XBOX LIVE Movies....anybody try it out yet?

[ThaMaskedGamer]

I did..or at least I downloaded a movie last night. It was about 400 credits($.79 = 99credits). Don't know how long it took to download because I set it up and went to bed. I know it took less than 6 hours cause that's all the sleep I got. It was a 5GB download, the movie is ATL and is in 720p, i'll watch it tonight and report back on the quality. The movie itself is probably not good but everything else I had already seen and I was curious to try something. I'm guessing it took about 3-4 hours to download because after half an hour I went down to check it and it was at 18%.

The selection of HD movies is very limited at this point, though they did have some recent movies like V, Lake House, oddly they had Unforgiven. There were more movies in SD. But I can say this, assuming the quality is great and the selection improves, I will definitely continue to use this service. Once you download the movie you can keep it for 14 days, but once you press play you have 24 hours to watch it. I think this is great because I don't have to buy any hardware(HD-DVD or Bluray) and I still get HD movies. Plus the download is no problem, just set it up to download before bed time, my XBOX even powered itself down afterward. Space wasn't a problem, for me at least, I had about 9.5GB on my HDD. I suppose if you wanted to download more than two movies you'd have a problem.

Anyway right now the only complaint is the limited selection, though they have a lot of TV programs stuff like Adult Swim, CBS shows, Spike TV, MTV. It is a pretty modest start and I'm pretty sure MS will keep making deals to get more content up. I'll report back on the quality manana.

[PapaSmurf]

I really have nothing against this post. I don't want to argue about it or anything. That being said, isn't this more of an Xbox forum post? Not that any xbots have been saying that about a certain platform lately (though TMG your are not guilty of that)

[ilnadmy]

I think, though TMG correct me if I'm off on this, that it's a subtle attempt to start discussion on Xbox Live Movies vs. Blu-ray on PS3. I personally have nothing against MS's service, I just think it's unwieldy, especially with movies. The hard drive is only 20 GB, so you can't hold much, and while it's great that there's an option to rent movies, I just don't dig it. I personally prefer to buy movies and watch them whenever I want at my own leisure, and as many times as I want, which is why I don't like renting movies (or at least I rent them and always take them back late).

[ThaMaskedGamer]

I think, though TMG correct me if I'm off on this, that it's a subtle attempt to start discussion on Xbox Live Movies vs. Blu-ray on PS3. I personally have nothing against MS's service, I just think it's unwieldy, especially with movies. The hard drive is only 20 GB, so you can't hold much, and while it's great that there's an option to rent movies, I just don't dig it. I personally prefer to buy movies and watch them whenever I want at my own leisure, and as many times as I want, which is why I don't like renting movies (or at least I rent them and always take them back late).

No this is just to close the door on a topic I brought up a few weeks ago. I watched the movie, which itself was not bad just another homies from the 'hood movie, but the quality was pristine and there wasn't one glitch. It wasn't mind-blowing mainly because there was no special effects or much action in the movie. But when the frame was close-up on a subject like people's faces or the cars, especially the cars, you could definitely tell this was HD. I look forward to downloading a movie like Superman or Miami Vice to see if there is significant difference from studio to studio. I know Miami Vice will be special because Michael Mann used HD cameras for filming.

But about this service v. Bluray playback on the PS3. At this moment in time, PS3's Bluray is far superior to this service. There are simply more movies and if you are looking to collect the movies, then you need to either buy the HD-DVD player or buy a PS3. I would caution anyone about buying these movies this soon, they are way overpriced and we just don't know which format is going to hang around, or if another format will replace either! But in the long-run, this service could be a quality stop-gap until the dust settles on that battle. There is no way it can viewed as a negative because it is just there, if you don't want to use it, you never have to look at it or a pay a dime extra, if you do, then you can use it as many times or as few times as you want. You also get TV shows too. So once a greater selection is available it should be a very good outlet for those wanting to watch HD movies and shows, without paying extra for a console or buying the HD-DVD player for 360, or buying a standalone HD player.

Separately, I was checking out the selection of movies between HD-DVD and Bluray, and there is a lot of overlap, but where there isn't overlap HD-DVD has some damn good movies! If the price drops on the HD-DVD player I might consider getting it.

Anyway, I fail to see how the service is unwiedly. Again anyone looking to collect movies is NOT gonna want to use this service. So from a rental perspective it is actually very convenient. It was actually easier to manage than I initially thought. Certainly if you try and download movies while playing games online, it is going to be unwieldly. But simply setting up a movie to download before bed can't be any simpler, you wake-up go to work, and come home, voila, your movie is right there ready to watch.

