Reminder: Wii Shop Channel is Closing Completely in 2 Days

[Lawfer]

This is the last chance to download The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword dedicated channel to patch your game from 1.00 to 1.02, or to redownload your already purchased titles.

[BazookaBen]

This is the last chance to download The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword dedicated channel to patch your game from 1.00 to 1.02, or to redownload your already purchased titles.

Did they actually say they were going to remove the ability to download on the 30th as well? I thought that was just for purchases, and downloads would be ended "at a later date".

I had 500 points left so I got Alex Kidd for Master System. Not a lot I could do with 500 points, so I figure I'd explore a console I've never played before.

[theclaw]

Redownloading was announced to be ending, without a date.

[Lawfer]

I thought that was just for purchases, and downloads would be ended "at a later date".

That's true, however you have things mixed up a little since the 30th IS "the later date", the ability to purchase was removed a long time ago already.

The only way to patch Zelda Skyward Sword is to download the dedicated channel from the shop and that's closing on the 30th, you can still buy games ONLY if you have any money left on your account, if you don't then you can not buy anything since they removed the option to add money ("points") to your account some time ago.

Also some games had had patches released and you can patch them by having a connection to the internet when you insert the disc in the console (Skyward Sword is the only games that get patched differently), list of games with patches:

Cake Mania - In the Mix!
Disney Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End
Deca Sports
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Harvest Moon - Tree of Tranquility
Iron Man
Just Dance 3
LEGO Indiana Jones 2 - The Adventure Continues
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean - The Video Game
LEGO Star Wars - The Complete Saga
LEGO Star Wars III - The Clone Wars
Mario Party 8
Metroid: Other M
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Order Up!
Rayman - Raving Rabbids 2
Skylanders - Swap Force
Super Paper Mario
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

However I don't know if the fact that the shop is closing on the 30th means that patches will be taken offline as well, though the fact that all streaming services are ending as well as the fact closing might indicate that the Wii could be going completely offline on the 30th, so if you have any games that you need patched you probably should do it now.

[headlesshobbs]

I thought Other M was only patchable by sending the disk back?

[Lawfer]

I thought Other M was only patchable by sending the disk back?

You could do that too, Metroid Other M is one of the few games with patches (together with Skyward Sword) that did not receive a pre-patched reprint, meaning all the discs out there sold in retail are only 1.00 (even though the latest version is 1.01).

[Ikaruga11]

Thanks for the heads up, Lawfer.

I still vividly remember unwrapping my original launch Nintendo Wii and Twilight Princess (Wii) on early Christmas morning back in 2006. It was truly a magical day for me as I set up my Wii on the upstairs bedroom CRT and played Twilight Princess for the first time. I was absolutely in love with the game and spent the duration of my Christmas vacation playing it before returning to school on January 3rd, 2007. My very first download from the Wii Shop Channel was the Internet Channel, which I downloaded for free on February 10th, 2007. The first Virtual Console game I downloaded was Paper Mario for the Nintendo 64, which I bought and downloaded on July 24th, 2007, a few days after returning from a week-long vacation at Myrtle Beach. All of those moments I will always remember. Since then I have downloaded countless Virtual Console games from various platforms such as Nintendo 64, SNES, NES, WiiWare, Sega Genesis, Sega Master System, Neo-Geo, TurboGrafx-16, Virtual Console Arcade, etc., along with many WiiWare games as well.

On March 26th, 2018, I added around 40,000 Wii Points ($400) to my Red 25th Anniversary Wii and 5,000 Wii Points ($50) to my original White launch Wii, mere hours before the ability to purchase Wii Points was removed. 20,000 of those Wii Points on my Red Wii were spent that day on a massive plethora of Virtual Console/WiiWare games and WiiWare DLC, while saving the other 20,000 for dates of various significance throughout the year. As it stands right now, I still have 2000 Wii Points left on my Red 25th Anniversary Wii and 500 Wii Points left on my original White launch Wii. I plan on spending them all on January 30th, 2019 on NES, Sega Master System and WiiWare games. You see, I currently have 99 full pages on my Red Wii's Account Activity, and those last four games will push it 100 full pages. Meanwhile, my White Wii will have exactly 25 full pages on it's Account Activity with the download of one last Virtual Console game: Mario Bros. for NES. In all, I've spent $1740 USD (174,000 Wii Points) on my Red Wii and $250 USD (20,000 Wii Points) on my White Wii. The Wii Shop Channel was my first introduction to digital distribution.


