Post by: WindyMan on November 13, 2006, 05:49:47 AM
Nintendo Selects Sonic to Enable DVD Functionality in Future Version of Wii Console
Sonic CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator Helps Deliver Ultimate Movie Viewing to New-Generation Gaming Console
NOVATO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ:SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today announced that Nintendo, the worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, has chosen Sonic® CinePlayer® CE DVD Navigator to bring high-quality DVD movie viewing to a future version of the company’s Wii™ gaming console. Nintendo plans to release this version of Wii in the latter half of 2007.
Based on the same technology trusted by Hollywood studios, CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator is a robust, software-based DVD playback engine that delivers broad playback compatibility on a variety of platforms. The proven technology offers exceptional picture quality and supports all standard video and audio formats offered in the DVD specification, as well as advanced functions such as anamorphic widescreen video, motion menus, and multiple video angles.
“To be involved in Nintendo’s ground-breaking gaming console is extremely gratifying and a testament to the efficiency, flexibility and dependability of Sonic’s technology," said Jim Taylor, senior vice president and general manager of Sonic’s Advanced Technology Group. “Game consoles represent a fresh market and platform where we can introduce a new audience of potentially millions to the quality of our brand and the power of our digital media applications."
According to a recent report by new media research firm Centris (http://www.centris.com/index.htm), DVD playback device penetration continues to grow. The total number of DVD playback-capable households grew to 91 million in April 2006, which represents an 8% increase over the previous year. Adding to this figure was an increase in DVD-enabled game units which grew 11% year over year to approximately 45 million.
Created by Sonic’s Advanced Technology Group, CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator is part of the company’s growing portfolio of technologies that are being licensed to enable CD and DVD playback, as well as DVD recording and authoring. Sonic’s technologies are licensed by leading technology companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, and Scientific Atlanta and used to enable digital media experiences in a wide variety of markets including consumer electronics, PCs, kiosks, automotive entertainment systems, and music download services. In addition to standard-DVD, Sonic recently introduced comprehensive support for emerging high-definition formats, Blu-Ray Disc (BD) and HD DVD.
For more information on Sonic’s technologies for application developers, visit: http://www.sonic.com/products/Developer/AuthorScript/quicklook.aspx.
About Sonic Solutions
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ:SNIC)(http://www.sonic.com) is the leader in digital media software, providing a broad range of interoperable, platform-independent software tools and applications for creative professionals, business and home users, and technology partners. Sonic's products range from advanced DVD authoring systems and interactive content delivery technologies used to produce the majority of Hollywood DVD film releases, to the award-winning Roxio®-branded CD and DVD creation, playback and backup solutions that have become the premier choice for consumers, prosumers and business users worldwide.
Sonic products are globally available from major retailers, online at Sonic.com and Roxio.com, and are bundled with PCs, after-market drives and consumer electronic devices. Sonic's digital media creation engine is the de facto standard and has been licensed by major software and hardware manufacturers, including Adobe, Microsoft, Scientific-Atlanta, Sony, and many others. Sonic Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California.
Post by: Acefondu on November 13, 2006, 06:01:50 AM
But this is a really stupid move by Nintendo. They're sending mixed messages here. They set out to create a "game machine" and are now adding other media devices to it? I'm confused, and so will consumers.
Not to mention the war cry of people who buy a Wii and are not aware of future DVD capabiliteis. They will be ticked, no doubt about it.
So what's next? MP3?
Post by: Pale on November 13, 2006, 06:21:46 AM
"CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator is a robust, software-based DVD playback engine"
That statement makes it sound like it could be a software upgrade.
Post by: Nick DiMola on November 13, 2006, 06:30:52 AM
Post by: Athrun Zala on November 13, 2006, 06:37:19 AM
unless they plan to do a software decoder, which would be a pretty bad idea.....
Post by: Ghisy on November 13, 2006, 06:41:18 AM
It really sounds like a software and/or firmware update to me though.
Eh, I just wanna play Zelda, that's all I'm asking for! :-P
Post by: JonLeung on November 13, 2006, 06:43:51 AM
It's kind of like when Capcom announced that RE4 was also coming to the PS2 shortly before the formerly-exclusive GCN version was released.
Probably not on the same scale, but it's still not a smart move.
But I believe most people already have a DVD player, or, you know, six. So it probably won't affect sales too too much.
EDIT: Yeah, it should be a new Wii Channel if possible. 48 available channels is too few if VC games are their own channel each, but 48 channels is too many otherwise, as we've only seen, what, half a dozen channels so far? A "DVD/movie channel" would be cool, or it'd be one more channel, anyway.
