I'm a 35 year old professional, married and own my own home. Both my wife and I bring in a decent (not stunning) income and want for very little other than more time off.

Within my circle of friends, I've been the early adopter. I had the first Casio Calculator watch, my first home computer was an Atari 400, I was the first to have a surround sound set up and I owned one of the first DVD players to be produced for the European market in late 1997(Pioneer).

But according to some hard-liners on on this forum all of that counts for nought because I'm a GAMER. I've been gaming since the Atari 2600 and I love it.

Apparently because I'm a GAMER, my opinions, choices and more importantly my money should be dismissed and in fact, treated with with disdain when it comes to any discussion regarding Hi-Def media.

Why?

I first heard about blu-ray in an interview with Ken Kutaragi in 2003/4 where he discussed his plans for the next Playstation. He talked about how it was integral to his plans for his next-gen gaming/media machine and to honest I got so excited it wasnt long before I went out and bought a plasma screen just so I'd be ready.

In fact it was console gaming more than movies that got me into home cinema in the first place. My PS2 looked and sounded amazing on the big screen and in surround sound, my Xbox even more so.

My first true Hi-Def experience came via my 360 and now with my PS3 I experience is nigh on complete.

Including the 360 add-on, console gaming globally, has put over 8 million pieces of Hi-Def disc playing hardware on the market, so for the love of all things shiny and disc like, what is it about my hobby you guys find so offensive?

Why is my money less worthy than yours?

Funny you should ask Ken Graffeo that same question. ;)

Look, it's a cultural hangover from boomer days of glory. They called them "Audiophiles".

Some of them want to abuse you, some of them want to pay too much for wires. :D

I have two PS3's and I feel the same way. Toshiba and Microsoft needed to do a lot a spinning to say they were in front in the HD war. The best way was by saying game machines didn't count. Sony wisely positioned the PS3 as much more than a game machine. I use it a a multimedia center, I do play games but I also bought it for playing movies.

Funny you should ask Ken Graffeo that same question. ;)I do wonder if Ken Graffeo will continue disparaging gamers anymore. He might figure his job will be lost anyway and so it won't matter, but disparaging gamers at this point isn't going to get him anywhere. Without their gamers HD DVD probably would have lost long ago (both sides needed their gamers).

--Darin

There's nothing wrong with your money. I think the reason you might not be finding all the love you are searching for in these forums is that you are looking in the wrong place - try the section called "Home Theater Gaming" on this very web site. ;)

Nothing wrong with your money. Just doesn't have enough friends.

There's nothing wrong with you, your gaming, or your money. But in the Blu-Ray and HD DVD areas of AVS, we're interested in your opinions and ideas regarding home theater, not gaming.

Warner had also said they didn't want it decided by "gamers". However, I believe that also usually means some 15 year old twerp in his parents basement. You have to be considered mainstream but still not the mass market they are really looking for.

While the age of the average gamer is going up there are still far more 15 year olds out there buying video games than there are 35 year olds .

Also 35 year olds will have less time than teenagers to play games which means a slower turn over rate to newer titles.

I see it with myself. When I was in my teens the saturn and dreamcast came out within that span. I bought many more games per year then than I do now at 26. I could only imagine having less time and not more as I create a family and try to juggle my movie , gaming , reading , family and sleeping... oh and work some where in there.

I know many young kids (I work in a highschool) and I can tell you that while they might love to buy transformers and I am legended the majority of them have no need for casablanca and gone with the wind.

There's nothing wrong with you, your gaming, or your money. But in the Blu-Ray and HD DVD areas of AVS, we're interested in your opinions and ideas regarding home theater, not gaming.

Look above you, you may find the point there.

Which to re-iterate is, gaming brought me here to discuss home theatre, but the use of a console to get into Hi-Def media home theatre is reason enough, for some, to treat me like I brought pork chops to the synagogue cook-out. :D

Your money is not worth less. Though if you were from the UK, where you get charged more than double the price for high def players, your money would buy you less than if you were in the US. :)

Look above you, you may find the point there.

