Michael Bay Accuses Microsoft of Conspiracy

Yes of course...... Microsoft wants us to download movies........ Just a question, wouldn't the movies be downloaded from a third party provider, or studio websites themselves? and if that is the case, how would Microsoft benefit? Last i checked they didn't own the communications network, nor own the internet. Sure they could develope the programmes to make it easier for the studios to distribute and manage the downloads but that would only result in minor royalties......

I know they currently have the Xbox Live movie store, but once movie downloads become more mainstream and start to impact 'physical' sales wouldn't the studios stop licensing their movies and keep them for themselves, otherwise they'd just be virtually giving them away.

And therefore, speaking of royalties, wouldn't pushing HD DVD's using iHD make them more money in both the short and long term...... one day it would be nice if people would think before they speak..... but then look who i'm referring too, i doubt many will take him seriously

[Post edited by kryjam91 on Dec 5, 2007]

Oh, yeah, they don't own the communications network...but how about 90% of all pcs operating systems?? Give that a thought.

Michael Bay is by far the best director, but he is being honest and open about what he thinks (hopefully he has proof). I do believe some part of what he is saying, come on don't give me that look ...Microsoft doesn't want either to win, OK?

I don't see why Microsoft wont do something to combine the 2. If the Toshiba provide Microsoft with HD DVD burners to use as the disc drive for the next gen console, then on the marketplace HD files will be avalailble to burn straight to disc, including extras and menus. I don't see why this isnt the direction things will head in the future.

theres two of these going on at once fellas..

http://www.dvdtown.com/messageboard/topic/5221/6/0

Wait...we didnt expect a director who makes brainless movies to actually HAVE a brain, did we?

Or lets add to the conspiracy that Bay was Sony's boy for so long, maybe he's just trying to suck up/paid off to flap his gums. After all, no one mentions Toshiba...its all Microsoft this and Microsoft that. Imagine that...Sony's console rival. I'll bet thats what's going on! See....Unfounded baseless rumors are fun!

It's true MS owns the PCs, but digital downloading is what EVERYONE is trying to get to. iTunes seems to have thrived without being beholden to Windows. Its these set-top downloaders-like 360s, PS3s, and Apple's own little box-is where they want to move to. I feel, however, that movie downloads are going to be harder to penetrate into the mainstream than music downloads. Music you can listen to anywhere, but realistically most movie-watching habits are done at home. Factor this in with the fact that most movie downloads I've seen (not all) are rental windows and not ownership. People will want to pay to own, not rental repeatedly.

The reason I think that movie downloads won't be main stream for awhile is PC software and hardware stability. In every OS that M$ have put out ther have been some serious glitches, sometimes causing compatability issues especially with previous backward compatability. ( Vista and XP). Futhermore buying high end or updating a computer with HD video cards, sound cards, high compacity HDDs can be expensive.Then there is the chance a power surge or virus that may damage your system and if you download your movies in HD you will need an HD format just to back up your downloads (if the posibilty existed to download in HD). Too much of a hassel.

[Post edited by tony1569 on Dec 5, 2007]

all good points. even those boxes (including PS3 and 360) are succeptable to breaking and, most likely, losing all the stuff on it. If my DVD or HD-DVD player breaks, I may lose a disk, but not my whole damned collection.

Bay, or anyone else, has nothing to fear for digital movie downloads for at least another hardware cycle

I just think is silly since Microsoft doesnt own movie/studios, and Sony does, and hugs alot of studios aswell. Poor MS, always getting blamed for Toshiba stuff.

If I was M. Bay I'd be careful because Microsoft could get mad and really put their money to work for HD DVD

I'm a fan of Michael Bay's super action directing.. but this guy needs to chill about his issues with formats. His accusations are unfounded.

the original question from the link is pretty %^$%%^^ HILARIOUS

Quote:
I am disappointed to hear that Mr. Bay has chosen to only place his films in HDTV format and not the UK leading Blu Ray format. Having seen the quality of both my personal opinion is that Blu Ray is better.
Why have you chosen this format?
I and my friends all own PS3's and it’s easier and better to watch these films on our systems especially as the HDTV format players are too expensive here in the UK. I was looking forward to viewing the extra bonus material and quality that Blu Ray offers for the new release Transformers and I now can’t do that. Only having this system means that I am NOT going to buy Transformers or any of your future releases from you Mr. Bay or give into buying the HDTV system. i was also shocked to hear your decision you made so abruptly on your website.

http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=595

lol, no punchline necessary.

