woah. I got the first comment. awesome. But, other than that, I hate these MKV files, I can't open them with Windows Media Player!! Well, I can, but where are the fansubs? I dunno even what I'm supposed to use to open these MKV files. What am I supposed to use?

@Random Man: and is there any way to convert them to AVI without losing the subtitles?

@Random Man: hmmm... simple conversion, no. but you can dump the tracks and hardsub it with VirtualDub, that would be what I would do if I wanna release an AVI hardsub.

@luperry: yes, well, unfortunatly, I have no idea how to do that. In the meanwhile, what should I use to view your MKV files? I went to the Matroska website, and they suggested Media Player Classic, so I downloaded that, but its claiming that the LQ version of hack roots 1 doesn't have subtitles. What else should I try?

@Random Man: uninstall all codecs you've installed so far. then get the CCCP pack, it has everything you need.

@luperry: oh, ok, that works. Is there some type of font I should install though to get rid of those squares that appear where the japanese text should be?

@Random Man: you need to install the east asian fonts on windows in order to see the japanese text.

if you are using windows xp, go to start->control panel->regional and language options->languages->install files for east asian languages.

I think that mkv format is amazing, we are trying a new format, the posibilities of mkv format are great, the quality of video is good and this change of format as all the changes is kind of hard at the beginning but I think that must give it a big chance because we have a lot of benefits with this formats, and 4 the people who can't play the format, i rly think that u must try erasing all the codecs that u have installed and after that install the cccp pack it worked great for me, I know that the change is hard in this moment but if we don't try it is like be working with old formats just 'cause we have been watching anime in those formats for years leaving aside the benefits of new formats =D just my point of view XD

softsubs are great because you can turn them off if you already know japanese, or are in the process of learning. hard subs are easier of inexperienced types, but with packs like cccp, I don't see a real issue. I think using either mkv or ogm are the way to go, seeing as to how you can use virtually any codec inside of them. ssa/ass is great, but seeing as to how you can demux and get script that way, I think it's moot, though if you do decide to hard sub, I'd like to see an additional ssa/ass release so those of us who do not prefer hard subs can make use of soft subs on our own. now if virtualdub was easier to demux files to a usuable state in...

A healthy fansub does not seek to compete with dvd releases.

So hardsubbing, with the nice: Do not distribute, after NA release!' notice is my personal cup of tea.

Hardsubbed XVID avis also eliminate a vast amount of codec issues.

Japanese speakers can allways get the raws, or buy R2 dvds.

I vote for "soft subs", for the maximum usability. You can convert the file for pda's and cell phones still having the text bright and clear since the devices own low res fonts are being used. Also great on computers and on a television as you can customize the font for maximum readibility. On 4:3's you can have the text on bottom of the screen, eating more room off the crop bars than the actual image. There are plenty of working codec & player collections (such as K-lite codec pack) for those who can't install the individual codecs. The free open source player on the alternative systems such as Linux and Mac, mplayer, has also made using all sorts of subtitles pretty trivial and a built-in feature.

Any ever think that someone can't read the hardcoded font? Or maybe the color is bad for them?  Perhaps, you are a half-blind anime lover (as I am)!

With softsubs, I can change the color, position, and typeface and size of the font to meet my needs and overcome the any display limitations I might be faced with.

Don't stop the mkv softsubs! 

AVI xvid hardsubs ftw, they play on pretty much any computer, without lag. Most people won't run into any codec problems, and you'll get the least amount of complaints.

For the love of god, softsubs, please, ~Desu!

mkv softsubs for screencapping thy glorious moments!

@Anonymous: I concur, alot of hardsub releases have fonts that are either ugly, hard to read, or an odd size. I find that I end up wishing they were smaller because they take up too much realestate on large monitors (I don't need my subs to be an inch tall when I'm 3 feet from the monitor.)

I still have a hard time getting used to MKV... I got .hack//Roots working, but now somehow it does not play the other few MKV files I have, like the Hellsing OAV.

And whatever happened to OGM? It works te same as MKV with language and audio select and installing it it no big deal.

If I were to vote for this poll, I'd pick Xvid Hardsub. that way good looking subs on every player and no trouble looking for the right codecs and no trouble installing fonts for Japanese softsubs.

Don't ask me why I dislike MKV. The reason has faded away with the currents of time...

@dothacker_kite: oh yah... forgot about OGM...

I like avi personally, its much easier. I don't mind mkv or mp4, I rarely notice any differences between them, they all seem to have good quality to me. I think its more suited to whats more better for luperry, if its more easier for them to do it with whatever format they pick then they should use the easier format.