thirtynine. Posted May 16, 2007 Posted May 16, 2007 This is a bit of a weird move from datel. PRESS RELEASE The trouble with most games consoles, is you can't modify the game code when it's running. Sure, you can use tools such as Datel's own Action Replay game enhancers to input all sorts of cheats and enhancements, but there's no straightforward way for amateur programmers and techie tinkerers to get inside the game, investigating how it works and trying out modifications and tweaks you've programmed yourself. Thankfully, if you're a Wii owner Datel has come to the rescue with Drive Doctor, the ultimate aid for the hardcore tinkerer and amateur programmer. With Drive Doctor for your Nintendo Wii, you can gain a unique insight into the under-the-bonnet operation of your console, examining, analysing and altering the Wii drive's memory... With Drive Doctor in place, you can connect your Wii to your PC using the supplied USB 2.0 cable. You can then review its innermost operations, watching your Wii software in action through Drive Doctor's PC application. You can even add data of your own, all from your PC. Drive Doctor’s memory and command views give you a unique insight into the innermost workings of your Wii’s drive memory, and even lets you make on-the-fly adjustments. You can read status, write data, send control commands, report the drive status and more. By injecting your own code into the data stream, you can create your own effects and experiment with modifying the program. It’s fun! And as the Wii home brew scene grows and prospers, the device will also come in handy for playing freely-downloadable software straight from your console. Fitting Drive Doctor requires a little soldering, so make sure you have your precision Soldering Iron handy. Full fitting instructions are supplied. It’s a fairly simple task, requiring you to connect just five wires. After that, the unit just clips to the back of your console. It remains in place even when not in use - just unplug your USB cable and you can use your Wii in the usual way. It's styled to match the console, and completely unintrusive when not in use. They could get in trouble.
thirtynine. Posted May 16, 2007 Author Posted May 16, 2007 This is serious. I presume it is anyway its posted on a couple of websites. Also its on code junkies uk website http://uk.codejunkies.com/news_reviews.asp?c=GB&cr=GBP&cs=%A3&r=1&l=1&p=23&i=9102&s=8 And datel list code junkies as an official reseller http://www.datel.co.uk/
Smiter Posted May 16, 2007 Posted May 16, 2007 I don't like the sound of this. If I read this correctly, you are totally free to input whatever code you wish into the Wii, and the Wii thinks it's coming from the disc. You could probably break the region code, play pirated copies, maybe even cheat in online games (when they come out) and write exploits to mess up other Wiis. Thankfully, it requires soldering so it could be limited to just the hardcore hackers. I hope I'm just being alarmist, but I can't shake the feeling it could cause a lot of damage in the wrong hands. Since mod chips are illegal in some countries and in a grey area in others, Nintendo could be able to stop Datel from launching the Drive Doctor because it directly tampers with the Wii hardware and could open up some real holes in its security.
thirtynine. Posted May 16, 2007 Author Posted May 16, 2007 If you look at the points it soilders to its the smae points as a wii modchip, personally i think alot of what datel have stated it can do is a lie, to me it looks like an external modchip which is updatable via usb.
McPhee Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 Not too sure about this, if true then its the only proper Wii mod-chip around. So far theres only drive chips You could probably break the region code Been done already play pirated copies As above maybe even cheat in online games (when they come out) and write exploits to mess up other Wiis. Maybe, but its nothing new. The Xbox was more moddable than that and didn't really have many problems from it. Personally the prospect of Wii Media Ceter makes any other compromises worth it! I'd install one of these in a heartbeat
thirtynine. Posted May 17, 2007 Author Posted May 17, 2007 Considering it soildered to the same points as the drive chips i doubt its any differnt.
BlueStar Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 This is what people did before the first modchips - wired a cable to the drive points and used a PC as a big, unweildy modchip, basically injecting the same code that caused the drive to mis-report the media type to the Wii from a computer rather than a chip.