Post by: BiLdItUp1 on November 13, 2006, 06:54:06 AM
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 13, 2006, 07:03:17 AM
Post by: NWR_pap64 on November 13, 2006, 07:20:34 AM
I find it weird that Nintendo decided to add in DVD playback all of a sudden, especially when they made it clear the feature was axed.
Post by: Pale on November 13, 2006, 07:26:05 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Athrun Zala
not so sure, as the DVD players require a DD decoder, and apparently the Wii doesn't have one.....
unless they plan to do a software decoder, which would be a pretty bad idea.....
That's a very good point. If it is just a software update it will make for a crappy dvd player.
Post by: obscureownership on November 13, 2006, 07:26:18 AM
Post by: Hostile Creation on November 13, 2006, 07:27:06 AM
Post by: NWR_pap64 on November 13, 2006, 07:34:23 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: obscureownership
I don't think anyone buying a Wii really cares about DVD playback, so why is everyone freaking out? This isn't like the days when the GameCube didn't have DVD playback when it had to compete with the PS2, because DVD players were not as common and buying a ps2 and instead of a GameCube and a dvd player was actually a good deal.
The thing is that the sudden move of updating the Wii with DVD playback is weird. Like, why they decided to include it all of a sudden? This is what I don't get...
Like Hostile said, why even include it? Its not like it matters...
Post by: Larrs528 on November 13, 2006, 08:26:12 AM
Post by: Pale on November 13, 2006, 09:43:49 AM
Post by: Larrs528 on November 13, 2006, 09:56:10 AM
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on November 13, 2006, 10:27:16 AM
Post by: Strell on November 13, 2006, 10:47:07 AM
That makes me think it is so totally not software oriented.
But I could be wrong.
I guess contracts and things could keep it from being released now....plus, I imagine you'd have to install it to the HD, which would sorta be dumb because you'd have to occupy part of the internal memory...
This is confusin'. If it comes to pass, then I raelly hope those hackers who are trying to get Linux to run on the Wii can get it to work, because the Wii would make one beautiful media center PC.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on November 13, 2006, 11:19:11 AM
Post by: BiLdItUp1 on November 13, 2006, 11:33:33 AM
Why the crap didn't they stick with the dongle idea? Or maybe, a USB dongle will be made available (it would handle DD decoding) for the old Wiis for cheap (not more than $20) and built-in for the new ones - that's probably the best way to handle it)
Post by: TrueNerd on November 13, 2006, 12:32:41 PM
Don't care.
Post by: MarioAllStar on November 13, 2006, 12:37:15 PM
PS3 - BluRay (new)
Xbox 360 - HD-DVD (new)
Wii - DVD (old)
The extra functionality will not only be unecessary, but it will make Nintendo look bad (especially if the implementation is poor).
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on November 13, 2006, 12:41:24 PM
Which brings me to a new idea that'll require some generalizations: the DVD player isn't there to make Wii a center-piece media box, it's there for the convenience of having a movie player on the spot? Who would it matter to? I don't know, let's say.... THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN. I really don't know if your average household is crazy about surround sound and has the SPACE for a complete HT setup, but i'll just guess the majority DOES NOT, making HD and HT just luxuries the masses don't depend on. But looking at the PS2, it may matter not whether families have the equipment for the HT experience, but HAVING DVD PLAYBACK was simply a convenient thing to have. Does gamerX and his 20" bedroom TV have a HT system to go along with it? MAYBE THE FAHK NOT. So all the Dolby Surround gobbledy-gook doesn't make a difference. BUT HEY, gamerX can still watch his POKEMON DVDs and other naughty discs in private anyway.
This is a strange flip-side to the Digital Out removal on GameCube. Here, (half-ass) DVD is being added while the component hookup was taken away. The difference here is: DVD playback is ultimately more useful/valuable in the long run.
Post by: couchmonkey on November 13, 2006, 01:04:39 PM
I don't think joe consumer will even realize that this is going on when he goes to buy a Wii.
A few hardcore gamers who want to have a DVD player in their bedroom or whatever will be bummed and/or wait.
Ultimately, Wii's success will depend on the innovative new features and gameplay, not DVD playback.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 13, 2006, 01:05:03 PM
Post by: Shift Key on November 13, 2006, 01:07:55 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: MarioAllStar
PS3 - BluRay (competing with HD-DVD to be the next-gen format, not many movies available as companies are skeptical that a new format is needed)
Xbox 360 - HD-DVD (competing with BluRay to be the next-gen format, not many movies available as companies are skeptical that a new format is needed)
Wii - DVD (the current standard, all new movies are released in this format)
And one of BluRay or HD-DVD will become the new Beta.
