Ghetto Wii
Jul. 19th, 2008 08:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leynosI'm thinking about getting a Nintendo Wii soon. I've already done my usual daft thing of buying several games before I own the console, now I'm looking at my options for a cheap modded system.
The Wii mod chips now allow the booting of all original import discs, seemingly from anywhere in the world, however, it does appear that there is another one of these cat and mouse games going on between Nintendo and the modders. The systems are being constantly redesigned in an effort to scupper the mod chip manufacturers, and there are newer games that won't boot on earlier modded systems.
Inevitably though, the mod chip designers will win out. That's the way its always been. Mod chips are software upgradable, and any new developments can be circumvented by new firmware.
The Wii's copy protection system seems to be done entirely in the disc drive, so there's been the emergence of a market for replacement Wii disc drives, both ready modded and unmodded earlier versions of the drive assembly which can be modded by soldering only five wires.
The way to go, it seems, is to buy a console with a broken disc drive, which can be had on eBay for around £75, then replace the drive with one that has had a mod chip fitted. The modded drives sell for around £70. Along with that, I'll need Wiimote + Nunchuck (already ordered), power supply, sensor bar and component video cable (which I have already). With all that, I reckon I can get a fully modded Wii system for around £190.
All that without having to solder a single wire, or box a console up and post it to the modders.
--
I'm having a mini "Festival of Shooting" tonight, trying out all the shmups I've been buying without taking time to play. So far, there's been:
Ibara – Although it does have elements of Battle Garregga, the feel is very different, so I wouldn't go as far as to call it a spiritual successor. At least, not yet anyway. It's definitely an enjoyable game, with some very interesting bullet patterns and a fun power up system. And I think more games should do the "shaped enemy bullets" thing.
Homura – This doesn't really impress me. It feels like Shikigami No Shiro without all of the elements that make Shiki special.
After dinner, it's Radirgy, Esp Galuda and Hyperduel :)
The Wii mod chips now allow the booting of all original import discs, seemingly from anywhere in the world, however, it does appear that there is another one of these cat and mouse games going on between Nintendo and the modders. The systems are being constantly redesigned in an effort to scupper the mod chip manufacturers, and there are newer games that won't boot on earlier modded systems.
Inevitably though, the mod chip designers will win out. That's the way its always been. Mod chips are software upgradable, and any new developments can be circumvented by new firmware.
The Wii's copy protection system seems to be done entirely in the disc drive, so there's been the emergence of a market for replacement Wii disc drives, both ready modded and unmodded earlier versions of the drive assembly which can be modded by soldering only five wires.
The way to go, it seems, is to buy a console with a broken disc drive, which can be had on eBay for around £75, then replace the drive with one that has had a mod chip fitted. The modded drives sell for around £70. Along with that, I'll need Wiimote + Nunchuck (already ordered), power supply, sensor bar and component video cable (which I have already). With all that, I reckon I can get a fully modded Wii system for around £190.
All that without having to solder a single wire, or box a console up and post it to the modders.
--
I'm having a mini "Festival of Shooting" tonight, trying out all the shmups I've been buying without taking time to play. So far, there's been:
Ibara – Although it does have elements of Battle Garregga, the feel is very different, so I wouldn't go as far as to call it a spiritual successor. At least, not yet anyway. It's definitely an enjoyable game, with some very interesting bullet patterns and a fun power up system. And I think more games should do the "shaped enemy bullets" thing.
Homura – This doesn't really impress me. It feels like Shikigami No Shiro without all of the elements that make Shiki special.
After dinner, it's Radirgy, Esp Galuda and Hyperduel :)