It's really sad to the Wii Shop Channel shut down, but it was inevitable.

[Lawfer]

Did you get Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth? What about Mega Man 9 and 10?

[Ikaruga11]

This is the last chance to download The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword dedicated channel to patch your game from 1.00 to 1.02, or to redownload your already purchased titles.

I've already downloaded the The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Save Data Update Channel on every Wii that I own, along with the Internet Channel, Wii U Transfer Tool (not that I'll ever use it since the Wii U lacks 240p output), the updated Photo Channel and everything else.

Did they actually say they were going to remove the ability to download on the 30th as well? I thought that was just for purchases, and downloads would be ended "at a later date".
I had 500 points left so I got Alex Kidd for Master System. Not a lot I could do with 500 points, so I figure I'd explore a console I've never played before.

The deadline to add Wii Points was March 26th, 2018 at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.
The deadline to use Wii Points to purchase games and DLC is January 30th, 2019 (Wednesday) at 10:00 PM Pacific Time.
The deadline to re-download purchased titles and/or transfer them to the Wii U was originally set to be at a later date this year, but it seems that Nintendo has relegated that to the 30th as well.

You could do that too, Metroid Other M is one of the few games with patches (together with Skyward Sword) that did not receive a pre-patched reprint, meaning all the discs out there sold in retail are only 1.00 (even though the latest version is 1.01).

Mario Kart Wii is another game that never received any updates and all copies are 1.0

Did you get Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth? What about Mega Man 9 and 10?

Yes to all three, along with the DLC of Mega Man 9 and 10. I actually bought all of Konami's ReBirth series WiiWare games.

[BazookaBen]

The deadline to re-download purchased titles and/or transfer them to the Wii U was originally set to be at a later date this year, but it seems that Nintendo has relegated that to the 30th as well.

Where'd you read this? The only official thing I've read is "later date"

Anyway, I'm glad it's so easy to install WAD's and launch them with homebrew, so we don't lose these games forever.

[Link83]

The only way to patch Zelda Skyward Sword is to download the dedicated channel from the shop and that's closing on the 30th

The Zelda Skyward Sword channel just fixes your save data if you encounter the game-breaking bug that prevented you from progressing any further if you had completed certain areas/tasks in a specific order - its not actually a 'patch' in the traditional sense, as it doesnt patch the game in any way. The channel simply corrects your save data to allow you to continue the game. Another option Nintendo provided was to mail in an SD card with your save file for them to fix and return.

You could do that too, Metroid Other M is one of the few games with patches (together with Skyward Sword) that did not receive a pre-patched reprint, meaning all the discs out there sold in retail are only 1.00 (even though the latest version is 1.01).

I dont know about Other M, but Skyward Sword definitely received pre-patched reprints - at least in the US. The 1.02 version has the code "RVL-SOUE-0A-2" on the disk as mentioned here:-
https://forums.dolphin-emu.org/Thread-w ... #pid341001
Also the Wii U eShop release uses the pre-patched version (which may also be the case for Other M, even if it didnt see a retail release)

Also some games had had patches released and you can patch them by having a connection to the internet when you insert the disc in the console (Skyward Sword is the only games that get patched differently), list of games with patches:

Cake Mania - In the Mix!
Disney Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End
Deca Sports
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Harvest Moon - Tree of Tranquility
Iron Man
Just Dance 3
LEGO Indiana Jones 2 - The Adventure Continues
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean - The Video Game
LEGO Star Wars - The Complete Saga
LEGO Star Wars III - The Clone Wars
Mario Party 8
Metroid: Other M
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Order Up!
Rayman - Raving Rabbids 2
Skylanders - Swap Force
Super Paper Mario
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

However I don't know if the fact that the shop is closing on the 30th means that patches will be taken offline as well, though the fact that all streaming services are ending as well as the fact closing might indicate that the Wii could be going completely offline on the 30th, so if you have any games that you need patched you probably should do it now.

AFAIK no Wii games had actual downloadable patches as the Wii system software simply didnt support it?
Have you got any more information about these downloadable patches? I googled this list and found no more info.

<EDIT> Do you perhaps mean that these games received updated revisions with later disk reprints? Thats the only conclusion I can come up with, but even then this list is incomplete.

