Nintendo Tweaking the Wii to Counter Mod Chips

no mods!
A Taiwanese retailer has reported that Nintendo is planning to alter the motherboard in the Wii, making it nearly impossible to add a mod chip without damaging the console. Apparently this new motherboard design makes soldering the chip to the board extremely difficult… for now.

While Nintendo is obviously trying to prevent piracy and protect their and 3rd party developer’s intellectual property, its important to note that there are plenty of legit reasons to use a mod chip and that modifying hardware you own is perfectly legal. Piracy on the other hand is not legal and could potentially be a big problem for software publishers (especially the little guys).

A number of mod chips have already hit the market and more are sure to follow given that the Wii is the home console leader this time around. Nintendo has already changed the specs of the Wii once to counter chip-mods by swapping to a different type of DVD drive. The modders found a work around that obstacle in a few short weeks. How long until they cross this hurdle?

If we look back to the PS2, lets remember that Sony changed it’s motherboard design 12 or more times and were never able to thwart modders..

Source: play.tm & maxconsole



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  • harry

    you modders out there wont like this but…what if nintendo put a switch or trigger that if the wii is opened it makes the wii useless? like opening a xbox 360 voids you xbox live account…it would take less time and money to do that than redesign the motherboard?

  • harry

    you modders out there wont like this but…what if nintendo put a switch or trigger that if the wii is opened it makes the wii useless? like opening a xbox 360 voids you xbox live account…it would take less time and money to do that than redesign the motherboard?

  • harry

    you modders out there wont like this but…what if nintendo put a switch or trigger that if the wii is opened it makes the wii useless? like opening a xbox 360 voids you xbox live account…it would take less time and money to do that than redesign the motherboard?

  • harry

    you modders out there wont like this but…what if nintendo put a switch or trigger that if the wii is opened it makes the wii useless? like opening a xbox 360 voids you xbox live account…it would take less time and money to do that than redesign the motherboard?

  • flamingsquirrel

    Nintendo would never brick a console intentionally. Stop online features, mabey, but not brick a console. They’re stopping you from buying accessories (wiimotes, nunchucks, classic controllers etc.) and VC games and content. As long as you not cheating in online games, I don’t think they’ll do that. Besides, even with the 360, you can have a modchip and still have an xbox live account. Now, if you use the modchip to cheat, you will be reported for cheating, and your Xbox live account shut down, but not due to the chip, just the cheating.

  • flamingsquirrel

    Nintendo would never brick a console intentionally. Stop online features, mabey, but not brick a console. They’re stopping you from buying accessories (wiimotes, nunchucks, classic controllers etc.) and VC games and content. As long as you not cheating in online games, I don’t think they’ll do that. Besides, even with the 360, you can have a modchip and still have an xbox live account. Now, if you use the modchip to cheat, you will be reported for cheating, and your Xbox live account shut down, but not due to the chip, just the cheating.

  • Shift

    While I agree that there are many legitimate uses for a modchip and even have one installed on my own system, they are technically illegal because they circumvent copy protection.

  • Shift

    While I agree that there are many legitimate uses for a modchip and even have one installed on my own system, they are technically illegal because they circumvent copy protection.

  • Bendejo

    Shift — Just because there is an illegal use for something doesn’t make it illegal. I can smack you in the face with a hammer. Does that mean all hammers should be illegal? Something can’t be “Technically Illegal”. It’s either legal or it isn’t. In some countries they are illegal. Think before you speak.

  • Bendejo

    Shift — Just because there is an illegal use for something doesn’t make it illegal. I can smack you in the face with a hammer. Does that mean all hammers should be illegal? Something can’t be “Technically Illegal”. It’s either legal or it isn’t. In some countries they are illegal. Copy protection is not law. Think before you speak.

  • Bendejo

    Shift — Just because there is an illegal use for something doesn’t make it illegal. I can smack you in the face with a hammer. Does that mean all hammers should be illegal? Something can’t be “Technically Illegal”. It’s either legal or it isn’t. In some countries they are illegal. Copy protection is not law. Think before you speak.

  • Bendejo

    Shift — Just because there is an illegal use for something doesn’t make it illegal. I can smack you in the face with a hammer. Does that mean all hammers should be illegal? Something can’t be “Technically Illegal”. It’s either legal or it isn’t. In some countries they are illegal. Think before you speak.

  • Bendejo

    Shift — Just because there is an illegal use for something doesn’t make it illegal. I can smack you in the face with a hammer. Does that mean all hammers should be illegal? Something can’t be “Technically Illegal”. It’s either legal or it isn’t. In some countries they are illegal. Copy protection is not law. Think before you speak.

  • shanoboy

    Yeah, circumventing copy protection isn’t illegal in the US. Actaully, I think you can go to best buy and buy software that circumvents to copy protection of blu ray and hd dvd movies even! Its only illegal to obtain illegal copies of software, movies games and so on. If you make your own legitimate copy its prefectly fine.

  • shanoboy

    Yeah, circumventing copy protection isn’t illegal in the US. Actaully, I think you can go to best buy and buy software that circumvents to copy protection of blu ray and hd dvd movies even! Its only illegal to obtain illegal copies of software, movies games and so on. If you make your own legitimate copy its prefectly fine.

  • double dd’s

    Is it legal to buy a mod chip in the U.S? I have been looking at the stuff and I want to buy a chip but not be screwed by the govt. Is it true that if you open your 360 your live account is shut down? I was going to change the case, but now i am have second thoughts.

  • double dd’s

    Is it legal to buy a mod chip in the U.S? I have been looking at the stuff and I want to buy a chip but not be screwed by the govt. Is it true that if you open your 360 your live account is shut down? I was going to change the case, but now i am have second thoughts.

  • Nugget

    Double dd’s,

    1) In Canada and I’m pretty sure in the U.S as well mod chips are legal. Of course pirating games is not.

    2) No it is not true that if you open your 360 you live account gets shut down. There is no hardware in the 360 to detect this.

  • Nugget

    Double dd’s,

    1) In Canada and I’m pretty sure in the U.S as well mod chips are legal. Of course pirating games is not.

    2) No it is not true that if you open your 360 you live account gets shut down. There is no hardware in the 360 to detect this.

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