Hacking Hacking a Japanese VWii/WiiU with Smash Stack

[David271749]

Alright, so this is my first time modding. I barely spent time on my Wii, and gave it to my brother before moving from home. I've got a few goals to shoot for here, but my main goal is basically reduce any risk of bricking that I can. Does anybody here have experience with hacking a Japanese WiiU? I've been studying a few of the stickied threads here, and trying to get the basics down before going through with anything.

Goals for this mod:

• Don't Brick It
• Install emulators and roms for older nintendo systems up to N64 or GCN
• Be able to play games on the Wii U game pad. (I understand this may be impossible.)

What I have so far:

• 2GB SD card should arrive tomorrow
• SD card reader
• copy of brawl for wii arriving tomorrow
• lots of questions

I did some research, and decided to go with Smash Stack. It seemed like the most commonly used, and it also seems like a more reliable exploit in the long run. Also, some of the links for other exploits weren't working. When looking at the exploit, I noticed there was a special zip download required hacking any VWii that isn't NTSC-U. There's actually one for NTSC-J specifically, but I haven't found any other information on how to use this file. It's here. I'm guessing I download it, and put it on my SD card before doing the exploit. I think this is going to take me a few days to do, because I'm going to be doing this very carefully. It's good that I have a week off from work for this. Any tips or pointers, especially from those who have worked with the Japanese Wii U, are greatly appreciated.

 

[sj33]

I have a Japanese WiiU and hacked my vWii earlier in the year. There's nothing particularly different hacking with the Japanese version aside from using the unofficial Japanese file. Here's some general tips though.

-Despite the phrasing in the guide, you don't have to wait 24 hours after deleting the custom stages. The guide makes it sound like you do, but that only applies to people who use the game online and thus have stages saved online. Just make sure you delete the three custom stages before you try to use the 'exploit' save on the SD card.

-The exploit will install Homebrew Channel, and you load homebrew from there. Retroarch is a good all-round emulator and faster for things like Snes SuperFX games. However, you might want to use use console-specific emulators for any specific features (Snes9x GX, VGB GX etc.).

-For GameCube games, you can use Nintendont. This is a program that loads GameCube games from USB device and is the only way to play GameCube games on a WiiU. It is excellent, however.

-If you get sick of having to load everything from the Homebrew Channel, you can install a 'forwarder' which will load the homebrew application straight from the Wii system menu. These are .wad files and installed using YAWMM.

-It might be an idea to invest in a cheap USB hard drive. Then you can load Wii and GameCube games from USB device, as well as use it as larger storage for emulators.

-Use Gecko OS for region free with retail Wii discs.

-The WiiU Pro Controller is only supported with a select few homebrew. This includes Nintendont, and specially modified versions of Snes9x GX, VBA etc.

 

[sj33]

I should add too, the chances of bricking anything are extremely low so don't worry unnecessarily.

In general, don't do anything that modifies system files (such as modifying IOS files, though installing cIOS is fine) and don't install Wii forwarders. You need vWii-specific forwarders.

The guides are well written to avoid messing with system data. People who brick their consoles are usually doing something they shouldn't.

 

[David271749]

Awesome. It's good to see somebody else in Japan whose been through this before. I have a 2TB external buffalo HD that worked with Wii U before. Would that work. If not, I've got a smaller usb that holds micro SD cards. One thing you mentioned was Gecko for region free with wii discs. I'm guessing with that I'll be able to play wii discs from any region? I haven't looked into Gecko, so I'm not sure about all of it's features.

It's funny. I wouldn't have come here if I hadn't been screwed out of all the digital content I downloaded a year ago. I've found that Nintendo of America customer service is much more friendly and useful than their Japanese counterparts. I let go of my old Wii U. It had a NNID linked to it. Got a new Wii U. Read somewhere that Nintendo will move your ID with all your content to your new Wii U, if you call them. Turns out that's true for America, but not for Japan. Japan wants you to have physical possession of both systems for a content transfer. I hate to think about what happens to people who have had their Wii U stolen.

Anyways, thanks for the help so far. I was looking at Nintendont, but might save that for last. It seems a little more complicated than emulators for older systems. For GCN games, would one of those new gamecube controllers connectors with an actual gamecube controller work? I was thinking of buying one, but still on the fence. I already have three pro controllers. I'm definitely fine with using just a wiimote for the older games. I would like to set those up to be played on the game pad, but I'm not sure if it can be done. Maybe only with certain emulators?

 

[sj33]

You can use any USB device you want, I have a little 2.5" 320GB USB hard drive. You can even use SD card if you really want to, though better to use a USB hard drive in my opinion!

Gecko OS is a homebrew application that has many features, but the ability to boot Wii discs from any region is the main one. It'll be an application you boot from the Homebrew Channel, though I installed a forwarder so I can run it straight from the system menu. Don't worry too much about forwarders right now though, install those later.

Nintendont is easier to use than it looks. It is an independent application so you load it like any other homebrew, though it can also be loaded through other loaders such as USB Loader GX (if you want all you Wii and GameCube games together in one loader, in a nice menu with all the covers etc.). You can use the WiiU Pro Controller, Wii Classic Controllers or USB HID devices. It is compatible with the recently released GameCube controller adaptor, but it's not necessary. I use a Wii Classic Controller because I already own one and am poor. I think it does now support the Wii Remote, but there's not enough buttons or sticks for that to be a very good solution. Use your WiiU Pro Controller.

