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Digital Leisure Adds BD-Java Interactivity to 'Dragon's Lair,' Sets April Release Date
Mon Mar 26, 2007 at 03:58 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, High-Def Gaming, BD-Java, Digital Leisure (all tags)
Indie distributor Digital Leisure has announced an April 9 street date for the arcade classic 'Dragon's Lair' on Blu-ray, marking the format's first title to be authored with BD-Java picture-in-picture interactivity.
As first reported last week, Digital Leisure announced plans to bring the popular '80s arcade classic to Blu-ray. Combining hand-drawn 2-D animation from the Don Bluth Studios with laserdisc-based technology, 'Dragon's Lair' allowed gamers to pilot the heroic Dirk the Daring on a series of adventures using simple joystick commands.
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Now, they have revealed full details for the release, which will include a fully remastered, frame-by-frame restoration in 1080p video done by Digital Leisure and authoring studio Infinite HD. The disc will also include a restored Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track taken from the game's original elements.
Supplements exclusive to the new Blu-ray include are brand-new interviews with game creators Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and Rick Dyer, and a full-length visual commentary of the game, all in full 1080p video.
But the most exciting news for Blu-ray is that 'Dragon's Lair' will make full use of the format's BD-Java authoring environment for video picture-in-picture enhancement. Since the launch of the Blu-ray format, titles containing interactivity comparable to that of current HD DVD releases, which routinely offer extras like "In-Movie Experience" picture-in-picture video commentaries, have been promised. Such plans, however, have continued held up due to production snafus with BD-Java authoring tools.
Should 'Dragon's Lair' arrive as scheduled on April 9, it will make history as the first BD-J title to hit the market. Among the enhancements planned for the release include increased functionality with the PlayStation 3, and fully interactive extras, including a visual commentary with the gamemakers. It may also prove to be the milestone that ushers in a new era of widespread studio support for full-capability BD-J-enhanced Blu-ray titles.
Digital Leisure has also announced an HD DVD version of 'Dragon's Lair,' but has so far not scheduled a street date for the release. Stay tuned.
Full specs for 'Dragon's Lair' have now been added to our Blu-ray Release Schedule, under April 9.
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- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Digital Leisure to Bring 'Dragon's Lair' to Blu-ray (Mar 20, 2007)
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