Casino Royale Blu-ray for PS3 early adopters

By Tom Bramwell Published 12 February, 2007

First 500,000 online sign-ups.

Sony has announced that the first 500,000 people to register their PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network after the console's European launch will receive a free copy of James Bond film Casino Royale on Blu-ray.

Sony's Darren Carter, VP of brand and consumer marketing, described it as a "phenomenal incentive" for consumers to sign up to the console's online service, which allows for free online gaming as well as downloadable content through the PS3 Store.

"Casino Royale not only makes the most of the features and capabilities of the Blu-ray format, but is one of the most exciting and entertaining movies to debut on Blu-ray this year," Carter added.

The film will play back in 1080p resolution, having been encoded with the MPEG-4 AVC codec and stored on a 50GB, dual-layer Blu-ray disc, offering consumers a chance to sample one of the console's unique selling points - its high definition Blu-ray movie playback.

The platform holder implemented a similar scheme for the North American PS3 launch, offering Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby on Blu-ray with the first 400,000 units sold.

PlayStation 3 launches in Europe on 23rd March.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (75) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • kincaide #1 5 years ago

    register 3 what?
    EDIT - good, you've changed it.

    Plus I like Casino Royale - but the Ballad of Ricky Bobby is one of the classics of modern cinema. yet again our American "cousins" get the better deal.

    Shake and Bake
    Edited by 4 at 12/02/07 @ 14:08

  • dbeamish #2 5 years ago

    lol
    [link url= http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2007/20070210.jpg
    ]http://ww w.penny-arcade.com/images/2007/...[/link]

  • Dizzy #3 5 years ago

    Good idea... but it should take a few years though for those 500k players to sign up.
    Edited by 1 at 12/02/07 @ 14:09

  • JediMasterMalik #4 5 years ago

    AWESOME!! =D

    Edit - So much better then ricky bobby, can't wait.
    Edited by 1 at 12/02/07 @ 14:07

  • riz23 #5 5 years ago

    "phenomenal incentive" my arse

  • kangarootoo #6 5 years ago

    I still haven't sene this film, but I hear it is the dog's nuts (and probably the cat's too).

  • JohnnyWashnGo #7 5 years ago

    Lol, "phenomenal incentive".

    I can see the t-shirts now - 'I wasted £400 on an overpriced games console and all I got was this crappy film'

    I don't see how this is either phenomenal or an incentive to blow lots of money?

  • Tonka #8 5 years ago

    /pre-orders

  • kangarootoo #9 5 years ago

    @kincaide

    I just saw Talledega Nights this weekend, and I have to say I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong, its a great film, but its not a patch on Anchorman IMO.

    There were some great ideas in it, but some of the ad lib stuff just didn't quite have the same kick.

  • lambtron #10 5 years ago

    @Kanga - it was ok, the missus even liked it.

    Not exactly mind blowing but not bad either.

    Certainly not a "phenomenal incentive".

  • flapps #11 5 years ago

    Geez, what a bunch of killjoys....

  • GiarcYekrub #12 5 years ago

    Why would you need to watch Casino Royale(sat playing cards...boring) in HD it's not as if it's got many special fx like say the Brosnen Bonds ... now they'd be cool in HD

  • space_ace #13 5 years ago

    ha, i was going to get this on blu-ray anyway! bravo, sony :)

  • Steroyd #14 5 years ago

    Holy shit!!!

    /camps outside of HMV

  • JediMasterMalik #15 5 years ago

    Geez, what a bunch of killjoys....

    +1

    Are you guys really gonna complain about this? Really?

    It's biggest selling bond film to date, I don't think Sony had to do this to sell the damn things.

  • Hypnopedia #16 5 years ago

    Top Film, Top Bond.

    Quite tempting seeing as my 2nd 360 died 2 weeks ago out of warranty.... :D

  • AcidSnake #17 5 years ago

    Ok, but let's look at it from an objective point of view...

    You buy the system, register and for this you get a free movie...
    That's pretty good IMO...

    (I know the system is overpriced, but if you were getting one this is nothing but good news)

  • Steroyd #18 5 years ago

    yeah Spiderman 2 and you had to sign up your PSP before the end of September.

    Which I never did get that movie mind you. :/

  • Mildew #19 5 years ago

    Just like the phenomenol HMV offer! :o)

  • Totoriko #20 5 years ago

    So it's open to all PS3 owners worldwide then?

