Nintendo unleashes Wii Menu 3.4, updates ToS and removes save files

by David Hinkle { Nov 17th 2008 at 11:40PM }

Nintendo is at it again, unleashing yet another Wii Menu Update which puts us at 3.4, as our glowing Wii just informed us. Aside from augmenting the Nintendo User Agreement, the new system update will also "check for and automatically remove" all "unauthorized modifications to save files." Guess what, homebrew fans? The party is ~~over~~ ~~forever~~ put on hold for the time being.

This is basically all of the info we have right now, but we're sure the homebrew community will step up soon with a response to this. You know how they hate it when Nintendo tries to stop them from running their 'brew.

Keep an eye on Wii Fanboy for more on this as it's made available.

Tags: homebrew-channel, piracy, system-update, systemupdate, update, wii-menu, wii-menu-update

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

PhoenixGeek @ Nov 18th 2008 12:19AM

Unless it deletes the homebrew channel it won't prevent anything. I saved my old Twilight Princess file to a separate SD card, ran the hack, then replaced it with the original save file. I give it about 3 days before there is a new hack available.

Zak Canard @ Nov 18th 2008 1:50AM

Well according to the little info that's currently on http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Main_Page it apparently prevents the current version of Twilight Hack from being copied onto the Wii, disables DVDx and PatchMii, and for an encore removes any and all custom channels. I think we can safely say it's a not an update to put on there.

I'd hold on for a bit and wait for a new version of the Shop Installer http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii_Shop_and_IOS51_installer that works around the unwanted parts of this latest "update".

kim @ Nov 18th 2008 7:13AM

I only recently got my wii and updated it straight away before I knew about homebrew and the twighthack etc. It's really annoying, the wii seems so limited without homebrew, it would be so much better if i could play dvds and stream music through my wii. Can someone let me know if there is a workaround to install homebrew on 3.4?

Tim Parsons @ Nov 18th 2008 9:12AM

@ kim here's a suggestion,.. Buy a PS3!!!

Even full of homebrew my Wii collects dust. My kids play it like an hour a week max

icicle0424 @ Nov 18th 2008 11:34AM

kim, try mycast orb, that's what I use

Nushio (NDF - Blue) @ Nov 18th 2008 12:25AM

What's new in the ToS?

I'm stuck on a Wii 3.2 with hombrew on it and am scared to update :/

Roto13 @ Nov 18th 2008 1:48AM

"the new system update will also "check for and automatically remove" all "unauthorized modifications to save files.""

They do that every time.

More importantly, SD card transfer speeds are way up!

http://www.thetanooki.com/2008/11/18/wii-sd-transfer-speeds-increase-dramatically-with-new-update/

ramuji @ Nov 18th 2008 7:01AM

Yup, I just read about that a few minutes ago. Is this the first step toward the "storage solution" coming in the spring?

Mr Khan @ Nov 18th 2008 9:01AM

That seems hopeful.

Considering that i haven't used homebrew for much (though i don't want it to leave because of Gecko OS and my growing interest in Tatsunoko v Capcom), i might grab onto it.

Sonic_13 @ Nov 18th 2008 2:00AM

According to the message from Nintendo:

"With this update, Parental Controls have been enhanced, USB keyboard support is available for the Mii Channel, and system functions have been improved."

Adrian @ Nov 18th 2008 2:31AM

this way out of subject. But I own a 360 as well as my wii.

I just a one day early update to the New Xbox Experience (NXE) and well, I don't care what anyone says, their avatars are a complete and total rip off of mii's. I don't really care , but yeah. they just have fancier clothes and hair. but the eyes, oh man the eyes, I thought I was making a Mii for a second there.

RupeeClock @ Nov 18th 2008 2:38AM

David, are you sure you mean IOS and not ToS?

But supposedly, according to Google Cache, it has been changed.

Old:
UPDATES AND UPGRADES

To ensure that your Wii Console is operating properly and efficiently, we may download updates, patches, upgrades and similar software to your Wii Console. In addition, we may disable unauthorized or illegal software that has been placed on your Wii Console without notifying you where necessary, in order to comply with applicable laws, assist law enforcement, protect us and our customers, and prevent the use and distribution of software obtained through improper channels.

