HD DVD NEWS TAGGED "COMBO DISCS"Receive HD DVD News via RSS

'300' HD DVD Goes Non-Combo For Toshiba Bundle

Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:02 AM ET
Tags: Combo Discs, Bundles, Warner (all tags)

Answering the cries of HD DVD/DVD combo-haters everywhere, Warner has issued a non-combo edition of '300,' but there's a catch -- you'll need to buy a new Toshiba HD DVD player to get it.

As we first reported several weeks back, consumers buying Toshiba's third-generation HD DVD players will receive a total of seven free HD DVD discs, including two of the format's most popular titles -- Warner's '300' and Universal's 'Bourne Identity' -- bundled right in the box.

Now that the first of the new players have begun shipping, we've learned that the edition of '300' that comes in the box differs in one crucial way from the HD DVD/DVD combo version that was released in the US this past July: it drops the combo disc's DVD flipside.

According to initial reports, the disc's HD DVD side is otherwise identical to the commercially-released version, with the only net loss in terms of overall content being the audio commentary, which had been exclusive to the disc's DVD side (the HD DVD side replaces that track with its own exclusive picture-in-picture video commentary).

Considering the disdain some early adopters have for the HD DVD/DVD combo format (see Josh Zyber's recent commentary, "Combo Discs - What Went Wrong?") we can only imagine these non-combo editions of '300' are soon to become a hot item on the trading circuit.

(Thanks to Adam for his help with this story!)

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
300 (HD DVD)
The Bourne Identity (HD DVD)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
New Disc Bundles to Accompany Toshiba's Third-Gen HD DVD Launch (Sep 06, 2007)
Commentary: Combo Discs - What Went Wrong? (Sep 14, 2007)

Commentary: Combo Discs - What Went Wrong?

Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 05:49 PM ET
Tags: Joshua Zyber, Combo Discs (all tags)

Editor's Note: A long-time movie buff and collector of discs from laserdisc to DVD, Joshua Zyber is a veteran disc reviewer, and an enthusiastic supporter of all things High Definition. In his twice-monthly High-Def Digest column, Josh discusses a broad range of topics of interest to other early adopters.

By Joshua Zyber

Although it may be one of the greater issues of contention among HD DVD buyers, in principle I have no objection to the Combo format, those discs with a primary HD DVD version on one side and a Standard-Def DVD on the other. Some owners think they're great. Many outright hate them. To me, they just seem mostly redundant. In some ways, I like the idea of having the movie in regular DVD format so that I can watch it in a portable DVD player when traveling, or loan it to a friend not yet equipped for High Definition. But realistically, how often do I need the disc for either of those purposes? Hardly ever. Frankly, when I buy an HD DVD, I want to watch it in High Definition on my home theater screen. That's kind of the point, isn't it?

Still, the idea of the Combo disc doesn't offend me as it does some. I mainly just ignore the DVD side. I've heard complaints from people upset that the dual-sided configuration prevents artwork from being screened onto the top surface of the disc. To me, that seems a little silly. The disc is going to spend most of its time either resting inside the HD DVD case or spinning inside an HD DVD player. Opening up the case to look at the disc itself isn't something I'm going to do often. On the other hand, as a collector who has often complained about ugly case cover art (and been called petty for it), I can sympathize with the desire for nit-picky perfection even in so minor a concern.

Of course, that's not the main argument against the Combo format. The larger issue is that the studios that use them (Warner Bros. and Universal) charge extra for them, considering the regular DVD edition on the flip-side of the disc to be a premium feature worthy of a higher price tag. For HD DVD fans, this especially stings in the case of Warner, who will simultaneously release a cheaper Blu-ray edition of the same movie, with the same quality and the same features, just lacking the redundant DVD copy. It feels like they're pushing dual-format owners to buy the Blu-ray version, and sticking a big middle finger in the air to exclusive HD DVD supporters.

A collection of recent HD DVD/DVD Combo releases from Warner and Universal.

The studios will tell you that their marketing research indicates that consumers are very concerned about backwards compatibility and are willing to pay a little extra for that peace of mind. Let's be very clear about this, Combo discs were never really intended as a bonus feature for HD DVD owners. The real point and purpose of a Combo disc is to lure new buyers to the format. The reasoning goes something like this: If you can convince the average movie buyer to "future-proof" their collection by purchasing Combo discs to watch even on their standard DVD players, eventually the person will have enough discs with HD DVD content on them that they'll want an HD DVD player to start using the discs to their fullest potential, and from there will start collecting other HD DVDs as well.

