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Wii Update 3.3 Defeats Twilight Hack, Freeloader

Richter X writes "The newest update to the Nintendo Wii's Menu, version 3.3, contains code specifically designed to find and kill the popular Twilight Hack used by homebrewers to play unauthorized code on the Wii. The update also prevents the Freeloader software used to play imported games on the Wii. However, it does not seem to affect the Homebrew Channel in Wiis that already have it installed. The updated code is currently being researched in order to find what code has been changed. So far it has been confirmed that Nintendo included specific instructions to target the Twilight Hack. Work is also being done to update the Twilight Hack in order to bypass this new code."

5 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. What about modders? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    For those of us who have a modchip (and haven't added homebrew yet) what's the deal? I'm new to this and want to add homebrew, but not sure if I need to find a copy of Zelda and install that way, or if because of my chip (D2pro9), I'm okay to install anyways. There's seems to be a lack of information for people with chips wanting to do homebrew.

  2. Fuck NoE by KDR_11k · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Yeah, disable the Freeloader. Can't have Europeans get games for 33% cheaper and months earlier, can you? Everyone, bend over!

    I recall something about the developer promising updated Freeloader versions for free if your version gets obsoleted by the Firmware, anyone know if that's true?

    --
    Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  3. Piracy by Gogo0 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Mind that this *likely* has less to do with homebrew and more to do with the ability to pirate virtual console titles, which is trivial to do at this point.

    That said, there is some cool stuff being done with the virtual console files (wads). You can inject normal roms into the wad file and play games that nintendo hasnt yet released (or never will) on the virtual console. That said, its a lot easier to simply play the roms in an emulator on the homebrew channel...

    Personally, I dont condone the VC piracy, but nintendo wont allow me to purchase and play Dracula X: Rondo of Blood on the VC (because i have a USA wii and the game was only released on the JPN VC), so i 'had' (yes, i can live without it) to grab the wad, region-free it, and install it on my USA wii to play.

    Lastly, there are already workarounds that have been found, though not yet released. Apparently this fix against the twilight hack was so specific in its implementation it will only break this *exact* exploit. It still isnt a good idea to update you wii right now, but this is more interesting a development (that this was the primary reason for the patch) than a show-stopper.

  4. At least it's not bricked... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Normally I'm against companies attempting to limit what I do with my hardware, but here I don't really see the problem. It's not like Nintendo completely bricked my Wii when I used the Twilight Hack after updating.

    And to the "they force the patches in the games" people, quit your bitching. You don't have to download the patch. You are welcome to use your hardware as you please, now your bitching that you can't use a piece of software on an unsupported platform.

    If it means that much to you get a second one to just play on. Unless you really think Nintendo is obligated to support our hacks. I don't think they are, in fact, I'm overjoyed that I don't now have a completely useless bricked piece of hardware since i updated.

  5. Nothing in the previous OS by Moryath · · Score: 2, Interesting

    would have prevented Mario Kart from running except for a little "check for OS version X" flag.

    It was Nintendo's way of trying to force updates.

    I call foul.