DCEmu Homebrew Emulation & Theme Park News
Nintendo Wii News
by Published on February 2nd, 2011 00:25- Categories:
- Nintendo Wii News,
- DCEmu Reviews
Wii LAN Network Adapter
Review by: cowdisease
Provided by: DCEmu Reviews
Manufacturer: N/A
Site: Buy from GameInfinity
Price: $19.95
Overview : You’ve got a Nintendo Wii. You have a broadband internet connection on your PC. You’ve heard about all the fun things you can do online with your console. Yet when it comes to connecting your Wii to the net, you don’t know where to start. With our amazing new LAN Adapter for the Nintendo Wii, you can create a wired high-speed internet connection for your console. Just plug the Adapter into your Wii's USB port, and then connect it to your PC’s DSL or Cable modem or your router using a network cable. It’s as simple as that! It's USB 2.0, taking advantage of the latest, fastest USB protocols.
Because Wii LAN Adapter uses a cable connection, it always offers high-speed, reliable data transfer speeds. It’s ideal for places where wireless connectivity isn't possible, perhaps because of thick walls or interference from other products, and it's faster than any WiFi connection. At last, you can enjoy uninterrupted online gaming!
Features:
- Creates a high-speed LAN Internet connection for your Nintendo Wii
- No wireless network required
- Connects to your existing PC connection or DSL modem
- USB 2.0 connection supports the Wii at full speed
Quality/Usability : I applauded Nintendo when they announced that their newest console, the Wii, would come equipped with wireless networking capabilities directly out of the box. “Hooray!” I thought, “I won’t have to pay an obscene amount of money to get an overpriced wireless adapter to connect my Wii to my stunning wireless network!” Instead, Nintendo did it backwards, leaving out the usual wired Ethernet port, so if you are one of the many people who have not yet set up their home with a wireless network (or if you are like me and don’t like dealing with the hassle of wireless network security and dropped connections) then you have to buy this regularly priced wired adapter.
It will cost you $24.99 plus shipping and handling to rectify this omission if you buy through Nintendo’s online store, a price that is comparable to other PC-only USB LAN adapters on the market. The package is as bare-bones as it can be, containing simply the one-piece adapter, a single folded instruction sheet, and a small CD containing PC drivers.
Hooking your Wii up is as simple as the pictures on the back of the box suggest. Simply plug the USB end of the adapter into one of the two slots in the rear of your Wii, plug your Ethernet cable into the adapter, and turn your Wii on. The only remaining step is to go into your Wii’s settings and change the connection settings to “wired” from the default “wireless” option. The one-page instruction sheet has clear, illustrated instructions that will walk you through this simple process, and after a short automated test your Wii will be connected to the internet. The length of the entire process from opening the box to being connected depends mostly on how good you are at opening boxes.
The USB cable on the adapter is about five inches long, just long enough to rest flat on any surface if you have the Wii oriented vertically. The body is about an inch thick and three inches long, so it is not as compact as some of the other adapters of this type on the market, so while it can be used for your laptop it is not ideally suited for portability. It is the same color and shape as the Wii’s power brick so it is aesthetically consistent with the rest of the Wii gear. When plugged in two unlabeled, red LED’s indicate that it is functioning.
The PC setup is also fairly simple, as you can plug and go. However if your computer does not automatically install your adapter properly you will have to deal with the driver disc. When the disc is inserted it simply opens an explorer window that shows the various files containing the different drivers. There are no auto-prompts here, but once you select the proper drivers the install is quick and automatic. The disc supports a wide variety of operating systems: Linux, Windows Vista and XP in 32 and 64 bit, CE, ME, 98, and Mac OSX 10, and works flawlessly.
Conclusion : Overall, if you need or want to wire your Wii to the internet the adapter is reasonably priced, quick and easy to use, even if it is a little bulky. If you want to get over your resentment at Nintendo leaving out a basic component that will cost you thirty dollars, go get yourself some ice cream.
Images via comments ...by Published on February 2nd, 2011 00:25- Categories:
- Nintendo Wii News,
- DCEmu Reviews
VDIGI VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler
Manufacturer: VDIGI Electronics
Site: Buy from VDIGI Electronics
Price: USD$59.00 (WAS $75)
Overview : This is the world first dedicated Wii HDMI Upscaler, it can support connection though HDMI or DVI, and enjoy resolution up to 1080p or monitor resolution 1680x1050.
Features :
Powerful Video Signal conversion
- Crystal shape image, Outstanding picture quality.
- Full HD (1080p) output.
- True 10-Bits high definition video scaler engine.
- AV grade scaler engine.
User Friendly
- No external power required.
- Easy to setup.
- LED status indication.
Wide Range Video support
- Support TV (HDMI) and PC Monitor (DVI).
- HDMI-Audio and Analog audio out.
- Various HDTV video out.
- Native resolution for LCD monitor.
Specs :
- Input: Wii AV Connector x 1, USB Type A Plug x 1.
