Nintendo News | DVD Wii Confirmed for Japan

By Jorge Ba-oh 31.10.2006 31

Nintendo has confirmed the recent reports of a special edition Wii with DVD playback being available exclusively to Japan in 2007. Last week we reported an rumour that Nintendo will be launching a DVD capable Wii in Japan in 2007.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz the company have confirmed the claims with an "enhanced" version of the console exclusively hitting the homeland next year: "There are currently plans to release a version of Wii in Japan featuring DVD playback."

For Westerners considering waiting for the 2nd edition Wii to hit retail, "there are currently no plans to bring this model to Europe or the US."

In addition, the claim (from the same report) that Nintendo originally intended a

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Modplan Man is offline. Modplan Man 31.10.2006#1

Doubt it, the Panasonic Q didnt exactly have a huge impact

 
James2t3 is offline. James2t3 31.10.2006#2

Maby they have a contractual obligation with panasonic to let them release one?
It will probably have a few extras like an optical out for Dolby digital.
Still stoooopid.

 
OLU1701 is offline. OLU1701 31.10.2006#3

The main reason why the Panasonic Q didn't flourish was due to the fact that firstly it was more expensive that both the original Cube and the PS2 (which also had an in-built dvd player) and although Western Ninty (and quite a few non Nintendo) fans went totally "ga ga" for the product, Nintendo saw no need to release it over here in the West. (Cos the Cube was selling exponentially well...or not)

Whether a a "WiiDVD" console sells well or not depends on a few factors. When the Q launched about for years ago or so...DVD devices were still quite expensive. To manufacture the equivalent now could cost as much as 50% less (Which is why some people still argue against Nintendo's decision not to include DVD playback with Wii in the first place) hence more people will be inclined to buy this than they would have with the Q.

However as many (and Nintendo themselves) have stated, DVD players is a saturated market and it's quite hard these days to find any one that doesn't own at least one in some shape or form so there's also the tendancy for the "WiiDVD" console to be ignored. Maybe ifthey decide to stop excluding the Western (gaming) world from these enhanced gadgets there's there a possibilty that it'll generate more sales.

Ultimately they could decide optimise it for HD dvd playback and add a Dolby digital encoder and optical or coaxial output(although it won't make that much of a difference to the games as they are all going to be encoded with Pro-logic II as standard) and if priced correctly, could put a new light on things because for the momentas it stands, the success or failure of a WiiDVD console seems to be a mixed bag.
Smilie

( Edited on 31.10.2006 14:46 by OLU1701 )

 
jadnice is offline. jadnice 31.10.2006#4

No surprise here since they did the same with gamecube... but the real big question will be is it just supporting standard DVD or is there a real surprise to be announced.

 
Dr_R is offline. Dr_R 31.10.2006#5

Since Wii games are on DVDs anyway, can someone explain to me why this 'enhanced' version can't simply be done through a Firmware upgrade?

"This man has advanced communist views ... He dresses in a bohemian fashion both at his office and in his leisure hours."
 
Merilya is offline. Merilya 31.10.2006#6

i send in that news hihi xd

 
Modplan Man is offline. Modplan Man 31.10.2006#7

Dr_R said:
Since Wii games are on DVDs anyway, can someone explain to me why this enhanced version cant simply be done through a Firmware upgrade?

They're not standard dvd's, hence why you cant play any games on a dvd on a dvd player, it would be firmware but also hardware changes too.

 
Laurelin is offline. Laurelin 31.10.2006#8

Dr_R said:
Since Wii games are on DVDs anyway, can someone explain to me why this enhanced version cant simply be done through a Firmware upgrade?

There are two reasons:
1. you have to pay ransom to the DVD-forum
2. you have to include mpeg2 chips and implement the whole way in which a DVD player works in order to be compatible to DVDs.
Since this is not that complicated, they do not, however, intend to pay licence fee to the DVD forum, since it makes every single console more expensive. Not only are there cost per device but you have to buy the licence for a fee too.

But I am not whining over not having a DVD-player, since I already have 2 connected to my TV (Region 2 and freecode). I hope there are hat much DVD players that Nintendo don't suffer from announcing the DVD device for next year.

I find your lack of faith disturbing!
 
Ph00p is offline. Ph00p 31.10.2006#9

I have only a couple sentiments on this subject WTFOMGBBQ! And another small portion of WTF nintendo you suck, but I'm still going to get a wii on launch day cuz I'm a nitnendo whore Smilie but anywho theres still ONE BIG secret left yet to be revealed about the Wii Smilie . Lets hope it makes up for this somehow.

 
Slydevil is offline. Slydevil 31.10.2006#10

Ph00p said:
I have only a couple sentiments on this subject WTFOMGBBQ! And another small portion of WTF nintendo you suck, but Im still going to get a wii on launch day cuz Im a nitnendo whore Smilie but anywho theres still ONE BIG secret left yet to be revealed about the Wii Smilie

You do know the release is only in a couple of weeks right?

IANC said:
Dude yuor totally awesome. And i won't be killing you anytime soon.

 
Fenton is offline. Fenton 31.10.2006#11

If I was japaneese, I wouldnt buy the Wii until they included DVD as standard. They're taking the piss. DVD players cost less than the price of a game.

