Brand new installer channels enable Japanese WiiWare to be played on US consoles free of charge. How long will this go on before Nintendo steps in and kicks some ass?
There is no doubt some people reading this who will know someone who isn’t up-to-date with today’s technology, and at some point will have heard that person claim “the technology these days, it’s all a foreign language to me!” before walking off to do more domestic things. Well, said noob would be shocked to hear that, shortly after working out how to install Virtual Console games for free, hackers have now managed to load bootlegged Japanese WiiWare titles onto NTSC region Wiis.
By using WAD and ROM installer channels, the Wii is able to boot up WiiWare free of charge, as the video link (found below) shows you using Okiraku Ping Pong as an example. It’s rather fitting that the disclaimer reads ‘Do not use this program to install illegal software!’ We find ourselves wondering where this will end and what measures Nintendo will take to lay these practises to rest…
We would also like to add that N-Europe in no way endorses or supports hacking or other illegal meddlings involving games consoles. Woe betide those who choose to support hackers as opposed to the developers and publishers putting hard work into these titles.
And on that note, feel free to check out the newly updated WiiWare Index. ;)
http://n-europe.com/special.php?sid=wiiware
D_prOdigy Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 13:19 || Total Comments: 1674
Somewhere in the world, every living thing within a 10 mile radius of Reggie Fils-Aime have been evaporated, and anyone unforunate enough to be in a 50 mile radius has been deafened from the:
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHH!!!!!!!!"
Hamsterpig Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 13:33 || Total Comments: 451
^^^
LOL
Ganepark32 Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 13:45 || Total Comments: 611
@ D_prOdigy - ...everyone 'cept Chuck Norris. Sound waves probably bounced straight off of him and deafened another couple million people.
Guardiandevil Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 14:14 || Total Comments: 402
I was almost a victim...thank god my brother pushed me away...RIP dear brother, i shall miss kicking your ass in mario kart...;p
Falcofire Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 14:27 || Total Comments: 132
Im guessing only on Modchipped consoles?
Seamus_aran Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 14:30 || Total Comments: 263
I'm guessing they are going to get an ass kicking from nintendo, served with fries.
WiiBoy Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 15:23 || Total Comments: 66
Everyone knows that everything is hackable. It is illegal, everyone knows that. And it is illegal to own Roms even if you own the original game. And Emulators are illegal too because they emulate a copyrighted and secured system.
I think every article and every publicity on this is BAD for game developers. It is just advertisement and should be removed from every serious magazine.
Hellfire Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 15:44 || Total Comments: 822
Without instructions and sources there's nothing illegal about reporting this and the gaming community deserves to be informed.
Whoever goes to the trouble to do this kind of hacking, already knows what's being done on the hacking/homebrew scene, it's not like piracy will increase because it's being reported that things are being hacked. That's like saying that showing a robbery on the news is bad for retailer and promotes robbery :P
Tayo Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 15:51 || Total Comments: 76
Ha, I Knew someone would hack into the system sooner or later, hmmm I'm always good with these predictions =P
Tphi @ N-E Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 15:54 || Total Comments: 461
Wiiboy, N-Europe neither seeks to condone or encourage this. We're just reporting a piece of news.
Nathan Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 15:55 || Total Comments: 1138
Indeed. Media attention will only raise Nintendo's awareness of the problem and force them into getting rid of it more quickly, as well.
WiiBoy Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 16:15 || Total Comments: 66
It just lets everyone know that it is possible to hack and use that illegal content. Nintendo has its own Anti-Piracy-Teams and are fighting together with TheEsa.com against piracy. Articles are no help. N-Europe has a big audience and should be a bit more serious.
Or have you ever read such an articel in a print magazine or on IGN/GameSpot/1UP?
Tphi @ N-E Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 16:35 || Total Comments: 461
Hackers will attempt to break into & exploit systems for their own profit whether its reported on or not.
1UP reporting on the Sony Store being hacked: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3167123
Hellfire Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 16:44 || Total Comments: 822
Choosing to ignore piracy while others fight it, just aggravates the problem which can be seen pretty much by how the music and movie industry is nowadays, if we don't accept that piracy exists and avoid to talk about it, it will reach a point where it will harm the developers a lot more than it is now.
Like with many other things in life, hiding it will only make matters worse.
Iun Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 18:34 || Total Comments: 154
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/273972108?-10922
^ Respected Weblog Joystiq reports on the same news.
Wiiboy, comparing us with sites like Ign and Gamespot is ridiculous.
N-Europe is much better.
For_Gods_Sake Says:
May 6th, 2008 at 01:54 || Total Comments: 95
@wiiboy
Under UK law you can make as many copies of a program/music as you like as long as its for your own use. I stress own use. No selling on or giving a mate a copy. Emulaters are not illegal otherwise the Wii,360 and 60gb PS3 are all illegal. Yes they do enable some people to download roms which is illegal only if you dont have the original product.
I work in the industry and trust me its never looked better with us now getting mainstream acceptance for our hobby
There will always be people who try to get something for nothing. Thats what the police etc are there for but if you know someone being dodgy then tell the authorities. Mind you any freebie is nice when given in a legal manner so dont go stopping those
Jackster Says:
May 6th, 2008 at 01:59 || Total Comments: 27
"I think every article and every publicity on this is BAD for game developers. It is just advertisement and should be removed from every serious magazine."
You're suggesting N-Europe should censor the news? Now THAT would be bad.
Swan Says:
May 6th, 2008 at 07:58 || Total Comments: 316
wiiboy ... your whole take on this is completely wrong. no-one is going to read this article and think 'oh so it can be hacked - i'm gonna give that a go!'
Arab_freak Says:
May 6th, 2008 at 08:03 || Total Comments: 65
"Practices" is spelled incorrectly.
"We find ourselves wondering where this will end and what measures Nintendo will take to lay these practises to rest…"
Maiky-nisute Says:
May 6th, 2008 at 09:04 || Total Comments: 280
i hate hacking, i hate every thing that hurts developers because in the long run it will hurt us to! (remember the 1984 / 1985 videogame industry breakdown!) and i really hate people that say that "that wont happen"...or "that what they are doing isn't elegal" or say: "every one is doing it"
Daroh Says:
May 6th, 2008 at 09:14 || Total Comments: 28
Oh great It's stuff like this that ruins it for everyone else.
Goodbye homebrew channel, chances are Nintendo will "fix" that too.
Nintendo-master2 Says:
May 6th, 2008 at 14:10 || Total Comments: 1533
hehe, nice save at the bottom.
"We would also like to add that N-Europe in no way endorses or supports hacking or other illegal meddlings involving games consoles."
I remember that ye got in trouble before for showing an article about illegal content!
Nathan Says:
May 6th, 2008 at 14:28 || Total Comments: 1138
That was my doing. And we haven't ever posted any articles supporting hackers or other illegal console modifying thingies. We know that some of our contacts have taken offense to the article, and we're doing our best to straighten things out with them.
ConflictCloud Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 04:41 || Total Comments: 217
For what it's worth, I think N-E handled this whole matter very well, certainly not in a hacker-encouraging way.