Which to re-iterate is, gaming brought me here to discuss home theatre, but the use of a console to get into Hi-Def media home theatre is reason enough, for some, to treat me like I brought pork chops to the synagogue cook-out. :D

So what. Your opinion is as valued. While they were playing their Blu Ray movies in their overpriced Pioneer player you watched the same quality on the PS3 complete with something they didn't have - TrueHD and now 1.1 profile. None of the present overpriced Blu Ray players (or HD DVD for that matter) could open several 1080p windows with active content on each like the PS3 can or access the internet for content (i.e., it's ready for Profile 2.0 firmware). This is not the generation of the Atari 400 or Commodore 64. The PS3 is a multi-purpose machine again not something the stand-alones can give in terms of flexibility for growth and access to varied content.

I started as a gamer as well. Gamers tend to be a technically-savvy bunch, so their opinion isn't particularly better or worse than your AV guy. Unfortunately, a large percentage of gamers also happen to be the most seemingly immature, racist, and ignorant people on the planet. Proof? Just go on Xbox Live, or play any online game. Hell, go to some gaming forums.

As for the PS3...I think it's better looking than every standalone BD player.

I'm a 35 year old professional, married and own my own home.

I'm old enough to be your father (what city were you born in?:D). Been gaming electronically since Colecovision and haven't stopped since... I have more money in gaming, computers, stereo and home theater than most people have equity in their homes and I couldn't give a sh!t about the snobbery that goes on in these forums. Gaming and home theater are merging entertainments. Tough if you don't like it.:)

So what. Your opinion is as valued. While they were playing their Blu Ray movies in their overpriced Pioneer player you watched the same quality on the PS3 complete with something they didn't have - TrueHD and now 1.1 profile. None of the present overpriced Blu Ray players (or HD DVD for that matter) could open several 1080p windows with active content on each like the PS3 can or access the internet for content (i.e., it's ready for Profile 2.0 firmware). This is not the generation of the Atari 400 or Commodore 64. The PS3 is a multi-purpose machine again not something the stand-alones can give in terms of flexibility for growth and access to varied content.

Well said! The PS3 has the specs to handle the upcoming profiles with long legs looking ahead.

We primarily bought/use the PS3 as a home theater solution (DVD Upconvert, BR's) and games are somewhat of an afterthought. (seriously, not that many good games in '07!)

This system keeps impressing us! New Year's day, I had completely forgotten about the Memory Card Reader and decided to use it for the first time. We had lots of friends over (spent the night and recovering from the mayhem the night before!!) and popped in a few of the camera cards people had from pictures of the night before. I couldn't believe how well it handled the image display and the slideshows were amazing! If you haven't tried this feature of your PS3, give it a go!

I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with your money :). Read my sig, I'm a new tech adopter like yourself!

Your money is not worth less. Though if you were from the UK, where you get charged more than double the price for high def players, your money would buy you less than if you were in the US. :)

I am from the UK and my wallet feels very word you've said. I went to zavvi/virgin yesterday to check what they laughingly call a deal.

Chain Reaction £30/$60 - I wouldnt pay big issue money for that crap.
Phone Booth £28/$56

I laughed my way over to the CD section where I picked up the entire recorded stand-up work of Richard Pryor for £26. Thats a ten album pack. That what I call a deal.

Any ideas on where to source movies from? The deals I've seen are in Blockbuster, generally under twenty quid and the only place that seems to sell boxsets.

I'm old enough to be your father (what city were you born in?:D). Been gaming electronically since Colecovision and haven't stopped since... I have more money in gaming, computers, stereo and home theater than most people have equity in their homes and I couldn't give a sh!t about the snobbery that goes on in these forums. Gaming and home theater are merging entertainments. Tough if you don't like it.:)

Daddy, is that you?:D

You ever have a wild weekend by London in the early seventies?;)

There is nothing wrong with your money. It's just snobbish, old guys that for some reason cannot understand that being a gamer is NOT synonymous with being a child, and that you can be a film aficionado and enjoy a game or two. They are stuck in a time warp, and their ignorance and prejudice will never relent. In their mind, a gamer is like a glorified Bill & Ted's Adventure skit. It's almost like the word "gamer" is a four letter word, and if you are in that group, well then, you can't be taken seriously, since you play those games.

