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Monday, January 21, 2008

Nintendo's first-half game lineup for Wii and DS

wii video games,wii console,nintendo wii,
Game giant Nintendo promises at least 65 new Wii games and 80 new DS games in the first half of the year. First-party highlights from the release list include Advance Wars: Days of Ruin and Crosswords for DS, with Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, and Wii Fit headed to Nintendo's fifth-generation console.

Also included is a healthy dose of third-party games, something Nintendo platforms have historically struggled with, including Ninja Reflex from Electronic Arts, No More Heroes from Ubisoft, DeBlob from THQ, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts, and Okami from Capcom.

Notable DS games not made by Nintendo include Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Rings of Fate from Square Enix, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword from Tecmo, and Quick Yoga Training from Ubisoft.

Nintendo also confirmed the release of WiiWare sometime within the first half of the year. If you will remember WiiWare is Nintendo's downloadable games for the Wii videogame console. These games will be built specifically for the Wii and sold via the Wii Shop Channel for Wii Points currency, much like the Xbox 360- and Playstation 3-specific games being sold on Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Wii Mod Chips Review

Lately a lot of people have been asking me about mod chips and if they can be detected or which ones are best. So I decided to review a few of the well know Wii mod chips so maybe this will give anyone who is interested a little insight on the subject then you can make your own opinion on if a mod chip would be the best way to go for you.

I have to say these Wii mod chips are something fierce. In earlier posts I've written about the pros and cons of modding your wii and as I've stated before the choice is yours to make, you mod at your own risk. With that being said Nintendo has not banned anyone from online play because you have a modded Wii but there are risks you take if you decide to do so. One of those is you void your warranty if you crack open your wii console to install mod chips but if a person is determined to have something that won't stop you from doing what you want, I mean you paid for it, it's yours to do what ever you want to do with it. The good news for Nintendo Wii gamers is that regardless of which Nintendo Wii mod chip you buy - you'll have all the basics with each one.

You will be able to play all Nintendo Wii Backup games (on DVD-R or DVD+R discs) and can use 8cm or 12cm DVD discs. You will also be able to play all Gamecube Backup games, import games as well as Gamecube Homebrew games. It really gets down to installation of the Nintendo Wii Mod chip and the features and functions, and future upgrade options of each Wii mod chip.What is even more surprising with these new Nintendo Wii Mod chips is the prices that they're being sold for.

I remember the days of the very first Playstation 2 mod chips, costing in excess of $90.00 US Dollars. It seems the Wii chips have opted instead for a lower entry price, in an effort to gain a greater piece of the Homebrew / Development / Modchip market. The prices range anywhere from $44.00 to just over $50.00, depending on the chip you decide to buy. I'm going to cover three of the most popular of the mod chips in the hopes of enabling you, the gamer, to make the buying decision that's right for you. And after reading this post, I honestly believe that your decision will be based solely on price, and perhaps the option of an upgrade (or lack of) for the Wii Mod Chips.

CycloWiz Nintendo Wii Mod Chips

Coined the first High-Quality mod for your Wii, the CycloWiz is perhaps the easiest modchip to install on any system. The CycloWiz actually does not require you to solder any wires to the Wii mainboard. In fact, you'll simply use Quick Solder pads which are strategically placed in the design of the CycloWiz to enable you to simply position the chip on the Nintendo Wii Mainboard, and gently put some solder onto the points. This will make the required connections, and the chip will simply be installed. The CycloWiz is also a fully upgradeable modchip, with promised firmware updates for the chip from the manufacturer. You should however like the idea that the chip will not be outdated should some new function or requirement become the norm. Also incorporates an optional off feature and LED to let you know when your CycloWiz is on or off.

Features

UNIVERSAL Works on all Wii's
Easy Install (5 solder points / no wires required)
Stealth Mode to keep chip from ever being detected from current wii firmware
Play Both Wii and GC backups
Play GC homebrew and Imports
Built In Audiofix for GC backups
Multidisc GC Game support
Support 8Cm and 12cm Discs
Opotional Disable feature to turn your chip on and off
Multipurpose LED to let you know that your chip is on and working, if it has an error, or if it is off
DVD Firmware Upgrades available

WiiKey Nintendo Wii Modchip

The WiiKey for Nintendo Wii is made by the famous xenoGC team, responsible for the xenoGC Gamecube line of mod chips. The WiiKey comes ready to use, and offers an almost wireless installation. When they say almost wireless, what this essentially means is that there are Quick Solder pads for the chip. This method enables you to simply position the chip in the correct place on the Mother board of the Wii, in order to then apply a little bit of solder with a soldering iron. The WiiKey mod chip was the first chip that boasted full upgradeability through DVD-R discs to which you can burn / backup the new firmware updates, put The DVD in to your Nintendo Wii, and it will run and update the chip. Once again, the WiiKey also supports loading of both Wii and Gamecube backup games and import backup games. Original import games can be played as well, with a simple, single swap methos. Gamecube Homebrew games are also supported.

