Wii not supporting DVD playback

by Blake Snow { Sep 14th 2006 at 1:00PM }

While the official Wii press release today made no mention of DVD, Nintendo VP of marketing has confirmed to IGN that Wii will not include DVD playback. From the article: "Nintendo of America's vice president of marketing and corporate affairs, Perrin Kaplan, confirmed to IGN Wii today that its forthcoming Wii console will not play Hollywood DVD movies. The decision to remove the functionality was made in order to deliver the machine at a cheaper cost and because most people today already own DVD players."

You mean to tell me I finally have to buckle down and buy a DVD player?

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Tony @ Sep 14th 2006 1:03PM

If this was Sony that wasn't including DVD playback, you guys would be infuriated.

McWeen @ Sep 14th 2006 1:04PM

BFD

Jibaro009 @ Sep 14th 2006 1:04PM

Yes you do. Send me you pay-pal account if you need 20 bucks to buy one. :O)

Samuel McConnell @ Sep 14th 2006 2:00PM

No, you don't, because you have a PC, a PS2, an X-Box, and an X-Box 360.

TSHBO!! @ Sep 14th 2006 1:47PM

The Wii is a joke.

Chris @ Sep 14th 2006 3:36PM

I'm glad. That whole feature just made nintendo look like they showed up late to the party. This other stuff with the channels is amazing.

GlitchCog @ Sep 14th 2006 1:29PM

Good. I have a DVD player for playing DVDs.

jc @ Sep 14th 2006 1:08PM

I was not surprised by the 'somewhat' high price, nor surprised by the 'somewhat' late release date... but not allowing dvd playback does surprise me.

I think they dropped the ball on this one.

Martin A. @ Sep 14th 2006 1:05PM

I doubt they would be infuriated at this point. As the post indicates, most people today have a standalone DVD player. And if you don't, go pick up a TruTech player at Target for $30.00.

This announcement deters my decision to own a Wii on day one not one iota.

Jecrell @ Sep 14th 2006 1:05PM

STILL no DVD playback?!
Why must Nintendo hate the DVDs? =O

cringer8 @ Sep 14th 2006 1:05PM

lol @ "finally buckle down"

If you don't have a DVD player yet, I doubt you were waiting for the Wii to have one.

CannedPasta @ Sep 14th 2006 1:06PM

I have no problems with this... I'm not going to use a game system for DVD playback anyway, that's what my 5 disk DVD player is for.

Flit @ Sep 14th 2006 1:07PM

#1..

No, the gamecube got slammed for not having it 6 years ago, when most people didn't have dvd players. The ps2 was the first dvd player most people had, gave parents a reason to buy it. Now, not so much, since dvd players are as cheap as $20. I don't use my ps2 or xbox dvd player because they SUCK. I imagine the same will hold for the x360 and ps3 (when i get them, if i get them). Who would really use a wii for dvd playback?

McWeen @ Sep 14th 2006 1:08PM

"If this was Sony that wasn't including DVD playback, you guys would be infuriated.

Posted at 1:02PM on Sep 14th 2006 by Tony "

I seriously wish the PS3 didn't have blue ray support so I could afford one.

darryl @ Sep 14th 2006 1:08PM

Lame. Like seriously how hard, or how much more would it be to incorporate. At $250, I should be able to watch a DVD on it.

JodyAnthony @ Sep 14th 2006 1:08PM

this would of been a big deal 5 years ago, but with dvd players being so cheap now, whats the point?

Rampt @ Sep 14th 2006 1:08PM

I didn't even hear about this supposed DVD playback until today..I use my 30 dollar region free DVD player for that. 8D

Fa1kor @ Sep 14th 2006 1:08PM

As a Nintendo Fanboy, I am a little let down with the no DVD playback, especially because my DVD player just died. I'll take the 20 bucks.

Tony @ Sep 14th 2006 1:09PM

I don't have a problem with Wii not having DVD playback, but I'm just saying that if this was Sony instead of Nintendo, Joystiq would have blasted them for it, seeing how they love to attack Sony for every little thing that comes up.

Don't peg me as a fanboy, because I am excited for the Wii as well, and may even get one on the launch day. However, I also see that the PS3 will be a fine machine as well.

jack thompson @ Sep 14th 2006 1:09PM

KISS THE VIOLENT VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY BYE-BYE:

Immediate News Release – 9/14/06

Montreal School Shooter Trained for Massacre on Two Violent Video Games

Dawson College student Kimveer Gill apparently literally trained on his two favorite murder simulation video games to go on his college shooting spree, just as did Klebold and Harris at Columbine High.

The two games, according to Gill’s own web site, are Postal and Super Columbine Massacre.