New:
UPDATES AND UPGRADES

We may without notifying you, download updates, patches, upgrades and similar software to your Wii Console and may disable unauthorized or illegal software placed on your Wii Console to ensure that your Wii Console is operating properly and efficiently, comply with applicable laws, assist law enforcement, protect us and our customers, or prevent the use and distribution of software obtained through improper channels.

Source: http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=116418&view=findpost&p=1559195

Did you see that? "We may without notifying you, download updates"

Sonic_13 @ Nov 18th 2008 3:30AM

Honestly, I like the sounds of that.

I think it is what many people originally envisioned when WiiConnect24 was announced - new software, patches, and updates automatically downloaded without the user having to do anything. I know IGN has previously wished that WiiConnect24 would act in this manner and I also like the idea of not having to manually update my system and instead simply be notified of newly installed updates.

dukemeiser @ Nov 18th 2008 7:20AM

- Did you see that? "We may without notifying you, download updates" -

Not if I turn off WiiConnect24! ;)

Nushio (NDF - Blue) @ Nov 18th 2008 2:38AM

"We may without notifying you, download updates, patches, upgrades and similar software to your Wii Console and may disable unauthorized or illegal software placed on your Wii Console to ensure that your Wii Console is operating properly and efficiently, comply with applicable laws, assist law enforcement, protect us and our customers, or prevent the use and distribution of software obtained through improper channels."

RockMan_Forte @ Nov 18th 2008 2:44AM

So turn off WiiConnect24.

Duh.

Nushio (NDF - Blue) @ Nov 18th 2008 2:48AM

@Rockman_Forte:
Thats what I shall be doing, though I'll certainly miss the 2 usb ports charging ipods and whatnot all night long without leaving the laptop or desktop on.

Sonic_13 @ Nov 18th 2008 3:27AM

Sounds pretty good to me.

Gewurztraminer @ Nov 18th 2008 6:22AM

You can turn off WiiConnect24 without turning off the Wii. Unless that somehow disables the USB port functionality...

RockMan_Forte @ Nov 18th 2008 2:43AM

Well... If you wanna use homebrew, don't EVER update your friggin' Wii. It will still serve its main function without the update. So don't do it!! Let's face it... The updates aren't worth it anyway. If you can find ROMs you don't need access to the WiiShop Channel.

I, on the other hand, found a pretty sneaky way around this problem. My roommate and I each had a Wii before we moved in together, so I hacked mine and we update his. Problem solved.

ProfWho @ Nov 18th 2008 12:04PM

Yeah you do need access to the Wii Shop Channel. Unless you are stealing the games.

Just_a_guy @ Nov 18th 2008 3:13AM

I just updated the wii and the homebrew channel still works like it always has (already had it before the update), so this means that we don't have to worry about it deleting the homebrew channel :)

iofthestorm @ Nov 18th 2008 3:24AM

That's good to know. Although, I'm nervous about the automatic updates thing.

hellhammer @ Nov 18th 2008 3:58AM

Hmm. Thanks for the info.

Still, I'm terrified to loose GeckoOS. I've just spent a ton of money on Wii imports (READ: Disaster Day of Crisis) and I'll be damned if Nintendo will keep me from playing their own games.

Apothekari @ Nov 18th 2008 3:30AM

Well Nintendo's kinda screwing themselves in a way.
If they'd actually put out any more decent games anyone wanted to play or actually did something in an update that actually addressed a concern we the user's have had...ie, Flash update or speed/memory usage updates on the browser,or new features improvements to the very sparse "Wii channels".Most of us homebrewers might actually choose Nintendo OVER them.

Sonic_13 @ Nov 18th 2008 3:54AM

There many things wrong with your post:
1) This update dramatically increases the speed of SD card transfers. As the video someone else posted, the transfer of the 320 block World of Goo takes now 30 seconds down from about 15 minutes.
2) People aren't choosing homebrew as replacements for existing channels. They're choosing homebrew to have new, different channels.
3) An update to the Internet Channel was announced just last week. It is coming in December.
4) I didn't realized only having the Mii, Check Mii Out, Photo, Forecast, News, Everybody Votes, Internet, Wii Shop, and Nintendo Channels was considered sparse (not to mention game/accessory specific channels such as those for Wii Fit, Wii Speak, and Mario Kart).
5) "Decent games that anyone wanted to play?" Have you not heard of the recent releases of: World of Goo, de Blob, Tetris Party, Art Style Orbient/Rotohex/Cubello, WarioLand: Shake It, Animal Crossing: City Folk, Mega Man 9, among others. I'd go into the future release coming out next quarter, but this post is already long enough.

