No Dolby Digital for Wii?

by Blake Snow { May 25th 2006 at 12:45PM }

Staying consistent with Wii's inferior processing and graphical specs, official Wii documentation given to development studios confirms the absence of Dolby Digital 5.1 optical outputs. It is likely that Nintendo will continue to use Dolby Pro Logic II for simulated 5.1 audio as it has with the GameCube. IGN writes: "There is a single proprietary audio/video jack on Wii and users have the option to plug in different cables depending on their preference. According to developer documentation, Wii owners will be able to insert a composite, S-video or component audio/video cable into the jack, but all three come standard with stereo left and right channel audio cables."

Though a Dolby Digital solution could still surface being that final Wii tech specs have yet to be announced, don't expect it. Not that Nintendo's target audience will.

[Thanks, Prof-KOS]

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

flyNN @ May 25th 2006 12:51PM

Crap! This is the first Wii spec that I find to be truly too low. Dolby Digital is so 5 years ago!!!

Mike @ May 25th 2006 12:53PM

thats BS. One thing I really like with my 360 is surround sound. It actually helps in games, and lets me identify people sneaking up on me in perfect dark and other games.

I have pro-logic 2, but thats not the same. I dont have an HD-TV and have no plans to buy one for 5 years so nintendos non-HD decision does not bother me. But to not go dolby digital? Come on nintendo. Mostly every gamer has surround sound. Even if its some cheap $150 HT in a box thing they bought at wal-mart.

Clint @ May 25th 2006 12:53PM

Why don't they just release the Weemote for the Gamecube and be done with it? It is after all just a controller they are making. Why bother with the new console at all if graphics don't matter?

bassbeast @ May 25th 2006 1:00PM

There's got to be a way. The 360's output cables have a plug for outputting Dolby Digital. You could say the same thing about the 360 cables, in that they also have left and right RCA outs - but it doesn't come with the cable required to do digital. You have to buy that yourself.

This is a grave mistake if it turns out to be true. While HDTV adoption is still sketchy, Dolby Digital surround has been a standard for years. Even a $30 discount DVD player can output Dolby Digital, if not DTS. The technology required to output Dolbby is super-cheap and readily-accessible to anyone. Considering Nintendo announced an add-on to play DVDs, what would the point be if the system couldn't even match your Kamasoniq DVD player availabe at your local garage?

Paul P. @ May 25th 2006 1:03PM

Of all the issues I have with Wii, this is one I actually don't care about. I honestly don't know the difference, I'm not much of an audiophile. I appreciate music much more than sound effects and ambience.

jgrey @ May 25th 2006 1:07PM

You guys really need to get over your view of "value" here. We all know by now Nintendo see things very differently and put a lot of emphasis on bringing in different gaming content with new UI.

Get over it. Just don't buy it if you don't like it. Some people seem to be pouncing on anything they can grumble about. Grumble grumble grumble grumble.

reguy @ May 25th 2006 1:09PM

I agree with clint. Nintendo is selling the gamecube in a different package and charging 200 dollars?? But i dont want to tell the nin fanboys how crazy they are because those guys are 5150!! So crazy that EGM printed a letter & picture of one in their most recent mag. So, a new system with 4 year old graphics no hd and now no dolby digital. Enjoy your ' affordable next gen' system! And dont even get me started on wii sports because those graphics gave me an eye infection.

Jouten Za @ May 25th 2006 1:15PM

You know, as much as I'd like to disagree with the negative posts for this...I can't. I am beginning to think that maybe they should have just kept the NGC and just made the new controller and hook up the NGC to the NiWiFi instead. But as others stated, that's what they are really doing except a new 'console shell'. As much as I like Nintendo, I have this strange feeling of gratitude that I got the 360 at launch.

