DVD functionality not included?

by Jason Wishnov { Sep 7th 2006 at 2:30PM }

Matt Cassa-however-you-spell-it over at IGN has posted a rather interesting blog post about the assumed nature of DVD playback for the Nintendo Wii. At E3 2005, it was announced that there would be a "dongle adapter" for optional included DVD playback, and there were rumors over the next year that it would simply be built-in. However, while Nintendo loves to reiterate time and time again the capabilities of its critical darling, any and all mention of DVD playback has been completely removed.

DVD playback is a feature we've come to expect not only in next-generation machines, but last generation as well. Since Wii discs are DVDs anyway, would this feature be so difficult to add on? Check out Matt's blog for a slightly more in-depth analysis, and let's hope that Nintendo doesn't take their "games only" stance a bit too far.

Tags: Blog, Dongle, DVD, Functionality, IGN, Matt, Playback

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Netzach @ Sep 7th 2006 6:36PM

It's about keeping down the cost.
If the DVD functionality is enabled, then there will be a licence fee for it, so only people that want that functionality will have to pay for it.

Jason @ Sep 7th 2006 2:55PM

I'm not sure why it matters if the Wii doesn't have DVD playback... How many Wii buyers out there don't already have a DVD player? It made a difference in the last gen when a DVD player cost $100-$200, but now they're $20 - $50 and most households have one (or more) anyway.

Exo @ Sep 7th 2006 3:00PM

im sorry but matt has never been anything more then an idiot. for some one thats the editor of the ign wii channle, he shure knows next to nothing.

It has been known since the day the console was showed off at e3 that dvd would not be built in, an attachment is required to play dvds.

Mojo_Yugen @ Sep 7th 2006 3:14PM

I don't see this a deal breaker. Let's face it, Xbox and PS2 are marginal DVD players at best. Would the Wii be any better? It would be nice to have in a pinch but there's no way I'd use as my primary DVD player.

Spaz @ Sep 7th 2006 3:21PM

Exo, I strongly disagree that Matt "has never been anything more than an idiot". He actually seems like one of the more insightful editors at IGN, and the least prone to hyperbole.

I also have to point out that Matt of course knows the DVD playback was supposed to be an add-on. (As you mention, this was made clear at E3, and I doubt he missed that) What he's referring to in his blog is that all mention of DVD playback has been surreptitiously removed from any tech specs regarding the Wii, and Nintendo themselves flatly refused to discuss the issue when asked.

Whether or not the Wii has DVD playback is not a deal-breaker for me, but Matt is right to question the sudden disappearance of its (former) existence.

BPMΩ @ Sep 7th 2006 3:24PM

Sorry, but I'm not ready to cry "dooooooom!!" on this just yet.
This is just speculation on Matt's part. And I don't buy it until something official is stated.

So what if Nintendo hasn't talked more about DVD playback since announcing long ago that a dongle would be needed? Nintendo hasn't talked about A LOT about Wii yet! Price, release date, Wi-Fi Connection usage, Virtual Console features, etc.
Plus, DVD playback would NOT be a main feature of Wii. Playing new and old (VERY OLD) games is.

To put it bluntly: Matt doesn't know jack.

mykie @ Sep 7th 2006 3:44PM

It's not a deal-breaker for me, but it does gnash my teeth a little.

I have a modchipped Xbox SPECIFICALLY for use as a media center, however the DVD drive on it is starting to fail. Much to the chagrin of my wife, I've held off on buying a standalone DVD player because the Wii supposedly was going to support DVD playback.

I don't know about most people, but my TV only has a limited number of inputs on it, all of which are taken up by one thing or another. If the Wii doesn't take the place of a DVD player, that means I'll either have to resort to clunky AV switchboxes or buy a new [HD!]TV.

All Your Lost Socks @ Sep 7th 2006 3:54PM

"It's not a deal-breaker" seems to be the consistently reiterated term, so just count this as another vote toward that category.
For some reason, though, I cannot see it making any sense for a system that you interact with via -remote control- not to have a built in DVD playback feature. I can see it being very smooth and obvious. This doesn't mean it will be included, of course, and it doesn't mean I won't buy it if it isn't.
It might get giggled at, though, because not everyone will put much thought into whether it really needed to be there or not.

AzaMcWazza @ Sep 7th 2006 4:02PM

Quoting #7
"If the Wii doesn't take the place of a DVD player ... or buy a new [HD!]TV."

Errr, and your problem with that is...? :)

GMan @ Sep 7th 2006 4:02PM

I had anticipated a "dongle" or some such add-on to enable it as well. I would also be equally satisfied paying for a download that enabled it. But like others have said, my TV only has one set of component inputs, and I was hoping to replace my DVD player with the Wii.

crazyparrot85 @ Sep 7th 2006 4:11PM

Does it really matter? I have in my room alone 2 dvd players already. My Divx dvd player for playing avi files and stuff, and my xbox 360, I don't need another dvd player. I tip my hat off to nintendo for making this optional. Plus the fact that it's gonna be like the old xbox where you had to buy the dvd playback if you wanted the function. I remember for xbox was 20 bucks, I doubt the Nintendo one will be any higher, and I believe that I didn't even had to pay cause there was a special for a limited time that you bought the xbox and the dvd playback kit and it gave you a full refund of your money. Nintendo is smart enough to come out with something like that or charge less than 20 bucks, I'm not sweating it. I can't wait to get my hands on the Wiimote thats all I care...lol...hopefully at the nintendo fusion tour this month *crosses fingers*.

