Wii System Update 3.4 stomps on Homebrew
Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 at 8:00am by Will
Nintendo has issued a new system update today that (reportedly) deletes any custom channels you have installed via the homebrew channel. Along with any custom channel the update will also delete any tweaked save data like the Twilight Hack as well.
Homebrew community notice:
At this time, WiiBrew recommends that you do not update your Wii through Nintendo, as it disables some homebrew (DVDx, PatchMii). Recent reports suggest System Menu 3.4 removes all custom channels.
However, for non-homebrewers the channel is said to add enhances parental controls, USB keyboard support for Mii Channel, and other ’system functions have been improved’. Along with that Nintendo has also changed their service privacy policy for system updates.
UPDATES AND UPGRADES
We may without notifying you, download updates, patches, upgrades and similar software to your Wii Console and may disable unauthorized or illegal software placed on your Wii Console to ensure that your Wii Console is operating properly and efficiently, comply with applicable laws, assist law enforcement, protect us and our customers, or prevent the use and distribution of software obtained through improper channels.
Way to go Nintendo.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Could we just turn off WiiConnect 24, would that stop the auto updates?
November 18th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Resistance is futile…
November 18th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I had enough of the cheaters in mario kart. Please nintendo, fix it.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Yeah, I’m not big on the homebrew stuff. So, the latest Wii Update doesn’t bother me.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:16 am
beat dude!
November 18th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Does it give us something new or only take away the brew? I feel like updates should offer the owner more than just a security patch. The PSP gets these all the time and often nothing new and special is added to the system in return.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I don’t have any homebrew on my Wii, so this doesn’t affect me… but Nintendo’s new service privacy policy is pretty harsh.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Well, it has to be harsh. They gotta defend what’s theirs, right?
November 18th, 2008 at 10:28 am
When this updaes come up there is always a large group of people whining about Nintendo killing off the few “hardcore” that still support them. I just can’t get my head around the idea that modding a console supports Nintendo somehow or why I should care that Nintendo is stopping people from doing it. Can someone help me here? Or is homebrew really as unimportant as I think it is?
November 18th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I don’t have a problem with the terms of service – in fact, if they can update through WiiConnect24 without me having to do anything then I’d consider it beneficial – but pushing out updates without asking their permission first is sure to upset some people.
By the way:
Haven’t tried this yet, but another website (sorry – lost the link!) is reporting that SD transfers are MUCH faster. Their example: World of Goo copies over to an SD card in 30 seconds!! That’s a HUGE improvement over the old rates.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I’m another who doesn’t use homebrew or anything else. Basically the only thing I have on my wii are the basic channels, and a few Wiiware games. So I would have to say that this kind of update doesn’t bother me at all. I also don’t mind if Nintendo wants to send me stuff, even without asking me first. I don’t see them doing anything that will make my Wii work worse, so as far as I’m concerned they can have free access to my Wii (if they want to know how often I play Wiifit, more power to them). Hopefully they’ll keep updating me with useful or beneficial things that will make my Wii work better.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Well this sucks… BAD!
the HBC is my only way to play import games! Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is one perfect example of a title that will never make it to EU shores, so HBC is my day saver!
As for other HB, I don’t care as I usually use my old modded Xbox to run emus and medias!
November 18th, 2008 at 11:51 am
I don’t use Homebrew much, but I do use it some. I used it to install MPlayer, so that I could run a DVD lens cleaner on my Wii – saving me from replacing the lens or Wii altogether (if I were less handy). I can also use it as a media center now to play .mp3s and .avis. There’s a fair number of homebrew games (asteroids, pong, quake and some customs).
I have seen cheat programs, but they look like they work pretty much as Action Replay does – and I’m not sure they work online. Maybe I’m just not looking, though.
