Gaming Consoles

How to Earn Easy Cash

2008-05-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

I'm going to let you in on a little secret, you can buy all the video games and accessories you want or for that matter anything you want by following a few simple instructions. With that said the little secret isn't so little it's called Cashcrate. Cashcrate is a website which pays you to complete offers, such as joining free websites, complete surveys and try out certain products. And you get to do this all for free. Thats right free so if you're interested in making free money read on and I'll let you in on some tips I use when filling out offers.

Not too long ago I wrote a post about Gaming Lagoon a free website in which you fill out offers and surveys for gaming accessories and microsoft points. Cashcrate is similar but instead of points you get cold hard cash thats right cash as in checks in the mail. And you can use your extra cash on what ever you like.

Here is some info from their FAQ:

I’m skeptical, this sounds like a scam?

We assure you that this is not a scam! Companies need consumers to try and review products, services, and websites and are willing to pay money to have them do so. Most of the time you’re asked to do this without any compensation, what we do is take the money companies give us for YOUR participation, and give you back up to 75% of it!

How much can I make?

How much you can make is dependent on a few things such as what country you’re from and how much time you’re willing to devote to making money. As it is, most members have the opportunity to make more than a thousand dollars!

When do I get paid?

Users who meet our minimum payout (only $5!) have their payments processed by the 20th of the following month So, if you earn $250 in June, you’ll get paid in mid-July.

Cashcrate is a very country-specific website. After browsing through their forums and signing up myself to check it out, I realized that like Cashcrate has the most offers for U.S residents and therefore works best for them. However, they have also been known to offer a wide variety of offers for Canadian users.

The offers themselves range from your usual video subscriptions to other free trials which allow you to get a higher return if you own a credit card. If you don't have a credit card like I don't,it's not a problem don't sweat you can still participate, the offers you do just won't pay out as much.

Cashcrate is relatively easy to use. All you need to do is to complete offers and then click on a ‘Submit’ button in a banner that opens up at the top of your page. Offers usually take a few days to be approved.

Tips:

If you're going to be filling out forms there is an easier and faster way of doing this and it's completely automated it's called RoboForm . What you do is plug in your info and roboform completes any form with the info you provide so filling out forms only take like a nano second.You can choose the free version or upgrade to the Pro version the free version should be sufficcent for your needs.
You should also delete your cookies after evey offer you comlpete, this is very important because this how the companies track you and if you have not deleted the cookies you may not get credit for completeing some of the offers : you can do this by going to tools/internet options/delete cookies , press o.k. to delete cookies. There is also an easier way to this, this is called ATF Cleaner and what it does is make it easier to clear your cookies with one push of a button after each offer, it's also free to download.
To complete an offer this means you have to go all the way through the survey until you reach the page with the Silver, Gold and Bronze offers, when you reach this page you don't have do anything more you can close the browser and go submit the completed offer.
When you sign up go to the forums there is plenty more helpful information.

The offers do tend to be a little repetitive and some of them followed the same formulae.. complete this offer, refer a friend and get either an iPod, laptop of Xbox 260. Other offers included surveys and other free websites that only require you to plug in your email address.

Their referral system, however is very attractive. Even if you’re not in the U.S, you’ll be allowed to make money by referring active users to Cashcrate. You’ll get $3 bonus whenever a new user you referred in the U.S completes an offer, which is rather nice.

Cashcrate will pay ou get 20% for first level referrals and 10% for 2nd level referrals. The amount of percentage you earn will depend on how many members you refer. The more members you refer, the higher your overall referral percentage will be.

I signed up with Cashcrate May 27 so I have not received a check yet but in three days my May earnings are $18.00 and I also have $37.85 pending. Pending ernings is the amount that has not been credited to my account yet. So I stand to earn $55.85 in just three days work. When I recieve my check I'll be posting it here for everyone to see.

Bottom Line:

Cashcrate isn’t a scam, although it might seem like one at first glance. I would suggest spending some time in their forums, if you want to learn more about their program. This particular section of their forum offers payment proofs and testimonials so it’ll be great place to start.

If you’re not in the U.S but are willing to work hard at getting referrals, you can start by signing up with Cashcrate. The returns are justified because you won’t be doing anything at all. It’s very much a passive process. Refer some users based in the U.S and they’ll do all the work for you, while you take a cut of their earnings. Sounds good doesn't it?

