Sunday, June 10, 2007
Wiikey - Is this the mod chip for you?
Is the WiiKey the right Nintendo Wii Mod chip for you? Let's do some comparisons and find out if it is.
As it always is with each new mod chip released, the manufacturers always have some reasons to state that quite likely, THEIR chip is better than any other chip before it. This has been the case since the days of the original PSX mod chips. One chip was better than the other chip, and then the next chip was better than both of those other two chips put together.
I suppose it could be argued that one chip perhaps has some features that another chip does not. And quite likely, these additional features are of no consequence to most gamers. As gamers, we want a chip that is easy to install and just plain works.
There are really no extra or value added features that REALLY differentiate the say the WiiKey from the Cyclocwiz chip. Certainly not in terms of playing our games at all. We want a chip that will load and boot all the types of games we throw at it. And this, thankfully, is the same accross the board. All the Nintendo Wii Mod chips seem to just load each game, without any trouble or fussing about whether or not the game is an Gamecube backup copy of our original game or a backup copy we have of our Nintendo Wii Game.
To get a good, albeit brief idea, which shows quite clearly that there are no real differences, one simply has to look at the list of features for both the WiiKey and the Cyclowiz chips... We've listed the features and functions for both below.
WiiKey Features:
CycloWiz Features:
As it always is with each new mod chip released, the manufacturers always have some reasons to state that quite likely, THEIR chip is better than any other chip before it. This has been the case since the days of the original PSX mod chips. One chip was better than the other chip, and then the next chip was better than both of those other two chips put together.
I suppose it could be argued that one chip perhaps has some features that another chip does not. And quite likely, these additional features are of no consequence to most gamers. As gamers, we want a chip that is easy to install and just plain works.
There are really no extra or value added features that REALLY differentiate the say the WiiKey from the Cyclocwiz chip. Certainly not in terms of playing our games at all. We want a chip that will load and boot all the types of games we throw at it. And this, thankfully, is the same accross the board. All the Nintendo Wii Mod chips seem to just load each game, without any trouble or fussing about whether or not the game is an Gamecube backup copy of our original game or a backup copy we have of our Nintendo Wii Game.
To get a good, albeit brief idea, which shows quite clearly that there are no real differences, one simply has to look at the list of features for both the WiiKey and the Cyclowiz chips... We've listed the features and functions for both below.
WiiKey Features:
- Fully upgradeable via DVD/disc (future proof, expect cool features to come)
- Direct boot of Wii backups (like originals)
- Direct boot of GC backups (like originals)
- Boots different region GC games/backups
- Boots different NTSC region Wii games/backups
- Supports multi-disc games
- Supports DVD-R and DVD+R
- Built-in audio fix (for games using streaming, no patch required)
- Stealth mode
- 4 wires & quick solder interface
- Compact design, best quality components, rock solid high speed controller
- Professional ESD packing
CycloWiz Features:
- Easy Install (5 solder points / no wires required)
- Stealth Mode to keep chip from ever being detected from current wii firmware
- Play Both Wii and GameCube backups (DVD-r or DVD+R) and boot like any original game.
- Play GameCube homebrew and Imports
- Built In Audio fix for GC backups
- Multi-disc GameCube Games are fully supported. All GC Games are compatible.
- Support 8Cm and 12cm Discs - TDK or any other brand works equally as well.
- Optional Disable feature to turn your chip on and off
- Multipurpose LED to let you know that your chip is on and working, if it has an error, or if it is off
- DVD Firmware Upgrades available
Labels: cyclowiz, nintendo ds roms, nintendo wii, nintendo wii modchips, wiic, wiid, wiikey
WiiKey Installation Instructions
Installation instructions for the Wiikey are not much more than images, with the solder points clearly shown. While this is, in most cases, more than enough to install the Wiikey for gamers that have installed a mod chip before, it is hardly enough for new users of modchips who have never installed a modchip in any console system prior to the Nintendo Wii...
There is some good news though. Installation of the WiiKey is MUCH easier than say installing a mod chip for the playstation 2 or even the Xbox console.
The WiiKey Installations requires you to have a few things on hand, and if you don't, we recommend you go to your nearest Radio Shack, or the The Source, or any major electronics store and pick up the parts.
