Wii HD (+Netflix?)

Atomika

That's what this company thinks:

http://blog.streamingmedia.com/the_business_of_online_vi/2009/10/confirmed-netflix-streaming-coming-to-the-wii-very-soon.html

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Confirmed: Netflix Streaming Coming To The Wii Very Shortly
Dan Rayburn | Wednesday October 28, 2009 | 02:03 PM | Comments (14)

Wii Last week I received some images that showed Netflix streaming on a Wii console. I didn't run with the story at the time as I didn't know if the images were legit and it's taken me until today to confirm they are in fact real. I'm not disclosing who confirmed it for me but someone involved in the project has confirmed that Nintendo is currently in testing stages with Netflix to bring their streaming service to the Wii very soon.

What I'm hearing is that Nintendo originally planned to bring the Netflix service to the Wii before the end of this year, which still might take place, but that Nintendo is also considering holding off on the Netflix service until they release their next generation Wii HD unit in early 2010.

Note: I am not sharing any of the images I received as I don't want to burn the person who sent them to me.

Anyone hearing of this? Is this a new Wii unit altogether, or just a peripheral? Because if it's a new unit, screw 'em. I'm too disappointed with the game selection so far to justify a new Nintendo product at this point.

UncleSporky

There have been recent rumblings about a Wii successor in 2010. To that I say whatever, let it come or not.

However there have been lots of hints and signs of a Wii Netflix for a while now and I would buy into that idea pretty easily.

UnbreakableVow

That kind of thing belongs in the video game sales thread.

Also this idea comes up like every two weeks, it's just a rumor that won't die because idiot analysts keep bringing it up.

UncleSporky

UnbreakableVow wrote: »

That kind of thing belongs in the video game sales thread.

No it doesn't, that's megathread mentality where nobody can ever make a thread about a game because it "belongs in the console X thread." That's why they were closed down in the first place.

Video game sales =/= generic news thread, though we treat it as such. Of course any and all gaming news technically pertains to sales in some way, but you don't have to report every developing story there.

Slicer

UnbreakableVow wrote: »

That kind of thing belongs in the video game sales thread.

Also this idea comes up like every two weeks, it's just a rumor that won't die because idiot analysts keep bringing it up.

This sounds important enough that it could use its own thread actually.


Netflix functionality is pretty neat, hopefully they can get it on the current Wii instead of whatever its successor is.

cooljammer00

Well now that we know it can be done with discs and whatnot, I wouldn't be shocked for a Wii Netflix channel.

-Loki-

Pretty sure a new console coming early next year would already be known about outside of rumours from analysts. But then this is Nintendo, and they haven't had a lot of leaks (not that anyone would care about a lot of their recent stuff enough to leak it).

Graviija

If a Wii HD comes out next year, or ever, I will mailed a signed letter to Michael Pachter with an apology on behalf of the entire internet.

Luckily, I won't have to do this. Since there isn't going to be a Wii HD.

UnbreakableVow

If Netflix comes to the Wii, good for the Wii.

However, better for Netflix.

Basically anything that can put the final nail in the coffin of Blockbuster, and with a 50-million plus install base, this would certainly do that.

Ragnar Dragonfyre

If anything, it isn't a new console, but just an upgraded version of the Wii. How many iterations has Nintendo had of the DS? I wouldn't be surprised to see 2-3 iterations of the Wii before the next generation the way Nintendo is going.

Personally, I'm tired of it. Anyone with half a brain now knows that early adopters of Nintendo systems are going to regret their purchase 9-12 months later when the next, better iteration comes out.

Ultimanecat

Ragnar Dragonfyre wrote: »

If anything, it isn't a new console, but just an upgraded version of the Wii. How many iterations has Nintendo had of the DS? I wouldn't be surprised to see 2-3 iterations of the Wii before the next generation the way Nintendo is going.

Personally, I'm tired of it. Anyone with half a brain now knows that early adopters of Nintendo systems are going to regret their purchase 9-12 months later when the next, better iteration comes out.

That's only portables, so far, and the emphasis there has pretty much been focused around size and non-critical additions of functionality. Nintendo hardly ever revises their home consoles. I'd say MS and Sony are more responsible for the SKU-mania that we seem to have gotten ourselves into this generation.

