you?

  4.5.2007 14:46 #21

• ChromeMud

  Everyone's sick of DRM and Blu-ray is the worst anti consumer
  technology of them all.
  Screw DRM and screw Blu-ray.
  Even HD-DVD isn't to be excused but atleast they won't force you
  to upgrade your firmware whenever they say JUMP!

  4.5.2007 15:21 #22

• borhan9

  Its good to see that they are willing to do a disc replacement. Also this would be music to the ears of Blu-ray. I am still siting on the fence though until the market has a big share of either format. Kinda like when DVD came and took over VHS. Still waiting also cause i wanna see the prices drop further :)

  4.5.2007 15:58 #23

• reloadSE

  I meant, does Blu-ray have any problems gosh........

  4.5.2007 16:27 #24

• mspurloc

  The point here is that both formats suck because of DRM. The HDTV standard is already compromising on quality compared to the original specs. Now they waster disc space on this crap that makes the discs unplayable. Get the word out and use the right words, people!
  
  DRM IS AN INFECTION. DRM IS A VIRUS. THE MPAA IS INFECTING AMERICA.

  4.5.2007 16:50 #25

• Baccusboy

  Other than people working for the industry, I don't think there's anyone who likes DRM on either side. The whole reason Sony got more movie studios in the first place is because they agreed to the extra layer of DRM.
  
  To me, it doesn't matter. It will always be broken. Always.

  4.5.2007 18:19 #26

• duckNrun

  I didnt mean to make it sound like anybody who discusses these things is over the top or any other sort of thing. But you must admit that there is a certain amount of, I dont know, vitriol, in some discussions about this topic here on these boards and other boards as well.
  
  open minded, honest, clear headed discussions and debates are great but when they sink to a certain depth it just makes me wonder about the passion behind the insistence.
  
  :-)

  4.5.2007 19:30 #27

• NexGen76

  Originally posted by duckNrun:open minded, honest, clear headed discussions and debates are great but when they sink to a certain depth it just makes me wonder about the passion behind the insistence.
  I Agree with everything you said but some people on this board have a issue with some company's for some reason just like i question some people creditableness, how can anyone say they are providing you with truth if they never own any of the products never took the time to work with either but bash one or the other company with no valid argument but base all there info off internet sites.I've learn to take most people comments on this board with a grain of salt no matter how misinformed they are.I respect people more on this board that has took the time to find the truth & not this internet garbage we see like links & posts. Ex: Error5 & Eatsushi is one of those members that know what they talking about, they own both & will give you a honest opinion about both weather its good or bad.
  
  
  
  I support Blu-ray but i don't have any issues with HD-DVD in fact im thinking about buying a stand alone.I look at the whole picture if both format didn't have each other i don't think we would be seeing the price drops we are seeing now.HD-DVD in no way is inferior to Blu-ray both are very good product with some bugs that going to be worked out.

  5.5.2007 04:28 #28

• plutonash

  Quote:Originally posted by hughjars:
  Show me the new tech that is perfect everytime and in every instancePS3...
  
  It works, as advertised, none of the horrendous reliability issues that dog the rushed to market 360....LOL Funniest shit I've read in weeks. The thing came with both software and hardware issues and alot of them. Where have you been lately? The reason its not in the news today is because not many people have the thing nor want it. Its yesterday news brother

  7.5.2007 13:10 #29

• StewieGri

  Keep on dreaming, the PS3 is extremely reliable, with no software issues.
  
  If you have to invent issues, to make your choice of console not so crap, then so be it, but it makes you look like a total dork.

  7.5.2007 13:16 #30

• eandtc

  And pretending everything's perfect makes you look like George Bush...

  7.5.2007 13:20 #31

• StewieGri

  Things may not be perfect in Sony land, but the console is quiet, reliable and selling well (3 Million+ since November).
  
  Microsoft have some serious problems, they are losing money in the gaming divison hand over fist, HD-DVD is flopping badly, and the 360 is showing it's true colors, as a unreliable hunk of junk, with massive failure rates. Even the sales of the 360 is dropping off..

  7.5.2007 13:27 #32

• robtwilk

  I own a 360 HD-DVD add-on and a PS3. I don't care who wins, but I do know that many BD's stop playback (pause) on their own. I have to hit play and pause a couple of times to continue playback.
  
  I have equal amounts of HD and BD discs. I try to buy HD because of better reviews, but BD are really pumping out the titles. I also heard the DVE HD-DVD is having serious playback issues on the 360, but should be fixed with this latest Spring 2007 update.
  
  Also, I have heard that the PS3 is supposed to start playing a BD if you insert one. That is not the case on mine. I must navigate through the menu and select Blu-ray disc.
  
  Couldn't they have made the remote IR like everyone else? What universal remote supports Bluetooth??
  
  I own a lot of Sony equipment - more than $10,000 worth. But I am no one's fanboy. I buy and support whatever meets my needs, offers value at a fair price, and has a decent support mechanism.
  
  My Wii has issues as well.

  9.5.2007 21:23 #33

• StewieGri

  Quote:Also, I have heard that the PS3 is supposed to start playing a BD if you insert one.
  
  There is an option in the settings called Autoplay (since Firmware 1.60)

  10.5.2007 01:44 #34

• hughjars

  Originally posted by robtwilk:My Wii has issues as well. - They all have "issues", at least to begin with.
  
  The only thing unusual about any of this is the rubbish
  (surprise surprise FUD & patent propagandising flag-waving nonsense coming from one end of the 'spectrum' only)
  that tries to have folks believe that their preferred brand never has had a problem ever
  (those reports of problems & umteen firmware updates must all have been just nothing or for fun, eh?
  *rolls eyes* ).
  
  As I said earlier, this lame attempt to knock a format because of a sporadic series of "issues" some people have had
  (and a quick look around shows it really is a case, for some of these problems, it is only some they effect)
  really just ignores the reality of what new tech can be like.
  
  Good to see Universal step up and replace problem discs and Microsoft so quick to issue the software upgrade required
  (that's one of the clever parts of the whole XBox 360 HD DVD add-on idea, the processing is almost entirely a 'software solution', not hardware based, so it can be fairly easily tackled).
  
  Also worth bearing in mind is that none of the 'issues' effect XBox 360 HD DVD add-on users who use it with a PC.
  
  Regular (SD) DVD was initially full of "issues"
  (and there was no chance of a replacement disc or firmware back then)
  and only the most blinkered idiot would claim those minor issues meant SD DVD was a failed or failing format.
  But some people, eh?
  
  I see the spring update for the XBox 360 is out and addresses some of the matters recently raised (the DVE test disc is specifically mentioned).
  
  (Also of note for those interested, they are a couple of days away from bring out the HD DVD add-on update - it's been held back a few days so that their servers don't get over-loaded - that will bring full 1500kbps DTS 5.1 sound to users of the XBox 360 & the XBox HD DVD add-on combo; should be a very nice upgrade for most)

  10.5.2007 07:17 #35

• hughjars

  Interesting how the Sony/PS3/BD fanclub just flat deny PS3's BD playback problems.
  
  It's certainly not 'nothing', 'funny' or anything short of highly annoying if you're an actual owner and movie buyer.
  They're supposed to be region A+B but clearly aren't.
  
  But if the fanclub was actually buying the BD discs they'd know about the plethora of "US Region A+B" discs being released that do not play on a UK PS3.
  
  (I've yet to hear how these are with the UK BD stand-alones)

  21.5.2007 04:02 #36