Hardware Region free Wii?

[izo]

Does anyone know if there will be a region free version of the Wii?
I remember there was a region free GC and there were a lot of US/Japan only titles I would have liked to play on my EU GC. I guess it will be the same with the Wii. So before buying a EU only Wii, I'd rather wait for a region free version.

 

[ConraDargo]

Not that anyone know of, I think. It'll probably take some time before something like that appears on the market.
I myself am going to buy a US Wii, because I don't care much for either JAP (cannot understand them) nor EU games (way too expensive).

 

[legendofphil]

If anyone can make a Wii freeloader its datel (again), I will email them to find out if their planning anything and then post the responce here.

 

[izo]

Well for the GC I think there was this white version which was also able to play DVDs and it was region free. I'm pretty sure that it was not from Nintendo, but it looked quite official though, I think I saw it on Lik Sang.
I guess I'll just wait a few weeks after the release.

 

[legendofphil]

There was never a gamecube that could play all region games, the JPN and USA models could be modded with a simple switch to play each others games but not PAL.
The Panansonic Q could be modded to all region DVDs.

But without a modchip or freeloader you can't play all region games.

 

[legendofphil]

Got a reply for codejunkies extremely quickly saying:

Dear Sir

Further to your email I apoligse but we can not give any details on available products until the release of the console.

Regards



Daniel Leese

Technical support advisor

Codejunkies

Maybe we will find out by the end of the year.

 

[Vater Unser]

I'm going to import a Wii from America...the games are much cheaper than in Europe if I buy them at dvdboxoffice.com, and of course in the US most games are released like 1-3 months earlier than in Europe...

 

[izo]

I'll do that too probably. Freeloader means that you have to insert a loading disk before inserting the actual game, right?

 

[legendofphil]

Yeah, its a boot disc, but datel won't say if they have one in development just yet.

 

[yuyuyup]

is it a good thing if the wii isn't region free, since it would encourage people to explore and invent mods ?

 

[Vater Unser]

is it a good thing if the wii isn't region free, since it would encourage people to explore and invent mods ?

no
if the Wii was region-free, there would be no need for such a mod...
and there's always people who try to find exploits and develop mod-chips for playing backups...

anyway, I'm going to buy a Wii from the US, and my brother is going to buy one here in Germany, so I don't really need a region-free Wii (although I won't be able to play japanese games, but that's fine)