Nintendo optical discs#Wii U Optical Disc

{{optical disc authoring}}

The GameCube Game Disc (DOL-006) is the game medium for the GameCube, created by Matsushita/Panasonic, one of the ten founders of the DVD Forum,{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/faq/1788|title=GameCube FAQ - DVD|publisher=Nintendo World Report|date=March 7, 2001|access-date=July 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618000500/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/guide/1788/gamecube-faq-dvd|archive-date=June 18, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/guide/1801/gamecube-faq-matsushita|title=GameCube FAQ - Matsushita|publisher=Nintendo World Report|date=June 20, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618034557/https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/guide/1801/gamecube-faq-matsushita|archive-date=June 18, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|work=EE Times|title=Matsushita allies with Nintendo on next-generation game console|url=https://www.eetimes.com/matsushita-allies-with-nintendo-on-next-generation-game-console/|first=Yoshiko|last=Hara|date=May 12, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618034923/https://www.eetimes.com/matsushita-allies-with-nintendo-on-next-generation-game-console/|archive-date=June 18, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/07/10/the-ultimate-gamecube-faq|title=The Ultimate Gamecube FAQ|publisher=IGN|date=July 10, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618035640/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/07/10/the-ultimate-gamecube-faq|archive-date=June 18, 2020|url-status=live}} and later extended for use in the backward compatibility mode of the first model of Wii.{{cite web|last=Casamassina|first=Matt|author-link=Matt Casamassina|date=September 12, 2006|title=IGNcube's Nintendo "Revolution" FAQ|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/522/522559p2.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121065648/http://cube.ign.com/articles/522/522559p2.html|archive-date=January 21, 2012|access-date=September 7, 2006|publisher=IGN}} The GameCube is Nintendo's first optical disc console, after mainly ROM cartridge–based platforms. The GameCube Game Disc is a 1.46 GB,{{cite web|url=http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-accessories/game-systems/nintendo-gamecube-special-edition.html|title=Nintendo GameCube Special Edition|publisher=Avrev.com|date=June 1, 2003|access-date=July 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027231706/http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-accessories/game-systems/nintendo-gamecube-special-edition.html|archive-date=October 27, 2011|url-status=dead}} 8 cm miniDVD-based{{cite book|chapter=“Power Isn’t Everything”: The Wii Console|title=Codename Revolution: The Nintendo Wii Platform|series=Platform Studies|first1=Steven E.|last1=Jones|first2=George K.|last2=Thiruvathukal|date=February 24, 2012|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=978-0-262-01680-3|page=29|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6fu-EfVOAdEC&q=drive&pg=PA29}} technology which reads at a constant angular velocity (CAV).{{cite magazine|title=DVD, but not - Hardware Behind the Consoles - Part II: Nintendo's GameCube|url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/858/9|magazine=AnandTech|date=December 7, 2001|first=Anand Lal|last=Shimpi|author-link=Anand Lal Shimpi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715184210/https://www.anandtech.com/show/858/9|archive-date=July 15, 2020|url-status=live}} It was chosen by Nintendo to prevent copyright infringement of its games,{{cite web|url=http://cube.gamespy.com/articles/500/500516p1.html|title=Beginner's Guide: GameCube|access-date=September 7, 2006|date=July 30, 2003|publisher=GameSpy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617235821/http://cube.gamespy.com/articles/500/500516p1.html|archive-date=June 17, 2020|url-status=live}} to reduce manufacturing costs compared to Nintendo 64 Game Paks,{{cite news|last=Pian|first=Sharon|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20011111&slug=gamelaunch11|newspaper=The Seattle Times|department=Business & Technology|title=Let the games begin: The 3-way race is on|date=November 11, 2001|access-date=July 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618000324/https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20011111&slug=gamelaunch11|archive-date=June 18, 2020}} and to avoid licensing fees to the DVD Forum.{{Failed verification|reason=The articles describe royalties for DVD-Video as the reason for not including support for DVD-Video playback in the Gamecube; no mention is made of royalties for mini-DVDs nor DVDs as a data storage medium.|date=November 2023}} GameCube Game Discs do not use the Content Scramble System found on normal DVD-Video discs, as Nintendo was not satisfied with its level of security.{{Failed verification|reason=The linked source does not explicitly mention "security". There are myriad other possibilities Nintendo may have dismissed CSS, and this is not disambiguated in the linked source.|date=November 2023}}

The GameCube is not able to be used as a general DVD player, except for the Panasonic Q which is a uniquely customized GameCube with DVD capability that was released only in Japan.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/12/1063341761705.html|title=Play it again|publisher=Smh.com.au|date=September 13, 2003|access-date=July 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075814/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/12/1063341761705.html|archive-date=November 8, 2012|url-status=live}}

Some GameCube games with large amounts of data span two discs, such as Resident Evil 4, Baten Kaitos, and Tales of Symphonia. Some multi-platform games that fit on single discs for PlayStation 2 and Xbox had certain features removed in order to fit on GameCube Game Discs. This is due to the PS2 and Xbox consoles generally using DVDs for game media instead of the GameCube style disc, with DVDs much higher capacity of 4.7 GB for a single-layer disc and 8.5 GB for a dual-layer disc compared to 1.46 GB capacity for a GameCube disc. Full-motion video (FMV) scenes and audio clips have higher compression or lower quality to fit on a single disc.