Apothekari @ Nov 18th 2008 4:10PM

@Sonic 13.
You are WRONG on the Internet channel update it has been CONFIRMED a fake and was rendered in Firefox of all things.
And I work at a video store so I play everything that comes out and I stand by my bitch/rant.
none of the games you mentioned are anywhere NEAR almost all the of the releases on the 360/PS3 for this Xmas.
I AM a huge fan of Nintendo and was a huge supporter of what the Wii is trying to do so I have every right to bitch when I feel I'm getting screwed by my purchase.
And as far as the "Channels" go both the 360 and PS3 are launching further refinements to their already "blowing Nintendo out of the water" online services and We can't even get any announcements on Jack Shit from Nintendo.
I'm sorry if I step on your toes dude but I'm not some stupid troll beating up on Nintendo cuz I love the 360, i WANT Nintendo to wipe the floor with them but they AREN'T...AT ALL.
And they NEED to get off their 1st place ass and do something about it or they are going to be right where they were 4 years ago.

Apothekari @ Nov 18th 2008 4:15PM

Nick @ Nov 18th 2008 4:20AM

*sigh*

Remember when upgrading the firmware used to be exciting.....anyone?

Mr Khan @ Nov 18th 2008 9:17AM

faster SD reading seems exciting enough to me, something we kinda needed for a while. It almost makes "fridge-cleaning" a viable alternative.

mapi @ Nov 18th 2008 3:31PM

Updating is just as exciting as ever, now that there is an element of danger and mystery to it.

Mr.Nitemare @ Nov 18th 2008 4:39AM

I wonder why they didn't mention the true update in this one? the SD transfers are definitely much, much faster.. obviously getting ready for that "storage solution" they talked about..

Level 5 @ Nov 18th 2008 6:09AM

Speaking of such, might this enable SDHC? I've heard chatter that it can be supported for homebrew apps (consequently through homebrew hacks), I'd be a pretty happy camper if I could just cop a 16GB SDHC card and not have to worry about running out of space.

CJLopez @ Nov 18th 2008 12:34PM

@Leve 5: No SDHC support yet by nintendo. Why? Cuz that'd enable the use of wii isos, hence enabling even more the homebrew scene. Same goes to the use of external drives

oblivious @ Nov 18th 2008 1:00PM

@CJLopez: I'm pretty sure the homebrew community has already allowed for SDHC support. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure there are a few apps that support it. Burning backups is just as easy as loading them on to an SD card and it's just as fast.

Gewurztraminer @ Nov 18th 2008 6:23AM

Is there any good news about the Wii lately?
(and no, I don't need another list of games that are coming out, that's not what I'm talking about here)

1) this post, or, well, Nintendo's attempt to purge the homebrew community. Granted this doesn't affect me in the slightest, but my understanding is that homebrew doesn't always mean piracy. The ability to play DVDs on a system not designed to do so? That's neat. But is it piracy?

2) Wii Speak. This probably won't affect me, but including a coupon so you can only get the channel by purchasing THEIR mic seems a bit ridiculous. Whether it's an attempt to curb used sales of the mic or not, it seems like Nintendo would make more money by making the channel available to ANYONE WITH WII POINTS.

3) No GH track packs. An issue most likely to affect me at some point. Must I now regret getting World Tour for the Wii? If I had known about this issue a little sooner I might have saved up for a PS3 instead.

I miss the days when Friend Codes were the worst idea ever.

Brian @ Nov 18th 2008 7:44AM

1) It's not piracy. It's reverse-engineering and no big time electronics or video game company is going to sit by and watch people show the potential their product has when they don't plan to allow the product to publicly reach that potential.
I don't agree with their decision though. I understand if they want to stop the piracy of WiiWare and such, but leave the competitive features alone. Giving the Wii DVD and MP3 playback help it COMPETE with PS3 and the 360. They're shooting themselves in the foot here. It wouldn't surprise me if Nintendo later released an app that was a DVD player or MP3 player and tried to CHARGE people for it.