There is some logic in such a "Trojan Horse" strategy, and in fact it's similar to the way Sony markets its Playstation 3 console (if you give video game players Blu-ray capability in the console they were going to buy for games anyway, many will also purchase some Blu-ray movies to watch on it). The ploy has worked to some extent for Blu-ray, yet hasn't had nearly as much success for HD DVD.

In order for a Trojan Horse to work, you have to get the Horse into people's homes in the first place. Sony was clever enough to not give consumers a choice in the matter. Every PS3 has Blu-ray capability. They didn't release a cheaper model without Blu-ray and a more expensive model with it, thus pushing many people to the more affordable option. No, if you want a PS3, you get Blu-ray automatically. That isn't the case for Combo discs. As it stands, average movie collectors are faced with the choice of buying a standard DVD version of the movie that they can watch in their regular DVD players for $20 (street prices, not MSRP), or a Combo disc that includes an extra HD DVD side they can't yet use for $30 or more. It's an easy decision for most.

But what about all that marketing research claiming that people wouldn't mind paying extra to future-proof their movie collections? Frankly, what people say in a focus group isn't always how they act in real life. When presented the option with a series of leading questions, Combo discs probably looked pretty appealing. When standing in a store and seeing the price disparity in action, however, the wallet pulls in another direction.

For the Combo strategy to have any chance with real consumers, the discs would have to be priced the same as regular DVDs, or the studios would have to discontinue DVD-only discs altogether, and only issue Combos for new releases, priced attractively. Now that would certainly get HD DVD into people's homes and start the Trojan Horse effect working. Clearly, that isn't likely to happen anytime soon. For one thing, Combo discs are more expensive to manufacture, both in terms of having to author all of the HD DVD content as well as the physical reproduction of the dual-sided discs. For another, even if a studio were willing to subsidize that cost, the HD DVD and Combo disc production lines are currently not ready to handle the volume necessary to cover the entire DVD run for a new title. More facilities would have to be converted to Combo production, which would again be a big expense. Perhaps an even bigger hurdle, how would you market these Combo-exclusive titles? In standard DVD keepcases and artwork to appeal to DVD buyers, or in HD DVD cases as they're sold now? Would the same disc have to be sold in both types of case? How long would that last? Any of these scenarios would only succeed in confusing and annoying at least one portion of the buying market, not to mention retailers who have to stock the discs on store shelves.

So where does that leave us now? To whom do Combo discs currently appeal? Average movie buyers have continued to stick with the more affordable DVD-only option, a complete failure of the Trojan Horse plan. HD DVD buyers are upset that they're being forced to pay extra for a "feature" they will rarely (if ever) use. And those who support both HD DVD and Blu-ray would just as soon buy the Blu-ray that's $5 cheaper with the same quality and features. Combo discs put HD DVD in a no-win situation.

Worse than that, the damn discs don't even work half the time! Just the other night, I sat down to watch my recently-purchased HD DVD copy of '300' on my Toshiba HD-XA2 player, and I only made it 45 minutes before the stupid thing froze up and ceased playback. No matter how many times I try to restart the movie, the disc will not play beyond Chapter 14. This is an extremely high-profile release; in fact, it's currently the best-selling title on either the HD DVD or Blu-ray formats, and the disc won't function in a top-of-the-line HD DVD player! Who wants to put up with nonsense like that? I certainly don't.

Let's not kid ourselves that this is an isolated defective disc or a one-time anomaly. Complaints about playback problems on '300' are widespread, and similar compatibility issues have plagued earlier Combo releases such as 'Children of Men', 'The Good Shepherd', 'Happy Feet', 'Superman Returns', and 'The Matrix Reloaded' (copies from the expensive 'Ultimate Matrix Collection' box set which has the bonus features in DVD format on the flip-side of the disc). Some of these will only work properly on second-generation HD DVD players but not first-generation models, and some bizarrely just the opposite. Some function fine on Toshiba's players but not on Microsoft's HD DVD add-on accessory for the XBox 360, and others vice versa. Some don't work right on any player at all.