Pretty much all emulators will support Wii Remote and Nunchuck if that's all you have, though you might want to invest in a preowned Wii Classic Controller. Maybe the original (non-Pro) version because that has analogue trigger (good for Gamecube games).

 

[retrofan_k]

-For GameCube games, you can use Nintendont. This is a program that loads GameCube games from USB device and is the only way to play GameCube games on a WiiU. It is excellent, however.

Wrong, as it is not the only way for GC games on a WiiU. You can use Devolution on a WiiU , if you own the original GC disks. It is near 100% compatibly will all games, yet the only downside is that you need a wii to rip the games using cleanRip.

 

[sj33]

Sorry, yeah there's also Devolution. But I think you need a regular Wii handy because it has to check you own the genuine disc (cannot do this on a WiiU) then save that data to a Wii Remote and move all the stuff over to your WiiU. Then perform acrobatics and a bit of voodoo magic.

Or, err... just use Nintendont. OP has already said that he gave his Wii to his brother, and his genuine GameCube discs are probably back in his home country just like mine are.

 

[retrofan_k]

Sorry, yeah there's also Devolution. But I think you need a regular Wii handy because it has to check you own the genuine disc (cannot do this on a WiiU) then save that data to a Wii Remote and move all the stuff over to your WiiU. Then perform acrobatics and a bit of voodoo magic.

Or, err... just use Nintendont.

If you own like myself, 30 + originals from back in the GC days, it's ideal. Yes it does have AP and you need to sync the same wii remote you used to rip the games via the Wii console to the WiiU. Afterwards, you just sync up the WiiU controller.

Plus, the original discs only have to be verified once on the Wii and then you can transfer the HDD to the WiiU.

Nintendont is great but this is another alternative, if you own the originals, as it works great.

 

[sj33]

The very premise of Devolution on the WiiU assumes that everybody has an original Wii. Mine is back in the UK along with all my original GameCube discs.

People shouldn't be required to own a completely different console just so they can use GameCube games on their WiiU.

 

[David271749]

So, would you use Gecko with Wii isos or can you just run those separately? I've heard of Devolution, but it wouldn't suit me. All my GCN games are back in America.

 

[rennsport]

For Wii games you can use programs such as USB Loader GX or Configurable USB Loader. These programs can also boot GCN games using Nindendont.

 

[sj33]

Gecko OS is for region free booting of actual retail Wii discs.

Loaders such as USB Loader GX (my preferred loader), CFG Loader etc. are for loading Wii games from USB hard drive. These are also region free. These also support loading GameCube games when used with Nintendont. This is also region free.

 

[David271749]

sj33, are you still on 5.2?

 

[David271749]

Ok. Just installed homebrew channel with the homebrew browser. I'm watching it set up now. I'm guessing there's no more need for this SD card, unless I'm installing apps. Is it safe to remove the SD card until I want to add channel forwarders or WADs? What if I install emulators and roms through the homebrew channel or browser? Will go directly to Wii storage, or should I go ahead and plug in my external drive? Does the external drive have to be formatted for the Wii, or can I keep other files I need on it as well? It is 2 TB, and I have a lot of Ghibili movies saved up on that thing. lol.

 

[David271749]

I've also noticed that my screen size changes when I use the home brew channel. It was full size right after installation, but after exiting and going back it's stayed at this kind of windowed mode. Will emulators run like this as well?

 

[sj33]

You need the SD card - everything is installed to the SD card, including the Homebrew Channel. No SD, no homebrew! The USB device can be formatted however you want, in general.

I forgot about the Homebrew Channel broken widescreen. A recent system update inadvertedly broke widescreen in Homebrew Channel. Install this forwarder to fix. https://gbatemp.net/threads/fix-for-the-hbc-with-the-v4-0-wii-u-update.355462/

I'm still on 5.2, but not for any particular reason. I just don't needlessly update unless a game requires me to do so. Nintendo have shown zero interest in patching vWii exploits, so feel free to update if you want.

 

[David271749]

Thanks. I found that forwarder last night. I've backed up keys and NAND. Now I'm just looking at emulators and channel forwarders for vwii. I'll probably work on installing Nintendont tonight or tomorrow, and start looking in to how to get GCN and Wii isos to work. I'm thinking GCN isos will just run with Nintendont, but I'm not sure about the Wii isos.

 

[sj33]

GC isos run with Nintendont, Wii isos with whatever loader you choose to use (USB Loader GX in my case - remember to download this specific revision if you use that loader. I think you install the official release first then overwrite). want all your games together in one loader with cover art etc.

I personally don't like cluttering up the system menu with a billion forwarders, I like most homebrew tildly listed in the Homebrew Channel. However, I do have loaders for what I deem to be important 'system' stuff such as Gecko OS, USB Loader etc. You can install whatever you want, of course.

 

[David271749]

So, install the loader through hbc, overwrite files in usb loader gx folder, and just run the app through hbc again?

 

[sj33]

Yeah. It's just the latest build because the 'official' release is pretty ancient now. Install the official release then overwrite with that revision.

Nintendont is updated on a daily basis, by the way. So it's worth updating your version quite regularly!