HD-DVD only failed because most of the big studios backed blu-ray exclusively, it was Toshibas exclusive brand, blu-ray belongs to sony.... and because most of the big studios put all their efforts into blu-ray, hd-dvd saw not that many priority releases, it had some good ones, but not as many as blu-ray...
so toshiba had to scrap all their hd-dvd stuff, and the film companies that signed with hd-dvd, like paramount, have re-signed with blu-ray, putting a lot of their releases back as most of spielbergs back catalogue was done by paramount which is why we've only seen 2 or 3 of his films hitting blu-ray...
Blu ray is just really one of those things for people who are into it... if you're not into geekily high levels of picture and audio quality then you're better off saving your money, as thats what it's for, but for the people like myself and others who are well into that kinda thing, its bloody exciting!!
