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New Wii optical drive mod-blocks mod chips photo

It may or may not have been Nintendo's intent, but a newer optical drive in some Wii consoles seems to be blocking mod chip functionality.

Techtree says that the new drive makes mod chips useless. They report that the new optical drive revision was found in the Australian Wii model (LAH1098xxxxxx) of the console, but hasn't been reported anywhere else. This post at Wiinewz details the technical changes. It seems that a controller chip has been removed.

Who are we kidding? Nintendo knows about piracy. And this change sounds deliberate. I'd guess that Nintendo will eventually put these new optical drives in all shipping Wiis. Unfortunately for Nintendo, there are already plenty of "old" Wii consoles out there.


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11 comments | showing # 1 to 11

casualweaponry's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/10/2008 17:00
casualweaponry
The old cat-and-mouse game. Newer Wii security measures will be cracked in 3...2...1...
AngelsDontBurn's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/10/2008 17:02
AngelsDontBurn
All I wanna do is play Tatsunoko Vs Capcom :(. I wish the Wii was region free, damnit.
MmmCurry's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/10/2008 17:13
MmmCurry
LOL at the picture.

"This is how you do NOT defend yourself against a sword attack. Also, look at our cute socks."
ChronosWing's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/10/2008 17:17
ChronosWing
@angels

The Wii is region free with the homebrew channel and gecko. No mod chip required.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/10/2008 17:19
Dexter345
Chop Chop Master Onion pressed square!
Gantz's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/10/2008 17:40
Gantz
So thats how you block a sword, genius...
lem's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/10/2008 17:54
lem
What's with Nintendo.
"We know we screw Australia whenever possible, we release games late if at all. We release Animal crossing that doesn't work with the DS version. Oh and pricing, let's not get started. Let's make it even harder for them to play games by releasing this new stuff in Australia only so as to screw people who have chips for importing, that'll be a bit of a laugh!"

I know it's not really like that, but still.
ParaParaKing's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/10/2008 18:04
ParaParaKing
Well actually this isn't the first time Nintendo changed the drive of the Wii to block modchips. I'm pretty sure it won't work now, just as it didn't work until now.
Spectreman's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/10/2008 21:56
Spectreman
* Great. Australia have few and pricey games and tends tward piracy because that. But itīs much more simple blocking the hardware.
Cube's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/10/2008 21:57
Cube
And nintendo thinks that will stop them for long If they leave the slot on the board then they will just make there own chip.

it is like they are giving them there own little modding spot.
Crumpet Lips's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/11/2008 04:29
Crumpet Lips
Good. Slow down the modding buggers.
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