Japanese Cinema’s Dirty Little PS3 Secret
It’s not everyday a giggle-inducing scandal is uncovered, especially in Sony’s homeland of Japan. But attendees of viewing for Kara no Kyoukai over at a Sendai cinema did exactly that.
As it turns out, some Japanese movie theaters have completely transcended the use of film projectors in favor of PlayStation 3s. The audience that was watching Kara no Kyoukai was unexpectedly interrupted by the appearance of the PS3’s XMB, warning the projectionist to stop messing around and recharge their Sixaxis controller.
As word spread through 2ch-watching blogs, it turned out that a number of theaters actually rely on this method, and for one particular reason. The flicks were being played off the PS3 hard drives, not Blu-ray players. It’s hard to say then whether these movies were even obtained legally, but we suspect it was merely a cost-saving measure on the studios’ part. Even more surprising was that the quality was indistinguishable from typical film stock.
And who knows. Maybe American theaters will start doing the same. We just hope they keep their controllers plugged in while they’re at it.
[Source]
15 Responses to “Japanese Cinema’s Dirty Little PS3 Secret”
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September 10th, 2009 at 3:20 AM
Go-Forest-Go!!!!!!!! )))
September 10th, 2009 at 3:22 AM
that is awesome. LOL i think that would be crazy being interrupted at a movie theaters and seeing the xmb pop up. I would totally be like “WTF…….that is badass” and then not even care about the movie and just me boastful that cinemas use the ps3. : )
September 10th, 2009 at 5:05 AM
Hahaha wow
September 10th, 2009 at 8:38 AM
ha thats great
September 10th, 2009 at 10:25 AM
well add one more thing the PS3 can do that a console who’s name I will not mention cannot due
September 10th, 2009 at 12:11 PM
I’d like to play a few games on that screen, awesome!
September 10th, 2009 at 1:07 PM
lol, I can see the theater workiers playing MGS4 on the screen
September 10th, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Wow, that’s pretty cool. I know I’d play some games on a “closed” screen.
September 10th, 2009 at 4:24 PM
HAHAHAHAHa! That would be embarrassing.
September 10th, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Sweet this would be hilarious if it happened in a U.S. theater that was over crowded with MS fanboys.
September 10th, 2009 at 6:37 PM
that would be awesome although they would have to switch out ps3’s in case of overheating
September 10th, 2009 at 6:47 PM
@DGR8M lol. They’ll probably boycott that cinema.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Actually, many Japanese “cinemas”, if you even called them that are mere holes in the wall with One Room, playing a movie (the size of a small classroom). I wouldn’t even second guess that it could have been a pirated american movie with Japanese subtitles as the DVD or at least a good quality form of a movie is already online by the time the movie is released in a foreign country. Just subtitle it, and put it on your PS3 with a projector, and you have a movie theater.
September 11th, 2009 at 8:35 AM
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September 13th, 2009 at 1:10 PM
[...] This happened when one of the controllers was out-of-charge and requested to be charged in one of Japan’s cinema theater. It looks like film have been replaced by Playstation 3. Interesting you would be [...]