Being a gamer and film lover are not mutually exclusive, but don't tell them that. I keep reading posts here by people that think since you play games all you want to watch are movies like Transformers, Underworld, Ultraviolet, Resident Evil etc, basically movies that are like videogames. What exactly are they basing that on? I'll tell you what, not a damn thing, that's their willful prejudice and assumption. It's certainly not factual data.

Most gamers are not children either. Maybe people who think otherwise should look at the demographics actually buying systems and games. You'd be surprised. Many of us are the Nintendo generation. That was 20 or so odd years ago, we are all adults now in our 20's and 30's. You still need adequate disposable income for this hobby. I'm 27 yrs old, most of my friends are gamers and are in the 25-35 age group. It's just one of those things that just is. It's like that in almost every facet of life sadly. People make up their minds and will believe what they want to believe. Some people feel that unless you have a projector, you're not a film lover. So there are many forms of illogical, crappy opinions out there. Explaining or telling them otherwise is fruitless. They will scour the web for anything that supports their close minded opinion. Debating them is an exercise in futility. They will never get it, and I dont think they want to.

Trust me the studios will glady accept your money. The more PS3s are sold equals more sales for them. Its a win-win.

IUnfortunately, a large percentage of gamers also happen to be the most seemingly immature, racist, and ignorant people on the planet. Proof? Just go on Xbox Live, or play any online game. Hell, go to some gaming forums.

That's not exclusive to gaming my friend. That's just society raring it's ugly head. That and anonymity of online gaming gives some people brass balls the size of grapefruits. It's not just gaming, look at any online forum, and people act like this.

I am from the UK and my wallet feels very word you've said. I went to zavvi/virgin yesterday to check what they laughingly call a deal.

Chain Reaction £30/$60 - I wouldnt pay big issue money for that crap.
Phone Booth £28/$56

I laughed my way over to the CD section where I picked up the entire recorded stand-up work of Richard Pryor for £26. Thats a ten album pack. That what I call a deal.

Any ideas on where to source movies from? The deals I've seen are in Blockbuster, generally under twenty quid and the only place that seems to sell boxsets.

Not really. Other than amazon UK but they can be pricey too and their packaging etc. sucks.

Not really. Other than amazon UK but they can be pricey too and their packaging etc. sucks.

Cheers.

I noted Amazon UK import region free discs but not boxsets, I want Potter/Die Hard sets and War.

It's a hold over from days long over. You can immediatly tell how old somebody is by their opinions of video games. As that generation dies off I don't think we'll see too much of this anti video game snobbery. Most of the younger generation respects it as much as any other media (if not more).

Plus, I think a lot of AVS types have a hard time dealing with the fact that video games are a bigger industry than movies and some video game machines are more technically advanced than their supposed high end home theater equipment. Realizing you played more for less is always rough.

Personally I think the PS3 is probably the best all-around consumer electronics device, ever. Period. Upconverting DVD, Blu-ray, CD player, SACD player, PS1, PS2, PS3 games, media streaming, wireless, easily swappable hard disk, internet access... all for $499 (or $399 if you ditch the PS1/PS2 games). Nothing comes close... this one box sitting in your home theater offers SO much.

I think AVSers mostly hate it for not being "rack" shaped and being a pain with universal remotes (until recently: it's now a breeze). I imagine a special home theater version of the PS3 (box shape, IR built in) would go over quite well here.

Daddy, is that you?:D

You ever have a wild weekend by London in the early seventies?;)

Not that I can remember... but then all of the seventies is pretty much a blur.:D:D:D

Plasma versus LCD

LCOS versus MMD

2 Channel Stereo versus Multi-Channel Stereo

1.85 versus 2.40

Gamers versus Home Theater Enthauists

ALWAYS something to disagree on here.;)

Warner had also said they didn't want it decided by "gamers". However, I believe that also usually means some 15 year old twerp in his parents basement. You have to be considered mainstream but still not the mass market they are really looking for.

Warners are a bunch of hypocrites or they did take some nice cash.
They were so into HDI and interactivity and yet they choose to go blu which has the worst standalone players that aren't even capable of delivering this.
I am talking players that are the cheapest.. didn't they also what to see alot of them in peoples homes?

I can't wait for those complaint letters that there extra content doesn't work or that PR about how these machines are crap.