    US/Japan ps3 owners should make sure they register early on launch day (before the shops open) so they get in before those in Europe :)
    Edited by 1 at 12/02/07 @ 14:26

  • BadBoyBonner #21 5 years ago

    Well I liked Casino Royale more than King Kong - but will be buying neither Hi-Def dvd drive or discs.

  • tonynibbles #22 5 years ago

    Yay! :)

  • jonsaan #23 5 years ago

    I'd rather have a free game thanks.

  • Dizzy #24 5 years ago

    "It's biggest selling bond film to date, I don't think Sony had to do this to sell the damn things. "

    They are just giving away Bluray movies because they LOVE us!!!! Happy Valentine!

    "Quite tempting seeing as my 2nd 360 died 2 weeks ago out of warranty.... :D "

    Stop bullshitting us. Warranty in Europe on electronics is - by law - 2 years.
    Edited by 1 at 12/02/07 @ 14:28

  • JediMasterMalik #25 5 years ago

    I'm guessing they are doing it to make themselves look better and not make us more angry at them for the delay. Though I guess if you wanted to you could call it love. :o

  • the_dudefather #26 5 years ago

    not a bad deal, pretty good movie

    and at least sony will make back the money from advertising (ie: sony product placement :p )

  • Salaman #27 5 years ago

    Now, now. It's easy to sit here and shout "a blue ray movie is not a phenomenal incentive for buying a PS3".

    But that's not what was sad no is it?

    Read it again:
    "phenomenal incentive" for consumers to sign up to the console's online service

    You've already bought the PS3, now they'll give you a movie if you sign up to the online service. Makes more sense now?

  • Hypnopedia #28 5 years ago

    "Quite tempting seeing as my 2nd 360 died 2 weeks ago out of warranty.... :D "

    Stop bullshitting us. Warranty in Europe on electronics is - by law - 2 years.

    Sadly not - bought it direct from a distributor NOT Retail and they don't want to know...

  • woodnotes #29 5 years ago

    Expect the service to get HAMMERED on March 23rd.

  • ccfb #30 5 years ago

    Its quite sad what constitutes a "phenominal incentive" these days.

  • peterfll #31 5 years ago

    Hmmmmmm....... this is not bad.

    I still can't bring myself to commit to either side in the HD war, but having a sampler (and of a decent film to boot) has got to be a good thing for those interested.

  • ChuckRialto #32 5 years ago

    Pretty pathetic attempt to boost their proprietary Blu-Ray movie format - what happened to the PS3 being about the games?

  • Totoriko #33 5 years ago

    Casino Royale BD is region free, so it will work on US/Jap PS3s

  • Pooley #34 5 years ago

    Interesting one this. I have a Hong Kong PS3, for which I've currently registered a US account so I can access the store. Hopefully then, come 23/3/07 I can register a UK address and get the free movie.

    Damn, another reason to get a HDTV.

    I hope there's no region coding on the movie.

  • Gurgeh #35 5 years ago

    "Sadly not - bought it direct from a distributor NOT Retail and they don't want to know... "

    They don't have a choice. They sold it to you, you are covered by law. If they act up get Trading Standards on to them to explain life and its hardships.

  • Totoriko #36 5 years ago

    @Pooley

    Gonna do the same. 2 Free movies for buying that damn PS3 :)

  • brooza #37 5 years ago

    I don't see what the big deal is... literally. The last paragraph for me says "The film will play back in 1080p resolution, having been encoded with the MPEG-4 AVC codec and stored on a 50GB, dual-layer Blu-ray disc, offering consumers a" and the comments box is just dumped on top of the article...

  • sanctusmortis #38 5 years ago

    Quelle suprise. After all, the film's full of Sony ads, why not give it away to the rabid fanboys?

    I enjoyed the film, but the ads grated. The phones, the security footage BD-ROM, the Blu Ray players, the pointless "driving a Ford Mondeo, rendering 3D maps on my Sony Ericsson K800i", the "spies use VAIOs"... too much. Almost as bad as I, Robot.

  • Steroyd #39 5 years ago

    Its quite sad what constitutes a "phenominal incentive" these days.

    Get a free movie for signing up to a free online service... if that isn't a phenomenal incentive to sign up to the PSN network i don't know what is...