You'll need the following things:
1. A 15 WATT max soldering iron. It's important that you stick with something that has a max of 15 Watts, this is because the soldering iron will get hot enough for you to be able to able to melt the solder on to the points on the Wii motherboard, but not hot enough to do any damage and actually burn off the solder pads. This is the most common error when doing a Wiikey installation - using a soldering iron that is simply too hot.
2. 15 AWG Wire. You don't have to know what this is, but it's called wrapping wire. Any electronics store clerk (even if they don't know what they're even doing there) will be able to send you the right part of the store to pick up some wrapping wire.
3. Rosin Wire Solder. This solder conducts well, and is also very easy to work with due to how thin the solder is. You won't find yourself botching up any other points, because the solder is noce and thin and you can put it exactly where you need it.
We often have customers call us and let us know they used IDE Cable wire, for no good reason. While this WILL work, it certainly is not intended for this use. And quite frankly, we've spent $250.00 or more for our Nintendo Wii's, and when we're adding a nintendo wii mod chip, we should REALLY make sure we're doing the best we can. In all honesty, a spool of wrapping wire will not run you more than $4.00 - $8.00 .... This is NOT the item to cut the cost on. This wire will forever be in your Nintendo Wii.
We talk about wires, even though the WiiKey has quick solder pads, which means you really don't need wires. However, our experience with mod chips (having sold them since the days of the original Playstation) and quick solder pads is that it is far easier to just use wires. One should be REALLY certain that they will NEVER want to take out the mod chip before they solder the chip to the quick solder pads. Once there, removal of the chip, while it can be done, is extremely difficult, and you have a better chance of damaging your Wii more when removing the chip if you used quick solder pads, then you do with installation it.
Wiring in the Wiikey means that you simply de-solder the wires, and the chip it out and removed.
Detailed WiiKey Installation Instructions can be found at http://www.ps2cover.com/wiikey-installation.shtml
There is some good news though. Installation of the WiiKey is MUCH easier than say installing a mod chip for the playstation 2 or even the Xbox console.
The WiiKey Installations requires you to have a few things on hand, and if you don't, we recommend you go to your nearest Radio Shack, or the The Source, or any major electronics store and pick up the parts.
You'll need the following things:
1. A 15 WATT max soldering iron. It's important that you stick with something that has a max of 15 Watts, this is because the soldering iron will get hot enough for you to be able to able to melt the solder on to the points on the Wii motherboard, but not hot enough to do any damage and actually burn off the solder pads. This is the most common error when doing a Wiikey installation - using a soldering iron that is simply too hot.
2. 15 AWG Wire. You don't have to know what this is, but it's called wrapping wire. Any electronics store clerk (even if they don't know what they're even doing there) will be able to send you the right part of the store to pick up some wrapping wire.
3. Rosin Wire Solder. This solder conducts well, and is also very easy to work with due to how thin the solder is. You won't find yourself botching up any other points, because the solder is noce and thin and you can put it exactly where you need it.
We often have customers call us and let us know they used IDE Cable wire, for no good reason. While this WILL work, it certainly is not intended for this use. And quite frankly, we've spent $250.00 or more for our Nintendo Wii's, and when we're adding a nintendo wii mod chip, we should REALLY make sure we're doing the best we can. In all honesty, a spool of wrapping wire will not run you more than $4.00 - $8.00 .... This is NOT the item to cut the cost on. This wire will forever be in your Nintendo Wii.
We talk about wires, even though the WiiKey has quick solder pads, which means you really don't need wires. However, our experience with mod chips (having sold them since the days of the original Playstation) and quick solder pads is that it is far easier to just use wires. One should be REALLY certain that they will NEVER want to take out the mod chip before they solder the chip to the quick solder pads. Once there, removal of the chip, while it can be done, is extremely difficult, and you have a better chance of damaging your Wii more when removing the chip if you used quick solder pads, then you do with installation it.
Wiring in the Wiikey means that you simply de-solder the wires, and the chip it out and removed.
