Wii doesn't play DVDs?

Recon

I currently have a PS2 in my room which I now mainly use as a DVD player. I was thinking about replacing it with a Wii. There's not a lot of space and I doesn't want to have loads of stuff on the floor next to the tv.

I emailed nintendo today to ask if the Wii would be able to play DVDs and I got the following reply, which I think is a bit bitchy:


Dear Customer, thank you for your e-mail.

No the Wii is a games console not a home entertainment system.

Kind regards,

Your Nintendo Team

Ri_Nollaig

lol that does sound like a bitchy reply but dvd players are so cheap now you could probably pick one up for around 30-40euro.

GrumPy

lol at ninty.

Seriously though, dvd players are dirt cheap.

Makaveli

The Gamecube didn't play dvds either.

Why not get a slimline PS2 to save space if you just want a small dvd player.

mcgarnicle

Recon wrote:

I currently have a PS2 in my room which I now mainly use as a DVD player. I was thinking about replacing it with a Wii. There's not a lot of space and I doesn't want to have loads of stuff on the floor next to the tv.

I emailed nintendo today to ask if the Wii would be able to play DVDs and I got the following reply, which I think is a bit bitchy:


Dear Customer, thank you for your e-mail.

No the Wii is a games console not a home entertainment system.

Kind regards,

Your Nintendo Team

Surprised they even bothered answering at all to be honest, a quick search on google would have given you your answer.

Rabies

I'm amazed you emailed Nintendo a question like that.

FutureGuy

I think Nintendos idea not to include a DVD player was a good choice. They rightly pointed out that the vast majority of households already have a DVD player, and that there is no need to force another one on the customer for an extra 40 euro or so.

FlimFlam

That's a very rude reply from Nintendo. What e-mail address did you send your message to?

Nintendo were going to offer the option of a dongle for DVD playback but then decided not to bother at all. The fact that they're making a profit from the console off the shelf just goes to show how much they are over-charging for this system.

Makaveli wrote:

The Gamecube didn't play dvds either

Can DVD movies (12cm) fit in the disc bay of a GameCube?

CiaranC

The fact that they're making a profit from the console off the shelf just goes to show how much they are over-charging for this system.

lol, yeah how dare they make a profit

who the hell wants another dvd player anyway? I cant move for them in my house and I own about 3 dvds in total

kjt

FlimFlam wrote:

That's a very rude reply from Nintendo. What e-mail address did you send your message to?

Nintendo were going to offer the option of a dongle for DVD playback but then decided not to bother at all. The fact that they're making a profit from the console off the shelf just goes to show how much they are over-charging for this system.

Can DVD movies (12cm) fit in the disc bay of a GameCube?

lol it's a bargain tbh, €250 is overcharging? By any chance have you heard of this new thing that's comming out soon, think it's called a playstation 3.....


Oh and I really don't think it's that rude of an answer, it was a stupid question that they should have ignored.

monkey tennis

I bet it won't play music CDs either, but I don't think it'll put many people off.

monkeyfudge

I think I'll email Nintendo and ask them if the Wii will teach my cat to play the piano.

Recon

The reason I mailed nintendo was because they didn't have this information on their website, and everywhere else I looked had contradicting information. Some places saying it can play DVDs, others saying it can't and others saying that there'll be an add-on or some sort that will allow you too.

I disagree about it being a good idea for nintendo to release this console without being able to play DVDs. That was one of the reasons will I bought a PS2 instead. I eventually got a gamecube when they were reduced to less than half price.

And about DVD players being so cheap: there's also a matter of space. I don't have the room to put a DVD in. The PS2 is grand because it can stand next to the drawers that my tv is on, as would a Wii if it would play DVDs.

http://alan-kelly1.magix.net/

Click 'new album' on the left to see the picture.

kjt

Recon wrote:

http://alan-kelly1.magix.net/
Click 'new album' on the left to see the picture.

LMfAO A picture of your room.... Thanks for that,
I'll email nintendo for you now and ask them to put a dvd/cd
combo into the wii just for you as you don't have enough room

Mr E

Recon wrote:

everywhere else I looked had contradicting information

Nintendo are allegedly releasing a peripheral next year in Japan that will allow for DVD playback on the Wii.

GrumPy

LMAO at that pic. Man, you need to buy a new desk/table instead of worrying about what consoles playsback dvds :rolleyes:

CiaranC

http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/31/the-big-threes-consoles-size-matters/

Look at the size of it, space isnt an issue

monkeyfudge

You'll also need room to swing the Wiimote about the place.

Ciaran500

You could easily fit a DVD player and a Wii into the space a PS2 takes up.

KdjaCL

Put a dvd player under the tv


kdjac

im...LOST

Stick the ps2 or wii in the drawer and drill a hole in the back for the wires and stuff and then all you have to do is open the drawer and then you can play your game.