Miami attorney and anti-violent video game activist over a year ago challenged the maker of Postal, Vince Desi at Running with Scissors in Tucson, Arizona, to publicly debate whether or not his company should continue marketing Postal. Thompson predicted that it might lead to a mass killing, as a mass knife assault in Russia had been linked to Postal. Desi refused. Desi is now likely to have his company named in a wrongful death action in Canada: http://www.totalvideogames.com/news/Jack_Thompson_Double_Dare_You_9141_2629_0.htm

Even more remarkably, Thompson last year appeared on CBS’s 60 Minutes regarding a wrongful death case that he and his co-counsel filed in Alabama on behalf of the families of three cops slain by a teen who trained on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City to kill. The video game training of the Alabama killer became known when he was quoted as saying: “Life is like a video game. You have to die sometime.” Kimveer Gill, the Montreal massacrist, is quoted saying precisely the same thing, while enthusing about his play on violent video games:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060914/gill_profile_060914/20060914?hub=Canada

The massacre in Montreal is simply the latest tragedy of mass killing linked to violent virtual reality murder simulators. The worst is yet to come. Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., is set to release on October 17 the game Bully, which in every sense is a Columbine simulator.

CONTACT Jack Thompson at 305-666-4366.

cringer8 @ Sep 14th 2006 1:09PM

@ Tony

I would be upset with Sony if they made me pay extra for the BluRay technology and it didn't even play BluRay movies. BluRay players cost $1000, so it's not something *everyone* can go out and buy. A DVD player on the other hand...well, you get the picture.

J.Goodwin @ Sep 14th 2006 1:10PM

Quite, a DVD player is now less expensive than a Wii Remote control.

In fact, if you buy the remote and the nunchuk, you could buy two DVD players. One for yourself and one for a friend ;D

Delive @ Sep 14th 2006 1:10PM

Nintendo dropping functionality to save cost? Sony did that first! Who is copying now.

reguy @ Sep 14th 2006 1:11PM

captain obvious says they did this to keep their cost down and profits at max. when the oil companies screw us over we hate them yet all the nin fanboys will come in here and say its not a big deal.

nintendo you can make profits out of anything but to me you are nothing but a greedy bitch. how come you guys hate ea but not nintendo? why do they get a pass?
F*ck you nintendo

Koekoenutt @ Sep 14th 2006 1:14PM

If you want to pay for licenses and make the system cost more just to play DVDs, which Im sure everyone has at least a DVD player or a PS2/XBox from last generation. Why pay $30-$50 more for DVD Licensing when you can goto Target/Walmart for a $20-$30 DVD player? Not stupid if you ask me.

Dakara @ Sep 14th 2006 1:13PM

If Sony Dropped blu-ray to save cost...I just might buy a PS3.

jc @ Sep 14th 2006 1:13PM

I was wondering if Jack Thompson was going to jump on the latest killings in Montreal. (you suck, you ambulance chasing, morally deplete soul sucking asshole).

Why doesn't he go after the gun manufactures with the same zeal? Guns kill people, not games.

azesino @ Sep 14th 2006 1:13PM

IAM MAD...

NO DVD PLAYBACK

NO DOLBY DIGITAL SOUND

NO MORE THAN 480P

cringer8 @ Sep 14th 2006 1:14PM

Please delete post #16. Not only is it off topic, but it's full of lies.

mandarin @ Sep 14th 2006 1:15PM

Jack isnt your movie coming out this week?

DBX00 @ Sep 14th 2006 1:17PM

Joystiq is definitely as biased as possible. DVD playback would be additional costs, but on the other end your saying that a standalone DVD player is $30.00. So basically, a $30 device can do something that the Wii at $250 can not accomplish? DVD is basic functionality these days, so it should DEFINITELY be included within the Wii.

All I ask is that Joystiq be a little critical when bad news is released for Nintendo, just like they are ready to attack anything Sony or Microsoft. Give me a break guys.

Dracula Jones @ Sep 14th 2006 1:15PM

Jack Thompson is just angry that Wii won't include DVD playback. He's destroying his hotel room as we speak. JACK SMASH!!

1up_clock @ Sep 14th 2006 1:16PM

Why do people see this as a bad thing? If it did have DVD playback, your idiot roommate would be watching his box set of Friends while you just sit there and stare at your copy of Twilight Princess.

Anthony D @ Sep 14th 2006 1:17PM

The DVD playback is not a big deal, then again, I am not getting the Wii (maybe down the road, if they lose the cartoony look of the sports games) and Sony can kiss my A-hole, $600, yeah ok, good riddance PS3.

NHL 07, enough said.

Kworn @ Sep 14th 2006 1:17PM

#22

Guns dont kill people Rappers do!

