Wii U Won't Play Blu-rays Or DVDs

[Britisheagle]

He's right though..

Be honest, go into your living room - what does not play DVD's? I wouldn't be surprised if your CD cases played them in this day and age.

Thats the point though, a modern peice of technology should also have this capability. The thing is Nintendo market their products as "family orientated". So shouldn't they be encouraging people to have a WiiU in their front room as both a console and media device?

I mean I don't watch films a lot, however when I do I am lost without my XBox. Its in my room, which is big enough, but I dont have enough plug points even with extension leads to run a DVD player and Xbox simultaneously. And due to the fact that wires are stored underneath the cabinet this could be tedious.

 

[NickCaligo42]

He's right though..

Be honest, go into your living room - what does not play DVD's? I wouldn't be surprised if your CD cases played them in this day and age.

Actually really have to agree here. I don't see a need for this particular feature, and if it'll save money on the system then more power to them. I'd rather they spent the extra capital on making it actually be a worthwhile game console, which I have yet to be convinced of. Just one Wii pad at a time? No Gamecube compatibility? Come back when you're not being half-assed any more, Nintendo.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

DOES THIS MEAN THE WIIU WILL USE...CARTRIDGES?

The actual console part of the console has a disc slot so cartridges are likely out...but that would be so great...I miss those days.

Anyway no Nintendo console, ever has been able to play back DVDs, blu-rays, video cassette tapes, beta tapes, laser-discs, etc. It would be kind of weird for them to start now. What I'm really curious about is if the Wii-U will be able to play Gamecube games.

 

[Xanthious]

Just another example of just how out of touch Nintendo actually is. Nintendo is a relic trying to survive past it's prime with the use of smoke and mirrors because they are no longer able to compete based on the quality of their overall product. The sooner they go the way of Sega the better off gaming as a whole will be.

 

[Quaxar]

I can understand the DVD part but no Blu-Ray probably means they'll still have to rely on their gimmicky console instead of actually shelling out a bit more for a high performance system.

On the plus side, this makes the system price lower, correct?

But on the downside, even the fucking PS2 could play DVDs.

DOES THIS MEAN THE WIIU WILL USE...CARTRIDGES?

Nintendo tech support. Have you tried blowing into it and restarting the game?

 

[vansau]

So all of us with Netflix accounts that receive DVD's can now be expected to unplug our white urine box in favor of a DVD player?

The best part about this is that I never actually bothered getting a standalone DVD player because for the last 6 years or so I've had a console that played DVD's. ...Smooth Move. Skipped the Wii and now the WiiU will follow suit. I loved my Gamecube so much too.

I have all my systems hooked up to an HDMI switcher, so I switch systems at (literally) the push of a button. I'm guessing I won't have to get a converter for the Wii U, though.

 

[Frosted89]

Why did I not realize how many DVD players I had in my house until I read this article? In my room alone I have two computers, a portable dvd player, a blu-ray player, PS2, and an Xbox 360. Yeah I think Nintendo has the right idea.

 

[notbitterbutbored]

Sony owned the Blu-Ray format so it made sense for their consoles to support it.
Look at it the other way - would Sony have included Blu-Ray if Nintendo owned it? Doubtful.
If Nintendo had included Blu-Ray, they'd have to pay money to Sony - their rival - every time a console or game was bought - and it would make everything far more expensive.

You wanted a hardcore gaming console - you've got one

 

[Awexsome]

I call this a good move by them. They're right on this like other people have stated in the thread and I think the extra price it would've taken to not be worth it.

 

[mjc0961]

Not surprised. Did anyone really expect it to? Nintendo has been making their own versions of discs since the GameCube to avoid any licence or patent or whatever fees. And we quickly learned that the Wii U wasn't any different, so I immediately didn't expect it to play any other kinds of media.

Personally, it doesn't bother me just like the Wii not playing DVDs doesn't bother me. I already have a 360 and a PS3, and if I didn't, standalone blu-ray players are cheap enough now that it's not worth increasing the price of the Wii U over.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

Oh the horror! I'll have to use the *gasp* DVD player! That one I keep in the same place as my current console. How dare Nintendo inconvenience my like this, I'll have to boycott their company now and never buy anything from them ever again!

