It's my console and I'll cry if I want to
Nintendo has released a new software update for its Wii console. Although, not in this case to dramatically increase its features and capabilities. It looks like the latest 3.4 update is designed with one single task in mind: locking out those pesky modders running dastardly third party homebrew software.
Not in my back yard
Nintendo may have nothing against third party software, per say, but it'll be darned if it'll let that stuff run willy nilly on its whiter than white Wii. Instead, all software that wants to run must be given the official nod by Nintendo and there are software checks in place to make sure everything has been properly sanctioned.
However, the cunning hackers - looking to make things like DVD playback possible - have found a chink or two in Nintendo's software armour. The current exploit involves using a specially modified game save file for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Once this has been loaded up, a bug in the game allows the hackers access to run their own software and then patch the system to remove the necessary checks.
You won't be needing these
The latest Wii update not only attempts to block this problem - which seems fair enough if you're on Nintendo's side on this - but also gives it permission to remove any unauthorised software from your console.
So that means that if you have already gone down this path, then by applying the update you also agree to Nintendo doing a bit of spring cleaning on your behalf - which seems a step too far. It's one thing trying to stop the modders, but cleaning up systems after the fact seems a little extreme.
If you're a Wii homebrew user, then you may want to hold off applying the latest update until the modders catch up and patch the problem. Which will probably be any day now.
Nintendo (via Nintendo Wii Fanboy)
Comments
Post new comment