DVD functionality not on the Wii U

[Vault Citizen]

When it was announced that the Wii U will not be able to play DVDs my first thought was that this is incredibly backwards, being able to play DVDs is something that is standard for consoles now and Nintendo still hasn't caught up on, in fact I think I may have owned a grand total of two dvd players that didn't have a console attached to them.

Then I thought, is this right? Is it right that I judge a console as being backward for not having a feature that at the end of the day does not relate to the gaming experiences I may enjoy on the console? Gaming being the reason I would buy it in the first place?

What do you think? Is it right to expect a DVD player as a standard when it comes to a video gaming console? Or is it unfair to judge a console based on what could be thought of as a secondary feature at best?

 

[Lilani]

So many questions. So, in order:

1. I think I really really don't care because I've never owned a Nintendo console and it's the last one on my list to get.

2. Is it right to expect one standard? I dunno. I don't think there is anything inherently "right" or "wrong" when it comes to things like that. But last I checked, the Wii can't play DVDs unless tinkered with so I don't see why people would expect it anyway.

3. Is it unfair? I dunno about that, either. Again it doesn't really matter. It didn't come standard on the Wii, so I guess at best knocking the WiiU for not playing them would be silly and arbitrary. Not really fair or unfair--all's fair in love and criticism--but it would just be...silly.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Why would I want the WiiU to play DVDs? I have like 70 other devices in the house that can, if it makes the WiiU cheaper on release then power to 'em I say.

 

[genericusername64]

This is more evidence of Nintendo not looking towards the future. Investors are seeing this, and are pulling out. They're going to need to change to become profitable again

 

[ZeroMachine]

Is it wrong/bad? Not at all.

It's just a little odd.

The lack of DVD functionality was one of the major complaints about the original Wii, one that was only curtailed once Netflix came to the Wii. As a gaming system, it is not a major flaw... but it's bad business sense. They knew, knew, that it was a complaint, and yet they once again didn't add it. Just like the lack of a built in hard drive (which is a far bigger flaw than the lack of a DVD player).

So, is it right to expect a system to play DVDs? Every non-Nintendo system has had it since the PS2, so yes. But you shouldn't be that surprised that it doesn't have it, and it shouldn't be a huge thing against the system, as everything and their mother(board) can play DVDs nowadays.

So don't focus on the lack of DVD.

Focus on everything else that's wrong with the system.

 

[the spud]

No, I don't mind if it means paying less. I already have like 6 DVD players in my room. I don't need another.

 

[EBHughsThe1st]

It's a little odd that this is now a standard.

Game systems are slowly becoming nothing more than Multimedia Platforms that are supposed to hook into your HD TV of the same brand. Plus, every other system and computer on the market plays DVDs. Everyone has one. Who needs it?

I have a PS2, Macbook Pro, 360, and a Blu-Ray Player in my household. I don't need it since I already have one.

 

[SixWingedAsura]

Meh. I have a PS3. Personally, I'm exited for the Wii U. 'Bout time they came up with something that might be able to contend with the other systems instead of the crap-tastic wagglefest.

 

[VGC USpartan VS]

As someone who has a Xbox 360, Wii and PS3... I consider the Wii to be VERY backward, in EVERY way.

But the WiiU? This is downright criminal.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Oh well? The Wii U has failed to peak my interest regardless of multimedia limitations.

I see no reason why anyone would get one.

 

[Something Amyss]

What do you think? Is it right to expect a DVD player as a standard when it comes to a video gaming console? Or is it unfair to judge a console based on what could be thought of as a secondary feature at best?

I think it's fair to judge a console by what is standard. In this case, DVD is the standard.

Of course, since DVD has never been a feature on any Nintendo console released to most of the world (I think I remember there being an Asian one that played DVDs), I suppose you could argue the standard there is "no DVD included."

It might be unfair to hold them to the standards of other gaming devices, but honestly, if they're marketing themselves as a modern console.