[Post edited by kucoloco on Dec 5, 2007]

Michael Bay is halirious. He makes ONE movie that does well at the box office and he thinks he can run his mouth and sway people to choose one format over the other. First of all, Transformer was a hit because it was TRANSFORMERS, not because it was directed by Michael Bay. In fact if someone else had directed the movie it may have actually been much better. Get over yourself.

[Post edited by Falcon01 on Dec 5, 2007]

After reading statement from Mike Dunn, President of Fox Home Entertainment in November "the orchestrated campaigns of confusion and anti-consumerism fueled by an 800-pound gorilla that would prefer to force us all into the practice of paying tolls for the right to exchange information and enjoy". Michael Bay does his investigation to find down who is 800-pound gorilla. He read lots of forums, posts, news. After more than one month drinking only Kool Aid, he found down that 800-pound gorilla company which Mike Dunn memtioned is Microsoft.

Quote:
Michael Bay is halirious. He makes ONE movie that does well at the box office and he thinks he can run his mouth and sway people to choose one format over the other. First of all, Transformer was a hit because it was TRANSFORMERS, not because it was directed by Michael Bay. In fact if someone else had directed the movie it may have actually been much better. Get over yourself.

nuf- said

Mr. Bay should stop this whole HD DVD bashing and what does MS have to do with it, it's Toshiba lol. And Blu-Ray is so not the ultimate HD format. sigh

First off Michael Bay is cooler than Bill Gates! Second, I hate Vista. Third, I hate how the editor of this web site gets aggressively upset anytime there's something going against HD DVD. Fourth, Digital Movie Downloads will never take over buying movies in a retail store! Why? Because people love knowing when they buy a movie that it's in it's decorative packaging, the movie is on a shelf displayed as part of the owners video collection library, and that they don’t have to worry about some unit, fully loaded with downloaded movies breaking down, and POOF, there goes the consumers movie collection. Sorry, digital movie downloads are a horrible idea, or at least to think they will replace buying movies on a DVD, BD, or even HD DVD. I mean if anyone has ever had an ipod loaded with thousands of songs, videos, movies, and never made a backup disc for their purchases, thus, had their computer crash.... Well imagine that for downloading movies.

[Post edited by Kris on Dec 5, 2007]

Kris I have to agree with you about the movie downloading. I doubt it will replace going to the store on release date and picking up YOUR copy of the movie to play wherever you want, whenever you want.

You can have hardware crashes (hard drive, motherboard, I/O, etc), software issues (viruses, firmware updates that don't work properly, companies trying to update the copy protection, etc). If any of those things happen and you don't have access to your movies over a weekend or a few days how annoyed will you be? Especially if you lose your whole library of movies like Kris mentioned.

I prefer my buying my movie in its case anyday. That way I know if the power goes out and fries everything I won't lose my movies...the HD DVD player can be bought on Ebay for cheap and is a lot easier to buy again than say...300 movies lost due to hardware/software issues

Quote:
I hate how the editor of this web site gets aggressively upset anytime there's something going against HD DVD.

The thing is that the HD DVD camp seldom uses negative spin about the other format as reason for success. If they do I'll do my best to cover it and please let me know. If you read a lot of OFFICIAL material from the Blu-ray camp they often trash HD DVD. Why not just show your success by providing a solid product. No need to invent crazy stories about your competition in public. I'm simply against the tactic in trashing your competition instead of focusing on your own product. Provide facts and let consumers make up their own mind.

