Topic: Does having a DVD player in the next console really matter?

[ExtremeGcube]

I only ask this because between my roomate and I last year we had three DVD players.  We watched DVDs on the real DVD player.  How many could one possibly need to own.

[seven_chaos]

I dont think DVD players are really necessary in consoles.  Microsoft and Sony both had the technology and tried to pass it off as a bonus to improve sales.  When I chose between all three consoles that fact that two of them had DVD players did not matter to me.  I currently can only watch DVDs on my computer and I still chose to spend my money on the Gamecube.  A game system should only be a game system.  That whole stupid PSX thing that Sony is releasing probably wont sell that much.  Sure it plays the games but it really only suits people with lots of money and the need for a TiVo like add-on.

[Bill Aurion]

No, because I have a really nice DVD player that has much better quality than the DVD players included in the XBox and PS2 put together...I would rather have a gaming machine, not a multimedia box...

[ExtremeGcube]

Thats exactly what I was thinking. The need for build in DVD players has become less and less.  It would be nice to travel with my gamecube and be able to watch dvds but at the same time, most of the times I have it with me it is possible to watch dvds on a dvd player.

In adition to that, wasnt there problems with the PS2 with dvd playback.  Didnt excessive amounts of using the dvd player in the PS2 cause damage to the drive system>

[BigJim]

The need is growing less, but the cost of including the functionality is decreasing as well. Eventually it should get to a point where it doesn't effect cost much at all, and thus "wouldn't hurt" to include it either. There are lots of DVD players out there, but there is value in having a second DVD player "for the kids" or whatever.

One can say that they don't want to include DVD playback because they want people to play games on their system. But hell, if it actually gets more systems out there, the more potential game buyers there will be. The threat of having to then compete with DVD movies is overblown I think... people buy game systems because they want to play games. The DVD playback is a bonus. If I really wanted to watch movies, I could get a DVD player for a lot less.

To answer the original question... not really. If all consoles had DVD playback, what's going to differentiate one system from the next? The games. It always comes back to the games.

[Ian Sane]

Does Nintendo's next console need a DVD player?  No.  Does Nintendo's next console need to match the features of the PS3?  Yes.  Regardless of whether or not it's really needed the fact that the other consoles can play DVDs and the Cube can't makes the Cube look inferior.  Therefore if the next gen systems all have DVD playback then the N5 has to have it.  Otherwise they're making the competition look superior.  Don't give people an excuse to buy the competing console over your own.

However there is one exception.  If Sony and MS go the set box route and their consoles do all sorts of stuff then if Nintendo can make their console significantly cheaper then it may be worth it to go with the bare bones model.  However it was to be MUCH cheaper so that a Sony price cut can't kill the whole cheaper console appeal like what happened this gen.  It has to be a situation where the PS3 is being sold as an big entertainment device for $500 and the N5 is only $200.  If there is only a $100 difference then Nintendo should include the damn DVD player.

[BlkPaladin]

Both the PS3 and Xbox 2 will more than likely go the set top box route. So I doubt Nintendo will go that route.

And to answer the question posed in the topic. No it doens't matter next generation. DVD players aren't the hot and upcoming device that people need because they are reaching a good penetration and the players are getting cheep enough that if Nintendo keeps a lower price point than the other you can buy the next Nintnendo console and a good dedicated DVD player for the price of a settop box the others will be.

[kennyb27]

Refer to Mr. Iwata himself in my signature.

EDIT: Heh, not anymore.  But here it is anyway:

Quote
Although PS2 was a sales success because it had a DVD player function, it troubled me that we had moved to a hardware where the sole function wasn't playing games.

[Oldskool]

Nintendo makes "Game Consoles". MS and Sony makes "Electronic Entertainment Systems"

Nintendo choose a different path. It's not a matter of inferior and superior technology.

[Shift Key]

I think it was a smart move, because DVD was the next big thing in entertainment, and stand-alone players were fairly expensive when the PS2 came out (so was the PS2 but it was both, kinda). It boosted sales because people thought were getting a bonus, despite the fact it is only a small addition to the hardware that reads DVD-ROMS (which are the media for the games).

Which explains the problems with DVD put into the consoles... But that's another story.

Me, I have no need for another DVD-capable device, since I didn't have many DVDs when the PS2 and XBOX came out, and now I have a DVD drive in my computer and a stand-alone Pioneer player (BLAU!) so it allowed me to save money and buy the GCN instead, which was my choice from the start.

The moral of the story: Integration blows. Believe that, j'player!

[getupkids]

DVD-RAM will be the new rage, not dvd.  I think most people already have dvd players so itd just be a waste

[rogue_gamecube]

No, at the time it was a great decision with DVD just coming into mainstream, but there is no medium right now going to replace DVD for another 4 years or so. My computer has a fukn dvd drive, I don't want another one. How about giving me that 50-100 bucks back for a GAME?

[oohhboy]

I rather they spend the money on a dual dail-up/BB modem to come with the machine. Now that would be something that would push machines out of the shop door.

[manunited4eva22]

DVD-RAM is already dead.  It won't be the 'new rage' in any event.

[MaxXUnlimited]

I agree with everyone else on this, DVD playback would just be a waist. Most people who are going to shell out the $200 or $300 for a game console has most likely already purchased a DVD player, or a console with a DVD player.

I think most people wouldn't think of it as a bonus, but more as paying for something they don't need.

[Shorty McNostril]

DVD is just an unnessesary novelty to raise the price.  I got a GC and a stand-alone DVD player for cheaper than an X-Box or PS2 on it's own.