Wii U Won't Play Blu-rays Or DVDs

[Smerf]

seems like a good idea to me. if they stop all the stuff that was bat about the wii this could be a respectable system (like being able to plug in a keyboard but not a mouse for web browsing). but this is nintendo, itll never happen.

 

[MetalDooley]

I thought that they took backwards compatibility out of the PS3 so they could still sell more PS2s.

Maybe it is.I just remember reading that the reason was to lower PS3 production costs and the reckoning behind it was that most people interested in buying a PS3 probably already owned a PS2 so the backwards compatibility wasn't strictly necessary

 

[AlexNora]

I really don't care, most movies are not worth spending the money on when compared to buying a new game.

 

[Soak]

What the WiiU also won't have:
- use of the controlls which doesn't make you look like a complete moron
- actually inventive games (i don't consider remakes of other games and another "New Super Mario Universe Deluxe" with crappy controls as inventive - and it will always be stars)
- competitive performence
- fun


well, this is speculative, i still have hope that we'll get something better

 

[I forgot]

Not having a DVD function is hardly what I call "no longer able to compete based on the quality of their product".I buy a games system to play games. And how will gaming be better if they go Sega?

Not having a DVD player is just drop in the bucket when it comes to Nintendo these days. Both of their current systems, the Wii and the 3DS, both rely on some form of gimmick to get them over rather than being a quality product that can compete on it's own merit. The Wii relies on horrible motion controls and the 3DS relies on equally horrible "3D" technology. Furthermore, it looks like the WiiU is following right in their footsteps. Nintendo is FAR more interested in the bells and whistles they've all but abandoned the core elements in favor of meaningless gimmicks.

As for how would gaming benefit from Nintendo abandoning the hardware market and becoming just another game developer for proper systems? First off it would allow them to focus on what they are good at. Nintendo games typically are high quality despite being horribly redundant. They would do well developing games for Sony and Microsoft.

Secondly they would cease to continue to embarrass themselves with shoddy hardware offerings. Outside of a couple of decent portable consoles Nintendo has released nothing but a solid stream of shit when it comes to hardware. They are simply unwilling or unable to compete without some sort of gimmick to get their consoles noticed. Honestly, the Wii only got over because of motion controls. However, they tried to catch lightning in a bottle a second time with the 3DS and that is in the process of going downhill quickly. I believe the WiiU will ultimately suffer a similar fate.

My problem with your argument is that it's contrived. It seems you want to make a conclusion first and get the facts second rather than the other way around.
First you dodge the question and then proceed to cry "gimmick". All the console makers rely on software to sell their systems. To claim that Nintendo "relies" on "gimmicks" is like saying Microsoft relies on HD graphics and Sony relies on being a Blu-ray player. Anyone can be presumptuous and claim a company is relying on a gimmick, even when its not a gimmick.

The biggest value in the hardware is its software and the only reason the Wii didn't have that like the DS is because of a shitty game industry that wants to please itself and whore out on pointless sepia-tone uncanny valley graphics. I see more of a reason to blame 3rd parties than Nintendo for the lack of software.

 

[Ukomba]

DVD's and Blu-ray seem to be on the way out anyways. In the end the WiiU will live or die by it's exclusive titles.

 

[Pigeon_Grenade]

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?

No, i Expect the type of Disc they will use will be Pretty Close to what the Wii is already using

 

[Slanzinger]

To all of you going "Oh mah GAAH Why doesn't it play DVDs"...
The Wii couldn't either. People somehow coped with that. I fail to see how this is any different.

'Sides, I'm apparently one of the few people out of my group of friends who actually uses DVDs any more, and I can just play them on the laptop... or the desktop pc, or the DVD recorder, or the XBox.

People are not suddenly going to be looking for a DVD player these days. And Blu-Ray would be right out anyway as it's Sony tech.

 

[BrunDeign]

Having bluray or equivalent is going to be a necessity. You're a fool to think otherwise.

I already buy the big games for my PS3 over my 360 because of the sheer convenience.

So why am I a fool then? Because I think it's ok for a game to take up more than one disk? That really qualifies me as foolish?

And just because something is more convenient doesn't mean it's more cost effective. Quite the opposite. A lot of times, more convenience comes at the cost of higher prices.

Nintendo is looking to cut costs on producing the consoles. The cut costs translate to (I assume) lower prices. Sony went all out on the PS3 in terms of graphics and disk space and good for them, but in the end the "convenience" of not having to move once however many hours on a single disk will be trumped by the most cost effective method of production. If they're one and the same then huzzah! But it would appear they are not.

 

[Negatempest]

"Oh No! Why won't Nintendo stop being an exclusive video game playing console and become like Sony and Microsoft, with their hundreds of other software and hardware products, creating another multimedia machine with half of the items we do not use in tandem".

So, people are getting mad at Nintendo, who's main product (and almost only) product is to produce video game based products? My main reason I want to buy the Wii U is because it is JUST a video game console. I already have 4 different DVD players, 3 computers, countless amounts of different hardware that play music...I don't need or want my video game console to do much of anything else.

Hate the console for having bad 3rd party support. Hate the console for having bad multiplayer support. But to hate the video game console for being a video game console?....Well "we" consumers are filled with hypocrisy and are deep in being fickle creatures...so the anger is both ridiculous and predictable.

 

[Sylocat]

He's right.

I still have my PS2. I have a VCR/DVD player combo. The laptop I'm writing this on can play DVDs. My dad's desktop can play DVDs. So can my mom's laptop. If you still have either of the other game consoles from the last generation (or even the one before that), you have yet another DVD player.

If omitting DVD functionality helps keep the WiiU's price down, then I say go for it.

 

[Mister Linton]

It is a BAD idea to use your expensive console to do something a $ 30-100 standalone device can do

 

[Duskflamer]

I see no problem with this. We are buying a VIDEO GAME SYSTEM. We are buying a device with the express purpose of PLAYING GAMES ON IT. Why do we need it to also play movies, surf the internet, order movie tickets, do our homework, and develop the cure for cancer? Geez, it's like cell phones...I'm buying something to make calls on, when did it become more important to be able to play Angry Birds on it?

 

[Milo Windby]

oh ze noes, i r not getz to zee dvd on wii u? *Cries in the corner*

*Shuts down sarcasm bot* Stupid thing -_-

I agree with Nintendo on this... by now every one and their mother has some sort of device that can play dvds and or blueray... I don't need any more thank you very much.

 

[Grunt_Man11]

"Oh no, the Wii U won't play movies! It's the end of the world!"

Really? Are people actually angry about this?

I don't know about anyone else, but I buy a console to play video games not movies.

I haven't used my Xbox 360 to play movies since I watched "9" last year.

Stop whining that the Wii U won't play your movies and just buy a goddamn DVD player. They're dirt cheap now. Hell, you can probably find one at a pawn shop for $5.

 

[MikailCaboose]

Uhm, okay? IMO, Wii U doesn't need to play DVD's. I mean christ, I have THREE THINGS that can play them already! I don't need a 4th way to do the same thing!

 

[DarthFennec]

No dvd support? Damn. Oh well, what does it use natively for games, Blu Ray? If so, someone will write blu ray support for it. My Wii plays DVDs because Homebrew Channel, so unless they lock the WiiU down a lot more than the Wii, I don't see why this will be any different.

 

[DarthFennec]

Uhm, okay? IMO, Wii U doesn't need to play DVD's. I mean christ, I have THREE THINGS that can play them already! I don't need a 4th way to do the same thing!

The only things I have hooked up to my TV are a Wii and a VCR, I need DVD support. Of course I'm getting a PS2 soon so that'll work out fine I think.