- Output: HDMI x1 , 3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack.
- Video lag time: 8 ms
- Video In Supported: EDTV(480i/576i), SDTV(480p/576p)
- Video Out Supported : 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1680x1050 (at refresh rate 59.94Hz)
- Audio Out: HDMI audio, Analog audio.
- Bi-Color LED: Blue and Red.
- Operating Temperature: 5°C to 60°C (41°F to 140°F)
- Dimensions (approximate): 12cm (L) x 7cm (W) x 2.5cm (H)
- Mass (approximate): ~180g
Quality/Usability : This review was tested on a 32" Samsung 720p HDTV (HDMI) and a 24" Dell Widescreen 1080p Monitor (DVI).
Let me start off by saying that the VD-W3 is a upscaler. Those expecting the VD-W3 to render images to high quality, this is not the product. VD-W3 will upscale the Wii's 480p signal and can independently scale SD images horizontally and vertically to achieve a quality picture for video display up to 1080p resolutions. The VD-W3 provides an HDMI connection, which is an alternatives to AV or component connections. This will also allow you to display your Wii on a monitor using DVI with audio output.
Upscalers are not new...at least not on the market. They were usually primarily used for DVD players but this is the FIRST solely dedicated for the Nintendo Wii. Upscalers basically output smoother and cleaner images on your display.
Connecting the VD-W3 is not complicated at all. The VD-W3 simply replaces the standard AV/Component plug and has a USB cord attached to it. This USB cord is what will power the VD-W3. No extra socket or power cord needed. This is great because I have daisy chained surge protectors in order to have enough sockets. On the other end of the VD-W3 is a port to insert your HDMI cable. If you do not have a HDMI TV or monitor, you will need to use a HDMI-to-DVI adapter and use a DVI cable. Do note that using a DVI cable does not transmit sound, so you will need to insert a 3.5mm cable from an external speaker.
The bottom of the VD-W3 contains a bunch of dip-switches and a RESET button. Different combinations of the dip-switches will change resolution (480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p and screen 1280x1024, 1440x990 and 1680x1050) as well as adjusting image (NORMAL or ENHANCED) and choosing between HDMI or DVI setup. There is an option for MODE 1 and MODE 2. There was no mention of this in the paper menu that was included but was told by VDIGI representative that this is for zooming in and out. If you have a black border, this would zoom in which will remove the black border. I did not have any black borders, so I was unable to confirm. If you have made a change in the dip-switches, the screen should automatically refresh within a couple of seconds. If it does not, you can press the RESET button and it will refresh the screen.
Comparing Component output and VD-W3's, I noticed that with the component cable, the display was brighter. With the VD-W3, the display was dimmer. As stated, this will upscale the Wii's 480p signal. There was some slight improvements that was noticeable but nothing jaw-dropping. Certain areas you would see that jaggies present in component was slightly improved and cleaner looking on the VD-W3. In some areas, jaggies was still noticeable but not as bad. DO NOT expect this to be a complete Wii HD.
With the less than a handful of GameCube games that are left in my collection, the VD-W3 had a little trouble with menus, in-game loading and intros. Images either froze or were slightly distorted. This can be resolved by playing around with the dip-switches on the bottom of the VD-W3. However, this can get annoying and bothersome.
The following images are from VDIGI using a HDMI capture card. VDIGI used AverMedia Capture HD capture card, directly captured from the VD-W3 HDMI output, this provide the best pictures on how it should be look like. For this capture card, it only allows them to capture up to 1080i HDMI/DVI output, so they cannot capture 1080p picture for your reference. This will provide a much more accurate view rather than taking a picture of a screen with a camera. Left hand side is 480p and Right hand side is 1080i, Click for the below pictures to display the bigger image (~500KB to 1MB in each file size, longer download time may needed)
Conclusion : Overall, the VDIGI VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler is a nice product but had some flaws. The brightness of output is dimmer than that of my component cable and the improvement is visible but nothing drastic. Within a week of VD-W3's release, VDIGI has read a lot of comments after our newspost was posted and most of the comments were about the price. After serious thoughts about the comments from potential buyers and for the Wii market need, VDIGI has dropped the price from $75 to $59! VDIGI's VD-W3 is the first Wii HDMI dedicated upscaler on the market and there is no comparable product to compare price. It's difficult to set a starting price but VDIGI used the upscaler price standard to define the VD-W3 as the same grade as most of the common AV upscalers.
I do agree that the $75 price tag was a bit steep but I am glad (as well as many others) that VDIGI lowered the price to something more affordable.
If you dont have additional HDMI cables, you may want to purchase VDIGI's 1.5m/5ft HDMI cable (Male to Male 1.3b 28AWG with Ferrite Cores) for an additional $8. If you purchased it separately, it would be $16.
