Wii Freeware Update Breaks Freeloader
Those expecting import games are met with an error screen
After yesterday's firmware update many gamers have been finding that their copies of Freeloader no longer work on their Wiis.
Freeloader is a piece of software that enables U.S. and Japanese import games to be played on PAL consoles.
The Freeloader disk itself was not made for the Wii but for the GameCube, however, as it runs on the Wii it allowed the console to play any imported GameCube games. The Freeloader software itself is legal and can be obtained from many online retailers.
Nintendo has refused to comment on whether it will fix compatibility with the third-party software.
Freeloader is a piece of software that enables U.S. and Japanese import games to be played on PAL consoles.
The Freeloader disk itself was not made for the Wii but for the GameCube, however, as it runs on the Wii it allowed the console to play any imported GameCube games. The Freeloader software itself is legal and can be obtained from many online retailers.
Nintendo has refused to comment on whether it will fix compatibility with the third-party software.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
Joji 8 Aug 2007 12:53
1/4
All Datel need do is hurry up and get Wii/GC Freeloader out. I don't understand why Nintendo feel the need to do this and not tell us about it, when many gamers sold their GC, but not their GC games.
So, how about it, Nintendo. Will you be honest, show some respect for your customers and explain why you've taken this step? Playing import games, last time I checked, isn't illegal or piracy and actually puts money in your pocket, so why shut this access off, which could then drive import gamers to use pirate games?
You've got to decide which is the lesser of the two evils, Nintendo. Choose carefully now, and we'd all like you to come out publicly and make it clear that importing games to play via Freeloader and piracy aren't the same thing.
So, how about it, Nintendo. Will you be honest, show some respect for your customers and explain why you've taken this step? Playing import games, last time I checked, isn't illegal or piracy and actually puts money in your pocket, so why shut this access off, which could then drive import gamers to use pirate games?
You've got to decide which is the lesser of the two evils, Nintendo. Choose carefully now, and we'd all like you to come out publicly and make it clear that importing games to play via Freeloader and piracy aren't the same thing.
realvictory 8 Aug 2007 18:13
2/4
After reading about rubbish like this and the raiding of peoples' houses for mod chips, etc, I'm extremely annoyed, and tempted to get rid of my Wii on principle.
This is simply unacceptable. Companies think they can invent/abuse laws, using piracy as an excuse to treat their loyal customers as scum. We (the majority of owners) pay them their profits, they should respect us.
In fact, Nintendo have always been needlessly fannying about with this pathetic idea - clinging on to cartridges way beyond their time, stupid little discs and no dvd player function, making feeble excuses.
Do something FOR your customers for a change - please! Theres a single thing they've done right so far with the Wii, as far as I can see - which is a browser. You still have to pay, though, and you can't just buy it - you have to buy 1000 points and have half of them left over. I should be able to buy exactly what I want, without being conned. This is all a pile of crap, I seriously might just sell my Wii, and keep buying Gamecube/PS2 games.
This is simply unacceptable. Companies think they can invent/abuse laws, using piracy as an excuse to treat their loyal customers as scum. We (the majority of owners) pay them their profits, they should respect us.
In fact, Nintendo have always been needlessly fannying about with this pathetic idea - clinging on to cartridges way beyond their time, stupid little discs and no dvd player function, making feeble excuses.
Do something FOR your customers for a change - please! Theres a single thing they've done right so far with the Wii, as far as I can see - which is a browser. You still have to pay, though, and you can't just buy it - you have to buy 1000 points and have half of them left over. I should be able to buy exactly what I want, without being conned. This is all a pile of crap, I seriously might just sell my Wii, and keep buying Gamecube/PS2 games.
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Joji 9 Aug 2007 10:33
3/4
The games industry seems like the only industry that doesn't respect its customer equally, Victory, and still they get away with it, with bad excuse and crap supposed copyright laws.
Were this about a car or something, I can do import shopping to save money or get a model first, before an official u.k launch. The games industry is so up itself with its idea to control everything and still not give us region free gaming. By creating a new way to sell games per region than the current model, they could sell us anything and still get their money and know where its been sold for their records.
If Nintendo's next home system isn't region free, I might seriously consider not buying it out of principal, because I still feel, Nintendo (MS and Sony too) should stand up and officially say, 'playing and importing games is fine but illegally copied games and piracy are wrong'. And if you can't do this, then turn a blind eye like MS have done with 360 and leave Wii open with developers making the choice of region exact or free themselves.
Were this about a car or something, I can do import shopping to save money or get a model first, before an official u.k launch. The games industry is so up itself with its idea to control everything and still not give us region free gaming. By creating a new way to sell games per region than the current model, they could sell us anything and still get their money and know where its been sold for their records.
If Nintendo's next home system isn't region free, I might seriously consider not buying it out of principal, because I still feel, Nintendo (MS and Sony too) should stand up and officially say, 'playing and importing games is fine but illegally copied games and piracy are wrong'. And if you can't do this, then turn a blind eye like MS have done with 360 and leave Wii open with developers making the choice of region exact or free themselves.
PreciousRoi 10 Aug 2007 08:32
4/4
yeah, coz the music and movie industry treat their customers better?
who do you think invented all the worst practices the games industry uses...the music industry has forgotten more about screwing consumers over than the games industry will ever know...
who do you think invented all the worst practices the games industry uses...the music industry has forgotten more about screwing consumers over than the games industry will ever know...