We previously reported that Walt Disney Studios will be focusing on BD Live interactivity, starting with the release of Sleeping Beauty on Blu-ray this fall. Now, the NYTimes is revealing some of these innovative new features that will be included on future Disney BD Live titles.
Sleeping Beauty Blu-ray viewers participants will be able to synch up movie playback with friends or family in remote locations. Synched up users will be able to chat with each other on screen; using a laptop, PDA or mobile phone. This in movie chat first made it's appearance on the rival HD DVD format, with the community screening feature found on the Warner title "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".
Another Sleeping Beauty BD Live feature will interconnect users with trivia competitions, allowing participants to compete against opponents across the globe.
Users will also have the capability of inserting pre-recorded home videos that pop-up during movie playback. With this feature, participants can now create their own special features for a Disney film. DisneyTube anyone?
Disney and other Blu-ray backers are hoping that these and other new BD Live features will spark excitement and spur adoption of the Blu-ray Disc format. But do these extras just add fluff or will they really provide value and attract more Blu-ray customers? We'll be keeping an eye on Blu-ray product sales figures to find out.
