FLATMII streams games to your Wii, via USB

Nintendo has gone to some lengths to keep one step ahead of the modding community, but to little avail. We've recently seen a product that enables DVD playback on the Wii, and now we've been hepped to FLATMII, a device that plugs into the Wii's drive ribbon, letting you stream ISO backups of your games (or the Gecko OS, Mplayer, emulators and more) from your Windows XP or Vista PC -- which your console now takes for its DVD drive. If you're the sort of sane and sober Wii owner who figures that it is wise and prudent to backup games that you own legally -- the kind who would never ever think of stealing software -- hit that read link. And be sure to catch the video after the break.

[Via Max Console]

[Jonathan-DBOSS @ Dec 31st 2008 1:34PM]

With this. I'll be sure to download "backups" for my yet-to-own games.

[birthday is 1990 @ Dec 31st 2008 2:06PM]

Thats funny. That way those evil developers whose jobs depend on your legally purchasing their product lose their jobs and eventually fail to support their family. Stealing isn't cool anymore.

[Jason @ Dec 31st 2008 2:22PM]

Birthday, dude, shut up. Everybody knows there's no such thing as Santa, the tooth fairy or stealing software.

[birthday is 1990 @ Dec 31st 2008 2:31PM]

Seriously? How did that even add to this discussion?

[Jason @ Dec 31st 2008 2:54PM]

Yes, seriously.

The silly, knuckle-dragging notion that once you've expressed an idea or concept in a recordable form you now somehow own it is pure fantasy.

The painful fact that this fantasy is still codified into law is lamentable but a dying reality.

[parki @ Dec 31st 2008 3:43PM]

Re: Jason:

Actually, the concept of intellectual property would be foreign to "knuckle draggers" and is a relatively new idea as far as property ownership goes. Imagine trying to explain patents and royalties to a caveman. In fact, as our economy evolves, more and more of our legislation (the DMCA, for example) will deal with the complicated issue of intellectual property and ownership of virtual assets. Ideas and information are the new economy, while production of physical goods is being relegated to developing nations.

Anyway, to the point: I would argue that anyone who doesn't recognize the value of ideas and information is the knuckle dragger.

[Jeff @ Dec 31st 2008 3:47PM]

Jason,

Technically, all invention and art throughout human history is creating an "idea or concept in a recordable form". The only difference is the means of recording.

So yes, if I produce a work of art, I do "now somehow own it". The fantasy is that just because a certain kind of theft is easy to do, it is therefore not wrong.

[Jason @ Dec 31st 2008 3:52PM]

@parki - would it be anything like explaining hyberbole to you? No, anyone who doesn't recognize the value of the free exchange of ideas is a stunted twit.

@jeff - It's actually not that technical - that's what I was talking about. Innovation, art, software - you don't own them. It's literally all in your head.

[Dummy00001 @ Dec 31st 2008 4:44PM]

@Jonathan: I hope you realize that there is not much of games to pirate for Wii.

But if the mod will allow to play DVDs and import games from other regions.... hell I'm all for it.

[Mark @ Dec 31st 2008 4:49PM]

Jason, I guess you won't mind if someone breaks into your home and steals all your "art" since you don't own it anyway. They could steal your tiny brain too since that's "all in your head."

[Jason @ Dec 31st 2008 5:39PM]

Mark, now that you're on the internet (congratulations, by the way), try to see if you can separate abstract ethereal concepts from their physical expressions. See if you broke in and stole actual, physical stuff from my house, I would actually physically beat you with a pipe.

Ideas, as property, have only one legitimate safegard - zero distribution. If you never sell it or give it away to anyone, then you should have the right to not have someone break in and take it. If you do sell or share, the rights should transfer with medium.

[Mark @ Jan 1st 2009 12:59AM]

Jason, Don't worry your little head. Your safe since you've obviously never been able to create an "idea" of any practical value.

[Mark @ Jan 1st 2009 1:32AM]

Hi Jason.

Software is not an idea or a concept in this context. Just as a house is a physical manifestation of a designer's plans, software is a physical manifestation of another concept - in this case a game, in the form of line by line instructions. I cannot begin to imagine what fallacy in logic you use to deduce your right to have any piece of software without payment.

Long story short, you are a thief, and I hope your time on this planet is kept to an absolute minimum. All trolling aside, I hope at some point you grow the fuck up and see that you're a leech on the software development community. Please try to bring this time as close to present-date as possible. If you have no intention of doing this, either disconnect yourself from the software community in all respects, or consider bringing your life to an end.

