26 replies to this topic

[jimreaper69]

Why oh why hasn't Nintendo implemented DVD playback on this console,it would be great if it did as it would mean i would not need my DVD player under my TV and would free up a bit of room.
Come on Ninty sort this please

[Gamejunkie]

Why oh why hasn't Nintendo implemented DVD playback on this console,it would be great if it did as it would mean i would not need my DVD player under my TV and would free up a bit of room.
Come on Ninty sort this please

They didn't have DVD playback on the Wii and they don't have it on the Wii U. It's also not going to happen so telling Nintendo to sort it especially when they are not going to read your thread here anyway is just pointless. To include DVD playback would mean paying the DVD consortium a licensing fee for every Wii U sold and that cost will either have to cut into Nintendo's profits or be passed on to the consumer. This is not going to happen.

Edited by Gamejunkie, 12 December 2012 - 10:44 AM.

[Nollog]

Because of royalties.

[flowerlandfilms]

I thought, back in the wii days that if they sold an app on the eshop for like 20 dollars, they would only have to pay a fee for each person who buys it.
And they could take it out of the cost of the app.
But maybe that's not how the legal stuff works.

[Etkar]

But what's the point? Everybody has a DVD player in their room, don't they? Well, if you don't, just go get yourself one. It's only 10$. >_>

[Alex Atkin UK]

It may be more complicated that just an app, as the optical drive may not have the firmware to read normal DVDs.

It makes sense to omit anything standard, it makes piracy that bit harder.

I mean sure, it would be awesome if they could just sell an app on the store to play DVDs or even Bluray. But I suspect the risk both of opening up potential bugs that could lead to piracy, and the fact they may never make their money back on the cost of developing the software, is just too much for Nintendo to risk it.

After all, it doesn't stream from DLNA servers or play AVIs, MOV or MKVs from SD or USB storage either. Some of those things wouldn't even need licensing fees, but why bother adding stuff which both costs more to do AND opens up more avenues for hackers to break into the console and enable piracy?

[9646gt]

I hate watching DVD quality videos honestly. I would much rather consoles be able to play videos saved to a USB hdd
Or even a network share

[Hunter]

it wouldve been cool if they had a blu ray player but it would make the console more expensive. Plus i already have a blu ray player so im not bothered

[Lebon14]

Personally, I don't think it's something that I miss terribly. If I want to watch a DVD or a blu-ray, I'll use my computer for that. Or watch the DVD on the SDTV in the living room and the blu-ray in my dad's PS3 (if it interesses him though...). WiiU doesn't need that sort of thing imo.

[cannonshane]

Why doesn't it cook toast for me in the mornings. Or rub my back at night. Oh that's right it was built to play games. That might come across as mean but the more features people constantly want will eventually kill the console. Because they will just end up like PC's in the feature

[jimreaper69]

I see what your all saying and i agree but it would mean it could be one less thing under your TV and i dont know about you but my TV Cabinet is getting pretty full lol anyhoo it was just a thought

[Gamejunkie]

I see what your all saying and i agree but it would mean it could be one less thing under your TV and i dont know about you but my TV Cabinet is getting pretty full lol anyhoo it was just a thought

It's not a problem for me as my PS3, Xbox 360, Mac Mini and HD-DVD player all play DVD's. I don't even have a regular DVD player anymore.

[TomBollandLTD]

But what's the point? Everybody has a DVD player in their room, don't they? Well, if you don't, just go get yourself one. It's only 10$. >_>

because this?

[tubagodd]

The reason why there was no DVD playback for the Wii was because the optical drive spins backwards compared to all other optical drives on the market. The homebrew channel actually allowed it but making the optical drive spin opposite really killed it and was super rough. I imagine they done the same with the Wii U

[Desert Punk]

The reason why there was no DVD playback for the Wii was because the optical drive spins backwards compared to all other optical drives on the market. The homebrew channel actually allowed it but making the optical drive spin opposite really killed it and was super rough. I imagine they done the same with the Wii U

That was never true, the wii discs spin the same way as other consoles as do the wii u discs. The motor is only designed to spin one way its not like it has to reverse to do reverse picture search etc.

Its highly sensible not to provide DVD playback as the wii u drive will be expensive to replace and why wear it out on dvd discs when a cheap £15 dvd player will do that job or another console etc. I would also like to see a feature like 360 where you can store your games on a external hard drive. However admittedly this isn't as important on wii u as the wii u has a faster optical drive, more main memory and a slow usb 2.0 interface for external hard drives.

[Alex Atkin UK]

However that slow USB interface is still slightly faster than the optical drive and the IO should certainly be quicker. So yeah, it would be nice if you could install games so the console can spin down the optical drive after the game has verified the copy protection.

At this point I would settle for the optical drive spinning down when the game isn't running though. Its annoying having to eject the disc if I want to watch LoveFilm/Netflix because the noise is irritating.

Its frustrating how the Wii U seems to have all the worst qualities of the PS3 and none of the good qualities.

Edited by Alex Atkin UK, 14 December 2012 - 01:26 PM.

[tubagodd]

That was never true, the wii discs spin the same way as other consoles as do the wii u discs. The motor is only designed to spin one way its not like it has to reverse to do reverse picture search etc.

Its highly sensible not to provide DVD playback as the wii u drive will be expensive to replace and why wear it out on dvd discs when a cheap £15 dvd player will do that job or another console etc. I would also like to see a feature like 360 where you can store your games on a external hard drive. However admittedly this isn't as important on wii u as the wii u has a faster optical drive, more main memory and a slow usb 2.0 interface for external hard drives.

Eh I remember reading that years ago never looked much into it to see if it was true.Glad to know now
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[Desert Punk]

However that slow USB interface is still slightly faster than the optical drive and the IO should certainly be quicker. So yeah, it would be nice if you could install games so the console can spin down the optical drive after the game has verified the copy protection.

At this point I would settle for the optical drive spinning down when the game isn't running though. Its annoying having to eject the disc if I want to watch LoveFilm/Netflix because the noise is irritating.

Its frustrating how the Wii U seems to have all the worst qualities of the PS3 and none of the good qualities.

I don't understand why the wii u does that. Seems like something that has been overlooked and will be fixed in a later firmware. The motor will generate extra heat and a small amount of power is wasted.

[DMagoo24]

I was shocked that it doesn't play DVDs... honestly, I don't have a dvd player, I always used my consoles since playstation2...

...eh, if it saved us a couple bucks that's fine... we have a dvd player laying around somewhere... shoot, wal-mart sells blu-ray players for as low as $50...

[Gamejunkie]

I was shocked that it doesn't play DVDs... honestly, I don't have a dvd player, I always used my consoles since playstation2...
...eh, if it saved us a couple bucks that's fine... we have a dvd player laying around somewhere... shoot, wal-mart sells blu-ray players for as low as $50...

I remember with the original Xbox the DVD functionality was included but required you to buy an optional remote to actually use it. Buying the remote meant you were paying the DVD consortium's licensing fee. I think the remote cost £20 here and the cost probably included the licensing fee, manufacturing cost and some profit as well. I suspect though that the licensing fee was more then just a couple of pounds. In theory Nintendo could do the same thing but at the end of the day I doubt there would be that many people who would buy the remote as most have a DVD or blueray player already. As you say DVD and even blueray players are really cheap these days.