[Extrems]

AFAIK no Wii games had actual downloadable patches as the Wii system software simply didnt support it?
Have you got any more information about these downloadable patches? I googled this list and found no more info.

There wasn't any support at all, unless you're Dragon Quest X.

[Austin]

I thought that was just for purchases, and downloads would be ended "at a later date".

That's true, however you have things mixed up a little since the 30th IS "the later date", the ability to purchase was removed a long time ago already.

The ability to add funds to an account was removed a long time ago. The ability to actually purchase items with said funds, is what is ending now.

[Lawfer]

I thought that was just for purchases, and downloads would be ended "at a later date".

That's true, however you have things mixed up a little since the 30th IS "the later date", the ability to purchase was removed a long time ago already.

The ability to add funds to an account was removed a long time ago. The ability to actually purchase items with said funds, is what is ending now.

Yes I explained it in more details after the part you quoted, but being unable to add points is pretty much preventing you from purchasing also. Like, I'd like to buy Castlevania, but I can't since I have 0 points and can't add any.

The Zelda Skyward Sword channel just fixes your save data if you encounter the game-breaking bug that prevented you from progressing any further if you had completed certain areas/tasks in a specific order - its not actually a 'patch' in the traditional sense, as it doesnt patch the game in any way. The channel simply corrects your save data to allow you to continue the game. Another option Nintendo provided was to mail in an SD card with your save file for them to fix and return.

That's what I originally though, however, even if you just launch the game and 2 minutes in you create a save file, quit the game and then run the Skyward Sword channel, it will go ahead and update the game by downloading the "patch" for you, so it does seem that somehow it updates your game to version 1.02. Maybe since the patch is quite big, Nintendo wanted to be sure that you actually have the game before downloading the patch? I know it's quite big (in terms of Wii sizes).

I dont know about Other M, but Skyward Sword definitely received pre-patched reprints - at least in the US. The 1.02 version has the code "RVL-SOUE-0A-2" on the disk as mentioned here:-
https://forums.dolphin-emu.org/Thread-w ... #pid341001

I see, I checked a few different ebay listings couple days ago, but didn't see any pre-patched copies, pre-patched copies must be somewhat rare then, from the looks of it, it seems that most of the copies out there are first print. I think that only Canada or UAE got reprints in 2012+ though? USA all seems to be first prints from the looks of it. Or if it's like with Metroid Other M, these 1.02 discs might not be available at retail but only provided by Nintendo as a replacement disc? I managed to get most of my games with a pre-patched disc, save for Metroid Other M and Skyward Sword.

[Lawfer]

I dont know about Other M, but Skyward Sword definitely received pre-patched reprints - at least in the US. The 1.02 version has the code "RVL-SOUE-0A-2" on the disk as mentioned here:-
https://forums.dolphin-emu.org/Thread-w ... #pid341001

Yep just checked, I have version 1.00, same for Metroid: Other M and Skyward Sword and Donkey Kong Country Returns I have version 1.01 (version 1.02 seem kinda rare, at least in USA).

An interesting thing is that the only games that seem to get patches/updates seem to be titles published by Nintendo, another interesting thing is that pre-patched discs on Wii U seem to be far less common than it was on the Wii, like so far the only Wii U game that I have found to have gotten a pre-patched disc at retail is Yoshi's Woolly World.

[Ikaruga11]

Does anyone know if the North American Wii Shop Channel operates on Pacific Time or Eastern Time? The Wii Shop Channel will close for me on Thursday, January 31st, 2019 at 1:00 AM EST. I am trying to get my final downloads to show January 31st on my Account Activity page, and was wondering if the North American Wii Shop Channel uses Pacific or Eastern time for Account Activity.

I know the European Wii Shop Channel closes on Thursday, January 31st, 2019 at 6:00 AM UTC, and so it's possible for people witha PAL Wii to get January 31st, 2019 as their final download date.

[BazookaBen]

https://twitter.com/mahadopower/status/ ... 80960?s=19

After I spent my last 500 Wii points, I stayed in the menu another 10 minutes with my HiFi Man HE400i's to enjoy that sweet latin jazz track one more time

[bigbadboaz]

Luckily, the theme song lives on on YouTube and elsewhere. I've used it, fittingly, in the background on my SNES Classic.

