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Wii U HOMEBREW Discussion Thread [exploits/apps/games/stuff]

It basically already is. People can literally download games and now install them on the Wii U or rip their own discs.

It's so weird to me that this exploit has been available for many months and Nintendo has done nothing to try and stop it.

They were obviously only keeping the Wii U in production until the Switch was announced, so they probably aren't willing to spend money on a dead console. It's not like they've got publishers with big games still coming to worry about either.
 

Madao

Member
Could you (or anyone else) briefly go into detail there?

Wait, what is wrong with vWii scaling? I've found the IQ to be surprisingly good for a 480p image.

well, at the Retro AV Club thread several members found out that the vWii's scaling is messed up and produces weird artifacts not present on native GC or Wii signals.
after several tests with various methods of scaling GC/Wii images, it turns out the artifacts seen on vWii weren't there, meaning that the Wii U is doing something strange to signals in vWii and introduces unique distortions.
what some of us hope is that the Wii U getting opened up with homebrew uncovers how vWii actually scales images and if there's a way to fix it to scale to better factors (1:1, or a better factor that doesn't produce artifacts)
 

spons

Gold Member
Oh hell, RetroArch. Fuck it, I'm getting off my ass and to the store tomorrow to get this device, especially with all the rumors floating around of the production being ended soon. I'll figure out later on how to do this, as long as I have a device on the latest firmware I should be good.
 
They were obviously only keeping the Wii U in production until the Switch was announced, so they probably aren't willing to spend money on a dead console. It's not like they've got publishers with big games still coming to worry about either.

Part of me is still expecting Nintendo to just come out of nowhere and suddenly release an update. It's what they did with the Wii.
 
The Wii update was trivial and mainly about Wii -> Wii U transfer. I very much doubt the Switch is going to be backwards compatible.

I'm not sure what you're talking about? Nintendo updated the Wii tons of times to fix hacks after long periods of silence.

For example, they let the original Twilight Princess hack live for like a year before suddenly killing it in an update. This was well before the Wii U was on the horizon.
 

opoth

Banned
I like preserving my laser and playing my retail games off of USB, but the real star of the show is going to be RetroArch. It can't happen soon enough.

My other question is, would something like a Wii U port of Nintendont work without a lot of fuss? It seems like if you can have Wii eShop games in Wii U mode, it follows that since the Wii was GC compatible, they should be able to utilize that native GC compatibility that lives over in the vWii as well?
 
I'm not sure what you're talking about? Nintendo updated the Wii tons of times to fix hacks after long periods of silence.

For example, they let the original Twilight Princess hack live for like a year before suddenly killing it in an update. This was well before the Wii U was on the horizon.

Thought you were talking about the final Wii update.
 

PMS341

Member
Hmm, really curious how much content is about to come out. I modded the vWii ages ago (even imported my original Melee save for Nintendont!), but it'd be nice to do everything from the main menu/tablet.
 

opoth

Banned
I think it's 50/50 that they bother forcing a firmware update. I think the difficulty with the original Wii was that it was difficult to really permanently re-secure the system. In the case of the Wii U, this system is basically dead at retail aside from the forthcoming BotW and if anything the prospect of homebrew will probably do a great job to help clear the shelves of systems at retail ahead of the launch of Switch.

I think it's viewed as a lost cause now - if they really cared, they'd be taking the 3DS approach of constant firmware updates.
 

Pokemaniac

Member
I like preserving my laser and playing my retail games off of USB, but the real star of the show is going to be RetroArch. It can't happen soon enough.

My other question is, would something like a Wii U port of Nintendont work without a lot of fuss? It seems like if you can have Wii eShop games in Wii U mode, it follows that since the Wii was GC compatible, they should be able to utilize that native GC compatibility that lives over in the vWii as well?

The Wii games on the eShop don't run in Wii U mode. They run in a modified version of Wii mode. There's really not a huge amount of difference between running the digital copies of Wii games and running the original disc version.

