I install computers on a daily basis, but I'm still not too keen on how possible this scenario is.  Just wondering if it's even possible for the Wii to use HD-VMD with a simple firmware upgrade or would they actually have to change how the Wii is made entirely.

I don't think any normal DVD drive can play HD-VMDs...I was under the impression that you need a specific player, even though it operates on similar technology...

and now for the business perspective.....it would make a lot more sense for the wii to choose a HD format at the point when the costs of doing so become a lot lower, meaning that it would have to be at a point in time when BD players would be at about $200, and BD movies at about $17 apeice, which won't be for a while. Basically, the cost to put in BD games and read BD discs is way too high for a blue collar kind of console like the wii has positioned itself as.

wouldnt think so...but you never kno... maybe hyd-vmd was the cheap entry to the HD market nintendo were waiting for before they took the plunge...

Theoritically speaking it is possible that the Wii could have a firmware update which enabled it to play HD-VMD but I think it is fairly unlikely.

I don't know anything about HD-VMD so I can't say much about it, but I suspect that the 30GB per side comes from a quad layered DVD which is more dense (in data storage) than a conventional DVD. Depending on how they achieved additional layers and increased data density would really determine whether this was plausable ...

Don't you need a different kind of laser? Firmware updates can't fix everything.

From memory, they said its *all* about a new firmware, existing DVD drives could read VMD discs after the patch.

Most of the technology relates to how the discs are made - and made cheaply. From a hardware perspective, I think a dual-layer DVD burner should do the trick.

This is a really, really interesting question. It would be awesome if the Wii (and the 360!!) could end up being firmware upgraded to read VMDs.

(I'm certain its the same laser - they explicitly say that).

HD-VMD is based on the exact same red-laser technology which is currently in use in a standard DVD player ... This is why the players will start at the outrageous price of $150. Back in the day there were several companies who had technology which could get over 1GB per layer on a CD but these discs were not (by default) compatible with most CD players ...

hmm. So when Nintendo decides that they need more space on a disc, they can add a firmware upgrade, and use HD-VMD discs. Nice.

but it would only need it if someone had to make a game with masses of content, usually Nintendo manages to make amazing games without taking up much space, without HD visuals i doubt any Wii game will need more than 1 dual layer disc [about 9GB?] The 360 may have a problem later in life if a developer tries to push the visuals as much as possible and insisting on high quality sound too..... look at the Gamecube, didn't those discs have a max capacity of 3GB, and i only had one game that used 2 [REmake... but as that was early in cubes life it might not have been dual layer, anyone know?]

The Wii will not need bigger discs unless someone wants to put more than 1 game on a disc.