Update 10/27: Actually, you do have a choice -- in two days flat, the homebrew community has defeated Nintendo's dastardly update.
Five months ago, Nintendo released "Wii Menu Update 3.3," an attack on the Wii homebrew and import communities masquerading as a functionality improvement, where the only added functionality was the ability to drag and drop a Mii from the Mii Plaza to the Mii Parade. Then, the choice was clear: BOYCOTT.
Today, Nintendo is at it again with a new Wii Shop Channel update -- but this time, there is no choice. If you want to ever purchase another Virtual Console or WiiWare title, you have to download the latest update... and face the consequences.
As in Wii Menu Update 3.3, the new Wii Shop Channel update provides laughably little in the way of new functionality. The improvements in the U.S. are limited to a new button on Wii Shop Channel items labeled "View Compatible Controllers," that -- as you might expect -- allows users to see which controllers are compatible with a particular game.
Here's a brief video demonstrating this must-have technology:
According to NeoGAF (via GoNintendo), the Japanese release has slightly more -- since Wii Points will be known as Nintendo Points following the November 1st release of the DSi, the new Shop Channel update changes wording accordingly throughout. That's it.
While the full extent of Nintendo's behind-the-scenes changes has not yet been determined, reports from the community indicate that existing homebrew is fine, but the update will now block new installations of the Homebrew Channel and other such applications. Once again, you can read my thoughts on why this is a bad thing here.
For the technically oriented, Wiimpersonator has a report of exactly what Nintendo has changed with this latest release. I think. It's all Greek to me.
Update 10/27: Actually, you do have a choice -- in two days flat, the homebrew community has defeated Nintendo's dastardly update.
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I can't really blame them for wanting to stop homebrew. Most homebrew apps are fine, but a lot of people (I'm not going to give a guess as to the real number, but I'd wager a large chunk of them) use it for such things as emulators and pirating Virtual Console/WiiWare games. Not to mention the fact that there's a "backup" loader in the works.
I'm thinking it'll be another 20 minutes before those tricky homebrew experts come up with a work-around anyway.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Crap.
Barring the homebrew folks making a breakthrough, there goes my plans of playing an imported Tatsunoko vs. Capcom.
January 14th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
This is something that will be overcome like Roto13 said in about 20 minutes. Homebrew is the best thing the wii's seen since it came out. Nintendo should be paying Twiizers and Wiigator imo to be helping them block these things they are obviously smarter than the programmers nintendo currently has it took nintendos crew 3 months to come up with the security for the wee and twiizers and wiigater 2 days to break it. I wouldnt own a wii if it wasnt for the homebrew channel i'm sure there's many others that would say the same thing so if you think about it nintendo is making some money off it....who knows. Oh the backup launcher is already out.