The excuses are manifold. First we were told that certain titles were authored out of spec for the HD DVD format, but if that were true why would they work on some players but not others (even within the same player model)? Then we were told it was a manufacturing error having to do with the bonding process that seals the two halves of the disc together. Some people believe that there's a filmy residue on the surface of the discs that the player's laser can't read through, and have claimed better results after cleaning or boiling (yes, boiling!) the discs for a few minutes. For what it's worth, I actually tried this boiling trick on a couple of my non-responsive discs, but it didn't do anything to solve my playback errors.

Universal was good enough to offer a mail-in exchange program for "defective" copies of 'Children of Men' and 'The Good Shepherd'. However, many people who received "corrected" copies found them just as problematic. Later, Toshiba issued a firmware update for their players that seemed to clear up most of the problems with these two titles. If it were really a physical manufacturing error on certain copies, how could a firmware change in the player make a difference? And if it were an authoring mistake that a firmware update can work around, why are brand new discs like '300' still not working correctly? Something just isn't right here.

If these DVD/HD DVD Combo discs are having so many issues, why should we expect any differently when (or if) Warner finally unleashes their much-delayed "Total HD" format that seals HD DVD and Blu-ray together onto the same disc? I dread the compatibility nightmares that would almost inevitably come with those.

Personally, I have no idea what's causing these compatibility problems between Combo discs and HD DVD players. I don't know whether it's the studios at fault or the hardware manufacturers, and I honestly don't care. I've lost faith in the Combo format. When presented with an option, I'll avoid it if possible. When it comes to Warner titles, I'll buy the Blu-ray version instead, assuming equal features. The reason I went with the HD DVD edition of '300' was for its highly-touted interactive bonus features that are not available on the Blu-ray, only to find them quite useless if the disc won't play. In some cases, I'll consider importing a non-Combo HD DVD edition of the movie from overseas, as I did for 'Children of Men' (it's available in England that way). Fans of '300' might be interested to know that a non-Combo HD DVD was released in Australia.

Universal's 'Unleashed,' before and after.

Are even the studios starting to realize the predicament? Universal originally issued both new releases and catalog titles in Combo format, but wisely scaled back to only new releases after consumer complaints. Many viewers had already bought these older movies on DVD prior to the introduction of HD DVD, so why should they be forced to re-buy another DVD edition to get the HD side? Recently, the studio has started re-releasing previous Combo titles such as 'Unleashed' and 'Army of Darkness' in HD DVD-only editions for a reduced price. Warner has begun to do the same with 'The Ant Bully', 'The Departed', and others, and also hinted that in the future all Combo releases may be reissued several months afterwards in non-Combo editions. I say, why not just cut to the chase and do away with the Combo discs altogether?

It turns out that backwards compatibility is not quite as appealing as the market research indicated. When DVD premiered back in 1997, did anyone feel the need to package a VHS tape in the box with each movie? These are meant to be next-generation products. We should be looking forward, not backward. As I mentioned at the start of this article, I don't object to the Combo format in principle. However, in execution it just isn't working out. They're priced too highly and a significant percentage of the discs have technical problems. Both failings are causing consumers to lose faith in the HD DVD format.

Quite simply, Combo discs are killing HD DVD. It's time to move past them. Consumers don't need them and certainly don't want to pay extra for them, only to find the discs seizing up in their players when they try to watch their newly-purchased movies. I am hereby officially pleading to the studios to give up this foolish scheme and make all future HD DVDs, whether new releases or catalog titles, just HD DVDs, without the Combo burden. Everyone will truly be better off if you do.

That's my opinion, anyway. I'd like to hear what you think. Join us in the forums to discuss this topic further.


To view a complete collection of Josh's commentaries for High-Def Digest, click here.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
300 (HD DVD)
Children of Men (HD DVD)
The Good Shepherd (HD DVD)
Happy Feet (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Superman Returns (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
The Ultimate Matrix Collection (HD DVD)
Unleashed (Re-issue) (HD DVD)
Army of Darkness (Re-issue) (HD DVD)
The Ant Bully (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
The Departed (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)

Warner Goes Non-Combo with Wave of HD DVD Re-Issues

Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 09:30 AM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Combo Discs, Warner (all tags)

Becoming the second studio to "demote" several of its previously-released HD DVD/DVD combo releases, Warner Home Video has announced plans to re-issue a wave of eleven titles in stand-alone HD DVD editions this fall.

