Wii sound off and impressions.

zeroKFE wrote:

It boggles my mind. I honestly can't think of a single valid reason to have a widescreen mode in 480p and not in 480i.

Well I can. To sell you a $30 component cable. Only on-line for a few weeks too, so you pay for the shipping as well. Aren't they f*cking clever eh?

I've read that third parties are working on both extender cables for the sensor bars and wireless sensor bars. Like the component cables, though, it does not sound as though they will be available until some time in December at the earliest.

zero, the component video cable URL only works in certain browsers (IE and Firefox I know work but Safari/Konqueror don't). If you are only getting a blank page when you load it thats what I was seeing until I used Firefox on my mac. If its returning an error then they might have truly broken something.

Mr.Green wrote:
zeroKFE wrote:

It boggles my mind. I honestly can't think of a single valid reason to have a widescreen mode in 480p and not in 480i.

Well I can. To sell you a $30 component cable. Only on-line for a few weeks too, so you pay for the shipping as well. Aren't they f*cking clever eh?

I tend to think it is simply incompetence.

Seriously, Microsoft got all this cable, resolution, and screen format sh*t working just fine in a user friendly manner last year. There is no excuse for the bumbling that Sony and Nintendo have both exhibited.

zeroKFE wrote:
Mr.Green wrote:
zeroKFE wrote:

It boggles my mind. I honestly can't think of a single valid reason to have a widescreen mode in 480p and not in 480i.

Well I can. To sell you a $30 component cable. Only on-line for a few weeks too, so you pay for the shipping as well. Aren't they f*cking clever eh?

I tend to think it is simply incompetence.

Seriously, Microsoft got all this cable, resolution, and screen format sh*t working just fine in a user friendly manner last year. There is no excuse for the bumbling that Sony and Nintendo have both exhibited.

I was first annoyed to discover that they only shipped a composite cable with the system. I was more annoyed to discover that they didn't support the older GC component cable. I mean Nintendo consoles have have the same A/V plug (for the composite/S-video and audio side) since the SNES. It was only natural to assume that the component cable from the GC would work with it, and a lot of people that I know had come to the same assumption I had. At least the cable isn't like $70 (like the mad catz one that'll be available in stores on sunday [or so I hear anyway, talk about wanting to gouge people]).

doctre wrote:

zero, the component video cable URL only works in certain browsers (IE and Firefox I know work but Safari/Konqueror don't). If you are only getting a blank page when you load it thats what I was seeing until I used Firefox on my mac. If its returning an error then they might have truly broken something.

Ah, thanks, that helps.

I was first annoyed to discover that they only shipped a composite cable with the system. I was more annoyed to discover that they didn't support the older GC component cable. I mean Nintendo consoles have have the same A/V plug (for the composite/S-video and audio side) since the SNES. It was only natural to assume that the component cable from the GC would work with it, and a lot of people that I know had come to the same assumption I had. At least the cable isn't like $70 (like the mad catz one that'll be available in stores on sunday [or so I hear anyway, talk about wanting to gouge people]).

Indeed. Now the question is, do I place the order with Nintendo now or do I wait and see if the Madcatz cable will be available. I wouldn't pay $20 extra or whatever to get better video a week or two early, but I might pay that much to get widescreen early.

(By the way, gamestop.com lists the Madcatz cable as $49 and shipping on 12/01 -- I seriously hope it will make it out to at least one of the major retailers this weekend though.)

Let's take a deep breath and think this out. Automatically including Component cables are dumb if you aren't banking on people having TV's that can utilize them as your target audience. People like myself who have a standard Tv that's a few years old cant hook said cables up, but If you can pop for a nice piece of hardware that can do progressive scan.. you can pop for the extra $$ for cables too.

I just really want to know if the freeloader works with the Wii. I have my cash ready on an EB gift card..just want to see this question answered before I buy. As long as I get one before 2007, I'm not picky.

So to clarify: Madcatz will have a component cable solution sunday, but Nintendo will not?

Let's take a deep breath and think this out. Automatically including Component cables are dumb if you aren't banking on people having TV's that can utilize them as your target audience. People like myself who have a standard Tv that's a few years old cant hook said cables up, but If you can pop for a nice piece of hardware that can do progressive scan.. you can pop for the extra $$ for cables too.

I'm not upset that they aren't included. I'm upset that they aren't even available and that reportedly Zelda won't run in widescreen without them (which there is no technical explanation for).

Stylez wrote:

So to clarify: Madcatz will have a component cable solution sunday, but Nintendo will not?

Madcatz might be available. The only thing that is really known about them is that Gamestop's online division will start shipping them on December 1st. But yeah, according to both Nintendo's phone thing and their online store, they won't ship from online until the 28th, and won't be in stores until sometime in November.

They're obviously doing it on purpose. Without the component cable, the wave of the first adopters obviously can't Female Doggo how low-q and ugly is the picture in HD. Better take the whole HD debate out of the picture for a of month or two or three.

Without the component cable, the wave of the first adopters obviously can't Female Doggo how low-q and ugly is the picture in HD. Better take the whole HD debate out of the picture for a of month or two or three.

With a 42 inch widescreen display, you can bet your ass it's gonna look a lot worse with composite. I'm pretty bummed about this, colours look so murky and wishwashy (especially black) with composite.

