Wii hack zaps annoying health warning, region coding

by Randy Nelson { Aug 5th 2008 at 9:00PM }

There's nothing wrong with your speakers. The above video is totally silent, although its content speaks volumes. What you're looking at is a new Wii System Menu hack from homebrew coder "Crediar." What's special about this one – which is installed via the Homebrew Channel we've covered previously – is that it does away with the annoying health warning screen at boot-up, the Wii Menu background music, and, most importantly, region coding for Wii games, GameCube games and Wii Channels. The video is annotated so you know exactly what's going on during the walkthrough. Crediar hasn't made his work public as of yet, but we can only imagine Nintendo – unlike Wii owners – will be none too pleased.

[Thanks, Craig!]

Tags: hacks, homebrew

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mitch @ Aug 5th 2008 9:10PM

I can definitely understand the reasoning behind the removal of the health warning and region coding, but seriously, do people find the Wii menu music that annoying?

Erik Stroud @ Aug 5th 2008 9:24PM

I would rather be able to replace it. But, this is fantastic. The amount of things being done is quite amazing since it has only been a couple of months.

Dopple Boppler @ Aug 5th 2008 11:35PM

I love the Wii's (and GameCube's) ambient background music stuff. I had no idea people actually ever wanted to turn it off.

Gavin @ Aug 5th 2008 9:10PM

Do you also have a video of paint drying for me to watch?

The_Punisher @ Aug 5th 2008 9:40PM

WIN

+1

chris webster @ Aug 5th 2008 9:10PM

Im an epileptic and I cant stand that warning

Chase @ Aug 5th 2008 9:38PM

Howdy! I think this post mind interest you...

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/rumor-wipeout-hd-held-up-by-epilepsy-tests/

joe @ Aug 5th 2008 9:15PM

That would be cool if there were games worth importing.

How about something actually useful like the ability to use the Gamecube controllers while in the Wii menu so I don't have to find a Wiimote with working batteries just to start up Smash Bros?

Slaziman @ Aug 6th 2008 1:51AM

bitch, you know how long it took for SSBB to be released in Europe after it was released in NA?

No you don't

ill tell you

3 months

think about that before you diss region coding hacks again

joe @ Aug 6th 2008 2:06AM

Not my concern. I live in North America.

4MyFriends @ Aug 5th 2008 9:18PM

"but we can only imagine Nintendo – unlike Wii owners – will be none too pleased. "

Of course they wouldn't, why would a company not be upset at people modifying their hardware and its software/firmware to do what they don't want?

mogamer @ Aug 5th 2008 9:50PM

Uh, it's your hardware. You bought it from Nintendo, they're not loaning it to you. Sure, they won't like it, but too bad. They can try to stop it the way Sony tried with they're continual firmware upgrades to the PSP, but Sony couldn't stop dedicated hackers and neither can Nintendo.

4MyFriends @ Aug 5th 2008 11:42PM

"Uh, it's your hardware. You bought it from Nintendo, they're not loaning it to you."

Modifying their hardware/software is illegal and can get you in legal troubles if Nintendo cared enough to take it that far.

BPM [MSN: BPMdotEXE @ hotmail.com] @ Aug 6th 2008 1:38AM

4MyFriends is actually right (for once)...

When you purchase a game console, you involuntarily sign a user agreement.

That's why hacked 360s get banned from Live.

t_m @ Aug 6th 2008 8:48AM

Correction: its illegal in some countries and in some circumstances.

in some other countries its totally legal. in some its even protected by law.. and in several countries their attempts to stop you are illegal.

If I buy a console I'm going to do whatever I want with MY property.

kevinski @ Aug 5th 2008 9:32PM

By "health warning," I hope that it's also referring to those screens that basically say, "You're a retard, so let us show you how to hold the controller."

peepoop @ Aug 5th 2008 9:35PM

1. I didn't see any annotations.
2. What's wrong with the Wii Menu music?

Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Aug 5th 2008 9:49PM

It's not exactly music, just background noise which you don't even notice, but after a while it gets on your nerves.

BPM [MSN: BPMdotEXE @ hotmail.com] @ Aug 6th 2008 1:39AM

You can't see YouTube annotations unless you view the video on YouTube. They don't work when embedded on other sites (yet, at least).

snarfoogle @ Aug 5th 2008 9:46PM

Can we haz Gamecube controller support hacked into the Wii Menu nao? I'm sick of having to get my Wiimote to barlw.

TheOverlord#2 can has Animals Crossing? @ Aug 6th 2008 1:16AM

You can has Spell Check.

Tim The Enchanter @ Aug 6th 2008 11:05AM

Packaged with dyslexi-check

gir @ Aug 5th 2008 9:48PM

The hacking community dishes out way more updates than Nintendo..tsk..tsk..tsk...

waynski1457 @ Aug 5th 2008 10:04PM

You mean like the PSP?
Sorry, I had to. I don't know about you, but that's kind of a selling point to me.

And there is no way in hell I would ever get or stay mad at Gir.

gir @ Aug 5th 2008 10:25PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtNxKc8mKu8&feature=related

Tango Charlie @ Aug 5th 2008 10:24PM

Is there a way to have the Wii boot straight into whatever game disc is in the drive?

Yawn @ Aug 5th 2008 10:45PM

That health warning feature is more annoying than most bugs.
Being able to remove it is a good reason to go the way of the hacking,atleast better than free virtual console roms.

kevinski @ Aug 5th 2008 11:26PM

I kinda wish that Nintendo would release an update that'd let you change the overall color of the menu. I'm tired of looking at that stagnant white borefest.

TheOverlord#2 can has Animals Crossing? @ Aug 6th 2008 1:21AM

Yea, I wish you could take a picture from the Photo Channel or buy one from the Wii Shop and put it up on the Mail board and behind the channels.
Kind of like the way the new 360 Dashboard looks with a picture behind the screens.

Saria the Cat @ Aug 6th 2008 12:46AM

I wish you could just opt out of that health menu and "here's how to hold the control" menu. You know, like a "Don't show me this again." checkbox.

The region free thing is kind of exciting, though, since I am going to study abroad in Japan in less than a month. :)

paralipsis @ Aug 6th 2008 12:51AM

I have a GC disk that I have been unable to run due to region restrictions. I have been waiting a long time for some bright hacker and help me out. I'm really looking forward to seeing this released.

Jhongerkong @ Aug 6th 2008 1:14AM

But..but..what if I have a health related problem while playing a game? WHAT THE HELL DO I DO THEN HUH?

Frojo @ Aug 6th 2008 2:02AM

well this is actually interesting enough i may break out the old wii. All this homebrew business might get me to play it again.

Jon2309 @ Aug 6th 2008 4:45AM

I eagerly await some of the graphical hacks to the menus. Hackers are some of the most talented graphics artists around.

t_m @ Aug 6th 2008 8:52AM

If there is actually a simple region-free hack then I'm gonna buy a Wii.

I'd have bought one years ago if it had been region free. (I'm in Japan, but my japanese isn't good enough for a lot of games yet). So thats a console and at least a dozen games they've lost from me.

Alternatively, if there isn't a simple region-free hack then I guess that if I finally buy a Wii I'll be forced to get a mod-chip to region-free it.
Unfortunately that opens up the temptation of free games... which i'd rather avoid.