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See the original image at nintendowiifanboy.com —

Homebrew app lets you play DVDs on your Wii

nintendowiifanboy.com — Thanks to a homebrew application, you can now load DVDs into your Wii and watch movies.

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  • TheCoats, on 08/13/2008, -1/+7about freakazoiding time - now if only nintendo will let us do this
    • mywhitenoise, on 08/13/2008, -4/+2Hasn't the Wii been able to do this for over a year? I remember a program available that allowed DVD playback for people with modified Wiis, how is this any different?
      • CalcProgrammer1, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2This doesn't require a modded Wii. This is 100% software, you don't need a modchip.
      • mywhitenoise, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2You don't need a modchip, but installing the homebrew channel is still a modification.
      • CalcProgrammer1, on 08/14/2008, -1/+3Modding usually refers to a hardware modification. Technically, downloading a game from WiiWare is a "software modification," just as a homebrew installation or patch is, so the term "modding" on software is a bit confusing.
      • xino, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2@calcprogrammer1 I know what you mean. Someone could also say that adding or removing a hard drive from Xbox 360 is a hardware modification. Maybe you could reword what mywhitenoise said to "Installing the homebrew channel is a mod that involves hacking software and isn't authorized by Nintendo and applying system updates from Nintendo after installing the homebrew channel may cause issues." to make it less confusing. If anyone can explain it better than that or add some thing to it, I would love to hear it because there's been several times where I really wanted a simpler and less confusing way to say what mywhitenoise said.
      • CalcProgrammer1, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1Ok, so...

        The new DVD playback feature for the Wii does not require a hardware modification (such as a modchip). It only requires the installation of an unlicensed DVD software patch through the use of the Homebrew Channel. These programs are not written nor supported by Nintendo, and may be rendered useless by a future update.

        However, the line I was going was that a modchip costs money and you have to buy it from some obscure place on the Internet. You also have to open the console and do some soldering in most cases. This means that the potential userbase for the DVD player that used a chipped Wii was very small. The new DVD program is an entirely software solution consisting of free, downloadable applications that can be installed using common, readily available things (SD card, Twilight Princess disc, etc). The userbase for the "new homebrew" is much bigger because it is so easy to install.
  • Avolii, on 08/13/2008, -1/+5You know, if the capability was there, why not unlock it N? If I ran a gaming company that had a controller like one of my other 2 remotes, I'd think it would be better marketing to use the Wiimote to watch DVDs.
    Always in someones hand, always a reminder.
    Bam.
    The Wii doesn't collect dust until the next big thing.
    • CalcProgrammer1, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Because Nintendo is A: lazy and B: doesn't want to pay for the ridiculous licensing fees. They think that all Wii owners care about is gaming. Since homebrewers can port free DVD decoders without paying licensing fees, a homebrew DVD player makes sense. Now they just need to write a decent GUI for it, with good Wiimote mappings and an on screen menu that you can point at.
      • xino, on 08/14/2008, -1/+1How much are the licensing fees?
      • Gatesgamer33, on 08/14/2008, -1/+1I remember talking to Nintendo over the phone about this and they said that it would add $25 to the cost the Wii.

        Yes... only $25
      • grumpyrain, on 08/14/2008, -1/+1Licensing fees? I can buy a DVD player for well under $50. I would be absolutely shocked if it was more than a couple of dollars. Why not offer an official DVD player app as a download through the Wii shop? I would certainly buy it.
      • CalcProgrammer1, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1That's the problem, if it cost $25 to add DVD software, you might as well go buy a $20 DVD player. You get hardware and software if you do that, sure, your Wii won't be able to play DVD's, but it's $5 less and might even have digital sound output.

        If it was $5 to $10, a DVD channel would be practical, more than that, not really.
      • grumpyrain, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1I am sorry but I don't believe the $25 figure. Are you telling me that the DVD players (and not all yum cha brands) can be sold for $30 if $25 of that was in licensing? Are you telling me that XBox would have bothered with DVD player licensing if it added $25 to the cost? All of these systems cut corners left right and centre to save on cost.