If you are using a DVI cable for your monitor, VDIGI Electronics sells a Female DVI to Male HDMI Converter for an additional $5 with purchase of VD-W3 or $10 by itself. Purchasing both the 1.5m/5ft HDMI cable and converter with VD-W3, its $12.00. Its not a bad price for the combo but its either one or the other. You cant use both.
VDIGI is open to comments, suggestions and will do suitable adjustment to respond to feedbacks.
Images via commentsby Published on February 2nd, 2011 00:24- Categories:
- Nintendo Wii News,
- DCEmu Reviews
WiiKey Modchip (DMS/D2A/D2B)
Manufacturer: WiiKey
Site: Buy from Mod-Chip
Price: $30.00-$40.00
Overview : The amazing WiiKey Mod Chip for the Nintendo Wii has arrived! The WiiKey is possibly the easiest modchip to install on any system. A quicksolder pattern on the PCB board removes the need for wires. All you need to do us solder onto the designated parts and the installation is complete.
Not only is the WiiKey easy to install, but this ModChip also has amazing features including Stealth Mode, the ability to play both WII and Gamecube backups, GameCube homebrew and imports. The WiiKey also has an optional LED to let you know when the Mod Chip is ON or OFF.
Features :
- Direct boot of wii backups
- Direct boot of GC backups
- Direct boot of homebrew in GC mode
- Supports all currently available console/drive versions
- Supports D2B chipsets
- Sophisticated (true) update mechanism via DVD (future proof, expect cool features to come)
- Direct boot of different NTSC region Wii games/backups on US and JAP consoles
- Partial support for NTSC region Wii games/backups on PAL consoles
- Boots different region GC games/backups (partially without swapping)
- Supports multi-disc games for BOTH Wii and Gamecube
- Supports DVD-R / true DVD+R and +RW support (no bitsetting required!)
- Improved readsettings for recordable media
- Built-in audio fix
- Supports fullsize 4GB discs for gamecube homebrew
- Stealth mode
- 512 byte EEPROM to store configuration
- Quicksolder interface - no wires required
- Unique disc backup application via sdcard
- Compact design, best quality components, rock solid high speed controller
- Professional ESD packing
- Recovery mode - Can recover from a bad flash
Quality/Usability : WiiKey is probably one of the most well known modchips for the Wii. Its so popular that there is even a clone of it. To prevent confusion, WiiKey tried to think of ways to inform buyers that what they are buying is legit and the real deal. Their solution was a hologram sticker. But this didnt stop some buyers as the clones also worked the same as the real WiiKey.
This review is based on a North American (NTSC-US) Wii. All games tested during this review, we own the original games. This modchip is only compatible with Wii's that have a DMS, D2A or D2B chipset. This will NOT work on a D2C chipset.
Installation : You can find installation manual at WiiKey's Resource page. The Resource page also includes setup discs, recovery disc and the much anticipated firmware update disc which I will get to later.
In order to install the CycloWiz onto your Wii, you must take it apart. Here is a tutorial on how to dismantle your Wii. You can also find other tutorials or even videos on the web.
Like all other modchips that requiring soldering, you must dismantle the Wii. The WiiKey also allows you to either install via quick solder or wire method (the latter method is preferred as you can remove the chip easily). Once you have dismantled the Wii, you must locate the points outlined in their installation manual. These points are where you will connect the soldering between the Wii and the WiiKey. When soldering, you must remember to stay within the points and not to use too much solder or you may risk shorting out the chip as well as the Wii.
After installing the WiiKey, you must run the WiiKey configuration disc which can be download from WiiKey.
Wii Compatibility : After running the configuration disc, its time to test out games. With some modchips that we reviewed, there were some games that gave the DRE (Disc Read Error), but taking that same disc and trying it on the WiiKey worked and booted up perfectly. But there were some that didnt work.
Homebrew Compatibility : Unfortunately, I wasnt able to try the homebrew out.
Conclusion : Overall, WiiKey modchip came through and worked. The ability to load games had a higher success rate than majority of the Wii modchips on the market. Not to mention, its one of, if not the smallest Wii modchip on the market!
1.9b Firmware Upgrade Disc
Now, remember when I talked about the WiiKey update disc? Well, WiiKey was suppose to release this upgrade a long long long time ago but kept delaying it. They would give a release date and would delay it for whatever reason. This would annoy and piss of WiiKey users and even other gaming sites for the lack of actually following through on their word and releasing. Some speculated that WiiKey was a flake or lying. Some even thought they were trying to combat the clones and trying to figure out how to get the upgrade disc to only work on genuine chips and possibly brick Wii's that have clones installed..but of course, all this was a rumor.