Again though, MS definitely needs to up the content, which I am sure they know and are hard at work trying to do so.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

ATL??? Oh god that movie is straight Butt! They need to get Menace to Society in HD!!!

Anyway back on opic my problem with this service is that with ONDEMAND it effectively nullifies this. Episode 3 in HD is something to behold. But like you say it's a can't lose proposition for customers.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

ATL??? Oh god that movie is straight Butt! They need to get Menace to Society in HD!!!


That's the problem with this sub-genre of movies, it hasn't progressed since the days of Boyz-N-Hood and Menace2Society. But ATL wasn't butt, it was watchable and entertaining, but ultimately something we have seen done much better with much better actors. I mean TI and that chick, don't even know her name, were one thousand times inferior to Cuba Gooding and Nia Long, that's not even mentioning the supporting cast with people like Fishburn, Basset, and Ice Cube.

How is your ONDemand service? I live in NJ we have Cablevision IO, which is great service, but their HD OnDemand sucks to me, simply because the movies release months after they are on DVD. I'm hoping that MS' service will not have that delay. A few weeks ago they said Superman Returns would be available, well it released this week on DVD, so let's see how long it is before LIVE gets it. If there is also a delay with this service, then it is DOA! Even I won't use it. I tried ATL just to test out the service. But the next movie I get will have to be something I actually want to see!

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

That's the problem with this sub-genre of movies, it hasn't progressed since the days of Boyz-N-Hood and Menace2Society. But ATL wasn't butt, it was watchable and entertaining, but ultimately something we have seen done much better with much better actors. I mean TI and that chick, don't even know her name, were one thousand times inferior to Cuba Gooding and Nia Long, that's not even mentioning the supporting cast with people like Fishburn, Basset, and Ice Cube.

How is your ONDemand service? I live in NJ we have Cablevision IO, which is great service, but their HD OnDemand sucks to me, simply because the movies release months after they are on DVD. I'm hoping that MS' service will not have that delay. A few weeks ago they said Superman Returns would be available, well it released this week on DVD, so let's see how long it is before LIVE gets it. If there is also a delay with this service, then it is DOA! Even I won't use it. I tried ATL just to test out the service. But the next movie I get will have to be something I actually want to see!


You have a point with the lateness of the Movies. Comcast On Demand basically gets the movies when they come to cable television. But the Selection is Huge Watching Chronicles of Narnia and Episode 3 in HD was something special. And I own both those DVD's (well Narnia is the kids).

As for Atl we are just going to have to disagree. I actually saw that at the theatre but you are right since Menace and BIH the genre has been stale Baby boy was decent. Well theres always the Wire which is on fire this season.

[Fivespot]

This is a neat concept and a good idea but nothing that I'm interested in due to other technologies avaiable to me (DVR, HD DVD player, DVD player, ON DEMAND HBO/Showtime, etc...).

I did however watch 3 television shows; 1 Beavis & Butthead and 2 Drawn Togethers. I ordered both television shows as I wasn't sure if they were worthy of purchasing on DVD and basically wanted to test how they looked and sounded to help guide me on making a DVD purchase. Plus, I've never seen Drawn Together and have heard good things so it was an easy way for me to give the show a try.

[Cuddly Knife]

So if you DL a TV show like Beavis, do you still have only 24 hours to watch, or is that show yours.

And do you have to pay for a movie or TV show again if you want to watch it again?

[Fivespot]

No, just the movies expire. The downloaded television shows act like everything else in the Live marketplace.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

You have a point with the lateness of the Movies. Comcast On Demand basically gets the movies when they come to cable television. But the Selection is Huge Watching Chronicles of Narnia and Episode 3 in HD was something special. And I own both those DVD's (well Narnia is the kids).

As for Atl we are just going to have to disagree. I actually saw that at the theatre but you are right since Menace and BIH the genre has been stale Baby boy was decent. Well theres always the Wire which is on fire this season.

<b>Well theres always the Wire which is on fire this season.</b> Oh lawd you ain't neva lied! The Wire is on anotha level! Snoop is just silly, "yo' that shoot nails B!" I will definitely shed a few tears if the Wire is taken off the air. Everybody is just so damn good and the writing is the best I have ever seen in a TV show. I always watch the clock when the Wire is on and i'm like "damn it's already 10:50!" If ever an HBO show needed to be a film, eff the Sopranos, put the Wire on the big screen. The only minor quibble I have with the show is the boy Marlo just is not up to the level of Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell, but Snoop and Chris(I think that's his name) kinda make the crew tight!