Art Guy @ May 25th 2006 1:15PM

Wait....what???? That can't be right, I think even the PS2 had DD for some games.
Although after the whole progressive scan removal on the Cube, nothing Nintendo does surprises me anymore. :(

So far:
1. No HD resolutions
2. Controversial name
3. No ethernet port
4. Limited storage for online content
5. Only $50 cheaper than the 360
6. And now no DD

Things were looking so good for the Revolution, back when it was still called that. I agree with Clint, they should have released the controller for the Cube and saved everyone a hundred-plus dollars.

What's next possible bad news?:
1. External storage is required to download demos or no downloadable demos at all
2. Classic controller is extra
3. Additional Weemotes cost $100
4. Classic games are only available in a subscription basis

azesino @ May 25th 2006 1:20PM

Iam really tired of people just defending any crapload that nintendo trows, first it was HD, fanboys complain that nobody had a HD set, then the gamecube graphics, people started saying that graphics dont matter, and now DOlby Digital? come on..... I love nintendo, I bough everithing from day one since the day of the NES, but this time...I strongly disagree with everione, this is just a gamecube, the only revolution is the controler, why didnt they just released the controler on the gamecube(it could be done,come on look how easy zelda was ported to both sytems) and every one would of save 200-250 USD.

As much as I hate to say it, Iam beging to think the controler is a gimmic to sell the console (gamecube) .

Vince @ May 25th 2006 1:20PM

They said themselves it's aimed at people who don't care about these things.

Tony @ May 25th 2006 1:22PM

Game cubes audio sounds better on my souround sound than my xbox.Pro logic 2 sounds great.

LovingMyXboxNow @ May 25th 2006 1:22PM

20 Years ago I love Nintendo. 10 years ago I like them.

5 years ago I began to get annoyed by them.

Today I cannot stand them and will not buy a Nintendo Console for the first time in 20 years.

This console went from being Revolutionary to being an outright LIE! The console is one giant LIE. Nothing is revolutionary about it.

Rawrt @ May 25th 2006 1:24PM

"You get what you pay for..." Did you guys really expect to get the revolutionary-end-of-days-state-of-the-art-gaming console for $200?

Hedgie @ May 25th 2006 1:28PM

OK... I was finally getting a surround-sound system this year mainly because of the next gen consoles. I already have one but its only Dolby Pro Logic II. I've supported Nintendo all the way, and the lack of high-tech graphics is fine by me but taking away high-end audio is different. The audio does a lot to a gamer when playing games. It notifies a player if something is here or there, it gives a much more enjoyable experience, and most importantly it drives the adrenaline into overdrive.

I don't know what the big difference between Pro Logic II and Dolby Digital though I can imagine it comparing a 48kbps mp3 to a 364kbps one. For a system that goes for $250, their not really giving much as a console. Gimme my fix Nintendo, I need at least some quality to play games! >: |

Freakhead @ May 25th 2006 1:31PM

First off Pro-Logic2 is 5 speaker surround sound. I doubt 90% of folks can pick out the difference between PL2 and DD unless someone tells them what to look for. That's the reality. The perception amongst is you'll die without DD. But again that's the perception.

Wii features?

Let's see built-in Wi-Fi vs $100 for 360 wi-fi adapter.

Unique way to play games. Wireless Wiimote and Nunchuk. Motion sensitive control in each hand with pointer functionality and speaker in one hand.

512mb of built-in flash expandable with SD cards and USB hard/flash drives.

Free online play.

Built-in Opera Internet Browser.

Small, compact, quiet and great looking hardware with slot-loading optical drive.

BAckwards compatible with Gamecube.

Virtual console means access to vast library of NES, SNES and N64 games not to mention SEga/TurboGrafix libaries of games.

WiiConnect24 means downloads while you sleep, visiting a friend's town in AC while they are not there and who knows what else. Paging? VoIP system? ...

So far rumoured to be 50-100% faster than 'Cube with over 2x as much memory.

$200 cheaper than the real 360 if Wii hits the $200 mark. $300 cheaper if you need Wi-fi. $350+ cheaper if you need Wi-Fi and want to go online for a year.

