Following this discussion, since different discs in a title can have different region encodings, I would like to see region information maintained at the disc level as well as at a title level.

(It would also be super if DVDP could detect region coding and number of layers to eliminate having to use other programs to do so.)

Quoting Gridlock Joe:

Quote:
Following this discussion, since different discs in a title can have different region encodings, I would like to see region information maintained at the disc level as well as at a title level.

I agree except for the part about keeping it at the title level.  First of all, why capture the same data twice.  It adds no benefit.  Second of all, it's theoretically possible for a double sided disc to have different region coding on each side.  And if you kept it at the title level, then you again end up with one spot to put two different pieces of data.

So I'd say it should only be at the disc level (per side of course).

I would say keep it at the title level to report what region the DVD case states.  Then keep the actual region encoding on a per-disc level in the disc information.

The downside is that it'll require a 15-page discussion on the contribution forum about what to do if there is only one disc and the region on the disc differs from the case. 

I certainly hope you have your tongue firmly planted in your cheek, James. But, just in case, I am going to strap myself into my strait jacket and go sit in a corner, that way i won't run screaming through the streets.      

Skip

No, I'm serious. I remember when we discussed this back at IVS (one of those mega-threads  ) that there were advocates of using just the case data and not using software to detect regions on discs.

One of their arguments was that using case data preserved the information regarding where that product would be sold. eg. A case marked Region 1 with a region 1,4 disc inside will not be sold in Region 4 in that particular case. It would have to be repackaged into a Region 4 case.

But we went ahead using software to detect region data from the discs. I don't think we foresaw the situation that came up today where discs in a package had different regions, especially in the example I saw earlier where someone mentioned 2 discs of episodes with one region set and a 3rd disc with episodes with a different region set.

So there really are two separate issues surrounding regions codes: (1) Where will the "package" be sold and (2) Where will the discs be playable.

By using software to detect disc regions, we are attempting to satisfy #2. But we can't completely satisfy #2 when we only have one place to insert region data in a multi-disc or multi-disc-side package. As we've seen with some examples given today, there are often multiple possibilities of what to enter into our one place to enter region data. That creates problems. Too many pegs trying to fit into one hole.

Using only the package data does indeed satisfy #1, but doesn't satisfy #2.

The only way to satisfy #1 and #2 together is to have separate places to record the region(s) from the package and the region(s) from the disc sides. Only then will we have completely accurate information. Until then, we will argue about which is most important to satisfy in the meantime and there will be advocates on both sides.

Imagine this scenario:

Package: Region 4
Disc 1: Main Feature Regions 1,4
Disc 2: Bonus Materials 4

Under your preference (list regions of main feature), this would be entered as 1,4. I think a lot of Region 1 folks would be upset to purchase that product when they realize they can't play the second disc. Entering 1,4 here is accurate for Disc 1, but not accurate for the package or for Disc 2.

That's what's happening to people right now who've given examples today they can't play the 2nd disc. But they aren't in Region 1, which makes it appear like a lesser issue to those of us in Region 1.

Another issue with listing the regions of only the main feature is that this method breaks down in the example given of 3 discs of episodes with different region combinations. Tracking the package's region works best in that circumstance, but tracking package and disc sides would be the only way to be completely accurate.

In an ideal situation, DVD Profiler could track accurate and complete data for all regions.