Personally, it doesn't bother me much. Even if I was planning on getting a Wii U, I have a PS3 which is my media workhorse. It still strikes me as kind of dumb, but not to the point of serious protest.

 

[Stall]

God dammit Nintendo... why aren't you learning that game consoles can't just play games anymore? Your competitors (especially Sony) can boast that their platform functions quite brilliantly as a multimedia center, yet your console doesn't even play DVDs-- a 15 year old format? These single use devices just don't cut it anymore... you need to get as much functionality as you humanly can out of that little box nowadays, and not working as a DVD player isn't a good way to head that direction.

It's why the 3DS isn't doing hot you guys. You are releasing a virtually single function device in an age where these devices are expected to do much more. Why would I want a 3DS when my iPod not only plays games, but has a shit ton more functionality to boot? The same thing might well happen to the WiiU. Why would an average consumer spend money purchasing your console when they can get one from Sony and Microsoft that does a crap ton more?

Meh. I have a PS3. Personally, I'm exited for the Wii U. 'Bout time they came up with something that might be able to contend with the other systems instead of the crap-tastic wagglefest.

From what I have read, only one person can use the iPad controllers on the WiiU. Everyone else is stuck with Wiimotes

 

[faefrost]

OK it's a reasonable argument to make that as the home media center evolves DVD's or disk based media for movies will be sunseted during the consoles lifecycle, in favor of direct streaming of content. In other words since people are moving away from movies on disk, why throw in the expensive extra (at least for Bluray). But there are two thing sthat seem to work against Nintendo in that design theory.

1. Really, where can they even find disk players to install that don't already have DVD playback capabilities? It's not like Nintendo builds the disk readers in house. if they were to order them off the shelf from Toshiba or similar they would get DVD players. Then all they need is some extra code to drive them. is there some licensing expense that is incurred? It honestly can't be that great as stand alone DVD players sell at Walmart for under $20. They almost have to spend more in order to get custom made disk drives that will read the high data disks that their games will need, without reading DVD's. Why?

2. OK planning the console around streaming is a viable and valid design decision... SO WHY NO HARD DRIVE?!?!?!?! No ability to store or even reasonably cache streamed content locally is a killer.

What exactly is this thing supposed to be bringing to the table besides adding the HD experience to a souped up Wii? Will the marketing slogan be "Well finally it does almost everything that a PS3 or XBox can do... 5 years later... but not as well... did we mention we have a fake iPad controller? (You only can use 1 ever)!" Other than it being "something new from Nintendo" what exactly is it offering to attract gamers from their current platforms of choice, including Nintendo's other offerings? I mean Oh wow, for the hardcore gamer it has slightly better hardware specs than a PS3 or XBox... slightly... teamed with developers that have never played in this arena and sporting a primary game catalog that the more hardcore gamers grew away from years ago. (OMG feel the powah of the full 3d rendered 1080p HD Pokeman with stunning visual explosion effects and super realistic dismemberment physics!). And on the Wii / casual gamer side? Well it's a Wii with an iPad. But not as good of an iPad as an iPad. Uh huh!

Don't get me wrong. There is some fascinating stuff going on with this system. But it just doesn't look like a refined ready for primetime console yet. It lacks that killer app or feature that would be needed as the first out the door next gen gaming centerpiece. Instead all it has is one or more gimmicks.

 

[MetallicaRulez0]

Oh well? The Wii U has failed to peak my interest regardless of multimedia limitations.

I see no reason why anyone would get one.

This.

I already have one of those nifty controllers. It's called a DS. Plus! I can take my DS more than 9 feet away from the TV. That seems better to me.

This whole WiiU thing is just laughable from the perspective of a hardcore gamer in my opinion. I can't even comprehend why you would purchase one if you already own a 360, PS3, or PC. This coming from someone who was a diehard Nintendo fan until the Wii.

 

[Caine Master]

I don't really care if it has it or not. I already have many other electronics that play dvd's, and if it makes it cheaper, that would be ok with me.