Problem solved!


(I'm serious btw )

Irishpimpdude

im...LOST wrote:

Stick the ps2 or wii in the drawer and drill a hole in the back for the wires and stuff and then all you have to do is open the drawer and then you can play your game.

Problem solved!


(I'm serious btw )

Would this not cause an old ps2 to overheat? lol

Stoichkov

Apparently Japan will be getting a wii with built in dvd playback sometime next year.

gameindustry

Recon

CiaranC wrote:

lol, yeah how dare they make a profit

who the hell wants another dvd player anyway? I cant move for them in my house and I own about 3 dvds in total

Most new games consoles are sold at either a loss or with very little profit. The idea is to get the machines out and they'll make their money back on the games and accessories.

Makaveli wrote:

The Gamecube didn't play dvds either.

Why not get a slimline PS2 to save space if you just want a small dvd player.

I don't just want a dvd player, I'm wondering what new console I'd like to get and the ability to be able to play DVDs is something I'd like the console to be able to do.

mcgarnicle wrote:

Surprised they even bothered answering at all to be honest, a quick search on google would have given you your answer.

I did search google and I got contradicting information...

Rabies wrote:

I'm amazed you emailed Nintendo a question like that.

...which is why I emailed nintendo.

kjt wrote:

Oh and I really don't think it's that rude of an answer, it was a stupid question that they should have ignored.

Your mother should have thought you if you're not going to say anything positive don't say anything at all. I had a perfectly valid question and I asked the most reliable source I could think of. It's not my fault they gave a bitchy reply.

As for the other replies, thanks for the helpful/creative ones (I'll think about putting the console in a drawer) but I think it could over heat.

My TV only has one scart plug, which is why I don't want to get a seperate console and DVD player, and I think the TV would crush a DVD player.

CombatCow

A lot of people have 1-2-3 dvd players in their home, its pointless imho to have the wii play dvd's aswell.

mcgarnicle

Interesting point in this thread, a lot of people are saying people don't care about DVD players anymore so Nintendo are right to leave it out but here is a guy that is very interested in it.

The fact is that while some on here may have 2 or 3 DVD players most people don't and the sort of people Nintendo are apparantly targetting certainly don't.

A lot of people have one console, the PS2 and that is serving as their DVD player too. They are not going to upgrade to a Wii and lose the use of all their DVDs when they can wait a few months, go for the tried and tested and get a PS3.

monkeyfudge

mcgarnicle wrote:

A lot of people have one console, the PS2 and that is serving as their DVD player too. They are not going to upgrade to a Wii and lose the use of all their DVDs when they can wait a few months, go for the tried and tested and get a PS3.

If you can afford a PS3 you should really buy your self a decent dedicated DVD player. The PS2 is a horrible DVD player... Even DVD playback on the 360 is rubbish.

Makaveli

If you want to watch DVDs buy a dedicated dvd player. If you want to play games buy a console.

You wouldn't go into a Sony shop and ask if one of their dvd players plays PS2 games aswell.

BlitzKrieg

quick question? where's your PC? is that not in your room? Use that as your dvd player. I know I do.

the_syco

Recon wrote:

http://alan-kelly1.magix.net/

Click 'new album' on the left to see the picture.

Its a proven fact that playing your games like this can damage your games and DVD's. IE: not flat is bad.

thelordofcheese

mcgarnicle wrote:

Interesting point in this thread, a lot of people are saying people don't care about DVD players anymore so Nintendo are right to leave it out but here is a guy that is very interested in it.

The fact is that while some on here may have 2 or 3 DVD players most people don't and the sort of people Nintendo are apparantly targetting certainly don't.

who do you think it is that nintendo are targeting, that they certainly don't have standalone DVD players?
Judging by the responses in this thread, the people here, at least, who are going to buy a Wii have a DVD player already.

flogen

Aldi were yesterday selling a region free DVD player for something like €35; that's €5.01 dearer than the DVD dongle for the xbox (at least the price it was at when I bought it years ago), which doesn't let you play other regions and often won't let you even consider using ripped DVD's... oh and consoles suck as DVD players.
I have 2 DVD players in my room (once I had 4; xbox, pc, laptop, ps2) and in my house there are currently as many dvd players as there are people.
I'd say they'll release the DVD dongle if it makes business sense, but frankly I don't think it will in Europe.
Although I do hope it'll play my CD's :rolleyes:

monkeyfudge

I just counted... I have 7 DVD players in my house... I need help.

BlitzKrieg

i've 3 in my room.

thebman

Recon wrote:

Most new games consoles are sold at either a loss or with very little profit. The idea is to get the machines out and they'll make their money back on the games and accessories.