There was a leak of the supposed upgrade disc but it was a beta. Eventually, after further testing, WiiKey decided to make it an official release as it was stable enough and worked as it should. The following is what was added to 1.9b
- audiofix fixed
- dual layer support (no bitsetting required)
- improved
by Published on February 2nd, 2011 00:24- Categories:
- Nintendo Wii News,
- DCEmu Reviews
The Shaft Wii Arcade Style Joystick
Manufacturer: Overline Gaming
Site: Buy from Overline Gaming / Buy from Amazon
Price: $39.95
Overview : Designed by gamers, for the ultimate gameplay experience, The Shaft for Nintendo Wii is the ONLY Arcade Style Joystick that works with both digital and analog games. The Shaft, our classic arcade-style joystick brings a new dimension of game play to the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console. The Shaft will work with all of the Virtual Console games for NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, TurboGrafix16, and Wii titles that support the Classic Controller.
Test your arcade fighting skills in digital controlled games like Super Street Fighter 2, or test your racing skills in analog controlled games like Super Mario Kart. The Shaft is also compatible with GameCube and Wii titles that support the Classic Controller, giving you the arcade advantage in these games including the recent hit: Super Smash Bros Brawl.
Turbo Mode is available to give players a unique advantage in those classic hard-to-beat games! Each button can be individually programmed to turbo for the most customized gameplay experience available. The Shaft is extremely durable with a high-impact polycarbonate case and a steel joystick core. The Shaft has a classic arcade feel and measures 11 inches x 6 inches.
Features
- A Customizable Turbo Function allows you to program individual buttons to be Turbo while leaving others to work as normal.
- Full 360 Degree range of motion that works with both digital and analog stick games.
- 8 Locking points for Awesome response in Fighting Games.
- 10-Year Warranty.
Quality/Usability : The Shaft Wii Arcade Style Joystick first made headlines back in late 2007. Since than, it has been flying under the radar with no release news. Upon emailing Overline Gaming in regards to availability of product, it wasnt released yet even though it was a couple months since its scheduled release. But alas, its finally available!
Nintendo's Virtual Console games are growing everyday and those gamers who want to relive their childhood of sitting in front of an arcade cabinet and constantly feeding the machine with quarters would like an arcade stick to simulate that feeling. Overline Gaming hopes to fulfill those dreams by releasing The Shaft.
The Shaft tries to replicate the arcade cabinet feel by putting a round ball on top of a stick with six large buttons. Top three buttons are Y, X and L, while the bottom three buttons are B, A and R. The middle also has three buttons; TURBO, SELECT/Z and START. However, this arrangement is uncomfortable if you want to play some Wii games. Accessing the Z button feels awkward and out of place.
Unlike the Wiimote, Classic Controller or Nunchuk, The Shaft is not wireless nor does it connect directly to the Wiimote like the Classic Controller or Nunchuk. Instead, its a wired controller and connects to the Gamecube controller port on top of the Wii. This is great since you dont have to worry about batteries dying on your in the middle of gameplay but you need to sit near the Nintendo Wii. The cord on The Shaft is approximately 6 feet long. I know some gamers have their Wii on top of a shelf so some will need to sit right under the TV.
Having played Super Smash Bros Brawl, the Z button felt really out of place. Having to try and play SSBB with the awkward button arrangement on The Shaft, I can feel that the stick felt rather cheap. The quality of the stick was not on par to that of Hori's Fighting Stick. Arcade sticks always have that clicky feel but The Shaft doesnt even have that. The buttons feels unresponsive and doesnt give that arcade joystick feel. But I was able to set turbo to each individual button.
Conclusion : Overall, the The Shaft Wii Arcade Style Joystick is barely at the level of an arcade stick. The short cord with the use of Gamecube plug, awkward placement of the Z button and poor unresponsive buttons didnt help The Shaft. The price of $39.95 is overpriced for the quality of The Shaft. If it didnt feel so cheap, better placement of buttons, two additional buttons or even using HAPP or similar quality joystick buttons, this may be worth it.
Images via comments ...by Published on February 2nd, 2011 00:24- Categories:
- Nintendo Wii News,
- DCEmu Reviews
D2Pro Wii Modchip
Manufacturer: WiiKey
Site: Buy from ConsoleSource
Price: $39.95
Overview : Sporting a high speed Actel FPGA running at 350 MHz, this chip is capable of what is known as Intelligent Code Modification(ICM). With ICM this device monitors the Wii's internal communication and patches it when necessary to enable you to unlock the Wii's full potential.
The D2Pro installs with only 15 wires instead of the 30+ wires required by previous Wii Mod Chips. In addition to a simplified installation the D2Pro is fully software upgradeable to ensure future compatibility.
Features :
- Compatible with DVD+-R, DVD+-RW and Dual-layer DVD (movies and GCOS)
- Direct boot of Wii original and backup games from the same region
- Direct boot of Gamecube original and backup games from the same region
- Direct boot of different NTSC region Wii and GC games on USA and JAP consoles
- Partial region free support on Wii and GC original and backup games with different videomode (ie PAL<->USA, JAPAN)
- Improved read settings for recordable media
- Supports running GC games at Wii disk speed
- GC Audiostreaming Fix
- Supports full-size DVD and DVD9 discs for GC homebrew
- Supports GC multigame discs
- Supports Wii and GC multidisc games
- Does not modify RAM, making it virtually undetectable for the Wii
- Full command set emulation
Quality/Usability : The D2Pro is Team WiiKey's third mochip. After releasing WiiKey for DMS, D2A and D2B chipsets, they released D2Ckey for the much harder to mod D2C chipset which required 31 wires. Soon after Infectus released their Argon, WiiKey released the D2Pro which only required less than half of the amount of wires as D2Ckey (12-15 wires).
