Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii users don't care for Netflix HD
By Vlad Savov 
posted January 15th 2010 3:54AM
posted January 15th 2010 3:54AM
We seriously have to question the sanity of some of these high-ranking corporate types. Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America boss and fearless orator, has joined Andy Rubin of Google in claiming that his customers do not require a feature so prevalent nowadays that it has become close to a basic standard. While the Xbox 360 and PS3 are capable of streaming full HD movies from Netflix at no extra cost, Reggie has stated his belief that "there really is no loss for the Wii consumer" because "the vast majority" of Netflix streaming content isn't HD anyway. Reiterating his longstanding, but never adequately explained, hesitance toward HD, Reggie has also claimed that the 26 million Wii console owners out there have voted with their wallets and will be quite happy to continue putt-putting along at standard def. Skip past the break to see him speaking his heresy with a straight face. 
wii could do netflix HD streaming without even blinking. Nintendo/Netflix already have the basic technology and there wouldnt be some massive dev cost associated with satisfying customers in this manner. thats what i really dont get, it doesnt cost them nearly anything to satisfy those of us who want HD. i wouldn't trade my wii for any other system, and i dont much mind not having HD games because the gameplay experience is FAR more important than graphics/HD. however, with movies this couldnt be further from the truth. Resolution/frame rate/aspect ratios, these are are extremely important when watching movies
The XBox 360 does not play Netflix at no extra cost. You have to be a gold member of Xbox live which cost anywhere from 30-50 dollars for a year. Yeah, I know that's not a ton and you also get online gaming. However, there are many people like myself who don't have a gold live account. This is why I'm specifically getting a Blu-ray player with Netflix Streaming despite having a 360. My other option is Windows Media Center, however this won't work through extenders like the 360
We love the Wii at home and play it far more than the XBOX. (When it works)
But, I really want to see a Wii HD console. We play on a 55" LCD and use component cables to help with the scaling to 1080p. Yes its not true HD like the XBOX or the PS3, but it looks good enough to still enjoy. (Both Wii and even the older gamecube) It is the gaming interaction and the console stability that makes it such a great gaming system. But I still feel i needs the HD GPU / CPU to but it over the top of XBOX or PS3.
I think the true reason Wii is not HD is due to costs and keeping backwards compatibility with their legacy gaming systems.
They'll never learn. Consumers like having choices and not being told what they want.
He's going to downplay a feature that his company's system can't offer yet. It allowed them to keep costs low and sell a bazillion units. Nintendo will release an HD Wii (probably with higher specs all around) and release a lot of really fun casual games. People will buy another bazillion units. People don't seem to understand that not everyone should be going after the same market. The Wii should not try and compete with the PS3. The PS3 and XBox 360 are already splitting customers up there. Nintendo needs to have a better marketplace for short and sweet games. I'd love an HD Wii, but only if the cost is substantially lower than the high end gorillas. I have a PS3 already. I don't need another one.
2 comments, really.
I own a roku hd and the difference between hd and sd from netflix is extremely evident. I understand that the wii just can't output above 480p, but i wish when the made the console that the had compromised and enabled 720p. it wouldn't be the 1080p that the xbox and ps3 could handle, but it's vastly better than 480p.
My parents live in the bay area and my dad works for a tech company. Until i complained about it last year, they had 1.5 Mbps up and 256 Kbps down DSL. That is considered broadband, but it would never stream HD content. Consider also that the majority of americans don't have "broadband". I hate to say it, but i would guess the majority of wii owners don't have broadband that's capable of streaming at 720p and i think Reggie has a point.
This guy obviously has his head up his anal cavity.
Can't believe I signed up just for this but thats okay. Wii owners aren't ALL clueless when it comes to HD but you also have to consider that if they WANTED their system for graphics and to be a home-theater setup they would have chosen a xbox or PS3 (which I do own as well).
The Wii is a great console, interactive and fun in my opinion. I can't believe the number of people that say their Wii is collecting dust, get some friends!!! Its what makes the Wii much more than a gaming console!!
When I want to play a graphics heavy game or FPS I'll go to my PS3. But if I want a console I can play with my daughter or my grown up friends I'll go with the Wii anyday.Srry, but killing zombies with the g/f is much more satisfying IMHO.
I support the decision of Nintendo, plus its true that unless you have $$ to blow, people just don't care too much about HD setups, let alone HD streaming thru Netflix. And correct me if I'm wrong but didn't we JUST get off anolog signal to go to digital just recently?!?! LOL
Silly geeks. lulz
1) This guy needs to be fired just on the basis of looking creepy.
2) The Wii honestly doesn't look that bad in 480p. It's quite a clean output as far as 480p goes though I'm sure it depends on the TV. My Xbox looked a lot worse in 480p. While most people are crying for HD the graphics aren't really complicated enough to truly benefit from it. The Wii is definitely powerful enough to do many of it's games in 720p but it's impossible due to the output chip limited to 480p. On the plus side there are a lot of 60fps games.
3) If you spend time looking for good third party games on the Wii there are a fair number. It's obvious the 360/PS3 destroy it when it comes to the number of quality 3rd party games and graphics but the Wii still has some good content few can be bothered to look at. The controls can be a gimmick but they are also groundbreaking for some games. Some third party games I have and like are Boom Blox Bash Party (great controls), Dawn of Discovery (Excellent RTS controls), House of the Dead Overkill (cheesy in a good way), Resident Evil 4 (old and probably overplayed but still superb, if only they would make a Wii sequel), Okami. There are at least 10 more games with solid reviews I want to try that are out now. I agree that it's the Nintendo games that dominate the must have games and third party are lacking but if the Wii is your only console there are enough good games to keep you entertained. If you bought day 1 you wouldn't have the benefit of an already partly fleshed out catalogue like myself so I can understand giving up on it early.
I had a 360 until it went RROD on me almost 2 years ago. Personally me being a more hardcore gamer I slightly prefer it but I bought a Wii because I'll get more opportunity to play it and play with people. I can't really justify a second console though I may get back into PC gaming in the near future.
Me: Most gamers don't care about Wii.
@Martin C: "Real gamers don't care about the Wii."
There, fixed it for ya.
@Martin C Yeah...no kidding.
This guy is out of reality. Just like when Nintendo didn't go with CDs for the N64 and look what happened.
He missed an obvious point. People who only have a Wii generally don't care about HD, because the ones who do care tend to have a 360 or PS3 also, not just a Wii.
The lack of HD on the Wii is the reason I haven't purchased it...
Massive dumbass moment AGAIN for Nintento from Mr Bozo
To be honest, I don't care THAT much. I mean, it would be nice to be able to stream movies in HD. But I don't have that good of an internet connection at my house so being able to stream in HD would really just go to waste.
I am a Wii user and I don't approve this message.
Bullshit. Who wouldn't want to have HD streaming? Anyone would "care for" HD streaming.
Sheer stupidity...
I don't get the big deal--first, why a system that aims at casual gamers just NEEDS to be HD for anyone to take it seriously (I mean, really, the Wii should be serious?) and why in the world does it need to have Netflix support? If you want an all-in-one high-def entertainment center console, the PS3 and 360 both fit the bill.
If you don't have a ps3 or 360 to compliment your wii's lack of HD, you've lost the game. Reggie knows this - that's why he doesn't care about HD, that's his competitor's forte. As much as I love Wii, it's knack is in selling shovelware in between decent first party rehashings
Translation: We fucked up, but will never admit it.