Thats nonsense.

Nintendo's console is 250 Euro including a game. Also the online is free and the games are retailing cheaper than the other consoles.

Yeah your getting ripped off because they make a profit on the console :rolleyes:

They can sell the games cheaper because they don't have to make as big a profit margin on them as the competition does because they sold their consoles at a loss.

One could argue its because of cheaper development costs but that still leaves you with free online play.

Fidelis

Makaveli wrote:

If you want to watch DVDs buy a dedicated dvd player. If you want to play games buy a console.

So by your rationale, a car shouldn't have a CD player? A car is a mode of transport, not a media centre.

CombatCow wrote:

A lot of people have 1-2-3 dvd players in their home, its pointless imho to have the wii play dvd's aswell.

Pointless in your opinion. I have a single DVD player in the living room and would welcome DVD functionality in a console. It'd be one less piece of hardware taking up space/electricity/sockets.

mcgarnicle wrote:

The fact is that while some on here may have 2 or 3 DVD players most people don't and the sort of people Nintendo are apparantly targetting certainly don't.

QFT.

lostexpectation

what would it take to make wii play a dvd? a chip the size of match box, that costs...? or what

Ciaran500

lostexpectation wrote:

what would it take to make wii play a dvd? a chip the size of match box, that costs...? or what

A few cents for the chip but last time I heard over $10 in licensing fees. When you're making over a million consoles just for launch thats going to add up quick for a feature not use be everyone and not needed for a console.

CiaranC

Recon wrote:

Most new games consoles are sold at either a loss or with very little profit. The idea is to get the machines out and they'll make their money back on the games and accessories.

Im aware of the concept. Nintento have never followed that model as far as I know.

I have 10 DVD players. 3 in desktop PCs, 1 DVD burner, 1 in an xbox, 1 in a PS2, 1 in a 360, 1 standalone in the living room, another one still in the box that I won in a raffle in the garage and one I left in my girlfiends house. I cant find a single DVD movie in my house.

Seriously, stop giving us DVD players in everything.

GrumPy

Well I have dvd players in the form of:

pc
xbox
ps2
xbox 360
standalone player
second standalone player

and I plan on buying a new standalone player, a wii, and a ps3 within the next 6 months.

And I am still disappointed the wii doesn't play dvd's. It's a step back in game consoles, not forward imo. Especially for people who has minimal room, and wanna replace a ps2.

skywalker

I cant understand the amount of people practically giving out to this chap for daring to ask a question. Is the friendly vibe of this place completely gone? Get over the nintendo fanboyism lads, its getting old and machine hasnt even been released yet.

Irish GrumPy wrote:

LMAO at that pic. Man, you need to buy a new desk/table instead of worrying about what consoles playsback dvds :rolleyes:

That comment in particular annoyed me. What does it even mean?

koneko

Bit of a strange reply, not like Ninty CS replies I've seen before. Where did you e-mail it to? It doesn't even have proper punctuation :eek:

Personally, even if the Wii had DVD playback, I'd never use it, not going to miss it at all. I'm not buying it to be an allround entertainment system (like a HTPC), I'm buying it to play the class games that'll be out on it Games consoles never make great DVD players, standalones or PCs are better for that. But to each his own.

Clank

Lack of DVD playback doesnt bother me at all.
I have a 360 and PC to do that.
If you want a DVD playing Wii, buy one and then a dongle (if they release one) to allow DVD playback.

Recon

skywalker wrote:

I cant understand the amount of people practically giving out to this chap for daring to ask a question. Is the friendly vibe of this place completely gone? Get over the nintendo fanboyism lads, its getting old and machine hasnt even been released yet.



That comment in particular annoyed me. What does it even mean?

Thanks for that skywalker.

koneko wrote:

Bit of a strange reply, not like Ninty CS replies I've seen before. Where did you e-mail it to? It doesn't even have proper punctuation

Personally, even if the Wii had DVD playback, I'd never use it, not going to miss it at all. I'm not buying it to be an allround entertainment system (like a HTPC), I'm buying it to play the class games that'll be out on it Games consoles never make great DVD players, standalones or PCs are better for that. But to each his own.

http://www.nintendo-europe.com/NOE/en/GB/contactus/index.jsp

The one I emailed was Customer Services/General enquiries.

tba

Besides the fundamental step back this represents, ie a move away from a "home entertainment system" (which is frankly what I thought Nintendo was going for), it takes the revolution idea to levels of stupidity. They want the Wii to play back catalogues of Nintendo games, it should be considered enough to assume that they want this to be the sole entertainment unit in front of the Screen.