Unlike traditional modchips, D2Pro is upgradeable through an external programmer also known as D2prog. No more having burning discs just to upgrade. As Argon is the first to have less wires for D2C and uses an external programmer, D2Pro follows it. Its normal as thats how it always is whether it be in the gaming industry or any of your household products.
D2Pro comes in a small anti-static bag. For a limited time offer, if you order from ConsoleSource, it comes with a free Tri-Wing screwdriver. If you already have one, no biggie..you'll just have a spare. But if you dont already have one, you'll need this. As mentioned above, you'll need an external programmer to update the D2Pro for when WiiKey releases any new updates. Unfortunately, its not included. Its not even sold on ConsoleSource. Some other sites either include the external programmer or sell it separately.
The D2Pro is the same size as the D2Ckey. This time, there its in a different colored PCB board (red), has a ribbon cable clasp and uses a Actel chip.
As its still hard to find a Nintendo Wii on store shelves, a friend volunteered his Nintendo Wii that he was lucky enough to find in a store. As I'm not as technical when it comes to soldering, I had a friend of ours who works on electronics for a living, help perform this risky mod. REMEMBER, this is only for the experienced and not the weak at heart (noobs). But if you have the experience or want to try it out, you can download the latest diagrams on D2Pro's website.
You can find instructions on how to dismantle/disassemble your Nintendo Wii by doing a Google search. There are numerous text guides and even videos.
Wii Compatibility : Having tested a couple of Nintendo GameCube and Nintendo Wii games, I must say, D2Pro performed very well. We tried both original and backups for the hell of it. D2Pro loaded and booted all games without a problem. We tried Ikaruga which needed a audiosteam fix and it had no problem loading both game and sound. We did not have problems playing with any region free games.
Homebrew Compatibility : Having tried to boot GCOS and a few emulators, D2Pro had no problem running them.
Conclusion : Overall, the D2Pro Wii Modchip worked just like its predecessor, D2Ckey but with less wires. When D2Pro was first released, the external programmer (D2prog) was not included or released at the same time. In order to upgrade the D2Pro, you'll need this external adapter which is available now. If you're going to upgrade, you'll also have to reopen your Nintendo Wii in order to install the ribbon cable. From what I can tell, the ribbon cable is not included with the D2prog so you'll either have to find one on your own or hope that a retailer will include it.
Team WiiKey has also released a new D2Pro that can be installed with only 9 wires but we did the normal 15 wire install. If you dont want to buy a whole new D2Pro, you can purchase a SPI flash update module which is soldered onto the corner of the D2Pro.
Those looking for a cleaner and easier installation may want to take a look at the Wii-Clip.
Please note that none of the "upgrade" products listed in this site are endorsed by Nintendo, Sony and/or Microsoft. DCEmu Reviews and DCEmu Network does not condone piracy. The primary functions ...by Published on February 2nd, 2011 00:24- Categories:
- Nintendo Wii News,
- DCEmu Reviews
Wii-Clip Easy Install Modchip Kit
Manufacturer: Wii-Clip
Site: Buy from Shop.01Media / other distributors
Price: $25.00-$30.00
Overview : The Next Generation Universal WII CHIP Install Tooling!
Features :
- Support for full series WII CHIP, included WIIKEY , D2CKEY , D2CPRO , ARGON , D2PRO, WASABI chips, very high install efficiency, you can finish most jobs in 2 minutes.
- Very easy to install. You just need to solder the chip to the 1:1 points. Then push it cover over the D2C chipset on the drive, plug and play, even don't need the extra wires for VCC and GND , 100% ZERO wires need!
- Very easy to disable the WII chip, just remove (pull out) the WII-CLIP from the WII motherboard, no need to unsolder anymore. This process will allow you return your WII to its stock configuration, can give back you one 100% original WII immediately.
- Next generation HIGH precision design, 100% working perfect and stable.
- Use the special IC encapsulation material, whole wii-clip working like a small radiator, without any overheating issue. We have keep it run over 720 hours to confirm this point.
Quality/Usability : Let me start off by saying that I wont be reviewing any specific chips in this review. This is solely based on Wii-Clip and what it can do.
So not everyone is a modder or even handy with their hands or just plain scared to do it themselves. I fall under all three departments. I'm not ashamed to admit it. What Wii-Clip aims to do is not only help those who are scared or inexperienced, but to make installation a lot easier even for the pros.
