Smash Bros. Brawl not working on some Wiis, Nintendo responds
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Mar 9th 2008 at 2:00PM }
While we're sure most of us would describe Wii fanatics as the most lighthearted of the console enthusiasts, we can only imagine that being forced to wait nearly two years for the most highly anticipated game on your console, only to come home from a midnight launch to discover you cannot extract the frenzied multiplayer mayhem stored on the disc you've purchased might incite one's dander to "get up". Alas, many a brawler-to-be recently found themselves in this lamentable situation, as Super Smash Bros. Brawl has reportedly had performance anxiety in a number of Wii consoles.
Nintendo has swiftly replied with a North American repair form, explaining that the double-layer disc can only be read by a squeaky-clean disc drive lens. They implore you not to try to clean said lens on your own, and to send in your crudely adhered Gamecubes to Nintendo HQ for a thorough purging. We're sure they'll get your newly spruced console back to you in a timely manner -- which will likely offer little consolation to a Nintyfan scorned.
[Thanks to all the unlucky souls who sent this in. Our thoughts are with you during these trying times.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
fischju @ Mar 9th 2008 2:03PM
It also doesn't run if you have a wiikey installed.
PS: HAHAHA
Radicoon @ Mar 9th 2008 2:20PM
Awesome idea! Make people who like to try games they'd never buy unable to buy the games they want to support!
Neebs @ Mar 9th 2008 2:46PM
Really...that is lame. It's encouraging them to just pirate.
Hyams @ Mar 9th 2008 2:53PM
It's not nice laughing at people. :(
HalaMadrid!!! @ Mar 9th 2008 7:29PM
It is unfortunate for those that got the bad copy of the game. Luckily I'm getting this game from gamefly if it doesn't work I send it back and get another copy in two days.
OTAM @ Mar 9th 2008 7:34PM
I am one of those people with Wiikeys. I'm glad I get penalized for actually going out and BUYING the game and the people who download them have it play no problem.
fischju @ Mar 9th 2008 8:12PM
Well, there isn't a rip of Brawl (U) out yet, so Nintendo are the ones laughing now.
PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Mar 9th 2008 8:19PM
its not a problem with the disc, its a problem with the Wii. the red eye collects dust and if there is too much on there, it cant get enough light out to read the second layer of the disc. did you guys read the article?
fischju @ Mar 9th 2008 11:06PM
The wiikey can't handle dual layer disks yet.
Ben @ Mar 9th 2008 11:43PM
Well, that's why I got myself a Cyclowiz... lol at everyone with a Wiikey.
bm @ Mar 10th 2008 5:36AM
"Awesome idea! Make people who like to try games they'd never buy unable to buy the games they want to support!"
Oh please shut up. Trying the games? Just shut the fuck up. You know as damn well as anybody that 99.999% of people who install a modchip do not use it for such noble purposes. Unless you mean "trying and finishing every game and then deciding they don't want to buy it after all".
Piracy doesn't bother me that much. Bullshit does.
NoHitHair @ Mar 10th 2008 2:47PM
PSN--
"did you guys read the article?"
And thus you have summed up the majority of Joystiq readers, where headlines, not content, garner response. Congratulations.
Falcon6 @ Mar 9th 2008 2:07PM
Mine was slowly loading when I turned it on. But it loaded.
I'm just hoping it continues to work.
...
And suddenly, memories of my Halo 3 disc being scratched in-case come to mind.
Ben @ Mar 9th 2008 11:57PM
It will continue to work... The issue here is not a dusty lens in the Wii's DVD drive, it is the potentiometer (or variable resistor) on the drive itself. If the resistor is set too high (usually around 700-800ohms) it doesn't let enough power get to the laser, meaning the laser wont be strong enough to read the dual layer disc. This is easily fixed by lowering the pot (to 500 or less, depending on what works, but not too low) by anyone who can open their Wii and knows their way around a DVD drive (assuming they also know how to adjust the pot).
I guess Nintendo obviously didn't want to admit that it was something this simple and actually their fault for not setting the pot properly for every unit (although, setting the potentiometer higher will definitely make your DVD drive last longer).
Anyone willing to do this can search around Google to find out how, BUT you can seriously mess up your Wii beyond repair and it wont be covered under any warrenty.
whymog @ Mar 9th 2008 2:12PM
Just a heads-up:
I tried it like three times, but mine wouldn't work when I had the Wii laying flat. But when I stood it up vertically it worked just fine. Give that a shot first.
ApolloIV @ Mar 9th 2008 2:29PM
Holds breath...
Dan @ Mar 9th 2008 2:34PM
I had the same problem and used a normal disc cleaner, brushes the dust off and etc. The wii's disc slot is only covered by a strip of brushes but is still always open leaving it easier to accumulate dust.
Plus the fact that I haven't touched the system since it practically came out is another factor. Why the wii sold so much is beyond me lol but at least it finally paid off with smash bros out now.