Also, regarding the general discussion of updates, I wouldn't discount the possibility of another update releasing at this point. At least not before we know if they'll let you move any sort of data to Switch.
 

opoth

Banned
The Wii games on the eShop don't run in Wii U mode. They run in a modified version of Wii mode. There's really not a huge amount of difference between running the digital copies of Wii games and running the original disc version.

If that's the case, I hope devs can figure out how to leverage Wii mode in the same way to get Nintendont running with gamepad controls (instead of just a second screen that you need a Pro controller to manage).
 
I'm not sure what you're talking about? Nintendo updated the Wii tons of times to fix hacks after long periods of silence.

For example, they let the original Twilight Princess hack live for like a year before suddenly killing it in an update. This was well before the Wii U was on the horizon.

The initial Wii update history is a part of a different era which honestly should not be taken as representative of anything nowadays. The hack-killing update was primarily shocking to some because there were less hacks and more importantly less updates. Nowadays I get updates to Facebook mobile app every three weeks or more often, hack reports tend to end on major news every week, there is no PS4 Action Replay, chances are a game you bought in store has a day one patch that is the size of a CD or more, and worst of all, with amount of data collected by everything this makes sense. Then? "This had never happened before." Well, it did with xBox and PSP I guess, but the community fragmentation existed. Most of all, I imagine Nintendo didn't expect anything like this (i.e. running stuff without buying a cheat disc or something) happening either, so they had to rearrange plans for everything.

The situation was entirely different with DSi. DSi had hack-killing updates basically since day one, then one day they stopped caring. Similarly, one day 3DS updates stopped killing DS hacks.

I honestly can't rule out Wii U getting another update since Nintendo isn't really the most predictable company ever, but given the lifetime of a hack that allows pretty direct access to piracy, I think they are at the point where they stopped caring.
 

Retrobox

Member
I'd advise people to still go through the one minute trouble of blocking potential Nintendo updates. Personally, I don't think even BotW will make them release a final update, but of course it's better to be safe than to be sorry. Luckily it's really no hassle at all.
 
I'd advise people to still go through the one minute trouble of blocking potential Nintendo updates. Personally, I don't think even BotW will make them release a final update, but of course it's better to be safe than to be sorry. Luckily it's really no hassle at all.

The reason I haven't done it is because I also want to be able to access the eShop.
 
Right, what we need is a guide for total noobs like me. I relied on Clipper's OG Wii hacking guide here (for anyone, even if you're stupid ;)). It's great news that RetroArch is being worked on.

The last thing I did for my Wii U was change the DNS settings when that Loadiine exploit came out, but I didn't do anything beyond that. Happy to hold out a little longer for things to develop with these new hacks. Heck, happy to wait until after Switch is out and we know for sure whether or not Nintendo will let us transfer anything.

Who's going to volunteer to do the NOOB guide?
 
So if I want to test out loadliine I can basically install it and if I don't use it I can reboot the system, right? And if I update I won't be able to re-run loadliine? Debating if its worth using or if I just stay current, but I'd at least like to give it a trial run. My Wii U is on the last moddable FW I believe.
 

Joey Ravn

Banned
Right, what we need is a guide for total noobs like me. I relied on Clipper's OG Wii hacking guide here (for anyone, even if you're stupid ;)). It's great news that RetroArch is being worked on.

The last thing I did for my Wii U was change the DNS settings when that Loadiine exploit came out, but I didn't do anything beyond that. Happy to hold out a little longer for things to develop with these new hacks. Heck, happy to wait until after Switch is out and we know for sure whether or not Nintendo will let us transfer anything.

Who's going to volunteer to do the NOOB guide?

Honestly, at this point, RedNAND is pretty useless for the vast majority of users. There's nothing that takes advantage of it. You can't even update it independently from the sysNAND, since the update also changes the eprom on the system. If you update the NAND but not the eprom, or the other way around, you get a brick.This guide should be enough. Or this one here. Mind you: you'll have to compile your own stuff. If you're not confortable with compiling stuff, well, you shouldn't be setting up RedNAND right now. But still, there are certain sites where you could find those files precompiled...

If you only want to get your physical collection into your HDD, use the so-called "Brazilian method". I guess you can install unsigned DLC in RedNAND, but you can also install it to the SD and use it with the "Brazilian method".