The Wii Optical Disc (RVL-006) is the physical game medium for the Wii, created by Panasonic. Nintendo extended its proprietary technology to use a full size 12 cm, 4.7/8.54 GB DVD-based{{cite book|chapter=Introduction: Starting with Revolution: The Wii as a Platform|title=Codename Revolution: The Nintendo Wii Platform|series=Platform Studies|first1=Steven E.|last1=Jones|first2=George K.|last2=Thiruvathukal|year=2012|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=978-0-262-01680-3|page=12|url=|quote=So it's possible, for example, to turn on the Wii, access different channels (including the Disc Channel to the optical drive for running games on DVD-ROMs), and play multiple generations of Mario games...}} disc, retaining the benefits of the GameCube Game Disc, and adding the standard capacity of a double-layer DVD-ROM. Wii Discs always include a partition with files to update the Wii system software, which are installed before starting the game if needed. This ensures that systems that cannot connect to the Internet are still updated.{{cite book|chapter=Channeling the System: Access, Distribution, and Transmission|title=Codename Revolution: The Nintendo Wii Platform|series=Platform Studies|first1=Steven E.|last1=Jones|first2=George K.|last2=Thiruvathukal|date=February 24, 2012|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=978-0-262-01680-3|page=100|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6fu-EfVOAdEC&q=disc%20update&pg=PA100}} For the same reasons as the GameCube, the Wii cannot play DVD movies or CDs. However, earlier Wiis can play DVDs using homebrew such as WiiMC.{{cite web | title=WiiMC » Documentation | website=wiimc.org | url=http://www.wiimc.org/documentation/frequently-asked-questions/ | access-date=2021-09-21}}

The Wii can read dual-layer discs, and all games are single-layer prior to the release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl.{{cite web|url=http://www.slashgear.com/slashgear-review-super-smash-bros-brawl-1110693/ |title=Review – Super Smash Bros. Brawl |date=March 11, 2008 |publisher=SlashGear |access-date=July 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618005820/https://www.slashgear.com/slashgear-review-super-smash-bros-brawl-1110693/ |archive-date=June 18, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tgdaily.com/games/35945-tobacco-smoke-makes-super-smash-bros-brawl-unplayable-on-wii |title=Tobacco smoke makes Super Smash Bros Brawl unplayable on Wii |publisher=TG Daily |date=February 6, 2008 |access-date=July 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618005928/https://www.tgdaily.com/entertainment/games/35945-tobacco-smoke-makes-super-smash-bros-brawl-unplayable-on-wii/ |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |url-status=live}} Upon that release, Nintendo admitted that some Wii systems may have trouble reading dual-layer discs due to a dirty laser lens.{{cite news|first=Scott | last=Colbourne |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/not-just-a-smash-a-super-smash/article20383893/ |title=Not just a smash, a Super Smash |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date= March 20, 2008|access-date=July 6, 2011 |location=Toronto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618010249/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/not-just-a-smash-a-super-smash/article20383893/ |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |url-status=live}} Nintendo repaired systems with dual-layer problems,{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/repair/repair_form_us_ssbb.jsp |title=Repair Form for U.S. Residents |access-date=March 9, 2008 |author=Nintendo of America |publisher=Nintendo of America |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310112620/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/repair/repair_form_us_ssbb.jsp |archive-date=March 10, 2008 }} and later released a disc cleaning kit for users to purchase.{{cite web|url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2649/~/wii-lens-cleaning-kit-overview|title=Wii Lens Cleaning Kit Overview|publisher=Nintendo of America|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618020944/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2649/~/wii-lens-cleaning-kit-overview|archive-date=June 18, 2020|url-status=live}}