[Post edited by Henning on Dec 5, 2007]

bay certainly isnt the best director....just a lucky one....hes fine with big dumb movies but he always falls down when he tries to get emotion going....see pearl harbour for details....
if he wants to make movies but for them to be on blu then he should make em for blu only studios, not shit on his own doorstep....its not unheard of for studios to fire directors for the slightest reason, hes nno speilberg in any shape or form

To the editor of DVDTOWN. Your site has been nothing but negative articles about the blu-ray camp, and you always have something positive to say about HD DVD. High Def Digest is probably the best HD web site that stays neutral about both discs. If you have something to say about Blu-ray, it's a short article with very little detail. If your writing about HD DVD, you make the camp look like it's beyond superior! Were was your article about who won the Black Friday sales? Blu Ray did out sell HD DVD like usual.

"According to the just-issued VideoScan numbers, 72.6% of all high-definition discs purchased last week were Blu-ray, versus just 27.4% for HD DVD." (Hi-def digest)

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Industry_Trends/Disc_Sales/VideoScan:_Blu-ray_Commands_Thanksgiving_Week_Disc_Sales/1218

I figured you didn’t want to put that article up on your site because you felt that it would look bad to a site that is pro HD DVD, but tries looks neutral.

Doesn't this idiot know that Blu-ray is far from superior to HD DVD??? Am i glad that i didn't buy his children's movie of the month that is "Transformers"....I do, however own "The Island", wich is great...

[Post edited by staf on Dec 5, 2007]

Kris slow down, you recently joined, and you dont know much about this place. This is DVDTOWN not HD DVD TOWN

if you feel left out/ try hanging out with the girl with-bubbles and sony1569.

[Post edited by kucoloco on Dec 5, 2007]

Kris, I think you need to see what's going on behind all the smoke and mirrors. The only reason why Blu-Ray APPEARS to have more sales than HD DVD on Black Friday is because they were giving away 10-15 discs as part of the PlayStation promotion. They weren't going to cut the prices of the players, so they threw in extra movies. These movies were still included on the receipts and counted as sales when in fact they weren't sold at all.

It's a really nice way to fudge the numbers, but it doesn't make it the truth. Basically it was just a ploy so they can have someone post these stats in their favor. But if you take a look at the actual sales on sites like Amazon, there is no way in hell that they had 71% or whatever to 29% on Black Friday.

Personally, I would be embarrassed to boast about having a discs sales advantage on Black Friday when they factor in those free discs. Let's say they gave away 10 discs with each player instead of the 15 that I heard about, we'll just use 10 as a baseline. Now, most of the HD players had 2 discs, but they were in the box and not included on the receipts - so they don't count. That means that with the 10 extra discs and any additional Blu-Ray disc sales, Blu-Ray still ONLY had a 71% advantage? Bwah-ha-ha-ha! I have so much phlegm from laughing so hard. That's very pitiful, as it really just shows how strong the HD sales really are.

Quote:
Michael Bay is halirious. He makes ONE movie that does well at the box office and he thinks he can run his mouth and sway people to choose one format over the other. First of all, Transformer was a hit because it was TRANSFORMERS, not because it was directed by Michael Bay. In fact if someone else had directed the movie it may have actually been much better. Get over yourself.

Amen brother. His face certainly will be red if he keeps this up and proved to be wrong. It reminds me of when I read Eli Roth was saying how amazing Blu Ray was and how revolutionary it was, as if HD DVD isnt pretty much the same video quality? When these people make a point of saying these things it makes me wonder if they actually think before saying it. They (just like us) can only predict which way this war will go, but when your opinion is so public it seems foolish to make such strong points.

Michael Bay aside...Microsoft supports one of the two so that there is a war where, no one comes victorious (unlike what we are seeing, go BLU!), so that hopefuly Microsoft's downloading thing takes off. And say what you want, but Zune is a very good player I own one and I've had no problems whatsoever. Plus, they have the operating systems that can in one case, restrict what you might install...or download...or play...since they own what? 90% of the operating sytems...

Now, some of you might go ballistics over what I've said, but really, don't be biased, stand in the middle and analyse (difficult for most, I know) and please use common sense (an UnAmerican word, I know)...

