When I say I want extras, I don't mean steelbooks and pencilboards, I mean actual content and packaging that is actually decent enough in quality to properly store the contents long term. Packaging I can be proud of, like a nice tidy box to give extra protection to my purchase, and an insert (or at least a bally episode list - I can't describe how annoying it is to have to rely on Wikipedia half the time to find the episode I want to rewatch these days!) to help me enjoy it, is always welcome too. When I say quality of the release, I mean something that won't end up in the Defective Discs thread with some crippling issue which nobody ever fixes in a recall, with video and audio quality at the same level as the US and without content or bonus video material removed. If I was to take comparison shots of some of the DVDs I have in both UK and US versions, the UK ones often look worse (and of course sound worse due to the PAL process). That's not right.
I don't think these are exactly unreasonable requirements, especially as streaming has now split even the most dutiful fan types and given them a reason to be pickier about what they buy. If the UK companies use the line that they are too small to adequately quality check content or ensure we get releases we can be proud of, I'm happy to buy elsewhere.
I remember a Funimation podcast or something quite a while ago where they mentioned that when they are releasing a show they buy the JP release to make sure they get the same extras on their discs (where rights are available). Setting aside the absurdly old-fashioned methodology they're using, it's like Australia and the UK don't want to even think about how much better overseas releases tend to be, so they don't do this and don't check to make sure we're not getting ripped off.
I consider paying half as much for something half as good to be less a 'saving' and more a waste of time when I could just buy the real deal in the first place. It's good that they have driven prices so low that people on a budget can pick stuff up, but having also driven the quality down with it they've effectively priced me out of the market here instead (in a roundabout way).
R
I don't think these are exactly unreasonable requirements, especially as streaming has now split even the most dutiful fan types and given them a reason to be pickier about what they buy. If the UK companies use the line that they are too small to adequately quality check content or ensure we get releases we can be proud of, I'm happy to buy elsewhere.
I remember a Funimation podcast or something quite a while ago where they mentioned that when they are releasing a show they buy the JP release to make sure they get the same extras on their discs (where rights are available). Setting aside the absurdly old-fashioned methodology they're using, it's like Australia and the UK don't want to even think about how much better overseas releases tend to be, so they don't do this and don't check to make sure we're not getting ripped off.
I consider paying half as much for something half as good to be less a 'saving' and more a waste of time when I could just buy the real deal in the first place. It's good that they have driven prices so low that people on a budget can pick stuff up, but having also driven the quality down with it they've effectively priced me out of the market here instead (in a roundabout way).
R