It probably costs them next to nothing to add this functionality to the Wii. Bet they're throw atleast

 
Laurelin is offline. Laurelin 31.10.2006#12

f | j | D said:
It probably costs them next to nothing to add this functionality to the Wii. Bet theyre throw atleast

I find your lack of faith disturbing!
 
Raff is offline. Raff 31.10.2006#13

They are on DVDs, just like on the Cube, just disguised. Worked well enough on the Cube didn't it? This time it'll be even cheaper with the standard size, and people still swallowing the proprietary optical disc rubbish.

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
 
Megadanxzero is offline. Megadanxzero 31.10.2006#14

Mother funglers... FUNGLERS I say... Why the hell did they take it out in the first place!?

Ph00p said:
but anywho theres still ONE BIG secret left yet to be revealed about the Wii Smilie . Lets hope it makes up for this somehow.
Z0MG On 15 R34L!!!11

Still a proud member of the 'omfg amazing water in games' society
 
Simon@Cake is offline. Simon@Cake 31.10.2006#15

The Japanese version with a player was actually announced in September just noone noticed among the other news.

I personally don't get why people would want to pay extra for a DVD player when they probably have 4 plugged into their TV already.

Cake Group
 
Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 31.10.2006#16

" “Price is set by retailers, not by manufacturers, so there is no truth in this assumption,""

umm....but that would mean the rumour was true.
Nintendo is the manufacturer, who wanted it less, but the retail set the price of

http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+. 
 
Raff is offline. Raff 31.10.2006#17

Darkflame said:
The only reason why the Wii hasnt got DVD is indeed the ransom money to the dvd consortium.But why they cant take the fee from a paid download i dont know :-/

And also because it would be an absolutely pants DVD player with no optical output meaning no Dolby Digital or DTS, not to mention all the stuff DVD players are getting these days like DivX and upscaling.

( Edited on 31.10.2006 17:27 by Grumbler )

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
 
JoshSL is offline. JoshSL 31.10.2006#18

Boo! Smilie

Well, we got Wii Sports free...

But they got it

Twitter | C3 Writer/Moderator | Backloggery
 
Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 31.10.2006#19

"And also because it would be an absolutely pants DVD player with no optical output meaning no Dolby Digital or DTS, not to mention all the stuff DVD players are getting these days like DivX and upscaling."

Not being HD, it wouldnt need upscaleing.
And theres no reason against it playing Divx....except the fact that would probably be another lisence fee.
Its all software, thats the point.


http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+. 
 
Raff is offline. Raff 31.10.2006#20

Not being HD, it wouldnt need upscaleing.

Why not? Do you mean "Not being HD, upscaling would be good" ?
It does componant, what's how the cheap

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
 
dojo is offline. dojo 31.10.2006#21

f | j | D said:
If I was japaneese, I wouldnt buy the Wii until they included DVD as standard.

I hate to pick up on this, but surely you mean "if I lived in Japan"...I mean...that is like me saying "if I was french, I would smoke a cigar", or something equally irrelevant. I just had to get my point across Smilie

Grumbler said:
The PS2 can upscale to 1080i with a special disc.

I read about that on IGN Smilie Now you can get such graphics heavy titles as Time Crisis 2 in t3H HDee! Smilie

( Edited on 31.10.2006 21:13 by VelocityStrike )

 
Raff is offline. Raff 31.10.2006#22

Apparently it's absolute balls though.Smilie

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
 
Supermeng is offline. Supermeng 31.10.2006#23

Even though I have multiple DVD players, they should have just included it. It's not that big of a deal. Wouldn't have added that much cost and they were planning to do it anyway.

For the sake of people that don't have a DVD player hooked up to whatever TV they're Wii will be plugged into, it would have been nice.

Besides, imagine how many idiots are going to complain to retailers about how their Wii is broken cause it won't play dvds.

 
Laurelin is offline. Laurelin 31.10.2006#24

Oh, yeah. Blow a DVD with (PAL) 576x768 up to 1080i. Hell of a crispy picture with balls.

There it is: You guys want DVD. Then: "oh my god, it's only DVD, no HD! So Nintendo, go HD, go DIvX, go Coffee, include brainwaves, include a grog-maker for Monkey Island(tm)!".

Now you see a reason more to ditch DVD-playback.
Aside from having already 4 DVD-players sitting beside your TV.

Wii already plays the most important video codecs alongside mp3 and co from SD-cards as you can read in the Iwata-asks interviews. So it's all there. Then why no DVD-playback? put aside your ridiculous fancy-pants-graphics-whore reasons and think of it: because it's not important!

I find your lack of faith disturbing!
 
dojo is offline. dojo 31.10.2006#25

Laurelin said:
Oh, yeah. Blow a DVD with (PAL) 576x768 up to 1080i. Hell of a crispy picture with balls.There it is: You guys want DVD. Then: oh my god, its only DVD, no HD! So Nintendo, go HD, go DIvX, go Coffee, include brainwaves, include a grog-maker for Monkey Island(tm)!.Now you see a reason more to ditch DVD-playback.Aside from having already 4 DVD-players sitting beside your TV.Wii already plays the most important video codecs alongside mp3 and co from SD-cards as you can read in the Iwata-asks interviews. So its all there. Then why no DVD-playback? put aside your ridiculous fancy-pants-graphics-whore reasons and think of it: because its not important!

Um, its SO unimportant that one just been confirmed Smilie

 

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