Features

Direct boot of NTSC Wii imports on NTSC consoles (no patch needed)
Direct boot of PAL Wii imports on NTSC consoles (no patch needed, partial compatibility)
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
Direct boot of different NTSC region Wii games/backups on US and JAP consoles
Supports DVD-R / true DVD+R and +RW support (no bitsetting required!)
Stealth mode
Improved readsettings for recordable media
Recovery mode - Can recover from a bad flash

Nintendo Wii D2CKey Mod Chip

The D2CKey is the newest and only mod chip on the market that supports the new Nintendo Wii consoles with the D2C Chipset. It's made by the same people behind the WiiKey.Utilizing a high speed Actel FPGA running at 350 MHz this chip is capable of what is known as Intelligent Code Modification(ICM)which will enable you to be presented with flawless booting of your homebrew and backups and status is shown with two on board LEDs. It also sports a Region Override function allowing you to play import games from other countries. That being said the installation is not for the faint of heart. You need to be prepared to solder 30 wires and 2 jumpers to be up and running with the D2CKey,thus it isn't designed for people with no soldering experience. If you decide on this mod chip it would be safe to let some one else install the chip for you if you have no expierience soldering.
Features

Compatible with DVD+-R, DVD+-RW and Dual-layer DVD (movies and GCOS)
Autoboot without configurations
Homebrew Compatible
NTSC/JAP Import Games Compatibility
GameCube Audio Fix
Improved read settings for recordable media
Does not modify RAM, making it virtually undetectable for the Wii
Full command set emulation
1st D2C Modchip

Friday, January 4, 2008

Remotely Control Music On Your PC With The Wiimote

This is an application that will allow you to use the Nintendo Wiimote as a remote control for your computer music collection. It works with iTunes, Winamp, Windows Media Player, Napster and VLC.
Many features such as Play/Pause, Next/Prev Track, Shuffle On/Off, and many more. Any button can be mapped to any feature. Plus the motion sensing is used. Shake the Wiimote to the right and the Next track is played. All from 50 feet away through walls and floors. Plus the program is free. You can check it out here .

These features are now also available:

added support for VLC
added support for Quintessential Player
added support for Media Player Classic
added support for Foobar2000
added function: Turn off PC
added function: Mouse controls

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Modded Wii and Online Game Play

If you have a Wii maybe you're familiar with modding or mod chips that allow you to play copied and imported games on your Wii console. If so you may be aware of the ongoing debate. To mod or not to mod that is the question is'nt it. May be I can provide some pros and cons of modding your Wii. First of all I pesonally haven't heard of anyone getting banned for playing a modded Wii online. Currently you can use a modded Wii online no problem but there is no telling when Nintendo will roll out an update and mass-ban modded consoles. Some modchips have an 'off' setting so you can go online with legit games but there is no telling what method they will use to detect mods.

PROS

there are modchips that can be turned "off "
as of now nintendo has not banned any one so far
you can play imported games
you can play copied games
enable the use of homebrews

CONS

possibly getting banned by nintendo
bricking your console
copyright laws
keeping up with what games you can play with a mod chip and which games you can not
every time nintendo updates it's firmware the chip may or may not continue to work

Bottom Line :

You mod your wii at your own risk just ask some xbox 360 owners that were banned by microsoft for using modded xbox 360s online. I don't know what method they used but the xbox 360 mod chip was a firmware modchip that could be detected by microsoft. But the wii mod chip is a drive modchip that supposedly transmit the data to the Wii in a way that the Wii reads it as being an official disc. That being said could Nintendo find out if your Wii has a modchip, probably. All they have to do is put one into a console and see how to detect it and then go hunting.The real question is rather, would they? The only argument suggesting Nintendo could do anything right now, is they could in fact track NTSC consoles playing PAL games or visa versa. So if you really want to mod your wii i'm certain there are plenty of places to do so but the best and legal way of playing copied games is to get some kind of software like Game Copy Pro like I do, then that way you don't need a mod chip anyway and you don't have to worry about when Nintendo starts craking down you wont get banned. Suggestions or comments are welcome.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Nintendo, Wii Have A Problem