It's looking like a nice system to me.

jron @ May 25th 2006 1:31PM

Maybe the revolution was the fact is wasn't a huge upgrade that most new consoles are. That does break with tradition.

Prof-KOS @ May 25th 2006 1:47PM

Being that I sent in the tip, I should probably post a comment. Thanks Joytiq for the credit.

When I ran into this article, I really wasn't surprised. I think that this had been speculated for a while. And while I agree that the system itself is only a marginal upgrade from a Gamecube, I still put tons of hours into my Gamecube. I'm cool with that.

For those games that I really want to see in HD and with stellar surround sound, I have an Xbox 360. The problem here is that we have these unreasonable expectations of this system. Nintendo themselves have been trying to limit this. They said right from the beginning that they don't want to compete with Microsoft and Sony. They want to do something different. So they did. If you want amazing visuals and sound then buy an Xbox 360 or a PS3 and enjoy them. There are some great games coming for both. But if you want something a little different that you can play with your wife/girlfriend/firends etc.. then buy a Wii as a second console. It won't be much more than $200. Then you can have the best of both worlds.

Nintendo Kiddy @ May 25th 2006 1:47PM

This is GOOD news! None of my friends from school have dolby 5.1 anyway so who cares about this crap? Besides real gamers know that as long as gameplay is good you dont need sound. So STFU you old people since you cant hear anyway!

in5ane @ May 25th 2006 1:48PM

This is a really odd decision. With Dolby Pro Logic II support, it means devleopers ARE developing games with surround sound in mind. Pro Logic II tries to simulate surround sound with only two channels, but internally in the Wii, all the surround sound information must exist to create the Pro Logic II soundtrack. It would be super easy for Nintendo to break this down into Dolby Digital information rather than PLII. And it can't be a cost issue because this sort of tech is old hat now, and any cheap DVD player or PC motherboard has an optical out.

Maybe Nintendo will save money on licensing? I'm sure MSoft and Sony have to pay Dolby for every console they sell with DD capabilities. PLII can be implemented without special audio-out hardware.

BTW if anyone is not convinced DD is better than PLII, you just need to look at what the two technologies are. DD5.1 is literally 5 dedicated channels, with a less detailed bass track. Sure, it's compressed, but the bitrate is usally high enough to sound good, and of course the advantage is five discrete channels for surround sound that isn't muddled. PLII is just two channels of sound, with background tracks mixed in a special way so it comes more out the back than front, but often producs a hint of garbled noise (if you ever hold your ear to the rear speakers of a PLII system turned up too loud, you'll notice it).

Zero @ May 25th 2006 1:50PM

The only thing that doesn't make me completely count out the possibility of Dolby Digital for the Wii is the fact that the E3 demos were running on 'Cubes. The E3 demos all showed PLII logos, but since that is all the 'Cube hardware is capable of processing it can't be used as evidence that the Wii will definitely not support DD. It's possible that there could be an optical port piggybacking the proprietary A/V cable like on the X-Box.

gameclu @ May 25th 2006 1:55PM

I've got a Dolby Digital system. With games like Condemned for the 360, the localization of sound is nearly pin point accurate, and the fidelity is amazing. On the other hand, Resident Evil 4 for the PS2 only supports Dolby Pro-Logic. The sound quality isn't nearly as good, but the surround is decent enough. Still nothing as good as Condemned. In the end, RE4 is still by far the better game, despite the lesser audio, and the lack of HD graphics for the matter.

reguy @ May 25th 2006 1:57PM

@ 17

That is why you have 4 stars Prof-Kos, great post. I think what we are having problems with is nintendos new arrogance and since they have been beaten, handily i might add by two newcomers they should be more flexible to gamers. Like everyone else, i grew up with an nes and snes and as i grew up i realized that nintendo told me what i wanted while sony and microsoft listened to gamers and then made games accordingly. I wanted to get a wii, i did, but it seems like im being punished became im not nintendos target audience(the non gamer)
Memo to nintendo, the non gamer didnt make you the market leader and holder of 90% of the market all those years ago and i dont expect them to do it not.