When modding a Nintendo Wii, the most scariest party is damaging to motherboard. One mistake and it can fry your Nintendo Wii dead! With the Wii-Clip, you dont have to worry about causing damage to your Nintendo Wii. All you do is snap the Wii-Clip over the Nintendo Wii's chipset and you're done! No more soldering wires onto the Nintendo Wii. You dont even have to use wires for the modchips.
There are different Wii-Clips available for each modchip. You have WiiKey, D2Ckey, D2Pro, Argon, Wasabi, even open source such as OpenWii, Wiinja, WiiFree and many more. As new modchips become available or even upgraded ones, Wii-Clip will have one.
As I mentioned above, I'm not handy when it comes to soldering or modifying electronics. But I was able to do it. Of course, I borrowed a friends soldering iron and had an old PC motherboard laying around. Once I felt comfortable and confident enough, I dove right in. Simply line up your modchip to the Wii-Clip and solder the points together. No more need for wires or soldering to your Nintendo Wii. However, to ensure that the modchip will line up with the Wii-Clip, I first soldered on one corner. Once that was soldered, I soldered a corner opposite from my first spot. My method was similar to that of tightening lug nuts on a car tire. With this method, if I so happen to move the Wii-Clip or modchip accidently, it wont be misaligned.
Once all the points are soldered on the modchip and Wii-Clip, it was now time to install it onto the chipset on the Nintendo Wii. But before doing so, you must take the "PROTECT LABEL" sticker and place it under the modchip. This prevents any points on the modchip from touching the Nintendo Wii motherboard. Now take the Wii-Clip, place it over the chipset and push down. Some down force will be needed to make sure that the Wii-Clip is tightly in place and will not fall off. At first, I felt scared because the Wii board was bending but it held up and is sturdy. Once in place, take the decorative Mario looking background paper. Not only is it used for packaging but its also used to protect the modchip from touching the Nintendo Wii. Just rip off the flap in the middle and fit the Wii-Clip through the opening.
As stated above, the Nintendo Wii was only disassembled and none of the components were soldered or tampered with. This keeps the Nintendo Wii's warranty still intact if a problem ever arises. Even if you no longer wanted the modchip, there is no damage to the Nintendo Wii.
Before closing up the Nintendo Wii and to ensure that the Wii-Clip worked, I turned on the Nintendo Wii and it worked. Inserted both an original Wii game and a backup and both worked flawlessly. Once I knew it was working, I closed everything back up and tested the games again and experienced no problems.
When removing the Wii-Clip, it was a bit tough to remove. Wii-Clip suggested using a sharp object but I used a small flat-head screwdriver. They also mentioned to pry from the corners only and from all 4 sides.
Conclusion : Overall, the Wii-Clip Easy Install Modchip Kit is probably the most easiest and safest method of installing a modchip. No damage is done to the Nintendo Wii. Even if you messed up the soldering, its on the modchip and Wii-Clip. If for whatever reason you totally screwed it up and no longer works, you only have to pay for the chip and Wii-Clip. Its a lot better than having to hunt down for a Nintendo Wii and spending $250USD ...by Published on February 2nd, 2011 00:24- Categories:
- Nintendo Wii News,
- DCEmu Reviews
Datel Wii FreeLoader
Manufacturer: Datel
Site: Buy from Vanguard Tech (US) / Buy from Vanguard Tech (JAP) / Buy from Vanguard Tech (PAL)
Price: £11.99
Overview : This is the one you've all been waiting for! Wii FreeLoader lets you play ANY region of Wii game on a your Nintendo Wii! At last, you can import games from other territories and play them on your Wii…
Videogamers the world over get really frustrated when games are released in other territories long before they reach the shops in their home country, if they ever get released at all. You want to play that blockbuster survival horror which is out in Japan three months before it hits the shelves elsewhere. What about the soccer or F1 sim which only gets a European release or a gridiron football or NBL baseball game that's never released outside the States? Or maybe you bought an imported Wii because you wanted to get it early, and you now want to play games from your own region without buying a second machine. Well, now you can. With Wii FreeLoader, you can play ANY region of game on your Wii!
Wii FreeLoader is really easy to use. Simply insert your FreeLoader disc and load it in the usual way. When the drive stops, eject the Wii FreeLoader disc and insert the game, which then loads and plays just like it would on its own region of Wii. It's as simple as that!
Wii FreeLoader is 100% unofficial, and requires no modifications to your console. As well as letting you play Wii games from all regions, Wii FreeLoader also works with some imported GameCube games when played on your Wii. It won't work in a GameCube console, though – for that, you need FreeLoader for GameCube.
Features :
- Play ANY region of Wii™ or GameCube™ game on your Wii™.
- Easy to use.
- No console modification required.
- Doesn't invalidate warranty.
- Play games never released in your region.
- Play local games on your imported console.
- Suitable ONLY for US/JAP/EUR Version Wii™ consoles - If you have EUR Wii, you need EUR version. If you have JAP Wii, you need JAP version and if you have US Wii, you need US version.