IMO, it's better to wait for SALT's stuff. That will be much more user-friendly and will be able to coldboot directly into an emuNAND.

So if I want to test out loadliine I can basically install it and if I don't use it I can reboot the system, right? And if I update I won't be able to re-run loadliine? Debating if its worth using or if I just stay current, but I'd at least like to give it a trial run. My Wii U is on the last moddable FW I believe.

5.5.1 is the latest FW and has been so since January. Anything you can do right now to your Wii U is temporary and goes away once you turn it off (with the exception of installing games with fake tickets, that is).
 

Joey Ravn

Banned
Thanks can I still use the eshop and multiplayer with loadliine installed?

You can access the eShop (as long as you don't have the DNSes blocked), but games booted through Loadiine can't be played online or updated via the eShop.

If you want my opinion, installing games with the "Brazilian method" is a much better solution these days: 100% compatibility, 100% speed, 100% eShop integration, online and updates from Nintendo's servers. They are 100% legal games. Loadiine should be relegated to only VC injections and out-of-region games.
 

opoth

Banned
The reason I haven't done it is because I also want to be able to access the eShop.

I temporarily create a second network connection any time I need to access the eShop and then delete it when I'm done. Barring Mother 3, some DQ/FF games or Dracula X for TG16, I've made my peace with the existing content on the eShop.
 

Adam Prime

hates soccer, is Mexican
Oh hell, RetroArch. Fuck it, I'm getting off my ass and to the store tomorrow to get this device, especially with all the rumors floating around of the production being ended soon. I'll figure out later on how to do this, as long as I have a device on the latest firmware I should be good.

I'd recommend buying a refurb from store.nintendo.com , for $220 you get the system with Mario 3D World and Nintendo Land. You're not going to find a better deal than that.
 
D

Deleted member 126221

Unconfirmed Member
I temporarily create a second network connection any time I need to access the eShop and then delete it when I'm done. Barring Mother 3, some DQ/FF games or Dracula X for TG16, I've made my peace with the existing content on the eShop.
I also made a 2nd connection for the eShop, but didn't delete it. Should I?
 
I also made a 2nd connection for the eShop, but didn't delete it. Should I?

If its there then it will be used if the primary one can't connect to the Nintendo server. So if you want to be safe then yes, but you don't really need to delete it, just add an extra letter to the Access Point name if its Wi-Fi , then you can re-enable it just by changing the back.
 

spons

Gold Member
I'd recommend buying a refurb from store.nintendo.com , for $220 you get the system with Mario 3D World and Nintendo Land. You're not going to find a better deal than that.

Thanks, but I don't see any refurbished hardware here in Holland. I would get an official refurb without much thought - that does seem like a good deal.

It's a shame really, the cheapest I see here is 289 euros with Mario Kart 8 or Super Mario Maker. That would be a coin toss as I want to play both. I'll try Media Markt first, but they removed Wii Us from their website completely. It seems to be out of stock or something. I don't know what they're planning on but I hope my local, physical location still has one.
 

Seik

Banned
Anyone having problems with Mario Kart 8 on Loadiine?

After ripping my games (along with all the DLC and updates it seems, because I could see it via CEMU first.) and trying it on Loadiine, it just freezes at a black screen (when you're supposed to see the MK8 logo) right after booting the game.

Splatoon does the same thing, actually.
 

Lynko

Member
Any recommendations on what can be done for external storage with all these new developments? I'd like to install my disc games, but I'm hurting for space as it is with my digital titles..
 

Platy

Member
Any recommendations on what can be done for external storage with all these new developments? I'd like to install my disc games, but I'm hurting for space as it is with my digital titles..