Foetoid @ Mar 10th 2008 7:10AM
Lol, i bet you're one of those guys that bought a Wii and didn't buy any games. Heck if i bought a 360 with Bomberman: Act Zero, Pimp my Ride and Hot Wheels: Beat That! and i sold it because it was collecting dust and i never played it, i guess it would be my own fault for being such a tosser and buying shit games. I happen to have 35 games for the Wii (all legit) split fairly evenly between Wii/Gc/Vc games. I can't even find enough time in the day to play and finish them all, and i am very picky on quality (tho i did let it slide to buy MK:Armageddon). ALL of my games are A+ must-buy titles and there are 4 more out right this moment (not including Brawl or Battalion Wars) that i would buy if i had the cash. There are many many many good games on the Wii/Vc/Gc and no reason whatsoever to let you're Wii collect dust.
Kizzle @ Mar 10th 2008 9:20AM
Foetoid thinks because he bought a lot of utter trash shovelware to compliment his usual diet of Mario/Zelda/Metroid that the Wii has a strong library of games. LOL. Whatever gets you through the night.
Moffka @ Mar 9th 2008 2:47PM
So basically once and that is IF third party companies ever decide to start supporting the Wii with major titles, they would only have problems with putting the game on a dual-layer disc and the Wii's would always have to be cleaned.
It's ok though, Wii owners are ok knowing that the system is destined to have a majority of mini games.
Sky Shark X2 @ Mar 9th 2008 2:47PM
Was Super Mario Galaxy dual layered?
Brian @ Mar 9th 2008 2:49PM
No.
flYY @ Mar 9th 2008 2:49PM
Cmon everyone knows dual layered discs are just two regular DVDs duct taped together
Brian @ Mar 9th 2008 2:50PM
....What?
Kujel @ Mar 9th 2008 2:51PM
Laughing my ass off, lalalalalalalalalalala............
Tiptup300 @ Mar 9th 2008 2:56PM
STFU+DIE, if you don't think Sims is a game, then you can die.
Kujel @ Mar 9th 2008 3:48PM
Sims isn't a game and you can gargle my pouch.
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Mar 9th 2008 5:12PM
To quote various people from Joystiq.
"Pot, meet kettle."
Dauragon88 @ Mar 9th 2008 2:51PM
I just got back from a marathon session of Brawl, it works fine for my friend. I don't know anyone else who is having troubles either. Kind of sucks for the people who are :/
What? @ Mar 10th 2008 4:36AM
Yay!
Brian @ Mar 9th 2008 2:51PM
You are!
Hyams @ Mar 9th 2008 2:51PM
If only the Wii could use blu-ray discs.
(Yay for flame-bait!)
Brian @ Mar 9th 2008 3:06PM
boo!
Hyams @ Mar 9th 2008 3:07PM
Yay, people are giving me attention!
Brian @ Mar 9th 2008 3:12PM
Yay!
Hyams @ Mar 9th 2008 3:12PM
Yay!
Brian @ Mar 9th 2008 3:25PM
=D
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 10th 2008 10:58AM
Yay!
Hyams @ Mar 10th 2008 11:00AM
Yay!
Hyams @ Mar 9th 2008 2:52PM
Are you for real?
Tiptup300 @ Mar 9th 2008 2:55PM
Erm, cut off the rest of my comment.
"arrow- I'm ready for people to say that, I got the game. I might just get a wii only for this game."
Dale @ Mar 9th 2008 3:04PM
My brother in law is 13 and he was extremely distraught that after waiting for so long for this game, he has to send his Wii off, rendering him unable to play *any* games.
I got off lucky - it installed the update and worked fine (although I noticed it was very noisy when reading the disc).
This is pretty retarded... but at least my brother in law will get to play the game by coming to stay with my wife and I. Many people affected aren't going to be so lucky.
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Mar 9th 2008 3:21PM
no you are.(not you jerk)
AJ @ Mar 9th 2008 3:27PM
They are making this up. Everyone knows that only 360's break!
Boostjunkie @ Mar 9th 2008 3:29PM
This is really just as bad as the 360 breaking. If you have to send it in for repair, even if it's just a dirty lens, you still have to send it in. So your out just like with the 360. Since this is the only good game out for a while, if it doesn't play, the whole system might as well be broke.
Rask @ Mar 9th 2008 3:36PM
C'mon guys. It's a Nintendo product. Everyone know that if it doesn't work, you have to blow in the slot!
wes @ Mar 9th 2008 4:23PM
First thing I tried...and whatdoyaknow...it works...
Howard-the-Duck @ Mar 9th 2008 5:11PM
hahah you rock
PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Mar 9th 2008 8:37PM
that was the first thing i thought lol. im not picking it up til tomorrow but i was playing Melee on my Wii today and it was pretty loud when reading the disc so im a little worried about it. i think ill try and clean it out before i go to bed tonight just in case. i know i have one of those disc with the brushes on it laying around here somewhere too.
Blazur @ Mar 9th 2008 3:36PM
That's a crying shame, because this game is a blast! Hopefully these people can get it resolved soon.