bryan @ May 25th 2006 2:02PM

Despite what these comments might lead you to believe, Surround sound systems are not common. Most of the public that owns a surround sound system will still hook up the analog cables and brag about their surround sound (even though it’s PLII at best and stereo at worst). PLII works great for those who know how to hook it up right.
Nintendo is trying to reach a new market. The majority of the new market
1. Does not own a HDTV (or know composite from component)
2. Does not own a surround sound system, and wouldn’t know PLII, DTS, or DD from a BFG2000.

I don’t fault Nintendo at all for this. They are not marketing to us (gamers). I am looking for a new experience with my "Next Gen", and Nintendo is the only company that is ready to offer one.

jojonyc @ May 25th 2006 2:02PM

wow such anger here. sony and ms will have the high tech stuff so you can all rub yourself raw that you have the most powerful system and best stereo and flattest tv. nintendo is doing exactly what they said they were going to, (i know ms and sony didn't extend you that courtesy...) so why act surprized and disgusted about the lower specs?

seems something else is going on that you are making such a big show about not wanting to buy wii.

relax. you are not their target audience.

Cameron @ May 25th 2006 2:02PM

I have a question.

How does (2xGameCube:meaning 2-3xRAM,2xGPU,2xCPU+plus other unkown chipset enhancements)+WiFi that doesn't cost 100 dollars+Wiimote+DVD media+flash RAM+USB 2.0 for a plethora of cheap mass-storage options+SD slot for a plethora of cheap medium storage options+Bluetooth+new form factor=GameCube?

I am a retard in math class, and I need some assistance.

Looks like we have some special-ed business class students too. I'm sure someone else can help them out.

Greg2k @ May 25th 2006 2:13PM

Well, I don't have any sort of home theater setup at home, but I still see not having Dolby Digital a bad thing. I mean come on, I'm pretty sure Dolby Digital requires less processing than Dolby Pro-Logic II (not an expert on the subject, though). Isn't a DD stream just a digital transfer of the sound information, which travels through and optical cable where it is later decoded by a Dolby Digital decoder so it can reach the speakers? The Wii just has to send the signal through the toslink connector, and your Home Theater does the rest.
However, to send a Pro-Logic II signal, the Wii has to process the data the game sends regarding placement of sound and merge it all into two channels which send the audio signal in analog form.
As I said before, I'm no expert, but I believe supporting Digital instead of Pro-Logic II would only take stress away from the CPU.

SonicRift @ May 25th 2006 2:16PM

I know alot of gamers, and only 3 of them have HDTV's. Of those, only 1 uses the HDTV to play video games.

Other than the 3 HDTV owners, I don't know anyone who has any sort of surround sound setup. For movies, surround sound is great. I've got surround sound in my bedroom. It's all hooked up to my computer for movies. I've never even thought to use surround sound for games. What's the point?

Surround sound is very genre specific. There's no need for it in fighting games, 2D platformers, strategy games, etc.

It's only beneficial in First and Third person shooters, and I can certainly see how, though I've never experienced it. So surround sound benefits the same old genres. But would this as an addition increase the cost of the Wii so much?

The Wii is alot more than just a GameCube. And I don't see how you're basing arguments on facts that haven't even been revealed yet, like price. I would be more willing to say that the Wii, taken without the controller, is what the GameCube SHOULD have been in the first place, but Nintendo wasn't at a point where they thought they needed what the Wii offers back then, mostly due to the arrogance and narrow mind of the opinionated former president.

adam @ May 25th 2006 2:18PM

I have to agree with Cameron (#25). If I could by a car for the same price as I paid 5 years ago with twice as much power, I would be pretty excited. I could always spend 2 to 3 times the amount (360 and ps3) for some extra features (better stero, better performance)

Todd @ May 25th 2006 2:19PM

All I hear is moaning, wailing and gnashing of teeth over something that most likely all of you haven't even tried to begin with. Now on the other hand most everyone that has tried it gave it positive reviews. I'll wait until I try it for myself before I go bashing or praising it. Everyone needs to look at the past of Nintendo's press releases and conferences. You'll see a long line of being secretive, then revealing a little, then revealing a lot, then leaving people wanting more, followed by people griping because they didn't get more. This cycle then repeats. People just need to be patient and try it for themselves. Then maybe I'll take someone’s comment that it's "just a gimmick" seriously.