Thank you.

[iomr @ Jan 1st 2009 9:37AM]

Just so everyone is clear, intellectual property rights have their detriments as well. American mega-corporations routinely send excursions into third world countries to "discover" - and thereby patent - ancient remedies and traditions of the local people to only profit themselves. This is one of the reasons such nations have the deck incredibly stacked against them.

[mirakutea @ Jan 1st 2009 10:27AM]

without intellectual property there is no capitalism, without capitalism there is no progress.

[Zach @ Jan 5th 2009 12:35PM]

You are saying that if you buy something you suddenly have all intellectual rights to it? Like if I buy this cool speaker, I am now allowed to make copies of it, even though someone has a patent for part of it? Or a book writer has no right to sell his books, because he doesn't "own" the story?

YOU, sir, are an idiot!

[Gob @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:07AM]

Ok
so here we go
bought the modchip from here - http://www.ozmodchips.com/flatmii-wii-dvd-drive-emulator-iso-loader-modchip-p-199.html?currency=USD
got it in 2 days all the way from Australia because i paid for Express mailing.

The Flatmii comes with everything you need except a triwing (i alreayd have one since i have a wiikey 1 modchip), and a mini USB cable.

The build quaility is pretty good
I have a laptop, so using this is great
here is a proper review from brakken -http://www.iso420.org/wii/flatmii/index.htm

[CAHLITO @ Dec 31st 2008 1:34PM]

So cool... but ehhh, I haven't played with my Wii since maybe September. PS3 and Xbox 360 are way more entertaining and media friendly.

[Lowest Ranked @ Dec 31st 2008 3:42PM]

DISCLAIMER: The below comment contains incestual, homo-erotic behaviors. Read at your own risk!!

[CAHLITO @ Dec 31st 2008 1:38PM]

Sorry to DP but WTH. you cant even buy one of these things yet.

[Game_playa @ Dec 31st 2008 2:06PM]

Why do you care if your not going to get one anyway?

[CAHLITO @ Dec 31st 2008 2:34PM]

never know if i was getting one for my bro jerkoff

[Rocketboy @ Dec 31st 2008 2:46PM]

You jerkoff your bro?

[Jason @ Dec 31st 2008 2:59PM]

Well yeah, he hasn't played with his own wii since september.

Read the friggin comments!!

[Lowest Ranked @ Dec 31st 2008 3:41PM]

Looking back, I wish I had skipped that entire discussion.

[CAHLITO @ Dec 31st 2008 8:09PM]

lmao thanks for the laugh!

[Rocketboy @ Jan 2nd 2009 2:42PM]

That's what he said.

[david @ Dec 31st 2008 1:42PM]

i'll buy one right now

[Kawaiipikachu @ Dec 31st 2008 4:39PM]

I never bother with pirating tools like this .
Companys have shut down due to piracy but soon DRM technology will elvolve to the point of being unbrakable & soon piracy shall take a steep decline meaning that no more companys have to shut down due to piracy ever again .
btw modchips are legal here is Australia but still its illigle to make pirate backups

[Jason @ Dec 31st 2008 7:26PM]

Yo, ho, haul together!

[NoAndThen @ Dec 31st 2008 1:43PM]

Awesome. I do legitimately make backups of my wii games; the backup loader channel is getting pretty good, though not quite as fast as legit games yet, and some games still aren't really playable.

That being said, I've been waiting for this, hopefuly it'll solve some of the speed issues.

[Blizzarddemon @ Jan 4th 2009 10:47AM]

@kawaiipikachu

No it's not. DRM is getting less and less "unbreakable" as it get's more and more complex. More often then protecting copyright holders, it continues to brick ligament hardware. As complicated or advanced DRM could potentially get, the fact of the matter remains, bought data, and copied (or in this case pirated)data are EXACTLY the same. Stealing cannot exist in a world wear tangibility is nonexistent, and product supply are infinite.

The battle of of titles is all this is, software piracy vs free distribution, and it is far from over.

[Inocente @ Dec 31st 2008 1:47PM]

You better don't belive it. It's a joke from www.elotrolado.net. April's fools day in Spain is on December 28th.

[tlarkin79 @ Dec 31st 2008 1:47PM]

Sure, because someone's going to do all that just so they can play "backups". You know this is a means of piracy, nothing more.

[Dummy00001 @ Dec 31st 2008 4:50PM]

Do not be pissed. We'll let you buy one too.