Detailed WiiKey Installation Instructions can be found at http://www.ps2cover.com/wiikey-installation.shtml
Labels: cyclowiz, mod chips, modchips, nintendo wii, nintendo wii modchips, wii mod chip, wiikey
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Wii outsells PS3 5 to 1 in Japan
It's seems that Mario Mania just can't stop. Especially when you can grab your wiimote and kick some bad guy butt in the way that games were meant to be played.
While graphically the Nintendo Wii perhaps leaves something to be desired. It's undoubtedly the MOST FUN console of all of the next generation consoles as far as game play is concerned. And with hints and rumours of much better games to come this year for the Wii, both from North American publishers, and Japanese publishers too, there's no better time to get your hands on a Nintendo Wii Mod Chip and start playing all of those really great import Wii Games from Japan.
"Sony sold 45,321 units of the PS3 in May, compared with 251,794 units of the Wii. In April, the ratio was four to one in favor of the Wii, according to Japanese game magazine publisher Enterbrain.
While graphically the Nintendo Wii perhaps leaves something to be desired. It's undoubtedly the MOST FUN console of all of the next generation consoles as far as game play is concerned. And with hints and rumours of much better games to come this year for the Wii, both from North American publishers, and Japanese publishers too, there's no better time to get your hands on a Nintendo Wii Mod Chip and start playing all of those really great import Wii Games from Japan.
"Sony sold 45,321 units of the PS3 in May, compared with 251,794 units of the Wii. In April, the ratio was four to one in favor of the Wii, according to Japanese game magazine publisher Enterbrain.
Nintendo, known for game characters such as Mario, Donkey Kong and Pokemon, launched the Wii in November. The device features a motion-sensitive controller that allows users to direct on-screen play by swinging it like a tennis racket or wielding it like a sword, opening a new avenue of game playing."
Labels: modchips, nintendo ds, nintendo wii, playstation 3, ps3, wii, wiikey
Monday, May 28, 2007
Wii Mod Chips Installation into Nintendo Wii Consoles Thwarted.
As is always the case with new console systems, the mainboard (PC Board) of any game machine goes through numerous revisions before the manufacturers will settle on one that both the best as far as cost goes, and one that adds extra security or new features.
There is wide speculation that Nintendo have released a new main board in Japan for the Nintendo Wii in an effort to thwart the installation of Nintendo Wii mod chips into their console. You can see on the picture to you the left that 3 vital pins on the chip inside the Nintendo Wii have been severed / disconnected at the manufacturing level, to perhaps make it impossible to install a Nintendo Wii Mod chip.
It's important to point out that this system is ONLY on store shelves in Japan, and European as well as North American Wii Systems have not at all been affected by this... but then, neither have Japanese game players. The manufacturers of both the Wiikey and the CycloWiz Wii mod chips have both come up with a work around, and a new way to install their chips into these systems. It seems that such "fixes" by manufacturers don't necessarily mean to thwart the installation of mod chips. Our guess is that it's simply a revision of the board, much like any electronics item on the market today. Manufacturers are always looking for cheaper and better ways to manufacture their units.
We'll keep you posted as we know more.
Labels: mod chips, modchips, nintendo wii, nintendo wii modchips, wii, wii mod chip
Swap Magic Download - Does it Work?
Some months ago I wrote the first article about the release of 3 different Nintendo Wii Mod Chips. Being a homebrew fan myself, it was hard to hide my enthusiasm when it came to these Wii mod chips simply because I have been a fan of homebrew games - and more importantly import games, since the days of the good old Nintendo Entertainment system. While it took only a little bit of cutting with an exacto knife back then to play the latest Japanese games on my North American Nintendo Entertainment system, I've pretty much done whatever I needed to do to be able to play those games. Including installing a mod chip in virtually every game system that needed one since then.
In the next few days, I'll be covering some of the newest Nintendo Wii Mod chips that have just come out to market. Including on chip, the WiiXT, which claims to also offer DVD playback on your Nintendo Wii.
In the next few days, I'll be covering some of the newest Nintendo Wii Mod chips that have just come out to market. Including on chip, the WiiXT, which claims to also offer DVD playback on your Nintendo Wii.
Labels: mod chips, modchip, nintendo wii, wii, wii mod chip
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