can the wii play dvds?

unwashed potato! · 18 Nov 2007 at 11:23

Well i know it can't normally but will it ever in future updates or even by any added software to get it to read them?

superplay · 18 Nov 2007 at 12:12

Nintendo are releasing a DVD version of the Wii in Japan

http://www.digitalbattle.com/2006/10/30/wii-dvd-only-in-japan/

unwashed potato! · 18 Nov 2007 at 14:06

superplay said:
Nintendo are releasing a DVD version of the Wii in Japan

http://www.digitalbattle.com/2006/10/30/wii-dvd-only-in-japan/

is there no mod or anything made for the wii that makes it able to play dvd's?

AshFU · 18 Nov 2007 at 14:07

dont think so, but seeing as u can buy dvd players for as little as 30quid, is it really a problem?

JAMAL · 18 Nov 2007 at 14:11

AshFU said:
dont think so, but seeing as u can buy dvd players for as little as 30quid, is it really a problem?

Well for neatness yes, Its a bit poor the Wii doesnt do this.

RuMp3l4$k1n · 18 Nov 2007 at 14:16

Its a games console for playing games, there just isn't a need to make it play dvds at all.
If it did play them it wouldn't have the features of a modern upscaling dvd player anyway so what would be the point?

Raymond Lin · 18 Nov 2007 at 14:32

And it'll cost more to buy. I have like 5 other players in the front room, make no difference.

divine` · 18 Nov 2007 at 14:33

RuMp3l4$k1n said:
Its a games console for playing games, there just isn't a need to make it play dvds at all.
If it did play them it wouldn't have the features of a modern upscaling dvd player anyway so what would be the point?

Well, I for one, if I got a Wii, would need to get a TV for it, so it would be nice if it could play DVDs for me too etc.

Unless the Wii can plug into my monitor which just has an analogue monitor connector for the PC

JaFFa · 18 Nov 2007 at 14:42

there was a mod i read about but you needed to chip the wii.

Ive read in the past its to cut costs ie the licenses. I think they will release a DVD channel.

Metalface Mark · 18 Nov 2007 at 14:55

Raymond Lin said:
And it'll cost more to buy. I have like 5 other players in the front room, make no difference.

Makes no difference to you :rolleyes:

, i have the wii in my bedroom (as do a lot of people), for neatness it would be great addition to allow it play dvd's.

unwashed potato! · 18 Nov 2007 at 15:53

Metalface Mark said:
Makes no difference to you , i have the wii in my bedroom (as do a lot of people), for neatness it would be great addition to allow it play dvd's.

exactly plus the fact that it stands vertical and is tiny unlike all dvd players i can find which sit horizontally (sp?) and if they sit vertical they cost loads.

Kreeeee · 18 Nov 2007 at 16:01

JaFFa said:
there was a mod i read about but you needed to chip the wii.

Ive read in the past its to cut costs ie the licenses. I think they will release a DVD channel.

I think I read that it would be a usb dongle you had to buy.

Raymond Lin · 18 Nov 2007 at 16:03

Metalface Mark said:
Makes no difference to you , i have the wii in my bedroom (as do a lot of people), for neatness it would be great addition to allow it play dvd's.

But you would have to pay for the feature, not just in hardware, but in licencing to Dolby, and would drive up the £180 retail price to about £200.

divine` · 18 Nov 2007 at 16:06

I think native DVD playback is something a fair few people would be interested in though, rather than native Blu-Ray or whatever which by it's very nature has a restricted audience.

Raymond Lin · 18 Nov 2007 at 16:15

Granted i wouldn't mind it having DVD playback, I would've welcome it but in reality it's not a must have when buying the Wii. Although i wonder if its a hardware or a firmware restriction for the dvd playback.

Metalface Mark · 18 Nov 2007 at 17:32

Raymond Lin said:
But you would have to pay for the feature, not just in hardware, but in licencing to Dolby, and would drive up the £180 retail price to about £200.

That wouldnt have been a hurdle, nintendo could have probably charged £220-250 and people would still have bought it.

Kreeeee · 18 Nov 2007 at 19:04

Raymond Lin said:
Granted i wouldn't mind it having DVD playback, I would've welcome it but in reality it's not a must have when buying the Wii. Although i wonder if its a hardware or a firmware restriction for the dvd playback.

The Wii can read DVDs and is powerful enough to decode them through software so it's just a software restriction as the features simply aren't coded in.

Raymond Lin · 18 Nov 2007 at 19:29

Metalface Mark said:
That wouldnt have been a hurdle, nintendo could have probably charged £220-250 and people would still have bought it.

When it first came out people were complaining it being 50 pounds too much, 250 pounds is in 360 brackets and it wouldn't have sold as well. It's only this month where the prices go silly, no one would pay that any other time in the year.

Jimothy · 19 Nov 2007 at 12:09

There's an article floating around on the net from Nintendo. Apparently the Wii will be updated in 2008 to play DVD's. I'll try and dig it out ...

unwashed potato! · 21 Nov 2007 at 00:42

Jimothy said:
There's an article floating around on the net from Nintendo. Apparently the Wii will be updated in 2008 to play DVD's. I'll try and dig it out ...

updated so that current wiis can play dvds or just the new ones after the update?