Wii component cables online now, in stores Dec 5 [update 2]
by Ross Miller 
{ Nov 15th 2006 at 2:30PM }
The Wii component cables are now available through Nintendo's online store for $29.99. If you want them by launch day, that's an extra $13 in shipping, bringing the grand total to $43 for high-definition Wii from day one. According to Nintendo's automated phone line recordings, component cables will not come until the second week of December. GameStop.com lists the cables as arriving December 5. The $60 "HD Premium" component cables from MadCatz are coming out until December 1.It was just last week that Nintendo of America's Perrin Kaplan confirmed that Wii component cables will be available on launch day at retail chains, specifically citing Best Buy and GameStop as examples. Ironically, this confirmation came after she remarked that she had misspoke when announcing Wii would be region-free (turns out, that's about as far from the truth as possible).
If you absolutely need Wii in 480p from day one, order now. Otherwise, wait it out or select the cheapest shipping option.
[Via Skeptical Gaming]
[Update 1: clarified how we got the December 5 retail date.]
[Update 2: Just a heads up, many people are reporting the cables are now back ordered, rendering it not likely to arrive on launch day. Be careful when ordering.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Eric Von Shpeel @ Nov 15th 2006 2:33PM
480p is not high definition
melcrose @ Nov 15th 2006 2:35PM
Once again, Perrin proves to be a completely worthless piece of C R A P regarding information.
No big deal, it's not like it's her JOB or anything..
Oh, wait..
Reggie has to be hittin' it, otherwise that idiot would have been out a long time ago.
JodyAnthony @ Nov 15th 2006 2:36PM
hahaha @ #1, Eric
I was coming in here to say "I wonder how long it'll be before someone points out how it's not Hi-def"
Eric, you truly are a nerd.
BlindsideDork @ Nov 15th 2006 2:38PM
Only bad thing is...unless they send it to you the day before you can't get it on launch. There is no mail on Sunday...unless I am missing something here.
JodyAnthony @ Nov 15th 2006 2:38PM
ps, I mean that in the nicest way. nothing wrong with being nerdy.
vidGuy @ Nov 15th 2006 2:42PM
"Wii component cables will not be available in retail stores until December 5."
My local Best Buy has shelf space reserved for the component cables, right next to the remote and nunchuk accessories. It appears that they may be stocking it early, like, tommorow, according to one store rep.
The Radical Cleric @ Nov 15th 2006 2:42PM
Umm, did anyone actually find them on the website? Also, are GameCube compnent video cables compatible with the Wii?
Lorben @ Nov 15th 2006 2:43PM
"Also, are GameCube compnent video cables compatible with the Wii?"
No, the Wii uses a new kind of plug. the cables you've been able to use on the SNES, N64 and Gamecube won't work on the Wii.
Todd @ Nov 15th 2006 2:52PM
Uh, at no point during this article does it say that 480p IS high definition, merely that the "HD Premium" component cables will be available at some point.
Bradford @ Nov 15th 2006 2:45PM
They started taking phone orders on these last night, and I ordered mine online early this morning. Now they're being reported as being sold out. And the dick heads who point out that 480P is not high def need to see the difference between 480I and 480P; it's a much larger gap than say 480P and 720P or 720p and 1080I.
Jason @ Nov 15th 2006 2:48PM
you can UPS 2 day them and they'll get there before launch. Also #6, this is the first version of a nintendo console that won't use the standard composite a/v cables that were used on every console since the snes.
Badtz @ Nov 15th 2006 2:48PM
Why announce this on Wednesday before launch? How about last Wednesday, so maybe some of us could actually buy the things and have them shipped in on time?
Max Fischer @ Nov 15th 2006 2:48PM
Already shipping. Got the cheaper method, though. Composite cables will do for now..
Bradford @ Nov 15th 2006 2:48PM
you have to go to store.nintendo.com/componentvideocables it is not accessible through the main web page on the Store's site.
jc @ Nov 15th 2006 2:48PM
...haha, 'MadCatz' and 'premium' in the same sentence. Thanks for the laugh.
Paul P. @ Nov 15th 2006 2:49PM
Where have you seen reports of being sold out Brad?
> @ Nov 15th 2006 2:50PM
This is nuts..
Wii + Component Cable = $293
XBOX 360 Core (with component cables) = $299
Anyone else see a problem here?
Max Fischer @ Nov 15th 2006 2:50PM
"Why announce this on Wednesday before launch? How about last Wednesday, so maybe some of us could actually buy the things and have them shipped in on time?"
Who knows! What a fucking brainteaser.
Bradford @ Nov 15th 2006 2:51PM
http://gonintendo.com/?p=8623
read the comments from the other guys who ordered them this afternoon
Jared @ Nov 15th 2006 2:53PM
"Anyone else see a problem here?"
No extended warranty tacked on the 360's price?
Senshida @ Nov 15th 2006 2:56PM
@16 >
No one buys the core system. :P
tenaku @ Nov 15th 2006 2:59PM
"Wii component cables will not be available in retail stores until December 5."
Umm... when/where did this info come from? Source please.
BlindsideDork @ Nov 15th 2006 2:58PM
#16
The core doesn't come with COMPONENT cables. It comes with COMPOSITE cables. BIG difference.
R2P2 @ Nov 15th 2006 2:57PM
#16 - $293 gets you a Wii with component cables, a wireless controller and a game. $299 gets you a 360 with COMPOSITE cables, a wired controller, and no game.
