Centralis and Warner Home Video set a new standard for Blu-ray disc menus
The Client
Warner Home Video (WHV) is the largest distributor of top quality new and vintage films, with operations in 90 international territories. WHV is a pioneer in the development of Blu-ray discs, a high-definition (HD) format that offers unparalleled audio and visual clarity and more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs.
The Challenge
With the introduction of the innovative Blu-ray format, WHV saw an opportunity to enhance the home movie viewing experience by providing additional functionality and compelling special features. For movie viewers to fully explore these new capabilities, the company recognized the importance of providing a consistent, easy-to-use menu experience from title to title.
WHV engaged Centralis to establish a set of best practices for Blu-ray disc menu design. An effective design would address both business and user goals by showcasing the additional content available on a Blu-ray disc without interfering with the viewer’s enjoyment of the main feature.
Our Work
To establish best practices for Blu-ray menus, our team conducted usability testing of five distinct menu designs. At Centralis Lab, avid home movie fans and occasional viewers were asked to complete several tasks, such as starting the movie, accessing subtitles, navigating to specific scenes and exploring special features. By observing participants’ behavior and analyzing their comments, we identified critical variables for creating a compelling, streamlined and entertaining experience.
Based on our research, we designed a template for Blu-ray menus that showcases the main feature while providing clear, ready access to additional content. Consistent with user feedback, our best practices capitalize on the capabilities of the Blu-ray format without interfering with the viewer’s enjoyment of the movie.
The Outcome
WHV began implementing its new Blu-ray menu design for titles released in the fall of 2008. One of the first features with the new design, WHV’s The Dark Knight, won the Digital Entertainment Group’s “Best in Show” Award at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show. The Dark Knight remains the best-selling Blu-ray title in history, selling 1.7 million units in its first week alone.