Datel had intended on manufacturing a battery which would make the PSP Brite susceptible to hackers.The product never found release, however, and many were left wondering why. According to Portable Video Gamer, Datel cannot manufacture the battery due to a lawsuit in progress from Sony Computer Entertainment.

We're glad that SCEE is taking a more aggressive approach to PSP piracy. The causes of piracy and its effect on PSP software development are debated quite frequently in our comments section. We stand by the belief that curbing piracy on our system is the best way to get the system back to its former glory. Stopping devices like this from entering the market is a key step in Sony's new efforts in making PSP a viable platform once again.

[Thanks, David B.!]

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?

With Super Famicom- and even PSP-inspired Classic Controllers hitting the market, we're not surprised to see someone exploit the sentiments of nostalgic gamers with a pad fashioned after the original Famicom controller.

Available in Japan starting this September, Datel's line of retro Classic Controllers -- all four of which you can view in the gallery below -- will retail for ¥1,659 (approx $15.54). It's nowhere near an exact replica, as you'll notice several missing and inconsistent design elements, but the controller features Home and Turbo buttons. Also, you can relive those childhood memories of throwing an NES pad at the wall after crashing into the aircraft carrier for the 20th time in Top Gun.


[Via VC Reviews]

As one would expect, Datel has gone ahead and pulled the Wii Freeloader from its website. No longer are they selling the product, what with Wii Menu Update 3.3 killing the thing and all.

Spencer over at Siliconera discovered that you can still access the product's page through Google search, but all internal searches for the product on its official website come up empty. Not that you'd want to buy it now or anything. You're probably going to need to update your Wii sooner or later.

If you tried importing the Japanese version of Mario Kart Wii to Europe or the U.S. in order to get your copy early, you may have received this message from Play-Asia: "We received the first small delivery today for testing and unfortunately we have to inform you, that the game is not compatible with the Datel Freeloader (US and PAL Version)."

However, we've heard from NWF reader Nils that this isn't true, and an imported copy of Mario Kart has worked just fine on his Wii (we're still waiting to hear back on what version he imported). Still, we're sure Play-Asia wouldn't make such things up, since this will only lead to the site losing sales. So, at this point, just be cautious with your imports, and let's hope that Datel's Freeloader isn't outdated already.

We'll update the post if we find or hear more accounts from Mario Kart Wii importers, so be sure to tip us if you've tried it first hand.



[Via Go Nintendo]

For those of you looking to import games for your Wii, Datel's Freeloader will likely be the solution for you. But, where exactly is it? We haven't hear anything about the device since 2006 (although there were some rumors floating around last year about it releasing).

But now, finally, it looks like the Wii Freeloader has released. In checking out Datel's official website, we came across the product. It's for sale, right now, so we can only assume that most retailers will be getting their shipments in soon, if they already haven't. So now you can get back to enjoying your import GameCube games again, not to mention the Wii titles that will be fun to get ahold of.

What's your first import going to be?

[Via DCemu; thanks, Craig!]

Though Nyko's Perfect Shot plays second fiddle to Nintendo's official Zapper, the third-party light gun has been praised for its excellent build quality and superior design. In fact, other accessory manufacturers took note of that superior design and are now selling it as their own!

Datel's Wii Pistol mimics the Nyko product right down to its light blue grip. The knock-off peripheral is advertised on Datel/Codejunkies' shop as "the ideal add-on for classic blasters such as Resident Evil 4 and Chicken Shoot." Classic? Chicken Shoot?!

The Wii Pistol is currently out of stock, but it regularly retails for $12.99, two bucks cheaper than the Perfect Shot (Amazon currently has it on sale for $12.99, though). You can compare Datel's clone with Nyko's shell past the break.

Unlike Datel's Action Replay Max Duo, this game-save manager from Gametech doesn't require any GBA-slot jury-rigging or an unsightly device that sticks out of your handheld like an air conditioner. All you have to do is pop your DS cart into Gametech's discreet USB dongle, hook it onto a PC with the installed software, and you're good to go.

This $30 device can be really useful for titles like Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja or SimCity DS, both of which having only one save slot. You can also keep a back-up of your progress in case you accidentally lose the game or decide to trade it in later.

[Via Game Watch]

This particular bit of news concerns PAL gamers, but-- if it's true-- we can all benefit soon enough. A listing has popped up for a Wii Freeloader on an Italian shopping site called YouToo.it. The listing says that it will be released on June 30 for € 24,99 ($33.59), but that the price and release date are subject to change. In addition, that box looks exceptionally mocked-up, so take this whole thing with a grain of salt.

A NeoGAFfer named radioheadrule83 then contacted Datel's technical department to try to get more information. The Datel rep told him that "Its my understanding that there is a product on the way that will work for Wii games as well, yes" but also that "There's no release date as yet". We may yet enter a world in which we can all play games when they're released.

