Repackaging of Farscape seasons?

[tamarok]

This may have been asked before, but I couldn't find it in the search:

I am interested in buying the Farscape seasons, though the current packaging format seems a little out of wack. For me the ideal format would be something akin to the Stargate series and having all episodes of a given season in one box, rather than separate volumes that make the Star Trek seasons look cheap.

Does anyone know if there are plans to adjust the DVD packaging to something a little more standard?

[Jul]

tamarok - there are full season sets of farscape, which are available at online dvd retailers, but they tend to run about $100 a set. The Starburst Editions - 3 volumes per season - are much more economical & have even more extras than the traditional full season box sets.

[Nicola]

Does anyone know if there are plans to adjust the DVD packaging to something a little more standard?

Farscape never did anything that was standard. *snicker*

The Starburst Editions are the best to get. They are as high a quality, many more extras, take up less space on your bookshelf and much cheaper in price. There are 12 of them, 3 editions per season.

The original versions do come in box sets - they are more expensive, take up more space on your shelf and contain less extras. But they are in boxes.

You can buy the individual volumes of the box sets seperately as well.

Does that help?

[tamarok]

I'll take a look at the Starburst editions, since the other boxes seem to make no sense, as I see them on HMVs web site (http://www.hmv.ca/hmvcaweb/en_CA/simpleSearch.do?keywords=farscape&searchType=2&x=0&y=0=). And the box sets really make Star Trek look cheap.

Edit: I just took another look and I see:
- V1:Starburst Edition
- V2:Starburst Edition
- V3:Starburst Edition
- Starburst Edition 4.1 : 4dvd
- Starburst Edition 4.2 : 4dvd
- Starburst Edition 4.3

Should I be avoiding the ones with the decimal numbers? I am sure this makes sense to someone.

[Nicola]

You can get better prices than that! Yikes.

Try Exyte.com (http://exyte.com/) - a Canadian Company that doesn't charge shipping and does actually know what the heck they are talking about when it comes to Farscape (unlike HMV apparently).

Season One Farscape is difficult to come by these days. Sony acquired the rights to Season One last January and have not (yet) released their version. HMV even says those volumes are unavailable.

You can still get Season One in Starburst and original editions, but the price is ... steep. You could also buy them in Region 2 (Contender) format. I do recommend Region 2, because the picture quality is better - and they have (slightly) different extras - not as many as the Starburst Edition tho.

Note: you will need a multi-region DVD player for that.

Best of Season One is a viable option. Only six episodes of Season One - but they are the best and they will give you a solid grounding on relationships, the universe and the dominant storyline of the series. :)

Good luck!

PS. If the listing says Starburst Edition - go for it. Like I said - HMV doesn't seem to know what they have. V1, V2, V3 - are the first season. V2.1, V2.2, V2.3 - is the second season. And so forth until the fourth season. But try Exyte.com (http://exyte.com/). Their prices are more reasonable and they do know what they are talking about. (Always a plus.)

P.S. Don't forget "Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars" - the mini-series in lieu of Season 5. But you probably want the first 4 seasons first and PK Wars is readily available. :)

[tamarok]

The prices are certainly better there.

Where would I buy the region 2 DVDs from?

Are there any unofficial plans as to what Sony is going to do with season 1?

As a matter of opinion, if a fan is having trouble understanding the packaging, what is a someone discovering the series is to do? This hurts the general public from discovering such a great series, especially since most people will be dealing with the HMVs of our world.

[Nicola]

The prices are certainly better there.

Where would I buy the region 2 DVDs from?


Amazon.co.uk (http://amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=farscape&Go.x=9&Go.y=12)

Just remember - you do need a multi-region DVD player in order to play them. On the other hand - Region 2 (Contender) Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars DVD is exponentially better than the Region One version. So if you do decide to go that route, you are already in place to have the best PK Wars DVD.


Are there any unofficial plans as to what Sony is going to do with season 1?

We have heard nothing. Although we do have a letter writing campaign underway to let them know of our interest. Check out this link: Time to get that special Scaper stationary out and say a special hello :D (http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38360&highlight=sony).

Probably best to e-mail: consumer@sphecustomersupport.sony.com

As a matter of opinion, if a fan is having trouble understanding the packaging, what is a someone discovering the series is to do? This hurts the general public from discovering such a great series, especially since most people will be dealing with the HMVs of our world.