Oh, and the ones who doubt about digital storage and media...what about TiVo? Didn't it take off like years ago? "Oh, I 'tivoed' that, and this"...and where is it? On VHS tapes? On DVDs? On CDs? On MiniDiscs? On Beta tapes? On USB drives?.....oh, yeah, on the box...(well, for most of the normal population, that is)...

[Post edited by mvckalel on Dec 5, 2007]

hoodaguy said:

Quote:
The only reason why Blu-Ray APPEARS to have more sales than HD DVD on Black Friday is because they were giving away 10-15 discs as part of the PlayStation promotion. They weren't going to cut the prices of the players, so they threw in extra movies. These movies were still included on the receipts and counted as sales when in fact they weren't sold at all.

It was 10 disks for black Friday, and it was the $499 PS3. It also was a "secret" Walmart sale. You and others have said that HD DVD sales are reported too low because Nielsen does not include Walmart in their sales figures. So when Walmart has a big giveaway sale on HD DVD players/disks they aren't included in Nielsen figures, but when Walmart has a big giveaway sale on PS3/Blu-ray disks they are included in Nielsen figures?

Do you have any sources to back this up?

On the subject of this thread, I think that Michael Bay has way too much time on his hands to be engaged in unrealistic conspiracy theories. Hmm.... at least we know why he directs the kind of movies he does...

[Post edited by Skyhawk on Dec 5, 2007]

"Why he directs the kind of movies he does"...you mean money-making ENTERTAINING blockbusters lately?

Better than sit down and have to watch the insipid 300 or oveblown Beowulf....

[Post edited by mvckalel on Dec 5, 2007]

mvckalel,

Our taste in movies aren't the same, and I was merely giving my opinion - which is that Bay movies demand too much from the viewer (me) in the suspension of reality to make these movies "work". It's not only his movies, but many high grossing films that have graced the Hollywood landscape of late. Michael Bay just has a knack for consistently making such movies. Of all the popcorn movies he's directed, the only movie I 'secretly' enjoyed was "The Island".

Edit: BTW, I don't think 300 is a great movie either. I've never seen Beowulf. I'm more into Indie films, foreign stuff, or Hollywood non-money making movies like Hotel Rwanda and such. I'm not a teenager anymore.

[Post edited by Skyhawk on Dec 5, 2007]

Ironacally I find the Island a little weird...it tries to be too much THX-1138 and Matrix and Terminator, that I wish he just had made a THX-1138 sequel...and yeah, I mean I like the weirdest movies, lol...

But I do believe that MS is fueling a war so that it doesn't benefit either format, that's it. Also remember that Microsoft is a very powerful company and it has the money and resources to do whatever it pleases and I believe that digital downloads are very likeable to succed since we got so many people using TiVo that I don't think downloading with a similar machine would be difficult, as long as we get better and faster broadband (you listening AT&T?)...by the way, I support Blu-ray for the capacity, but I think HD DVD is the most accessible to everybody...sorry, but GO BLU!

I'm no teenager anymore either, but heck, I can't get enough of explosions, lasers, ships...

[Post edited by mvckalel on Dec 5, 2007]

Now you're talkin'. THX-1138 was a great movie, and obviously in a different class than popcorn features like "The Island". I don't mind special effects and great explosions either, but it's nice to have your cake and eat it too - without the the entire plot and and dialog a mix of mindless clichés, and empty/unreal characters whose motivation for what they do falls into the "suspend reality also" category.

I don't believe digital "downloads" of movies to either PC or some sort of proprietary set-top boxes is going to be the format to displace Blu-ray or HD DVD. It's more likely to be HD VOD from our friendly cable providers. Imagine, for just $39.95 per month and having unlimited access to an instant viewable library of over 20,000 HD movie titles with real time streamed bit rates averaging over 20Mbps with Mpeg-4 or even a more advanced future codec. And all movie titles are searchable by director, title keywords, actors, etc. That is the future. And it's a future that's pretty distant still IMO. The infrastructure for the bandwidth required alone will take another decade or more to be realized and billions upon billions of investment dollars.