CJLopez @ Nov 18th 2008 12:36PM

Actually, the MP3 playing feature has been in since Photo Channel 1.1

Adolph @ Nov 18th 2008 7:37AM

You homebrew guys need to get a life.

I work 30 hours a week. I have 4 upperclassman College Courses and I have a pretty girlfriend.

I don't have time to play any games. I might download the random wiiware game but an hour a week is allot of gaming for me.

I live in the real world sorry you nerds need a reality check. stop hacking and get a Fucken Life.

Mogster @ Nov 18th 2008 8:52AM

What you really mean is: ''I'm a 14 year old boy who's mummy won't let me do anything bad''

Correct?

Shadow31 @ Nov 18th 2008 11:15AM

HAHAHAH, you, dude, are hilarious. You come onto a Nintendo fanboy site to tell them they're wrong for having gaming as a hobby and to get a life? How would you like it if I went into your house/apartment/dorm/wherever the f*** you live just to tell you everything you enjoy is a waste of time? People can have whatever hobby they enjoy doing, where do you get off telling them what they should and shouldn't do? No, seriously, stop with your holier-than-thou attitude. I'm in college too, I have a job that takes up quite a lot of my time, I have a beautiful fiancee that lives a good 40+ minute drive from my house, but I do make time to play videogames, especially since my fiancee enjoys them just as much. Why, when I'm so busy? Because I have fun. If I have to endure intolerent people like you calling me a nerd for enjoying the way I live my life, that's fine by me. Seriously, few things piss me off more than somebody trying to tell me I'm wrong for having a hobby they don't have...

Oh, and fine, homebrewing itself is not something I do much of, but I stand by my argument that people should be allowed any hobby they enjoy. Seriously, just because you don't enjoy creating software/games doesn't mean everybody doesn't; in fact, game design is my major and some of us actually ENJOY creating stuff.

One last point... you're telling us to get a life, when you're spending your time actually to come onto this site and tell us that we need to get a life. Don't you have better things to do, like classwork or this "girlfriend" you speak of?

Drahken @ Nov 18th 2008 7:48AM

Oh right. You said the Terms of Service. After reading the article I was all, "Wait, so what did they do to Tales of Symphonia?"

See, because I'm stupid. Heh.

Dawg @ Nov 18th 2008 5:11PM

Oh hey, I'm not the only one who thinks Tales before Terms. :P

Rocketboy @ Nov 18th 2008 8:16AM

I cannot WAIT for the Homebrew channel to be disabled. I'm sick and tired of cheaters in Mario Cart. You should all burn in hell.

deezsl @ Nov 18th 2008 8:39AM

That's not the homebrew channel cheating buddy...

Chris Wells @ Nov 18th 2008 8:56AM

And thus we have a clear example of how much misinformation there is about homebrew. The MK exploits have _nothing_ to do with the Homebrew Channel. Nintendo is spending valuable time crafting updates to break the Homebrew Channel and they will continue to ignore the MK exploits, just like they have with MKDS. Get used to it.

Rocketboy @ Nov 18th 2008 12:08PM

Odd, because I've even see YouTube videos of people loading up cheats in the Homebrew. So how exactally are people cheating? I don't think that there's a button combo to put yourself back on the track the second you fall off.

Mogster @ Nov 18th 2008 8:55AM

I just don't understand why Nintendo waste their resources on this. It's not as if the majority of Wii owners do Homebrew etc, only a tiny majority of the minute Wii hardcore market actually do it.

Ujn Hunter @ Nov 18th 2008 8:57AM

bah! guess i won't be buying any thing else from the wii shop channel. sorry big N but i'm not updating ever again. you lost me.

rvkremer @ Nov 18th 2008 9:12AM

At long last, Nintendo has listened to their hardcore audience! USB Keyboard support for the Mii Channel at LAST!

Just kidding :-D we all knew this was a homebrew killer the second the blue light hit.

Just thinking, though, is this the longest we have gone without a new channel from the big N? Does anybody remember the dates that Internet/Weather/CheckMiiOut/etc dropped?

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