Topic: Wii Homebrew

[gpw11]

I almost bought a used Gamecube on Ebay the other day with 9 games for roughly $60.  It was a pretty good deal (in my mind), but really, when I thought about it I only wanted two of the games and I'd be better off putting that money into a Gamecube-playing Wii. So, does anyone know if there's really an active Wii homebrew scene?  If I bought one, I'd probably want to get it chipped and hook up a hard drive as a sort of media center, but most of the things I've found on the internet are purely concerned with playing backups (and I'm no saint, but that's really not what I'm interested in).  It's the kind of thing I wanted to do with a PS3 but kind of gets me around that whole having to buy an HD tv thing (I know I don't HAVE to, but if all the games are in HD I pretty much would).

So, is there some good Wii homebrew out there?  I'd imagine there would be since there's something called the "Home brew Channel" (obviously unofficial and only after modding) and I could see small home developers interested in playing with the control scheme.

[iPPi]

I haven't looked at the Wii homebrew scene at all but I'm sure it's there. 

I also don't think it's an ideal choice for setting up a media center with a Wii, especially when the Xbox360 and the PS3 do it out of the box with no modding necessary.  The 360 and PS3 are also only $80 more than a Wii, so if you have to shell out cash to mod the Wii and set it up as a media server, it's just a better idea to get a PS3 or a 360.  Even if you don't want to get an HDTV (I'm not sure why you don't want to aside from potential cost), the Wii is just too limited in its tech with no HDMI or digital audio output.

[gpw11]

That's a good point.  The main (and really only) reason I kind of wanted to do it with a Wii is because I figured that at $200 I might as well get one to catch up on some Gamecube games (and Wii games).  The PS3 is going to be an eventual purchase, as is the HDTV, but I'm not planning on buying one untill at least this year of school is done since all together it's looking at close to a $1200 purchase.

[Cobra951]

The last system update, which is required for dealings online, specifically warns of rendering the system inoperable if it has been modified.  Just a heads up.

[gpw11]

Yeah, thanks for that.  I've looked into a bit more and it seems there is a fairly substantial home brew scene out there.  Actually, after looking into it, the ScummVM for Wii could be purely awesome. 

As for the Nintendo lockout, it seems that you can soft mod or hard mod your system.  Soft modding is obviously far cheaper, but risker in that you can easily brick it and Nintendo can delete the soft mod with updates (which I'm assuming is what they're talking about).  Hard modding, it seems avoids this. Nintendo can still delete your "homebrew channel" with an update, but all you have to do is pop the disk back in and reinstall.  Nothing on your system (firmware wise) is actually changed, so they can't lock that shit out...it's just that the drive is emulated somehow and that allows you to run anything on it...or something like that. 

I'm still looking into it, and although it doesn't seem like a way to build a media center, it seems like it'd be pretty fun to mess around with some stuff.  I mean hell, if I'm going to buy a gamecube anyways, might as well buy a Wii. 

[Cobra951]

I mentioned it because I just did it recently, and saw the warning.  I haven't looked into Wii homebrew at all, so everything you said is news to me, really.  The thing does make a great Gamecube.  Progressive scan through component, and a much smaller footprint (vertically, which prevents a lot of heat buildup on what would be the bottom the other way).

[gpw11]

I'm certainly glad you mentioned it because it's made me a bit more hesitant, thanks again.  More research necessary before I make the jump.

So, I take it I'd need a Gamecube controller as well, right?  Or can you use the Classic Controller?  Because that'd probably be more functional across the board (right?). And generally, how do you feel about your Wii purchase?  When I think about it, it's mostly Gamecube games I want to play (emulation isn't quite up to par for me yet), but I'm obviously interested in a few of the big name Wii games as well.  The thing is, beyond the Mario and other Nintendo games, is there really all that much?  I had a lot of fun with my old roommate's Wii, but almost purely as a multiplayer system, is there quite of bit of good SP content out there in your opinion?     

[iPPi]

Of the 2+ years I've owned the console, I only have the following games:

Wii Sports
Wii Play (for the extra controller)
Super Mario Galaxy
Metroid Prime 3
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10

There are a handful of titles that are definitely worth playing, and while 2008 was a total disaster for the Wii IMO, 2009 looks to be halfway decent with 'A Boy and His Blob' and New Super Mario Bros. Wii... at least those are the two games that interest me this year.  Wii MotionPlus is awesome for Tiger Woods PGA 10, but I can only take so much of a sports game at any given time.

[Cobra951]

So, I take it I'd need a Gamecube controller as well, right?  Or can you use the Classic Controller?  Because that'd probably be more functional across the board (right?). And generally, how do you feel about your Wii purchase?  When I think about it, it's mostly Gamecube games I want to play (emulation isn't quite up to par for me yet), but I'm obviously interested in a few of the big name Wii games as well.  The thing is, beyond the Mario and other Nintendo games, is there really all that much?  I had a lot of fun with my old roommate's Wii, but almost purely as a multiplayer system, is there quite of bit of good SP content out there in your opinion?     

For GC games, you need a GC controller and also a GC memory card.  The Wii simply goes into GC mode at that point.  It doesn't give you a way to use Wii peripherals.

My Wii game collection is very small as well.  I got the GC version of the Zelda game (and I'm very glad I did).

Wii Sports (comes with the Wii)
Mario Galaxy
Paper Mario
Metroid Prime 3
No More Heroes
Zack & Wiki

I had all of those by early '08, and I have not bought anything for the system since.  I hope iPPi is right about the end of this year being better, but at this point, I would not recommend the Wii as the system for avid gamers.  Not even close.  It's a niche thing.  Either you like it, mostly for the good but scarce Nintendo titles, or you don't.

Other than Wii sports, I haven't done any multiplayer on the Wii.  My experience is almost entirely SP.  Very good, and very short.

[gpw11]

I see.  Now I'm a bit more hesitant.  I don't have a problem buying a system for a few games, but if that's the case I'd rather buy it in a couple of years when the price drops to make the Wii2 or whatever look better.

Guess I'll just play through the other Zelda game I've never played: Majora's Mask.

[Cobra951]

I love that one.  It's so quirky.

[gpw11]

Oh my god, it's like the most addicting thing ever.  I thought I'd hate the timed aspect of it, but it's not bad at all. Seriously, my study day turned into video game day as soon as I started playing.

One bitch was I didn't reset the clock before going into the first real dungeon and as such, had to leave and reset it right before the boss (literally half-way through the last room).  Oh well, now I know.

[Cobra951]

Think Groundhog Day.  You know, the Bill Murray movie.  It's a fun premise.

[gpw11]

Ha, yeah I remember you said that once before.  Still really fun and not a big deal at all, I just hope I don't have to run through most of the dungeon again now that I have the bow and stuff.

[Ghandi]

I loved Majora's Mask. You don't need all the masks to beat the game, but getting them all is fun. Some of them are really tricky, though.