Ganguro wrote:

People like myself who have a standard Tv that's a few years old cant hook said cables up

More can than you would think, they probably just don't know it. My tv is over three years old so I just figured that all the inputs were composite. That was until a few weeks ago when I changed my living room around. As I was hooking things back up I looked carefully at the back of my set was surprised to see component inputs that were apparently had a cloaking device activated until then.

Edited to fix two words that are way too similar, especially late at night. Thanks LockAndLoad

More can than you would think, they probably just don't know it. My tv is over three years old so I just figured that all the inputs were composite. That was until a few weeks ago when I changed my living room around. As I was hooking things back up I looked carefully at the back of my set was surprised to see composite inputs that were apparently had a cloaking device activated until then.

Warning: Nit-Picky Twit Mode
I think you confused composite & component.
HDMI / DVI / VGA> Component > S-Video > Composite

Well yay... Nintendo finally shipped my Component cable. I'll have them on Monday. I think I can wait a day to start playing I've got FFXII (plus many others) to keep me busy.

HDMI / DVI / VGA> Component > S-Video > Composite

For purposes of video gaming, there's really not much difference between component cables and DVI. The only visible difference is going to be up in the 1080p range, where DVI can still do 60hz and component cables can only do 30. None of these consoles are really fast enough to do that resolution anyway.

At the Wii's 480p, it will make absolutely no difference whatsoever. Just buy whatever's cheapest and talks to your display device. (component or higher, S-Video will be dramatically inferior.)

On the Wii, is it stupid of me to think that I have a chance of driving to a slightly rural town and getting a Wii at midnight in a Wal-Mart?

Are the eBayers after the Wii? Does anybody plan or know of anybody who is planning on eBaying their purchased Wii? I find it a bit ironic that I'm concerned about eBayers when last year I eBayed my 360 I got on launch day and 5 others in the following 2 weeks. But of course it was original back then. And the 360's launch titles sucked.

Try Target instead!
I have friend who works at my local target and they are getting about 25X the PS3 shipment in Wii's. Actually they already have them, just cant sell 'em until Sunday.

The big box stores are going to have loads of these things, but Walmart is more than likely to be insane because they are usually open 24hrs so people will just be milling about tomorrow around 8 or 10pm.

I may try the Target in my area on Sunday morning, but I don't know if I should bother. I have heard Nintendo says they will have steady resupplies of Wiis coming in to most stores. I feel somewhat confident of being able to just walk into a store and grab a Wii off the shelf in early to mid December. Has anyone heard differently?

Supply will not be an issue on Sunday and I agree with the Target advice. Each Target in my area is getting about 53 of them. It isn't like that many will be sold on Sunday morning when the stores open. If they did, there is always 7xWal Marts, Best Buy, 2xCircuit City, 2xToys R US, etc. in my area.

Elliottx wrote:

Are the eBayers after the Wii? Does anybody plan or know of anybody who is planning on eBaying their purchased Wii?

As of right now, a Wii goes for over $400 bucks. Barring a change of heart, my plan is to try to grab a Wii, put it up on Ebay, and if it sells, make some dough, and if not, play a Wii.

Stores will not be able to sell more Wii's after Sunday until the day after Thanksgiving. But, I think you'll be able to walk into a big box store and get one on Sunday

Ulairi wrote:

Stores will not be able to sell more Wii's after Sunday until the day after Thanksgiving. But, I think you'll be able to walk into a big box store and get one on Sunday

Agreed. I think its going to be the accessories that you're going to have a hard time with. No EB/Gamestop in my area has recieved anymore controllers than pre-orders and still have yet to recieve the Classic controller. The comonent cable with be, imo, hard to find. But am I the only one to notice the lack of 3rd party accessories, with the exception of cases and skins.

Gamestop/EB is evidently releasing at midnight tonight, so I'll be headed to my preorder location after an evening showing of Casino Royale.

Tyrian wrote:

Gamestop/EB is evidently releasing at midnight tonight, so I'll be headed to my preorder location after an evening showing of Casino Royale.

That's my plan too

Tyrian wrote:

Gamestop/EB is evidently releasing at midnight tonight, so I'll be headed to my preorder location after an evening showing of Casino Royale.

Be sure to call ahead because some are opening at midnight and some aren't. Only one of the Gamestops in my area will be opening at midnight for the launch.

My local walmart has had campers since yesterday. The same co-worker of mine who got his PS3 yesterday is in line for the last (#36) Wii left at this walmart.

Kat and I are going to make some rounds tomorrow morning and see if we can find one. If not, no worries - all data suggests that we'd find one in the next few weeks, in any case.

Still, it would be nice to be playing Zelda tomorrow afternoon

We'll probably swing by a few places tonight to see if there are any campers, to better plan the attack tomorrow.

Found one camper outside a Circuit City (opening at 10am), and none outside the Target or Best Buy nearby (opening at 8 AM, and with a LOT more units).

Overall, not sure what to think, aside from pissed there are no midnight releases in my area

I did a call around and here are the numbers I got(one note: I'm calling off the beaten path stores, none of these are located in major cities):

Target, opens at 8am but at 7am they will go through the line and assign numbers. Receiving 25-26 units.

Costco, receiving shipment either on Monday or Tuesday.

24hr Wal-Mart, at 11pm any line that is outside will be allowed to move inside and at Midnight sale commences. Receiving unknown units as they are held with security.

Wal-Mart(this is located in Dallas,OR), opens at 7am, first come first serve, no plans for dealing with line. They have 20 units.

So guess what I'm doing?
If you answered getting up at 6am and driving to Dallas,OR then you win.