Recording Wii gameplay

[navels]

So my son, who is almost 10, is interested in making what are called "Let's Play" videos. These are basically video game walk-throughs with audio commentary added.

Although I have ethernet going from the living room (I have an HD-300) to the computer room (Sage server), I don't have the same for the video out from the TV itself, so I can't really do a PC capture.

The solution I've come to, after asking for help on another forum, is to replace our DVD player with a DVD recorder. Then he can record to DVD-R, take the disc to his computer and record the commentary there, do some video editing, etc.

Are there any other solutions I should be considering? I like the DVD recorder because I can pick up a used one for cheap. If there was a DVD/HDD recorder that worked as a NAS that would be more convenient, but I'm not sure if such a thing exists . . .

Thanks,
navels

[Fuzzy]

A laptop and el-cheapo USB video capture device?

[Spectrum]

I agree with Fuzzy, a dvd recorder would probably end up being more trouble than it's worth. A lot of console gamers use HDPVRs to capture footage in HD. If you go the capture device route, make sure the device has passthrough capability. Nothing like having the screen a few hundred miliseconds behind the controller....

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by Spectrum

I agree with Fuzzy, a dvd recorder would probably end up being more trouble than it's worth. A lot of console gamers use HDPVRs to capture footage in HD. If you go the capture device route, make sure the device has passthrough capability. Nothing like having the screen a few hundred miliseconds behind the controller....

The Wii's not HD, so you really don't need to spend money on an HD-PVR just for this. I think you can get cheap SD USB Capture devices that would work for this for <$40.

[stanger89]

But the Wii will do 480p which is likely significantly better quality (by the time you factor in progressive video, plus the superiority of component and the HD PVR) than a run of the mill NTSC tuner/capture device.

[Spectrum]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

The Wii's not HD, so you really don't need to spend money on an HD-PVR just for this. I think you can get cheap SD USB Capture devices that would work for this for <$40.

While I agree the HDPVR is overkill for Wii capture, I've never seen a <$40 capture device that has passthrough. It's hard enough to use a remote when there is a significant delay like you get when watching the recording device's input played back onscreen. Imagine if by the time you saw Mario get to the edge of the hole on screen and press jump, he's already fallen, died, and reset to the beginning of the level. Not an easy gameplay scenario

[Fuzzy]

You can likely split the video into the input with minimal degredation.

[Spectrum]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

You can likely split the video into the input with minimal degredation.

/facepalm
I overlooked the obvious

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by Spectrum

/facepalm
I overlooked the obvious

Or if you have composite (yellow red white RCA) output from the television (OP said there was not ethernet out, no mention of others), run that through the USB capture device.

Sigh... I bought one of those about 10 years ago after getting my first Tivo, thinking I could use it to make DVDs of movies I recorded on TV (plus the standard use of converting old VHS tapes to DVD). I think it was like $140. Now you can get them for almost a third of that, and they're probably just as good, if not better.....

[navels]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions. There were a couple of things going against the laptop idea. First, I don't have a spare laptop and couldn't find a cheap one locally and I really want to keep the cost down. Second, I don't really have a good place to hide one near the TV.

So . . . ended up going the DVD Recorder route after all. For $50, picked up a used Phillips 160GB HDD/DVD Recorder. In addition to being cheap, it is a 1-1 replacement for our existing DVD/VCR combo, i.e., doesn't add to the footprint. Also, with the HDD, my son can record lots of game play and then transfer to DVD-R at his convenience.

Cheers,
navels