Wii to get Super Paper Mario, lose DVD playback? [update 1]

Noooooooo I want Super Paper Mario asap, I plan on getting a Revolution but c'mon Nintendo I wanted to dust off my Gamecube one last time before it gets boxed up and put in the storage room :(
As for DVD playback, I don't really need another DVD player anyway(Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2, Sony DVP-NC665P, 2 computers and a junky Phillips)

And yeah, the DVD playback may or may not surface. If it doesn't, poo on N for not keeping a promise. If it does, I just hope it's not standard so those of us with DVD players don't have to pay the extra scrilla for the DVD licensing fees.

"Chill" is, indeed, the word of the hour.

Losing the DVD playback functionality may be a cost-cutting measure. I'm pretty sure that if the Wii came with DVD playback functionality out of the box Nintendo would have to pay royalty fees to the MPAA for every Wii sold. But, if they sell DVD Playback seperately as an addon, then Nintendo can pass on those costs to the consumers who really want to play DVDs on the Wii, while keeping the cost of the base system low for people who just want to play games on it.

Besides, you can get a DVD player for about the same price as a DVD movie nowadays, so who cares.

I know this is bias coming from a competing review outlet, but guys, it's IGN. That should be enough to ignore.

If it means taking $20 off the price, Nintendo should scrap the feature. Everyone* already owns a DVD player of some fashion, so Nintendo isn’t really letting anyone down here. This might have been a different debate when the Dolphin was prepping for release, but today it’s not a loss.

*not including my grandmother, who is quite content with her VCR.

Super Paper Mario moving to Wii-only is disappointing but not that surprising. I'll buy it either way when it drops to $20 - $30. Having the "new-gen" Wii tag on it may help sales; after all, what percentage of GameCube owners WON'T have a Wii within the next year?

I wonder if they'd go the LoZ:TP route and release two discs?

No DVD playback out of the retail package has been known for months. I doubt Nintendo would withhold the dongle from being released to the public: they've already spent the money to get the ability in the console, why wouldn't they try to recoupe the cost? Unless the dongle comes with a disc to load the capability, Nintendo would be losing money by not releasing it.

DVD-playback would be a nice, but rarely used, feature. Obtaining or owning a DVD player is easy, and console playback options tend to be limited. Irregardless of how Nintendo handles it, I will never play a DVD movie in the Wii.

As for Matt Cass's credibility: look at his sources and track record. Anything that gets posted on IGN that doesn't have explicit **RUMOR** warnings has been backed up by numerous reliable sources. Anything that gets on Matt Cass's blog is less reliable because it's a blog, but I'd weigh his opinion heavier than the average gamer's because of his resources.

Wow, are you people living in a different reality?

DVD PLAYBACK HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED BY NINTENDO TO BE AN OPTIONAL ADD-ON, RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. REMEMBER?

Open your eyes and ears.

In the same mailbag, Casamassina also points to a blog post where he speculates that the Wii will not ship with previously-announced DVD-playback. The feature is not mentioned on Nintendo's official spec sheet for the system, and the Nintendo big wigs refused to answer Casamassina's questions about the issue.


There are alot of things not included with the website's specs. for an example. A web browser, whick we all know is in the works.

According to the WSJ, the Wii uses custom Nintendo discs and has an optional external DVD drive available. See http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-vgcomp0511.html

I don't think it really matters to me though, I am more interested in the game console aspect - have enough DVD players.

haha, a 12" optical disc is a LaserDisc. the PS3 should've resuscitated _that_ format.

@Arvind,

That's an inaccurate conclusion from a paper that doesn't specialize in video games.

The Wii slot loading drive accepts GC-formated mini-DVDs and Wii-formated dual-layer DVDs. The special formatting is used to reduce piracy, just like the XBOX has a specially-formated harddrive (XFAT).

The "optional external DVD" part comes from quotes from Nintendo stating that DVD-playback would be accessed through an external device, aka a dongle similar to the XBOX DVD attachment. The dongle could be made to be used on any port the Wii has: 4 GC controller ports, 2 GC memory card ports, or an SD slot. My guess? The dongle's an SD card that either is required to be inserted to play movie DVDs or switches a flag in the BIOS or internal memory that allows DVD-playback.

Let's keep repeating it until they get it.

DVD Playback has been optional right from the get-go. You pay extra if you want it and don't if you don't.

Why? Because most of us have five or six DVD players already and paying for yet another one is rather stupid when you already have a REAL one attached to Surround Sound in your home theatre, and if you call yourself a PC gamer at all, you probably have 5.1 surround on your gaming rig with a nice monitor and, obviously, a DVD-Rom / RW drive to play them. You didn't buy it for playing movies obviously, but you're not buying a video game console for that either, now are you?

