Emulator runs Wii games in 720p while we wonder what might have been

Using PCs to do what Nintendon't, YouTube user renebarahona is running Wii games in HD resolutions through the Dolphin emulator. One peek at Super Smash Bros. Brawl in 720p is enough to make any of us wonder what a world where Nintendo didn't hate HD (even yanking 480p capability from the Gamecube, we're still not over that) would be like. These games aren't merely upscaled like DVDs, they're being rendered in a high resolution natively with extra anti-aliasing Xbox 360 BC-style, producing surprisingly crisp visuals. Check out the embedded videos after the break (remember to hit the HD button) for an example, including how to set this up on your own computer.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 31st 2009 7:29PM]

I used to love Nintendo so much, back in the day, til they stopped trying to get with the times after the SNES. They're a very stubborn company and although the struck gold with the Wii, it's old "add-on peripheral tech" re-envisioned and improved then condensed into controllers that just happened to have a good price point and struck at the height of more mainstream console video gaming. The fact that they didn't want to even come with HD visuals on a system where HD visual consoles were going to be competition from the PS3 and 360 told me a lot about them yet Nintendo got VERY lucky with the Wii. Plus I believe they added to things by "not being able to meet demand", which I believe was a ploy. Just like the old adage goes, lines are good for business and once they realized that they were moving more units than possibly expected, they kept the demand strong by producing very little systems, month after month.
I find it hard to believe that such "simple" tech would be hard to produce to meet demand, but what do I really know, eh?
I think if they had gone with HD visuals, I, myself, may have wanted it, too, but I've been around slightly before the first video game consoles were ever produced and have owned and own several systems over the years so feel like I don't need to look at "been there, done that" graphics. I'm a progessive mind and felt like HD visuals coupled with consolidated and polished controller tech would have motivated me to own a Wii, too.

[HotBBQ Posted Apr 1st 2009 1:24PM]

If adding HD to the Wii raised the price to $300 do you think would have priced themselves out of all the "old-foggie" sales?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 31st 2009 9:48PM]

Too bad this is a April Fools Jokes :(

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 31st 2009 9:55PM]

No, its not, its been up for days. The emulator is called Dolphin, named after the GPU of the Game Cube, which this originally was an emulator for. Seeing as the Wii is basically 2 GC's duct taped together, it didn't take too long to get that working too.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 31st 2009 10:42PM]

Mar. 31

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 31st 2009 10:21PM]

I've played an N64 emulator at 1080p a few years ago. This is nothing new.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 31st 2009 11:13PM]

Have you played a Wii emulator before on your PC? Then this is new. I guess a PC PS3 or Xbox 360 emulator wouldn't be new either?

This is good news... may be able to play some of the Wii's better games without the lamo resolution of the console.

[ArhcAngel Posted Apr 1st 2009 11:44AM]

So does this mean I can play Wii games on my Linux loaded PS3?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 1st 2009 1:41PM]

If only Nintendo realized I would pay another $250 for an HD Wii