If you wanna be pissed at somebody - then direct your anger on showelware/waggleware producers. I'm intimidated to fork every time 60€ on something what might turn out stinking pile of crap.

[BJ is Gooder @ Dec 31st 2008 1:53PM]

I actually feel kind of bad for Nintendo and the problems they've had locking their prized console down...

Less profitability equals less support and less chance of a successor. Not to say the Wii isn't profitable - just a thought.

[Precurse @ Dec 31st 2008 2:13PM]

You're kidding right? The Xbox360, PSP, and DS have all been open to backup playing and their sales numbers are still outstanding (230,000 PSPs were sold in Jan 08).

I don't feel pity one bit for ANY of these companies. I purchase a game, and I EXPECT to be able to make legal backups in case any of my discs get scratched (even years later when they are discontinued). Same goes for Blu-ray. I absolutely REFUSE to pay $1 for a blu-ray disc where I can't make backup copies for personal use. If you consider the amount of money these companies are spending towards 'copy protection', and every time it gets circumvented, that's money that could be spent towards USEFUL R&D. Copy protection (and activation) comes at a HUGE cost. Between developing the malware that runs on the computer, to the servers that need to be upgraded to be able handle the load, to the lost sales of people pirating the software due to the fact they charge too much or have too high of a copy protection: Spore was (or is?) the highest pirated game, and also had the highest form of copy protection: To PREVENT resales!!

Protection (like CDKeys) I are understandable, as there needs to be some form of protection in order to prevent Joe Doe giving the game out to his friends, but anything preventing from making your own copies is totally BS. Look at Blizzard now even- they released no cd cracks in their Starcraft/Warcraft patches so you don't even require the disc anymore to play.

Anywho, enough ranting.. Just food for thought.

[Dummy00001 @ Dec 31st 2008 4:54PM]

Had Nintendo kept its customers happy, few would have thought about piracy.

Since Wii launch, we are all left in constant state of wishing for more.

And what else would you expect with game prices soaring??

[Xerloq @ Jan 1st 2009 2:53AM]

Isn't it interesting how profitable they are despite the efforts to pirate their games?

I think, if anything, Nintendo has come up with the best strategy to combat piracy - sell your console to those who don't know how (or wouldn't be inclined to) pirate games.

One of the best things about the Wii is that it's so hackable (without hardware mods) yet easy for Grandma and Grandpa to use.

[maximus @ Dec 31st 2008 2:36PM]

Wonder how much this thing will cost?

[MRLN @ Dec 31st 2008 2:58PM]

Here's an idea: Rather than try to fight these devices and applications, they should be making their OWN devices and applications that give DVD playback, homebrew accessibility, and backups. It'll be a lot easier for them to prevent piracy by doing that themselves. But, unfortunately, they're too busy making Wii Watch Paiint Dry.

[Dummy00001 @ Dec 31st 2008 4:59PM]

I had this impression, that this generation only MS is listening to its Xbox users. And this admission comes from Linuxoid and M$-hater. All proprietary companies are alike - but MS bet a lot and didn't wanted a single chance for success to slip. That's why they are so good this generation. Nintendo and Sory are in their usual a-hole mode: (1) ... (2) profit!!!

[Dima @ Dec 31st 2008 3:08PM]

http://www.quantronics.com.au/products/nintendo-wii/modchips/flatmii-iso-loader-and-drive-emulator_wii-flatmii.html

Its apparent release date is January 15th and will go for about $100.

[Dummy00001 @ Dec 31st 2008 5:00PM]

But that means for DVD playback homebrew channel is still needed...

[SlickD @ Dec 31st 2008 3:09PM]

You guys sure make me feel bad about buying the real games.

[Matthew @ Dec 31st 2008 3:23PM]

Cool idea. "Streaming" is over LAN, not USB.... add an ethernet jack and I'm sold.

[Sid @ Dec 31st 2008 7:08PM]

Uh, the term "streaming" isn't restricted to a lan and lan != ethernet. I do agree it would be better over ethernet though, and made to run off of a standard file sharing protocol. You wouldn't necessarily always want a computer to have to be within usb reach of, or even own a windows product.

[reezer @ Dec 31st 2008 4:02PM]

3rd party wii developers don't make money, 99% of the games suck.
Nintendo has enough money.
Here's your asshole comment of the day.

[Levi @ Dec 31st 2008 4:04PM]

Modding community FTW!

Rampant piracy (unless it's because of DRM...) ftl.

[SD @ Dec 31st 2008 4:11PM]

I'm actually quite interested in this for development purposes.