 

[WoodenPlanck]

Every company makes their products with cost and profit in mind. I'm sure the money they are saving on unnecessary functionality is going somewhere else: probably another franchise reboot/remake.

So far Nintendo hasn't exactly been pushing many envelopes, with the exception of motion, or other haptic controls. This shouldn't be any surprise.

 

[Simalacrum]

I think most people have already answered this question: the DVD is obsolete. everyone already has devices to play it that work perfectly fine, and a lot of people download films these days anyway.

Its not Nintendo going backwards, its Nintendo looking back and thinking about what they can do without.

 

[FreakSheet]

Yup. DVD is pointless. It'll just add cost.

And I bet a ton of the people who say that this makes the Wii U (more) shit, would never have used it even if it did.

 

[faefrost]

I mean Oh wow, for the hardcore gamer it has slightly better hardware specs than a PS3 or XBox... slightly...

Considering actual developers who know what they are talking about (unlike you) say the WiiU is 50% or more better than the current generation I think slightly is an understatement.

And that means what exactly in a business or consumer purchasing sense? Heck what does 50% or more better even mean? simply that it has a faster graphics chip? or a newer faster CPU? What is the standard or benchmark? because it sure as hell can't read a media source that has a vast amount of data compared to the other two aging high end systems. So the thing has more processing power, which is a plus. But less storage and media capacity, which is a minus. And most of this is more or less irrelevant, as all it really does is get Nintendo into the hunt for the popular cross platform titles that have so far ignored the Wii and thrived on the MS and SONY consoles and PC. Yeah the WiiU may have better raw hardware specs than the others. But guess what, the PS3 technically has much better overall hardware specs than the Xbox 360, and you would almost never ever know it. BECAUSE 9 TIMES OUT OF 10 THEY ARE RUNNING THE EXACT SAME GAME WHICH LOOKS EXACTLY THE SAME ON EITHER CONSOLE! All the WiiU means is that you may see something like Mass Effect 4 actually show up on a Nintendo product. (looking exactly as it will on SONY or MS.)

So yes there will be a certain degree of the truly hardcore gamer types who must always have the latest and greatest fastestest platform out there... But that number is not going to be enough to support this beast. Sorry, the economics of it just don't make sense. (don't believe me, see example A, the 3ds). Yeah it has a little more power. But that alone is not a compelling reason to switch. Especially to switch to a platform developer that has a rather poor record of servicing or developing for that power gamer market. The platform will need something more compelling than simply more power. All more power does is get the brand up to the level it should have been at years ago.

Now if they could attach more than 1 fancy iPad type controller to a system... say 4 of them at once? Then and only then would they have something. They would have driven straight at their casual/party gamer core and added some really compelling dynamics to allow each player to have the common and their own private screens and interfaces. A lot of real potential there. But it is clear to see that the limitation is in how many discreet wireless video signals the thing can control.

(Oh and that 50% Mo'powah you were heralding? Guess where it all goes? Yep! Straight into driving that wireless second video signal. I'm betting the overall total benchmarks of this thing, with the pad controller running will be slightly worse than claimed once it hits the street because of this.)

Nintendo normally puts out great product that while radically different from anything else in the industry normally has a clear level of refinement and polish. So far from what we have seen this thing just does not seem to have it.

 

[ChillzMaster]

Grah. I am really starting to hate Nintendo. First, I was disappointed with the Wii's lack of awesomeness that we were promised. Then, I get my hopes up with the Wii U, which looks FIERCELY INTENSE! Even if the only new innovation is the Tablet Controller, the fact they're getting back on track (in terms of hardware) to compete with the 360 and PS3 is pretty good. I wanted Nintendo to win. I did. It was like when I played DN:F with a forced smile. I wanted it to be good, but...

now no DVD support. This won't kill the console, but it can't be a good sign, as DVD support has been something we've had even back in the PS2 and Xbox days. I know, DVD support isn't at all related to games, but it is a bit of a "Ye Shall Not Suceed" sign outside the tunnel, if you get my meaning.

-Chillz