Blu-ray Enabled Wii Coming?

[Josh]

I can't report this as new... yet.

An unsuspecting informant accidentally stumbled upon a Blu-ray enabled Wii while visitng Nintendo's R&D facility. Apparently the bathroom wasn't that easy to find.

While searching for the bathroom, the unnamed informant took a wrong turn Willy Wonka style and opened the wrong door. Upon entering the room, he noticed a small group of Nintendo employees (engineers?) watching a movie on what looked like a Nintendo Wii. The informant recounted the details to the Sarcastic Gamer, but made it unclear if the movie playing abilites were a hardware add-on, a software upgrade, or a brand new Wii model. Regardless, he took several mental notes about the situation:

* The remote control to control movie playback attached itself to the Wii-mote nunchuck style.
* The drive slot glowed blue while the disc was in but faded to black when the disc was removed
* The Nintendo employees quickly ejected the disc and placed it in what was undeniably a Blu-ray disc case
* There was an extra Wii channel titled "Wii Watch" emblazoned with a Blu-ray logo

This discovery comes after Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime hinted at an upcoming surprise for the Nintendo Wii during a Gamehead interview. "The surprise is coming," he teased, "by the end of September."

"I can't help but wonder," says the Sarcstic Gamer, "if Sony's Peter Dille knew about this upcoming feature roll out when he made his now famous 'HD-DVD dead within months' claim a short while ago."

http://gamer.blorge.com/2007/07/27/n...y-enabled-wii/

[dialog_gvf]

Holy ****!!!

Well, that would completely and totally obliterate HD DVD if it came to pass. And clearly it would be a smart move for Nintendo to go right to the latest gen.

Funny, I always saw the Wii as complementary not the competition.

[dialog_gvf]

Notice the one comment could be considered an attempt to have the page removed?

[MrBogey]

The Wii only outputs 480p. It's not made for high def. If anything it'd be the next generation of Wii.

Which if anything proves Sony's methodology to be correct.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by MrBogey

The Wii only outputs 480p. It's not made for high def. If anything it'd be the next generation of Wii.

Which if anything proves Sony's methodology to be correct.

Maybe a Super-Wii? A second SKU with HD output and the BD compatible drive?

[MrBogey]

That would fit. The Wii is a money machine for Nintendo. They could easily cut back the price of the Wii Basic and introduce a second BD profile 1.1 with only basic 1.1 ability at a fairly low price point. It'd be priced below the PS3 probably but above the Xbox. That way they could still get the low price point (relative) and have something that whole still having 100% Wii ability would be a steal for bargain hunters. Though I think it'd be far cheaper if they rushed it and got out a 1.0 profile machine.

[dialog_gvf]

ARP (average retail price) on the Sigma Designs chip is $20 according to their last conference call. That, and the BD compatible drive is pretty much the only additional thing needed for a BD player that isn't already there in some form in the Wii. So, a combo Wii/BD player could be very reasonable.

It's well known that the Japanese have a space crunch and hence tend to love boxes that do many things. This would give the Wii that much more leverage into the Japanese home.

And come to think of it, the Sigma Design guy seemed to be sitting on something implying a huge score might be possible for Q4. I remember saying he was smoking the same weed as Fuji-san (Toshiba), but what if THIS is what was brewing?

Gary

[Lord_Stewie]

if that happens, that would be a definitely the most interesting move by nintendo.

[monkyman]

With 1.1 due for all BD players in Sept, now would be the time to jump in and not be left out at christmas. If they do, lets hope it's at least available in quantity this time!

[Ascended_Saiyan]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

ARP (average retail price) on the Sigma Designs chip is $20 according to their last conference call. That, and the BD compatible drive is pretty much the only additional thing needed for a BD player that isn't already there in some form in the Wii. So, a combo Wii/BD player could be very reasonable.

It's well known that the Japanese have a space crunch and hence tend to love boxes that do many things. This would give the Wii that much more leverage into the Japanese home.

And come to think of it, the Sigma Design guy seemed to be sitting on something implying a huge score might be possible for Q4. I remember saying he was smoking the same weed as Fuji-san (Toshiba), but what if THIS is what was brewing?

Gary

So, there is no need for a processor over 1 GHz to play Blu-ray movies anymore?

[shug7272]

LMAO you guys still arguing over that? It was based off of a fake article, click the link. You guys look dumber than me the time I asked why letterboxing was still present on my blu rays. You guys did tell me I was dumb too btw... which makes watching this topic all the more fun.

[Manco]

"In America, we are taught to check a fact before it becomes a fact".

- Private Investigator MacCarron / "The Talented Mr. Ripley."

PS: I somewhat fell for this too. I feel like such an ass.

[Elessar]

I too can't figure out why anyone actually believed this.

Hey, since you'll believe anything did you hear that Disney went neutral, Fox is HD-DVD only and that Sony is giving up on the PS3?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Elessar

I too can't figure out why anyone actually believed this.

Hey, since you'll believe anything did you hear that Disney went neutral, Fox is HD-DVD only and that Sony is giving up on the PS3?

You're not going to be long for these parts.

Lighten up.

[Elessar]

Translation.... "Humor is not allowed".

Dude loosen up this is entertainment we are talking about after all. Not the end of the world. I support Blu too.

[cruzzer cruz]

HAHAHA

I knew it was fake immediately, but I could dream, couldn't I?

A Blu-ray enabled Wii would have been the sickest thing ever.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Elessar

I too can't figure out why anyone actually believed this.

Hey, since you'll believe anything did you hear that Disney went neutral, Fox is HD-DVD only and that Sony is giving up on the PS3?

Have you joined the forum to do nothing but laugh at us?

It was fun to speculate. And maybe it inspires an idea.

[SchueyF1]

Hopefully Sony has a say in this and won't allow it! Because it's really the major reason that the PS3 is gaining ground each and every day now.

But for sure, DVD is destined to die.

[MookDaddy333]

Originally Posted by SchueyF1

Hopefully Sony has a say in this and won't allow it! Because it's really the major reason that the PS3 is gaining ground each and every day now.

But for sure, DVD is destined to die.

I agree that the blu ray player does help move units, but I think the main reason they are doing so much better is because of the $100 price drop as well as the fact that they have seriously improved their game library over the past year.

[SchueyF1]

Yeah, just saying that Sony did the best thing by going with Blu-ray. It's already won the format war.