THIS JUST IN,
After some recon and research today I learned that Best Buy doesn't have any expected receipt/release dates for any of the cables they have listed in-stores and online (React, Psyclone, and Nintendo's). Pelican, Intec, Psyclone/Griffin s-video cable listings are pretty much no-shows at the other major retailers. If Madcatz' Dec. 20 release for their s-video cables are anything to go by, then it means Nintendo will be the first manufacturer to release S-video cables in the world -- but the first place to get them will be *Japan,* in time for Wii's Japan launch (and it's possible Japan will have in-store component cables before NOA replenishes US component cable stock on Dec. 18). Wow, things are all over the place.
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Hey, it's been 5 days since my last rant. I can't take a break?
Just so everyone knows, at this point in time I still don't have a Wii system, and I spent the past couple weeks worrying about exams and lab reports and having no fun. If I had Wii system, I'd have bigger things to complain about, possibly broken controls. So i'm just focusing my energy on what I can deal with: games and accessories. I have 5 unopened games, soon to be 6; 1st party component cables (i snatched them quickly in case there would be a crazy drought like we see now. i don't have a 480p capable TV, but I wanted them for stupidly high quality video captures down the road); but no s-video cables.
I can't speak for Smash or VG, but I'm VERY partial to S-video cables, for several reasons.
1) I've had a reliable s-video TV since the early N64 days, and s-video cables were readily available back then and throughout the GameCube's lifetime. I can't afford a worthy HDTV, so for $2-$10 a set of s-video cables still provides a significant increase in clarity without dreaming of a major expensive TV upgrade (i prefer my cash be spent on games/media).
2) The video capture hardware on my PC that i've had since 2000 uses s-video. If I had $ One Thousand Dollars to drop on a new PC with pro-grade hardware and software, i'd move up to component/HD video editing.
3) I'm nearsighted. My real-world vision is slightly worse than an RF connection, so I need glasses to drive or read across a classroom. I prefer to sit "close enough" to a TV and not wear my glasses while watching/playing, so i want all the clarity i can afford. There's more than enough depth-of-field-blur in the world for me to deal with.
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The first post in this thread is intentionally a shopping guide for S-video cables. Quite a few s-video questions/requests for recommendations would pop up from time to time on PGC, probably cuz someone wanted a cheap upgrade (but feared 3rd party products) or didn't have component/480p as a realistic option, so I decided to make a centralized resource. And I intend to maintain it throughout Wii's lifetime.
Just so you know, I probably won't recommend Nintendo's s-video cables at the end of the day anyway, since a handful of 3rd party cables will be superior products, as I saw with the GameCube. But I am disappointed Nintendo wasn't more prepared than 3rd parties this time around. Selling the Wii component cables early was a positive thing, but considering how my set merely came with a plastic sleeve, an instruction sheet, a return/replacement sheet, an invoice, and no retail-style packaging whatsoever, I'm inclined to say 1) Nintendo probably didn't expect to sell these things so soon, 2) Nintendo wasn't prepared to get these cables to retail yet despite interviews with execs, 3) these early cables NOA sent out were probably leftovers made throughout the year for the various demonstrations and events, 4) seeing how Matt C. playfully claims to be responsible for prompting Nintendo to release the cables, Nintendo didn't *want* to deal with producing these cables for a while, and I don't like that vibe.
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Someone needs to setup a new "Amazing Deals" thread. Toys R Us in Citrus Heights, CA is running a "$30 off 3 games" promotion; Monkey Ball, Trauma Center, and Tony Hawk are included in the deal.