If you are one of the many that’s been interested in buying a Nintendo Wii this holiday season then you are aware of just how difficult it has been to get one and people are capitalizing on that fact, and so are many retailers. Some retailers selling Wii bundles for as high as 650 dollars.While it is clearly fantastic news that Nintendo is selling out of Wii consoles around the world at such a fast rate, it also leaves some negative consequnces as the company is in the tricky position of not really being able to properly plan out the next few months of releases due to the lack of new systems available.
Additionaly Nintendo has been forced to pull ads for its Wii console because of the high demand.The company has said that the adverts for the console will be replaced by adverts for its handheld console, the Nintendo DS. A Nintendo spokesman is reported to have said: "We have been running the campaign all year round, but we want to take a responsible stance this Christmas and not fuel demand".
According to Nintendo production has been stepped up to 1.8 million units a month, however it has still not been able to meet the demand.The volume of searches for "nintendo wii" has increased 158% since November 2006, while searches for "wii" have increased by 278%.
One offer that may help thwart some of the high-priced console bundles and lets consumers buy a Nintendo Wii alone at suggested retail is the Wii rain check program offered by GameStop and Nintendo. Consumers wanting to buy a Nintendo Wii can stop by a local GameStop retailer and reserve a Wii for pick-up sometime before January 25. You will receive an empty game case with a slip inside that guarantees you a console, and GameStop will give you a call when it arrives.

wii

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Latest Wii Firmware Update

Nintendo Wii owners may notice a pulsing blue glow emanating from their tiny white consoles as updated system software and the latest updates from the wii shop have arrived.The latest Wii firmware update is geared towards this shopping season.

Now in the Wii Shop Channel, you can buy Virtual Console games and send them to your friends. With this new feature you can now spend your Wii Shop points on a Wii Shop item that you can have sent to a friend who have traded Friend Codes with you. If they got the game, the gift you sent will be bounced back so that you won’t waste your money. Worth to mention is that one of the new VC games, Pokemon Snap, allows players to post pictures that they have taken in the game to their Wii message board and share with friends. Also included in the update Photo Channel 1.1: Personalize the Photo Channel icon on your Wii menu, and replace MP3 music file support for AAC compatibility. A handful of minor visual changes to the Wii Shop Channel have also been added, but nothing worth scrambling to the internet for.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Wii Mod Chips Illegal?

Showing that they’re not one to be hacked with, Nintendo issued cease and desist notices to 16 German shops it believes are selling Wii mod chips. In addition, Nintendo is demanding the name of the mod chip manufacturer.I can understand why Nintendo may be concerned over mod chips serving more purpose than to merely play import titles on a given console or to backup existing games you own but the question I'm burning on is are the mod chips themselves illegal? I have searched and asked until I'm blue in the face and I can't find a black and white answer. Some say the mod chip it's self is legal but as soon as you place inside the console that's illegal, so if that's the case how is that Nintendo can crack down on chip manufacturers. I mean if the chip isn't installed what are the grounds for going after sellers and manufacturers.This is the statement on Nintendo's UK official site.

"Mod chips have been adjudicated to be illegal in various countries around the world, including the Unites States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Most European countries have also already adopted laws prohibiting the circumvention of technological measures for copyright protection. People caught installing or selling mod chips may be subject to criminal charges."

Mod chips are available for purchase now for about $40(£20)less than what you pay for the average video game. If Nintendo wants to stop these activies they better be in it for the long haul because as soon as they make manufacturing modifications that render the mod chips useles the sellers of the mod chips recognize the issue and work on their next work around. So in my opinion it's a complete waste of time for Nintendo. If anybody else has any thoughts on the topic please comment.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

How to Turn Your Wii Controller Into a Mouse

You may not know it, but if you have a Wii (and consequentially a Wii controller), you are using a Bluetooth-enabled device that is perfectly compatible with your computer if you know how to set it up. You can turn your Wiimote into a fully operational computer mouse just by following these quick and easy steps.

STEPS:

1. You are going to need a Bluetooth dongle if your computer is not Bluetooth enabled (and it probably isn't unless you have a laptop). Buy one of these first if you need one.

2. Connect and install your Bluetooth dongle on your computer.

3. Go to the following website to download the driver you'll need:

Windows -http://carl.kenner.googlepages.com/GlovePIE029.zip

Mac OSX - http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=183966 &package_id=214095&release_id=469783

Linux - http://www.wiili.org/index.php/WMD

4. Once installed, find a desktop icon called "My Bluetooth Spaces" or find a tiny "B" icon beside your computer clock and click that(You can also find another icon in "Start").

5. After that, click Bluetooth Setup.

6. Click "Next" and scroll down and click "Human Interface Device".

7. Then when it says "Searching Devices" press 1 and 2 on your Wiimote.

8. When it gets connected, finish the setup and your done!

9. With these steps, you can also play games and softwares for the controller.

Tips:

Make sure that your Bluetooth dongle is in range of the Wiimote (about 20-30 feet), otherwise you won't have a very effective or efficient mouse.
Be sure to check the default settings on the driver utility to configure the Wiimote mouse exactly as you would like it.
You might need a sensor bar on top of your screen or two lit up candles.