On October 2, Warner will discontinue the previous combo versions of the following titles and re-issue them in HD DVD-only versions, at two different price tiers:

Reduced from $39.98 to $34.95 will be the recent theatrical releases 'The Ant Bully,' 'The Fountain,' 'Happy Feet,' 'Lady in the Water,' 'The Lake House,' 'Letters from Iwo Jima,' 'Rumor Has It...,' plus Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning 'The Departed,' and one of 2006's top-selling high-def titles, 'Superman Returns.'

Slashed to an even cheaper $28.99 are the catalog titles 'Good Night, and Good Luck' and 'Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.'

Warner's move to "de-combo" these titles follows the lead of Universal, which recently re-issued its catalog titles 'Unleashed' and 'Army of Darkness' as HD DVD-only releases.

Although Universal's re-issues resulted in some lost supplements that had been exclusive to the standard-def sides of those discs, Warner has long replicated its bonus materials to both sides of its HD DVD/DVD combos, so all of their October 2 re-releases will include all of the special features as their predecessors.

Tech specs will also be identical to the HD DVD sides of the earlier combo versions.

We've added brand-new listings for these stand-alone versions to our HD DVD Release Schedule, where they are all listed under October 2. We'll keep you posted if there are any spec changes or other further details on these re-issues.

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
The Ant Bully (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
The Ant Bully (Re-Issue) (HD DVD)
The Fountain (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
The Fountain (Re-Issue) (HD DVD)
Happy Feet (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Happy Feet (Re-Issue) (HD DVD)
Lady in the Water (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Lady in the Water (Re-Issue) (HD DVD)
The Lake House (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
The Lake House (Re-Issue) (HD DVD)
Letters from Iwo Jima (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Letters from Iwo Jima (Re-Issue) (HD DVD)
Rumor Has It... (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Rumor Has It... (Re-Issue) (HD DVD)
The Departed (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
The Departed (Re-Issue) (HD DVD)
Superman Returns (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Superman Returns (Re-Issue) (HD DVD)
Good Night, and Good Luck (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Good Night, and Good Luck (Re-Issue) (HD DVD)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Re-Issue) (HD DVD)
Army of Darkness (Re-issue) (HD DVD)
Unleashed (Re-issue) (HD DVD)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
Universal Goes Non-Combo with 'Army of Darkness,' ' Unleashed' Reissues (Mar 30, 2007)

'Jerk,' 'Nutty Professor' Latest Universal Combo Retoolings

Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 01:08 AM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Combo Discs, Industry Trends, High-Def Disc Marketing, Universal (all tags)

In the latest indication of a lessening of support for the controversial HD DVD/DVD combo format, Universal Studios Home Entertainment has reconfigured the planned April combo releases of 'The Jerk' and 'The Nutty Professor' to be HD DVD-only.

Eagle-eyed HD DVD fans first noticed the change late last week, when Amazon.com cancelled pre-orders of the two combo discs, only to re-list both titles under new SKUs, with updated specs and a new suggested retail price of $29.98 (down from $34.98).

This latest move by the Universal comes on the heels of news late last week that the studio is discontinuing two of its most popular combo catalogue releases ('Army of Darkness' and 'Unleashed') and instead re-issuing them as HD DVD-only editions.

Universal had been the most vocal supporter of the hybrid concept, going so far earlier this year as to pledge that 90% of its 2007 next-gen titles would be released in the hybrid format.

But while these recent moves and a quick glance at the specs on their other upcoming releases would appear to indicate that Universal is dropping the combo format on its catalogue titles altogether, the studio seems to still be embracing the hybrid concept for their day-and-date (with standard-def DVD) releases -- including such recently announced titles as 'The Hitcher' and 'Alpha Dog' -- most of which are still planned for combo disc release.

As always, we'll keep you posted on any further changes to Universal's combo plans, and in the meantime, we've updated the listings for 'The Jerk' (due April 17) and 'The Nutty Professor' (due April 24) in our HD DVD Release Schedule to reflect their new configurations. Watch for complete reviews of both titles as their release dates draw near.

