Author Topic: Don't Use Mod Chips, Says Nintendo UK (Read 11100 times)

WindyMan · « **on:** April 24, 2007, 04:40:27 AM »

NOE thinks it's necessary to let people know about the menace that is illegal console modification.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=13357

Nintendo of Europe has updated its site—the front page, no less—with a notice informing people about the danger of Wii mod chips. The note explains that chips are illegal, of course, and that installing one into your console will void your warranty and possibly render your system unrepairable, should something go wrong. The final sentence of the update goes as far as tossing around the phrase "criminal charges."

Posting this information on the front page indicates that Nintendo is taking this issue very seriously in Europe, perhaps heading any future problems off before they happen. It could also be a move to better educate the consumers that don't know any better. Whatever the reason, if you didn't know about the dangers of mod chips, now you do.

decoyman · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2007, 05:02:06 AM »

Translation:

WARNING – With mod chips, you may be able to play games from other regions, thus disempowering NoE and our ability to, without penalty aside from occasional public outcry, sluggishly release games that have been out for months – even years! – in other regions.

Louieturkey · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2007, 05:04:59 AM »

Plus play burned games instead of paying our high prices which is also illegal.

ootler · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2007, 06:03:12 AM »

You'd have to be an idiot to mod a console that they can update the bios on.

Tansunn · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2007, 06:52:34 AM »

That's exactly what happened. I heard a story about some guys who tried running Super Paper Mario on a modded console for a different region, and it tried updating the firmware, which was incompatible with the region, turning the system into a shiny, white brick.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2007, 07:06:02 AM »

I was tempted to mail them if this means they'll remove the region lock to ensure that people aren't tempted to install a modchip because of NoE's f###ing retarded release schedule and pricing but I doubt they would have answered in any meaningful way. Though I guess it would be interesting to see how a PR robot tries to spin "we don't want you to get games quick and cheap" into something that sounds good for the customer.

vudu · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2007, 07:29:52 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: KDR_11k
I guess it would be interesting to see how a PR robot tries to spin "we don't want you to get games quick and cheap" into something that sounds good for the customer.

It would probably have something to do with quality control.

that Baby guy · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2007, 07:45:22 AM »

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if that system update they put on some games is there to brick foreign, modded consoles. I just don't see why SPM needed to update my system, especially since there is nothing too difficult processing-wise.

UncleBob · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2007, 08:35:12 AM »

I'm guessing that SPM didn't *need* to update the firmware of the system, per say... it just had all the newest update infomation on it (that most of us had downloaded already) and the disc just auto-checks to see if your Wii needs the update. I imangine we'll see more of this.

Anywhoo, yeah, it's not a wise move to mod a console that's always online and ready to download updates...

Nephilim · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2007, 09:05:41 AM »

Wii: bricks your console
live: ban's you
Psp: we dont care

nintendo atleast has the right attitude

Ceric · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2007, 09:47:47 AM »

I do have to say that even with a Mod I doubt you be able to crack the other layers of anti-piracy protection that the media itself has. The Gamecube was hacked by using the network adapter to stream games from someone computer. (Which I personally like to see for kicks.)

I still think that Nintendo should just go with the flow and either unlock the system or sell you each region as a channel.

Sir_Stabbalot · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2007, 09:54:07 AM »

With the expiration date for my Live subscription drawing ever closer, I'm thinking of modding my X-Box. To softmod or to modchip, that is the question.

And does NoE actually have ANY power at all to punish people with modded Wiis? I know they can sue people who sell the chips, but they can't touch the users, right?

vudu · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2007, 10:17:48 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Sir_Stabbalot
And does NoE actually have ANY power at all to punish people with modded Wiis? I know they can sue people who sell the chips, but they can't touch the users, right?

They can brick your system.

bustin98 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2007, 10:38:58 AM »

Supposedly there are mod chips that operate in stealth mode. Plus, in order to combat certain mod chips, Nintendo is altering the layout of the board that the chip modifies, removing redundant or useless circuit paths amoung possible other modifications.

Sir_Stabbalot · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2007, 11:10:07 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: vudu
They can brick your system.

True, but I meant more along the lines of legal action.

UncleBob · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2007, 12:30:33 PM »

It would depend on the country, but probably, they could.

However, it wouldn't be worth their effort. It's like the RIAA going after someone for illegally downloading a few songs. They *can*, it's just not something they're going to do (often).

Ceric · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2007, 12:46:21 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: bustin98
Supposedly there are mod chips that operate in stealth mode. Plus, in order to combat certain mod chips, Nintendo is altering the layout of the board that the chip modifies, removing redundant or useless circuit paths amoung possible other modifications.

Why didn't they get rid of those to begin with I wander.

JonLeung · « **Reply #17 on:** April 24, 2007, 01:07:28 PM »

I think Nintendo's warning may have alerted people to the fact that mod chips are available.

It's like when you tell someone "don't think about elephants" and they can't help but think about elephants.