Not really distant. Cox cable, my local provider currently have VOD using Scientific Atlanta receivers. I havent downloaded anything HD yet, but the free kids shows work great. The only problem with the downloadable is the monthly service fees, its just more reasurring that you own a physical disc than hopeing the company you pay for movies doesn't go out of business and then you are out of luck on any already purchased movies. Any way this thread is getting off track but Mr. Bay was pissed when he first found out about the choice of Transformers only on HD and went on a rant, he later kissed and made up. Is Microsoft guilty of conspiracy? , probably about as much as Sony is too.

Skyhawk, I never said that Nielsen didn't include Wal-Mart sales. I said that Nielsen ratings really don't mean much because their numbers are based only on a small sample of the population. If that sample is high for something, that doesn't necessarily mean it's high like that all over.

So please don't go putting words in other people's mouths.

I really don't think is very distant either...there was a big revolution with TiVo (heck, I don't remember ever programing my vcr to record anything, unless I was there to push the button ) and I think that codecs and technology will improve to make it happen, even if the broadband infrastructure isn't invested on. For like you said, $40/month would be a great choice to watch HD content with a 'free' set up box attached to your HDTV.

But would I actually buy digital content online? Not at all, I will always buy my discs, that I can display and show off to others ...however, the rental service would and will work out...

So on top of the crazy cable/satellite bill we get every month for all the HD channels and the movie channels we are supposed to pay an additional $40 to download movies? Ah no.

I'll buy the movies I want and have them up on my shelf to watch whenever I want.

One of the things that concern me about delivering HD VOD, is that fiber optic communications providers are under no obligation to share their cable with the competition as they now do with copper wire. And why should they... right? Unfortunately the high cost of the fiber-to-the-home infrastructure presents formidable barriers to entry after the 1st company is already established. And given the fact that these solutions aren't in place just to deliver HD VOD, broadcast video, and interactive features - but also Internet and landline phone services as well. That's a lot of trust to place in a single company who effectively becomes a monopoly without the burden of government regulations that other types of communication providers face.

Perhaps this is why Verison has had to literally buy off many municipalities as it slowly extends its FiOS services.

It's not really smart to use "HD-DVD" to further the war... HD-DVD was created by the same group that created DVD... And if HD-DVD survives, MS will make money off HDi.

It's more logical to say that MS wants HD-DVD to WIN, not stalemate it.

Just more consumer confusion handed up by Sony... I was surprised though to find out that of those 2.3 million BR players, most of them ARE not 1.1..

Michael Bay is a Sony tool... Apparently he would have rather Transformers be issued on BR, and not have all the extras it had with HD-DVD. Who's taking checks???

[Post edited by shawnwc on Dec 7, 2007]

To update the infrastructure we need money.... mmmhhhh... let's see, we need billions, mmhhh... millions, mmmhhhh...

Just a very out of this world guess, could, maybe, just, out on the infinity and beyond, just maybe, could, kinda, Microsoft subside something like it? I mean, Google is going to buy spectrum for their wireless thing, so..... )

[Post edited by mvckalel on Dec 7, 2007]

Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn’t much, but the reception was excellent.

Haha, nice one Kuco I didn't get it the first time but better late then never

I just wanted to say that I think this whole argument that HD DVD is a tool to destroy Blu-Ray is the dumbest thing in a long line of dumb things that I have heard during this format war, regardless of which side you support.

First of all HD DVD was around first and Sony introduced Blu-Ray after splitting from the DVD consortium. Second: this whole HD-download argument is incredibly flawed. I make DVDs for a living, as well as HD content for the internet. And let me tell you guys something, internet movie downloads are not very profitable at all. Companies that are introducing these services are trying to compete with cable and satellite pay-per-view and illegal file sharing, not disc formats. Disc based formats are still the most profitable way to sell movies.

Add to that growing speculation that increased demands for bandwidth will bring internet infrastructure to it's knees over the next few years, potentially crippling HD download services and this starts to seem like a really unprofitable venture. Until service providers can stream HD content at least equal to cable or satellite HD in faster-than-realtime to viewers, these services will not even compete with pay-per-view providers let alone disc formats. Everybody involved stands to make more from disc formats, at least for the next few years. And to talk about Microsoft specifically, the money they make off of HD DVD or Blu-Ray as far as royalties from HDi or VC-1 or whatever must dwarf what they could make providing HD content on-line.

