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Wii Menu 4.3 brings performance upgrades, removes homebrew
Over the last day or so, a message has gradually disseminated through North America's Wii systems, alerting users to a new Wii Menu update (we personally received it at around 1AM EST). Wii Menu 4.3 doesn't add any neat features to the user experience; rather, it seems focused entirely on taking features away from swarthy pirates and unlucky homebrewers. "Because unauthorized channels or firmware may impair game play or the Wii console, updating to Wii Menu version 4.3 will check for and automatically remove such unauthorized files," Nintendo says on its support site, repeating a message found in every firmware update . "In addition, there are some behind the scenes enhancements that do not affect any prominently-used features or menus but will improve system performance." Improved system performance is always a good thing, of course, but the text makes it sound like this is secondary to the main goal of taking another pass at everyone's Wiis to search for unauthorized software.
GDC09: Nintendo updates Wii Shop Channel with 'SD Card Menu' [update]
Click to check out our video walkthrough! At his GDC 2009 keynote, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata will announce, Apple-style, that a Wii Shop Channel update will be available to all. We ran over to the Wii and began the agonizing update process to discover -- an "SD Card Menu" ...? Yes, it would seem that the vaunted "storage solution" has arrived."Welcome to the SD Card Menu! Here, you can launch channels saved on SD Cards by temporarily utilizing the Wii System Memory." CONFIRMED. That's right, launch from SD.If your system memory is full, you still have to delete stuff, but there's now a streamlined, automated process to do that from this new SD Card Menu. It will even choose stuff for you, if you want. Update: The new Wii system update also adds support for SDHC cards up to 32 GB -- that's alotta Virtual Console games folks!
New Wii update targets modded save files, alters user agreement
When dealing with new and apparently minor Wii updates, we always consider Nintendo's struggle against the homebrew community to be as futile as Arnold Schwarzenegger's barrage of attacks on the T-1000. The aggressive application of shotgun shells, grenades and liquid nitrogen tanks can do naught but delay the 'brew crew, always reassembling itself and slipping through the next exploitable crack*.Aside from, once again, removing "unauthorized modifications to save files" (think: Twilight Hack), the 3.4 update alters the Wii's Network Services User Agreement, adds an "enhancement" to parental controls and enables compatible USB keyboards to be used with the Mii channel. Exciting![Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]*Of course, the T-1000 is defeated in the end ... but then Arnie tosses himself into a smelting pool. Hmm. Honestly, we didn't really think the comparison through. Does the lava represent core gamers?
Nintendo unleashes Wii Menu 3.4, updates ToS and removes save files
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Nintendo_updates_Wii_to_3_4_changes_ToS_and_save_files'; Nintendo is at it again, unleashing yet another Wii Menu Update which puts us at 3.4, as our glowing Wii just informed us. Aside from augmenting the Nintendo User Agreement, the new system update will also "check for and automatically remove" all "unauthorized modifications to save files." Guess what, homebrew fans? The party is over forever put on hold for the time being.This is basically all of the info we have right now, but we're sure the homebrew community will step up soon with a response to this. You know how they hate it when Nintendo tries to stop them from running their 'brew.Keep an eye on Wii Fanboy for more on this as it's made available.
Wii Menu hack now available to adventurous homebrewers [update]
Yesterday's jaw-droppingly comprehensive Wii Menu hack, which enables cross-region Wii, Gamecube, and downloadable games, as well as various display and UI tweaks, was unavailable to the public when the video (encore presentation above!) was released. But today creator Crediar has released the files for use on your own Wii.We're very interested in opening up our Wii systems, but at the same time, we're ... going to hold off until we hear some feedback about this. Something as drastic as this HackInstaller seems like it could carry a high risk of Wii brickage. If it ends up being a Wii killer, we're sure we'll hear about it in the next week or so.[Update: Oh noes! PAL only! Thanks, Asok!]
Wii Menu hacked to pieces
Homebrewer Crediar has recorded a video of a truly epic series of Wii Menu hacks that pretty much bust the system open. All kinds of hacks are on display, both cosmetic and substantial.Most notably, Crediar has opened up the system not just to discs from every region, but channels (which suggests Virtual Console games), and, according to the text included with the video at DCEmu, GameCube games as well. The Wii's "rescue menu" (used to boot diagnostic discs, apparently) can now be used to boot all discs. And then, for fun, the health warning and the background music were disabled. Now that's just showing off.
