Wii MODCHIPs - Nintendo Wii MOD-CHIPs

Wii MODCHIPs - Nintendo Wii MOD-CHIPs

A modification chip or modchip is a device used to play import discs, backup dvd-r/ dvd-rw, or homebrew game roms and/or circumvent the digital rights management of many game consoles, including the Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Wii. Almost all modern console gaming systems have hardware-based schemes which ensure that only officially sanctioned games (whose producers pay licensing fees) may be used with the system and implement country and regional lockout similar to the scheme used in DVD movies. The specific technical nature of these DRM systems varies by system, and may include cryptographic signing (Xbox), intentionally unreadable sectors (PlayStation), custom optical media (Nintendo Wii, Dreamcast), or some combination thereof. Modchips are available also for some DVD players and PSP PlayStation Portable, to defeat region code enforcement and user operation prohibitions.

Why You need a Wii Mod-Chip:

Play all reagion DVD movies on your Wii Console
Launch copied / backup GameCube mini DVDs
Play free roms on Wii Virtual Console
Use unlicensed homebrew applications and games
Modchips typically require some level of technical ability to install. Most commonly, wii modchips must be soldered on to a console's motherboard, although there are no-solder install kits (which instead rely on the precise positioning of electrical contacts within the case) which work with some revisions of hardware.

Nintendo Wii Mod Chips
Contrary to popular belief Nintendo Wii uses standard DVDs with a modified filesystem for game storage. Nintendo Wii modchip called Viper was released in December of 2006. There is a moded hacked BIOS available for the Viper called Cobra that allows the user to directly boot a back-up or homebrew game on a 3-inch DVD-R inserted in the Nintendo Wii's optical drive . Like most console mod-chips, it attempts to avoid legal complications by including no code which circumvents copy protection or is copyrighted by Nintendo. It has some on-board flash memory which allows the user to write small programs to it (.DOLs). Removing the Nintendo Wii's external case or installing a custom replacement allows the user to boot standard 5-inch DVD-R discs as well, but the positioning of the drive's laser renders only the first 1.4GB of capacity usable. Previously the only common way to run user code on the Nintendo Wii was to use a LAN Adapter combined with a security hole in Phantasy Star Online. More recent (v1.0+) versions of Cobra no longer require an original disc for authentication purposes. TMBinc released an open source IPL replacement for NGC, which allow anyone to produce is own IPL replacement (modchip for NGC). The Cobra software works, after an original disc is authenticated, by resetting the disc drive and unlocking a debug mode which allows code to be sent to the drive and executed. This code stops the disc drive for a few seconds, allowing the user to swap in a non-original disc. Alternatively, the DuoWii and XenoWii are available. They don't have the features of the Viper, but do allow booting of homebrew programs such as SNES and burnt games.

Alternatives to Modchips
Mod chips are not entirely necessary if you wish to try a different approach, such as WiiLoader, HD Advance and/or Wii Independence Exploit, because it allows the user to install a hard drive, and copy the contents of original game DVD discs to this hard drive. At this point you no longer require the original DVD or even a modchip to play the games from the hard drive installed into the Wii. By using M.R. Browns Wii Independence Exploit, one can store the HD Loader executable (or any other homebrew code) on the memory card, trigger the exploit and load the copied games without using a burned disc. For more information on what games work with HD Advance, check out the checklist Compatibility lists.
Wii MOD CHIP - Viper Wii
Wii ModChips. Viper Wii. Copy Wii Disc to DVD-R backup. WiiLoader.

Viper Wii Extreme is the high end version of the acclaimed Viper Wii chip. It is compatible with all Wii's and only requires 4 wires to be installed. It features bi-directional USB streaming and 16Mbit flash. With Viper Wii Extreme you can backup your software without extra Hardware. It includes the Viper Wii Extreme chip AND the USB adapter!
The very best product money can buy on Nintendo Gamecube.

Viper Wii is the world's first amateur coding module for NWii. A high speed parallel port programmer is provided along with the FFC cable to connect to the Viper Wii. The viper Wii's tailored PC application will enable users to transfer code via their PC Parallel port. Onboard flash memory allows users to boot Homebrew applications, loaders or BIOS'. A high speed parallel port programmer is provided along with the FFC cable to connect to the Viper Wii main module. An intuitive PC application has been authored to facilitate easy transfer of BIOS', loaders or Homebrew applications to the flash memory.

Why You need a Wii Mod-Chip:

Play all reagion DVD movies on your Wii Console
Launch copied / backup GameCube mini DVDs
Play free roms on Wii Virtual Console
Use unlicensed homebrew applications and games
The Nintendo GameCube Optical Disc is the media format used by the Nintendo GameCube and Nintendo Wii. The disc is a proprietary version of the eight centimeter DVD (MiniDVD) format. The capacity of the disc is 1.5 GB. Some games which contain large amounts of voice acting or pre-rendered video (for example, Tales of Symphonia) have been released on two discs; however, fewer than two dozen titles have been released on two discs, and no games have required a third disc. Manufactured by Matsushita, parent company of Panasonic.