The Wii U Optical Disc (WUP-006) is the retail physical game medium for the Wii U, with a capacity of 25 GB. There is no 50 GB dual layer version. The Wii U system software is backwards compatible with Wii Optical Discs, but not with GameCube game discs.{{cite web|last=Klepek |first=Patrick |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/news/wii-u-does-not-play-gamecube-games/3356/ |title=Wii U Does Not Play GameCube Games |publisher=Giant Bomb |date=June 8, 2011 |access-date=July 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618010539/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/wii-u-does-not-play-gamecube-games/1100-3356/ |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |url-status=live}} The Wii U Optical Discs differ in appearance from most other optical discs in that they have soft, rounded edges.{{cite web|last=Gilbert |first=Ben |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/11/12/nintendo-wii-u-proprietary-disc/ |title=Take a very, very close look at the round-edged Wii U proprietary discs|publisher=Engadget |date=November 12, 2012 |access-date=November 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113003010/http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/12/nintendo-wii-u-proprietary-disc/ |archive-date=November 13, 2012 |url-status=live}}

The console's optical drive was developed and supplied by Panasonic,{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/df-hardware-nintendo-wii-u-review|title=Nintendo Wii U review|first=Richard|last=Leadbetter|date=November 22, 2012|work=Eurogamer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718023225/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/df-hardware-nintendo-wii-u-review_7|archive-date=July 18, 2020|url-status=live}} a founding member in the Blu-ray Disc Association.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press_Archive/200205/02-0520E/|title=Disclosure of Specifications for Large Capacity Optical Disc Recording Format Utilizing Blue-Violet Laser Blu-ray Disc Begins|date=May 20, 2002|publisher=Sony|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718034310/https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press_Archive/200205/02-0520E/|archive-date=July 18, 2020|url-status=live}} It is not clear whether the Wii U Optical Disc is similar in physical design to the Blu-ray physical disc specification.{{clarify|date=July 2014}} Nintendo president Satoru Iwata stated, "Wii U does not have DVD or Blu-ray playback capabilities. The reason for that is that we feel that enough people already have devices that are capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray, such that it didn't warrant the cost involved to build that functionality into the Wii U console because of the patents related to those technologies". Like with the GameCube and Wii optical discs, it was chosen by Nintendo to prevent copyright infringement of games, to reduce cost by avoiding licensing fees to the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), and to reduce loading times. This also prevents the console from being modified into a DVD or Blu-ray movie player.{{cite web|date=June 8, 2011|at=Q8|title=2011 E3 Expo Analyst Q & A Session|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/events/110608qa/03.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617235012/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/events/110608qa/03.html|archive-date=June 17, 2020|access-date=July 1, 2014|publisher=Nintendo}}{{cite web|title=Wii U will not feature DVD playback - Everybody Plays - Nintendo Wii|url=http://www.everybodyplays.co.uk/news/Wii/Wii-U-will-not-feature-DVD-playback/719|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211053222/http://www.everybodyplays.co.uk/news/Wii/Wii-U-will-not-feature-DVD-playback/719|archive-date=February 11, 2015|access-date=July 6, 2011|work=Everybody Plays}}

File:NODcut.jpg{{main article|Burst cutting area}}

Each Nintendo optical disc contains a burst cutting area (BCA) mark, a type of barcode that is written to the disc with a YAG laser. The data stored in this BCA mark includes an encrypted table related to the hardware-based copy-protection mechanics, in addition to 64 bytes of un-encrypted user-accessible data.{{cite web|url=http://debugmo.de/2008/11/anatomy-of-an-optical-medium-authentication/ |author=Felix “tmbinc” Domke |title=Anatomy of an Optical Medium Authentication (Part 1) |date= November 7, 2008 |access-date=May 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618011248/https://debugmo.de/2008/11/anatomy-of-an-optical-medium-authentication/ |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |url-status=live}} Wii U discs do not use BCA.

A BCA mark is visible to the naked eye. It is different from the IFPI mark that is on all optical discs. BCA is described in Annex K of the physical specification, and can be seen between radius {{val|22.3|0.4|u=mm}} and {{val|23.5|0.5|u=mm}}. There are also six additional evenly spaced small cuts, visible with a strong light source, located just outside the BCA radius, which are related to the copy-protection. Their value as a copy protection mechanism diminished after Datel discovered that the same pattern could be recorded into the DVD instead of needing to be precisely cut later.{{cite web |last1=Benchoff |first1=Brian |title=How One Company Cracked The Gamecube Disc Protection |url=https://hackaday.com/2019/02/04/how-one-company-cracked-the-gamecube-disc-protection/ |website=hackaday |date=February 4, 2019 |access-date=May 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618011438/https://hackaday.com/2019/02/04/how-one-company-cracked-the-gamecube-disc-protection/ |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |url-status=live}}

New Super Mario Bros. Wii was the first Wii game to use the BCA as part of an anti-piracy check; however it was later cracked.{{Citation Needed|date=January 2023}}

• GD-ROM

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