Smiter Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 Aye, Switch, I know that the region code and pirate copy stuff has already been done. It's just that my main concern is that the Drive Doctor allows you to insert whatever data you want to, while the other modchips simply break the disc security. Then again, I just realised that, since each Wii has an unique code, Nintendo could be able to block off the Wiis of cheaters. If they set it up that way, that is. I admit I really don't like Datel. At least not ever since they helped mess up PSO on the Dreamcast and Gamecube ("Online cheating? Hey, not our problem.") Region-free-stuff like the Freeloader is cool, tools that let people cheat online aren't cool. (end rant)
ghost_zero Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 Aye, Switch, I know that the region code and pirate copy stuff has already been done. It's just that my main concern is that the Drive Doctor allows you to insert whatever data you want to, while the other modchips simply break the disc security. Then again, I just realised that, since each Wii has an unique code, Nintendo could be able to block off the Wiis of cheaters. If they set it up that way, that is. I admit I really don't like Datel. At least not ever since they helped mess up PSO on the Dreamcast and Gamecube ("Online cheating? Hey, not our problem.") Region-free-stuff like the Freeloader is cool, tools that let people cheat online aren't cool. (end rant) Well: The point here is that PSO was mis-designed if you think of online play. I mean store characters offline although you play online is just stupid... It's relatively easy to manipulate. The should have stored the online on their server like they do in PSU (and damn they even took a monthly fee and didn't even store their characters on the servers... This is not Datels fault, originally it was online designed for cheating offline (not that I like offline cheating either - how can games be funny if you are nearly invincible e.g.? - but that's everyone's own point) Because of region free Wii, I think that is great (that you can play pirated games is not that great but region free is great). Although I wonder if you want region free: Are all games yet supported and if so which mod-chip is it (there are already 3 from what I know)..? Because if Datel won't come with a Wii Freeloader for Wii games and there come out games that will never make it to Europe but I like, I might have to use one of those mod-chips although I hate doing so (but probably I would wait some more months for a freeloader to come up before I would go for a modchip)...
Cube Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 Are all games yet supported and if so which mod-chip is it (there are already 3 from what I know)..? Not all games are supported. From what I've heard, Super Paper Mario is a big problem with mod chips/
ghost_zero Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 That's bad... Well we probably need to either wait on a modchip update (which could fix that Super Paper Mario Issue) or on better modchips... Although an update would be easier But as said I don't own a modchip yet and if all goes well I probably won't even get one - depends on: if a freeloader for Wii games will come out or not...
BlueStar Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 Super Paper mario isn't a problem for mod chips - there are games that don't work but SPM isn't one of them. it's only a problem if you haven't updated your Wii for months and run SPM, because it updates your firmware with the american version, screwing it up. If you make sure your Wiis up to date before playing it for the first time it plays perfect.
Cube Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=802808 Interesting...
DCK Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 This sounds very similar to the Phantasy Star Online exploit on the GameCube. Due to a bug in the network code you could connect the broadband router to a PC to stream data to the Cube and it would think it was reading from disk. I'd say it's pretty cool stuff, but this'll probably only get used for illegal stuff.
Solidus Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 I just want something that lets me play my import cube games on my Wii without fuss.
BlueStar Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 This sounds very similar to the Phantasy Star Online exploit on the GameCube. Due to a bug in the network code you could connect the broadband router to a PC to stream data to the Cube and it would think it was reading from disk. I'd say it's pretty cool stuff, but this'll probably only get used for illegal stuff. The game data is still read from a disc. The only data inputed if using this method to play pirate games is to change the media type sent to the Wii from the drive from "DVD-R" to "Hunkey dory kosher Wii disc"
DCK Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 The game data is still read from a disc. The only data inputed if using this method to play pirate games is to change the media type sent to the Wii from the drive from "DVD-R" to "Hunkey dory kosher Wii disc"Right, that's true. This does have the potential to get Wii game streaming going though, if a special disk is made. It should work a lot better on GameCube, because it was dead slow because of the 10 megabit connection of the adapter. What's the soldering needed for though? Is it to connect the disk to USB port?
thirtynine. Posted May 17, 2007 Author Posted May 17, 2007 Right, that's true. This does have the potential to get Wii game streaming going though, if a special disk is made. It should work a lot better on GameCube, because it was dead slow because of the 10 megabit connection of the adapter. What's the soldering needed for though? Is it to connect the disk to USB port? Ok its not possable to stream wii games as that thing is just a drive chip, that lets you update it via usb.
DCK Posted May 17, 2007 Posted May 17, 2007 Ok its not possable to stream wii games as that thing is just a drive chip, that lets you update it via usb. Okay, the two are not similar in any way
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