Wii Config v1.0

2008-05-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest news on homebrew developer waninkoko's project: Wii Config version 1.0 is finally out. This is the developer's first release of a homebrew semi-brick circumvention tool for the Nintendo Wii.

Wii Config was designed from the ground up to be executable and independent from the Wii's traditional settings menu and will allow users to reconfigure their Wii to resolve semi-brick issues. Wii Config v1.0 is available for download in DOL and ELF variants (for whatever loader you use most) and is a pretty straightforward configurations menu - if not equally entertaining as the usual Wii menu with its accompanying music.

More confirmations as to whether the application works is still up in the air, but preliminaries suggest that the tool is helpful to those who can't reconfigure from a semi-brick state.

The archives come with no documentation, and so in order to use it, you must familiarize with file loaders and Wii homebrew via external sources. More updates as we get them.

Download: Wii Config v1.0 (DOL)

Download: Wii Config v1.0 (ELF)

[Via TeknoConsolas]

Unbrick your Wii with NTSC-U Semi Brick Fix Disc

2008-05-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

Those who experienced the misfortune of having their Nintendo Wii bricked by trying to load an imported game (because they forgot to use applications like Gecko Region Free) can now heave a sigh of relief, because Bushing managed to come up with the NTSC-U Semi Brick Fix. The application is actually an ISO containing these three files:

IOS30-64-v1040.wad
SystemMenu-v289.wad
___update.info

Here are some notes from the homebrew developer about the Semi Brick Fix:

System Menu v289 is the newest NTSC version of the system menu available on Nintendo’s download servers; it’s what you will get if you go into the Settings Menu and perform an update. I packed it into a WAD, and maintained the original, valid Nintendo signature, so it should be safe to install. (The disc, however, is fakesigned. This should not be a problem.)

So how to use the NTSC-U Semi Brick Fix? Simple: all you need to do is to burn the download file below to a disc. A word of warning, however: this program has been successfully tested on three Wii units, but that is still no guarantee that it won't brick your Wii. Also, DO NOT USE THIS PROGRAM ON NTSC/J or PAL units. Doing so WILL BRICK the poor Wiis.

Consider yourself warned enough? If so, go ahead and download the NTSC-U Semi Brick Fix. There is no readme file included with the download, so better read up about Wii homebrew if you're not too sure with what you're doing. To quote fellow QJ writer Ryan C: a well-informed homebrew enthusiast is a well-informed homebrew enthusiast with an un-bricked Wii.

[Via TehSkeen]

Free Wii Fit DVDs at GameStop

2008-04-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

Curious about the ongoing Wii Fit phenomenon? Then you might want to head on over to your nearest GameStop branch, as they seem to be offering free Wii Fit DVDs to anyone that stops by.

And before you ask, no, you don't have to purchase anything - just snap one up and pop them in your own DVD player, to see a short preview about the game and how it helps to get your body a-movin'. Definitely a great way to inform the non-gaming population about Wii Fit, eh?

We can only hope that Nintendo will continue to do more of these in the near future, and not just previews but also demos. Updates as we get them.

[Via GoNintendo]

Wii Homebrew Launcher

2008-04-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

Tired of duplicate channels appearing from your Nintendo Wii main menu when you run homebrew? Coder hell_hibou has a remedy with Wii Homebrew Loader. Having the same interface as the Wii main menu, this application loads ELF files (the stuff which homebrew's made of) from the front SD card slot into the Wii.

As far as aesthetics go, the Wii Homebrew Loader has a different approach as it allows you to customize the names of each homebrew title. That's some personalized touch there. Since the Wii Homebrew Loader is useless without any homebrew at all, developer hell_hibou gathered some existing Wii homebrews over at the via link.

You can download homebrew developer hell_hibou's Wii Homebrew Launcher below. Make sure you know what you're doing though; you can visit the dev's page for important notes and instructions.

Download: Wii Homebrew Launcher

[Via wiihomebrew]

Amazon.com Widgets

WiiKey: Firmware update v1.9s

2008-04-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

If you're among the Wii owners here who run their console on the WiiKey modchip, you may want to listen in. The WiiKey dev team has announced the release of their modchip's Firmware Update 1.9, which should now be available for download for the community.