- 100% unofficial.
- Might not work with all games or various firmware versions. Usage at own risk!
Quality/Usability : I know there are a lot of impatient gamers reading this review. There are probably some that just cant wait and have bought consoles or games that have came out in a different country first and a couple months later in their own region. Sometimes, there are situations where you cant even get it in your own country and the only way is to import the game or buy a whole new system from a different region.
We all know Japan and its gamers are usually the first to get game releases and all those quirky games. Once released in the land of the rising sun, its usually released in our own region within a couple months or sometimes never even seeing a release. Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, PS3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 are all (or majority) region free when it comes to games but there is one system that is region locked preventing you from playing games from other regions. That is the Nintendo Wii.
Sony prevented online importers from selling PSPs to different regions due to sale purposes. Region locks on systems is set up pretty much for the same reason. If gamers buy games from different regions, when that game finally comes out in their region, there will be no sale because the gamer already owns the import. I solely understand the reason for region locks but at the same time, there are games that never see light in other countries and true gamers want to play that specific game but cant due to region lock on their console.
Datel is the first to release a disk that allows you to play import games on your Nintendo Wii without voiding your warranty or opening the Nintendo. The FreeLoader comes in a standard sized DVD case. Inside are instructions and the FreeLoader disc which is the same size as GameCube discs.
Getting it setup to play your import game is very simple. You can either be in the Main Menu or in the Disc Channel. Insert FreeLoader into the Nintendo Wii. WHAT?! What is happening to my Wii? Don't worry. Nothing harmful is being done to your Nintendo Wii. It looks as if half of the right screen was stuck and stretched. Kind of like a trail or a smudge. Your screen will flash twice. This is the FreeLoader working its magic. Eject the FreeLoader and swap it with the import game you want to play. TA-DA! It works! *Not all import games will work with the Datel FreeLoader.
Although the Datel WiI FreeLoader does not mention it, but it is capable of playing some of your GameCube imports. I was only able to try one game and it was Luigi's Mansion. I can't believe I still have this game in my library.
Conclusion : Overall, the Datel Wii FreeLoader works great at loading imports but for how long? No one knows. Nintendo can release an updated firmware for the Nintendo Wii and with that one update, it can make the Datel Wii FreeLoader useless. So you'll end ...by Published on February 2nd, 2011 00:24- Categories:
- Nintendo Wii News,
- DCEmu Reviews
Wii Balance Board Protective Skin
Manufacturer: Talismoon
Site: Buy from Divineo US (white) / Buy from Divineo US (pink) / Buy from Divineo China (white) / Buy from Divineo China (pink)
Price: $17.49
Overview : Keep your Wii Balance Board clean while improving your grip and even adding style with Talismoon protective soft skin. Available in several colors, it is the perfect companion to your balance board.
Quality/Usability : When there is an accessory such as the Balance Board, accessories for it is not far behind. When the Wii was first released, there were reports of peoples TVs being smashed by the Wiimote either by flying out of peoples hands or the wrist strap broke. To prevent and to protect your Wii Balance Board, Talismoon has released a rubber silicone skin.
As mentioned above, the protective soft skin is made of silicone rubber. Not only is it durable but it is also washable. The Protective Skin is like any other silicone skin on the market whether it be for your gaming controllers, handheld systems or cellphones. Simply slide it over your device and that is it. The skin covers the entire top of the balance board and wraps it self to the bottom of the board.
The skin gives you easy access to the button on the balance board as well as battery pack. On the top of the skin, there are two footprints. These are outlined in rubber dimples. This gives you traction and grip when using the Balance Board.
Conclusion : Overall, the Wii Balance Board Protective Skin is a nice product. Nothing special about it. Its like a normal rubber silicone skin. You can choose from two colors; white and pink. White can show signs of dirt easily. It would be nice if there were other colors to choose from. Although the dimples on the top gives you grip, is soft and where to place your feet, it may not work well for those with sensitive feet or just dont like anything touching their feet. I would of preferred a footprint but with grooves or something.
Images via comments ...by Published on February 2nd, 2011 00:24- Categories:
- Nintendo Wii News,
- DCEmu Reviews
Wii WiiID Wiimote Battery Cover Kit
Manufacturer: Talismoon
Site: Buy from Divineo China
Price: $7.95
Overview : The Wiimote is a smart device, allowing you to carry your "Mii" on the go, and use it at a friends house. But, all wiimotes look the same. Enter the wiiID. The WiiID includes a custom battery cover with a clear window in it, and 8 different templates that you can put behind the window so you can easily tell your wiimote apart from everyone else's.
The WiiID is practical and entertaining at the same time, as you can put funny pictures inside your wiimote (like rusty gears, or an ear of corn) making your wiimote unique and fun.
Of course, you can also make your own template simply by printing your favoriate photo on your printer, and cutting it to the appropriate size.
Let your wiimote join the party, with the wiiID.
