Hacking Rock Band II PAL DLC

[Alexrose]

I have an NTSC version of RBII but a PAL wii.

This means I cannot access the store. Even free dlc is undownloadble.

I'm not sure if this is because A. My wii points are PAL wii points and not compatible with NTSC shop. B. Nintendo won't let me download from outside my wii's console region. C. Nintendo won't let me download outside my region based on IP address or D. None of the above.

So I guess if it's A or B then I'd need my wii to be NTSC. Is there any way to turn my wii NTSC just temporarily.. so just reboot in NTSC mode? I don't want to have to boot all my games from gecko, or if it's C. use some sort of wii proxy?

Also, another question that could provide a solution: If you use someone else's save file and also have the DLC already on your SD card, will the game recognise the DLC and think that you own it is or that information stored on the wii?

Thanks in advance.

 

[tueidj]

It's more or less due to A: your wii shop account isn't in a NTSC-U region.

The good news is it's relatively easy to work around it; the bad news is you have to delete your current shop account, which means you lose any unused wii points and forfeit everything you've bought. At least that's according to nintendo, I didn't have any points and I've never bought anything so I can't say if it's true or not.

It's possible to change just the wii shop region and leave all the other settings alone so your wii stays PAL. First go into the wii shop, go to settings/other and remove your existing account (see the scary warning?). Then run anyregion changer, change only the shop country code to US (49 if IIRC) and change the services EULA to read. Save, reboot and go into the shop channel. It'll go through a few screens and then sit thinking for a while as it creates a new US shop account. Once it's at the main shop menu exit out, run rockband and you should be able to download DLC.

As for using someone elses save file and DLC from their SD card, it won't work. The record of which songs you have purchased is elsewhere on the wii and the files on the SD card are tied to the wii that created them (although it's a very small hack to change that).

 

[Alexrose]

Alright, thanks.

Is it risky to do this? Because uh.. I'd be buying rock band dlc then inevitably want world tour dlc at some point and have to change back (as my copy is PAL), then want new rock band 2 dlc and swap to that again etc.

I'd be able to spend my remaining wii points on GHWT dlc now anyway if needs be.

Thanks a lot for your help.

 

[tueidj]

Unless anyone can confirm that you don't lose what you've already purchased when you remove the shop account, I'd say it's too risky and wouldn't recommend it. Unless of course you feel brave or you're a cheapskate like me and haven't actually bought anything, in which case go for it.

 

[Alexrose]

Well, the thing is.. if I lose any VC or wiiware games it's no big deal because I can just get it again.

The problem is my Guitar Hero: World Tour dlc, I bought all the Metallica songs and I wouldn't wanna wipe them. Suppose it's only 600 wii points and tbh, GH dlc is rarely any good and not very plentiful, whereas RB2 has a load of awesome songs.

I'll wait till SD booted custom songs come out on RBII to make my decision then I guess. If it won't work without first downloading a song then I'll have to change.

 

[Alexrose]

Is there anyone who can confirm that you don't lose your GHWT DLC when you reset the shop?

 

[rytse]

You will lose everything you have bought earlier, also in GHWT and they can't be redownloaded. But wiipoints will be cheaper in $ than in €.

 

[tueidj]

Do you know that for a fact because you've tried it? I didn't lose my existing GHWT DLC when I changed my shop region, but I can't promise it won't happen to other people.

 

[rytse]

Yes, I tried it. It was not possible to change shop region without deleting my old shop account and GHWT dlc was also gone after that. Well, was not a big deal...