  • mkreku #40 5 years ago

    If someone was already planning on getting a Playstation 3, this is a good deal. I thought Casino Royale was awesome.

    That said: BOYCOTT THE PS3 FOR LETTING US EUROPEANS WAIT LONGER AND PAY MORE! :p

  • kincaide #41 5 years ago

    @kangarootoo - I know what you mean. Anchorman is pure genius, Ricky Bobby just has flashes.

    I still think Old School pwns them both - if just for the tranq gun scene

  • Steroyd #42 5 years ago

    Lol @ mkreku

    Fight the good fight.

  • trevd72 #43 5 years ago

    problem is how many people have hdtv, or should I say how many people who are buying a PS3 have HD. I know the first 500K is more than likely to seeing as they are early adopters - but still is guess it still plays in SD doesnt it?
    Edited by 1 at 12/02/07 @ 14:58

  • MadMirko #44 5 years ago

    Well, a price cut would be so shameful, so the other option is to give more for the same money.

    At least a grain of realism, there. :)

  • Halo.Jones #45 5 years ago

    Too all of you who already have registered your PS3's in other regions may find that this offer is only open to Europe only. Your PS3's will have had their details logged when you first registered online.

  • enzima #46 5 years ago

    good deal! loved the movie, tho i still didnt decide whethere ill pick up one. starting to be tempted.....anyway, i did register my psp for the spider-man movie, got 2 copies sent from Sony!!!!

  • Foxclose #47 5 years ago

    Yeah !!!

    People of Europe are gonna find out how great the PS3 is as a standalone BD player!! With lots of titles to boot! :)

  • Hughes. #48 5 years ago

    It doesn't make up for the extra price of the machine, but anyone planning on early adopting will have squared that factor away long ago. It's a lot better a movie than Spiderman 2 that I got free for registering my PSP.

    Personally I couldn't give a toss about this HD format war, but this is certainly a good way for Sony to start people building a library of films on the format. Not that that helped UMD, but Spiderman 2 is a pretty crappy film (Dunst's wet T-Shirt aside), whereas Casino Royale is a bloody good see.

    I doubt anyone buying a PS3 would kick this offer out of bed for farting, anyone else with bad words to say about it is just bitching for the sake of it.

  • dog2_99 #49 5 years ago

    i think the BR will be zone 2 (or whatever its called) so its unlikely the film will play on imported machines (hoping i am wrong mind as i just ordered the film on BR from the US)

  • YourMessageHere #50 5 years ago

    I registered my PSP and got a UMD case instead of Spidertwit 2; I just wanted to get to the WipEout DLC on their website, but thought a free crap film would be better than a poke in the eye. However I already have a UMD case =/

  • Steroyd #51 5 years ago

    [link url=http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.p hp?p=9737058&&#post9737058
    ]http://ww w.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthrea...[/link]

    Casino Royale has already been released in theaters worldwide. Since the theatrical window for the title is passed, we are coding the disc all region.

    Looks like a region-free Movie.

  • peterfll #52 5 years ago

    No, this "free" copy will only play on same region PS3 i.e. region 2 machines, which doesn't include machines from the US or far east.

    HD-DVD has regional encoding too, but nothing released so far uses it.... unlike BR...

    Heh-ho.

    Update, if that's true Steders, I'll eat my hat humbly - I wasn't aware any BR discs had taken advantage of the region free setting.....
    Edited by 1 at 12/02/07 @ 16:25

  • Rambaldi #53 5 years ago

    It's a good offer actualy

  • dog2_99 #54 5 years ago

    http://ww w.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?co... :

    "Coded for all regions (A, B and C)"

    yay i stand corrected right need to cancel my order doh and see if i get lucky with Sony EUR?

  • Steroyd #55 5 years ago

    peterfll You know more than a Sony Pictures BD Insider?

    Wow oh please do tell.
    Edited by 1 at 12/02/07 @ 16:25

  • peterfll #56 5 years ago

    No no, I don't. I'm just a simple peasant, like all of us...... ;-)

    I stand corrected sir.

  • Totoriko #57 5 years ago

    It's only £13.89 for you rich people who can afford a PS3 :)
    [link url=http:/ /www.sendit.com/video/item/7001000131846
    ]http://ww w.sendit.com/video/item/7001000...[/link]
    Edited by 1 at 12/02/07 @ 16:30

  • peterfll #58 5 years ago

    Oh, I stand corrected by someone with a "Sony Pictures BD Insider" sign off on a public forum do I?!?! Now I've followed the link.........

