Wii Freeloader
February 28th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
So I just ordered one of these. It’s the Wii FreeLoader from Datel, the same crazy brits that gave you the Action Replay. No idea if it works or not, but it claims to boot any GameCube or Wii disc in your Wii, regardless of region. That might have come in handy back when I sort of wanted to import Smash Bros., but considering there’s plenty of weird stuff out for the Wii in Japan, it seems like a useful thing to own.
Anyway, they’re selling it for $20, after shipping it came out to around $28. Now I just need to order a random Japanese Wii game from NCS to see if it actually works… anyone got any suggestions?
Simple Wii Series Vol. 5: The Block Kuzushi is sounding pretty tempting right about now.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I’d hold off on Smash Bros, since it’s coming out in just a bit.
As for the crazy Japanese game, dude, can’t imagine anything, sorry!
February 28th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Oops… and there was me, assuring one of my friends heading stateside a few months back… “Yeah, of course the Wii is region free!” *hides*
February 28th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
That’s great that they made one of these for the Wii now. I remember the one for the GC but never got it. I’ll have to pick this up and try out some games as well, but I don’t have any reccomendations either.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I had one of these for the Gamecube and it worked just fine so I’ll definitely be picking one up. Ten quid is a small price to pay for not feeling totally screwed over just because you live in Europe everytime you have to wait for a game you want to be translated.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
That’s actually pretty awesome. Keep us informed if it works.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I think the best thing about Japanese games would be the ones on the virtual console, but since that device won’t let you download Japanese VC games it’s pretty mute for what I’d want it for.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
For a second I thought you were gonna say that you ordered the freeloader and a copy of SSBB and paid crazy amounts of money to have then shipped to you. But then I remembered that you’re not really that into SSBB. I really cannot think of any Japanese games that are crazy enough or import worth on the Wii. …Wii Fit?? Off topic but I see you are listening to the Braids, I loved the High School High Soundtrack. How can you go wrong with De La, Tribe, KRS and Wu on one album? The link won’t let me listen to Red and Meth Broken Language 08, I really like the original and part 2 w/ Smoothe and Trigga. Hook me up!
February 28th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I have never been hardcore enough to buy imports but I have always thought about it. I would have likely bought Super Smash Brothers Brawl but in less than 2 weeks you can just pick up a US copy. I would really like to know if it performs, because $20 is nothing to play region free.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Hey Jeff. I’d be really curious to see how that works out. Let us know.
So what Japanese imports do you have in mind?
February 28th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Hey Jeff,
Read about this on NeoGaf and it seems like this will only work for GameCube games, and only on Wii’s under firmware 3.0. Pretty sure its the old product just rebranded to sucker people into thinking just what you (and I) did.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Wow, I’ve been hoping they would release one soon. Since I’ve been dying to play the Wii version of Eyshield: http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-z3-49-en-15-eyeshield-70-1t4x.html
The DS game is pretty awesome, so I imagine the Wii one to be even better.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I was going to get one of these, but after some research i found it will only play any gamecube game, and not any wii game.
I have been considering my options regarding a region free wii recently myself, if i had a second wii i would just get a mod chip, but i dont have enough cash to buy a second yet so im left with a dilema
February 28th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
EDIT
Hmm guess my Gaf refresh was a bit slow. Maybe it WILL work? Hope so as I ordered it already!
February 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
If this works make sure you tell me, and i’ll be getting one of these bad boys and playing myself some smash bros. Screw waiting for it to be released in Europe, I want it now!
February 28th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
A second bout of research shows im totally fucking wrong. Ill be ordering this right away.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
BTW James, pretty sure even mod chips dont make the wii region free atm.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
If it does work, it’s only a matter of time before Nintendo breaks it (intentionally or unintentionally) with a future Wii firmware update.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
It’d be great if there was a PS2 freeloader because at least then i could friggin play “Fire Pro Returns”!
February 28th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Are there any crazy Japanese Poke-the-Badger-with-a-Wooden-Spoon Wii games? If so, get one of those. Otherwise, fuck it.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Dude, youve just opened yourself up to the Japanese Wii Market?
dude, either your a genius, or plain crazy. (God knows it will TURN you into one or the other)
Make sure you tell us more on your decision.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Jeff, you big beauty!!! just what I wanted for my wii!!!!
Keep up the good work and what about a review of ‘no more heroes’ for us wii boys???
Trev
February 28th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Oh, and might I add this: if there aren’t any Poke-the-Badger-with-a-Wooden-Spoon Wii games, there bloody well should be!
February 28th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
while the one for gamecube worked great i dunno about this one. I mean even if it works at release it could just aswell happen that Nintendo makes it not work anymore with the next Wii system update,no?
February 28th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
They could, but since Nintendo gives you a heads up on when it’s going to update, instead of forcing an update on you then you just don’t update.
I’d rather be able to play import games than have new Wii channels anyway. Yeah, new channels are fun for like a few days but then I never use them and just delete them from my Wii.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
That looks about crazy enough. I’d go for it.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Buy it now.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Did somebody say decorated truck racing?!
