Scott,

The high cost of gas isn't just affecting the entertainment dollar, it's hitting the food budget as well. Unfortunately, we own a SUV that costs over $100 to fill the tank on, but it's paid off and I'd rather have high gas bills than a car payment, but if gas goes to $5 a gallon, maybe I'll rethink my stance! I also have a company car, which has been getting much more personal use lately.

As for your question, yes, it is affecting our activities. I was ready to buy a 52-inch flat panel for my kids TV room and we've decided the 24-inch SDTV is just fine for now and have put off a purchase of anything new.

David

Hi Scott, It's affecting my entertainment purchase substantially. I haven't been to the movies since the first Mummy with Brandon Fraser and probably will never go back. That's why I have my home theater setup. I am cutting back on my Blu-RAY purchases substantially and I am buying standard DVD's more than I did when the format war was on and prices were dropping. Unless it is a special effect laden movie that gets reference quality reviews I won't buy it on bluray. My HD-XA2 does a phenomenal job upconverting. I am still buying CD's but not as much as before and like David said my food budget is ridiculous and it's only my dog and I. And don't get me started on heating oil prices. I still owe my oil company from this winter. But I have a big enough collection of movies and music that I can make do until things get better. Peter S.

Truth be told, it isnt affecting me at all. However, I am fairly fresh to the whole annual salary thing, so I admittedly don't have much perspective. My industry (games) hasn't seemed to take a hit at all. I go to the movies less because a) the quality of movies, even well rated ones, these days is pretty meek, and b) is not usually worth my money. Besides, the quality of games is currently higher than ever, so I tend to spend money there more now-a-days. I only buy movies now that I know I will watch again and again, and I only buy movies in HD now, so I haven't been buying a ton of blu-rays, but I am enthusiastic about the format. I also use Netflix, which is a great way to see movies, even in HD that you're not sure you would want to buy. I imagine that once downloads become better quality, I would probably do that for my rentals. I have used the movie rental download service on Xbox Live a few times, but the content is pretty erratic and not very regular, that and the quality isnt

Colin,

I'm with you on the quality of movies these days. There are very few films that I would find myself watching a second or third time. My kids will watch movies more than once though, which is why they are getting my PS3 in June when I finally break down and buy a flat panel for their TV/Play room. My days of buying DVD's are well into the past and I have bought very few Blu-ray's (or HD DVD's) in the past two years. Netflix is my best friend!

David

The high gas prices are not affecting me or my family too much at this point. I drive a short distance to work (~4 miles one way), so I do not fill up too often. My wife is a stay-at-home mom. I haven't been to the movies in a long time... I can't even remember the last movie I saw at the multiplex. I don't like the crowds, rowdy teenagers and the generally poor presentation, not to mention the cost!... easily over $40 for two of us with drinks/popcorn here in the Bay area. I much rather stay home, watch a Netflix Blu-ray movie on my plasma and relax. I have been planning a front projection ht setup for a while now, just haven't had the time to do it. I have every intention to have it complete by late summer. I continue to purchase hi-quality blu-ray movies (No Country for Old Men was my most recent one). I'm with Colin as far as games are concerned. The quality of today's games is fantastic. PS3 games like Resistance, Heavnly Sword, Assassin's Creed, and GTAIV are all g

Yes I'm seeing less movies in the theater if only because everything costs more these days. But I still go provided the movie in shown with digital projection and the theater is THX (at 11.50 per ticket or higher I don't think those are unusual requirements). I've seen some very good home theaters but they are still adjuncts to the large theater experience. It's like a live concert vs. a good recording. Recordings played on a good system can have great imaging and fantastic soundstaging yet not feel live. Live music doesn't work like that put there is a scope and scale to it. A good commercial theater has that scope and scale. Unlike the concert hall film is still affordable where one ticket can cost more than taking the whole family to the movies. The Cinerama Dome is my best friend.

Yes it is. I will be putting off buying a Blue Ray player and enjoy my XA-2 for standard DVD's. I also thought about an AVR upgrade too but that is out of the question. I will also cancel my monthly blockbuster rental program. We watch less in the summer anyway. We never go to the movies. And we will limit our concerts to probably one or two but we will buy the lawn seats for less money. This will get worse before it gets better.

We go to theaters so sparingly nowadays anyway that it's tough to correlate that with the cost of gas. If anything, we're a bit more frugal at the grocery store and when we go out to eat, but my wife and I thought ahead a few years ago and bought two hybrids. I still have my older BMW for fun weekend driving. But even with hybrids, gas still costs what it costs. We just had to fill up less often. Movie theaters have been a "only in dire need" situations for years now. Even the "best" theaters (Arclight, Metreon) have enough presentation issues and noisy moviegoers that I'd rather wait and view it in my home theater on a likely better calibrated screen.

It has not hit me yet. My drive is not that great to work under 7 miles and most of my activities are fairly close to home. What gets me in the theaters is the people talking. I am the type that will get up and tell them. Unfortunality more and more ppl are talking so its like putting a finger in the leaking damn. My home theater is pretty complete so more and more time watching movies at home is on the menu.

No-it has not effected me yet. I work in my home office. Going to the movies these days is about being with my buddies. For the movie experience I would much rather be at home in my theater with great sound and picture, real butter popcorn and a beer. If it wasn't for a chance to hang out with my friends - going to the movies would be a very rare experience.

Well, considering that gas around here (Quebec) is (converted to US dollars) 5.25$/gal, I'm a bit envious of 4$ or so. I'm fortunate to be reasonably well off (meaning I don't decide between gas and food, not that I'm as rich as Croesus), so my entertainment choices are not restricted so much by money as by time. I've been to the cinema twice in the past month (used to be 3-5 times a week when I was single) with my daughter, but that is exceptional. I have built a modest HT and do my movie watching there (with two kids, I've fallen so far behind that I don't even get around to new releases on disc, let alone at the cinema). I think if fuel prices go up another 40-60%, then many habits will change significantly (not just entertainment). But the rest of the industrialized world has been paying 5$ or more a gallon for a long time and they haven't stopped entertaining themselves. They have chosen to live in smaller homes and have one car instead of two (which likely leave

Just be very happy you do not live in the UK. Currently standard unleaded fuel is costing around $2.40 a LITRE, reaching up to $3.00 in some more remote mainland places. Seriously guy, shrink your engines from the monsters you use. What is the point of everyone using 3ltr engines? Over here the average is probably 2ltr. While you are living with such CHEAP fuel, and in a political situation that DOESN'T CARE about the waste/pollution, you (all) have nothing to complain about related to fuel price.