I agree. I don't think anyone has put together a clear explanation - maybe because it gets very complicated very fast.

Do you want to take a stab at it? I bet various websites would be very interested in a reasonable explanation to make sense of the whole thing. And you are the ideal person to do it, because you are coming from the same place other newbies would be (i.e., you are asking the right questions).

[tamarok]

Below is draft version of an explanation of the situation, based on Nicola's suggestion. I would appreciate comments and any factual corrections:

The current situation regarding Farscape packaging is confusing to say the least and unfortunately doesn't help the would be Farscape viewer discover the series.

As a means to understanding the packaging I will try to explain what's available.

- North America (Region 1)

-- Starburst: this seems to be the simplest and most affordable way of getting your hands on the series. It is split up into 12 DVDs, of which there are three per season. They are numbered as:

Farscape 1.1 Starburst
Farscape 1.2 Starburst
Farscape 1.3 Starburst

Farscape 2.1 Starburst
Farscape 2.2 Starburst
Farscape 2.3 Starburst

Farscape 3.1 Starburst
Farscape 3.2 Starburst
Farscape 3.3 Starburst

Farscape 4.1 Starburst
Farscape 4.2 Starburst
Farscape 4.1 Starburst

The various Staburst seasons are also available as box sets. These box sets are simply the invidual DVDs collected together, so that Farscape Starburst season 2 includes 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3. The covers are share a distinctive yellow 'Starburst Edition' bar on the bottom of the fron cover.

Something that is confusing, is that some sellers seem to use different numbering schemes and for example label Farscape 4.1 as volume 10. Before putting your money down be sure to check what you are getting.

It should be noted that in January 2007 Sony acquired the rights to the first season and at the time of writing (December 2007), they have yet to do anything with the rights. Unfortunately this also means that season 1 is no longer available commercially (Starburst included), until Sony decides to publish DVDs for this season.

-- Non-Starburst Volumes: There volumes which aren't associated with the Starburst packaging and they are labelled as Farscape: V1 to Farscape: V12.

There is yet another numbering system around where the DVDs seem to
be numbered in a similar decimal system as the Starburst edition, but are split up into 4 sub volumes per season. For example 'Farscape 2.4: Season 2'.

-- Non-Starburst box set: while available they seem to be in a price category of their own. As an example season 1 is tagged at 259.95 Canadian Dollars on Amazon.ca. Currently on seasons 1 to 4 are available in this format.

-- Peacekeeper Wars: While available, the region 2 DVD is considered to be much better that its region 1 counterpart, so if you have a region free DVD player then this is the one to get.

- Europe (Region 2)

????

[Nicola]

Hey tamarok.

Sorry it has taken me such a long time to respond. I have some changes to your explanation of the Farscape DVDs available because apparently I wasn't clear initially. :headbang: (I do try, really I do!) However I like your format and more or less kept it intact.

If something is confusing or you can think of a better explanation, please don't hesitate to make your own changes.

In a week or so I am going to send this to Farscape Canada for them to post on their website. Plus I will probably cross-post to the Farscape Forum at Television Without Pity and at Space (the Canadian sci fi channel forum).



The current situation regarding Farscape packaging is confusing to say the least and unfortunately doesn't help the would be Farscape viewer discover the series.

As a means to understanding the packaging I will try to explain what's available.

Region 1 (North America) by ADV Films

-- Starburst: this seems to be the simplest and most affordable way of getting your hands on the series. It is split up into 12 DVDs, of which there are three per season. They are numbered as:

Farscape 1.1 Starburst
Farscape 1.2 Starburst
Farscape 1.3 Starburst

Farscape 2.1 Starburst
Farscape 2.2 Starburst
Farscape 2.3 Starburst

Farscape 3.1 Starburst
Farscape 3.2 Starburst
Farscape 3.3 Starburst

Farscape 4.1 Starburst
Farscape 4.2 Starburst
Farscape 4.1 Starburst

The covers all share a distinctive yellow 'Starburst Edition' bar on the bottom of the front cover.

Something that is confusing, is that some sellers seem to use different numbering schemes and for example label Farscape 4.1 as volume 10. Before putting your money down be sure to check what you are getting.

Another confusing detail is that both Season One and Season Two Farscape: Starburst Editions were initally issued on double sided DVDs. After complaints of freezing and skipping ADV rereleased them as single sided DVDs. It is still possible to get the double sided Farscape: Starburst DVDs and the content is identical.

