Wii update removes homebrew capabilities

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 17th June 2008
Comments (13) Stumble
Wii update removes homebrew capabilities

Nintendo has struck at Wii homebrew coders hard and fast today by closing exploits in the Wii menu.

Nintendo has just released the new Menu Update 3.3 pack for the Wii. That's not something we'd normally report on, except that the primary function of this update has been to remove the capacity of Nintendo's motion-sensing console to launch homebrew applications and games.

Previously Wii homebrew was something that bedroom developers and code junkies had long tried to make a reality and had only been able to do so by exploiting a bug in the save game code for Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The bug in the game allowed unofficial third party software to be run from an SD card, giving amateur game makers a chance to play in Nintendo's sandbox.

For a time, it was good. Then someone managed to get the ScummVM emulator on the Wii and people could play those classic Lucasarts adventure games on their TVs and for a time it was frickin' excellent.

Now though, that time has come to an end and Nintendo has clamped down on what it views as illegal software due to the closed nature of the platform.

Nintendo is saying that the new update has been made in the interest of console owners and sayong "Because 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."

On the plus side, at least the new update also lets you move a Mii from the Mii Plaza to the Mii Parade! What else could you want from a Mii? Let us know in the forums.
Quote zim2411 17th June 2008, 15:00
Wiibrew.org reported that a workaround has already been made. It is not publicly available yet however.

http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Main_Page
Quote Timmy_the_tortoise 17th June 2008, 15:00
Adventure Games on my Wii? Why did no one tell me about this BEFORE Ninty clamped down? I've been dying to play Day of the Tentacle again, but can't find the disc or any downloads anywhere.
Quote Bursar 17th June 2008, 15:09
Aparently it also disables Freeloader as well. Hope noone has any import games they want to keep playing...
Quote dattimr 17th June 2008, 16:19
http://www.old-cans.com/en/day_of_the_tentacle/

There you go! Enjoy. =) I have been going insane since I discovered this masterpiece, hahaha.
Quote naokaji 17th June 2008, 16:29
omg... someone is having fun playing a game we dont even sell, we have to stop him!!!

sometimes I really have to wonder about certain corporate decisions.
Quote steveo_mcg 17th June 2008, 17:09
Does the Wii automatically update its self when you go online?
Quote M4RTIN 17th June 2008, 17:35
Quote:
Originally Posted by steveo_mcg
Does the Wii automatically update its self when you go online?

no so you dont have to update, however the next big wii game, what ever it may be probably wont work unless you are using the latest software, or it will install it automatically
Quote phuzz 17th June 2008, 17:51
Worth noting it doesn't disable the Homebrew channel, so I can still enjoy my Beneath a Steel Sky :)

However, if you've not installed the Homebrew channel yet, do it now before you run an update, all you need is an SD card, a copy of Twilight Princess and instructions from http://wiibrew.org.
Quote Smegwarrior 17th June 2008, 18:10
This is totally stupid and Nintendo are cutting their own throat, it is not like the homebrew games are pirated games and how many consoles would they have sold already just so some people can play homebrew games, then you have the potential for a person to make a homebrew game that Nintendo could then buy from them to sell.
Quote Nexxo 17th June 2008, 18:37
Market forces. They close a hack, someone opens a new hack. It's the Way of the Hacker.
Quote DXR_13KE 17th June 2008, 19:40
the more difficult it is to hack the sooner someone hacks it....
Quote HourBeforeDawn 17th June 2008, 19:52
so I just got the Wii and I dont plan on doing of the online stuff so as long as I dont update I would be alright? as there are some imports I plan to pick up? or will future games not play due to not using the update?
Quote leexgx 18th June 2008, 23:58
if the game requres the update, you have to not play that game
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