DVD players cost about $10-$20. If you don't have one, go buy one sillyheads. Don't rely on video game consoles for that.

One last repeat in case people skim posts: DVD playback has always been optional right from the get-go.

It was always confirmed to be an add-on dongle..The "out of the box DVD playback" was nothing more than a rumor.

"ill-researched" is right.

the evidence of nintendos DVD-movie playback support is dated may 17, 2005. ok, thats all well and good.

the evidence of it being pulled out is from the official wii site. a site only a few months old.

so whats wrong with the research? on september 12, 2005 a guy by the name of Matt Casamassina (name sound familiar?) posted an article with the following bit of information:

Q: Will Revolution be able to play DVD movies?

A: Yes. However, DVD-movie playback will not be available out of the box. Revolution owners must buy an additional dongle that inserts in front of the machine in order to watch Hollywood DVD movies on the platform.

(http://cube.ign.com/articles/522/522559p2.html)

its right there. matt said it himself just shy of a year ago. he said back then that it wouldnt be included - so why suddenly get all freaked out when its somehow "missing" off of the specs list?

are you people serious?
You can get a DVD player in your cereal box now, or go to Futureshop they give them away with CD's and DVD's! They cost like $20 now and I live in Canada, that's like $1.50 US, if you don't have a DVD player or can't afford to send the postage from your cereal box cut-out to get one I feel seriously bad for you, I don't think this is your biggest problem at the moment.

Go go get a job you bum(s).

I don't own a stand-alone DVD player and have no intention of buying one. I've got room for one DVR and a Wiz... that's it, I was waiting and hoping to get a Wiz so that I could play some of these DVD's on something other than my MacBookPro. Fargin Nintendo

Fact: You can buy a DVD player for

Damn thing cut off my comments, so I'll type them all again.

Fact- you can get a DVD player for under $30
Fact- therefore the MPAA license must cost much less than $30
Fact- the Wii already includes all the hardware necessary to play DVDs

So don't tell me that Nintendo is doing this to save the consumer money. Save us what, like $5-$10 per console, gee thanks. BS, they are doing this to sell you a $30 dongle. And yes, I know the xbox did it, but that doesn't make it right.

^: Sell you the dongle if, as several people have already pointed out, *you want to play DVDs on the Wii*. You know, the *video game console*? Sheesh.

I was planning to just sell my Cube and buy a Wavebird for my Wii, so...meh. There were, what, five 'Cube exclusives this fall? Even THQ was making "The Ant Bully" for Wii. I can just play my old 'Cube games-and the ones I haven't played yet-as well as the Wii games.

bm you misunderstood me. There are plenty of good games that are out for the Gamecube and even though it was in a distant third this past generation I thought it was a good system, with a bunch of great titles. I plan on keeping a lot of my Cube games to play on the Wii when it comes out. There is a reason to keep an Xbox because not all games are backwards compatible. Keep a PS1 lying around in the house in case you want a CD player or something. I was just wondering if I should keep my Gamecube to hold out for future games. Now what I'll do is trade my Cube now, wait a couple of months to continue playing my Gamecube games, and then when I get a Wii continue playing something like Smash Bros.(at least until Brawl comes out). My point was with games such as Super Paper Mario coming out on the Gamecube approximately a month before the Wii launch there was a reason to keep it. Now there isn't.

It is fun to see the Nintendroids angrily defend themselves against a stupid, vapid criticism against their console.

You know, just to mix it up and all.

You folks are silly. From the beginning, Nintendo said that DVD playback would NOT come standard, and that an inexpensive dongle attachment would be available for those wishing to play DVDs.

If you don't have a DVD player by now, come on. I've seen them selling at grocery stores for 20 bucks!

wii will have dvd playback... it's *HOW* that should matter to you.

-"superfan" tactics.

actually, if I remember correctly Nintendo said way back when that DVD playback would only be available through some sort of small add-on device like the DVD Remote Kit on XBOX.

Over 80% of households with televisions in America own DVD players by now. By not including DVD playback, Nintendo isn't really hurting themselves at all. However, didn't they say way back that DVD playback would only be available through the purchase of some add-on device ala XBOX DVD Remote kit?

This Blows
My DVD player is on the fritz and i was hoping to replace it (and my GC) with the Wii. boo i'll be bummed if i still need another box in the ent ctr.
lame lame lame.

No DVD playback? Lame. And all you guys acting like it's no big deal, if I go back to that post about the PS3 having no HDMI cable included and find you complaining, well, let's just say you better have those droids on the south range by midday...

@ ill trooper,

This is a million times different than no HDMI cable for the PS3. Nintendo hasn't been shouting off the rooftops about this feature. Actually, they've said from the beginning that there would be a dongle. Nothing's changed.

