Homebrew community takes back the Wii

Good news homebrewsters, the Homebrew Channel has been updated and is now compatible with Nintendo's Homebrew killing (for new installs) October 23rd update. While the previous exploit was closed by Nintendo, Beta 9 of the HBC exploits a different flaw and works just fine with the latest system software. They've even tossed in SDHC support to make the brick risking maneuver a bit more enticing.

[Via HackMii, thanks Glen G.]

[idiot @ Oct 27th 2008 10:50AM]

I really have to get into this. Any outstanding apps for me to try?

[ZaxCG2 @ Oct 27th 2008 12:29PM]

WAD installer.

...
You didn't hear that for me.

[shanoboy @ Oct 27th 2008 12:41PM]

I have to admit, I'm really addicted to the frogger game (can't remember the exact name of it) that you can play on Wii homebrew. There's also a guitar hero type game that's neat.

I mainly like the homebrew app for running emulators on. Much better than the VC channels since you can store so many games on an SD card VS the Wii memory.

[BananaBoat @ Oct 28th 2008 4:27AM]

Sadly enough, there is now an ISO loader supposedly. Nintendo is just going to continue coming down on legitimate homebrew in the future thanks to the jerks that created the loader.

Oh well

Oh, and get that one program...uhh...fark...uhh...damnit... I forget the name, but it downloads programs off of the internet right on your wii, so you don't have to screw with taking out your SD card over and over.

Other than that, your choices are basically NES/SNES/Genesis (I think)/GBC/N64 (how well it performs, I have no idea)/etc emulators. Oh, and Wii Quake/Doom.




Man we need a new Zelda....fast....this is ridiculous.

[vypergts @ Oct 27th 2008 10:53AM]

First of all, it should be "brick-risking" with a hyphen to avoid confusing your compound adjective. Second, it's highly unlikely to happen.

[Neumann @ Oct 27th 2008 11:29AM]

Grammar nerds unite! And I agree with you on both points, a hyphen would make that thought significantly clearer and homebrew on the Wii is as easy as pie. I HBC up and running in less than half an hour.

[Jinto @ Oct 27th 2008 11:11AM]

Grammar nazis more like?

[Jinto @ Oct 27th 2008 11:13AM]

(That might have been a little over the top... was not meaning that as harsh as it came out.)

[Boarderwoot @ Oct 27th 2008 11:22AM]

NO BREW FOR YOU!

[Precurse @ Oct 27th 2008 3:02PM]

"NO BREW FOR YOU" ... 2 DAY!

[coolbho3000 @ Oct 27th 2008 4:08PM]

It's probably riskier to install Nintendo's own update than the HBC. The latest official update patches ALL of the system files to remove a signing bug from all of them and takes at least half an hour (from what I've heard). If the system turns off while it's patching (for example, due to a power outage), it could easily become bricked.

The HBC only installs a simple channel, and the installation takes literally seconds... Much less risk for a brick there.

[Coolty @ Oct 27th 2008 11:27AM]

I, For one, welcome our new homebrew overlords.

[Coolty @ Oct 27th 2008 11:27AM]

I, For one, welcome our new homebrew overlords.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Oct 27th 2008 11:56AM]

It was unfunny the first time.

[Plothole @ Oct 28th 2008 5:18AM]

@Thi mam(kris120890)
Actually it was very funny the first time. The trouble is that was fourteen and a half years ago!

[Alexandre Emond @ Oct 27th 2008 12:00PM]

Sorry, but it looks retro-crap channel to me.

[NoAndThen @ Oct 27th 2008 12:05PM]

It's not retro-crap at all, unless you've never been a fan of nintendo games, in which case... why are you here again?

The HBC opens up a new platform for people to expand all the work done with gamecube homebrew, as well install WADs (virtual console games, etc) and there's also some pretty cool HB apps as well. Nothing mind blowing or overly complex, just fun.

So yea, sorry HBC hasn't been able to give you exactly what you want with what they make IN THEIR SPARE TIME, FOR FREE.

Douche.

[TavisJohn @ Oct 27th 2008 12:19PM]

That comment comming from someone with a Handspring as their avatar!

LMAO Irony, I love it!

[Alexandre Emond @ Oct 27th 2008 12:53PM]

Hahaha, I'm sorry that I insulted Gamecube fans. I just prefer Wii games.
As for my avatar, it is the crapest gadget I ever tried to use (4 times sent for repair and waited 4-5 weeks each time).

[John H. @ Oct 27th 2008 4:31PM]

i lol-d when I saw Emond came back and got LR-d again

Engadget readers +1

[EI8HT @ Oct 27th 2008 4:13PM]

i'd like to second that douche comment! hbc is awesome! either you work for nintendo and don't want people to use this or you are an ignorant s.o.b. that thinks that nintendo has a ton of cool games for the wii (i have around...cough... 80 original games...cough, and all of them except for 75 or so are really good)!

[NoAndThen @ Oct 27th 2008 12:01PM]

good to see solid support from the homebrew scene... frankly I can't believe Nintendo actually made a reach to block HBC, like they think they have any chance in hell?

I've had my updates turned off on the wii since i started using HBC like 6 months ago. Here's hoping we get a working backup loader (not the buggy shit already released), and maybe some support for loading games off SDHC.

