serpantino said:
You do make some interesting points Smeelia. What I meant by elitist was more, the subgroup that buys into all the extras, imports etc & can afford to do so, I know elitist wasn't the right word to use but I was tired when I wrote that so I apologise if it offends.
It's fine, I wasn't offended. I'm not so easy to offend in general really, especially when it's fairly clear that no malice is intended.
Buzz201 said:
I have noticed this from certain other fans. They aren't necessarily doing anything wrong, but when you talk of prices being so high you get pushed out, they simply don't care. As long as they can get and afford their fancy Collector's Editions, they simply don't give a crap. They have no answer to your concerns about the lack of standard editions on some titles, they ignore your suggestion certain companies seem to be trying to price gouge the market and worst of all to me, they actively campaign against companies that do organise standard editions and charge prices that are expensive but reasonable, and when you ask them about it, their answer seems to be "Well, I want a Collector's Edition, **** you". Whilst I understand their position, It's really starting to sour me to the fanbase as a whole.
To be fair, there probably are no answers to concerns about a lack of standard editions (especially ones that are likely to be known to fans). It can be difficult to really say anything to put people at ease or try to make things look better when we fans all have access to much the same information. As I mentioned earlier, when the fancy releases come out first the people waiting for standard editions can become nervous and there's often not much information about future releases because the companies may not be certain at that point and it wouldn't really be in their interests to be too open either (Anime Limited do go over and above in that respect but can only do so much).
I'm not going to try to suggest you're wrong that some fans are like that, I'm sure you have specific examples and I could probably find some myself. Still, it's risky to start generalising groups and assuming they all share a similar attitude. It can be frustrating when you run into the "bad" fans (or even fans in a bad mood) but it's worth remembering that there are plenty of people who aren't like that. It can sometimes seem like you're the only reasonable one around in some discussions but that's probably at least partly because the negativity drives others away and attracts people with similar negative attitudes. There's also the fact that comments that sound dismissive could have been intended as being supportive (especially when limited to text), assuming positivity can make even the most moody fan sound not so bad (and it annoys them, which can be fun).
I have to admit, there does seem to be a tendency towards a kind of "tribalism" where people feel that anyone not supporting what they want must be opposing it and that can lead people to both be defensive and lash out at those who have a different view. I suspect this is probably the sort of thing that serpantino was getting at and probably relates to the above too. When people express that they do like fancy releases it can feel like they're ignoring those stuck waiting for standard editions but it's often not intended with any malice and many people really do just wish to express their feelings about a release they're interested in. That also goes the other way, with people waiting for standard editions (or looking at the possibility of missing out altogether) wanting to express their concerns but not really intending to suggest that those fans who are already satisfied are responsible for the issues. At the end of the day, I do think the old rule of assuming there's no malice is a worthwhile one to keep in mind. Besides, anyone who does care only about the releases that suit them and has no concern for other fans isn't likely to be worth listening to.
Regarding standard edition releases, I do think it's better that Anime Limited release the DVD standard edition along with the fancier releases. I can't see any advantage in delaying that, it doesn't automatically suggest that'll be the only standard edition option and it does mean that they're offering a release to more customers (standard DVDs are all some people want) without undermining their other releases. If you're a fan that's stuck in the middle waiting for the standard Blu-ray then I can understand that being frustrating but I don't think it'd really be reasonable to hold it against Anime Limited (or whoever) too much because they're simply trying to serve as many customers as possible in as efficient a way as possible while making the money they need to continue to do so.
I think it's important to consider the circumstances, even if they can sometimes be undesireable. I don't know if Anime Limited will get around to making a standard release of Full Metal Panic but I could understand why there might be challenges for them to do so. Since the Funimation release is fairly easily accessible, affordable and region B compatible, it'd probably be tough for Anime Limited to make a cost effective standard release. They might be able to make it work, and I hope they do, but sometimes circumstances like this will come up and things just won't be able to work out. Samurai Flamenco is basically already in this situation, Anime Limited may well get around to releasing that second part but they'll almost certainly be doing so at their own cost (and thus at a cost to their budget for new releases). It could even end up that Anime Limited won't release that second part and while that would be disappointing it'd also be fairly easy to understand.
serpantino said:
I have no issues with having the choice available to people with the funds and interest to get these editions but it feels like standard editions are
slipped back every time there's a new license that can be made into a Limited Edition or Ultimate. It's even worse when a standard edition comes out in parallel but only on DVD so if you want the Blu-ray you have to pay for added extras or wait for an unknown length of time. By the time standard editions come out I will have other anime I am geared up for and intending to buy, so they'll probably get relegated to being purchased cheap in a sale or 2nd hand. This is one place where Jerome wins as he tends to release the standard BD in parallel or shortly after the ltd/collector's.
I think it's often less that the possibility of a Limited/Ultimate edition pushes back the standard release and more that the Limited/Ultimate edition can cover costs and make the release possible (or at least more practical) in the first place. Releasing a standard Blu-ray right away could eat into those sales and that would reduce available funds for future releases and growth (and could even make the release lose money overall). Whether that's a good enough excuse I can't really say, and it's possible that I'm being less cynical than I should, but I prefer to look at it in an optimistic way.
At the end of the day though, it's true that understanding a decision and feeling happy about it are very different things. I don't think it's unreasonable for people to be upset by the circumstances even if they recognise the reasons for them.
In some ways, we're all in this together. Companies aren't so different to fans really, everyone has their own concerns and views and while it'd be ideal if everyone could be satisfied every time it's unlikely to happen. Still, just because we may not all be in the same position doesn't mean we can't at least try to understand each other and I do think there are plenty of fans who are willing to do just that (it's not like you have to look further than this thread to find them).
HdE said:
This'll most likely make me look like a monster, but I figure it's worth jumping in with a pet point here, as it's come up in the thread:
I've been critical in the past of distributors touting a 'rigid box' as an exciting bonus feature. Trailers come in as a close second on my list of things not to label as bonus content.'
I have to admit, I've often wondered about this myself. I suppose the general idea is that it's better to have something to list in "special features", though it's especially puzzling when there are actual special features listed as well. Mentioning a "rigid box" seems especially odd when it may well be written on the box itself (or inside/stuck to it in some way).
) and even skipped the light novels for that arc, but the final sets really are wonderful. Now I'm home and have opened them up I'm really pleased with the 'guide books' and I'm looking forward to reading the interviews later when I get a chance. Season 2 might not be my favourite of SAO, but I'm going to have a lot of fun revisiting these episodes so I'm glad I finally bought 'em. 