This isn't lying.

DVD penetration is getting dangerously close to full (I just wanted to say that), but seriously, dvd playback is only slightly less useful than cd playback. It would be one thing if the wii could double as a portable dvd player, but, from personal experience, I have never used a game console as the primary or even secondary dvd player and I would think most people are verging on having too many dvd players, rather than too few.

Big reason to keep your gamecube, the wii will not support the gameboy player! The gameboy player is awesome therefore you must keep your cube!

@ 76

SnakeDanteCloud_HolyTrinity

What a non-retarded, un-gay name, unlike the "Wiitards waving their hands like fags". Oh wait, shut up. Have some respect, please?

@ Topic

In my house there's two computers, a laptop, 4 standalone DVD machines. Which means I have at least 7 devices that can play DVDs.

@ ILLTROOPER

But Sony's been crying from the mountains about High Definition, and you'll soon be paying $500 for a high definition machine that you can't enjoy to its fullest HD potential without even more spending, like the PS2 backwards compatability with memory cards on top of the HDMI support.

I guess announcing over a year ago that Wii would be fully compatible with GC's games, controllers and memory cards killed GC support. That's fine, if you want to interpret it that way.

Also, as Nintendo by large doesn't sell DVDs they lose nothing. I'm sorry if movie buffs aren't videogame buffs.

Otherwise, Super Paper Mario looks hot, GC or not.

Ah... "Million times different?" Only different if you're mad at Sony, in my books. To me, it's like this: "Another company not including something they should."

Sony never said they would include an HDMI cable either, but that caused a stir. For the record, you don't NEED a HDMI cable to use a PS3, just as you don't NEED a Wii to play DVDs... BUT It just seems so OBVIOUS, for cryin' out loud! The media is the same! Why make people pay for a dongle? WEAK. FOOT THE COST, Mario! Much of the same audience that wants to play Paper Mario or Pokemon is going to want to watch 'Cars' or 'The Incredibles.'

Yes, everyone already has a DVD player - but not everyone wants to switch inputs on their TV, and use another control. It's just EXPECTED these days to play DVDs. If the Wii is so goddam engaging and great, then why make me leave the wonderful expereince to watch a DVD? There is NO GOOD REASON (there may well be FINANCIAL reasons for Nintendo) not to include this inside the Wii box, despite of the arguments here on this page about 'Games Only' machines, "who needs it," "If you want DVD playback, BUY the dongle," etc.

It sucked when XBox made you do it and it sucks here too.

"I don't need a clock on my cell phone, I already wear a watch. DON'T MAke Meh PAY 4 a CLOCK!"

You're just defending a weak move from Nintendo, while lambasting weak moves from Sony. And, yes, I will be buying a Wii, as well as a PS3, to join my 360, so don't go there. You can be let down by something and STILL be a fan.

@whoever posted this: "Read between the lines" + "released for Wii" + "Oct. 9 release date" = Wii on 10/9? One can only hope.

i guess no one else picked up on this? seems to make sense. cross your fingers, oct release would be fantastic.

MetaHuman, yes, Sony cries HD as much as Microsoft does - and both machines use component cables to allow you to connect to your TV to play in HD.

The PS3, however, lets you opt to use an HDMI cable as another option for connection, for convenience as it includes audio and video in one connection cord. Neato.

...NOT to be confused with HDCP, the connection system that these companies (BlueRay, HD-DVD consortiums) want to start using over HDMI cables to force digital handshaking between player and television before allowing playback of a full digital signal. NOT scheduled for use until a few years from now.

First off, Nintendo never said it would play DVD movies out of the box. Goddamn this is getting out of hand. It will be an add on for later. Read the Nintendo FAQ or even the IGN Wii FAQ.

From the Wii specs

Media: A single self-loading media bay will play single- or double-layered 12-centimeter optical discs for Wii, as well as 8-centimeter Nintendo GameCube discs.

Last time I checked a DVD was 12cm - so it's highly likely that it will play DVD's (even if only software rendered).

Don't care too much about dvd playback, that's not much of an issue for most people. But Super Paper Mario, been waiting for that for a very long time! Loved the artwork on the Paper Marios, wasn't too much into the rpg elements. Good call.

Suggestion for Toothy-- My PS2 did the same thing with the Parental Control, but I never set any controls. Try entering 4 zero's as the password... that's what mine was. I really hope the Wii can play DVD's even if you have to pay extra for it. I just don't have enough A/V inputs on my TV to plug in more than one thing since I also have a DVR from my cable company that doesn't support input from anything except a VCR, which is stupid. Anything hear anything new on the subject?