Marc Butler @ Nov 15th 2006 2:58PM
This isn't about 480p, its really about the best picture quality. I don't know about you guys, but S-Video/Composite sure looks ugly to me after getting used to Component on my Cube and 360. Maybe I'm just too picky (my TV before last HAD to have S-Video or I wouldn't buy it), but I expect the best quality connection I can get.
stag @ Nov 15th 2006 2:59PM
to #8 & #14
umm...to those of you who never used component cables on the GC, you probably don't realize that they had a different plug-in on the back than the composite cables. now, i'm not saying that the GC component cables ARE wii-compatible, but if they aren't, it's definitely not because the wii doesn't have an SNES video-out
Ken Edwards @ Nov 15th 2006 2:59PM
@17
Sorry, but the Core comes with Composite AV Cable, not Component HD AV Cable.
JodyAnthony @ Nov 15th 2006 2:59PM
>, you don't need the component cables for wii?
nambit @ Nov 15th 2006 3:10PM
mr #16: The 360 core doesn't come with component cables. (nor wifi, or any game packed in for that matter). Get your facts straight.
Anyhow, for those ordering (like myself), get ground shipping. It's way cheaper and is just as fast. It cost me a total of $45.53 Canadian (gst included).
C-Dub @ Nov 15th 2006 3:00PM
Technically 480p is high definition. So is 720p and 1080i. 480i is NTSC.
"Look it up"
Jared @ Nov 15th 2006 3:00PM
That Skeptical Gaming is actually a pretty good blog. Ace link, Joystiq.
number40one @ Nov 15th 2006 3:02PM
@ 19
Yes, the post does say "high-definition Wii."
Pete C @ Nov 15th 2006 3:03PM
Um, yes it did:
"If you want them by launch day, that's an extra $13 in shipping, bringing the grand total to $43 for high-definition Wii from day one."
Sounds like he said Wii is high-definition to me.
480p is technically labeled ED: Enhanced Definition, back when they were selling TVs that were "progressive scan". To say there isn't a big jump from 480p to HD is f-ing stupid. If you can't see a big difference between the Xbox and the Xbox 360, you need to get your eyes checked.
Knoxximus @ Nov 15th 2006 3:09PM
480p is ENHANCED definition TV (EDTV). Look THAT up.
boost @ Nov 15th 2006 3:05PM
Well there goes an extra $38.80 I just paid for the Wii. The Xbox 360 was $399, but it came with HD cables!!! This Wii is costing me way more than I thought it was going too, but then again with Zelda and Metriod I don't really have a choice. I sure better have these cables by Monday.
Pete C @ Nov 15th 2006 3:05PM
#29, you are wrong. 480p is ED, not HD. "Look it up"
> @ Nov 15th 2006 3:06PM
OK .. my bad.. but:
360 Core (w/ composite) >>>>> Wii + Component cables
.. for 7 bucks more, or the price of a pint of import beer
jc @ Nov 15th 2006 3:08PM
480p is EDTV look it up... here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDTV
Jared @ Nov 15th 2006 3:09PM
"360 Core (w/ composite) >>>>> Wii + Component cables"
Your point. Where's it gone?
JodyAnthony @ Nov 15th 2006 3:09PM
>, so? it's $7 more. Do you honestly think that is going to stop anyone that wants Wii from getting it? I don't understand what your point is. If someone is paying $250 for Wii, it is because they want it. I know I am, and I do. Probably not as much as you want ps3, but still, I want it.
bill pullman @ Nov 15th 2006 3:11PM
"If you can't see a big difference between the Xbox and the Xbox 360, you need to get your eyes checked."
did you forget that the original XBox supports high definition, and has various titles in 720p? 'cause in that case, no you can't see a big difference, in regards to resolution.
Bradford @ Nov 15th 2006 3:13PM
@32 You can't say look at the jump between xbox and xbo360 because it's 2 different consoles. Take you 360 and put it on 480P, then change it to 720P; it's a big jump, but the jump from 480I to 480P is twice, if not 3 times larger in size.
Dracula Jones @ Nov 15th 2006 3:14PM
Son of a... on the phone with Nintendo now to find out about the order I just placed. God damn November 25th is when they're shipping backorders.
Get it together, Nintendo! This is ridiculous! Maybe now they'll understand the demand for HD... too late!
Bradford @ Nov 15th 2006 3:15PM
@43 what does your oder say when you check it online?
Ralph @ Nov 15th 2006 3:25PM
Just ordered mine! I didn't pre-order a Wii so I'm not very worried about when the cables arrive. I doubt I'll be hooking one up before December 1.
Steve @ Nov 15th 2006 3:21PM
I just called Nintendo myself and the recording said that the cables would be in the store between early and mid December! What the hell's going on with Nintendo? This is unacceptable and is total BS. I agree with what another poster said; their new "graphics are meaningless" attitude is really getting old. I'm surprised the system even support composite video when they could have just hooked up an RF cable to the back of the system. They probably could have saved even more pennies by making the system black and white or, hell, even monochrome like some damn LCD watch.
Dracula Jones @ Nov 15th 2006 3:21PM
@44. Backordered. Just got off the phone. The rep said "no promises" but they're trying to reallocate units from another warehouse to fulfill these orders and should (should!) be shipped before the 19th even if it says backordered. Ordering past this point, though, and the chances would be slimmer and slimmer of getting one, I imagine.
The Wise old Man @ Nov 15th 2006 3:23PM
If I hook up the regular wii VGA cables to my 16:9 widescreen, will the image be 16:9 widescreen, or just 4:3?
jc @ Nov 15th 2006 3:24PM
Bradford, I don't buy that dude.
480i to 480p has an increase of 19200 pixels.
480p to 720p has an increase of 902400 pixels.
Go back and look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDTV and see the 'Common Resolution' diagram... 480i to 480p has no increase in size where 480p to 720p increases more than double.
Badtz @ Nov 15th 2006 3:29PM
Max Fischer:
Was that supposed to be an insult?