"Don't use mod chips!" - Nintendo UK
"Oh, mod chips are available? Thanks for letting me know!" - formerly unaware gamer

See?

that Baby guy · « **Reply #18 on:** April 24, 2007, 01:25:45 PM »

What? There are mod chips? I gots ta get me one of dems.

Sir_Stabbalot · « **Reply #19 on:** April 24, 2007, 02:01:40 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: UncleBob
It would depend on the country, but probably, they could.

However, it wouldn't be worth their effort. It's like the RIAA going after someone for illegally downloading a few songs. They *can*, it's just not something they're going to do (often).

Ah, thanks for the clarification.

Quote
Originally posted by: Ceric
Why didn't they get rid of those to begin with I wander.

Probably they were left in as sometimes removing seemingly useless parts of a complex piece of electronics can screw everything up.

Galford · « **Reply #20 on:** April 24, 2007, 03:54:27 PM »

This article should be title "How Nintendo plans on giving Sony or Microsoft Europe".
Because if Nintendo's current policies hold, that's what is going to happen.

Maybe if Nintendo changed some of their policies there wouldn't be a need for a mod market in Europe.

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #21 on:** April 24, 2007, 04:10:21 PM »

The Super Paper Mario thing screwed the guy's system because he tried installed PAL firmware on an NTSC console, or visa-versa, it wasn't some trick by Nintendo to brick modded systems, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the modchip inside it, other than the fact that it allowed him to boot said game. Wii modchips only hack the drive code, which can't be read by the Wii OS, and is the reason why you can only load Gamecube homebrew and not Wii homebrew. There were tons of modchips for the Gamecube near the end of it's life (which was some time in 2004). I'm not condoning the use of modchips for playing illegal backups of games that you do not own, but I'm all for using them to play homebrew, such as many of the emulators for Gamecube which you can now play on Wii, or GC Linux. Also, Nintendo is not legally allowed to brick your console because it has a chip (even though there's no way they could even know you had one, at least not the type of modchips that are out now), all they can do is void your warranty and refuse to fix your system if you modded it. What's kind of funny though, is Microsoft will fix your firmware modded XBox 360 (for free), as long as it's under the 1 year warranty time period, they did this for a friend of mine, whose 360 I modded.

UncleBob · « **Reply #22 on:** April 24, 2007, 05:23:25 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Brandogg
Also, Nintendo is not legally allowed to brick your console because it has a chip (even though there's no way they could even know you had one, at least not the type of modchips that are out now), all they can do is void your warranty and refuse to fix your system if you modded it.

You know what's interesting about hacking? It goes both ways.

Someone creates a mass market mod chip for a system - the company finds out and figures a way to prevent it from working on new systems. So the individuals who make the mod chip figure out how to work around the work around and make a new chip. And the company goes back to work to work around the work around of the work around.

You say that there's no way for Nintendo to know you have a mod chip, but all Nintendo has to do is order one of these mod chips and install it themselves and when Super Smash Bros. Brawl or Mario Galaxy comes out, include the code that detects this new mod chip and bricks it. Then, when the hackers figure it out, they'll build another chip that Nintendo "won't know about". And when Nintendo finds out, they'll have the ability to do the same thing.

As far as the legality of it? It'd be an interesting court case. Aside from the fact that the Mod chip is (typically and probably) illegal, open one of your game's manual to the front, inside cover. "This [...] game is not [...] for use with any unauthorized device." Using the game with your unauthorized, (probably) illegally modded Wii would be about the same as using it with your Big Mac, then complainging that the disc cut the roof of your mouth. If the disc isn't designed to play on a modded Wii and you try to do so anyway (after being told not to), I have a hard time believing you'd get much out of a case against them.

that Baby guy · « **Reply #23 on:** April 24, 2007, 05:42:18 PM »

I think the question is, "Would Nintendo have a case against console modders?"
Both ways, too. The person that mods consoles and the people that use the mods.

Anyways, I think in most cases, it's a bad decision to mod your console initially. After a long time passes, a the mods will get more and more efficient at bypassing security measures, such as with the PSP, and then it might be a better decision, but if you do go that route, it is very wise to be very well versed in the effects, both positive and negative, that the mod has placed on your console.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #24 on:** April 24, 2007, 07:39:13 PM »

I would assume the firmware update was the one the leaflet in the box talked about that would enable SD card functionality and perhaps a few channels.

Bob: You can make any claims on the box but they aren't necessarily binding if the judge finds that other claims on the box contradict it (or just finds that you have no rights to make such claims). Making a computer program that is deliberately damaging computers you don't like is a crime (cf. Sony rootkit class action lawsuit). Committing a crime against a criminal is still illegal and the criminal has all rights to sue you. Having it happen by accident is one thing (though you can expect future modchips to automatically prevent firmware updates) but designing the product in order to cause such damage is illegal.

News:

Author Topic: Don't Use Mod Chips, Says Nintendo UK (Read 11100 times)