Copy Wii Disc to DVD-R backup

Nintendo Wii Has the folowing drive features:

512 MB built-in flash memory
Expansion available via SD card memory and USB mass storage
Slot-loading disc drive compatible with:
12cm Wii optical disc (4.7 GB Single layer or 8.5 GB Dual Layer)
8cm GameCube optical disc
DVD Video (optional additional purchase)
Mask ROM by Macronix
Wii Mask ROM refers to a kind of ROM (read-only memory) whose contents are programmed by the IC manufacturer. In other words, it is not a user-programmable ROM. Since the process is costly, mask ROM is used when the needed volume is high and it is absolutely certain that the contents will not change.It is common practice to use UV-EPROM for the development phase of a project, and only after the code/data have been finalized is mask ROM ordered.The main advantage of mask ROM is its cost, since it is significantly cheaper than other kinds of ROM, but if an error in the data/code is found, the entire batch must be thrown away.

Wii / GC Disc Drive
The GameCube drive is also designed and manufactured by Matsushita Electric for use with the GameCube. The drive is unique in that it reads from the outside of the disc towards the middle. Some earlier and later revisions of the GameCube consoles did develop disc read problems with the optical pickup becoming thermal sensitive over time, causing read errors when the console reached normal operating temperature. Failures of this sort require replacement of the optical pickup. Affected consoles had sometimes been serviced free of charge by Nintendo even after the expiration of the warranty period.

A common misconception about the GameCube optical drive is that it spins the discs in reverse (counter-clockwise) from normal disc drives (which spin clockwise). The peculiarity of this rumor is that one need only open the disc tray on an operating GameCube to see that the disc clearly spins clockwise as it slows to a halt.

Why You need a Wii Mod-Chip:

Play all reagion DVD movies on your Wii Console
Launch copied / backup GameCube mini DVDs
Play free roms on Wii Virtual Console
Use unlicensed homebrew applications and games
The Nintendo GameCube Optical Disc is the media format used by the Nintendo GameCube and Nintendo Wii. The disc is a proprietary version of the eight centimeter DVD (MiniDVD) format. The capacity of the disc is 1.5 GB. Some games which contain large amounts of voice acting or pre-rendered video (for example, Tales of Symphonia) have been released on two discs; however, fewer than two dozen titles have been released on two discs, and no games have required a third disc. Manufactured by Matsushita, parent company of Panasonic.

Nintendo has stated that the Wii will be backward compatible with all GameCube software and most peripherals. This backwards compatibility is achieved through a set of ports on top of the console concealed by a panel. There are four GCN controller ports and two GCN memory card slots as there were on the GameCube itself, so the GameCube microphone should be compatible, as well as the DK Bongos and the GameCube-Game Boy Advance cable.[1] There is no indication that the Wii has the high-speed port of the original GameCube, which means that unless otherwise indicated, the Game Boy Player (which required this port) will not be compatible with the Wii.

Wii Mod-Chips : WiiLOADER

WiiLoader uses proprietary technology to enable your Nintendo Wii to play import games from any other region. Using WiiLoader you can now, for example, easily play U.S. games on a European Nintendo Wii console, or play Japanese games on a U.S. console.
• Launch and play imported Nintendo Wii games from any region
• No need to modify your console - keeps your warranty intact
• Play US and Japanese games on a PAL GameCube
• Play PAL games on a US or Japanese Nintendo Wii
• Fast and easy to use

Why You need a Wii Mod-Chip:

Play all reagion DVD movies on your Wii Console
Launch copied / backup GameCube mini DVDs
Play free roms on Wii Virtual Console
Use unlicensed homebrew applications and games
- Can you give an example of the type of media (DVD-r/+r) that can be used for this? Can you buy a burnable mini-dvd and if so where? If not, do we need to modify the case to allow for a full size dvd?

Both mini and full size DVD-R and DVD+R media work. Mini-dvd media is a lot more expensive than full size media, and usually less reliable. An example of working mini-dvd media are TDK 2x 1.4GB DVD-R. An example of working full size dvd media are Phillips 8x 4.7GB DVD-R and DVD+R. In order to use full sized media you need to remove the top cover of your cube, or buy a replacement case. A dremel is also an option for some people...

- What about DVD-RW or DVD+RW media?

The laser pot needs to be adjusted to be able to read DVD+/-RW media, and is only reported to work on some cubes.


http://www.wii-modchips.com/