Question about Japanese Wii Gamecube compatibility

evil_ash_xero · Post by **evil_ash_xero** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:49 am

I was thinking about getting a Japanese Wii because of it's superior VC lineup.

Is there a way I could play U.S. Gamecube games on it?

s/m

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:41 am

As far as I know, you can use a GC boot disc (freeloader) and play GC imports on a Wii.

evil_ash_xero · Post by **evil_ash_xero** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:01 am

Thanks.

Also, is there anything I would need to do to download from the Japanese VC site, with a JPN Wii?

Would it accept U.S. credit cards and all that? Also, is it hard to navigate through...is it all in Japanese?

s/m

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:13 am

I do remember reading something about a Japanese Wii being entirely in Japanese. There's no option to change it into English.

evil_ash_xero · Post by **evil_ash_xero** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:49 am

Are there any guides online for it?

s/m

Jockel · Post by **Jockel** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:34 pm

you can change the region of your wii with the homebrewchannel and a special program,
so you wouldn't need another wii.

evil_ash_xero · Post by **evil_ash_xero** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:37 pm

Jockel wrote:you can change the region of your wii with the homebrewchannel and a special program,
so you wouldn't need another wii.

Does this mean I could just get a U.S. Wii, and do all this from that?

s/m

Jockel · Post by **Jockel** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:52 pm

basically yes.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 5:08 pm

Sounds intriguing. ^_~

MathU · Post by **MathU** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:33 pm

This is what you want: http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Menu_Loader
If you don't have Twilight Princess, you only need it briefly anyway to install some other .dol booter, like the Homebrew Channel. You can just rent it.

Cheaper and more versatile than FreeLoader.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:39 pm

Or you could buy a US GameCube for $15 or whatever the market price is now.

I am still wary of this homebrew stuff for this kind of firmware-updateable system.

FIL · Post by **FIL** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:23 pm

There have been stories of wiis getting bricked by freeloaders when you insert a game which carries a firmware update, unsure as to how true it is.

MathU · Post by **MathU** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:45 pm

iatneH wrote:I am still wary of this homebrew stuff for this kind of firmware-updateable system.

The only time Nintendo has done anything about it, they tried to remove the Twilight Princess exploit. A workaround was found within a week.
It should be noted that few (if any, to be honest) Wii's have been bricked due to firmware updates, especially compared to the 360 homebrew scene.

Even if Nintendo does get rid of the Twilight Princess exploit eventually, they've made no indication yet that they care about the actual homebrew. All they've tried to fix so far is the exploit, which doesn't affect anyone if they already have a .dol booter installed. It would make sense that they eventually try to stop Virtual Console and WiiWare piracy, but I would be surprised if they put effort into stopping all homebrew.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:03 pm

OK, but I'm not really too concerned since my Wii is from JP region and I have not come across any interesting US-exclusive releases yet. The only GameCube games I play are Ikaruga and Mr.Driller, both JP versions also. I also kept my region-switched GameCube around just in case I ever feel like playing the two or three US GCN games I have.

edit: However, I may change my mind if there is a way to play Wild Guns full speed with sound and no frameskip...

evil_ash_xero · Post by **evil_ash_xero** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:39 pm

iatneH wrote:Or you could buy a US GameCube for $15 or whatever the market price is now.

I am still wary of this homebrew stuff for this kind of firmware-updateable system.

Uh...I have a GameCube. I don't want a zillion systems lying about. I just want one Wii that plays my GC games, my SNES, MD, PC Engine games, and let it be at that.

s/m

MathU · Post by **MathU** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:49 am

iatneH wrote:However, I may change my mind if there is a way to play Wild Guns full speed with sound and no frameskip...

It might work perfectly with Virtual Console injection, but it doesn't seem like anyone's tested it yet on any compatibility wiki's I've been to. I could check for you, if you want me to...

EDIT: No wait, maybe I can't. My SD card might be busted. Ugh.