[Ikaruga11]

The Wii Shop Channel is still up. It looks like Nintendo just removed the ability to use Wii Points. So you can still re-download all of your purchased games, along with the Photo Channel v1.1, Skyward Sword Save Channel and Wii U Transfer Channel until that unannounced later date if you haven't grabbed those already.

The main page uses images now for the Virtual Console and WiiWare sections. I took a bunch of photographs and videos, which I will share later this morning.

[Link83]

That's what I originally though, however, even if you just launch the game and 2 minutes in you create a save file, quit the game and then run the Skyward Sword channel, it will go ahead and update the game by downloading the "patch" for you, so it does seem that somehow it updates your game to version 1.02. Maybe since the patch is quite big, Nintendo wanted to be sure that you actually have the game before downloading the patch? I know it's quite big (in terms of Wii sizes).

Hmm thats interesting, I found a video showing the process:-
https://youtu.be/ciswKdxkxJk?t=206
Not only does it require a 37 block download, but once your save is 'fixed' if you delete your Wii Shop Channel account then your Skyward Sword save will also be deleted

Note:
Please be aware that if you delete your Wii Shop Channel account after you have used this channel to perform the update, your save data for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will also be deleted.

I still very much doubt that this channel downloads any game patch/update in any way, the download is still just a method to patch the save data - not the game itself. My guess is this download includes some sort of small 37 block program that patches the save file (on the fly?) and that this small program uses a console specific key generated by your Wii Shop Channel account - hence if you delete your Wii Shop Channel account the program doesn't work anymore and neither will your Skyward Sword save file. Just a theory of course - I wonder if anyone has actually looked into how the Skyward Sword channel technically works...

I see, I checked a few different ebay listings couple days ago, but didn't see any pre-patched copies, pre-patched copies must be somewhat rare then, from the looks of it, it seems that most of the copies out there are first print. I think that only Canada or UAE got reprints in 2012+ though? USA all seems to be first prints from the looks of it. Or if it's like with Metroid Other M, these 1.02 discs might not be available at retail but only provided by Nintendo as a replacement disc? I managed to get most of my games with a pre-patched disc, save for Metroid Other M and Skyward Sword.

I'm guessing you need to look for a copy of Skyward Sword with a cover thats missing the "25th Anniversary" logo, like the one on the right in this picture:-
http://i.imgur.com/joUSZO6.jpg
Its likely the logo was removed as it was pressed in 2012 or later, so it was no longer the 25th Anniversary.

Note that it seems the USA 1.00 version is the only revision that contains the Ancient Cistern glitch used by speedrunners:-
http://zelda.speedruns.com/ss/dungeon/ancient-cistern
The EUR/JPN 1.00 versions appear to already have this glitch fixed, like the USA 1.01 revision.
The EUR/JPN 1.01 and USA 1.02 releases appear to be the revisions which fixed the 'Song of the Hero' bug that prevented progress, which is what this save channel was originally needed for:-
https://zelda.gamepedia.com/Glitches_in ... ding_Error
Also worth noting that the 1.00 and 1.02 revisions apparently have incompatible save files.

Yep just checked, I have version 1.00, same for Metroid: Other M and Skyward Sword and Donkey Kong Country Returns I have version 1.01 (version 1.02 seem kinda rare, at least in USA).

An interesting thing is that the only games that seem to get patches/updates seem to be titles published by Nintendo, another interesting thing is that pre-patched discs on Wii U seem to be far less common than it was on the Wii, like so far the only Wii U game that I have found to have gotten a pre-patched disc at retail is Yoshi's Woolly World.

Not sure if you already know this, but opening the latest Wii redump dat file with notepad allows you to more easily see all the currently known reprinted/updated revisions of retail disks.

Also, unlke the Wii the Wii U system software actually supports downloadable updates, that plus the fact the Wii U wasn't very successful sales wise means there was much less reason for Nintendo to issue reprints of games with the latest update patches included. Having said that, New Super Mario Bros U is another example where they included the latest update along with the New Super Luigi U DLC all on one disk.

The Switch seems to be getting a lot of updated game cards as well:-
https://gbatemp.net/threads/cartridge-i ... on.492311/
Although I dont know if thats because its much easier to manufacture updated game cards due to the flash based writable chips, or if its simply because Nintendo wants to include and require the latest firmware update to try and reduce piracy.