WiiWare games hacked, pirated, and brought to North American Wiis
by Eric Caoili 
{ May 4th 2008 at 3:00PM }
Only a few weeks after pirates figured out how to install Virtual Console games on their Wiis for free using the Twilight Hack, a clever trick for running unofficial code on an unmodded systems, hackers have expanded their counterfeit offerings to allow bootleg copies of WiiWare titles.
We're not yet sure if online modes are working, but the fact that pirates can install Japanese WiiWare ROMs/WADs on a US system, as shown above with Family Ping Pong, is impressive (and criminal!). Considering how fast the Wii's piracy scene has been moving, someone will likely soon release instructions on how to bypass microtransactions and install downloadable content updates for free, too.
How long will it be before Nintendo steps in to end these shenanigans? Will that mean the end of Wii homebrew, as well? See, this is why we can't have nice things.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Roto13 @ May 4th 2008 3:34PM
"Considering how fast the Wii's piracy scene has been moving, someone will likely soon release instructions on how to bypass microtransactions and install downloadable content updates for free, too."
I don't pirate games usually (well, not current gen games anyway :P) but I'd totally steal me some microtransactions. I hate that nickel and dime crap.
Nigeria @ May 4th 2008 3:48PM
Guys, it's 3:53 am: time for Family Ping Pong!
Jhongerkong @ May 4th 2008 3:52PM
Id try FF:CC but I have no space. Ans if you install a wad thats too large for your Wii, then you have to reformat it or else you're stuck with no space.
hvnlysoldr @ May 4th 2008 4:41PM
No sir we don't deserve fine things.
steve @ May 4th 2008 5:28PM
hmmm maybe i should go buy twilight princess once brawl begins to bore me
[it will probably get patched before that happens tho]
meist3r @ May 5th 2008 6:24AM
There are enough "old" copies of the game out there with the hack/glitch still present. I would highly suggest buying Twilight Princess. This game was 61 hours of pure fun and my best gaming experience in years. (Why 61 hours? It took me 58 hours to complete with all items except the largest wallet (stupid insect hunt). Then after it sat on the shelve for more than half a year I took the time and another 3 hours to complete the cave of ordeals which was great fun by itself.
If you didn't play Twilight Princess so far you are missing out on one of the best Wii games to date and one of the best Zelda Titles I've ever played. I started playing Ocarina for the first time ever after finishing TP and somehow it doesn't feel so exciting anymore.
reinfected @ May 4th 2008 5:53PM
Be careful when you do this. Especially when installing virtual console games. Nintendo might be able to track what you've got on your console since if you've got a virtual console game on the console you dont own, the virtual console shows that you can redownload it as if you've bought it. When doing this, I would best recommend you turn off your internet and remove it when you turn it back on with the WAD uninstaller. Just uninstalling it using the Wii settings doesn't remove the tickets and as stated, nintendo might be able to catch you from this and ban your console from online activities.
Ethan @ May 4th 2008 6:33PM
Much like music downloads, TPTB will freak out without realising that it's not more noteworthy than CD copying. I want to pay for good stuff.
SImpression @ May 4th 2008 8:26PM
Sheesh i hope Nintendo stops it, i might be the only one but i think this homebrew stuff is crap. And illegal. i'm just not for it.
Nathew @ May 4th 2008 9:49PM
well, not everyone has the $2,500 as well as the developing experience to become licensed nintendo developers. just because some people use it to pirate software and use emulators doesn't mean all homebrew is "crap".
iofthestorm @ May 4th 2008 9:57PM
I don't think you understand what homebrew is and what piracy is. Homebrew is just running your own code on the Wii, piracy is stealing software. Homebrew can be very useful such as a Wii Media center type software, whereas piracy is just a way to get something without paying for it. Incidentally, there was a post on the dcemu wii forums about a guy who's working on a Wii Miidia Center homebrew, but it's not out and the newsposter didn't include any links to the guy's site.
cbodall @ May 5th 2008 11:07AM
turn your damn sound down!
Darksyntax @ May 4th 2008 11:15PM
i hope nintendo bricks all the wii's with illegal wares. and yes they are very much aware who downloads what without paying...so i hope they do brick em mod chipped consoles too.