Sidenote: for those talking about 'woo-hoo!' SDHC support, there's not actually any apps that support it yet, so you can run apps all you want, but you won't be able to use shit. Yet.


However, as pointed out by Jacobeian at gbatemp:

"the patch is now in libogc CVS (http://devkitpro.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/devkitpro/libogc/libogc/wiisd.c?sortdir=down&view=log) so the only thing they have to do is to recompile libogc binaries then compile their code with this new libogc...anyone familiar with devkitppc could even do it himself"

So, yeah. Way to go HBC folks.

[Skyride @ Oct 27th 2008 12:07PM]

So, lets see here...

Breaks the EULA - Check
Involves making it do something its not suppost to - Check
Involves causing nuesance and potential profit loss to a large corporation - Check
Done for fun, not for monitery - Check
Done to prove Open-Source = WIN - Check

Well thats my checklist filled. Im up for it :) (or if i had a wii i would be)

[John H. @ Oct 27th 2008 4:31PM]

Please explain to me how this "proves Open-Source"

[Nick @ Oct 27th 2008 12:14PM]

"Good news homebrewsters, the Homebrew Channel has been updated and is now compatible with Ninentdo's Homebrew killing (for new installs) October 23rd update."

Heh, what's Ninentdo? :)

[TavisJohn @ Oct 27th 2008 12:21PM]

Adds SDCH support that the Wii should have come with in the first place.... Check!

[TavisJohn @ Oct 27th 2008 12:22PM]

That was susposed to be a reply to Skyride...

[ZaxCG2 @ Oct 27th 2008 12:33PM]

I REALLY don't get Nintendo... at all. I thought they removed DVD playback and SDHC support because the hardware would be ... I dunno too expensive? But what gives? Would they have to pay for rights to use both or something?

[BigD145 @ Oct 27th 2008 1:34PM]

I'd assume it was a licensing issue.

[TavisJohn @ Oct 27th 2008 4:29PM]

I suspect it was more of an end cost issue over a licensing issue.
They may have had to pay for the DVD ad SDHC licenses... However I do not see a reason why they can't have those available for purchase in the Shopping Channel!

I mean if they can add SDHC support to older Palm OS devices:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/19/sdhc-driver-released-for-palm-os-devices/
Than the can do the same for the Wii.

I would love to use larger than 2 gig (or 4gig with a non SDHC card) on my Wii, especially after the spring update that is supposed to let you run your Wii Ware and VC apps off of an SD Card.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/02/nintendo-announces-wii-storage-solution-sd-cards/

[Plothole @ Oct 27th 2008 6:21PM]

I believe it was more than just a licensing issue. The fact that memory sticks can actually hold more than the UMDs themselves is one big reason why the PSP is so easy to pirate. Restricting the Wii to SD1.1 though meant that most of the compatible cards on the market generally aren't big enough to substitute a Wii optical disc (4.7-8.5GB).

[Chris @ Oct 27th 2008 12:49PM]

The main homebrew apps that I have are the DVDx installer (lets you play DVD's no modchips involved) and the Mplayer (similar to VLC) lets you play things off a flashdrive or SD card in the Wii.

[bangladeshiluv @ Oct 27th 2008 12:54PM]

They already own Hollywood and Wallstreet. So why do they need their own channel?

[NoAndThen @ Oct 27th 2008 1:27PM]

finally a working (on almost ALL games!) backup loader:

http://www.ps3news.com/forums/wii-news/nintendo-wii-backup-launcher-v0-3-update-released-video-101690.html

compatibility list:

http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/index.php/Backup_Launcher_v3

I'm really pumped about this, I've already had to replace MarioKart once due to my younger brother!

[Nate @ Oct 27th 2008 3:00PM]

How do I start homebrewing my Wii? I have no idea where to begin!

[Nica @ Oct 27th 2008 4:13PM]

You can start here with the Twilight Hack:

http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Twilight_Hack

you will only need to run this once to install the homebrew channel (HBC).
http://hbc.hackmii.com/dist/the_homebrew_channel-beta_9.tar.gz

you can do w/o the HBC, but you'd have to run the Twilight Hack everytime, so i recommend installing HBC.

you will also need a copy of Zelda Twilight Princess, an SD card, and something to connect your SD card to your computer.
make sure to save your Zelda TP save file to your computer as you will need to replace it with the hacked save file.

the instructions to installing the Twilight Hack are on the first link, seems kinda long, but it's rather easy.

If you want to play DVDs, Wii Fanboy posted a walkthrough to installing the Twilight Hack and the Homebrew Channel, as well as the necessary apps to play DVDs.
http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/photos/guide-to-watching-dvds-on-wii/974716/


The Homebrew Channel will be installed as a channel on your wii, as the name suggests. It allows one to easily use applications by just placing them on the SD card.

wiibrew.org provides plenty of other homebrew for the wii, with instructions on how to run it using HBC.
you can also download the Homebrew Browser for use on the HBC which allows one to download more homebrew using the wii's wifi. you can find it at wiibrew.org, engadget only allows so many links...


hope that helps!!

[magnet20 @ Oct 27th 2008 3:20PM]

Can't let you brew that Star Fox...

[EI8HT @ Oct 27th 2008 4:15PM]

anyone know that with the new sdhc support if you can now put in a card bigger than 2gb?

[Plothole @ Oct 27th 2008 10:18PM]

By definition SDHC support means you can use cards 4GB and larger.