Among other updates, this new build will address an issue that kept original copies of Super Smash Bros. Brawl from running properly on the Wii. As for the full list of changes:

Bugs fixed

Issue with original Super Smash Bros. Brawl discs not working fixed
It should now not be possible to render the chip inoperable by using patched config discs

New features

DVD update blocker: A new config option to block system updates from DVD. This prevents the Wii from loading a system update for another region
Dev Mode: Remaps drive debug commands from 0xFx to 0x2x

The download for WiiKey firmware 1.9s is available over at the official modchip via the source link below. Just remember to grab the file corresponding to your Wii's region coding (US, Japan, Europe), and you'll be fine.

[Via WiiKey]

Amazon.com Widgets

Twilight Hack v0.1 Alpha 3a

2008-03-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

Team Twiizers, always at the forefront of nintendo wii homebrew, released yet another version of its Twilight Hack. This time, Twilight Hack version 0.1 Alpha 3a offers new features which make it easier to load ELF files on the white hot wii gaming system.

For all you nintendo wii homebrew enthusiasts, here's the changelog (since 0.1 Alpha 2):

Correctly loads geckoloader code from USBGecko flash
Front SD slot is now supported; SDGecko slot support has been removed
FAT16 is now supported; you should save your ELF executable on your SD card as "boot.elf"
RZDJ is now supported
Added support for Geckoloader stub: If you have a USBGecko installed and have already run the Geckoloader program to install into flash, then the Twilight Hack will try to load that stub if it does not detect an SD card

As usual, the Twilight Hack requires an SD card to load your files from and a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess to make it work. For full installation instructions, just click on the "via" link below.

Download: Twilight Hack v0.1 Alpha 3a

[Via WiiBrew]

Amazon.com Widgets

Wii Region Patcher Compatibility List

2008-03-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

I've been receiving a lot of searches for a list of compatible games for the modded wii gaming system. After diligently serching I came across a few good forums about the subject but the one I chose to use for this post should be easy to follow for everyone.

This is from the information page on the forum:

"Using the same method as the current "partially region free" modchips, there are several computer applications which can replicate the effect on Wii ISO's prior to burning. They all use a very similar method of patching and compatibility should be identical between the applications and the modchips - consequentially this list can be used for both modchips and software patching methods (until these methods change)."

The forum list includes wii games that are compatible, games that are not and wii games that are partially compatible. The list also includes side notes to help you out.

So if you think this is what you're looking for you can check it out at the via link below.

[Via GBAtemp Forum]

Guitar Hero Wii Controllers Now Available

2008-02-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

If your tired of rocking out by yourself or taking turns while playing Guitar Hero for the nintendo wii console, this month, Feb. 27th to be exact, you’ll be able to purchase additional guitar controllers for the Wii.

Because it's one of the wii system accessories you know it will be wireless- the possibilities are endless when wires are not a hang up. Once you've achieved StarPower, use the sensitive tilt-sensors in the wireless guitar to achieve maximum points. With five multicolored fret buttons and a super-responsive strum bar, you'll go from guitar hero to guitar legend.

Well for $69.99 you can have yourself an extra guitar controller, which is quite a steep price if you ask me. But like most rock legends you have to have your own guitar controller during Co-op Career mode cause having just one is a drag. So now you can rock until your little hearts content.

Mario Kart Wii and Mii

2008-02-07T11:27:00.000-08:00

We've now got word on how you can use your Mii in Mario Kart online. It's also confirmed that as speculated the game features 32 tracks (16 new, 16 remakes), which include new courses "Mario Circuit, Momo Country, Kinopio Factory, DK Snowboard Cross, Coconuts Mall, Kinoko Canyon, and Luigi Circuit", an IGN translation reports.

It's also reported that players will be able to perform mid-air tricks on both karts and bikes, which when executed correctly will provide you with an extra speed burst when you hit the tarmac.

The new wii game will be able to support up to 12 players, but extra info states that you'll be able to download the ghost data of other players' races and import it into the single-player game to race against. There'll also be the option for a Mario Kart Channel on your Wii hub, which serves up both your own record lap times and a worldwide rankings board. For the old skool, there'll also be a four-player split-screen mode. Wouldn't be Mario Kart without it. It appears that Mario Kart Wii will be playable via traditional control scheme in addition to using the Wii Remote, and that a beta test Nintendo Japan has advertised is rumoured to be for the game.