        I agree that it needs to be at or under $10 to be practical.
    • rentmitchum, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2*collect as MUCH dust
  • TigerGD, on 08/13/2008, -1/+6It could still come via WiiWare or an update disc, but you'd have to pay for it regardless. This hack foregoes DVD licensing fees, but Nintendo wouldn't go that route and set itself up for more lawsuits.
  • CalcProgrammer1, on 08/13/2008, -1/+4Homebrew has come a long way on the Wii. In fact, Nintendo would have a hard time outdoing what has been done. If Nintendo wanted to make a DVD/Media channel for WiiWare, at this point it would have to play tons of file formats, DVD's, SD cards, network streams, USB devices, etc. I might consider buying a channel that did all this and had a nice, refined GUI. However, if they slack off and don't implement those features, I'll be using MPlayer or GeexBox on the Homebrew Channel and enjoying media without paying Nintendo.
  • bonk2k, on 08/13/2008, -1/+4DVD playback? In a video game console? This is an incredible development! Who knew it was possible?

    In all seriousness this is pretty cool for us Wii owners, even if it is about 8 years late for a Nintendo console. Nintendo really needs to start unleashing the true potential of that neat little white box of theirs.
  • duggtodeath, on 08/13/2008, -3/+4I read this as "Hebrew app lets you play DVDs on your Wii."
  • havokdu, on 08/13/2008, -4/+2Reasons why DVD-Video playing on Wii isn't interesting:

    _ Wii doesn't have support for digital audio output, so forget about DD 5.1 or DTS
    _ Wii doesn't have support for HDMI or upconverting beyond 480P, so DVD's will look like ***** in big screens.
    _ The disk drive wasn't designed for constant activity, so it's gonna wear out and will be loudly.
    _ Low end DVD Players cost $20, Good ones $120.
    • CalcProgrammer1, on 08/13/2008, -1/+41: Not everyone has their Wii hooked up to a big screen with 5.1 speakers. If you have such a setup, you most likely already have a nice DVD player or Blu-Ray player with these features.

      2: Same thing, if you have an HDTV, you probably have an upscaling DVD player. However, the Wii's new FREE DVD playback is just as good in this respect as a cheap DVD player without upscaling capability, so no real problem here. DVD's aren't HD anyways, and they won't ever look as good as Blu-Ray or HDTV signals because they simply aren't HD.

      3: This is just ridiculous. Everyone seems to be saying this, but unless Nintendo used some really dirt cheap low quality stuff, a DVD drive won't wear out. The motor won't wear out, even cheap motors tend to last for a very long time. If anything goes, it would be the laser diode, which, if it's running at rated voltages, shouldn't go out. This would only be a problem if you tweaked the voltage on the laser to run it at a higher level than it is supposed to operate at.

      4: This costs $0. Nobody is going to be running out and buying a Wii over this. It is assumed that you already own a Wii. Since this already matches a $20 DVD player, you've just saved yourself $20, because a low end DVD player won't be upscaling with HDMI either and this way you don't have to switch inputs. If you're that seriously concerned about DVD playback and you're on a big screen home theater setup, then the $120 DVD player will definitely be worth it, because it will actually do the upscaling and such. However, like I said before, if you have a fancy home theater setup, you would be stupid not to already own such a DVD player (or Blu-Ray/HD-DVD player with this capability).
  • bigpixl, on 08/13/2008, -3/+3Once we get an equivalent to Xbox Media Center, the Wii will dominate my living room.
    • Zamfir, on 08/13/2008, -3/+3Dominating at 480p without digital audio! Sign me up!
      • CalcProgrammer1, on 08/13/2008, -2/+3Well, I haven't seen the Xbox 360 (yes, I own one and it's a good console too) play high quality video in almost any format either. Yes, it can play DVD's, and it might even upscale them, but MPlayer plays many formats that the 360's built in media center will never be able to run.
      • Zamfir, on 08/13/2008, -2/+2I boot Linux on the PS3 when I need mplayer for media that the PS3 can't natively play.
      • CalcProgrammer1, on 08/14/2008, -2/+3If I was that concerned, I could build a PC out of cheap parts, many of which I have lying around, that could also boot Linux and play said formats. It'd be a lot cheaper than the PS3 and it'd have just as many good games.
      • Zamfir, on 08/14/2008, -2/+1Well I suppose if you don't mind having yet another device in your entertainment center, then I think that's an obvious option. For my personal tastes, having a PC in the living room is not an option. A surround amplifier, HDTV cable box, and a PS3 covers all my entertainment needs. It's also quiet and tidy. I'm not 100% sure, but I think a Wii for gaming, plus a cheap media PC capable of HD video output with a Blu-ray drive would be more expensive than any PS3 SKU. Finally, in regards to your tired "PS3 has no good games" comment; I suppose that's highly subjective because in my case, I have more games than I have time to play them. Also, sites like metacritic seem to disagree with your opinion, not that I would place much stock in that, it's interesting to note nonetheless.
    • deaftly, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5"Wii will dominate my living room*"


