Video games are a big thing right now (remember how the industry's growth beat the US economy's 4-to-1?), but it seems Hollywood is a tough one to catch up with. According to a new report from the EMA, DVD sales still rake in more cash than video games. More in the full article.

This week, we're offered - count 'em - 19 selections for your Blu-ray viewing entertainment. In-between historical conflicts, fictional wars, and titillating thrillers are collector's editions of classics, TV series compilations, and a few laughs. Plenty as your choices are for the first week of June, however, are these Blu-ray high definition flavors worth the drive to your nearest movie retail shop? If the Metal Gear Solid movie is important to you, then one of these are most definitely worth a peek. More at the full story.

Will digital downloads via Xbox Live, PSN, and iTunes soon take over the business of delivering consumers TV shows and hit movies? Not if you ask top Hollywood execs. In a recent gathering of the industry's movers and shakers, the general notion was that physical media would remain on top in the few years ahead. Read the details in the full article up next.

After the high-definition format war was punctuated with Toshiba's announcement yesterday, there was only one thing left to happen: wait for Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures to announce that they're going Blu-ray. Universal's piece came fast, but Paramount waited a bit more. See the details of this development in the full article.

What's in store for Blu-ray fans in 2008? The early signs are encouraging as Amazon kicks off a Buy One Get One Free deal for their customers. Big hits from the most respected Hollywood movie makers are in the roster, so quality is sure to be at high levels. Head to the full article to see more details.

Everybody knows Paramount Pictures has joined the HD DVD camp, but why is it that Sony's PR info sheet still lists Paramount Pictures as one of the studios backing Blu-ray? According to Sony, Paramount will come back. Details in the full article!

The new word circulating around about the format war is that Warner Bros. will soon be going Blu-ray exclusive. This after VP Dan Silverberg commented that with the arrival of affordable hardware, it's time for the studio to re-evaluate the "notion of staying in two formats." Later on he says that "We can definitely talk Blu-Ray. We are committed to the format." If they do decide to go Blu-ray exclusive we should expect some major shifts in the format war similar to when Paramount and Dreamworks went HD DVD exclusive. Read more in the full article. Thanks to Oracle for the tip!

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment president Bob Chapek had some harsh words for HD-DVD backers, saying that those in the HD-DVD camp are prolonging the format war even though it is clear that Blu-ray will win. During a two-day Blu-ray festival in Hollywood, Chapek said the following:

Blu-ray's competition's attempts to sell less than the best will inevitably be trumped by what we stated from the very beginning: That the Blu-ray technology is not a half-step format that will sell consumers short, but rather it is a revolutionary technology that will change the way we view movies for the long term.

And we firmly believe that revolutionary technology, my friends, is indisputably, undeniably and inevitably Blu-ray.

Chapek wasn't alone in chastising HD-DVD backers. Fox's home entertainment president Mike Dunn earlier this week blasted Paramount for switching to HD-DVD. Dunn referred to the rumored US$ 50 million payout that Paramount supposedly received, accusing the studio of "taking the bait".

One hardcore Transformers fan has turned a 1994 Peterbilt truck into an exact replica of the Hollywood version of Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots.

It comes with the whole paint job, a 17-inch LCD TV, custom interiors and a hell of a lot of chrome. It even has a voice-activated alarm that uses Optimus Prime's voice on lock and unlock mode and a whole bunch of other cool features.

The cost of this behemoth? US$ 55,200 and rising on eBay Canada. If you wanna put in a bid, you better hurry since the bidding is ending in just a little over four and a half hours.

You can check it out by clicking on the Via link below. Oh, and purists, please note that this is a replica of the Hollywood version of Prime's truck mode, not the cab over semi from the original cartoon. If the price is a little too high for you, you can always give Transformers: The Game (DS, PC, PSP, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360) a try.

Hollywood movie maestro Steven Spielberg has always been known as a staunch Blu-ray supporter since the advent of the format war. It's now surprising to see that some of his old films were seen in the CEATAC Conference in Japan. Jaws, Jurassic Park, and E.T. were spotted on a screen with the text "Look and Sound Perfect" native to HD-DVD titles from Universal Studios.

Spielberg has openly supported Sony's next-generation format, as evidenced by the exemptions of its work from HD-DVD's deal with Dreamworks whom he has worked with. He has also had some brush-offs with the HD-DVD as of late.

Earlier in the year, the HD-DVD Promotions Group apologized for including his films on a "coming soon" ad that they put out for an upcoming title. No legal mortars were fired, but the battle lines were clearly drawn.

So what gives with Universal Japan's seeming claim that the aforementioned Spielberg blockbusters of the past would land on HD-DVD? Did they land some sort of special deal? We wouldn't know for sure at this point, but we'll give you an update as soon as new word is forthcoming.