But back to the topic. That's the thing about OnDemand and why I don't use it. I can only watch movies a maximum of two times. Once in the theatre if I really want to see the movie and again on DVD. If I've already seen it, chances are slim I will watch it again, so by the time something comes to OnDemand, I've already seen it once or twice. Its the same thing with HBO movies.

Oh about ATL if I had of seen it in the theatre i'd be pissed too! But for DVD or download it was entertaining. I'm always more critical of sh&t I watch in the threatre, if I spend $50 and the movie was anything less than stellar, I'm callin' it junk. But if I watch a movie on TV and its okay, i'm a little easier on it.

BTW where u been? I haven't seen u online in a loooong time.

[Zilla Man]

I did..or at least I downloaded a movie last night. It was about 400 credits($.79 = 99credits). Don't know how long it took to download because I set it up and went to bed. I know it took less than 6 hours cause that's all the sleep I got. It was a 5GB download, the movie is ATL and is in 720p, i'll watch it tonight and report back on the quality. The movie itself is probably not good but everything else I had already seen and I was curious to try something. I'm guessing it took about 3-4 hours to download because after half an hour I went down to check it and it was at 18%.

The selection of HD movies is very limited at this point, though they did have some recent movies like V, Lake House, oddly they had Unforgiven. There were more movies in SD. But I can say this, assuming the quality is great and the selection improves, I will definitely continue to use this service. Once you download the movie you can keep it for 14 days, but once you press play you have 24 hours to watch it. I think this is great because I don't have to buy any hardware(HD-DVD or Bluray) and I still get HD movies. Plus the download is no problem, just set it up to download before bed time, my XBOX even powered itself down afterward. Space wasn't a problem, for me at least, I had about 9.5GB on my HDD. I suppose if you wanted to download more than two movies you'd have a problem.

Anyway right now the only complaint is the limited selection, though they have a lot of TV programs stuff like Adult Swim, CBS shows, Spike TV, MTV. It is a pretty modest start and I'm pretty sure MS will keep making deals to get more content up. I'll report back on the quality manana.

Apparently there are a few problems:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=70343

X360 video service issues(News)

"Microsoft has said it will refund any money lost by American gamers struggling with its new Video Marketplace service, which went online on Wednesday.

The service allows Xbox Live users in the US to download film and TV show content in standard and, in some cases, high definition formats.

However, high levels of interest among the 360's userbase have left the service reeling, with Xbox Live's Major Nelson admitting, "these technical issues have resulted in a very unpleasant experience for our members, including extremely slow downloads or not receiving the content they purchased".

Microsoft says a team is working around the clock to sort out the problems, and anybody who has experienced a problem or lost points to a purchase but not completed the download should call 1-800-4MYXBOX.

There's also a Video Marketplace forum on Xbox.com where staff will try and answer questions.

"Thanks for your patience, and please know that the team is prepared to make things right for those affected, including refunding Microsoft Points where appropriate and as quickly as possible," Nelson's blog concludes.

Video Marketplace has yet to launch outside the US, due to the complexity of the content licensing deals that allow it to operate, but Microsoft has previously said it hopes to introduce the service elsewhere in the future."

BTW, this is the second time I've posted this. The first one, which MG actually replied to, was "mysteriously" deleted today. Since posts can olnly be deleted by Moderators, the only reason I can think why it would happen is that Glockstar got pissed because it didn't show MS in a totally favorable light. If so, Glocky, you're abusing your power.

We'll see how long this one stays up.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

BTW, this is the second time I've posted this. The first one, which MG actually replied to, was "mysteriously" deleted today. Since posts can olnly be deleted by Moderators, the only reason I can think why it would happen is that Glockstar got pissed because it didn't show MS in a totally favorable light. If so, Glocky, you're abusing your power.

We'll see how long this one stays up.

Yeah I read about those problems too, which is why I didn't try and download anything the first few days. I figured there would be a lot curiosity and that things wouldn't go smooth with the roll-out. Actually, not spinning this, but I think MS' response was very fast and effective. It seems they admitted there was problems, immediately worked to refund people, and added capacity. There isn't much up right now that i'm interested in downloading. That's the main problem now, MS better keep new stuff coming every week. Well actually new movies! I could give a damn about the TV shows, I think most people are interested in the movies.