Nintendo's first-half game lineup for Wii and DS

2008-01-21T09:56:00.000-08:00

Game giant Nintendo promises at least 65 new Wii games and 80 new DS games in the first half of the year. First-party highlights from the release list include Advance Wars: Days of Ruin and Crosswords for DS, with Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, and Wii Fit headed to Nintendo's fifth-generation console.

Also included is a healthy dose of third-party games, something Nintendo platforms have historically struggled with, including Ninja Reflex from Electronic Arts, No More Heroes from Ubisoft, DeBlob from THQ, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts, and Okami from Capcom.

Notable DS games not made by Nintendo include Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Rings of Fate from Square Enix, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword from Tecmo, and Quick Yoga Training from Ubisoft.

Nintendo also confirmed the release of WiiWare sometime within the first half of the year. If you will remember WiiWare is Nintendo's downloadable games for the Wii videogame console. These games will be built specifically for the Wii and sold via the Wii Shop Channel for Wii Points currency, much like the Xbox 360- and Playstation 3-specific games being sold on Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network.

Wii Mod Chips Review

2008-01-10T11:38:00.000-08:00

Lately a lot of people have been asking me about mod chips and if they can be detected or which ones are best. So I decided to review a few of the well know Wii mod chips so maybe this will give anyone who is interested a little insight on the subject then you can make your own opinion on if a mod chip would be the best way to go for you.

I have to say these Wii mod chips are something fierce. In earlier posts I've written about the pros and cons of modding your wii and as I've stated before the choice is yours to make, you mod at your own risk. With that being said Nintendo has not banned anyone from online play because you have a modded Wii but there are risks you take if you decide to do so. One of those is you void your warranty if you crack open your wii console to install mod chips but if a person is determined to have something that won't stop you from doing what you want, I mean you paid for it, it's yours to do what ever you want to do with it. The good news for Nintendo Wii gamers is that regardless of which Nintendo Wii mod chip you buy - you'll have all the basics with each one.

You will be able to play all Nintendo Wii Backup games (on DVD-R or DVD+R discs) and can use 8cm or 12cm DVD discs. You will also be able to play all Gamecube Backup games, import games as well as Gamecube Homebrew games. It really gets down to installation of the Nintendo Wii Mod chip and the features and functions, and future upgrade options of each Wii mod chip.What is even more surprising with these new Nintendo Wii Mod chips is the prices that they're being sold for.

I remember the days of the very first Playstation 2 mod chips, costing in excess of $90.00 US Dollars. It seems the Wii chips have opted instead for a lower entry price, in an effort to gain a greater piece of the Homebrew / Development / Modchip market. The prices range anywhere from $44.00 to just over $50.00, depending on the chip you decide to buy. I'm going to cover three of the most popular of the mod chips in the hopes of enabling you, the gamer, to make the buying decision that's right for you. And after reading this post, I honestly believe that your decision will be based solely on price, and perhaps the option of an upgrade (or lack of) for the Wii Mod Chips.

CycloWiz Nintendo Wii Mod Chips

Coined the first High-Quality mod for your Wii, the CycloWiz is perhaps the easiest modchip to install on any system. The CycloWiz actually does not require you to solder any wires to the Wii mainboard. In fact, you'll simply use Quick Solder pads which are strategically placed in the design of the CycloWiz to enable you to simply position the chip on the Nintendo Wii Mainboard, and gently put some solder onto the points. This will make the required connections, and the chip will simply be installed. The CycloWiz is also a fully upgradeable modchip, with promised firmware updates for the chip from the manufacturer. You should however like the idea that the chip will not be outdated should some new function or requirement become the norm. Also incorporates an optional off feature and LED to let you know when your CycloWiz is on or off.

