I'd still like some official word if it's still possible too hook the damn thing up to a monitor though.

Ah hell, there'll be enough time to save up for a TV anyway, while I wait for the black Wii to get its fat ass up on the shelves...

If you want to hook it into your monitor, just run your input (in this case your Wii) into a capture card on your PC (like $50-60) and then out from your video card into your monitor (obviously).

No, no, no, no, no, no, no! You cannot imply that the lack of an HDMI cable is similar to Nintendo's AV only offering. On none-HD TVs, better cables such as S-Video and others make a minute difference. Yeah, you'll see some improvement, but really, only true videophiles will get a kick out of it.

HDMI cables, however, are essential for HD viewing. I remember working at best buy and seeing side by side comparisons of HD footage one with and one without HDMI. Without it, you actually seem to lose some texture and end up with some patches of discoloration. And since Sony's talked up HD as a primary feature of PS3, it's a much bigger blow for them to not include HDMI cables, as opposed to Nintendo including AV cables only with their none-HD machine.

Yeah. Let's also not forget that the entire purpose of the PS3 is better graphics. The best way to acheive this is through HDMI, whereas the Wii... isn't exactly oriented towards more powerful graphics.

To be blunt, Sony not including what many consider to be an essential component for something which the entire system is based upon is not exactly the same as Nintendo not including a component for prettier graphics, when their system is decidedly not oriented towards such a purpose..

I have to agree with people who are baffled at Nintendo only selling the component cables online. While I do only have AV-able TVs at the moment, I would be very annoyed if I do get a HDTV and the component cables are not something I would be able to have access to quickly at stores. Plus, the fact that my family and myself don't do online shopping.

Otherwise, I think it's fine that they're not including it with the package.

The only thing that bothers me with how Nintendo is approaching only giving us a standard composite cable is how fucking hard it was to even get ahold of a component cable for the GAMECUBE let alone their new system.

The cables better be in stores instead of having to go pay an atrocious amount of money from Nintendo's online store just to be able to have component cables for the system.

Most, if not all HDTVs still have AV jacks so you can still plug it into an HDTV. Guaranteed, it won't look as good as Component, but it really shouldn't bother you, unless, as previously stated, you are a videophile. It will not that be that much of a difference and you won't be missing out on anything big because you're using AV as opposed to S-Video or Component. The difference is minimal to gameplay, regardless. You also have to consider the audience of the Wii, which is your average person who may or may not game. More than likely, they are probably used to the AV setup which universal. First of all, it would suck big ass if you bought the Wii and it came with Component cables and you have a regular TV with only A/V ports and possibly an S-Video port. Nintendo was trying to avoid having you catch up with other technology in order to enjoy the Wii. Otherwise, you may as well factor in a new TV into the cost *cough*PS3*cough*. AV is still universally accepted, and therefore, makes perfect sense to package it with the console. Because I'll tell you right now, if it came with only Component cables, I'd be one of the guys that has to buy a new TV. I'm glad that AV is bundled.

Not true. Component is actually capable of carrying 720p/1080i and p to the television. The only reason HDMI (and DVI HDCP) exists is as a means for Hollywood to prevent piracy.

See the 360 for proof that you don't need HDMI at all for HD signals. You lose nothing in the process and comparisons have been done that show little perceivable difference between the two.

That's because they're marketing it as a Blu-Ray player first, with videogames as a secondary function. Shitty strategy after being successful with the reverse? Yes.

What I want is Nintendo to allow third parties to make their own component cables for the Wii. Keeping it to themselves was nothing short of greed and it was a detriment to the consumer. First it was "online gaming isn't important", then the digital out and component cables.

The other thing to remember, I mean, yeah it sucks if you can't get a component cable the exact same day you get a Wii, but if they make us order it online, then, what, you play composite for like a week or two and then switch for the remaining 3-5 years.

I'm more worried about shortages of them (and controllers) than where I have to get it from.

Actually when Sony launched the PS2 they were heavely promoting the DVD player then they were the actual game player, not so much in North America, but it was the main selling point in Japan seeing how only about 25% of people in Japan had a DVD player at the time. Therefore Sony is using the same strategy for the PS3... heck it worked the first time around.

As for the Wii not having component cables, yeah it kind of sucks, but I have component cables for my cube and honestly unless you're playing Resident Evil 4... it doesn't make as much of a difference as it does for the PS2 or Xbox.

Don't get me wrong, while component inputs makes a picture look better period, I don't support this whole HD bull. I have an HDTV and even with my 360, there's just not enough texture detail to really even use the HD feature... so don't fall for it.

Not sure if people mention this but HDMI carries the signal, both video and audio, digitially while component carry the video signal via analog. So if you're connecting to a HDTV via component it's digital --> analog --> digital (ie. wave --> mp3 --> wave) but nevertheless display the color more accurately and in progressive/higher resolution. Only reason why some game might look worst when running via component is because that's how the game actually looks like. It's showing its "true color"! [/videophile]

So as someone said the PS3 not including a HDMI cable isn't the same as the Wii not including a component cable. Now I wish/want to know if I can use my GCN component cable with the Wii because I'm not willing to spend $30+ on another one.

As for the regional-lock thing, that...really...sucks...

Doesn't look like you'll be able to. If you look at this pic the AV port almost looks like the one the Dreamcast had.

No, they weren't. The main draw of the PS2.... was it being the PS2. Sony simply emphasized that it could also play DVDs. It's the literal reverse of the current situation.
But the real question is: Why are we talking about the PS3?

