Are Anime series DVDs a rip off?

[ZephyrStar]

Yes, they are a very good deal.

For me the cost matters not if I need the source or love the show -_-

[Sukunai]

Um, to be perfectly honest, I mostly copy every anime DVD I get from Netflix onto DVD-R's. I buy the blanks from Best Buy or Walmart, whoever has the best offers, and use those to make my own dvd's. Thanks to DVD Decrypter and Shrink, it's become relatively easily.

I claim they're all for creative purposes (I need the iso's for amv's). But I'm beginning to feel my reasoning becoming ulterior. I find myself copying movies from rental stores and anywhere else, even downloading torrents of full actual dvd's straight from Japan. I have never tried selling copies of these things though, despite how easy it is, because I don't feel right about it. Plus, I wouldn't know a dealer where I live willing to sell that stuff on the streets (in my city, they sell ripped dvds in small-chain grocery stores).

Thankfully, with my new full-time job, I've begun to make amends and buy my own dvds from stores and ebay. I'm even going back to replace the ones I've copied over the years with legits. It was fun while it lasted, but I feel I've outgrown my "wild sprees" as of late. I'm not completely over it though, due to my amv creating, but I hope I'll be able to move past this in the near future, possibly once Blu-Ray completely takes over the competition.

Plus, I keep ending up with unreadable discs from Netflix. Eh.

Ummm that's an interesting and shameless admission of PIRACY, in case you weren't aware of it. Heck and I get yelled at for discussing that I like o watch fan subs.

Everyone knows it can be done of course (well anyone with an IQ over 10 I suppose). And we all know you can rent a disk from near anywhere and do the same.

Just that we ain't supposed to blather on about the doing it here.

[Sukunai]

Now as for "unreadable disks", yeah that happens when I let my son borrow mine, and he leaves them in his atypical teenager bedroom.

If I don't rescue them not surprisingly they become "unreadable" fairly quick.

Also seems to happen when friends borrow them especially if they don't loan anything back in my direction. People tend to look after discs better when you have some of THEIRS at your place too.

Which is why I discontinued loaning dvds to people not contributing back.

I figure a dvd has about 20 rentals before getting an unreadable response becomes likely. People never take care of something that's not there's to worry about.

And I likely would never rent anything "mainstream" simply because too many users likely have gotten to it first.
Which I guess is one reason I like online rentals for documentaries and old movies. Less people interested in them.

[Pherphq]

Yea, ive tried netflix but it was too annoying for me. Every time they send me an unreadable disk i have to mail it back and wait for a replacement. It was just not worth the trouble and to be honest... their service sucks.

Agrees on that note good thing Netflix had for less deals but mostly in use if need in burning and yea the unreadable disk can get annoying but hey cheaper the DVDs on Netflix better right?

[Parodic Productions]

This has been a pretty good discussion, because with the change in mediums, I've been wondering how this will affect making amv's.

I mean, where do Blu-Ray discs fit in with the amv spectrum? Will someone make a decrypter for this, or upgrades to the current decrytper? And converting to avi's, along with the issue of interlace; there will probably have to be a total revamp of software programs and how-to guides in order to accomodate.

As for contests, will the rules become upgraded to fit the change? And the video formats. Many people have already started using better video formats for i-pods and such.

And, speaking of downloads, what's everyone's thoughts on legally downloaded videos, eg direct2drive, funimation? What if this precedent over other solid mediums? Not likely, since most are wmv's or flv's, encrypted with copyright material, and/or for limited use.

Still, I've been curious of this for some time. What does anyone else think?

[Sukunai]

I can safely bet my left nut that Blueray will be treated to the same treatment as every other form of data storage under the sun.

Programs made to copy it are for instance legal in Canada (assumes you are copying a legally purchased Blueeray copy of course). So programs like [insert the usual names here] will be marketed. And then everyone and their aunt will be able to download those programs and the same ole same ole will happen.

The new higher definition is here to stay, might as well assume people will eventually be making amvs using high def content. Won't be as bad as comparing vhs to dvd thankfully, but obviously high def will look better.

Now as for downloadable content direct from the legal source. I can only hope this moves faster. I don't need a physical product each and every time. But unless downloadable is made less expensive, no one is going to get over joyed about it.

It's the same as downloadable games vs physical games. If the price is the same, then why not let them sell you the physical item and let THEM be responsible for the physical copy.