Wii Fanboy Poll: Do you homebrew?

by David Hinkle { Aug 6th 2008 at 9:19PM }

We talk about homebrew a lot here at Wii Fanboy. We love the community and we love the cool things they're always cooking up. Some things look like they require at least some technical knowledge, some things look like they require absolutely none. What we'd like to know is how many of you enjoy the apps and cool things the homebrew community has come up with. So, head past the break and take part in our poll!

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!

Tags: app, poll, wii-homebrew, wiibrew-homebrew

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Andre @ Aug 6th 2008 9:29PM

I've already got one useless beige brick that used to be a console, I don't need a white one to join it.

Roto13 @ Aug 6th 2008 9:33PM

I think it's pretty safe it you just stick with the homebrew channel and don't go screwing with the firmware or anything. :P Of course, only use trusted apps, as well. Take a look at what other people are using and whether they've reported any problems.

Roto13 @ Aug 6th 2008 9:32PM

I use it for emulators, but only games they haven't released on the Virtual Console. :P So for now, I can play Mega Man 1-6 with the Wiimote, which is almost like a wireless NES controller. xP

Nathew @ Aug 7th 2008 4:18AM

yeah. same here, except i also use it to try out games released on the VC and see if i want to buy them and then delete them.

Chris Wells @ Aug 7th 2008 8:08AM

Exactly. There a lot of retro games that I love to play, and this MM9 talk has got excited about MM all over again. I've been playing those on emulators, but the moment they become available on VC I will pick them up without hesitation.

The only other thing I really use homebrew for is as a mediaplayer from time to time.

Roto13 @ Aug 7th 2008 11:16AM

I have a media player app, but I don't bother to use it. I can stream music and movies to my PS3. It's easier that way.

omghaha @ Aug 9th 2008 7:28PM

Secret of Mana... just finished it :)

Dylan F @ Aug 6th 2008 10:07PM

I always try to keep my stuff the way it is. I would be way to scared that I would somehow screw up my Wii or iTouch or Phone and I would have a worthless brick, and I know Nintendo/Apple/Samsung wouldn't do anything about it.

Trae @ Aug 6th 2008 10:15PM

My problem is that nothing really interests me to start using those items. I modded my original Xbox when XBMC was really coming into it's own because that made me really want to use my Xbox in that manner.

Unless the homebrews can bring DVD playback, video, music, etc. Then I'll start looking into that channel.

CalcProgrammer1 @ Aug 6th 2008 10:55PM

Try GeexBox. It's a Wii-Linux based open-source homebrew Media Center. It can currently play music and videos from front SD and USB Mass Storage Devices (flash drives, hard drives, card readers, etc). It can also use network shares and Internet streams if you have the USB Ethernet adapter (I don't).

It will get WiFi and DVD/CD support whenever these devices are implemented in Wii Linux (since GeexBox runs on top of Linux, only the things already implemented in Linux can work). I used it for music and the quality was great. The interface isn't half bad either, though it could use a new theme.

CalcProgrammer1 @ Aug 6th 2008 10:51PM

I have absolutely no problem installing homebrew. I used homebrew on my DS with a Games n' Music, on my GBA with a GBA Movie Player, on my GameCube with the SDML. I've been waiting for the day I could boot Linux on my Wii ever since I got it, constantly checking hack and homebrew sites for updates. I tested the Twilight Hack right after it was released.

I have to say, it took a while, but Homebrew is doing very well on the Wii. We finally have a useful Linux implementation, a good media player, some decent homebrew games, and a cheat code engine. I for one am looking forward to all of the Wii Menu hacks and unofficial patches, hoping for some of the stuff we've wanted all along to get hacked in by homebrew developers (considering Nintendo still hasn't added simple things like GC controlling Wii Menu).

When I can finally boot a real full blown Linux desktop on my Wii, I'll be 100% satisfied, but it's getting really close already.

derek lafferty @ Aug 6th 2008 10:56PM

I installed it recently and can't get the emulators to work. One thing that does work and I love is the video player. Now when I download a movie on my computer, I can just throw it on an sd card and watch it on tv!

buffalo_aaa @ Aug 6th 2008 11:55PM

You make a good point that I hadn't thought of, for some reason. I would never have thought to look into the homebrew of the wii to see if i could load a decent media player. How convenient would it be to throw copies of foreign import horror movies onto a flash card and watch them on the wii!

I haven't done the homebrew thing, yet, mostly because I haven't really seen a real reason to. I love the scene for the DS, in fact I don't think I would use my DS nearly as much if i didn't purchase an R4. GLITCHDS!

Paroxysm @ Aug 6th 2008 11:36PM

Frankly SummVM and the excellent Quake port make homebrew worthwhile.

CalcProgrammer1 @ Aug 6th 2008 11:59PM

For me it's Genesis Plus and SNESGX, not to mention Ocarina Cheat Engine, GeexBox, and GuitarFun. I still really enjoy the old Sega Genesis Sonic games (Sonic 1, 2, 3, +Knuckles, etc). I could pop in my GameCube Sonic Mega Collection disc for the same effect, but it's more convenient to use GenPlus and I have save-states.

zchry @ Aug 7th 2008 12:11AM

I don't use homebrew because there's nothing I would use.

I'm scared it would mess things up, too, but I understand that most of the time it won't if you know what you're doing.

umjesseomgduh @ Aug 7th 2008 12:14AM

i love the homebrew channel. =]
everyone should get it.
but yeah be careful of what apps you install.
ugh, i just wish the n64 emulator would work. =(

Apothekari @ Aug 7th 2008 12:34AM

Waited a looooooong while {My XBMC Is one of the loves of my life} and finally did it the night after Nintendo's poor E3 showing this year made me look @ other ways to get some fun out of my Wii.

shadow1w2 @ Aug 7th 2008 3:27AM

Homebrew gives my wii more life.
Plus its fun and the homebrew channel music is good.