Features

UNIVERSAL Works on all Wii's
Easy Install (5 solder points / no wires required)
Stealth Mode to keep chip from ever being detected from current wii firmware
Play Both Wii and GC backups
Play GC homebrew and Imports
Built In Audiofix for GC backups
Multidisc GC Game support
Support 8Cm and 12cm Discs
Opotional Disable feature to turn your chip on and off
Multipurpose LED to let you know that your chip is on and working, if it has an error, or if it is off
DVD Firmware Upgrades available

WiiKey Nintendo Wii Modchip

The WiiKey for Nintendo Wii is made by the famous xenoGC team, responsible for the xenoGC Gamecube line of mod chips. The WiiKey comes ready to use, and offers an almost wireless installation. When they say almost wireless, what this essentially means is that there are Quick Solder pads for the chip. This method enables you to simply position the chip in the correct place on the Mother board of the Wii, in order to then apply a little bit of solder with a soldering iron. The WiiKey mod chip was the first chip that boasted full upgradeability through DVD-R discs to which you can burn / backup the new firmware updates, put The DVD in to your Nintendo Wii, and it will run and update the chip. Once again, the WiiKey also supports loading of both Wii and Gamecube backup games and import backup games. Original import games can be played as well, with a simple, single swap methos. Gamecube Homebrew games are also supported.

Features

Direct boot of NTSC Wii imports on NTSC consoles (no patch needed)
Direct boot of PAL Wii imports on NTSC consoles (no patch needed, partial compatibility)
Direct boot of wii backups
Direct boot of GC backups
Direct boot of homebrew in GC mode
Supports all currently available console/drive versions
Supports D2B chipsets
Sophisticated (true) update mechanism via DVD
Direct boot of different NTSC region Wii games/backups on US and JAP consoles
Supports DVD-R / true DVD+R and +RW support (no bitsetting required!)
Stealth mode
Improved readsettings for recordable media
Recovery mode - Can recover from a bad flash

Nintendo Wii D2CKey Mod Chip

The D2CKey is the newest and only mod chip on the market that supports the new Nintendo Wii consoles with the D2C Chipset. It's made by the same people behind the WiiKey.Utilizing a high speed Actel FPGA running at 350 MHz this chip is capable of what is known as Intelligent Code Modification(ICM)which will enable you to be presented with flawless booting of your homebrew and backups and status is shown with two on board LEDs. It also sports a Region Override function allowing you to play import games from other countries. That being said the installation is not for the faint of heart. You need to be prepared to solder 30 wires and 2 jumpers to be up and running with the D2CKey,thus it isn't designed for people with no soldering experience. If you decide on this mod chip it would be safe to let some one else install the chip for you if you have no expierience soldering.
Features

Compatible with DVD+-R, DVD+-RW and Dual-layer DVD (movies and GCOS)
Autoboot without configurations
Homebrew Compatible
NTSC/JAP Import Games Compatibility
GameCube Audio Fix
Improved read settings for recordable media
Does not modify RAM, making it virtually undetectable for the Wii
Full command set emulation
1st D2C Modchip

Remotely Control Music On Your PC With The Wiimote

2008-01-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

This is an application that will allow you to use the Nintendo Wiimote as a remote control for your computer music collection. It works with iTunes, Winamp, Windows Media Player, Napster and VLC.
Many features such as Play/Pause, Next/Prev Track, Shuffle On/Off, and many more. Any button can be mapped to any feature. Plus the motion sensing is used. Shake the Wiimote to the right and the Next track is played. All from 50 feet away through walls and floors. Plus the program is free. You can check it out here .

These features are now also available:

added support for VLC
added support for Quintessential Player
added support for Media Player Classic
added support for Foobar2000
added function: Turn off PC
added function: Mouse controls

Modded Wii and Online Game Play

2007-12-27T12:53:00.000-08:00

If you have a Wii maybe you're familiar with modding or mod chips that allow you to play copied and imported games on your Wii console. If so you may be aware of the ongoing debate. To mod or not to mod that is the question is'nt it. May be I can provide some pros and cons of modding your Wii. First of all I pesonally haven't heard of anyone getting banned for playing a modded Wii online. Currently you can use a modded Wii online no problem but there is no telling when Nintendo will roll out an update and mass-ban modded consoles. Some modchips have an 'off' setting so you can go online with legit games but there is no telling what method they will use to detect mods.