Quote:
First of all HD DVD was around first and Sony introduced Blu-Ray after splitting from the DVD consortium

That's not quite accurate. A little history here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc#History

People, it's MICROSOFT!!! They got money!!! They got 90% of all desktops operating systems!!!

I know that for most people, common sense doesn't work, but come on, let's get real. Google is trying to do their wireless thing, why can't MS do the same? Why do we cripple ourselves thinking that technology will not advance in the next couple of years? Who would've thought ten years what DVD would do to the market and how much money it would make? Who would've thought about having a high-speed connection in their homes (mainstream)?

The easiest thing would be to have a set-up box and a remote you select the movie you want, and you rent it. It downloads (you wait, of course, but when don't we) and then you watch it as many times as you want within a period of time. An easy interface is doable. A high-speed connection is doable. A free set-up box is doable. Why do we say this isn't possible???

I didn't say it was impossible. First of all I am talking about HD downloads. Movie download services like those on the iTunes store already exist. But HD increases bandwidth big-time and there are obstacles related to this.

It will happen, but my point was that it's not happening fast enough to make more money than disc formats immediately. In 5-10 years downloading may be the norm, but that's an eternity as far as movie revenue goes, so to actually think that they would be trying to kill the format is pretty misinformed. Discs stand to make more money for everybody for the time being.

So seriously just drop this whole 'trying to kill the format' lunacy. I don't know if this was invented by the Blu-ray side to discredit HD DVD or just a conspiracy nut's ramblings. But if it was invented to help Blu-ray, I say this to the Blu-ray people here: If you seriously want Blu-ray to win then drop these increasingly lame arguments about conspiracies behind HD DVD. It only stands to make the Blu-ray side look stupid and desperate, and that doesn't help you guys any. And that goes for the HD DVD side too, just incase you guys have a 'Blu-ray steals candy from babies' argument in the works.

If either wanted to win, they would've dropped the movie prices already.

That's a completely different topic, but you have actually killed your own theory with that.

Disc prices are high because the discs make more of a profit than any of the electronics. But if HD DVD was simply invented to destroy Blu-ray then why not sell the discs for $0.99. I mean your not in this to make a profit right? Just to kill Blu-ray. So why not even give the players and discs away for free. Yeah who's going to buy a Blu-ray player for $500 when you can get HD DVD for free. Yeah, this all makes perfect sense!

FYI it was mentioned somewhere on this forum that there are indie titles on HD DVD that retail for $14.99 or so. I am currently working on our first HD DVD title for an indie film and the producer and director are pushing to have it retail for the same price as the regular DVD.

Lower the prices to current DVD prices, which I think have gone up...

Quote:
In a top-level meeting in July, Microsoft's Bill Gates argued that the Blu-ray standard had to change to "work more smoothly with personal computers". The Blu-ray Disc Association's representatives defended the technology.[27]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc#History

The should have listened to old billy, he got money, doing something right. java sucks. lol

everyone hates microsoft, windows, xbox, etc how they try to take over everything. most people use windows because is easy. plug and play. most people own 360 because it has plenty of games, and live! is fun. If you dont like a MS product dont buy it.

Im a Tech. i can use Windows or Linux. but not everyone can do that. if you dont like IE use something else. jeesh. I actually like some MS products, been using them for years. and honestly i dont remember paying for any. lol

[Post edited by kucoloco on Dec 10, 2007]

Quote:
The should have listened to old billy, he got money, doing something right. java sucks. lol

Exactly why nearly 100% of fortune 500 companies base their mission critical enterprise systems on .Net solutions with ASP. Oh wait, that was Java, my bad!

In all seriousness, I bet Microsoft would have loved to have forced all third party Blu-ray manufacturers to be tied down to a specific operating system (Windows) by adopting Window's operating specific software. After all, a lack of openness and interoperability got Microsoft where it is today!