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wii U discs have round edges. #gamechanging with comfort.

To be honest, one of the only two genuinely nice parts of setting up the WiiU was the 'ooh, neat!' moment I had handling the discs (the other being using the godly Pro Controller).

Then I promptly dropped said disc because I'm used to handling them quite gingerly, so as to avoid potential damage. Those edges might feel nice, but they do bugger all for the ability to grip them.

Really should have just used Blu Rays though. The multimedia capabilities of the WiiU are shite.
 
Stilton Disco said:
Really should have just used Blu Rays though. The multimedia capabilities of the WiiU are shite.
Click to expand...

Considering the discs are single-layer and hold 25GB, I'd guess they are BD-based, much like how GC discs are miniDVD-based and Wii discs DVD-based, however DVD/BD playback support means various licensing fees that Nintendo would rather avoid.
 
JaseC said:
Considering the discs are single-layer and hold 25GB, I'd guess they are BD-based, much like how GC discs are miniDVD-based and Wii discs DVD-based, however DVD/BD playback support means various licensing fees that Nintendo would rather avoid.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've heard the speculation before, and agree it's the most likely scenario.

However like the Wii before it, the money they save ultimately inconveniences the consumer, and makes their product less valuable compared to the competition due to that features omission.
 
Yea, these discs are so soft... I won't go full digital for Wii U, just because of that.

edit: they have some silicon on edges, right? fucking brilliant.
 
Schreckstoff said:
How does that work bluray isn't just a trademark, I just read panasonic made the discs and they hold a share of the BluRay foundation but I'm still curious just how that works.

Also it's not like the Wii U is cheap, I'd still have to fork over €279 for a bundle.
Click to expand...

First, let's go back to the original Wii. It didn't use standard DVDs, but the discs sported the same characteristics and capacity as standard DVDs. As with the Wii U, Nintendo developed these jointly with Panasonic. Some PC DVD-ROM drives can actually read Wii discs. How does this work? Well, it turns out Wii discs are physically identical to DVDs. Thus, the hardware (e.g. laser) of a standard DVD-ROM is sufficient for reading Wii discs. To create a proprietary format, Nintendo took the DVD specification and made alterations to sector structuring and error checking. Thus, Wii discs differ from standard DVDs logically. Error checking is of course a vital component of DVD technology. A DVD-ROM drive will verify each piece of data it reads against error detection codes on the disc. Wii discs are altered in a way that makes this error detection consistently fail. Thus, standard DVD-ROM drives can't normally read Wii discs. However, there exists a clever circumvention trick, relying on the fact that drives will buffer read data in internal memory. By (ab)using non-standard debug features present in some drives, it was possible to dump the raw contents of the buffer in between failed reads. This is a slow process that requires special software, and only works on a select few drives out there.

Let's move on to the Wii U. Again, the discs have the same characteristics and capacity as Blu-Ray discs (that is, they can store just as much data as PS4 and XB1 Blu-Ray discs - 25 GB per layer). Much is yet not known about Wii U discs, but I'm guessing Nintendo went with a similar approach this time. Physically identical, logically different. Why do they bother? I think copy protection is the main driver here. The fact that you can't rip these discs using conventional hardware is a spanner in the works for pirates.
 
Stilton Disco said:
Yeah, I've heard the speculation before, and agree it's the most likely scenario.

However like the Wii before it, the money they save ultimately inconveniences the consumer, and makes their product less valuable compared to the competition due to that features omission.
Click to expand...
Yeah, no. Not in the particular case of Blu-ray. The licence agreement for this one is downright crazy on requirements, some extensive, some confusing for consumers. Like the no BD playback on non-HDCP cables... on new hardware since 201X.
 
I just checked my mario kart disc, it's less rounded than my ps4 games. Maybe I have a bad disc or maybe ps4 games are more rounded.
 
The rounded edges suck.
I know Thai thread is old and got bumped but man they bug me so much. It was cool for all of 5 seconds until I realized it does make the disc harder to hold more than anything.
 