PROS

there are modchips that can be turned "off "
as of now nintendo has not banned any one so far
you can play imported games
you can play copied games
enable the use of homebrews

CONS

possibly getting banned by nintendo
bricking your console
copyright laws
keeping up with what games you can play with a mod chip and which games you can not
every time nintendo updates it's firmware the chip may or may not continue to work

Bottom Line :

You mod your wii at your own risk just ask some xbox 360 owners that were banned by microsoft for using modded xbox 360s online. I don't know what method they used but the xbox 360 mod chip was a firmware modchip that could be detected by microsoft. But the wii mod chip is a drive modchip that supposedly transmit the data to the Wii in a way that the Wii reads it as being an official disc. That being said could Nintendo find out if your Wii has a modchip, probably. All they have to do is put one into a console and see how to detect it and then go hunting.The real question is rather, would they? The only argument suggesting Nintendo could do anything right now, is they could in fact track NTSC consoles playing PAL games or visa versa. So if you really want to mod your wii i'm certain there are plenty of places to do so but the best and legal way of playing copied games is to get some kind of software like Game Copy Pro like I do, then that way you don't need a mod chip anyway and you don't have to worry about when Nintendo starts craking down you wont get banned. Suggestions or comments are welcome.

Nintendo, Wii Have A Problem

2007-12-20T13:35:00.000-08:00

If you are one of the many that’s been interested in buying a Nintendo Wii this holiday season then you are aware of just how difficult it has been to get one and people are capitalizing on that fact, and so are many retailers. Some retailers selling Wii bundles for as high as 650 dollars.While it is clearly fantastic news that Nintendo is selling out of Wii consoles around the world at such a fast rate, it also leaves some negative consequnces as the company is in the tricky position of not really being able to properly plan out the next few months of releases due to the lack of new systems available.
Additionaly Nintendo has been forced to pull ads for its Wii console because of the high demand.The company has said that the adverts for the console will be replaced by adverts for its handheld console, the Nintendo DS. A Nintendo spokesman is reported to have said: "We have been running the campaign all year round, but we want to take a responsible stance this Christmas and not fuel demand".
According to Nintendo production has been stepped up to 1.8 million units a month, however it has still not been able to meet the demand.The volume of searches for "nintendo wii" has increased 158% since November 2006, while searches for "wii" have increased by 278%.
One offer that may help thwart some of the high-priced console bundles and lets consumers buy a Nintendo Wii alone at suggested retail is the Wii rain check program offered by GameStop and Nintendo. Consumers wanting to buy a Nintendo Wii can stop by a local GameStop retailer and reserve a Wii for pick-up sometime before January 25. You will receive an empty game case with a slip inside that guarantees you a console, and GameStop will give you a call when it arrives.

wii

Latest Wii Firmware Update

2007-12-12T11:47:00.000-08:00

Nintendo Wii owners may notice a pulsing blue glow emanating from their tiny white consoles as updated system software and the latest updates from the wii shop have arrived.The latest Wii firmware update is geared towards this shopping season.

Now in the Wii Shop Channel, you can buy Virtual Console games and send them to your friends. With this new feature you can now spend your Wii Shop points on a Wii Shop item that you can have sent to a friend who have traded Friend Codes with you. If they got the game, the gift you sent will be bounced back so that you won’t waste your money. Worth to mention is that one of the new VC games, Pokemon Snap, allows players to post pictures that they have taken in the game to their Wii message board and share with friends. Also included in the update Photo Channel 1.1: Personalize the Photo Channel icon on your Wii menu, and replace MP3 music file support for AAC compatibility. A handful of minor visual changes to the Wii Shop Channel have also been added, but nothing worth scrambling to the internet for.

Wii Mod Chips Illegal?

2007-12-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

Showing that they’re not one to be hacked with, Nintendo issued cease and desist notices to 16 German shops it believes are selling Wii mod chips. In addition, Nintendo is demanding the name of the mod chip manufacturer.I can understand why Nintendo may be concerned over mod chips serving more purpose than to merely play import titles on a given console or to backup existing games you own but the question I'm burning on is are the mod chips themselves illegal? I have searched and asked until I'm blue in the face and I can't find a black and white answer. Some say the mod chip it's self is legal but as soon as you place inside the console that's illegal, so if that's the case how is that Nintendo can crack down on chip manufacturers. I mean if the chip isn't installed what are the grounds for going after sellers and manufacturers.This is the statement on Nintendo's UK official site.

"Mod chips have been adjudicated to be illegal in various countries around the world, including the Unites States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Most European countries have also already adopted laws prohibiting the circumvention of technological measures for copyright protection. People caught installing or selling mod chips may be subject to criminal charges."