Included:- 1 replacement battery cover
- 20 ready to use templates
To distinguish which controller belongs to who, some paint them, some put stickers on them, some put different colored silicone skins or even a dot of red nail polish like on turtles. Ok, maybe not the last part.
Talismoon has released Wii-ID Wiimote Battery Cover Kit. This is a battery cover but whats different is the clear screen. This allows you to insert your own design and is displayed right on the battery cover. The battery cover has a bit of a glossy look to it. At the bottom, instead of a Nintendo logo, it has a Talismoon logo.
Included are 20 ready to use designs but I counted 19. The included designs is nothing fancy and looks a little cheesy to me. Also included is a plastic template. This allows you to print out your design, use the template to trace the size and cut it. The size of the design/cut is 1.5" (width) x 3.25" (height). Although it gives you a plastic template to cut it to size, it doesnt include anything for when you design it. A Photoshop file should at least be hosted or something so you can design around that instead of designing it from scratch and having to play around with size.
Conclusion : Overall, the Wii Wii-ID Wiimote Battery Cover Kit is a nice idea when it comes to customization and/or knowing which Wiimote belongs to who but it falls short in some areas. The cover is glossy and the plastic clear screen looks like it can scratch easily. It comes with a plastic template that lets you trace the size but nothing is provided for when you design it. No size, no template, nothing. So if you're designing, you'll have to set it up yourself. Once you set up the correct size, you'll have to find out where the design becomes visible and where it is covered by the battery door.
If Talismoon is reading this, I suggest releasing a template file that allows people to just import their design, adjust accordingly and print. Who wants to buy a product that makes you do extra work by having to play around configuring your own template just to print your own design? I dont.
Images via comments ...by Published on February 2nd, 2011 00:24- Categories:
- Nintendo Wii News,
- DCEmu Reviews
Wii Wireless Crazy Guitar Controller
Manufacturer: PEGA
Site: Buy from Goldenshop
Price: $45.00
Overview : Get your ROCK on with this alternative Les Paul Guitar Controller.
Quality/Usability : When a new Guitar Hero game comes out, it only comes with one guitar. But what if you want your friend to join in on the fun or help you out or even duel it out. You either have to wait for manufacturer to release standalone guitars or buy two sets and sell the extra game. If you're late to jump on the bandwagon, who wants to buy or try and locate previous version of the game?
PEGA, Nyko and other 3rd party peripheral manufacturers try to fill that void as well as offer a cheaper alternative but is the price what you pay, what you get?
I tend to have friends over and we rock out on Guitar Hero on the Nintendo Wii. We usually have to take turns using the guitar as I only have one. Since it gets a bit repetitive and tiresome of having to pass the guitar around, I thought I'd review the Wii Wireless Crazy Guitar Controller.
The Wii Wireless Crazy Guitar Controller looks almost exactly as the Official Les Paul Guitar that comes with Guitar Hero for the Nintendo Wii..front and back. The Crazy Guitar comes in 2 pieces..3 if you include the detachable faceplate. Also included is a shoulder strap.
As mentioned above, the Crazy Guitar looks identical to the original Les Paul Guitar but there are some differences. The corner near the joystick on the original Les Paul is rounded. On the Crazy Guitar, its pointed. If you were to swap faceplates with each other, the tabs will fit, however since that one specific corner is rounded or pointed, it wont fit in that section.
The back looks the same. There is a locking and unlocking mechanism for the neck of the guitar as well as for the faceplate. I dont know why there is a removable faceplate for the Crazy Guitar if there doesnt seem to be any replacements. You can paint on the faceplate but its already glossy. The compartment to store the Wii remote also has a little compartment to store the wrist band.
To connect the neck of the guitar to the guitar itself, simply line up the neck and just push in. It will lock in place. To remove the neck, simply slide and hold the unlock and pull the neck out. When I first opened the box, I noticed something different on the neck. There is grease along the inside. This is suppose to allow the neck to slide in easily. Although it does, it makes a bit of a mess. I had grease along the side of the Guitar as well as the faceplate. The buttons on the Crazy Guitar are color coded but white while the original Les Paul is color coded and black. The buttons are slightly raised higher on the Crazy Guitar.
The controls worked great and as they should. The Guitar Hero game registered each button press. However, the strum bar doesnt have that loud clicking noise. Some prefer it to be more quite but at the same time, this also means it did not register my presses which would result in me missing crucial notes and from gaining full Star Power.
Conclusion : Overall, the Wii Wireless Crazy Guitar Controller worked great as a spare guitar controller. It feels and fits like the original Les Paul Controller. It would be nice if it was shaped like the Les Paul so that the faceplates were interchangeable but I can see that there would be legal issues with that. If it wasnt for the pointed corner near the joystick and missing Guitar Hero logo on the back, a normal person wouldnt know this was made by a 3rd party manufacturer. Thats how close it looks to the original guitar.
Images via comments. Additional images from DealExtreme. ...- Search DCEmu
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