Stilton Disco said:
Yeah, I've heard the speculation before, and agree it's the most likely scenario.

However like the Wii before it, the money they save ultimately inconveniences the consumer, and makes their product less valuable compared to the competition due to that features omission.
Click to expand...

I don't need another Bluray player in the house. Save the money and just give me a game system.

Just like the Wii before, there was no need for yet another DVD playing device.
 
Well shit, I just noticed this.

Stilton Disco said:
Yeah, I've heard the speculation before, and agree it's the most likely scenario.

However like the Wii before it, the money they save ultimately inconveniences the consumer, and makes their product less valuable compared to the competition due to that features omission.
Click to expand...

Why so? Most likely you already have a player besides the Wii U.
 
Shin Johnpv said:
I don't need another Bluray player in the house. Save the money and just give me a game system.

Just like the Wii before, there was no need for yet another DVD playing device.
Click to expand...

tumblr_makekrXt011qhax3so1_500.gif
 
This is a strange bump. I got confused that someone just now realized the discs were rounded. And yes, it does feel good. I love holding them. It's how discs should be. And yes, I still use physical media because I like having a physical library of Nintendo games. (I bought the disc version of Wind Waker even though my console came with it digitally. Also, it was the LE. Also I spent twice as much to get it from a scalper. Also, I regret nothing.)
 
The Real Abed said:
This is a strange bump. I got confused that someone just now realized the discs were rounded. And yes, it does feel good. I love holding them. It's how discs should be. And yes, I still use physical media because I like having a physical library of Nintendo games. (I bought the disc version of Wind Waker even though my console came with it digitally. Also, it was the LE. Also I spent twice as much to get it from a scalper. Also, I regret nothing.)
Click to expand...

The ganondorf fig is worth it.

legend-of-zelda-wind-waker-ganondorf-figure.jpg
 
Yeah, it seems trivial, but it is something you notice straight away.

And on the topic of DVD/Blu ray, The Wii didn't have the licence to playback DVD's, but with homebrew installed the Wii natively plays DVDs.

Would it be the same for Wii U? I'm not sure, but games and the only media I still buy physically, so I really ain't bothered.
 
It really is crazy when you touch it for the first time. Then I start worrying about it slipping out of my hand it being so slippery smooth.
 
Honestly this probably sounds crazy (well I know it does) but I have trouble touching non-wiiU discs now as I'm expecting a certain sensation and the harsh edges are a bit jarring.
 
How did I not notice this when I handled my copy of Smash Wii U? Now I really want to see but my game is over 1000 miles away currently :(
 
protomouse said:
First, let's go back to the original Wii. It didn't use standard DVDs, but the discs sported the same characteristics and capacity as standard DVDs. As with the Wii U, Nintendo developed these jointly with Panasonic. Some PC DVD-ROM drives can actually read Wii discs. How does this work? Well, it turns out Wii discs are physically identical to DVDs. Thus, the hardware (e.g. laser) of a standard DVD-ROM is sufficient for reading Wii discs. To create a proprietary format, Nintendo took the DVD specification and made alterations to sector structuring and error checking. Thus, Wii discs differ from standard DVDs logically. Error checking is of course a vital component of DVD technology. A DVD-ROM drive will verify each piece of data it reads against error detection codes on the disc. Wii discs are altered in a way that makes this error detection consistently fail. Thus, standard DVD-ROM drives can't normally read Wii discs. However, there exists a clever circumvention trick, relying on the fact that drives will buffer read data in internal memory. By (ab)using non-standard debug features present in some drives, it was possible to dump the raw contents of the buffer in between failed reads. This is a slow process that requires special software, and only works on a select few drives out there.

Let's move on to the Wii U. Again, the discs have the same characteristics and capacity as Blu-Ray discs (that is, they can store just as much data as PS4 and XB1 Blu-Ray discs - 25 GB per layer). Much is yet not known about Wii U discs, but I'm guessing Nintendo went with a similar approach this time. Physically identical, logically different. Why do they bother? I think copy protection is the main driver here. The fact that you can't rip these discs using conventional hardware is a spanner in the works for pirates.
Click to expand...

but couldn't you just rip the hard drive files and/or intercept and copy the downloads directly
 
The first generation of PS3 games did.