Mod chips are available for purchase now for about $40(£20)less than what you pay for the average video game. If Nintendo wants to stop these activies they better be in it for the long haul because as soon as they make manufacturing modifications that render the mod chips useles the sellers of the mod chips recognize the issue and work on their next work around. So in my opinion it's a complete waste of time for Nintendo. If anybody else has any thoughts on the topic please comment.

How to Turn Your Wii Controller Into a Mouse

2007-11-28T16:02:00.000-08:00

You may not know it, but if you have a Wii (and consequentially a Wii controller), you are using a Bluetooth-enabled device that is perfectly compatible with your computer if you know how to set it up. You can turn your Wiimote into a fully operational computer mouse just by following these quick and easy steps.

STEPS:

1. You are going to need a Bluetooth dongle if your computer is not Bluetooth enabled (and it probably isn't unless you have a laptop). Buy one of these first if you need one.

2. Connect and install your Bluetooth dongle on your computer.

3. Go to the following website to download the driver you'll need:

Windows -http://carl.kenner.googlepages.com/GlovePIE029.zip

Mac OSX - http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=183966 &package_id=214095&release_id=469783

Linux - http://www.wiili.org/index.php/WMD

4. Once installed, find a desktop icon called "My Bluetooth Spaces" or find a tiny "B" icon beside your computer clock and click that(You can also find another icon in "Start").

5. After that, click Bluetooth Setup.

6. Click "Next" and scroll down and click "Human Interface Device".

7. Then when it says "Searching Devices" press 1 and 2 on your Wiimote.

8. When it gets connected, finish the setup and your done!

9. With these steps, you can also play games and softwares for the controller.

Tips:

Make sure that your Bluetooth dongle is in range of the Wiimote (about 20-30 feet), otherwise you won't have a very effective or efficient mouse.
Be sure to check the default settings on the driver utility to configure the Wiimote mouse exactly as you would like it.
You might need a sensor bar on top of your screen or two lit up candles.

Coping Wii Games

2007-11-28T14:18:00.000-08:00

Games can get scratched or lost or destroyed and if you're a gamer you know this already.So,what do you need to do to prevent this from happening? You make backups of your games, but this can be a time consuming and energy burning task. When I first decided to backup all my games I was told I had to download this application and install another application and it went on and on then to top it all off the disk wouldn't play. I knew it had to be a better more convenient way to things. When I came across Game Copy Pro I knew I had found the solution.Game Copy Pro allows users to copy virtually any video game. This includes PS2, Xbox, PSP, Wii, Gamecube, Gameboy, Gameboy Advanced, PC Games and more. It will show you how to backup virtually any video game using a CD, or DVD burner.This software even goes a step further by showing you step by step how these games will be played on your system as well.In many cases a person copies the games just fine but then cannot get them to play. This package has taught me how to make them work which is the whole point of doing it in the first place right? The fun doesn't stop there when you get access to Game Copy Pro you also get information and hacking tools for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Gamecube, PSP, Nintendo DS, Playstation, PS One, PS2, Xbox, Dreamcast, and Game Boy/GameBoy Advanced. You also get access to the Game Download database. You will have access to thousands of games ready for you to download and play on your game console.And best all you don't need a mod chip to play your copied games.I paid 29.95 for my membership ( which is a one time fee)and I haven't regretted doing it so far because if i'm unhappy with the service they offer a 60 day money back guarantee. If you're interested you can check it out here.

Black Friday Deals: Amazon.com

2007-11-21T18:51:00.000-08:00

Still undecided on which deals to pounce on once Black Friday hits?How about some pretty nice video game deals that Amazon.com will soon unveil for this Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. Apparently some of these offers are good through "Cyber Monday," but most will sell out early on Friday anyway.What's more is that Amazon will be having a good number of Wii consoles in stock for the Friday madness. Of course, there's a good chance that they will be sold out as well, so be quick in making your decisions.