WiiU acepts most external HDs ... we have a thread with the list of officially supported ones

The problem is WHAT to do with this. Because homebrew channel and usb support on homebrew is right around the corner so I would wait to see what is the best action
 

Lynko

Member
WiiU acepts most external HDs ... we have a thread with the list of officially supported ones

The problem is WHAT to do with this. Because homebrew channel and usb support on homebrew is right around the corner so I would wait to see what is the best action

Whoops! Sorry, that's what I meant. I've got official games eating up storage on my external stick. If I follow through on this and attempt to install my disc based games as well, can they also be on that same stick? I'd eventually like to get all my installs on the same external drive.
 

hohoXD123

Member
Been trying to dump SSB but for one thing I get no meta folder when I use the " vol" command in DDD (what is the meta folder for anyway?) and when I try to load the game from loadiin GX2, the game is recognised but I'm either sent to the mii maker screen or it just freezes to a black screen. Help anyone?
 

marmoka

Banned
I'm completely new to the Homebrew Channel and Retroarch. Would it be possible with Retroarch to execute MegaDrive/PSX/PS2 games? Would it be possible to upscale games to HD if the emulator gives that possibility? It would be great to play with PCSX2 on Wii U.
 

Seik

Banned
I'm completely new to the Homebrew Channel and Retroarch. Would it be possible with Retroarch to execute MegaDrive/PSX/PS2 games? Would it be possible to upscale games to HD if the emulator gives that possibility? It would be great to play with PCSX2 on Wii U.

Everything before PS2 is possible, but the Wii U lacks raw power to emulate PS2 imo.
 

Seik

Banned
Too bad. I had high hopes for this. If that was possible, that would mean we could play Gamecube games in HD as well.

You can actually play GC games on the Wii U with Nintendont, but raising the internal resolution is a whole different story and very demanding to any hardware.
 

Retrobox

Member
Too bad. I had high hopes for this. If that was possible, that would mean we could play Gamecube games in HD as well.

I thought GC games looked terrific on my Wii U with Nintendont. Not native HD of course, but it gets the job done. Actual GC controller support too!

I also think GC games will be on Switch since the default controllers seem to have analog triggers.
 
Everything before PS2 is possible, but the Wii U lacks raw power to emulate PS2 imo.

Porting PCSX2 seems like an impossibility since that relies on traditional 128-bit SIMD on CPU (and for good PS2-HW based reasons), lack of which is one of the most infamously annoying properties of GC/Wii/WiiU family (though it got mostly bad with Wii U which was supposed to get PS360 ports). For the very same reason I find idea of Dreamcast emulation mostly implausible, but in case of Dreamcast the rest of the system is currently understood to be relatively clean so it would be somewhat less mind-boggling if someone crazy enough would make it work.
 
I stopped playing because of how cringey and bad the VA was for xenoblade X, so i've been waiting for homebrew to progress enough to play the game undubbed. With how far homebrew has progressed is it difficult to play the game undubbed or is it better to wait a little longer?
 
D

Deleted member 126221

Unconfirmed Member
I wouldn't get my hopes up with Dreamcast emulation if I were you... We'll get PS1 at most, MAYBE N64 if we're lucky.
 

Retrobox

Member
According to the libretro forums, keep your expectations low regarding how quickly N64 will be supported on Retroarch Wii U:

There are some significant roadblocks to fullspeed n64 emulation on wiiu, namely a GL-to-GX2 wrapper and a PPC dynarec. That's not to say it won't happen, just don't expect it tomorrow.
 
Honestly, at this point, RedNAND is pretty useless for the vast majority of users. There's nothing that takes advantage of it. You can't even update it independently from the sysNAND, since the update also changes the eprom on the system. If you update the NAND but not the eprom, or the other way around, you get a brick.This guide should be enough. Or this one here. Mind you: you'll have to compile your own stuff. If you're not confortable with compiling stuff, well, you shouldn't be setting up RedNAND right now. But still, there are certain sites where you could find those files precompiled...

If you only want to get your physical collection into your HDD, use the so-called "Brazilian method". I guess you can install unsigned DLC in RedNAND, but you can also install it to the SD and use it with the "Brazilian method".

IMO, it's better to wait for SALT's stuff. That will be much more user-friendly and will be able to coldboot directly into an emuNAND.
Thanks for the response. I'll be honest: the majority of your post went way over my head. I'm happy to wait for an easy, safer method though, as I'm in no hurry.
 
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