Future for Freeloader looking decidedly bleak
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Oct 29th 2008 at 6:13PM }
Datel's Freeloader for Wii met its sad demise many moons ago. At the time, witnesses at the scene claim they saw Wii Menu Update 3.3 standing over the fallen bootdisk, a bloodied machete in hand. But is there a chance we could see a newer version, allowing us to get back to playing imported titles months early? Er, no, actually.N-Europe reader 'ThePigMarcher' took a break from parading porkers to contact Datel and ask what was happening on the Freeloader front. And, if the past was grim, the future isn't exactly glowing. "At this early stage," replied Datel, "we are not sure when, if ever, we will be able to release a new version of Freeloader that will run on consoles that have been updated with the version 3.3 firmware." Oh well. The dream looks to be over, but it was fun while it lasted, right?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mr Khan @ Oct 29th 2008 6:17PM
They should hire the guys at Team Twiizers
Enigma @ Oct 29th 2008 6:29PM
Dosent really seem necessary anymore, with Homebrew and everything a person can just use MenuLoader or something to use different region games
RIP Datel Freeloader
Roto13 @ Oct 29th 2008 6:28PM
You know, I think it's fair for Nintendo to patch out homebrew since so many people use it for piracy, but it's really shitty of fight something like the Freeloader, which only plays legitimate games.
Unless patching out the Freeloader was just an unfortunate side effect of patching out Homebrew. I don't know how it works.
Magnus @ Oct 29th 2008 6:31PM
With the new 3.3 firmware, and the new update fixing the Trucha Bug (which is needed by the Freeloader to work) at all IOS present on the console, the only way to load discs unauthorized by Nintendo (which includes all the crap Datel makes) is to install a custom IOS to the Wii, in other words, a custom firmware. And Datel won't ever release stuff that only works on modified Wiis, right? So, it's either installing a modchip or using a custom firmware if you want to play Tatsunoko VS Capcom.
Deozaan @ Oct 29th 2008 6:53PM
You can still do it with homebrew.
Free is better than paying for a Freeloader disc anyway.
Reagan @ Oct 29th 2008 9:44PM
Weird. I've played Wind Waker (NTSC) on my Wii (PAL) quite recently with my Freeloader. It stopped my Freeloader from working, I e-mailed them, they sent me a new revised version that works fine. Maybe they just don't want Nintendo to know?....... So maybe I shouldn't have said anything......
Wiispot.nl @ Oct 30th 2008 5:20AM
ist BS that the homebrew scene is all about illegal stuff! i dont have a mod chip and no illegal games for the wii but im sure as hell put a mod chip in that thing if the homebrew stuff is over
Bob Saget @ Oct 30th 2008 7:19AM
Why don't they just make a bootable ISO with a Homebrew Channel installer, and the freeloader files programmed for the Wii? Their company would go entirely software, updates could be a 5meg ISO for free download, hell they could sell it online to anybody with a burner!
Ujn Hunter @ Oct 30th 2008 10:09AM
thank god for homebrew! at least i know i can play Tatsunoko Vs Capcom when i import it later this year! ;)
Rarok @ Nov 2nd 2008 6:06AM
I used the Freeloader but now thanks to the homebrew I can still using a loader for games of other zones.
With twilight hack you should install the Homebrew Channel and inside of this you can install the Gecko OS.
With this I can play all the NTSC-J games (only original games works) without swapping discs
PS: Sorry for my english