Here's a rundown of the deals we know of so far:

Halo 3 Legendary for Xbox 360 $79.99 ( save $50 )

Bioshock for Xbox 360 $39.99 ( save $20 )

Gears of War for Xbox 360 $39.99 ( save $20 )

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas Limited Edition for 360 $19.99 ( save $40 )

PlayStation 3 Sixaxis controller $19.99 ( save $30 )

DiRT for PS3 $29.99 ( save $30 )

Puzzle Quest for PSP $9.99 ( save $10 )

Gold Nintendo DS with Zelda $149.99

Pink Nintendo DS with Nintendogs $149.99

New York Times Crosswords for DS $9.99 ( half off )

World of Warcraft Battlechest for PC $19.99 ( save $20 )

World of Warcraft for PC $9.99 ( half off )

Select Wii Games $19.99

And many others with half off or more

Wii Fit: Balanced Gaming

2007-11-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

The active-play phenomenon started by Wii Sports now spreads to your whole body thanks to the pressure-sensitive Wii Balance Board (name not final), which comes packed with the Wii Fit Game. The Wii Balance Board is a Reebok Step look-alike, with dual sensors that can detect your weight and balance on each side as you exercise to the various on-screen Wii activities in Wii Fit.The board is used for an extensive array of fun and dynamic activities, including aerobics, yoga, muscle stretches and games.If you've had enough gaming, you can also have the Balance Board diagnose your body mass index.One of the games that will support the Wii Balance Board is Namco's upcoming Family Ski Game. It looks like the company had a change of heart, given they previously stated it would not be supporting the new peripheral. We imagine this will come as great news for those hoping to include this title in their workout regimen - it'll make a good complement to Wii Fit.

The ThinkGeek WiiHelm

2007-11-08T12:40:00.000-08:00

The Nintendo Wii has surely revolutionized gaming as we know it. Rabid fanboys everywhere are now flailing their arms in delight as they wield the Wiimote as a tennis racket, baseball bat or sword. Problem is the average gaming geek is just not up to the strenuous task of vigorous arm movement for longer than 10 minutes. This makes those extended play sessions a thing of the past... and who wants to beef up at the gym just to play video games on your couch? We sure don't.
Fortunately for cream puffs everywhere the WiiHelm is now available at ThinkGeek Electronics

Simply lock your existing Wiimote into the stylish white helmet and free your hands for relaxation... or other important tasks. After extensive scientific study it was found that manipulating muscles in your neck for 10 minutes uses 64% less energy than waving your arms about like a lunatic. The WiiHelm works great with all of your favorite Wii games and the included foot pedal allows easy button presses using minimal toe effort. Plus the amazing Wiimote Saf-T-Lok technology and double reinforced head strap save you thousands of dollars in damaged flat-screen repair charges.Find out What's New at ThinkGeek!

Why Bundle Wii? Nintendo Wii A Sure Hit For The Holidays.

2007-11-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

Plan to bundle Wii for Christmas
As a middle-aged father of 1, I have recently been exposed to Nintendo Wii for the first time, by my 14 year old daughter. Her mom had bought it for her last week, and I am sure it cost a bundle. Wii is the latest and greatest video game console from Nintendo. Wii is also, possibly the most important development in the history of the home video game console, because of it's potential to cause us to exercise.
Stores that bundle Wii consoles with activity-based Nintendo Wii games, could very well be adding to the activity deficiencies of the kids th... (read more)

Author: JD Stratis

Nintendo Wii - Intuitive Game play Guaranteed

2007-11-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

The Nintendo Wii is a video gaming console introduced by Nintendo. As a matter of fact, it could be compared to other gaming consoles such as the Sony Playstation 3 or the Xbox 360. Some people may prefer these other gaming consoles over it. However, the this console comes with its own set of advantages that make it a “must-have” among avid gamers.
For one, the controller of the Nintendo Wii is very impressive. Bluetooth wireless technology is used to translate the movements of a player's body directly onto the screen. This is quite an improvement over other gaming consoles, wherein user... (read more)

Author: Raina Kelsey

Nintendo System-Wii The Revolution Has Begun

2007-11-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

Nintendo System Wii The Revolution Has Begun
Though I haven't really been a video game lover for years, and I hadn't tried the new Nintendo System Wii I did teach myself some of the finer concepts of playing "actual" tennis, from playing David Cranes tennis on an old Nintendo Console, many years ago. I figured out the specifics of spin, and curving the balI on the "real" tennis court from playing a video game!
Though that's really the only game I've ever played to any extent, I was excited when my daughter came to visit me, and brought her brand new Nintendo System Wii with her! ... (read more)

Author: JD Stratis