New Wii loses backwards compatibility

[SrTommy]

The title says all

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011- ... patibility

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011- ... -wii-model

[Cubelover]

Meh, then buy a Wii with backwards compatibility or a GC for 30 bucks.

[wii_HD]

Its already been made clear with the wiiU Nintendo want to forget about GameCube.

I Suppose this "wii lite" machine will have new silicon or perhaps GC mode will still be in there waiting to be unlocked by homebrew

I expect HDMI and no USB ports this time round, a different disc gate colour light would be nice too.

[liquitt]

i like the fact that they labeled everything, so this maschine isn't standing up as stupid as the first wii. i always disliked that

[Cubelover]

Its already been made clear with the wiiU Nintendo want to forget about GameCube.

I Suppose this "wii lite" machine will have new silicon or perhaps GC mode will still be in there waiting to be unlocked by homebrew

I expect HDMI and no USB ports this time round, a different disc gate colour light would be nice too.

Even if somehow a "hidden" GC mode can be unlocked (most likely by installing BC + MIOS), there is no way you can play any GC game with it since ports for Gamecube controllers and memory cards are missing. U can not use a classic controller.

Nintendo would be stupid to remove the USB ports since many games are using Wii Speak and other USB peripheral devices. Not to mention the Ethernet adapter requires a USB port. No point in adding a HDMI output since the Wii is not capable to output HD graphics.

[Crwys]

Wii U is going to have USB ports. As for no backwards compatability...
Gamecube emulator?

[wii_HD]

Even if somehow a "hidden" GC mode can be unlocked (most likely by installing BC + MIOS), there is no way you can play any GC game with it since ports for Gamecube controllers and memory cards are missing. U can not use a classic controller.

Its pie in the sky until the machine hits retail - probably going to be new silicon anyway derived from the wiiU development programme and that will ensure no GameCube mode.

Nintendo would be stupid to remove the USB ports since many games are using Wii Speak and other USB peripheral devices. Not to mention the Ethernet adapter requires a USB port. No point in adding a HDMI output since the Wii is not capable to output HD graphics.

A dozen wii speak games dont hold any sway.
Wifi is still there.
How many modern displays/AV hubs ship with component for EDTV resolution.
Does your DVD player have HDMI?


@Crwys

The thread is not about the wiiU but the reworked standard wii which is coming to Europe.

And yes in time I fully expect a GameCube Virtual Console complete with selected HD remakes - that is Nintendo.

[AC_Orange]

this is really shit... but i guess most people won't care

[epoch]

this is really shit... but i guess most people won't care

well, everything else works the same "HBC", hacks, emulators, all that work as-is.
that's the reason i've kept my 2 GCs...

[emu_kidid]

I'm sure we can hack in some GC support, but yes, indeed shame

[pr0ton]

I'm looking for a new 1st generation Wii with the GC compatibility, since the stores are selling their latest stock. If I'm right, the Wii Sports Pack is a pack from the previous generation? Also there was the Wii Mario Kart Pack, but it seems they transformed it into the new generation (horizontal):

[pr0ton]

Did some more research and it seems this is the list of the new, GC-less bundles:

- Mario Kart Wii Pack -black- (also a pack from previous generation);
- Wii Family Edition -white-
- Wii Fit Plus -black- (also a pack from previous generation);
- Mario & Sonic Pack -blue-
- Just Dance 2 Packack -white-
- Donkey Kong Returns Pack -blue-

So Mario Kart Wii Pack -white- is fine, also the Wii Sports Resort Pack -white&black-. Short list from Nintendo which tells you if it is compatible or not: http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/wii_54.html As always: horizontal=new and vertical=compatible.

[AC_Orange]

The only one I've seen in Australia without GC support is the blue Wii bundled with Donkey Kong Returns
Still good to know there's others, usually says on the box

[opiun]

This is... just awful. Damn cheapskates trying to cut down production costs, I suspect.

[pr0ton]

Yes, and they did the same move with the GameCube then by removing the digital port.

[LOCtronicz]

Just to let everyone know I have opened up one of these wii's and softmodded it and added a wode chip. I then added the original controller ports and memory card ports. Theb loaded a gamecube iso a.d voila it worked.

The wii unmodified will spit out original gamecube discs so it will only work with hdd loading.

Also the small filter components on the 2,3 and 4 gamecube controller ports have been removed. You just have to bridge the 3.3v, 5v and data line and they all work 100%

Thought I share that bit of information.

[emu_kidid]

pictures please

[liquitt]

pictures please

i second that!

[emu_kidid]

I wonder if its the drive mechanism detecting an 8cm disc and rejecting it or the drive firmware.. would be nice to swap out the drive and see if an older one works (pretty sure it would)

[sm4rty]

when a wode is working with gamecube images then it should be the drive which rejects the mini dvd because if its the wii software then it would the GC image loaded with a wode also.

[liquitt]

when a wode is working with gamecube images then it should be the drive which rejects the mini dvd because if its the wii software then it would the GC image loaded with a wode also.

look at what emu said again
"...drive mechanism or drive firmware..."

[noobcube]

Thanks for the update on the new hardware. I soft-modded one for a friend a few weeks ago.

Apparently the drive board for the new GC-minus Wii lacks the square chip in the upper right of this picture, which is necessary for loading GC discs:



So, it looks as if it has the ability to play GC games, but won't read GC discs.

[noobcube]

This picture shows the difference between the new (no GC) and old D4 drives:

[_Nold_]

I totally hate Nintendo for that..

@LOCtronics: Good find

[LOCtronicz]

Sorry didn't take any pics of the motherboard. It looks exactly he same as the last previous wii revision except the missing components and ports. When I get another one to modify I'll take pics and show it working with gamecube games. When that is however I can't say.

I also know that the software on the wii is unchanged. Only the dvd drive which has physically removed the gamecube disc feature and the controller/memorycard ports are the only hardware changes made to the device to stop you playing gamecube discs.