I tend to check the homebrew sites rather regularly so I never miss a new app.

Best thing that ever happend to the Wii.

Moojuice @ Aug 7th 2008 3:36AM

Does installing the homebrew channel plus the apps that will run on it void your warranty? I mean it is not like you are physically modifying the console but I'm not sure...

I do plan on homebrewing once I pick up an SD card, I haven't had a need for one yet.

TX2 @ Aug 7th 2008 3:37AM

I finally got it working only just last week. I finally have my Chakan on Wii (It's as terrible as people say and as wonderful as I remember) and Quake is fun to mess around with.

Ranus Studios @ Aug 7th 2008 3:37AM

If it weren't for homebrew (mostly emulators), I'd be quite bored indeed with my Wii. C'mon working N64 emulator!

I don't much care for coffee, though.

Jonson?! @ Aug 7th 2008 4:06AM

my Top 5 list of must-have, safe, polished, high-quality Wii homebrew apps:

-ScummVM (Sam & Max plays awesome):
http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_apps/ScummVM

-Kobo Deluxe:
http://downloads.sourceforge.net/gc-linux/kobodl-0.5.1-whiite.tar.gz?modtime=1217807869&big_mirror=0

-Quake (best FPS on the Wii)

-Tetris

-PONG (hey it's a very faithful port!):

(the last 3 you can download here: http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_apps/ )

Nathew @ Aug 7th 2008 4:34AM

i'm currently playing the dig using scummvm. it's kind of big, at 200 or so MB, but my 1gig has just enough space left to hold it :D

Sisyphus @ Aug 7th 2008 4:38AM

While their creativity is interesting, hackers just enable lowlifes to use emulators and cheats. They're the sleazy lawyers of the computer world. Its one thing to make a device do something that is otherwise unavailable. That's innovative. But to make it so people can do VC games and Wiiware games without purchase, you're just sleaze. You're a worthless parasite and a detriment to gaming as a whole.

OtakuReborn @ Aug 7th 2008 7:26AM

Tell that to Nintendo. I'm still waiting for some of those games to hit the Virtual Console, and it's just not going to happen. Case in Point, I believe Shining Force 2 was rated by the ESRB like a year ago, and I have yet to see it show up.

Then you have games that will probably NEVER show up here. Seiken Densetsu 3 would be a good example, as would Fire Emblem 4: Seisen no Keifu.

If they were to release it here, I will download it and play it off the Virtual Console. Otherwise, I'm not going to sit there waiting indefinitely for them.

Though as far as homebrew on the Wii goes, I'm ready to try it out, as soon as I can find a good deal on Twilight Princess, or bum a copy off of my friend. Why is a launch game still $50? Seriously.

breakbeat @ Aug 7th 2008 10:44AM

If you've tried to use carts in your NES recently, you would appreciate emulation for fair-use rights. I have a tonne of NES titles (including Zelda with a dead battery - no saving), and only about 1/3 of them will still play with minimal effort. Considering I bought all of these titles for prices ranging from $60-$80, I see no reason to re-purchase them via a DLC source.

carterjot @ Aug 7th 2008 6:32AM

the quake port on the wii homebrew is better than $50 games for the console.

Mr Khan @ Aug 7th 2008 12:00PM

I replied "none of it interests me" because that's closest to what i feel. My correct answer would be "there's not enough to interest me"

Region free, the cheats, and the apps do interest me, but there's not enough to merit me jumping into it. I will, however, sometime before I study abroad in college (which really isn't until Spring 2010 or Spring 2011, so its a moot point)

CJLopez @ Aug 7th 2008 12:36PM

I do homebrew, and i'm actuallu working on developing a game for the Scene using the Panda3D Engine. just, its comming pretty slow cuz I got a los of work and when I arrive at home, I just wanna play some games to distress myself, :P

Wii for homebrew is the best thing this console has after its games, I use it mostly for

- Nintendo, Super Nintendo and Sega Emulation
- Media Player
- Quake Wii

Michael Sliczniak @ Aug 7th 2008 12:46PM

I pulled-out my old box of the lucasarts archives and full throttle and have been playing with the kids with scummvm.

hdbrown465 @ Aug 7th 2008 12:54PM

Does you the the Zelda: Twilight Princess game to install the Homebrew Channel?

Thanatos @ Aug 7th 2008 12:58PM

I use it to play all the games that Nintendo should have released on the VC already, Mario RPG, Mario All-Star, Blaster Master. I havent tried any of the other programs though.

jello00 @ Aug 7th 2008 3:25PM

I'm waiting for a DVD player app. I use plenty of homebrew apps for my DS, and it's great, but at the moment I find no need to jump into it on my Wii. I still have plenty of games that I'm enjoying on the Wii.

LOLDSFAN @ Aug 7th 2008 3:32PM

To do hombrew, minimum know a little about C/C++. From there just look at others people's work, ask questions, and you should be able to make some good hombrew ;).

Casey @ Aug 7th 2008 7:51PM

I don't, and won't use it. I use consoles as they are intended. Renting or purchasing the games I wanna play, and using the hardware as the creator intended.

genocidalrobot @ Aug 7th 2008 8:58PM

I'm sitting on the fence for awhile on this. Eventually I plan on putting the channel on there and messing around with a bit of everything.

For right now, I'd rather not take any chance in bricking my Wii. I don't have an extra $250 laying around to replace it.

Garst @ Aug 7th 2008 9:00PM

I tried to use it once, but I don't think it was working so I stopped trying. But coffee does sound like a good idea right now. I'll have to see if there is a coffee pot and coffee here.