LOL... HD VMD could kill off HD DVD and Blueray if that's the case... that would be freaking hilarious. I fully support the idea as well... although to get 30 GB per side you'd need an 8 layer disc. 4 layers at 15GB is more then enough space for HD material.

Now the biggest problem would be the read speeds. The Wii wouldn't be able to keep up to be able to play back an HD movie. Although it would be a great way to increase disc size for large games. Although how many games last gen required more then 1 disc?

Actually, the HD-VMD group would be smart to help Nintendo and Microsoft produce firmware to play HD-VMD movies if it is possible (even if the Wii could only currently output it to 480p or 1080i/720p) because they would leapfrog to 20 Million compatible devices (well over double the number of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD devices combined).

ok checking Wiki GC discs could only do 1.5 GB compared to Wiis 8.5 GB, so unless some people are saying Wii will be able to play games at 720/1080 etc there is no need for extra space.... and i assumed that if Wii could output 720/1080 it would have problems doing it at any decent speed [probably affecting frame-rate]

Guys, the Wii *can't* output at 720p/1080i - it would *never* be a HD (VMD) video player, because the video output circuitry (RAMDAC, frame buffer, etc...) are not designed for it.

The best VMD would do is allow for larger Wii titles on one disc - something not that important.

And VMDs would still need the special disc modifications that Wii discs have (as Wii discs are NOT DVDs).

I think its unnecessary, and very unlikely. Maybe next generation. More reason for MS to upgrade its 360 drives (could play VMD-HD movies) - although this would piss off the HD-DVD camp something serious.

Still think MS is content for all formats to die - although I can see VMD replacing DVDs in the coming years.

 http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200611/N06.1120.1725.47900.htm

We contacted a Nintendo rep to clarify, and while they said that Nintendo is absolutely not currently announcing any plans to upgrade the maximum resolution from 480p, it shouldn't be impossible in theory.

 The rep noted that Microsoft was able to patch the Xbox 360 to support 1080p.

Based on everything I have seen, wii should be able to handle 720p.  The problem is...  it would have to trade off something, such as amount of detail it can have and still be at a decent frame rate.  Something like a web browser where there isn't a lot of animation should be very possible at 720p with the wii.

so basically for wii to produce a 720i/p game it would have to look worse [have much less detail] than if made in 480p.

basically whatever happens with regards to VMD being compatible, it isn't goingto happen 'cos Wii doesn't need it.

And Wii disks are based on DVDs but are not the same for anti-pirating reasons... same with GC discs.

 Actually it can...  ATI has said that there is nothing stopping Nintendo from using other display modes.  Nintendo limited itself on purpose so it's very unlikely we'll see them ever use the option.  Even though the Wii can do it.

As for the drive in the Wii, it's a standard DVD drive. Nintendo uses several methods when making their discs to make them hard to copy, as we've seen through people who pirate games DVD's work. 

Well, I'm not 100% privy to the technical/hardware specs - so they would definitely know more than me.

But from my knowledge it would need two things:

i) Enough VRAM to produce a minimum of 2 frame buffers at full 720p resolution. The Wii has a 3MB(?) texture/frame buffer cache. 1280x720 pixels = 920k (at 8bits). Even at  16bit colour (1.8MB / frame), with no z-buffer - the Wii doesn't have enough VRAM for two full frames. Can you do it with a single surface? Maybe - but things could get real ugly. Not sure if its possible. I doubt its possible to use main memory for the off-screen buffer, or the current frame buffer.

(by comparison, 480p --> 720x480 pixels --> 337k at 8bits. Plenty of space on the Wii for full 24bit colour + 8bit zbuffer, for front/backbuffers). 

ii) A fast enough RAMDAC to scan the frame buffer, and turn that into a 720p compatible video signal. This may be possible - no idea really. But if Ninty never wanted to support 720p on the console, I'm not sure if they would bother to up the clock rate or use a more expensive component (potentially more manufacturing cost?) for something that wouldn't be used.

...

The 360 issue is a different one. It has heaps of VRAM - easily enough for 1080p - and a RAMDAC that is fast enough to handle the conversion.

Sony and Toshiba would cry as they lost all support for their formats. I doubt they would do it because it would make me smile. :) lol