[Via NeoGAF]

Have you gotten so bad at playing video games that you've actually managed to have your character die in Wii Sports: Golf? Has it gotten to the point where you need some sort of "infinite lives" code just to finish a course? Well then, that is pretty shameful.

Datel's PowerSaves 512MB SD cards helps you live with that shame, giving you access to hundreds of cheats. Many of the saves on the $24.99 card have been hacked to enable features and codes that developers never even intended for their games. To sweeten the deal, Datel has also bundled in its MAX Media Manager Pro software to help users organize and transfer their photos, videos, and music to their consoles. You'll be the envy of all your friends when they see the effortless life you've made for yourself. Just like you've always wanted.

Nevermind the product's name -- Datel's Wii Drive Doctor isn't a tool meant for diagnosing and remedying your console's ailments. There should be laws regulating these misleading medical monikers. How many have suffered the embarrassment of consulting Dr. Dre about their disorders, only to find that the gangsta rapper prescribes phat beats, and not actual medicine?

The Drive Doctor is pitched as a "straightforward way for amateur programmers and techie tinkerers to get inside the game." With the mod in place, users can hook their Wii to a PC with a USB cable, allowing them to monitor the system's status and add data to running software. Homebrew applications and games are also playable through the $34.95 device.

Datel's homebrew and cheat tools usually boast low barriers to entry, making them accessible to even the most inexperienced users, but installing the Drive Doctor will require soldering. We've never been too keen on voiding our consoles' warranties, so hearing that requirement was enough to scare us away. Until something cheap and hassle-free comes along, we're going to live a boring, risk-free life with our unmodded Wiis.

Did you pick up a DS headset today along with your preorder of Pokémon Diamond/Pearl? What will you be using to take advantage of the online voice chat feature? Nintendo's official headset, Turtle Beach's Earforce D2, or Datel's Communicator? Or will you be slumming it with the handheld's built-in microphone?

If you're still in the market for a headset solution, Nintendo Gal has posted a comparison chart and her analysis on the three products. Testing their comfort, durability, sound output, and recording quality, she was able to determine which one deserves our hard-earned allowance money. There are even recording samples available that you can listen to and weigh in on yourself.

We're surprised that the Earforce D2 was judged as the best of the lot, but seeing that it's also the most expensive at $19.99 (Nintendo's headset is on sale for $9.99 at Amazon), it's good to know that you're not paying that premium for nothing. Turtle Beach's headset outclassed the official one in every category except recording quality, while Datel's Communicator was laughed out of the competition.

While Nintendo is quick to tout the Wii's extensive backward-compatibility with all GameCube software, the sleek white system is a pretty bad fit for the Cube's Game Boy Player hardware add-on. Rather than leaving that clunky old Cube out in the entertainment center, Wii News recommends the Datel Advance Game Port, a sleek-looking accessory that plugs into the GameCube/Wii memory card slot and lets you play Game Boy Advance games on the big screen.

What Wii News doesn't tell you is that the Datel Advance Game Port is a buggy mess. In our reviews of the discontinued hardware, games ran with inconsistent slowdown, laggy controls and audio problems. What's more, the port only plays Game Boy Advance games, unlike the official Game Boy Player, which works with games dating all the way back to the black-and-white classic portable.

If you're really desperate for Game Boy games on your TV, spring for the Nintendo-approved solution and not this third-party knock-off. Or just sit around and wait for the oft-rumored addition of Game Boy support for the Virtual Console.

After a bunch of Perrin Kaplan flip-flopping and general mass hysteria, it turned out that the Wii would in fact be region-specific after all. Importing games that the world has deemed too insane for the American public is one of our greatest joys in this world, and lo, Nintendo cut us down without mercy. But in this rare tale of Nintendo playing the role of evil, a shining knight gallops toward us with an interesting coat of arms adorning yon shield ... it's Datel, Advanced Gaming Technology™! Yes!

Apparently, Datel has announced plans to bring a Wii version of their popular Freeloader boot disc, allowing a gamer to essentially ignore any and all region-locks. Though the updatable nature of the Wii theoretically might allow Nintendo to block this product in the future, we'd imagine that even evil has unexpected bouts of lenience.

Despite a report to the contrary, we can't get the GameCube FreeLoader to work on a Wii. We've tried to use FreeLoader to play GameCube titles from other regions, but the sad, unrecognized-disc screen taunts us over and over.

We're using FreeLoader 1.06B -- alleged to be the right version by internet posters -- and a fully updated Wii (2.0U). We've tried inserting the disk when the Wii is off, then restarting. We've tried cleaning the disc. We've tried a special dance and blew in an NES cartridge slot as an offering, but nothing gets our FreeLoader started.

Datel told us that it doesn't yet have a Wii for testing and couldn't offer any more help. The company is also waiting for a Wii to determine if it can make a FreeLoader for Wii games.

Readers, have you gotten a GameCube FreeLoader working with a Wii? If so, how?

See also:
Wii not even remotely region-free
NOA's Reggie Fils-Aime skirts region issues