Wii Upscaler Review: Can The Wii Really Do High Definition?

When we first heard about VDIGI's new VD-W3 Wii upscaler, a product that promised it could bring high definition graphics to the Wii, it sounded too good to be true. "Better review it, then" we thought. Just to be sure.

The VD-W3 is hardly a new idea - standalone "upscalers" have been around for years, primarily for DVD players - but it is the first we've seen solely dedicated to the Nintendo Wii. It works in much the same way an expensive TV, DVD player (or even HD console) does when trying to display standard definition content on a high definition TV set, by attempting to smooth out lines and present a cleaner image than the raw, SD feed could manage.

[St0]

Dolphin emulator and a high powered PC is the only decent way to play Wii games in HD

[champ21]

haha i was about say just that.

My brother owns a Wii thus will be buying MarioGalaxy 2 and the upcoming Zelda. Ill be playing them on the PC instead. Dont have room for keeping extra hardware on my PC desk, with 3 monitors laying around in eyefinity lol.

[Gun_Senshi]

you beat me to it!

[J8M7G]

Like sprinkling glitter on dog sh*t.

[Syronicus]

I am sure we all know what you get when you try and polish a dog turd.

[nikola987]

Only decent way to play Wii games are on Wii. Emulators on PC are to buggy and slow,and in-game audio is poorly emulated :(

[St0n3d Bluntman]

You can also use a AV receiver that will upscale standard def to 1080p. I recommend a Denon or Onkyo receiver for the best bang for the buck

[darthv72]

I know it can be made. Madcatz made a 360 to hdmi adapter for those with non hdmi units. Using the real A/V port on the 360. I am sure there would be an adapter that can use the A/V port on the wii and upscale via hdmi. The a/v port supports component and et they can build analog to digital converters that could fit in that port instead of using a USB method.

[iforgotmylogin]

its a start. but it just does not compare to dolphin hd.

[ThatArtGuy]

It's good to know that this $75 item doesn't upscale anything (it's main selling point). It's good that it would fix the "washed out" look that I get from turning on the Wii though.

[robep3]

Is the answer my kids play the Wii through the upscaler on my YAMAHA
AV AMP into my HD Projector on to our 92" screen it looks soft and the upscaler on my amp will be better than that gizmo.

[DethWish]

Upscaling isn't HD lol.

[jjesso1993]

dolphin is amazing for emulating wii games red steel 2 looks amazing on it

[xg-ei8ht]

You cannot get hd, that is not from a hd source.

In the case of the PC, emulator, things are slightly different.

You have many options, AA/AF. Much higher rez.

It's still wii sd graphics, but with cleaner and smoother fx.

I used to use ultrahle for n64 games.

Mario kart looked so much better with aa and forced higher rez.

Maybe another selling point for the pc?

[ps3ftwin]

This is the reason why i always say PC + PS3 is the best combo.

With PC you get all the multiplats in 1080p, also you get many of the 360 exclusive plus you can play the Wii games in HD.

With PS3 you get all the awesome Sony exclusives.

Between the PC and PS3 you arent missing out on anything if at all.

[RageAgainstTheMShine]

HD is right out of the box. Another $75.00 saved!

[asdr3wsfas]

300 to 600 dollars for ps3 - 75 savings > 225 dollars > cost of wii

Add in move prices if you get bored.

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

Or in your PC for Gaming, emulate the Wii. You can play all the games upscaled.

[ThatArtGuy]

Don't forget the extra wii move plus's (if you bought early)

[TABSF]

There is no such thing as HD graphics like xg-ei8ht said

The image will look clearer and sharper and with AA and AF objects will have less jaggies and textures will look softer and smooth

HD does not increase graphics
SD does not decrease graphics

It only increases pixel count so the image is clearer and sharper

I have a Wii more for the family, rather play Wii games on Dolphin, also my friend got a Wii but he also plays the games on Dolphin and he has even got the Wii remote to work on it to.

[St0n3d Bluntman]

Most standard def games have a maximum pixel count of approximatly 300,000 pixels. Compare that to 1080p which has around 2.1 pixels. It's only logical that games that are made in HD will have much more detail than games made in SD. Just watch a movie on dvd then watch the same movie on blu ray. It's like a night and day difference.

[TABSF]

Correction

On a PC game when you run it maximum setting at either 800 by 600 or 2560 by 1600 the graphics never change at all, Its pixel count like you said but pixels on monitors and TV are not the graphics its just the light projecting the correct colours

Its like comparing a 2 mega pixel camera to a 8 mega pixel camera what you are taking a picture of does not differ the only difference is the lens and photon receiver collecting more clearer images

Higher resolution does not = better visuals
Higher resolution only = clearer and sharper image quality

[SKUD]

FAIL.

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

Why would you need a Wii, when you have a PC for Gaming to emulate the Wii Upscaled with Dolphin?

Or if one of you have a PS3, wait for Move.