UMD movies seem to be a lot cheaper than expected...

[Jibbajaba]

Do a search on Amazon.com for "umd"

$13.97 - 20.99

Am I missing something? What happened to 30 bucks a pop?

Chris

[chrisbid]

thats still not cheap, relative to DVD

[DDCecil]

Going off-topic just a bit, here's an article from ncsx.com about the price of Japanese UMD movies:

This and other precious cinematic moments will soon be officially viewable on the crisp screen of the PSP at Y3800/pop. Why are Japanese UMD-Videos triple the cost of American movies, you mutter? In a country where new music CDs are still regularly Y2500-Y3000 and DVDs rarely drift below Y3100, it's all about a pricing structure which is designed to support two tiers of middlemen. The first tier consists of wholesalers who buy from manufacturers at ~40% off retail price. The wholesalers then sell to retailers at ~70% of the retail price. This pricing structure isn't radically different from how the American distribution system works but the Japanese pricing structure kicks off at a higher retail price level.

[Jive3D]

makes much more sense to invest that $ in a large memory card and then convert your movies from your computer. Easier, Cheaper (if you watch a lot of movies) and an almost infinite selection of media. I think the scales tip in an obvious favor of the memory card.

[Jibbajaba]

makes much more sense to invest that $ in a large memory card and then convert your movies from your computer. Easier, Cheaper (if you watch a lot of movies) and an almost infinite selection of media. I think the scales tip in an obvious favor of the memory card.

I agree, but if a movie comes out that I REALLY like, then I will buy the UMD. I am certainly not looking to build a collection of UMD movies, though.

Chris

[zmweasel]

thats still not cheap, relative to DVD

Where are you buying new DVDs for cheaper than $13-20?

-- Z.

[WiseSalesman]

thats still not cheap, relative to DVD

Where are you buying new DVDs for cheaper than $13-20?

-- Z.

WalMart or Best Buy. I try not pay more than $10 for a DVD, and I don't ever pay more than $18.

[zmweasel]

thats still not cheap, relative to DVD

Where are you buying new DVDs for cheaper than $13-20?

-- Z.

WalMart or Best Buy. I try not pay more than $10 for a DVD, and I don't ever pay more than $18.

I can go into Wal-Mart (not that I ever would) and pick up The Incredibles for $10?

-- Z.

[boatofcar]

thats still not cheap, relative to DVD

Where are you buying new DVDs for cheaper than $13-20?

-- Z.

WalMart or Best Buy. I try not pay more than $10 for a DVD, and I don't ever pay more than $18.


Most new DVD's are still 19.99 when they come out. Stuff like Napoleon Dynamite and Donnie Darko, movies that I actually like enough to buy, are still $20 bucks at Best Buy, Target, Wal Mart, etc.

[chrisbid]

exactly my point, 20 dollars for a new UMD is not cheaper than 20 bucks for a new DVD

DVDs are far more versatile, if sony hopes to sell UMDs in large quantities, the price will have to be cheaper

[portnoyd]

I can go into Wal-Mart (not that I ever would) and pick up The Incredibles for $10.

Not the Incredibles, but a majority (all but 4-5, based on the list posted in the Official PSP Thread) of the launch UMDs are, at this point, $10, $15 if you don't shop around, in DVD form.

dave

[zmweasel]

I can go into Wal-Mart (not that I ever would) and pick up The Incredibles for $10.

Not the Incredibles, but a majority (all but 4-5, based on the list posted in the Official PSP Thread) of the launch UMDs are, at this point, $10, $15 if you don't shop around, in DVD form.

dave

Most of those launch movie UMDs are backlist stuff, right? The press releases I've seen for upcoming DVD/UMD releases have the same SRP for both (such as Boogeyman).

-- Z.

[portnoyd]

Most of those launch movie UMDs are backlist stuff, right? The press releases I've seen for upcoming DVD/UMD releases have the same SRP for both (such as Boogeyman).

I'm just saying, why can't the backlist stuff be the same as DVD, if the new stuff can? Not that I'd ever buy Van Wilder in either format. I have T2 already.. why not make it as appealing as possible by cutting down the consumer cost a bit?

dave

[SirDrexl]

Most new DVDs, if they are major releases, get discounted to $14-17 or less the first week as loss leaders, but they are usually $20 or more regular price, or much higher for most Criterions. However, there is a large and growing number of quality discs that have been lowered to $10 or less. It kind of pisses me off to see something I paid $20 for being sold for $7.50. It's just like with games that go from $50 to $20 or less.

Anyway, the UMD movies aren't even worth $13, since some of them are not OAR (original aspect ratio). If Spider-Man 2 is any indication, they are reformatting the 2.35:1 movies to fit the PSP's 1.78:1 screen.

BTW, I got The Incredibles for $11.99.

[Jasoco]

I would never pay more than $5. I'd just sooner buy a GB memory card and rip the movie I want to see to MP4. $5 would be more than a relative price if you think about the capacity of the disc. Plus, how many special features can you even fit on the things? I still say they should pack them in with DVD's.

[ManciGames]

thats still not cheap, relative to DVD

Where are you buying new DVDs for cheaper than $13-20?

-- Z.

WalMart or Best Buy. I try not pay more than $10 for a DVD, and I don't ever pay more than $18.

I can go into Wal-Mart (not that I ever would) and pick up The Incredibles for $10?

-- Z.

Best Buy had it for $14.99. That's not "less than 13", but still...

BB has a bunch of 1 to 2 year old movies on sale for $9.99 on a regular basis. Maybe 1 to 2 year old UMD movies will sell for that price too. But right now, DVDs are definitely cheaper.

[ManciGames]

Most new DVD's are still 19.99 when they come out. Stuff like Napoleon Dynamite and Donnie Darko, movies that I actually like enough to buy, are still $20 bucks at Best Buy, Target, Wal Mart, etc.

You've gotta get them in the week of release. I got Napoleon for $14.99 and Darko for $9.99 (not the rerelease, mind you, but the original). I've seen them for even less at Circuit City on occasion.

[ManciGames]

I still say they should pack them in with DVD's.

Now there's an idea. I'd pay and extra 5 bucks for it if it was packed in.

[petewhitley]

I still say they should pack them in with DVD's.

I also think they should include a condom, a joint, and a twenty-dollar bill. All of which have the same possibility of being included in with the DVD as a UMD does.

[rayearthknight]

I found it earier to rip the files from DVD's or download them off the internet, convert them and play them on my PSP via memory card. Saves battery power and I can store the files much easier on one DVD+R (or CD-RW then download them to the memory card if I want to watch them--instead of carrying several UMDs everywhere I go. Tragically, my converting software doesn't work with realplayer media.

[Iron Draggon]

HEHE, just wait till all the UMD hentais start coming out of Japan! Now those would be UMD movies worth collecting! I bet they'll be going for $69 a pop!

[rayearthknight]

They haven't nicknamed the PSP "PornStation Portable" for nothing.