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-z3-49-en-70-2hc2.html
“The worlds in this game are endlessly fascinating and unique. Take part in the nation-wide decorated truck festival.”
Thats all you need to know as far as i’m concerned, a AAA title to be sure.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Why’s it got the Xbox Live blades on the cover?
February 28th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Jeff, you don’t know how much you made me happy once I seen this. Since I live in the UK and Brawl isn’t coming out here until June or apparently Autumn, I would be able to import provided it does actually work since I have seen the comments suggesting it does not and its only the GC one again.
February 28th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Two Words: Oneechanbara Revoloution,
now, if you excuse me, I’m off to see about getting me one of these beaut’s and a copy of said game :B
February 28th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Can you please import any one of those frightening big busty Japanese school girl games. I’m not sure if their for the Wii, but if there are, I’m very curious to see how waggling the Wii-mote would function in such a game.
100% Jeff, keep it alive
February 28th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
That is probably a great purchase for any Wii owner. I could only imagine the wonderful and terrible things that are only available for the Wii in Japan. Pornagraphic games on the Wii could be both fun and educational!
February 28th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I wanna see one of those for the 360
February 28th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
hey Jeff maybe there is a Fish Tank simulator… like that Japanese game you have for the 360
February 28th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
btw.. hey could you guys talk about something in the next ArrowPointingDown podcast (or your POINTS video): what do you think about the possibility of GoldenEye 007 on Live Arcade… I know it was a while since that rumor went around, but still… Also what other “Console Classics” would you like to see on Live Arcade… Killer Instinct, … Jet Force Gemini… ok thanks…
February 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
ontheocho is right
February 28th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Well, Jeff, if you can wait a little while, there’s always this.
http://kotaku.com/360160/the-wii-is-getting-an-adult-game
February 29th, 2008 at 2:47 am
hey… will this make my Manhunt 2 all pretty like it should be? or did they already release the action replay for that?
either way, good find…
February 29th, 2008 at 5:45 am
EyeShield, man. Make Rich proud!!
February 29th, 2008 at 8:11 am
James: The old freeloader still worked in the Wii for Gamecube games. (if that isn’t proof the Wii is a repackaged GC I don’t know what is), but this one looks to be what I was waiting for.
That Gundam game that came out last year never made the jump, so now I can finally add that to my stack of mediocre Gundam games.
There are some really fun looking imports that might be worth importing, just for the oddness.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Cool, sounds like a pretty sweet deal if it works. Keep us posted.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I’d buy that if I owned a Wii. I never bought the cartridge thing to play Saturn imports, and I deeply regret it. I might just get one now.
February 29th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I might have to look into one of these things as Im sick of waiting for No More Heros to come out in UK.
As for the Japanese Game - Ive been reading about Minna no Joushiki Ryoku TV - a.k.a Everyone’s Common Knowledge Television from Nintendoe. Its a series of crazy common sense puzzels like choosing shoes, eating sushi & playing baseball. It looks like its got shed loads of Japanese madness akin to warioware and Byte Hell. Ill definately be taking a look.
Its out March 6th in Japan and Im pretty sure theres no chance we’ll see it released over here in the west.
I had a dream about you last night dude. I was drinking beers with you and Rich Gallop, you were talking about setting up a rad games site with Ryan and Alex and a some of the other ex-spoters. Hope it comes true!
All the best,
February 29th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Dude Import one of those pony care games themz is off the shizz, plus I heard they even have pink ones, HELL YEAH THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ‘BOUT BOOOY!!!!!
March 1st, 2008 at 3:05 am
Jeff, sorry but you cant use Wii Freeloader if you got the latest Wii update, and Nintendo havnt said anything bout fixing it.
March 2nd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
is there one for xbox 360 becosue i want to import iDOLM@STER
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:21 am
There was that cracy Baseball game, where you at some point pulled out a Machine Gun, Can’t remember the name though
But about Nintendo, can’t they just say force a update on a game,before you can play it, or would the Freeloader be able to circumvent this ?
Great nice although, just what I need to play No More Heroes Uncut
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:29 am
It would cause massive havoc on Wii’s because the updates are region specific. Running NTSC games on PAL wii’s would give people update nightmares, as would running japanese games on US consoles!
I’m not saying it won’t work, but I’d start reading up on how to not brick your wii!
April 16th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I bought the USA Version Wii Freeloader (NTSC) and Naruto EX, and I can confirm that IT DOES NOT WORK, after e-mailing DATEL about this issue, they just answered: “Unfortunately Naruto EX is not compatible with the Wii Freeloader, we apologize for the inconvenience” That is just great (I just wasted my money) and they do not take responsibility on this. The product info says VERY CLEARLY: Play any game from any region (and it does not have any listing of incompatible games-I found out after spending my money and emailing Datel’s customer support)
April 30th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Does nobody think that Datel works for Nintendo…. making a circular business….
-Datel create new freeloader
-People buy it.
-After a time Nintendo Create an Update to Stop it.
-Datel create another new freeloader
-People buy it.
-After a time Nintendo Create an Update to Stop it.
And so on…