    \clears throat

    "I pronounce PS3's will be given away free with bags of Walkers Cheese and Onion crisps from 23rd March 2007".

    Signed,
    SCEE Playstation Insider

    \blows rasberry!
    Edited by 1 at 12/02/07 @ 16:33

  • dog2_99 #59 5 years ago

    or free if Sony takes pitty on us Importers!

    It worked with my PSP...i got it in Jap on release and registered it upon EUR release and they sent me two (random i know) SpiderMan 2 UMDs...worth a shot...if not off to sendit i guess! ps great film!

  • spongebob #60 5 years ago

    Nice surprise.

  • kissthestick #61 5 years ago

    good shit, nice one Sony

  • Lovemoose #62 5 years ago

    Hey! Gaming Magpies! let us distract you with this shiny thing while we sneak behind you and rape your wallets!

    Look! it's shiny!

  • captainrentboy #63 5 years ago

    I'm pretty sure the posts regarding warrantys and consumers having the right to demand console repairs/replacements all the way up to two years after purchase are wrong.
    From what I can gather all products sold are expected to last a 'reasonable' amount of time,of course I'm not saying a £300 xbox 360 should only be expected to last a few months,but with regards to consumer rights,the customer not the retailer,after a period of just 6 months ownership could be asked to PROVE that the fault hasn't developed by natural wear and tear and has actually been laying dorment since the original purchase.And in my opinion that could be a pretty darned hard thing to prove.Which is why sooo many retailers offer extended ''no fuss'' warranties,most will happily sort things out for up to 12 months but after that they have the right to make a fuss.

  • scaramanga10 #64 5 years ago

    Kinda sad looking at the trolls in this thread, free movie (and good movie at that) is nothing to scoff at.

  • smelly #65 5 years ago

    Well i guess it gives you SOMETHING to do with your overly expensive console at launch... More than makes up for the price that.

  • spongebob #66 5 years ago

    Smelly is just a poor guy who'd like a piece of the action :)

  • smelly #67 5 years ago

    Nah I've got everything worth owning on the ps3 on the 360 :-)

  • 4thVariety #68 5 years ago

    I hope they get their VG-console act straight, this whole additional value through additional functionality is boring me to death.

    What's next? A Wii which also is a laundromat? A DS which is a cattle prod?

    I love my PSP for Wipeout Pure, because Wipeout really is pure. So far, the brick failed me completely at every other of its multimedia aspects. This is why I will not pay extra money for some highly doubtful set of features.

  • spongebob #69 5 years ago

    4thVariety: PSP is most excellent for watching videos on the go. I don't know why anyone would disagree with that.

  • Kupid #70 5 years ago

    What about people who have already registered?

    I'm guessing no one can answer this question because you probably don't work with sony or have contact with them.

    :(

  • agparrot #71 5 years ago

    Yeah, I'm with Kupid -

    I signed up to that Euro-sign up page whose link I will search for in a minute to bag a slew of great online names.... does that not count as signing up for the online service?

    edit link to euro signups

    do signups made on the link through there count?

    ag.
    Edited by 1 at 13/02/07 @ 10:00

  • zendragon #72 5 years ago

    The warranty really is 2 years and it makes no difference if it's in the first day or the last of that period.

    They give a movie (not a game) - that proves that the ps3 is really just a trojan horse for blu ray.

    Lots of (free) publicity, but it's limited in numbers and in time. Besides most people don't follow throught on these things.


  • smelly #73 5 years ago

    >Blu-Ray is da future. Roll on March.

    I've always suspected european gamers as being the most stupid...

  • jienn #74 5 years ago

    Too bad casino was not that good....can't see that high replay value, like in goldfinger, spy who loved me, octopussy or even moonraker.

    All I remember is some fast action sequences and a thuggish bond. Ok performance by Craig in some scenes (in relation to what i expected) but is far away from Connery-class.

    Most of my friends liked this film better than the older ones, so i guess the young will like it....and since many young will buy PS3 it's a nice deal.

  • Daikon #75 5 years ago

    All those with a PS3 AND a 1080p capable TV please raise your hands...