Topic: Wii U Does Not Have DVD or Blu-ray Playback

[leahsdad]

Are people honestly still using optical media for movies?

Why?

3 months ago, I would have said "Well, one of my favorite films in the entire world, A Tale of Springtime, is only on DVD."  Now it's on Netflix Instant, and its awesome.

With how popular Netflix streaming is becoming, all signs would appear that optical media, along with Blu-Ray, is going the way of the Dodo, Betamax, and the audio tape.  I can appreciate how much better Blu-Ray is--  for christmas, I built myself a pretty nice Home Theater PC with a nice 7.1 channel sound card and a LG Blu-Ray drive, and you know what?  I've watched only 1 blu-ray on it.  Inception.  That is it.  My family uses it all the time though, as a Hulu/Netflix/Itunes machine.

[Enner]

Doesn't the 3DS have MP3 playback?

Ah, you're right. 3DS sound does support MP3s. Hmm, doesn't Nintendo have to pay a license for that? I guess the license is very cheap.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Doesn't the 3DS have MP3 playback?

Ah, you're right. 3DS sound does support MP3s. Hmm, doesn't Nintendo have to pay a license for that? I guess the license is very cheap.

Nintendo charged $250 for the 3DS.... they better foot the $0.50(?) MP3 license with all that profit they are making per unit.

[TJ Spyke]

Optical media is not going away anytime soon (if ever), especially with most titles not legally available digitally. There is also the issue of stuff like Netflix and Hulu not offering any of the bonus features that are standard now and most titles on digital services don't offer closed captioning. As for DVD or Blu-ray Disc, most titles don't offer any noticeable improvement on BD (or the improvement is so minimal that it doesn't justify paying extra for it).

MP3 licensing is minimal, about $2 per device.

[Oblivion]

most titles on digital services don't offer closed captioning.

Actually, everything on Netflix's instant streaming has subtitles now.

[Enner]

most titles on digital services don't offer closed captioning.

Actually, everything on Netflix's instant streaming has subtitles now.

I'd have to check up on that. Last I looked in to it, some titles didn't have them. Some, like Superman, had mistimed subtitles.

[Oblivion]

Everything I've seen lately has subtitles.

[BlackNMild2k1]

most titles on digital services don't offer closed captioning.

Actually, everything on Netflix's instant streaming has subtitles now.

No it doesn't.

Last I looked in to it, some titles didn't have them. Some, like Superman, had mistimed subtitles.

Subtitles on Sons of Anarchy were HORRIBLE. Sometimes they didn't even match what was being said. Other times they just skipped over stuff that was being said. The company responsible even put their name towards the end to take credit.... I would've been too embarrassed if I was them.

[Oblivion]

Like I JUST said, everything I've watched lately has had great subs. I just assumed they all did.

[BlackNMild2k1]

And I let you know that they don't. no need to get all defensive and no more need to assume.

I watch Netflix all the time and am currently watching X-Files.
There are no subtitles along with the majority of streaming content at the moment. But more and more are being added all the time.

[leahsdad]

There are no subtitles along with the majority of streaming content at the moment. But more and more are being added all the time.

Yeah, the subtitles are off sometimes.  I watch a lot of foreign films (read:  Eric Rohmer movies and Anime) and I've noticed that.  But it is getting better.   To be honest, when Netflix first started instant, I thought it was the stupidest thing in the world.  The quality sucked and the selection was worse than Hulu's movie selection now.  Look at it now.  It has improved a whole lot.   And the new interface that they just slapped on a week or two ago?  Brilliant.  Looks much nicer.

Oh, and if you're looking at my sig right now and thinking "what the hell is that?" then check out "Me and You and Everyone We Know."  I discovered it thanks to Netflix Instant, it should still be there.  Brilliant, great acting, really original, and so funny that it actually made me laugh out loud, which is amazing because the last thing that made me do that was Arrested Development.

[Adrock]

"You think you deserve this pain but you don't."

One of my favorite lines in any movie.