Yarr! New homebrew program runs DVD game backups
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Sep 15th 2008 at 3:32PM }
If you're a lawyer for Nintendo and your spidey senses are tingling, we may have an explanation. "Wii Backup Loader" is exactly what this (highly convincing) video suggests: a program which allows the Wii to play DVD game backups, in the form of modified ISOs. It runs from the Wii Homebrew Channel.
News of the program broke from the forums at tehskeen (note: we've linked to a related article due to tehskeen being down), though we'd expect this to hit peer-to-peer networks in the not-too-distant future, if it hasn't already. Just remember, kids: winners don't do piracy.
Illegal as this may be, there's plenty of other very cool and very legal things you can do through homebrew. Care to watch DVD movies on your console? How about some original games, like Masteroids or the shmup OpenTyrian? And it doesn't stop there. Our own Mike Sylvester also likes to see what he can come up with in his bi-weekly column Revolutionary.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Papytendo @ Sep 15th 2008 3:40PM
Don't copy that floppy!
Gaph2000 @ Sep 15th 2008 3:54PM
Question: Would it still be illegal if I download a copy of a game that I legally bought, which my sister lost?
Sonic_13 @ Sep 15th 2008 4:13PM
Yes.
Would you consider it illegal to steal a copy of a game from a store for a game that you legally bought, but your sister lost?
jaredgood1 @ Sep 15th 2008 4:19PM
I believe the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in the US allows you to make one backup copy of any electronic media you own. Downloading a copy you didn't make is still a gray area.
I've read tons of arguments both ways, but they've all lacked a legal precedent to back up the arguments.
jaredgood1 @ Sep 15th 2008 4:29PM
Mind you, I'm not a lawyer and really haven't been following much of the download/warez/rom scene for the last couple of years, so there might have been rulings to back up either side.
Plus, keep in mind that it's only a matter of time before Nintendo puts out a firmware update to kill this (and then start the cycle all over again).
Mr Khan @ Sep 15th 2008 4:33PM
The Digital Millenium Copyright act itself is in very shaky legal area, so anything pertaining to it is in limbo of some sort
Roto13 @ Sep 15th 2008 5:10PM
"Would you consider it illegal to steal a copy of a game from a store for a game that you legally bought, but your sister lost?"
That's not even close to the same thing and if you have any common sense at all, you know it.
jadenguy @ Sep 15th 2008 5:35PM
Usually, when you buy software, aren't you buying the license to use it, rather than the medium it comes on? That's what the most media producers argue when it comes to DRM...
Sonic_13 @ Sep 15th 2008 5:41PM
"Would you consider it illegal to steal a copy of a game from a store for a game that you legally bought, but your sister lost?"
"That's not even close to the same thing and if you have any common sense at all, you know it."
Actually it is. People believe that just because there is no physical medium involved when stealing via the internet, it is not as bad as stealing from a store. The fact is there is really no difference.
Stealing a piece of software is stealing regardless of whether it comes in a box or a series of 1's and 0's.
Abscissa @ Sep 15th 2008 10:47PM
@Gaph2000: Ethical: Yes. Legal: That's anyone's guess, it's a grey area.
@jadenguy: They argue both sides of the fence to their own convenience.
When it comes to damaged media, *real* backups, and that sort of thing, then they claim you're buying the physical medium instead of a license. That way you have to buy another copy if anything happens to the copy you already bought, and they can try to shut down anything that allows you to protect your investment my making and using *real* backups.
When it comes to hacking, reverse engineering, and the secondary market, then they claim you're buying a license instead of a physical medium. Fortunately for videogames (as opposed to other forms of software), we still have a secondary market anyway because there's been legal precedent (IANAL) that smacks down their "Hey, you can't resell that when you're done!" claims. That's one of the big reasons they're pushing DRM'ed digital distribution so heavily. With that, you CAN'T resell it, even if you're legally allowed to.
So basically, they'll contradict themselves and switch between "license" and "medium" at will, whenever it's convenient for whatever aspect they're currently arguing about.
@Sonic_13: You desperately need to learn the difference between theft and copyright infringement. Anyone with any sense at all will tell you they're not the same. If you're incapable of that simple feat, you're beyond hope.
Roto13 @ Sep 16th 2008 11:28AM
By definition you can't steal something unless you remove the original, so making a copy of something is not stealing and it's not even close to taking something from a store.
helluvagood @ Sep 15th 2008 4:13PM
omg im so excited
CJLopez @ Sep 15th 2008 4:15PM
Actually, I could use this one to play not localized or still to come Wii Games
Like Oneechanbara, i mean, i really wanna play that game ASAP!!!! but still, i'll be buying the game when it comes out cuz, man, co-op play applies well to me.
also, i saw around there there was a leacked iso of force unleashed, and if it doesn't arrive tomorrow at gameplanet, i need something to keep me occupied while it arrives!!!! (need that sweet boxart!!!!!)
Still, i hope this never gets released, as you had stated, winner don't do piracy, also, you may add drugs there
Mr Khan @ Sep 15th 2008 4:34PM
There's also The Homebrew Channel's Gekko Region free
the legal solution
CJLopez @ Sep 15th 2008 4:59PM
i don't trust imports that much, I did actually ordered a copy to play asia back in march, and i had to cancel it on june as it was never shipped but it was charged.
helluvagood @ Sep 15th 2008 4:24PM
wow im excited!
Sonic_13 @ Sep 15th 2008 4:29PM
Excited for potential piracy? That's not something to be excited about...
