Warner Home Video has announced that its forthcoming "300" movie will contain the first HD DVD In-Movie Experience (IME) featuring "Blue Screen Picture in Picture".
It will feature the film's director, Jack Snyder, presenting the pre-CGI-enhanced version right through to the finished film, allowing viewers to compare the first draft to the completed film.
This functionality — along with an interactive game, a favourite scene picker, and web downloads — won't be available on the Blu-ray version, though all other features on the two formats will be identical. It's due out (Stateside at least) on 31st July.
The extra features on HD DVD will give it a US list price of $39.95, compared to $34.95 for the Blu-ray version.
Though Warner are currently supporting both formats, it will be interesting to see whether the HD DVD Promotional Group use this kind of release as additional propaganda for their format.
Blu-ray's lack of interactivity and web features should eventually be ironed out when BD-J specifications become mandatory in October. It will depend on whether consumers value these extra features, or whether decisions by key players such as Blockbuster will make those differences insignificant.
Most titles being released on both formats have as good as identical features, so it may not be a big issue except for the most dedicated film buffs who want all the extra features.
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