Wii U passing on DVD, Blu-ray

@El_Conrado I'm pretty sure my comment was edited before you wrote that...

@ninjaroach81 Ah, thank you. I think that's plenty of storage space.

Why will there be a dvd case anyway? First of all, it will make the Wii U more expensive then it is, and second a lot of people already have a dvd case. (Like gamespot said)

Good, I dont even watch DVDs. Netflix all the way. Also, gamespot, the Wii could play DVDs, except you had to do some hush hush stuff to the system.

Makes sense, adding playback functionality means it has to have a decoder capable of decoding the media formats held on those discs. It's not required for gaming and just adds to the cost of the console when users will no doubt already have some other device that can play them.

Fine by me. I have never used my 360 for a dvd, nor would I want to. Perhaps if they did such a good job that I could ditch my blu-ray player, then maybe but as long as I have a unit solely for dvd/bluray playback, Im going to use that.

These days you can find Toasters that have DVD players in them lol, so this really isn't a concern. If you have an old PS2, you have a DVD player, if you have a 360, you have a DVD player, same with PS3(plus Blu-ray). This is a good decision for keeping costs down. It's the games that are going to make or break the system.

Not a big deal, I don't even watch dvd's on my gaming consoles, first of all I have netflix, second of all it's a gaming console so people need to chill out if it doesn't have dvd/blu ray playback, because all I care about is the games. And this will probably make the system a bit more affordable, which is good.

anyone who wanted a dvd or blu-ray player has one by now, makes no sense to toss it into this system and make it more expensive for basically no reason

Who cares about Nintendos garbage.

Besides, if it means a cheaper system, then I'm all for it.

Well... that is a pretty good reason. It would still be nice for it to be able to play DVD or Blu-ray just for convenience, but I'd rather have them use that money and space in order to add extra power or features to the console

@LinkStormrage Sure dude, whatever you say! See? I'm stopping now!

@El_Conrado wow dude ... stop being such a fanboy and answering back to everyone

@punksterdaddy "I'm sorry folks, but the more articles I read on this new console, the less likely I am going to be buying it next year!" Oh God, no! Please reconsider! ... I'll wait to see some actual games before deciding.

No difference for me. I buy Nintendo systems for gaming. I have my PS3 and PC for video playback.

I have no problem with this decision by Nintendo. When it comes to multimedia capabilities on a gaming console, you're either all in or you're not. The Wii does Netflix; that's enough for most families. Stick to games, please, Nintendo. Keep those system costs down and pass the savings onto us consumers.

Just another reason not to buy the Wii U! I'm sorry folks, but the more articles I read on this new console, the less likely I am going to be buying it next year!

As long as there is still Netflix support, I don't see this being that big a deal.

@Land-0-Funk "The lack of DVD on the Wii in 2007 was a mistake..but in 2012? it's understandable." ...I think you mean the GameCube in 2001, 'cuz the Wii sold buckloads.

The lack of DVD on the Wii in 2007 was a mistake..but in 2012? it's understandable.

Nintendo keeping its system purely for games, understandable. No blu-ray is quite obvious considering they would have to pay fees to a competitor, using their own format has pretty much always been Nintendo's schtick. I have a feeling Microsoft may do something similar for its next console, in respect to using its own "high-density" format for games.

@Spacerac "No Blu-Ray? Obviously, and understandable. No DVD? That's a mistake." How...? How exactly is skipping a format you probaly have various ways of playing in your house right now a "mistake"? Seriously, does anyone have a TV right now NOT attached to a DVD playing device? And if they do, do they miss it?

I am interested to learn more about the proprietary disc format that Nintendo will be using for the Wii U console.

I buy consoles to play games.I really hope people don't buy gaming systems to watch movies.You can get DVD players really cheap nowadays.

cheapskates!!!

Nintendo is right. I will never watch a DVD/BR on my Wii if it had playback....Rather keep costs of the system down.

No Blu-Ray? Obviously, and understandable. No DVD? That's a mistake. On the other hand, maybe they're right. DVD playback make the system cost more, and ever since I was 12 my PS2 and then 3 always functioned as a DVD player.

idc. It would just cost more...and I don't need ANOTHER Dvd/Blu-ray Player there's no point.

xbox 360 doesn't play bluray.

"The reason for that is that we feel that enough people already have devices that are capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray.." Well he is right, there called the Xbox360 and the PS3.

From a production standpoint, this doesn't make much sense. Now Nintendo has to direct resources to developing and producing a proprietary format only utilized by the Wii U. It'd be simpler and cheaper to use an existing format, such as DL-DVD or Blu-Ray. I know this worked for the PSP and Wii, but it's pretty damn hard to put a full-size disc in a portable system, and, frankly, they got away with it for the Wii because, from a hardware-point, the Wii's at the same level as the PS2 or Xbox.

