Hacking WII region changer

[bloodliketheatla]

Well this application doesn't change much about the region except the system menu. The time/date are formatted incorrectly too. I have a Japanese Wii and what I hoped would work didn't...

Here are two examples:

I installed a PAL wad (the Last Ninja for C64) and then changed my region to PAL. Tried to load the wad and screen goes black and wiimote won't connect indicated video problems.

Next, there are some WiiWare games that still load in Japanese after freethewads and even after extracting the wad and patching certain files using Generic Patcher (video mode, country strings, language detection.) One of those was TV Show King. No matter how I patched it, it still plays in Japanese. So today I switch my region to USA and use the NTSC (U) wad and it *still* plays in Japanese.

So it's a good start, but definitely not a full region changer.

 

[lolsjoel]

Anyone tried purchasing Wii Points or a VC/WW game after switching their region to something new?

 

[callmebob]

So this completely changes the region of the Wii?

Let´s just say it does, then GC playback will reflect the new selected region?

Also it sounds like you´ll have to break out the appropriate config disc everytime you switch regions. (at least those of us who are using the Wiikey). That could get old quick.

For me GeckoOS channel, and in some cases the Datel Freeloader, pretty much cover me for any Wii games that won´t work "as is", This could be cool because the version of GeckoOS for the Game Cube didn´t work like the original one for Wii games did.

I´ll definitely keep my eyes open on this one. For now, I´ll just kick back, and wait to see how it pans out.

 

[Knocks]

callmebob: it will become a lot more useful when we get a real softmod with DVD-R access, which is probably only a matter of days now. Then we can just disable our Wiikeys and enjoy the show.

 

[callmebob]

callmebob: it will become a lot more useful when we get a real softmod with DVD-R access, which is probably only a matter of days now. Then we can just disable our Wiikeys and enjoy the show.

LOL, yeah that would be awesome. Then the only bricks we´ll be seeing are the ones the big N will be shitting all over the place!

 

[Arakon]

ok, the downgrade issues came from running the downgrader app over the homebrew channel with wiiload. once running it from SD, it worked.

edit: or not. I was able to downgrade to 2.2E, but not able to go to any US update, or back to 3.2E.

edit#2: is bushing's semi-brick fix disk capable of "updating" to the same version? i.e. if 3.2 is already installed, will it install 3.2 nontheless? if so, that may be a "safer" way to switch to US systemmenu for people with problems with the downgrader.

 

[dexmaus]

I'm trying to change my Japanese Wii to USA

Applied the region changer to USA, downgraded to USA 3.1E firmware. however, still unable to get access to Setting page.

anyone else having the same problem?

 

[Arakon]

3.1E is the european firmware.. you need 3.1U.

 

[Jacobeian]

This application lets you change your Wii's region COMPLETELY.

would you mind being a *little* more descriptive ?

Before using this on my Wii, I really would like to know exactly what this application is doing:

download other region system menu from nintendo servers ?
create new NAND directory pathes ?
modifying/creating new config files ?
what else ?

waninkoko, your work will be much more appreciated if you didn't throw all your tools as if they worked with some kind of magic

without real technical explanations or sourcecode to learn from, I mean

 

[Arakon]

it just changes a single flag in the nand.

 

[Jacobeian]

hmm, ok

does this mean that all wii already have all required files for each region (excepted the system menu obviously) ?
I thought there was some kind of strange pathname convention that caused semibrick when using a different region System menu on your wii

 

[-lildeemo-]

u still need to downgrade for true different region get this through your heads. use the region changer the use the downgrader to get all the required different region files

 

[jan777]

jayparadox was faster

So jan777 will be happy if it changes language

it did make me happy


oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

i am so damn happy i dont care fucking care if this post gets deleted

so damn fucking happy

i love waninkoko



oh wait, downgrader?(no wifi)

cant i just use the system wads from bushings semibrickfix?

fucking hell

ahh. it seems i can just update from SSBB

@skawo

...is it....... heaven?

 

[JPdensetsu]

I'm uploading a video on youtube with the rproblem of the errors.
Maybe somebody can help then? ( bad quality :S à)

 

[Arakon]

Okay, big WTF: If I set up a second wifi connection and connect to a second SSID on my router with WEP instead of WPA, the downgrader works flawlessly.

 

[skawo96]

@skawo

...is it....... heaven?

Umm...I don't know...wait *GOOOOOD!* *no response* No, it's earth

 

[Arakon]

Ok, even after updating the wii with a "real" US systemmenu etc, the issue remains:

Genesis games (NTSC ones) run at 50 hz, the wii shop channel (should have been replaced in the installation of the 3.1U systemmenu) still connects to the european servers. so there has to be some flag that still indicates an EU system to those.

 

[DarkCamui]

Ok, even after updating the wii with a "real" US systemmenu etc, the issue remains:

Genesis games (NTSC ones) run at 50 hz, the wii shop channel (should have been replaced in the installation of the 3.1U systemmenu) still connects to the european servers. so there has to be some flag that still indicates an EU system to those.

Think you need someone to send you a copy of the US Wii Shop.

 

[AlexDP]

hey guys, I've posted a guide to changing your wii region here: http://wiinewz.com/forums/faqs-guides-tuto...ystem-menu.html
It worked completely for me. I changed my Japanese Wii to a US Wii and the system menu is all English now, and my WiiKey is working fine and I can play my games and stuff.
From my original post on WiiNewz:

Ok, i just tried this on my Japanese Wii (which is WiiKey modded with 1.9 fw, even though it really doesnt matter). It worked, and my Wii now boots with the US region loading screen and everything is in English. The only catch is that the settings menu doesnt work (i.e. Semi-brick). Btw, I had firmware 3.1J installed before I did this.

UPDATE: Fixed the semi-brick of the settings menu easily by using the CIOS Downgrader 1.1 and downgrading to 3.1U firmware. Only problem now is the Wii doesnt seem to be able to read any discs. Most likely this is because the WiiKey firmware is still JAP...

UPDATE 2: I was in such a hurry to do this that I forgot the obvious step of changing my WiiKey firmware. No harm done though. I just switched back to Japanese, ran the WiiKey US setup disc and then switched back to US region. Then all you have to do is run the config disc and your good to go.
I now officially have a fully functional NTSC-U Wii. No problems whatsoever. Tested games and everything. About to test Starfox Assault for the NGC which didnt used to work.

UPDATE 3: Starfox Assault NTSC-U version which didnt use to work on my Japanese Wii now works after the region change. This probably means most other GC games that previously wouldnt work should work now.

 

[skawo96]

But will the update from Nintendo server your wii's changed one, or older one?