32_Footsteps @ May 25th 2006 2:22PM

"but it seems like im being punished became im not nintendos target audience..."

I could say the same thing about Sony (as I'm not someone with the discretionary income to spend $500-$600 on a console). Face it, the console manufacturers are splintering right now, and that's part of why the next round of the console wars is so difficult to predict.

That said, I do find myself a bit disappointed by this news. I could live without HD, fancy disc drives that I'll probably never bother with, a wire to run through my router, and so on. But Dobly Digital? That's pretty affordable already, and I really don't think it would drive up the cost of the console much to deliver that.

But for the people claiming it's just a GameCube with a new controller - seriously, do you even read everything about the system? You'd think people who judge a console solely on its hardware specs (as opposed to its games) would have noted by now the promised improvements over the GC's hardware. Again, not that it matters until we see the games. But if you're going to judge the system beforehand, judge it on facts and not blind devotion to a console.

After all, you could easily move the boards around on a slim PS2 and fit it in an old NES chassis, and it wouldn't make the PS2 inferior to any system before the 128-bit era.

Nintendo Kiddy @ May 25th 2006 2:24PM

Anything nintendo does is the best idea. You haters thought the N64 shouldnt be cartridge and look 10 years later how the DS is the best selling system with cartridge. Ha, you losers are always wrong. Nintendo is always right.

Nintendo = teh wiin.

Tequilla @ May 25th 2006 2:25PM

Wiik.

reguy @ May 25th 2006 2:33PM

@ 31

Hey nintendo kiddy if nintendo is right all the time please talk to me about the gamecube sales figures, the virtual boy, and telling gamers that we didnt want to play online games?

Even the mighty nintendo makes mistakes you goofball

But why bother talking to you, i bet your a 7 year old little girl, or a 13 year old boy that sounds like a little girl

Nintendo Kiddy @ May 25th 2006 2:42PM

#33, don't cry on my shoulder just because your mom wouldnt buy you a virtual boy. Everyone knows that was one of the greatest inventions ever and just shows the genius of nintendo coming out with technology a century early. You probably save up all your lunch money every week just to buy one! Too bad they all sold out. Here, cry on my other shoulder now.

Nintendo = teh wiin.

Eliot Hence @ May 25th 2006 2:44PM

This is stupid, everyone complains about what Nintendo is doing. I could care less about sounds in games, why? Because I am deaf and I have been deaf since I was 5 years old, so stop making a big deal about surround sound or whatever the crap it is and appreciate that the fact Nintendo is giving us a web browser(Opera), the ability to download classics, a new way of playing games, seemingly better 3rd party support than the previous two consoles, a small affordable console, and as well as great games. It is pathetic that yall complain about every move Nintendo makes, then when Nintendo surprises you, yall sing praises. A bit of an irony there. Like Nintendo said teh Wii is not entirely next-gen, it is a new gen period. I wouldnt be surprised if Sony and MS follow this path with their next consoles after the 360 and PS3. And the fact that if you want a 360 or a PS3 and spend so much damn money on these things and games and then yall will get tired of the games within 2-5 days, because the gameplay are so damn similar on those systems. It is time for a change. Stop whining, be thankful you dont have to rely on your eyes and wits while playing games, you get help from audio clues, I dont. All I want in my games are subtitles, period. Just little fanboys who whine how Nintendo is not up to the challenge, but they already advanced gaming far enough with both graphics and gameplay from the NES to GCN eras, so why cant they do something different for once that is not a Virtual Boy? Just grow up, next-gen consoles wont make a big splash this time around, because everybody is used to the same dual-analog set up which is getting tiring. At least Nintendo is doing something new. Grow up guys. Moaning over sound...please.