I'm shocked. This is unlike anything Nintendo has ever done.

if gaming consoles are for gaming wtf is a computer used for, computing? your computer is used for everything why not make the WII U just as advanced. if they are heading in the direction of competing with Sony and Microsoft new tech should have an array of multimedia outlets.netflix increased 50% because of new users watching on their PS3.

@grbolivar I wouldn't count on that. The new controller cannot play games on it's own. It only displays the content on the screen and communicates the actions from the user. This makes it a pretty "dumb" device. When not connected to a Wii U it's useless. Because of the lack of a need for a high-rated CPU or GPU in the controller itself, this saves a lot in cost. The components of the Wii U console itself are also likely to be older technology that is fairly cheap. You do make a valid point with the 3DS, but I think Nintendo knows that they have to come out swinging hard with the Wii U in order for it to succeed and therefore will keep the price as low as possible for launch. I believe this to be under $400.

they are smart... seems like people don't seem to remember how much it ended up costing people to buy a new PS3 (with Blu-ray capabilities) when they first came out with those consoles... with the new Wii U, customers would be receiving a console, & a controller with a monitor attached to it & if they decide to add an extra controller, so that customers can have two controllers with their console then that would add even more to the cost... now if you were to add Blu-ray capabilities into that package, (which means they would have to pay for those rights to use that technology) that would end up being one super expensive console, in which a large sum of customers would not be willing to shell out... sales would be minimal & if you owned a company, you would want to make sales happen, rather than your console sitting on shelves waiting for customers to save up enough to pay for it, or customers thinking its pointless to buy, when they can buy a 360 or PS3 for way cheaper. Nintendo has always been about, making their technology affordable for its customers.

@dagrimmreepa SSD's use flash memory chips to store there data and there alot faster than HDD's, so i hope it does have flash memory... even though im not getting one of these unless game devs do something realy amazing with the controller!

Doesn't seem like a bad idea to me. Hardcore gamers, or people who call themselves such will bash this idea and say it's the reason they dislike Nintendo but if you're a hardcore gamer, you probably already have either a PS2/PS3 or an original Xbox/360. You've already got at least one DVD player and one Blu-Ray player. How many more do you need? Nintendo can be criticized for a lot - just not this.

this is great, it means the console will cost like $100 less, if you really want blu-ray buy a ps3, most ppl who do want that already hav so who cares

@Weltanschauung1 Actually, they have. They already said it's going to be a 25 GB custom format, similar to a dual layer DVD-ROM.

If Nintendo would cater to other industries, such as movies other third parties might jump on too. Instead they have to do it Nintendo's way which is usually not good for third parties, be it movies or games.

yeah b/c everyone already owns a PS3 as their bluray player

as long as they don't need multiple discs to play a game it's fine... the wii u is already losing it's luster though.

Let me interpret what Nintendo meant to say: We don't care about the future of gaming or user demands. We are just going to focus on making great 1st party games, releaseing them every two years... This is the end of Nintendo's University.....I mean console future. The Wii U is going to be DOA!!!!

Nintendo hasn't disclosed the capacity of their new disc technology to be used on the Wii U, but it's certain to be greater than DVDs.

I'd buy a Wii U to play games, not play movies.

another custom disc. well as long it has good enough memory to hold the game in it it will suceed.

GamerYnoX has the best comment so far here: "Why have a screen on a controller if most people already own a tv? " Yes that comment sounds stupid, because of course theres a valid reason to have the screen on the controller ... just like of course theres a valid reason the console should have bluray support ... the number one reason being that most people DONT have bluray players... by a vast majority too. Forget that people have limited tv inputs, or that it would increase their profits, regardless of licensing or royalties to sony, or any of the other perfectly valid reasons, and just accept their pitiful excuse.... Nintendo is STILL living in the past, and trying to cut corners. This is the third straight console that they've released that fails to fall in line with the most successful and popular parts of the industry... In this gen, its clearly MP and online sales, a huge part of which is tv and movie sales. And if you believe MS (which who does, lets be honest), people are spending less and less time playing games, and more and more time using it for other purposes like as a media center. N - Stop trying to reinvent the wheel, and just make a decent friggin product that other more successful parts of the industry can exploit for your gain. Cutting off bluray is a perfect example of doing the OPPOSITE ....

They do not need a DVD/Blu-ray playback, because I think it's great as it is and it's a gaming console so it's not really necessary. If I wanna watch a DVD or Blu-ray disc, then I'll just use my DVD/blu-ray player instead

They better lower the cost accordingly then. The idea of having a next generation machine usually involves more than just games. And next generation movies are played on the blu ray. Don't expect me to pay much for your WII U then.