Do Nintendo sell DVD players.. no, but then again providing a fully functional Player that would put dedicated units to shame would show a great deal of revolutionary thinking on their part.

but lets discuss the fundamental thing wrong with the reply. They didn't answer her/him, the correct answer was;

"No, the Wii will not play DVD movies"

The answer they recieved was snide and pointed, implication that they are moronic for wanting to play DVD's on the Wii is a really stupid way of dealing with a user base, prehaps the reply was lost in translation, but I doubt it.

koneko

Lame. That's what happens when you outsource your support to stupid companies. Codestorm, wtf? Their site is pants too.

koneko

tba wrote:

The answer they recieved was snide and pointed, implication that they are moronic for wanting to play DVD's on the Wii is a really stupid way of dealing with a user base, prehaps the reply was lost in translation, but I doubt it.

Agreed. I agree with Nintendo's strategy on this, I don't think the console needs to play DVDs and it wouldn't interest me if it did, but to be honest that's totally irrelevant. The reply he got was bitchy, and it was written very poorly and with no punctuation, and didn't answer his question. It is NOT what a reply from any Customer Service should look like. They are there to be friendly and courteous to the customer, and answer his or her question. It's Customer Service damnit, not the Gamespot forum or something.

Q_Ball

tba wrote:

They want the Wii to play back catalogues of Nintendo games, it should be considered enough to assume that they want this to be the sole entertainment unit in front of the Screen.

If they wanted it to be the sole entertainment unit in front of the screen they would have included DVD. I dont think that just because they have the back catalogue of games available you can assume this. If anything you can assume that they want it to be the sole entertainment unit from the fact that they've stated that its a family machine, a console everyone can play.

My line of thought on it is that nintendo can assume that most families will have a DVD player somewhere in their house so why compete with a dedicated DVD player when

a) its not the consoles primary function,
b) the PS2, Xbox and 360 cant stand up to a dedicated player as is,
c) perhaps they want to sit on the fence to see how long DVD9 holds out against HDDVD and Blue-ray which, if you believe the hype, wont be long.

I am glad that they do not include a DVD because it lowers the price of the console. Nintendo aren't fools, I'm sure the decision not to include DVD was made drunkenly down the pub like all mine are. They know that they are excluding a certain number of gamers by not including DVD but they obviously feel its the right choice to make. The add-on dongle is the compromise, just like the 360 and HDDVD.

tba wrote:

Do Nintendo sell DVD players.. no, but then again providing a fully functional Player that would put dedicated units to shame would show a great deal of revolutionary thinking on their part.

It is possible to create a console that is as good or better than a dedicated player but the advantage of this is outweight by the additional cost of the components. Both Sony and MS have tried with the XBox and PS2 but in both cases it was secondary to the machines main purpose, to play games. Had sony actually included some of their tech for their dedicated high-end dedicated players I wonder how much the PS2 would have cost. They would have to use high end tech simply to put the medium and low budget versions to shame.

tba wrote:

The answer they recieved was snide and pointed, implication that they are moronic for wanting to play DVD's on the Wii is a really stupid way of dealing with a user base, prehaps the reply was lost in translation, but I doubt it.

Agreed, but the one time I did contact them they were more than helpful and friendly. The OP seems to have been unlucky. Hopefully someone got repremanded for it tho.

savemejebus

the answer that the OP received was well out of order but as koneko said, that's outsourcing for you.

Regarding whether the wii should even have a dvd player, well look at the panasonic q (or whatever they called it). If having a dvd player was important that product should have saved the gamecube. It didn't and as such kinda proved nintendo not right in including one in the gamecube and by extension the wii

mcgarnicle

thelordofcheese wrote:

who do you think it is that nintendo are targeting, that they certainly don't have standalone DVD players?
Judging by the responses in this thread, the people here, at least, who are going to buy a Wii have a DVD player already.

I think they are targetting non gamers as they have stated on numerous occassions. Do you think they are targetting internet forum users? Hardly a large market there. They don't have to target geeky internet types, chances are most people here made their minds up whether or not to get a Wii before it had even been announced. I know I had.

The people they claim to be targetting are people that don't have PS2s, Xboxes or 360s, they are targetting people who don't play games. These people would probably be keen on the idea of being able to use DVDs on the system.

mcgarnicle

monkeyfudge wrote:

If you can afford a PS3 you should really buy your self a decent dedicated DVD player. The PS2 is a horrible DVD player... Even DVD playback on the 360 is rubbish.

Yes probably but for most "casual" gamers that just use a PS2 for their DVD player and there are millions of them, the fact that Wii does not support DVD while PS3 does will go a long way towards deciding what to buy.

It might not be a case of money, I know people that have plenty of money but still only have a PS2. This is the mass market, these are the people who will decide who wins or loses the next gen war not people on here who will probably end up with all 3 consoles and a rake of games for each.