My Motorstorm and Resistance have the exact same feel. But they stopped using them over time.
 
I picked up a DVD a couple days back and I felt like it cut off my fingers. I don't want to miss rounded edges anymore, nope.
 
TI82 said:
Lol, it's not appropriate to laugh at a user arguing for less functionality? OK.
Click to expand...

I'm arguing for needless additions. Adding bluray functionality to a device that doesn't need it adds a pointless cost to the product. There's more to adding DVD or Bluray functionality than just paying a license fee, and there's no need to raise the cost of the unit when the majority of the people don't need overlapping features. For once let a fucking game machine be a game machine. They don't all need to be a multimedia hub. Every bit of programming, and money spent on adding Bluray playback subtracts from money and time spent on making these systems have better gaming OS'. Maybe if Sony and MS had focused on their machines being game machines their OS's specially Sony's wouldn't be lacking important gaming functionality. Like how the fuck does the PS3 support bluetooth headsets but the PS4 still doesn't. Maybe if they spent more time thinking about games and less time about bluray playback that wouldn't be an issue.

But go ahead post idiotic gif responses.
 
Shin Johnpv said:
I'm arguing for needless additions. Adding bluray functionality to a device that doesn't need it adds a pointless cost to the product. There's more to adding DVD or Bluray functionality than just paying a license fee, and there's no need to raise the cost of the unit when the majority of the people don't need overlapping features. For once let a fucking game machine be a game machine. They don't all need to be a multimedia hub. Every bit of programming, and money spent on adding Bluray playback subtracts from money and time spent on making these systems have better gaming OS'. Maybe if Sony and MS had focused on their machines being game machines their OS's specially Sony's wouldn't be lacking important gaming functionality. Like how the fuck does the PS3 support bluetooth headsets but the PS4 still doesn't. Maybe if they spent more time thinking about games and less time about bluray playback that wouldn't be an issue.

But go ahead post idiotic gif responses.
Click to expand...

Thank you this needed to be said, there's nothing wrong with being a dedicated gaming machine.
 
Schreckstoff said:
Pachter estimated MS paying to $2 to $3 royalties per unit to Sony (technically wrong since sony doesn't own bluray) but you get the point it isn't a lot.

The Wii U wasn't cheap in the first place, especially not considering its performance leaving out a feature like BluRay playback is just cheap.
Click to expand...

Wii uses DVDs but doesn't have DVD movie playback. Nintendo might be cheap, but the proprietary discs are not what's holding Bluray playback on the Wii U.
 
TI82 said:
If the Wii is anything to go by... Not really. Once the Wii U is fully cracked I'm sure we will see bluray playing unlocked just as well. :/
Click to expand...

So not only do you post stupid gifs you don't know what you're talking about. To OFFICIALLY add DVD or Bluray playback involves licensing the ability to do so from the right consortium, both require certain outputs thst have to be in place, for DVD this included a TOSLINK or digital Co-Ax out. Which adds another cost plus increases mother board complexity. You also have to license certain audio codecs from Dolby Digital and DTS, and make sure the machine can support their decoding. You need to support HDCP over HDMI for bluray, and then there's the issue with AACS, which stated in 2010 that " "any Licensed Player manufactured after December 31, 2010, shall limit analog video outputs for Decrypted AACS Content to SD Interlace Modes only" and starting in 2014 made it so analog video couldn't be included. Which is why you see no Bluray players shipping with component video any more. I'm not sure how MS and Sony get around this, maybe they pay fees to AACS, but I'm not sure. I highly doubt they're just given a free pass though.

To OFFICIALLY support Bluray playback on the system would have been more than just a few lines of code in the OS, and there was no need for it. They're not Sony trying to push a product that they're one of the main backers of. Its a game machine, let the focus of the money and time put into the product and OS be for making it be the best game machine it can be. There's not a single reason it needs to have any of that wasted on Bluray playback.
 
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