HT Games
Technical Specs
The Nintendo Wii has a video output of 480p, with many of its games having a 16:9 anamorphic widescreen ratio. The 480p is simply in reference to the lines displayed in the picture on screen.
HD Ready
One of the packaged Wii̵7;s came with a sticker that states ̶0;HD Ready̶1;. This is to signify that the console comes packaged with the necessary cables to connect the Wii to an HD television. Packaged with the Wii, you will find an HD component cable, which has five wires similar to the standard "yellow, white, red" three-prong RCA wire.
Without the Sticker
If you have purchased a Nintendo Wii console without the sticker stating that the systems is indeed "HD Ready," you do not have to fret. There is no technical difference between the systems, with the only difference being the included HD cable in the one marked so. For those without the sticker, simply go to your local electronics store and purchase the HD Component cable designed for the Wii, which you will find in the video game section.
HD Without the HD
A 480p output does not allow for a true HD experience, as the Wii̵7;s rivals do, which require the much higher outputs of 720p to 1080p. This is not to say that connecting the Wii will not work, it just may not be as crisp and vibrant as something appearing in true HD.
The Purposeful Exclusion
Nintendo̵7;s oversight of making their games presentable in true HD was entirely purposeful. Instead of spending time focusing on the technology to make their system the most powerful, they focused on innovation and targeting their games to a much broader demographic. Nintendo felt at the time of their system̵7;s release that HD had not matured to the point that it could truly be explored.