Hacking Must-Have Homebrew

[recordrevolution]

First off, let me say how awesome it is that a forum like this exists. There's so much info around these boards, it's been really cool browsing around and seeing how friendly and helpful the community is.

That said, I'm about to buy a WiiU (first Nintendo console since N64) and would love to hear some of your recommendations for an ideal homebrew set up. What are the must-have applications that changed the way you use your system? I've got a spare HD which I'd like to turn into a games library that'll be permanently plugged into the system, what would you guys recommend installing for the smoothest run?

Thanks in advance for any tips/advice.

 

[Adeka]

Retroarch - emulator for pretty much everything except gamecube

Nintendont - plays gamecube games natively

Your choice of usb loader for Wii games (gx, cfg, or wiiflow are your 3 choices. Try them all, use the one you like most)

 

[TotalInsanity4]

I'll add to this:

DumpMiiNand- Prevents you from f***ing up your vWii permanently by giving you a NAND backup, helpful only if you have made dump prior to partial brick and can still access the HBC

Yet Another BlueDump Mod (YABDM)- " " " " " " " " by giving you clean dumps of individual vIOSs (do not choose to fakesign these or you're a dead man walking should a vIOS go bad (as it will not re-install correctly))

Homebrew Browser- download homebrew apps directly to your SD card/USB device through an internet connection on your Wii/Wii U

WiiXplorer- file manager for your Wii, SD card, USB device, and if memory serves, file viewer for on-disk information

WiiMC- Easily the best media player for any console on the market today (it can even play more formats than the native PS3 media player!). Unfortunately, it's ability to play DVDs was nerfed on the Wii U due to the disk drive being locked to Blu-Ray format disks, but it's still very possible to play videos, look at pictures, listen to radio, and watch DVD rips off of an SD card or USB device

Riivolution- On-the-fly game file patcher. If you have New Super Mario Bros. Wii, I highly suggest looking up a game hack called Newer SMBW

Neek2o vWii edition (when released)- Play your virtual console games and apply hacks without the worry of bricking your vWii!

I'll probably keep adding to this list as I think of things, but those are the absolute must have's off the top of my head (in addition to Adeka's list, of course)

 

[recordrevolution]

Excellent recommendations so far, thanks guys. TotalInsanity, I'm looking forward to your updates haha.
How about vital hardware? I was thinking I'll grab a pro controller, as it seems to fare pretty well with most emulators.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Excellent recommendations so far, thanks guys. TotalInsanity, I'm looking forward to your updates haha.
How about vital hardware? I was thinking I'll grab a pro controller, as it seems to fare pretty well with most emulators.

I'd say that (and if you get it, MAKE FOR DAMN CERTAIN you have an official model! (libWUP is really finicky with non-official controllers)), a few Wii Remote+ if you can find them kind of cheap, at least one classic controller (if you intend to play virtual console games on vWii or want analogue triggers in Nintendont), and I'm obviously going to recommend a GameCube controller adapter if you ever come across one, since they're a commodity these days XD (well, official, anyway)

 

[FPSRussi4]

Excellent recommendations so far, thanks guys. TotalInsanity, I'm looking forward to your updates haha.
How about vital hardware? I was thinking I'll grab a pro controller, as it seems to fare pretty well with most emulators.

Vital Hardware? You're going to need the Guitar Hero peripheral, along with the Tennis Racket attachment for Wii Remotes. USB Mic is also imperative.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Vital Hardware? You're going to need the Guitar Hero peripheral, along with the Tennis Racket attachment for Wii Remotes. USB Mic is also imperative.

You mean that one that looks way to small to even be remotely believable? The one that's in the same series as the golf club head and baseball bat that have the same issues? XD

I'm halfway surprised that some third party company hasn't somehow made a bowling ball and boxing glove attachment (again, that are both white plastic and way to small for their own good)

 

[FPSRussi4]

You mean that one that looks way to small to even be remotely believable? The one that's in the same series as the golf club head and baseball bat that have the same issues? XD

I'm halfway surprised that some third party company hasn't somehow made a bowling ball and boxing glove attachment (again, that are both white plastic and way to small for their own good)

Um, I use that racket in matches, thank you.

And how do you know they haven't Maybe I've got a Wii Remote in a boxing glove and another one in a sword attachment. Do you know the Master Sword is an attachment? What kind of fan are you?

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Um, I use that racket in matches, thank you.

And how do you know they haven't Maybe I've got a Wii Remote in a boxing glove and another one in a sword attachment. Do you know the Master Sword is an attachment? What kind of fan are you?

I- I don't know... I'm now question my level of fan-boy-ness... What am I doing with my life?!

*runs off and subsequently embarks on a journey to "find myself"*

Edit: For serious, though, a replica Master Sword that you could pop a Wii Remote+ into the handle for SS would be AMAZING, even if only for novelty's sake

Edit 2: Pinterest has done this, apparently:

Spoiler

 

[recordrevolution]

Hey, I could use a bit of troubleshooting help if anybody's familiar with the software.

I installed Retroarch through the homebrew browser, and boot it up to land on the "File Browser" directory - which would be great except for that my wiimote suddenly becomes unresponsive once the application is opened. Holding the power button closes Retroarch, but I'm unable to navigate the menus within the software.

Anybody experienced similar issues? Is there a known bug/fix?

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Hey, I could use a bit of troubleshooting help if anybody's familiar with the software.

I installed Retroarch through the homebrew browser, and boot it up to land on the "File Browser" directory - which would be great except for that my wiimote suddenly becomes unresponsive once the application is opened. Holding the power button closes Retroarch, but I'm unable to navigate the menus within the software.

Anybody experienced similar issues? Is there a known bug/fix?

Are you using an official Wiimote, or is it 3rd party?

 

[recordrevolution]

It's a first-party Wiimote+

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Do you have a normal Wiimote?

 

[VinsCool]

Their database is outdated. It is an older version which didn't support newer wiimote plus.

Grap latest version here:
http://buildbot.libretro.com/stable/nintendo/wii/RetroArch-Wii-v1.0.0.2.zip