/sarcasm (just in case people didn't get it. got knows there are people who sound like this)

Just another example of just how out of touch Nintendo actually is. Nintendo is a relic trying to survive past it's prime with the use of smoke and mirrors because they are no longer able to compete based on the quality of their overall product. The sooner they go the way of Sega the better off gaming as a whole will be.

Yeah, cause the inability to play DVDs on a games console is such a negative turn that gaming itself will suffer. Get over yourself. What did you type that message on? Odds are, it's a laptop, or a PC of some variety. Look on the front or on the side. See that drive there? That's where you put discs in. Turns out that machine you use every day can play DVDs. I know, it's like you're seeing the world anew, right?

Not including a generally worthless function like playing DVDs makes the cost of making a Wii U cheaper, which means they can retail it at cheaper. What, you'd prefer a price hike just so if you do get out of your hate trench long enough to buy one you won't have to use a different device to play your DVD of Queer as Folk?

It's not needed, so they didn't put it there. I don't see how this negatively impacts anything for any normal human being.

 

[CrystalShadow]

On the plus side, this makes the system price lower, correct?

But on the downside, even the fucking PS2 could play DVDs.

DOES THIS MEAN THE WIIU WILL USE...CARTRIDGES?

Yeah, but only if you bought the 'DVD remote' for it...

Really, I don't see what the big deal is with this anyway.

He happens to be right. Although, just like pretty much any CD/DVD/Blu-Ray/HD-DVD based computer storage system, it's technically trivial to implement support for playing back films/music of the related type, this isn't a technical issue.

The Wii can play DVD's... If you install homebrew DVD playback software on it. (Which doesn't amount to much considering the Wii system software contains DVD playback functions - They were obviously considering the feature, but never chose to activate it.)

The problem isn't technical. It's legal. To play DVD's, you have to pay to do so. (Unless whatever you're creating is free, and has less than 50,000 copies)

Blu-ray probably requires paying Sony for the privilege...

And, just, generally, it costs money to get DVD/Blu-ray playback because of the legal costs.

What is the point of it then unless you don't already own half a dozen devices that can do the job?

I mean, I have 5 devices in this room that can play DVD's. (And none at all that can play blu-ray)

What's one DVD player more or less?

 

[notbitterbutbored]

Nintendo have already said Wii U discs will be 25GB.
They just won't be Blu-Rays.

 

[TastyCarcass]

Is it really expensive to add a DVD player? I'm all for cost cutting.

I'm hoping for HD Metroid and Super Mario Galaxy 3

 

[Baresark]

I'm not surprised at all. DVD players have been standard fare for more than ten years. This makes perfect sense to me. The last one didn't either. Why would this one?

Now, just because you have decided to play DVD's, this doesn't mean you are allowed to have content on your system that doesn't compete with at least the current generation of systems. Do HD and and good graphics please, maybe get some more adult third party support. And for god sakes, just tell publishers they aren't required to use your gimmicks (ie., motion controls and tablet controller). Thanks for listening.

 

[MetalDooley]

Not sure why people are complaining about this.The lack of DVD playback was an issue back in the Gamecube days but it's a complete non-issue now.How many people these days don't have at least one device capable of DVD playback?If it keeps costs down then good

Lack of Blu-ray support is a bigger issue but understandable seeing as one of Nintendos biggest rivals is also one of the biggest proponents of BR

 

[CrystalShadow]

Yeah, but only if you bought the 'DVD remote' for it...

By the way the PS2 didn't need a remote to play games. Just figured you should know

My bad. I definitely recall this being an issue, (again, licensing being the culprit rather than the actual need for a remote.)

Still, if I'm remembering this incorrectly, what was the situation?

Edit: Ah, I see what's happened. I've confused the Xbox situation with that of the PS2. The Xbox was the one that required buying extra stuff...