Fixed
Post by: obscureownership on November 13, 2006, 01:44:19 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: TrueNerd
So... does this somehow effect the Wii's ability to play Twilight Princess in 5 days, 6 hours, and 28 minutes? No?
Don't care.
Congratulations, you are the only sane poster in this thread.
Post by: Ian Sane on November 13, 2006, 02:31:05 PM
I think that now, with the Wii having last gen graphics and no HD that it really doesn't matter. DVD support is a minor feature that isn't as needed now as it was five years ago. HD is the "expected" feature and with that gone Nintendo already looks out-of-touch, at least from the perspective of the home theatre types. I think having DVD support is better than not having it but the section of the market that cares about features like that already has a reason to be turned off. DVD support made sense way back when it was assumed the Rev would be a little more conventional and wouldn't look dated a year after release. The Wii's success is based on the acceptance of the controller, which is really the only reason it even exists.
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on November 13, 2006, 03:13:52 PM
Post by: Vance on November 13, 2006, 03:17:49 PM
Post by: UncleBob on November 13, 2006, 03:33:40 PM
Had Nintendo waited to announce this later, it would have been just like when the GBASP came out and everyone was accusing Nintendo of double dipping and purposly getting everyone to buy original GameBoy Advance units just to stick 'em again with the GBASP...
Can't win for losing, eh?
Post by: MarioAllStar on November 13, 2006, 04:16:57 PM
Post by: JonLeung on November 13, 2006, 04:25:57 PM
A big ol' sticker on the Wii box that says "now plays DVDs"? When the PS2 could do it seven years earlier?
It's certainly not a bad addition, and I might use it if it didn't cost me any more, but it seems like it's not really something you can market easily without pointing out that there was a lack to begin with.
Also, someone should explain the Xbox 360 external HD-DVD drive to me. Maybe I'm stupid but I don't get it. How does it make use of the Xbox 360 if it's external? Couldn't I hook up a DVD player, somehow routing it through my Wii, and say my Wii is equipped with DVD playback? Huh?
Post by: BiLdItUp1 on November 13, 2006, 04:28:39 PM
To clarify - I don't care that much, but it would be one less component/remote lying around and, like Jonny said, a really cool looking DVD player...
Post by: King of Twitch on November 13, 2006, 04:30:42 PM
Post by: BiLdItUp1 on November 13, 2006, 04:34:58 PM
Post by: Strell on November 13, 2006, 05:30:41 PM
The people saying that weren't going to get one anyway.
And to get the higher benefits of the other machines requires 3x the cost and re-buying all their DVDs again. Not to mention having an HDTV. And that's for a marginal increase in quality at best.
People need to stop acting like the next optical format war is akin to black and white versus color televisions, or VHS versus DVD. It's not even close to that.
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 13, 2006, 05:58:27 PM
I still predict online downloads connected to a set-top box will supersede optical media formats entirely. Last I checked, Apple has added HD movie downloads via their iTunes store, and they're ALSO working on a "media box" which will connect to your HDTV (or regular TV) and play high-def movies. No optical media necessary, and these are the same people who brought mp3 players from a geek toy to a mainstream device. Hmm...
Also, I already do what Apple aims to do, just with a hacked Xbox: we download whatever we want to watch, upload it to the Xbox and I haven't touched a DVD in months and I don't have cable.
I think the optical media wars are going to be too little, too late.
Post by: Pale on November 13, 2006, 06:34:02 PM
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on November 13, 2006, 08:29:23 PM
QuoteMe too, cause for one, my Gamecube(Panasonic Q) is the only DVD player in my room, and two, I really don't want a white Wii.
Originally posted by: Pale
Hopefully they'll launch the DVD player version in black. That would give me two reasons to buy Wii again. =P
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 13, 2006, 09:31:28 PM
The black Wii will look insanely cooler with the pulsing blue light around the disc slot.
Post by: Galford on November 14, 2006, 03:09:20 AM
Sonic is the one doing the talking, not Nintendo.
I wonder if this new version of the Wii will have a TOSLINK connector on it.
I suppose a customized version of component cable hookup might have a digital coaxial out on it.
Time will tell...
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on November 14, 2006, 08:16:23 AM
Post by: Dirk Temporo on November 14, 2006, 01:09:14 PM
On that note... What if you sell your Wii? What happens with the games and stuff you downloaded?
Post by: AnyoneEB on November 15, 2006, 06:54:54 PM