Twilight Hack reinstated, new patch for Wii menu 3.3
It's about time. Less that five days after Nintendo released the Twilight Hack killer known as Wii menu update 3.3, the folks at HackMii have released their previously tested workaround, giving new life to the homebrew community. We can only assume the next menu update that tries to thwart the hack will be itself thwarted in record time.[Via Engadget; thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Twilight Hack returns to knock out Wii Menu 3.3
Nintendo talks a big talk, but has never invested heavily in actually protecting its systems from those nefarious homebrew junkies. While the Wii Menu 3.3 did slightly break the Twilight Hack, it didn't even bust up folks who already had the homebrew channel installed, and its protections against further hacks were minimal. Now the HackMii folks are back with Twilight Hack v0.1beta1, which bests Wii Menu 3.3, along with some other improvements for homebrew usage. We can't tell if this is incompetence or benevolence on Nintendo's part, or perhaps these hackers are just that good, but either way we're lovin' it JT-style.
Wii Menu 3.3 already hacked, patch forthcoming
Although the Wii Menu 3.3 update didn't undo the Twilight Hack for those who had already installed it, it did prevent new would-be homebrewers from getting their game on -- but like all attempts to outfox the hackers, it's fallen short, and in record time. According to hackmii, which figured out the workaround, the 3.3 update isn't exactly subtle in what it does to disable the hack -- quote the team, "We Are Not Impressed." No publicly-available patch is out yet, but give 'em time, they say they're working on it.[Via Hack A Day]
Twilight Hack protection already beaten
Nintendo's going to have to devise more minor Mii Channel upgrades, because they'll have more homebrew-killing attempts to barely camouflage. Almost immediately after the new Wii Menu 3.3 software went up and killed the Twilight Hack, coders at the HackMii blog figured out what the new code was: surprisingly, it was targeted specifically at the one Twilight Princess bug that enables homebrew loading. And they found bugs in that.Soon after, they wrote up some code that exploits the bugs in the new security code, and allows them to "fool their check into ignoring the TP hack." They have yet to release the fix, but at least we can stop panicking until the next update.The blog post goes into explicit detail about Nintendo's update code, and it's interesting reading even if you know nothing about programming. We know this firsthand. The homebrew community has been hard at work creating wonderful experiences for you to enjoy with your Wii. Did you know about homebrew game Masteroids? Or how about the shmup OpenTyrian? Outside of games, people have been using the Balance Board to come up with some really neat stuff. Keep up with the homebrew scene by staying current with our Homebrew category!
Wii Menu 3.3 update disables Twilight Hack for those who haven't already taken the plunge
Here's an odd one. We assumed Nintendo would be actively building software updates to kill off the Virtual Console-threatening homebrew that has been rapidly spreading to Wiis worldwide, but the Wii Menu 3.3's effect on hackers seems accidental at worst. The word on the street is that if you've already installed the homebrew channel onto your Wii, the 3.3 update will pose zero threat, but it patches up the Twilight Hack hole, meaning virgin consoles will have little hope for homebrew once they've updated to 3.3 -- until someone cracks it, of course. The update also lets you pull Miis from the Mii Plaza to the Mii Parade directly, a time for rejoicing, indeed. [Thanks, Sean]
New Wii menu update 3.3 nullifies Twilight Princess hack
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Nintendo_kills_Twilight_Hack_with_Wii_Menu_Update_3_3'; We've got some good news and some bad news. Let's start with the bad news: Nintendo's latest Wii menu update (3.3) effectively plugs up the Twilight Princess hole that served to foster a homebrew community – or, perhaps more accurately, it casts the homebrew community into a realm of darkness. According to the update, "Beacuse unauthorized modifications to save files may impair game play or the Wii Console, updating to Wii Menu version 3.3 will also check for and automatically remove such save files." As for the good news, the Wii menu update also lets you move a Mii from from the Mii Plaza to the Mii Parade, and really, isn't that awesome enough to make up for killing homebrew? The countdown has begun for someone to produce a Wii downgrader.Update: According to various sources, the Homebrew Channel still work if it was installed before the menu update.
