Topic: New Wii Exploit Requires No Games

[NWR_DrewMG]

Taking a dip into the homebrew waters just got a little bit easier.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/27409

A new exploit for the Wii has been uncovered which does not require the use of any Wii game discs, unlike other current methods. The exploit, titled LetterBomb, was developed by hackers known as blasty and tueidj. It uses the Wii Message Board as a conduit to bypass the Wii's security and load the HackMii Installer, which loads the Homebrew Channel onto the Wii System Menu.

The exploit is mostly automated, but requires a few pieces of information, such as your Wii's physical networking (or MAC) address. A website has been set up at http://please.hackmii.com which can prepare a zip file, which you place directly onto an SD card and then into your Wii.

The hack is meant to break through Wii system firmware 4.3, which is the latest update from Nintendo, released last year, and one that blocked the previous game-free exploit, BannerBomb. Coupled with Gecko OS, the exploit comes just in time for those with American Wiis interested in playing PAL import copies of Xenoblade Chronicles. Keep in mind that installing homebrew will void your warranty.

[Mop it up]

Maybe the article should mention something about the possibility of bricking your system with homebrew... Sure, the odds are pretty low, but people should still know about it.

[Oblivion]

Oooo, a new exploit! Nice to have a way to do it without Brawl.


Seeing as I'm not getting Xenoblade, this is pretty pointless since I already have the HBC. Now I can help others with hacking their Wii.

[MegaByte]

Maybe the article should mention something about the possibility of bricking your system with homebrew... Sure, the odds are pretty low, but people should still know about it.

I see no reason. There's less of a chance of that than with an official system update.

[fordrob]

This sort of reminds me of the part in Harry Potter 6 where Professor Slughorn explains the ins and outs of horcruxes - the academic aspect is of interest, but it will probably be of most use to those who intend to do evil

[Mop it up]

Doesn't that depend on what you do with it? Some programs require changing ISOs and all that extra junk, which seems like it could cause some problems. But just as people will install homebrew at their own risk, it's your own risk to not mention that and hope no one has an issue and blames you for not warning them.

[MegaByte]

Sure, but anything beyond what was mentioned is not in the scope of the article. Having a warning for every little thing that anybody might possibly do is asinine.

[Tenser]

Of course there's zero chance of Nintendo finding out your Wii is hacked if you never set up/turn off it's online capabilities.
 
It's not like there's much of a reason to hook a Wii up to the intrawebz anyways, Netflix aside. If you do flick the nets it might even be worth picking up a second cheap Wii on craig's for $50.
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[MegaByte]

Tenser: The bigger problem is if your Wii breaks and you have to send it in for repairs.

[Oblivion]

Tenser: The bigger problem is if your Wii breaks and you have to send it in for repairs.

It IS possible to un-brick your wii.

[MegaByte]

I'm talking about hardware failures, independent of any software.

[Oblivion]

Oh, right. Would they just not fix it if they found homebrew software?

[TJ Spyke]

I have heard some people say Nintendo fixed their Wii and sent it back with the homebrew still on it, others said theirs was removed. So it could go either way (though I think if they find it, it won't be covered by the warranty).

[Jonnyboy117]

I will probably be using this method to play Xenoblade this fall.

[KDR_11k]

The stories I heard were that they deleted the homebrew and charged you for deleting it.

[Tenser]

@Mega: Very true. That's why I suggested haxxing a cheap-o second-hand Wii. $50 and a few hours and Xeno, Pandora, Last Story, Code R, Disaster Day, Fatal Frame IV, etc... are all yours.

I don't like to condone piracy but lets be honest; if you dont care about having a physical copy of a specific retail game you probably don't enough to buy that game new either. If so then the only people you're hurting are your local GameStop employees.

[UncleBob]

I don't like to condone piracy but lets be honest; if you dont care about having a physical copy of a specific retail game you probably don't enough to buy that game new either. If so then the only people you're hurting are your local GameStop employees.

Not 100% true.  If you take a copy out of used circulation, there's the possibility that you might be forcing someone else who would have bought it used into buying it new.  Additionally, just because you won't buy it when it's released, doesn't mean you might not consider it at a price drop or a re-release... something most people are inclined not to do when they've already played the game.

[TJ Spyke]

I know there are several Xbox 360 games I want to play, but refuse to pay $64.80 for them since very few games are worth that. Same with some Wii games, I don't want to buy full price but will consider once they drop down in price.

[RABicle]

I only wanna homebrew my mii so I can rip may games to USB so I can play in HD on Dolphin and tug off the the screen captures.

And you now, play Excitebots and other NTSC exclusives.

[KDR_11k]

Mine has been import modded for years already, I think my first import game was Blast Works.