-- Original Farscape DVDs: ADV previously issued Farscape in volumes that they later combined in box sets. These are known as ADV's Original Farscape DVDs. These box sets differ from the Starburst Editions in that they have many less extras (most notably the brilliant episode commentaries by Ben Browder, Claudia Black, David Kemper and Rockne O'Bannon), cost more money, take up more space and have different cover art. It is still possible to buy the individual volumes as well as the box sets, although the box set is cheaper.

The Original DVDs, while available, are priced differently from the Starburst Editions. As an example season 1 is tagged at 259.95 Canadian Dollars on Amazon.ca. Currently seasons 1 to 4 are available in this format.

The quality of both ADV versions of Farscape are identical although the content is not.

It should be noted that in January 2007 Sony acquired the rights to the first season and at the time of writing (December 2007), they have yet to do anything with the rights. Unfortunately this also means that season 1 is no longer easily available commercially (Starburst included), until Sony decides to publish DVDs for this season.


-- Peacekeeper Wars by Lionsgate While available, the region 2 (European Union) DVD is considered to be much better that its region 1 counterpart, so if you have a region free DVD player then this is the one to get.

Region 2 (European Union) by Contender Entertainment Group

All seasons of Farscape plus Peackeeper Wars are available in individual volumes and box sets. Currently the Complete Series (all four seasons) is unavailable.

Region 4 (Australia) by Universal

All four seasons of Farscape.

-- Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars by Magna Pacific

For clarification of which countries are included in which region codes check here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region)

For clarification of which commentaries are included in which region release check here (http://www.karlsweb.com/DVD_Summary.htm).


Hope this makes sense tamarok - let me know if something is still confusing. (And if anyone knows who makes the Region 4 Farscape DVDs I would be most appreciative. ;) )

[tamarok]

Hi Nicola,

Sounds fine, though there seem to be an error with the following paragraph:

The covers are share a distinctive yellow 'Starburst Edition' bar on the bottom of the front cover.

I think that should be:

The covers all share a distinctive yellow 'Starburst Edition' bar on the bottom of the front cover.

Once we have something that is near final, maybe we could also consider having this added to the wikipedia entry, if it is considered appropriate.

I did a quick search for Farscape DVD in Australia and came back with this:

http://www.gpstore.com.au/DVDs/1551367.html

Its looks like Universal is the distributor, but I am not 100% sure.

[Nicola]

Once we have something that is near final, maybe we could also consider having this added to the wikipedia entry, if it is considered appropriate.

That is a very good idea. :) Unfortunately I am not signed up to WIKI and consequently I don't think I can make the changes. Are you?



I did a quick search for Farscape DVD in Australia and came back with this:

http://www.gpstore.com.au/DVDs/1551367.html

Its looks like Universal is the distributor, but I am not 100% sure.


Thank you! I did do a search, but obviously my search items were not very good. I will fix the typo and add this right away. :)

[tamarok]

I have a Wikipedia account, so I can add this when you have had the chance to make your changes.

[avisotin]

How easy/hard are the Starburst editions to get for Region 4 DVD players? I've looked all over and the onyl one's I've come across are the standard collectors edition box sets (I managed to get all 4 seasons for $120, pretty cheap I thought). The only way I saw of getting the Starburst editions was by importing them which was way more expensive.

Everything is upside-down in the land down under, including prices :(

[FarscapeChick]

I only did a quick search, but I didn't see the Starburst Edition in R4.

[tamarok]

I have added the entry, but I edited slightly to fit the Wikipedia format a bit better. Basically I tried making it more neutral in tone. It may still benefit from some other tweaks.

[Nicola]

How easy/hard are the Starburst editions to get for Region 4 DVD players? I've looked all over and the onyl one's I've come across are the standard collectors edition box sets (I managed to get all 4 seasons for $120, pretty cheap I thought). The only way I saw of getting the Starburst editions was by importing them which was way more expensive.

Everything is upside-down in the land down under, including prices :(

Starburst Editions are only available in Region 1. So unless you have a multi-region DVD player you won't be able to play them avisotin. Sorry. :(

[Nicola]

Hey tamarok!

Farscape Canada (http://farscapecanada.com/) has sent you a thank you on their front page as well as posted your explanation. Go check it out. :)