Night Elve @ May 25th 2006 2:50PM

Thats ok is Nintendo no one will complain about this.

jo @ May 25th 2006 2:55PM

The future really looks bright for the 360. It’s really hitting the sweet spot. Nintendo is aiming for a market that doesn’t even exist in gaming. I bet a lot of games won’t even use the remote. when it all boils down to it. its a SEVERELY crippled console that is only 50 dollars cheaper, and that doesent even equate a price drop in the future for microsoft. The future really looks bright for the 360. It’s really hitting the sweet spot. Nintendo is aiming for a market that doesn’t even exist in gaming. I bet a lot of games won’t even use the remote. When it all boils down to it, it’s a SEVERELY crippled console that is only 50 dollars cheaper with an unproven remote. That doesn’t even equate a price drop in the future for Microsoft.

jo @ May 25th 2006 2:57PM

wow talk about double post

Prof-KOS @ May 25th 2006 3:00PM

Apparently reguy either misunderstood my post or has a strange sense of sarcasm. I will clarify for his benefit. As 32_Footsteps just mentioned, Nintendo is doing what they told us they would do. Offer a systme that makes games fun again. That they've done.

Oh and Cameron, there's nothing wrong with your math. Wii isn't just a Gamecube. Just like the demo systems at E3 weren't Gamecubes. They were development kits. Remeber they said that the Dev. Kits were upgraded Gamecube hardware with the controller.

diddydiddydid @ May 25th 2006 3:03PM

Another proof that sarcasm does not transfered through teh web

bryan @ May 25th 2006 3:10PM

He said Wiik. That is realy funny. All those responsible have now been sacked.

greatslack @ May 25th 2006 3:11PM

Ummm... did everyone forget that there's A SPEAKER IN THE CONTROLLER?!?! This is exactly why they don't have support for Dolby Digital. PLII is good enough for the ambient sounds, for more pinpoint accurate placement of sounds, they have the controller speaker. While this may still only amount to a 3.0 speaker set up, the mobile speaker adds tons more immersion than stagnant surround sound speakers, especially if the players are going to be moving around while they are playing, and not always going to be sitting in the "sweet spot" of the setup.

Blue Spotted Frog @ May 25th 2006 3:11PM

No Dolby Digital/DTS audio on Wii makes no sense to me. How much money does it really cost to add this option to the Wii? All DVD players have digital audio output including the ones selling for $40. XBox and PS2 have digital audio out. Wii has component video output ( which supports 480p output ) but not digital audio output? I can understand if Wii developers choose to make games with Prog-logic II audio only to reduce development costs but Nintendo should make the console capable of outputing in Dolby Digital so at least it is an option and the console is on par with a standard DVD player.

bladestar @ May 25th 2006 3:22PM

Haha! I'm loving this! Thank you Nintendo! viva la wiiiiiiiii! Nintendo is insulting their fanboys by telling them they are stupid enough to care about the obvious. I mean a company that can make someone buy the same product (GameBoy Advance and now the DS) 3-4 time with no obvious improvements but physical apearance deserves to be #1. Hahahaha! I know people that have the Gameboy, Gameboy Pocket, GameBoy Color and/ Gameboy Advance and gameboy micro. Now People that bought the DS want the DS Lite. Now Nintendo, grabbed a Game Cub change the case and added a wiimote and are confident that their fanboys are too stupid to tell the difference. Heck I am buying one when it comes out! If a company can sale you shi* and make you feel good while you do it then they deserve my money! heck raise the price to $600.00 I'm having to much fun already. I wonder what will they remove next!? color!? ahahaha. Viva la wiiiiivolution!