Wii Menu Update 3.3 kills Twilight Hack [update 2]
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Nintendo_kills_Twilight_Hack_with_Wii_Menu_Update_3_3'; Well folks, looks like the party has come to an end. All of you enjoying your free Tetris are up the proverbial creek sans paddle. Your Wii should be glowing blue as you read this right now.The latest update, which rolls the Wii Menu to 3.3, not only kills the Twilight Hack, but also allows you to move a Mii from the Mii Plaza into the Mii Parade directly, thanks to the addition of a handy new icon. You just drag and drop as you normally would.But, let's get back to the real news here. Nintendo has finally gone ahead and sunk the U.S.S. Homebrew. We're anxious to see how the community is going to take this one.Update: According to commenters, the update doesn't kill the Homebrew Channel (if it was already installed), so there's still something for you all to have fun with.Update 2: Looks like Freeloader is affected by this new update, as well. Sad face.[Thanks, Sonic_13!] The homebrew community has been hard at work creating wonderful experiences for you to enjoy with your Wii. Did you know about homebrew game Masteroids? Or how about the shmup OpenTyrian? Outside of games, people have been using the Balance Board to come up with some really neat stuff. Keep up with the homebrew scene by staying current with our Homebrew category!
Wii Menu gets updated, is now 3.2
We know that most of you are probably too busy to bother with a Wii Menu update that you suspect adds very little in the way of functionality. We just wanted to take a moment to tell you that your suspicions are entirely correct: That little blue glow promises only version 3.2, a Disc Channel change that lets you know when an inserted disk has an update on it. You may now return to ignoring it.To Zero Cool and the rest of you l33t hax0rs, worry not: The update apparently does nothing to impede the Twilight Princess hacks we're sure you've all grown so fond of.
GDC08: Some WiiWare details from the Wii Menu talk
Nintendo's Takashi Aoyama took the stage this morning in front of an enormous crowd to talk about the development of the Wii Menu interface, and the concurrent development of the system's features. The major news at this presentation is branding and confirmation of some pay content online (including, possibly, fee-based online play), video of a WiiWare game, and confirmation that the Everybody's Nintendo Channel (which offers videos, screenshots, and also DS demo downloads) is still planned for release in the U.S. and Europe for an unspecified time. Unfortunately, photography was not allowed, so here's a screen of the highlighted WiiWare game from developer Frontier's homepage.The WiiWare game is called LostWinds and is a side-scroller controlled by the Nunchuk. The Wiimote pointer controls gusts of wind that can affect the character, enemies, and onscreen items. The visual style is very green and sort of Crystal-Chronicles-like. No information about release date or cost was given, but a video was shown.The Everybody's Nintendo Channel "assists in finding software suited to the user's unique taste and/or play style" by allowing people who have played games for at least an hour to vote, and also providing information, screens, and videos about new games. This information will also be available with WiiWare. Aoyama said that the service is indeed planned for the U.S. and Europe, but didn't say when. He demonstrated the channel with a video showing a Wii Fit trailer.The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection "Pay&Play" content will include games that are not free to play online. The icon is the same, but orange and surrounded with a rectangle with a "Pay&Play" label. This content would use Wii Points and would include both WiiWare and disc games. No specifics (of course!) but Guitar Hero III DLC seems like a possibility.
Awkward Brawl postmortem, Wii Fit panel announced for GDC
Nintendo has announced that they will hold three panel discussions at this year's Game Developers' Conference. Two of the three focus on the biggest, and most ephemeral, Wii releases of the year: Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Wii Fit. In "Building Characters: The Super Smash Bros. Brawl Postmortem," Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai will discuss the challenges of throwing so many distinct Nintendo characters into a game together, staying true to both the game design and the integrity of the original characters. This postmortem will be extremely uncomfortable if the game isn't actually, you know, mortem yet, a possibility that seems ever more likely. In fact, Brawl will not be out by the time GDC opens on February 18th, but it could still be finished if they meet their January 31st release date for Japan. "Wii Fit: Creating a Brand New Interface for the Home Console," led by EAD general manager Takao Sawano will discuss the development of both Wii Fit and the weird controller that goes with it. And Takashi Aoyama's "Planning the Wii Menu: From Pre-Launch to WiiWare" is about ... the Wii Menu. Well, and also the development of the Wii's internal programming.
Friday Video: Addicted to Mario Party
This is one of those really random videos that we just can't resist. YouTuber MammaMia19 can't stop playing Mario Party 8, and he wants you to know about it. He's also uploaded a ridiculous number of videos of the party game to YouTube, so after checking this one out, you can clock your own massive number of hours with Mario Party 8, just without, y'know, playing it.
