HD-DVD is dead... long live Bluray.

While it's certain that Toshiba will knock out HD-DVD players, in just a few weeks the fortunes of the rival formats have removed all ambiguity. Many "technical experts" RUSHED to state the bleedin' obvious... wait for it! Every PS3 sold had a bluray player in it!

Gasp. Really? Many men have achieved the rank of Grand Admiral Obvious today.

In all honesty, that was always going to be a tipping factor... while the PS3 might have had slovenly sales compared to the X-box 360 and the immensely popular Wii - it had still managed to sell (as of January 1st, 2008) 10.5 million. So, even though HD-DVD had several studios on it's side and it managed to sell over 2 million players (roughly half were standalone players, others add-ons for existing products)... it was still in a whole other ballpark to Bluray.

Given that Sony has had more than one setback in trying to pioneer a new format, it made sense that they'd win this one... While the PS3 will likely struggle to make up the lost ground that the Wii's hugely broad appeal affords it or the head start the 360 got... it has certainly given Sony the last laugh in this pointless, costly and totally avoidable format war... Still, at least the sudden shift by studios has precipitated a quicker end than many had predicted... ultimately, format wars hurt everyone - the industry and the consumer.

Since sometime around the release of Star Wars: Episode 2: Attack Of Further Merchandising, there have been rumours and murmurs of a Star Wars live action TV show... apparently slated for 2009 but clearly not content to wait that long before mugging Star Wars fans - or as some of them like to think of themselves George's piggy bank - there is to be an animated (CGI, naturally) film covering the Clone Wars.

If you're reading that and thinking "that sounds familiar...", it's because it is. The Clone Wars was covered in some depth by the eponymous cartoon - from the chaps that brought us Samurai Jack - and was in fact almost as good as the prequels were bad. Of course, surely this begs the question... why rehash this already trodden ground. As with anything Hollywood - the reason for repetition is always the same - tried and tested = cash in the bank.

In fact, this couldn't be any more of a perfect storm of bankable cash cow if you injected pound coins into a bovine fetus.

Firstly, it's Star Wars... and if you stick that name on something, it'll pull in a few million punters straight off the bat - after all, people were still turning up to Revenge Of The Sith, despite the fact all evidence was... it would suck.

Secondly - it's CGI... Every kid's film for years has been CGI... so, hitting the family demographic again. Not to mention that action, explosions and so on that would be budget busting in a live action film are - while still time consuming - far more cost effective... Which means you get more of 'em.

Thirdly - it's pretty obviously going to be a rehash of - or at least, take several elements from - the immensely popular and critically acclaimed Clone Wars cartoon.

On the bright side, the fact it's derivative of an excellent piece of work where General Grievous doesn't sound like an asthmatic French kiddie fiddler means that there's no particular need to worry about excessive ham fisted dialogue... best to just hope for lots of action and Jedi japery. Perhaps it can instil some confidence in the somewhat resentful and cynical Star Wars fanbase...