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
The Jerk (HD DVD)
The Nutty Professor (1996) (HD DVD)
Army of Darkness (Re-issue) (HD DVD)
Unleashed (Re-issue) (HD DVD)
Army of Darkness (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Unleashed (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
Universal Plans 100 New HD DVD Titles in 2007, Still Says No to Blu-ray (Jan 25, 2007)
Universal Goes Non-Combo with 'Army of Darkness,' ' Unleashed' Reissues (Mar 30, 2007)

Universal Goes Non-Combo with 'Army of Darkness,' ' Unleashed' Reissues

Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 02:55 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Combo Discs, Universal (all tags)

In the first example of a studio "demoting" a combo release, Universal Studios Home Entertainment will re-issue 'Army of Darkness' and 'Unleashed' as stand-alone HD DVD titles this June.

Universal first released both 'Army of Darkness' and 'Unleashed' last year as HD DVD/DVD combos, at the format's slightly higher $34.95 price tag. The studio is now discontinuing those versions from the market, and re-issuing both as $29.95 HD DVD-only versions on June 26.

Specs and features remain the same -- Universal is simply dropping the standard-def DVD side, with no other changes to the discs' content.

The move comes as a bit of a surprise, since only a couple of months ago, the studio was touting an aggressive release strategy that would see an estimated 90 percent of its entire HD DVD 2007 line-up go combo. However, over the past several weeks, the studio has announced its HD DVD release schedule all the way through July, and not a single catalog title is a combo.

Of Universal's 2007 titles announced thus far, only new release theatrical hits, including the recently-announced 'The Hitcher' and 'Alpha Dog,' are slated to be combos.

No word has come from Universal on just what the strategy is behind their seeming about-face on combos. Perhaps the lower price point on HD DVD-only catalog titles will prove more attractive to consumers, and help further drive sales? Certainly, with the news of Blu-ray's success with titles like 'Casino Royale,' which last week became the first next-gen title to ship over 100,000 copies, the battle for sales bragging rights is certainly more competitive than ever.

We'll keep you posted on any further Universal conversions of combo titles to HD DVD-only releases. We've also added new listings for both 'Army of Darkness' and 'Unleashed' to our HD DVD Release Schedule, under June 26.

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Army of Darkness (Re-issue) (HD DVD)
Unleashed (Re-issue) (HD DVD)
Army of Darkness (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Unleashed (Combo Edition) (HD DVD)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
Universal Plans 100 New HD DVD Titles in 2007, Still Says No to Blu-ray (Jan 25, 2007)
'Casino Royale' Blu-ray Breaks 100,000 Unit Milestone (Mar 27, 2007)
HD DVD Promotions Group Touts 2007 Release Line-Up; Reveals More Upcoming Titles (Mar 28, 2007)

Universal to Debut 'Hollywoodland' as HD DVD/DVD Combo

Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 02:01 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Combo Discs, Universal (all tags)

Universal today announced that it will release the critically acclaimed 'Hollywoodland' as an HD DVD/DVD combo release on February 6, 2007.

Based on the real-life tragic death of "Superman" actor George Reeves, the film enjoyed festival buzz and strong notices for stars Ben Affleck, Diane Lane and Adrien Brody, but was a box office disappointment when it hit theaters this fall.

Tech specs include a 1080p/VC-1 transfer and English and French Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 surround tracks, though supplemental features have not yet been announced.

Universal has set a $39.95 suggested list price for the release.

We'll keep you posted when full specs come in, and in the meantime we've added a listing for 'Hollywoodland' to our HD DVD Release Schedule.

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.


Warner Goes TrueHD on 'Superman Returns,' Combo for 'Poseidon'

Mon Oct 09, 2006 at 04:27 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Combo Discs, Warner (all tags)

Full specs have come in for Warner Home Video's HD DVD release of 'Superman Returns' which will include a Dolby TrueHD track. The studio will also go combo with fellow summer blockbuster 'Poseidon.'

One of the most highly-anticipated next-gen titles yet, as first announced late last month, 'Superman Returns' will hit HD DVD on November 28 as a combo disc, day-and-date with the standard DVD release.

Complete details have come in for the release, which will be an HD-30/DVD-9 double-side disc, currently the largest capacity the HD DVD format allows. In addition to the feature in 1080p/VC-1 video, the release has been confirmed to include a Dolby TrueHD track along with a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 surround mix as well.