UncleSporky

Ragnar Dragonfyre wrote: »

If anything, it isn't a new console, but just an upgraded version of the Wii. How many iterations has Nintendo had of the DS? I wouldn't be surprised to see 2-3 iterations of the Wii before the next generation the way Nintendo is going.

Personally, I'm tired of it. Anyone with half a brain now knows that early adopters of Nintendo systems are going to regret their purchase 9-12 months later when the next, better iteration comes out.

Yeah I'm pretty sure it's been more than 9-12 months since the launch of the Wii.

Nintendo knows by now that the only thing they're lacking, the one thing that would put them even further ahead, is the ability for devs to cross-port 360 games. That alone would make them totally unstoppable. Can you imagine if they'd had that all along?

UnbreakableVow

That would pretty much make the Classic Controller have to be a system pack-in, though.

Atomika

UncleSporky wrote: »

Nintendo knows by now that the only thing they're lacking, the one thing that would put them even further ahead, is the ability for devs to cross-port 360 games. That alone would make them totally unstoppable. Can you imagine if they'd had that all along?

That'd be great, especially the increase to available memory on an HD media format, but I can't see that coming via firmware update or peripheral. That sounds like "whole new console" territory, and honestly the console Wii should have been from the get-go.

Local H Jay

i can see microsoft maybe try to block this with some money
but then again other devices have instant netflix, like bluray players.

Allforce

Ragnar Dragonfyre wrote: »

If anything, it isn't a new console, but just an upgraded version of the Wii. How many iterations has Nintendo had of the DS? I wouldn't be surprised to see 2-3 iterations of the Wii before the next generation the way Nintendo is going.

I'm with this guy. Milk the cow til it's dry. It's what I'D want to hear as an investor.

-Loki-

Ragnar Dragonfyre wrote: »

Personally, I'm tired of it. Anyone with half a brain now knows that early adopters of Nintendo systems are going to regret their purchase 9-12 months later when the next, better iteration comes out.

That's a pretty stupid way of looking at it, because then only idiots would ever buy a Nintendo system, smart people never would because the next, better iteration is coming in another 12 months. And 12 months after. And 12 months after. But plenty of people still buy Nintendo systems.

Ultimanecat

Well Nintendo probably wouldn't have been able to release it for $250 or make money on consoles sold if it were comparable to a 360. Nor would it be the small system which they seemed to have been aiming for.

I think Nintendo was serious when they said that they thought the market they were going for wasn't ready for HD. Their sales indicate that they were probably right.

Opty

UncleSporky wrote: »

Yeah I'm pretty sure it's been more than 9-12 months since the launch of the Wii.

Nintendo knows by now that the only thing they're lacking, the one thing that would put them even further ahead, is the ability for devs to cross-port 360 games. That alone would make them totally unstoppable. Can you imagine if they'd had that all along?

Nintendo's also lacking a storage solution, an online gaming system that doesn't hinge on game-specific codes, and an online purchase infrastructure that's not linked to the console and only that console. HD resolution is the least of their problems.

JJ

There is no Wii HD and certainly not one coming in 2010. Jesus Christ.

UnbreakableVow

Local H Jay wrote: »

i can see microsoft maybe try to block this with some money
but then again other devices have instant netflix, like bluray players.

And PS3s.

FyreWulff

No Wii HD will ever come, and if something DOES come it would be an upscaler that you'd put between the a/v out and your cables. However, a vast majority of games are still being played in SD. Microsoft doesn't even include HD-capable cables with 360s anymore.

Also Netflix is old news, because Netflix already sent out surveys relating to a Wii Netflix disc

Local H Jay

well, not offically supported right? you have to use a program right?
i know you can get tvsersity to do it

UnbreakableVow

Local H Jay wrote: »

well, not offically supported right? you have to use a program right?
i know you can get tvsersity to do it

www.netflix.com/ps3

Officially supported.

-Loki-

UnbreakableVow wrote: »

Local H Jay wrote: »

well, not offically supported right? you have to use a program right?
i know you can get tvsersity to do it

www.netflix.com/ps3

Officially supported.

Yah, officially supported. At the moment it's a blu ray that uses BD Live to stream it, late next year they're releasing an app that sits on your XMB to do it.