      *parents basement
  • DawgMan93, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Why can't they make a WiiWare channel for watching DVDs or something?
    • CalcProgrammer1, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2Answer is, they can.

      Reason they don't is because commercially implementing a free DVD player is probably illegal. The DVD and MPEG 2 formats are licensed, though unofficial players have been created through reverse-engineering. These free decoders are available to port to other platforms, but because they are not licensed, companies will get sued for using them instead of purchasing a license for official software. That's how the ridiculous nonsense called software patenting works.

      But if they did decide to make one, they'd have to pay x amount of money to the DVD patent holders for every device that they allowed to play DVD's. You'd end up paying that x amount and then some, so your Wii software DVD player program would be almost as much as just buying a cheap hardware DVD player, minus the hardware. It honestly doesn't make much sense to implement if it's going to cost any more than, say, $5-$10.
  • Smwbigboss, on 08/14/2008, -2/+2DVD licensing fees are $15-20, and the royalties go to Sony, Philips, Toshiba and AOL Time Warner. Its kind of stupid to let one of your main competitors profit off the success of your system, especially when most people already have a stand alone player. I'm surprised Microsoft is even doing it.
  • BoonSaibot, on 08/14/2008, -1/+0wow, maybe i'll sell my ps3 and buy back the wii
  • KingGoonie, on 08/14/2008, -2/+3Am I the only one who never used a videogame system for dvd's because I, ya know, have a DVD PLAYER.

    I swear man, really... Get the hell over it.
  • Petes256, on 08/14/2008, -1/+0Dugg for freakazoid.
  • rentmitchum, on 08/14/2008, -1/+2I have lost faith in Nintendo.. I don't regret fighting for them in the SEGA wars.. I'm just a little saddened..
    • CalcProgrammer1, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1I'm not quite sure. The Wii brought great controls and new methods of gameplay, yet they could have done more with the actual console (faster CPU, better GPU, more RAM, some sort of next-gen disc reader, internal Ethernet as well as WiFi, VGA and HDMI output) and it would have been much better.

      What they should have done was come up with a standard gamepad as well as the Wiimote + Nunchuk. The Classic Controller tried to do this, but its odd shape, lack of rumble, and the fact that you still need the Wiimote kind of ruins it. This way, 3rd parties wouldn't have a problem porting their games with the same quality as the other platforms.

      Then again, the Wii as it is is way ahead of other consoles in terms of sales. If anything, I'd like to see some more awesome games come out. A year ago, I couldn't wait for the massive number of new titles to hit (Metroid Prime 3, Guitar Hero 3, Mario Galaxy, Brawl, MarioKart Wii). That was a great time to own a Wii. Now it seems to have died, Nintendo's not planning anything great. I'd like to see another Zelda game, one designed to take full control of the hardware and use it to its maximum potential (Twilight Princess was awesome, but had GameCube graphics, the Wii can do better than that).
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