Waffala @ May 5th 2008 12:33AM
I hope you learn how to use the English language.
meist3r @ May 5th 2008 6:27AM
Well, compared to what I've heard/read from American native speakers so far his post was actually quite eloquent. And it didn't even feature the word gay.
DesertPyrate @ May 5th 2008 1:22AM
Well nothing wrong with homebrew, I dont care much for running VC games besides if you wanna put Nintendy ROMs on a console an old retired Xbox gets the job done nicely, that and some PS1 games too.
To be honest I'd say theres nothing wrong with unlocking the region on a console you paid for. These articles use words like pirates to make things sound so bad. I live in N.A and gas is about 4.05(usd) per gallon, if someone came up with an alternative fuel, I'd use it, now is that pirating?
XBL bans people who pay for their service for backing up games they've purchased. I hope Nintendo doesnt go this route on their free service, whats next DRM filled games? Hey Blu Ray beat HD DVD so its only a matter of time right? These gigantic companies act like they're hurting for money, when a small group of probably less than 5% of their markets account for such a thing, bottom line if you paid for it, do what you want with it.
XionPH @ May 5th 2008 5:20AM
I dont think that this hacking thing is as big a problem for Nintendo as people might think. How many families are really going to go through the trouble of hacking their Wiis to pirate games? Not many, it will only be a small percentage of people.
Now if someone can copy a Wii game onto an SD card and get the Wii to play it from that, then Nintendo will really have something to worry about.
Dio @ May 5th 2008 6:04AM
http://wiinewz.com/forums/nintendo-news/68266-un-moddable-wii-s-in-the-wild.html
Rocketboy @ May 5th 2008 8:26AM
Someone always has to ruin it by taking it too far. Good job guys, I hope you're proud of the Nintendo Smackdown that's going to take place.
Rocketboy @ May 5th 2008 8:26AM
Someone always has to ruin it by taking it too far. Good job guys, I hope you're proud of the Nintendo Smackdown that's going to take place.
Rocketboy @ May 5th 2008 8:26AM
I so did not post that twice... Nice change in the formatting as well.
Jeremy @ May 5th 2008 8:40AM
I am a firm supporter of homebrew. Their are many great minds that just don't have the funding to make their product main stream. Now for using pirated games I am on the fence with. I personally don't use pirated software since I feel the developer deserves the money for their hard work. If game developers don't get paid then they don't have the cash to fund their next project. I also feel their should be an open source community for game development (for consoles) since it works so great for the PC. I have played many great open source games on my Linux PC and would love to see the console manufactures open the gate for this scene.
While on the other hand I also feel that some game developers are asking way to much for their crap products. I see forking out $50 for high end games like Smash Bros. and Mario Kart but not for low end games like most movie based games or Destroy all Humans.
Jumbo @ May 5th 2008 8:43AM
Then don't play those games. If they're overpriced, that doesn't mean you can steal them. You're not entitled to own everything.
XionPH @ May 6th 2008 2:25AM
Jumbo, you are not quite correct about not playing games that one does not want to buy at the market price.
Just because I play a game does not necessarily mean I want to support the company that made it at they price they are asking for it, but I might still want to play it.
This is an issue that human kind has been dealing with since we realized we were people. It is not about "being entitled to own everything'. It is about ones perception of value, and how they deal with the difference in their perception and the sale price.
In our history as humans we used to handle the perception of value with haggling. But now since we cannot haggle for the games we play we are faced with three options: 1.) We can pay the price and be very annoyed by it. This option leaves us with no power to effect the future products produced by this company. And it might actually make the company think people want cheaply made games at full price. 2.) We can choose not to pay the price. This will have a large effect on the company if more people were willing to not buy a game they felt were overpriced. Unfortunately too many people are willing to be ripped off. 3.) We can pirate the game. This tells the company that the game is worth playing, but that it is not worth buying for one reason or another. That company SHOULD take the opportunity to research why this is the case.
