Article: Wii wins the release race

[Necromancer]

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/WiiPlaysToNintendoStrength.aspx

Not exactly surprising news, but an interesting read anyway.  I'm didn't realize that the Wii outsold the 360 during respective launch months.  I hope the "cutting-edge disk technology" comment wasn't meant to apply to the 360, but then again it is advanced enough to actually play DVD movies.  Why in the hell didn't Nintendo give the Wii that ability?  I know everybody already has a DVD player, but I wouldn't mind freeing up some space.

[FM-77]

They didn't include a DVD player because they're cheap. Doing so would cost them some licensing money for each sold console.

[Keranu]

They didn't include a DVD player because they're cheap. Doing so would cost them some licensing money for each sold console.

Exactly. And personally, I think adding DVD support to consoles now is basically a waste of money since they're so common these days. I think it would've been nicer for the Gamecube to have DVD support instead since it was cooler back then.

[Necromancer]

Yeah, I knew that they would save the licensing fee, but how much can that really be?  If Walmart can sell a DVD player for $20, it can't be all that much.  Nintendo could have required a remote to play DVDs and include the license fee in the cost of the remote.  I'd rather have that than not have the option to play movies at all.  It's no big deal, I already have a DVD player anyway, but I also have enough crap cluttering up the entertainment center and wouldn't mind consolidating.  Oh well, they did say that they were working with Sonic to maybe add playback later.

[FM-77]

Exactly. Later. They're cheap, they want to sell the DVD player software seperately.

[Black Tiger]

There may be plans for a company like Panasonic to release a super duper dvd playing Wii with built in component out or something.

[Keranu]

Actually I've heard a few times that they are releasing a seperate Wii that will play DVDs. If Nintendo wants to make a few extra bucks, let them go for it (hell it's a good way to make even more money). I could care less if a console these days has DVD support or not.

[Dark Fact]

I don't personally see the reason why Nintendo should resort to using DVD support for their Wiis.  If people want a gaming system that can play their DVDs, they can go and get themselves an XBOX.  For the record, the original XBOX, despite its mass appearance, is a very good DVD player.  My anime club used it all the time when we were having our meetings a few years ago.  Besides, Nintendo wants to be looked at as a gaming company, not an all-in-one multimedia center company. 

[Keranu]

There is this awesome Phillips DVD player my bro bought that can play Divx files too. Best DVD player I've ever used. Michael Helgeson, I believe you said your friend Eric had one of these too.

[FM-77]

I don't personally see the reason why Nintendo should resort to using DVD support for their Wiis.  If people want a gaming system that can play their DVDs, they can go and get themselves an XBOX.

Yeah. That's Nintendo's intention. Don't want a Wii because it cannot play DVDs? Get an Xbox. You know, from Microsoft. They rule, we love them.

[Michael Helgeson]

There is this awesome Phillips DVD player my bro bought that can play Divx files too. Best DVD player I've ever used. Michael Helgeson, I believe you said your friend Eric had one of these too.

Yea he does. Philips and some other makers now sell ones that are Divx Ultra capable. You can hook up a external hard drive to them by USB 2.0 ports and run your movies off the hard drive. I still have not bothered to buy any of these players. I have a RCA DVD player that I have set to region free,and I use it every now and then. Mostly I play movies off of my pc.

[Necromancer]

Wow - Some people are a little defensive of the Wii.  Thank god it's only good for playing games.  Why would I want to look at pics, play movies, listen to music, go shopping, check the weather, surf the internet, check the news, or create avatars?  Oh wait, I can do all these things with my Wii.  I guess I was crazy wanting to be able to play movies off of a DVD and not just a SD. 

PS - If I wanted an xbox, I would buy an xbox.  You know, from Microsoft - 'cause I love 'em. 

[GUTS]

Yeah don't say anything bad about the Wii, its the savior of gaming!  The video game industry was in such dire straits before an underpowered gimmick-box whose only selling point is more sequels but this time with motion control came along to save it!

[esteban]

Yeah don't say anything bad about the Wii, its the savior of gaming!  The video game industry was in such dire straits before an underpowered gimmick-box whose only selling point is more sequels but this time with motion control came along to save it!

Dude, if Nintendo was savvy, they will re-release lots of VC games with a *NEW* Wiimote control scheme. Just think, you could use the Wiimote and Nunchuk during exhilerating bouts of Urban Champion. Awesome.

Yes, folks would have to re-purchase the updated VC versions. In fact, Nintendo should charge a premium price!

[GUTS]

Maybe they'll release those at the same time this year when they release the NEW IMPROVED, SMALLER Wii system so everyone has to buy one again.