Author Topic: Future Wii Model to Include DVD Playback (Read 14535 times)

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #25 on:** November 13, 2006, 01:05:03 PM »

I wish Nintendo would have left the DVD playback either buried or included it with the launch hardware. Personally I don't care either way, because I never have used any of my systems to watch movies on, but I can see how some would be impacted. If this turns out to be more than a firmware update, and is in fact built into the hardware, it could really divide the Wii userbase. I'm all for a standard console, and really do not like the crap Sony or MS pulled with the "loser" and "cool" system packs. Then again this is my exact feeling on Twilight Princess, I think they should have had only one true version and axed the GC one.

Shift Key · « **Reply #26 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

obscureownership · « **Reply #27 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.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #28 on:** November 13, 2006, 02:31:05 PM »

I liked how early on when the "Revolution" was first revealed it had DVD playback. Sure it was Nintendo playing catch-up (as usual) but it was nice to have an extra feature thrown in. It also showed that maybe Nintendo had learned something. "Hey people seem to like having a little extra functionality thrown in so let's do it with something minor so that we don't look like clueless idiots."

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.

Jonnyboy117 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 13, 2006, 03:13:52 PM »

The only reason I sorta care is that Wii would be, by far, the coolest looking DVD player in my apartment.

Vance · « **Reply #30 on:** November 13, 2006, 03:17:49 PM »

I hope there's some way to make a Wii DVD ready sometime in late 2007 through firmware or some sort of add-on, but if the original Wiis are not upgradable to the DVD-ready version, perhaps they can offer a trade-in service where people can give their used Wiis + $50 to get a Wii with DVD capability. I don't know how to make the economics work for that, but right now I think that'd be the best way to please the early adopters who want the DVD functionality with their Wii when the new model comes out.

UncleBob · « **Reply #31 on:** November 13, 2006, 03:33:40 PM »

Gee, Nintendo announces this early and everyone's all "They should have waited!".

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?

MarioAllStar · « **Reply #32 on:** November 13, 2006, 04:16:57 PM »

Thinking about this a little more, my opinion still stands. However, I do think it would be neat to use the Wii-mote for DVD menu navigation (much like a mouse in DVD playing software for computers). That would make the Wii one of the coolest DVD players yet. Probably not the best quality, but fun to use. Still, it is nothing I would spend money on.

JonLeung · « **Reply #33 on:** November 13, 2006, 04:25:57 PM »

They can add what they want, I suppose, but how would they market it?

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?

BiLdItUp1 · « **Reply #34 on:** November 13, 2006, 04:28:39 PM »

GBASP case is different because they never specifically said "the GBA is gonna have a sick backlight and be really small" before the original GBA even launched." Here they said right from the beginning "the Wii will play DVDs, with an addon." Then it was suddenly removed for a while and wholly disowned with the usual "we're about games" excuse (especially hypocritical when at the same time, Webbrowsing is included), and now it's back in...but not for another friggin' year.

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...

King of Twitch · « **Reply #35 on:** November 13, 2006, 04:30:42 PM »

Maybe the next Nintendo will have an abacus

BiLdItUp1 · « **Reply #36 on:** November 13, 2006, 04:34:58 PM »

I imagine they'll market this the same way they marketed the GBASP with new backlight, aka they won't.

Strell · « **Reply #37 on:** November 13, 2006, 05:30:41 PM »

I don't see why people are worried about "this makes the Wii look last gen."

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.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #38 on:** November 13, 2006, 05:58:27 PM »

^What Strell said.

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.

Pale · « **Reply #39 on:** November 13, 2006, 06:34:02 PM »

Hopefully they'll launch the DVD player version in black. That would give me two reasons to buy Wii again. =P

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #40 on:** November 13, 2006, 08:29:23 PM »

Quote
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

Me 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.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #41 on:** November 13, 2006, 09:31:28 PM »

And miss out on such an awesome whiteboard?

The black Wii will look insanely cooler with the pulsing blue light around the disc slot.

Galford · « **Reply #42 on:** November 14, 2006, 03:09:20 AM »

This entire announcement is kind of interesting.
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...

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #43 on:** November 14, 2006, 08:16:23 AM »

Yes, that's a bloody good idea.

Dirk Temporo · « **Reply #44 on:** November 14, 2006, 01:09:14 PM »

Well, in all honesty, I was thinking about selling my white Wii, and buying a black one when they came out... So maybe I'll wait for the DVD functionality, if it isn't a software upgrade you can download.

On that note... What if you sell your Wii? What happens with the games and stuff you downloaded?

AnyoneEB · « **Reply #45 on:** November 15, 2006, 06:54:54 PM »

Hmmm... it is possible that the current Wii simply won't read DVDs because the media is slightly different (like the GCN's was not quite a mini-DVD), and the DVD-playing version would have an optical drive with firmware allowing it to read either. Otherwise, software-only would be possible. If it is, someone will make Wii Linux to do it.

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Author Topic: Future Wii Model to Include DVD Playback (Read 14535 times)