Extras include the multi-part "Requiem for Krypton: Making 'Superman Returns'" documentary running a whopping three hours, the "Resurrecting Jor-El" featurette, additional scenes and an easter egg of previously unseen behind-the-scenes material.

Warner has set a $39.95 list price for 'Superman Returns.'

The studio has also just released the box art for the December 5 release of 'Poseidon,' which is now another HD DVD/DVD combo disc. Specs still remain unannounced, though rumors continue to circulate that exclusive to the HD DVD release will be a new, extended Director's Cut of the picture. We'll certainly let you know if the rumors are confirmed.

We've updated both listings to our complete HD DVD Release Schedule. Stay tuned!

Earlier on High-Def Digest:
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... 'Superman Returns' on Blu-ray, HD DVD (Sep 21, 2006)
'Poseidon' to Turn Upside-Down This December (Jul 10, 2006)

Toshiba Unveils New HD DVD Combo Disc

Tue Sep 12, 2006 at 02:41 PM ET
Tags: Combo Discs, Technology Forecasts (all tags) A potential big boost in HD DVD storage technology, Toshiba has unveiled a new prototype "triple layer" HD DVD/DVD that promises to double the capacity of current combo discs.

Toshiba and co-developer Memory-Tech announced yesterday that the single-sided, three-layer ROM disc offers a storage capacity of 30GB on the HD DVD side, and 4.7GB of standard DVD capacity. The technology would be a major improvement over the double-sided HD-15 (15GB)/DVD-9 (4.7GB) combo discs currently on the market.

Currently, HD DVD backers Universal and Warner are the only studios that have released disc titles using existing double-side HD DVD/DVD combo technology. However, with increased storage capacity and the appeal of a single-sided disc, Toshiba's prototype, if perfected, could usher in more widespread industry and market support for the combo format.

Toshiba and Memory-Tech plan to introduce the prototype to the HD DVD Forum in the coming weeks, after a successful test marketing run in Japan that began last April.

Related links:
Toshiba to Bow Single-Sided DVD, HD DVD Disc [Home Media Retailing]

'Tokyo Drift' to Go Combo

Mon Aug 28, 2006 at 03:38 AM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Combo Discs, Universal (all tags) Universal Studios Home Video has made a change to the disc specs for 'The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,' which will now be a combo HD DVD/DVD release when it races into stores next month.

As originally announced a few weeks back, all three 'Furious' flicks were set to debut simultaneously on September 26 as standard HD-30 dual-layer releases. However, though specs for both 'The Fast and the Furious' and '2 Fast 2 Furious' remain the same, 'Tokyo Drift' will now be a flipper.

Retail for 'Tokyo Drift' has also been increased to the studio's usual $39.99 list price for HD DVD/DVD combo releases.

Note that the rest of 'Drift's technical specs and supplemental features remain unchanged. However, as current technical limitations to the HD DVD/DVD combo format mean that the HD DVD side is limited to an HD-15 (15Gb) single-layer disc (versus a more roomy HD-30), we can only hope Universal won't have to drop any features to make room for the addition of the DVD version on the flip.

We'll certainly keep you posted if there are any further changes in the tech specs for 'Tokyo Drift,' and in the meantime we've updated its listing in our complete HD DVD Release Schedule.

Earlier on High-Def Digest:
'Toyko Drift' and 'The Break-Up' Heading to HD DVD Day-and-Date (Aug 01, 2006)

'Waist Deep' to Hit HD DVD as Combo Disc

Fri Aug 04, 2006 at 02:32 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Combo Discs, Universal (all tags) Universal Studios Home Entertainment will add another title to its growing library of HD DVD/DVD combo discs when it releases the hit action thriller 'Waist Deep' day-and-date this Fall.

Due to hit stores on October 10, the double-sided disc will feature a 2.35:1 widescreen transfer in 1080p/VCI encoded video on one side, and a 480p standard-def version on the flip playable in all DVD players.

The release also features a Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 surround track, the "Analysis of a Scene" and "Drive-By Filmmaking" featurettes, deleted scenes and a music video.

As with all Universal combo disc titles, the studio has set a suggested $39.95 list price for the release.

Complete details for 'Waist Deep' have been added to our HD DVD Release Schedule.

MORE HD DVD NEWS TAGGED "COMBO DISCS":

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