Not the same strategy at all. If it were, the machine would be in far better shape technically and in the eyes of gamers and the public.

Then... why did you buy a console where HD is a pivotal point if you realize this?

Slayer X, I'm not quite sure if you're confused or something. The Wii does not come with component. It comes with composite. However, component cables for the Wii will be available at at least Nintendo's website. Hopefully this time they'll also have them at retail stores. Whenever they're demoing the Wii they have it connected to TVs using component cables. So don't worry about that so much as worrying about getting them because the Wii does use component.

Oh a side note, the Wii also doesn't have an audio digital out. If the "new" component cable also have the audio cable together then it would be a hassle for those who wants to connect the video to a TV and the audio to a surround sound. On the GCN it was easier since you actually using two cable.

The more I think, the more it seems like Nintendo's making things a hassle for comsumer. :/

3rd party should make a USB-to-optical if that's the case.

Okay, back again. This thread has just exploded! =o

The european conference was pretty cool. Yes, pricewise we're getting raped (again). However, we got Satouro 'What is the time?' Iwata to talk. Awesome.

So, the games, eh? I tried a couple (Full rundown in my journal when I have the last fotos)
Twilight Princess: Not convinced. It really felt like they had made the Gamecube version first, and then bung the whole code onto the Wii instead. The Wiimote is used for aiming, but it is currently very anal about pointing at the screen. You can probably imagine that that's a bad thing. "Yea, I'l just aim at that giant lava creature there..." *Please aim at the screen* *Link's getting pasted* "Bugger!"

Excite Truck, though. Pretty solid racing. Great control. Infernal is wise to buy this from day one.

God, how freaking gay. It was bad enough with the GC, where I would barely hook it up to my home theater, since I had to manually connect it every time, unlike the PS2 which is always connected. This is why it should've been cheaper than $250.

i don't care so much about no digital audio... but i want component cables! i hope that either 1) they are in stores, or 2) you can buy them BEFORE the console releases. people who say "you can't tell the difference between component and composite unless you're a videophile" clearly are not thinking of large displays - i have a projector capable of progressive scan, and i have friends who don't care about video quality who whine about how "pixelly" it looks when it's in component-interlaced-scan mode or composite/svideo. component/progressive scan makes a HUGE difference... and oddly enough, RE4 doesn't look super-good with it due to the fact that it's letterboxed, but whatever, i still want my wii with component cables... i don't want to suffer through muddy, blurry, pixellated crap for two weeks waiting for some cables to arrive.

it would have been nice to have the same AV ports that the SNES, N64, and Gamecube had, but apparently they changed it :(

I don't know what comparisons you've seen Metal Sphere but all the comparisons we had set up at our store had very noticable differences between HD with HDMI VS. without. Then again, I'm not an HD gamer so perhaps this distinct drop of visual quality in none HDMI HD content is only native to movies, shows and sports events as opposed to videogames. It doesn't really matter though. Point is, that top-notch visuals are big part of PS3's appeal. So, having high quality cables are much more important for it than they are to Wii and it's "modest" visuals approach.


Anyway, back to EB/Gamestop's mandatory $50 trade in only nonesense, it's apperantly sort of true. They're testing it out in Hawaii and Guam. They might make it a widespread policy depending on how it does in those areas.

I'm not going to. This console is either going to support it, or I'll buy a TV.

Been there done that - I even had several vga-boxes, and they're not worth it unless you get up in prices where I'd rather buy a TV anyway.

It really doesn't make that much of a difference seriously. I have played on a larger TV. Hell, I played Super Smash Bros. on the N64 on a 52" Plasma Screen with AV cables and it looked the same besides being larger. None of that Pixellation crap you're talking about becuse, 1) You're not inches away from the screen when you play, and 2) You're not going to notice it because you're playin the game, not staring at the screen. Seriously, unless you are a videophile, it should not bother you at all.

I present to you, PS2 and Gamecube shots with Composite/Component

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sauchun..._Composite.JPG

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sauchun..._Component.JPG

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sauchun..._Component.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sauchun..._Composite.jpg

Metal Sphere: I have barely even noticed any promotion of the PS3 outside of conventions, so where we the more "hardcore gamers" are hearing alot about the Blu-Ray, who knows how they're going to advertise it to the public. And the adds that I've been seeing in things like EGM and what not mostly talks about the superior power of the PS3 and briefly mentions the Blu-Ray.

AcerBandit: I was just answering BigCN's question. He wanted to know if you could use the GCN's component cable on the Wii, and I told him that you can't because the Wii has a different avi port.

Malmer: Alright then man, just thought I'd throw it out there for ya.

Well lucky us....eh, I'll probably just go to Best Buy or Wal-Mart instead to get one, if I'm extremely lucky.

Sucks about the composite cable, though. I had to order my WiFi connector off Nintendo's site and it shipped out very quickly, so I guess I'm okay with ordering off their site again if I have to...although I'd rather not, of course.

Those are interesting comparisons.

If I turn the color up on my tv, they look almost exactly like component. And that's on composite. In the past I've been interested in purchasing an entirely new tv set just to use component with my games, but haven't bothered. I've completed and mastered some of the hardest arcade games/RPGs on composite so it shouldn't matter what quality you're using. It's still playable.

I'm not gonna touch on the component/composite argument even with a 20-foot pole. Whatever I get I'll use.

As with the price, I suppose it is our fault for letting ourselves believe that it was going to be les than US$250. As for the Wii controllers, the reason why they may be expansive may be because of the technologies incorporated into them. Gyroscopic technology isn't exactly everywhere now... is it?

No news about a microphone on the controller?