There’s really very little “piracy” problem with homebrew. Waninkoko’s backup loader died almost as soon as it was released. A good portion of the homebrew community was against it, anyway, because they figured it’d force Nintendo’s hand to release a patch to block the Homebrew Channel… which they have now. Other than the loader, there are some emulators which could cut into the Virtual Console profits. That’s a lame argument, though, as the number of people running homebrew to run emulators and would buy VC content if they had to (instead of playing their emulator on the GC/PC/DS/PSP/whatever) has to be a ridiculously small fraction of N’s actual VC profits.
If you can’t tell, I’m bummed about this – not heartbroken, but bummed. The community has done things that Nintendo should have done like let the Wii play DVDs and provide media player support. I can understand why N has done it (backup loader), but I’m still bummed.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
“USB keyboard support for Mii Channel”??
Where the heck do you use the keyboard on the Mii Channel??
November 18th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
@ Gunder:
Weren’t World of Goo downloads supposedly 90% pirate copies/unpaid downloads? Maybe that has something to do with it…
As for the update, i noticed the Wii and most channels run more smoothly.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Oh and one more thing:
AUTO UPDATES, WOOT! haha
November 18th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
like Paolo, I lost the use of my freeloader with an update a while ago, HBC is the only way I can play my imported games, I won’t be doing this update, not until there’s a work around so I can keep that. I’ll sacrifice SD transfer speed for the ability to play games, thanks anyway ninty.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
@droop4
World of Goo was also released on PC without DRM – hence the high rates of piracy.
November 18th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
@ InvisibleMan
I guess when you name your Mii?
November 18th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Doesn’t matter with imported games; I can’t purchase them so I have no use at all with HBC: plus I want my Wii to be legit.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:22 am
No offense to anyone out there, but this is just plane stupid. You would all be complaining if Ford stopped you from modifying your car in any way…(just to make sure the car worked properly) so whats the difference here? I support Nintendo all out. I have owned every system they have made (except Virtual Boy) and I don’t use home brew, but it’s my Wii, I paid for it and I should have the right to mod it if I want.
I’m just sick and tired of losing my rights to big companies a little bit at a time.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Yes, I am an idiot. Plain not plane.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:38 am
@whataboutki
The difference is that Nintendo makes money from secondary sales (games) that are impacted by these modifications. It’d be kindof like if OPEC started a car company and said you couldn’t modify your car.
The idea is that you couldn’t modify your car to get more MPG, thus not infringing on their secondary profits from gas, but it ruins the whole modding scene of hydrolics, horsepower tweaks, multimedia systems, etc. while the reality is that very few people know how and care to modify their car to get higher MPG – much like few people know how or care to go through all the homebrew loader business to load the select games that work.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Automatically updating a Wii without my consent is a big no no, if it’s an option (like on a computers OS update) then cool, but automatically installing software that may interfere how I use my own property is outlandish.
I don’t use homebrew, but regardless it’s not on.
The biggest tool against piracy is to offer compelling prices, something console manufacturers are pretty opposed to.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:40 am
i’m 99% sure that updates with out consent are illegal
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I actually don’t care for the updates, and not because of Home Brew Channel functionality being hampered. I don’t have the means of getting Home Brew Channel on my Wii so I could care less, plus I don’t see how letting people play pirated content on their system is beneficial to anyone. The parties that werre involved in making a PSone game made to run on Wii doesn’t get the money for it, that’s not cool, it’s the same with movies, books, and music. But I don’t like the updates as they’ve been stupid.
1) Keyboard support on the Mii Channel. WTF?! The only time you need the keyboard on the Mii channel is to type your Mii’s name. I don’t even bother with a keyboard to send wiimail to my friends.
2) It seems that they’re constantly updating the parantel contols. How many times do you have to revise such a simple program Nintendo?
I actually don’t mind the auto updates though. Well I’m pretty sure that they’ll send the update in wiimail form and the letter has the installer in there for you so it takes less time, sorta like when downloading an update for the PSP. You download the installer. You can install the firmware at any time you just have to select that option. That’s what I think Nintendo will do. But as long as it’s only minor updates like their never ending quest to perfect parental controls.