Doh

Toneman @ Sep 14th 2006 1:17PM

zOMG!!!!1!!1 No DVD player?!?!? That pisses me off because I can't use my PS2, Xbox 360, PC, or standalone DVD player to do that.

redjack @ Sep 14th 2006 1:18PM

Using videogame systems to play DVDs has always annoyed the hell outta me. I'm all about their reasoning on the decision. And it blows me away that so many people are disappointed by this.

I have a DVD player and a DVD player/burner in my computer. Its just ridiculous to have another. I don't even know anyone who uses their game consoles as DVD players. Cause they suck.

AK @ Sep 14th 2006 1:20PM

Fuck off Jack Thompson.
Find another website for your own personal crusade. Everything you try and pass gets shot down for being unconstitutional anyways.

Anyways, I am a little disappointed that there won't be dvd playback on the wii. I know dvd players are cheap, but that just means one more thing i have to plug into the back of my tv.

Todd @ Sep 14th 2006 1:19PM

Ooh, doesn't play back DVDs... big fucking deal. I already own a DVD player. Chances are if someone doesn't already own one, then they at least own a PS1, PS2, Xbox, or 360 by now.

bv @ Sep 14th 2006 1:19PM

jack thompson-
How dare you try to one-up the tragedy at hand with a news post of your own. Have you no heart for wii consumers? Think of the children who will be forced to buy cyberhome dvd players at best buy in order to make use of the Yu-Gi-Oh - The Complete First Season their granparents bought them. You sir have no heart and I hope you recognize how callous and insincere your comments have been.

jeremiah @ Sep 14th 2006 3:02PM

are you kidding?!
honestly who was sitting at home praying that the wii would have dvd playback?it doesn't matter one bit. if you don't have a dvd player by now you must be still hooked on that betamax. I hear its going to do wonders! Why would anyone care this much about not being able to play a dvd on Wii. They said from the beginning its a gaming device and they're not trying to do anything more. If anything they dropped the ball by having photos and all that garbage on it. Besides, if your precious sony gets their way there won't be any more dvd's any more anyways...just that awesome BOO ray...

jules @ Sep 14th 2006 1:20PM

Yeah DVD playback is not important nowadays. The good thing though is that the picture channel did show video clips. Which means that you'll probably still be able to watch Lost and all those downloaded tv shows on there.

if you complain about no dvd playback then you're an idiot!

Tad @ Sep 14th 2006 1:22PM

I gotta say that I'm dissapointed, too. Yes, I understand they saved a few bucks, yes, I understand that most people have DVD players. but consider this:

This morning the Nintendo execs advertised using Nintendo's Opera browser to look up movie star names while you're watching the movie on TV (on commercial break or something). Well, it would be SO much cooler if my Wii played DVDs... pause the movie, press home button, go to imdb.com, find info, press home button, go to dvd channel, and bam resume movie.

Plus, I was hoping to move my current dvd player to my bedroom. Can't do that now. Is the Wii supposed to be the center of entertainment in my living room or what???

EP @ Sep 14th 2006 1:22PM

"yet all the nin fanboys will come in here and say its not a big deal"

It is not a big deal. Not even on the freakin' radar. I have a home theater system. I'm sure everyone already have a DVD player. You probably have one too, don't lie. What the hell is the point of having another DVD player? It keeps costs down, which is a plus for the 90%+ that already own a DVD player. IMHO.

WizarDru @ Sep 14th 2006 1:23PM

"captain obvious says they did this to keep their cost down and profits at max. when the oil companies screw us over we hate them yet all the nin fanboys will come in here and say its not a big deal."

Yes, DAMN THEM! They should be making the Wii out of pixie dust and candy drops because a unicorn asked them to, not because they're a large game company that consistently turns a profit for their investors. HOW DARE THEY try to make a PROFIT! The CHARLATANS!

And you're right; I certainly equate self-interested global concerns that reinforce corrupt political regimes in third world nations, ignore or cover-up the environmental impacts of their business and actively work to adversely affect a variety of industries and competitors to a company that decided not to put a DVD player in a video-game console.

Because remember kids, five years of R&D cost absolutely nothing and doesn't have to be off-set or deferred, nor do marketing, shipping or production costs. How much could it cost, indeed.

Sub @ Sep 14th 2006 1:24PM

Uh.. Who the hell cares? I own 4 DVD players and I'm sure the majority of the people buying the Wii own atleast one.

theburn16 @ Sep 14th 2006 1:25PM

OMG! nintendo had to take something out of their console...they lied! where are all the people bashing them for not being able to fit everything in their console??????? oh yeah, it's not sony...my bad

Jon @ Sep 14th 2006 1:24PM

Why is it so expensive? It is not HD, only 480p, only has analogue out, no Dolby, and did you see the bowling graphics? This is the emperor's new clothes. A new controller set up that everybody thinks is amazing when the tech they are using for this is already obsolete, like yesterday.