Freddy @ Sep 7th 2006 4:20PM

Who is buying a Wii for a the DVD feature?

Marc @ Sep 7th 2006 5:15PM

"Who is buying a Wii for a the DVD feature?"

No one. But Parents might like it cuz it can be used as a game console and a DVD player for the kids play rooms.

Besides, Wii games are on DVDs anyway. I don't think it would be too hard to make it play movies also.

All Your Lost Socks @ Sep 7th 2006 5:05PM

Well, not me, but wouldn't it just be an obvious inclusion given the interface?
I suppose having it as an optional firmware download would make sense more than a physical dongle, but either way.

Spex @ Sep 7th 2006 5:26PM

To go on with what Mark just said, it probably wouldn't be. Even if Nintendo doesn't make something official for DVD playback, with the minimal cost of dev kits and a hacker/modder community just raring to go on projects, someone will come up with firmware or something that you can load onto Wii's flash memory and use to play DVD.

But aside from this, it seems like I've heard alot of mistake that feel like Sony mistakes lately. Not includling rumble, double A batteries, and now this? It just doesn't sound like the Nintendo way to me. I'm holding out for the Sept. 14 event to see what the final builds will deliver.

Elric @ Sep 8th 2006 7:53PM

Do people really care if it has a bloody DVD player inside? I have never used my PS2 as a DVD Player. Everyone and their grandmas have a DVD player already. If you don't maybe you should look into Blu Ray or HD DVD. I sure hell ain't. I am fine with my current DVD Player.

Fish @ Sep 7th 2006 7:23PM

Psh... why buy a DVD player when i have a perfectly good one downstairs right now?

I'd rather have $20 off of my Wii than spend it on something i'd never use.

I like the idea of it being seperate though, that'd be very nice for people that need it.

Faar @ Sep 7th 2006 8:04PM

Nobody with even an ounce of sense won't shun Wii if it doesn't play DVDs, it's just that it would MAKE SENSE if it did! Much more sense than if you can surf the web on it - a feature nintendo's already announced and bragged about.

It's got a full-sized DVD drive, it's got progressive and widescreen support, it's small, stylishly designed and very neat. It's already got a remote-shaped controller which would make playback and disc navigation a breeze. Try fast-forwarding on your 360 with a standard controller! Instead of mapping functions to buttons or sticks, MS intentionally crippled the interface in order to sell more remote controls.

To anyone but a rabid fanboy nintendo apologist, it would be a perfect and OBVIOUS fit for this thing to also play DVD movies!

To anyone using the COST argument - how much do you guys think the licenses actually cost? It's not a big deal, and if Nintendo's stingy they just have to make it a peripheral. Buy a special disc, or an online purchase to enable playback by storing the required software on the internal flashram. Problem solved.

Marc @ Sep 7th 2006 9:30PM

"To go on with what Mark just said,"

Spex, my name is Marc, with a "c".

Don't feel bad, you're the 26th person this year to make that mistake. Congratulations!

GMan @ Sep 7th 2006 10:52PM

I think there's confusion on this issue. I don't believe Nintendo ever said that DVD playback would be included; when the topic has come up in the past, it has always been treated as some sort of additional purchase that enables playback. The discussion here is whether that option will be available or not. So it's not a debate between *included* or optional, it's a debate between optional and *unavailable*.

amiga_tone @ Sep 8th 2006 12:10AM

I think this comes down to region locking. So far I understand Australia is the only country that has region free DVD players but how would something like the Wii - which we don't even know if it's region locked or not - be able to implement the region locking functionality? [without upsetting everyone again ;) ]

A dongle might work but whats to stop someone from getting a dongle from Japan and using it America?

I think this is one area of the Wii that has not actually been mentioned yet. Yes we know the DS is region free but how will the Wii work with regions?

Peter S. @ Sep 8th 2006 2:20AM

"But aside from this, it seems like I've heard alot of mistake that feel like Sony mistakes lately. Not includling rumble, double A batteries, and now this? It just doesn't sound like the Nintendo way to me. I'm holding out for the Sept. 14 event to see what the final builds will deliver."

Rumble is included. Trauma Center on IGN shows this to be true.

Double A batteries aren't bad -- just get rechargeables. Heck, you'll notice the cost benefit after a few uses.

I'll wait until Nintendo confirms anything regarding DVD playback. All that is needed is a dongle with an optical port and we'll be set. $20-30 sounds about right. I'm still hopeful.

Wilhelm @ Sep 12th 2006 5:38AM

I have a DVD player in the living room, and i have a laptop in which i can watch dvds. But i don't have a dvd in my room, and if i could watch dvds with the Wii it would be superb. If not, well, i'll be a bit dissapointed but not a lot considering i'm a gamecube owner (which thought me to swallow hard everytime someone watched movies with their xbox/ps2 :[)

DVD playback as a sell argument? It is valid for a lot of people, i know many people who got a ps2 just to watch dvd in their cars! plus, they could play games also.

I seriously hope they include dvd playback. And i REALLY hope they try to sell an $10/20/30 adaptor just to watch dvds.

Waccoon @ Sep 8th 2006 6:04AM

Of course you don't need it, but dumping it is just stupid, since all the technology is in place. The license fees aren't exactly $50, given that you can get a crappy DVD player for $35.

I don't think Nintendo would miss out on such a cheap feature to implement, especially if it's an easy way to make a few more bucks.