[shaunj66]

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New Wii Modchip announced - WiiKey! First upgradeable solution

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The first upgradeable Wii modchip has been announced - the WiiKey. The WiiKey has been produced by the team that brought us the xenoGC. It is another quick solder solution that fixes to the DVD drive PCB and can be upgraded via updates placed on discs. It allows for play back of NTSC-U and NTSC-J titles on a NTSC Wii console, but is not truly region-free. The rest of the specs are similar to that of the Wiinja and CycloWiz. Here's the full specifications list: Fully upgradeable via DVD/disc (future proof, expect cool features to come) Direct boot of Wii backups (like originals) Direct boot of GC backups (like originals) Boots different region GC games/backups Boots different NTSC region Wii games/backups Supports multi-disc games Supports DVD-R and DVD+R Built-in audio fix (for games using streaming, no patch required) Stealth mode 4 wires & quick solder interface Compact design, best quality components, rock solid high speed controller Professional ESD packing Shipping is expected to start on February 7th 2007 but a retail price is unknown. Expect more news on the WiiKey soon. Thanks to deufeufeu for the heads up.

[HugeCock]

Hells YAH boy.......Good news indeed!

[deathspawn99]

the faster these things get out there, the faster a "real" solution is out there.


real being regionfree, upgradeable.

[Costello]

A funny quote from MaxConsole:

A new mod has been announced known as the 'WiiKey' which is rumored to be made by the 'XenoGC' creators. Their website lists a number of features and claims it will be fully upgradable by DVD disc. Unfortunately they do not display a 'real' image of the mod and only a small picture which suggests it could be far away from production.

there is a DATE announced ("Shipping is expected to start on February 7th 2007")
another lame trick to make people buy the Cyclowii from Divineo (after pretending the CycloWii is the first/only REAL wii modchip . . . ) ...

for some reason MaxConsole reminds me of Sony.


On topic, this modchip is probably the most interesting as it can be updated
Now we need to know the price - perhaps the only drawback?

[shaunj66]

A funny quote from MaxConsole:

A new mod has been announced known as the 'WiiKey' which is rumored to be made by the 'XenoGC' creators. Their website lists a number of features and claims it will be fully upgradable by DVD disc. Unfortunately they do not display a 'real' image of the mod and only a small picture which suggests it could be far away from production.

there is a DATE announced ("Shipping is expected to start on February 7th 2007")
another lame trick to make people buy the Cyclowii from Divineo...

for some reason MaxConsole reminds me of Sony

Maxconsole are a big biased joke. I feel sorry for their readers getting force fed such bullshit.

[Scorpei]

On topic, this modchip is probably the most interesting as it can be updated
Now we need to know the price - perhaps the only drawback?

The thing is, the other chips could also be updateable (or at least the Wiinja) depending on what hardware is used (what PIC). However one couldn't use a DVD to do it (by default).

[zatelli]

It allows for play back of NTSC-U and NTSC-J titles on a NTSC Wii console, but is not truly region-free.

Do you mean if applied to a PAL Wii, it ain't be able to playback NTSC (U/J) , however, if using the same system it'd only be able to playback dvds from that system (NTSC in that example), no matter the region (U or J). Am I right ?
If it were to have full interoperability between PAL and NTSC systems, this solution would have been awesome. Good effort though.

Me wonders if full region ineroperability can be achieved by means of firmware updates ..

[SlyGuy]

Quick question re: backups. Can my computer's DVD-RW drive read and backup my Wii games or do I need special hardware/software to do this beyond normal DVD burning software?

[Kaphis]

...omg omg??...NTSC region unlocked??...meaning I can play jap games?!! I dont' care how expensive this chip is...I am soo onboard

[Emu]

How come #ndstemp always has maxconsole updates posted in the chat when noone supports them here anymore?

[shaunj66]

Quick question re: backups.  Can my computer's DVD-RW drive read and backup my Wii games or do I need special hardware/software to do this beyond normal DVD burning software?

You need a very specific DVD drive (LG brand) to dump Wii games and it can take approx 20-50 hours. Burning them isn't an issue.

[Emu]

With this in mind shaunj, forget backing up my own <.<;

[zatelli]

Quick question re: backups.  Can my computer's DVD-RW drive read and backup my Wii games or do I need special hardware/software to do this beyond normal DVD burning software?

You need a very specific DVD drive (LG brand) to dump Wii games and it can take approx 20-50 hours. Burning them isn't an issue.

I think you've forgot mentioning to unscamble them prior to burning backups to DVDs because dumps are in RAW format at least for the time being.

[bryehn]

plays Japanese games = SOLD!

[Gaydrian]

I was wary to pre-order the other two as I felt that something better was to come. Now to me this sounds much better than the other two, but still wary.

At the moment I don't really NEED a mod chip so I'm happy to wait and see what else turns up.

I look forward to the Gbatemp reviews as they're informative and mostly right.