Coping Wii Games

Games can get scratched or lost or destroyed and if you're a gamer you know this already.So,what do you need to do to prevent this from happening? You make backups of your games, but this can be a time consuming and energy burning task. When I first decided to backup all my games I was told I had to download this application and install another application and it went on and on then to top it all off the disk wouldn't play. I knew it had to be a better more convenient way to things. When I came across Game Copy Pro I knew I had found the solution.Game Copy Pro allows users to copy virtually any video game. This includes PS2, Xbox, PSP, Wii, Gamecube, Gameboy, Gameboy Advanced, PC Games and more. It will show you how to backup virtually any video game using a CD, or DVD burner.This software even goes a step further by showing you step by step how these games will be played on your system as well.In many cases a person copies the games just fine but then cannot get them to play. This package has taught me how to make them work which is the whole point of doing it in the first place right? The fun doesn't stop there when you get access to Game Copy Pro you also get information and hacking tools for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Gamecube, PSP, Nintendo DS, Playstation, PS One, PS2, Xbox, Dreamcast, and Game Boy/GameBoy Advanced. You also get access to the Game Download database. You will have access to thousands of games ready for you to download and play on your game console.And best all you don't need a mod chip to play your copied games.I paid 29.95 for my membership ( which is a one time fee)and I haven't regretted doing it so far because if i'm unhappy with the service they offer a 60 day money back guarantee. If you're interested you can check it out here.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Black Friday Deals: Amazon.com

Still undecided on which deals to pounce on once Black Friday hits?How about some pretty nice video game deals that Amazon.com will soon unveil for this Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. Apparently some of these offers are good through "Cyber Monday," but most will sell out early on Friday anyway.What's more is that Amazon will be having a good number of Wii consoles in stock for the Friday madness. Of course, there's a good chance that they will be sold out as well, so be quick in making your decisions.

Here's a rundown of the deals we know of so far:

Halo 3 Legendary for Xbox 360 $79.99 ( save $50 )

Bioshock for Xbox 360 $39.99 ( save $20 )

Gears of War for Xbox 360 $39.99 ( save $20 )

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas Limited Edition for 360 $19.99 ( save $40 )

PlayStation 3 Sixaxis controller $19.99 ( save $30 )

DiRT for PS3 $29.99 ( save $30 )

Puzzle Quest for PSP $9.99 ( save $10 )

Gold Nintendo DS with Zelda $149.99

Pink Nintendo DS with Nintendogs $149.99

New York Times Crosswords for DS $9.99 ( half off )

World of Warcraft Battlechest for PC $19.99 ( save $20 )

World of Warcraft for PC $9.99 ( half off )

Select Wii Games $19.99

And many others with half off or more

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Wii Fit: Balanced Gaming

The active-play phenomenon started by Wii Sports now spreads to your whole body thanks to the pressure-sensitive Wii Balance Board (name not final), which comes packed with the Wii Fit Game. The Wii Balance Board is a Reebok Step look-alike, with dual sensors that can detect your weight and balance on each side as you exercise to the various on-screen Wii activities in Wii Fit.The board is used for an extensive array of fun and dynamic activities, including aerobics, yoga, muscle stretches and games.If you've had enough gaming, you can also have the Balance Board diagnose your body mass index.One of the games that will support the Wii Balance Board is Namco's upcoming Family Ski Game. It looks like the company had a change of heart, given they previously stated it would not be supporting the new peripheral. We imagine this will come as great news for those hoping to include this title in their workout regimen - it'll make a good complement to Wii Fit.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

The ThinkGeek WiiHelm

The Nintendo Wii has surely revolutionized gaming as we know it. Rabid fanboys everywhere are now flailing their arms in delight as they wield the Wiimote as a tennis racket, baseball bat or sword. Problem is the average gaming geek is just not up to the strenuous task of vigorous arm movement for longer than 10 minutes. This makes those extended play sessions a thing of the past... and who wants to beef up at the gym just to play video games on your couch? We sure don't.
Fortunately for cream puffs everywhere the WiiHelm is now available at ThinkGeek Electronics

Simply lock your existing Wiimote into the stylish white helmet and free your hands for relaxation... or other important tasks. After extensive scientific study it was found that manipulating muscles in your neck for 10 minutes uses 64% less energy than waving your arms about like a lunatic. The WiiHelm works great with all of your favorite Wii games and the included foot pedal allows easy button presses using minimal toe effort. Plus the amazing Wiimote Saf-T-Lok technology and double reinforced head strap save you thousands of dollars in damaged flat-screen repair charges.Find out What's New at ThinkGeek!