Mr Khan @ Sep 15th 2008 4:36PM
glorious
In a week, we'll see another superfluous Wii software update, and the chase will go on.
Fortunately, my Wii is still disconnected, until we get some real WiFi up in here, or i pick up an ethernet adapter.
TheOverlord#2 (Playing: SMRPG, SMG, & Okami) @ Sep 15th 2008 5:02PM
Yea, they'll update it and add nothing useful. :(
Nintendo should adopt the 360's updating style and update once a season. That way they would have something worthwhile every 4 months instead of, "Photo Channel 1.1! It lets you change an icon!"(Though I do like my Photo Channel icon of my cat xD)
R_Fusion @ Sep 15th 2008 4:37PM
Those are good news for people who are considering to get Mod Wiis. I might give it a try.
David @ Sep 15th 2008 4:40PM
I'm worried this will draw attention from nintendo to more legit homebrewing...
Peter S @ Sep 15th 2008 4:57PM
I'll be honest - not of much interest to me. I don't really feel like pirating a game that comes on a DVD and really would rather support the developers where appropriate. Of course, I have no problem buying a used game if the price is right, but I bought Zack & Wiki when it came out both to show some support and because it was a good game.
Now I do buy into the argument of making a backup. I had to do this with a couple of videos on DVD that were messed up before they would play in my DVD player. I wouldn't feel too bad about playing a legit backup of a game, leaving the original safely out of small hands. :)
Hardy @ Sep 15th 2008 5:02PM
It's not like the majority of Wii owners even use homebrew programs.
I would ONLY use this for games I really don't think are worth the full price. lol like pretty much all Wii games.
Seriously though, I suppose games that are good. I would not feel bad if I downloaded say....Ninjabread Man.
ZombiePikmin @ Sep 15th 2008 5:06PM
Your a pirate if you download games you didnt pay for. So you're a ninja if you pay double?
Drizzt @ Sep 15th 2008 6:00PM
Well, I'm really very happy.
Winners don't do Piracy, but normal user do "try before buy". It will allow me to buy much more games than before, in the end.
Jun @ Sep 15th 2008 6:18PM
... wow. that's amazing.
but I won't stop buying 1st party games, at least..
bad thing is , what if they decide not to make games anymore??? who's fault is that?...lol
lonesomefolly @ Sep 15th 2008 8:01PM
does this mean modchips are now useless?
Abscissa @ Sep 15th 2008 10:53PM
No, I'm sure existing modchips will still continue to work fine ;) (And yes, I know what you really meant)
DAud_IcI @ Sep 16th 2008 4:29AM
Yay, my RE4 disk was helluva scratchy! I never use oreginal discs, because tend to just broke. :D See, my TES4: Oblivion disc has a big crack in the middle(no, not on the disk at the cracks folder:D:D:D) and it's getting just a little bigger each use with high speed like while installing involved, since then I'm really protective with my discs... Same goes with my REmake disc1 so I really hope it will support GC disks somehow.
And now I can play US NMH instead of my stupid EU censored one... ^,^ ("wow im excited!")
BDR @ Sep 16th 2008 4:45AM
I'm pretty excited, I mean yeah this is likely to encourage piracy but that's Nintendo's concern, not mine. I doubt the average Wii owner has the technical expertise to pull this off, so it will have a negligible effect at worst.
I would probably employ a "try-before-you-buy" policy, as one of the above posters talked about. I'm a poor uni student, so I can only afford to buy AAA games, and I miss out on those less-appreciated gems that I could buy in previous generations.
easyy @ Sep 16th 2008 3:17PM
Well its Nintendos fault.
Team Twiizers send an email to nintendo considering this problem. But they did not care.
I always waited for Linux since the release of the Wii -_-
aneurysmi @ Sep 17th 2008 4:10AM
STOP FUCKING LYING! all of you...
IF THIS WORKS, AND YOU REALIZE YOU CAN SUDDENLY GET EVERY SINGLE BLOODY GAME YOU WANT _FOR FREE_, YOU WILL NEVER FORK OVER ANOTHER PENNY. So cut the "I'm a good, clean person who will buy to support the developers." Thats complete and utter BS.
aneurysmi @ Sep 17th 2008 4:14AM
ps I already have a wiikey so whatevs but yeah, its really not hard for most people to decide between paying $50 retail and paying NOTHING.
magicmason @ Sep 18th 2008 8:13PM
hhhhmmmmm, i cant wait for this, yeah ok some choose to take the moral high ground and do no piracy at all but i like the idea of try before u buy, becos no other console can perfectly emulate a wii, its nice to try game before you buy especially when there is sooo many let down's for this platform, or games that look so much better on the case than what they really are, i mean i brought a few games that all looked really good then i sit there n played em for 30 mins and got bored extremly quick and sold them within the week, this way i will not make these mistakes and will try games and only by the ones i know i definatly like and know i wil enjoy for future, and also its partly nintendo's fault because they have been warned its a simple fact, if u ask me they are gona wait for a few months after the hack before they release ay patch to disable it because there hardware sales will go through the roof in some respect's when word get's around the homebrew community and then the local one more and more people will be spending money on consoles & controller's e.t.c then once they made their bit it will become cat n mouse like the psp, with most updates offering nothing helpfull except blocking current hack's ad exploit's which most user's of homebrew will choose not to install becos there will be custom packages developed with any imp's on there minus the defect's. i look forward to this and think most hombrew user's will even if they say they dont use it there is no doubt some program that is in some way illegal so therefore were all in the same boat ;p