UnbreakableVow

Oh hey, I just found this, which pretty much answers my question.

http://blog.netflix.com/2009/06/closed-captions-and-subtitles.html

This is Neil Hunt, Chief Product Officer at Netflix. We've had some inquiries about why Netflix doesn't yet provide closed captioning or subtitles for streaming movies and TV episodes. Captioning is in our development plans but is about a year away.

A bunch of technical jargon in there as to how they're going to do it.

This is good news for me since it's basically the reason I don't really use Netflix quite as much as I should on 360.

apotheos

Dear Netflix,

Could you maybe solve the Canada issue? Thanks.

HyperAquaBlast

Dear Aptheos,

A invitation to live in the United States has been sent. A stall in one of our warehouse bathrooms has just opened up. Thanks.

xo
Netflix

Atomika

Allforce wrote: »

Ragnar Dragonfyre wrote: »

If anything, it isn't a new console, but just an upgraded version of the Wii. How many iterations has Nintendo had of the DS? I wouldn't be surprised to see 2-3 iterations of the Wii before the next generation the way Nintendo is going.

I'm with this guy. Milk the cow til it's dry. It's what I'D want to hear as an investor.

If it's not a download or a peripheral, it might as well be considered a new console. With all the Wii backlash in full force, I can't imagine that a new version of the console is going to have a lot of takers at this juncture.

Brainiac 8

Wiis in Japan already have a tv/movie watching service that works through the Wii, so using the most popular American equivilent is a no brainer...it'll happen, it's just a matter of when the two companies announce it.

Saddler

Whatever. It takes ten seconds to plug my laptop into the VGA hookup on the TV.

Local H Jay

Saddler wrote: »

Whatever. It takes ten seconds to plug my laptop into the VGA hookup on the TV.

yeah but not everybody is a nerd see

UnbreakableVow

Saddler wrote: »

Whatever. It takes ten seconds to plug my laptop into the VGA hookup on the TV.

Cool story

Dehumanized

More consoles getting Netflix is wonderful. Probably the #1 thing I use my Xbox for (Rock Band comes in at #2, and other games a distant third). I'll believe the Wii HD when I see it.

Dodge Aspen

Other than the cold, lack of Netflix is the only thing I don't like about Canada.

Synthesis

It seemed a little early for a new Nintendo console. But good for the Wii, in any case. I'm not sure what the limit to quality of video for Netflix on the Xbox 360 or PS3 might be (assuming you had one badass connection), though I doubt the intended consumers will notice/care if quality on the Wii is lower.

apotheos

Dodge Aspen wrote: »

Other than the cold, lack of Netflix is the only thing I don't like about Canada.

Really the only other thing to not like about Canada is the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

cloudeagle

Graviija wrote: »

If a Wii HD comes out next year, or ever, I will mailed a signed letter to Michael Pachter with an apology on behalf of the entire internet.

Luckily, I won't have to do this. Since there isn't going to be a Wii HD.

Pretty much this. The Wii HD rumor started about ten seconds after the Wii was revealed and refuses to go away due to gibbering tech nerds with no common sense. It's a safe bet that Nintendo's full-fledged next console will have HD, but anyone who thinks Nintendo has any financial incentive to shoehorn HD into the Wii and potentially split the market is kidding themselves.

Dodge Aspen

apotheos wrote: »

Dodge Aspen wrote: »

Other than the cold, lack of Netflix is the only thing I don't like about Canada.

Really the only other thing to not like about Canada is the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Easy, now.

Ragnar Dragonfyre

UncleSporky wrote: »

Ragnar Dragonfyre wrote: »

If anything, it isn't a new console, but just an upgraded version of the Wii. How many iterations has Nintendo had of the DS? I wouldn't be surprised to see 2-3 iterations of the Wii before the next generation the way Nintendo is going.

Personally, I'm tired of it. Anyone with half a brain now knows that early adopters of Nintendo systems are going to regret their purchase 9-12 months later when the next, better iteration comes out.

Yeah I'm pretty sure it's been more than 9-12 months since the launch of the Wii.

Nintendo knows by now that the only thing they're lacking, the one thing that would put them even further ahead, is the ability for devs to cross-port 360 games. That alone would make them totally unstoppable. Can you imagine if they'd had that all along?

I know that, I was exaggerating and being a douche :P

I love Nintendo, I just wish they'd shift focus to making some original games rather than more new hardware.

MarvellousM

Could HD just mean hard drive?