Society pirates as much to send a message as because they cant fork out the cash. It has been a long time since I have actually payed for any of my music. The reason? Because I don't like how the music industry is run and choose to boycott most of it. Piracy is not that big of a deal anyway. Movie, music, and video games are at ALL TIME HIGHS despite the very predominate piracy scene. Does it lead to higher prices? That is very very debatable. An interesting argument is that piracy might actually help the sales of games. What a different outlook companies would have if they put the 'lost profits' under 'marketing'.
James @ May 5th 2008 11:19AM
All I want is a Wii where I can run the e.g. Wii Media Center some geek is about to write, *and* use the built-in online services as intended.
If you seriously can't be bothered to spend less than 20 bucks for a game like FFCC, I have no pity for you. But I really do hope that "legit" homebrew doesn't get crushed by Nintendo's backlash.
AtariAdam @ May 5th 2008 1:06PM
To the comments on devlopers not having the funds to develop games.
"Nathew said...
well, not everyone has the $2,500 as well as the developing experience to become licensed nintendo developers..."
"Jeremy said...
I am a firm supporter of homebrew. Their are many great minds that just don't have the funding to make their product main stream. "
Doesnt that tell you something? They put that in place to keep people with . . . no developing experience . . . from flooding the market with their "after school projects." They have that price range for low income development "Studios" to get in the game. This is a career and last I checked almost every "Adult" in the US has to work very long and hard to get to the career they enjoy. Sure there are a few good thinkers out there in the vast sea of ho-hum coders, but that price and title are there to weed out those who are not that good.
You want to develop games on (Any) console? WORK for it. Not only do you need the 25 grand to get the licence but you need to have to be an established development "studio" with a few games under your belt.
I know i know thats way to much work for someone who might have one good idea for a game concept. Its too much for that one lone coder who can make a clone of an old arcade game with stock clipart and sounds. But see, for the smaller studios (x-gen games for example) its a small fee to get in the door of the video game equivalent of the major leagues.
And even still, there are a bunch of studios who are not as good as even the B ranked studios who have the license and can make any game they feel. Even they worked hard to get to that point why cant anyone else?
Homebrew has some good points, but in the end only the homebrew scene will support homebrew software. If you want to make your game development dreams come true its a very long road and that road helps you grow and mature into this career. If you dont go to school for this (or any) field of work then the climb to the top is going to be a bit steeper, thats how life works.
I say this because I an just an artist who joined a development team. We are working to get to that lisence to make games for the public. To say that homebrew is the cheap shortcut to making a career in game development is a slap in the face to all legit development studios and unrealistic. You miss out on so many steps that go into development that you would fail as soon as you are let go to release software on consoles.
Homebrew is partly illegal, you cant run homebrew code without exploiting retail software or hardware. The tampering with any software made by others is hacking and illegal. You may have bought it, but like music (Which even I dont understand) you would need to atain rights before releasing data such as that. Otherwise it will stay underground.
I had to say. . .
Kai Cherry @ May 5th 2008 7:39PM
Patronize much?
XionPH @ May 6th 2008 2:38AM
I believe that it is only illigal if one is trying to make money off of homebrew. If the tools and softwear are free then people can do whatever they want with the hardware and the softwear they buy.
DAud_IcI @ May 9th 2008 9:24PM
Ow come on! Homebrew is not about becoming a game developer. It is all about that if you cant use some type of sw because the machine's owner is about printing money and they don't want to risk with softwares that are not invented for a game console(eg. mp3 player, drawing app or a word processor), you make it for yourself. I know currently most of the HBs are emulators, but it's 'cause they are allready done and since most of them has versions for other consoles it's easy to port it them. But we allready have WiiPaint and we are on the way to WiiLinux too, what could be the ultimate solution for our basic sw needs...
You are a little hypocritical, because as you said you are an artist and artist dont need experience with the console as most art is almost independent from it's media. I don't know what position you take but for example if you are a concept artist, you could do the same scatches for a movie or a book, don't you? But I am a rookie c++/c# programmer and if I could ever get the chance to join some serious dev studio I want to have the exp and some reference too.
The only thing I can agree with you is that I don't realy believe you can release your code commercially, but since most homebrew is opensource it does not matter at all...
We can only hope that Nintendo will choose to brick those idiot's machine who decide to mod their machine or install VC/WiiWare games...