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Software Wii Game Backup Method Revealed
Marcus Yam (Blog) - January 16, 2007 4:29 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 31 comment(s) - last by arru.. on Feb 6 at 5:52 AM

Method to create disc images of Nintendo Wii games to take fifty hours

A method has been found to dump images of Nintendo Wii game onto a PC hard drive. According to a forum post on Wii Newz, a specific line of LG DVD-ROM drives are required along with the program DVDInfo in order to successfully create a disc image.

The LG DVD-ROM drives, which supposedly share similar hardware with the optical drive found in the Wii, are able to read the special game discs via debug commands issued by the DVDInfo software. The entire process is a lengthy one, as it takes over fifty hours to create one single image dump.

Although hackers may be able to successfully extract the data off a Wii game disc, there is still no known method in loading the extracted data for play on the console.

The PlayStation 3 "backup" scene is also just getting its wings – disc images of PS3 games were released within two weeks of the console’s launch, but methods on loading the data for play are still unknown.

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lol...
By d33pblue on 1/16/2007 5:46:58 PM , Rating: 3
Anything to steal a video game, eh?




RE: lol...
By SunAngel on 1/16/2007 5:57:25 PM , Rating: 2
friend, not everything is about theft. sometimes you just want to back up your software. if you happen to return the game to the store after you've made the back up, ethically you should destroy the back up.


RE: lol...
By vanka on 1/16/07, Rating: 0
RE: lol...
By d33pblue on 1/16/2007 6:25:39 PM , Rating: 1
I wonder how many people plan on using these "ethical" "backup" methods to make backups of video games they rented - and then conveniently "forget" to destroy the backup after they've returned them to the video store.

Listen, lets stop kidding ourselves. More often than not, what people do behind closed doors differs from what they tell others in public. I fully realize this method has legitamate uses, but what percentage of overall uses will be legal and legit? Honestly.

Not that its any skin off my back what others do with their free time, but if you honestly want other people to believe this frantic rush to "backup" these brand new video games is anything other than a lightly masqueraded piracy effort, then youre kidding yourself.


RE: lol...
By xphile on 1/17/2007 3:47:32 AM , Rating: 4
If the physical state of rental discs in your country is anything like mine (New Zealand) you are lucky to be able to PLAY rentals, let alone copy them. Most look like they were run over a cheese grater, and half the new release discs look that way after they've been out less than 2 weeks. People dont look after rental discs at all. Said people probably dont even own much of a dvd library, care, or even know HOW to look after a disc.

If the laws of your country allow for a duplication to legally be made of digital content you have legally purchased, for the purpose of allowing you to always have legal right to access that same content you have paid for, then I personally feel you should be allowed to do so.

Of course the DMCA is a trick bit of legislation that says in effect "Of course you have the legal right to create a copy of any digital content you have legally paid for, so long as you obtain it without circumventing any copy protection mechanism protecting that digial content from being copied, as that would be illegal"

It's really the biggest piece of legal contradiction in the industry.

If it applied to grocery items it would be akin to saying:

"Make as many omlettes as you want with that dozen eggs you just legally bought but just be aware that breaking eggshells is an illegal activity"


RE: lol...
By Christopher1 on 1/18/2007 2:27:48 AM , Rating: 2
Well, when something contradicts itself like that, it is usually declared an invalid law by the courts.

But of course, the game industry has enough "Ooomph" to make it stick in court even when it is borderline legal or actually illegal.

I also have to agree about the rental situation. When I was renting PS games from places, some of the disks were so cruddy with stuff that I was lucky they even played. 3 out of 4 times, I had to wash them off with warm water and soap before putting them in my PS, because they had....... SOMETHING on them that was sticky and obscured the disk.


RE: lol...
By encryptkeeper on 1/17/2007 9:50:27 AM , Rating: 2
Of COURSE everything's not about theft...I would NEVER illegally copy a game after renting it!!! And I've never done that with movies either!!! But seriously, you'll still need a mod program to PLAY the backed up disc, unless I'm mistaken.


RE: lol...
By Anonymous Freak on 1/16/2007 6:42:17 PM , Rating: 3
It wouldn't be about theft to me. It's about having a 2-year old who destroys discs. I never use original DVDs anymore. Just DVD-R copies. The originals are safely in a 'folder' style case in storage in the basement. (The copies are in the original cases, so it's easy for the 2 year old to figure out what movie is what.) Recently, I have been ripping my movies into H.264 for eventual playback on an AppleTV or similar device. I plan on keeping the original discs, because I do like to watch the special features once in a while, and for legal reasons, but I will rarely USE the original discs.

It's been a long time since I played music off an original physical CD. Either computer, iPod, or burned CD copy are how I do it. (Stored in the same set of folders in the basement, the original cases are long since recycled, except for 'special' ones like box sets.)

If I could do that with Wii games, I'd be happy. (I wonder if this could be done for GameCube games onto full size discs for play in a Wii?) I'd be even happier if I could back them up to a hard drive, and run them off the hard drive, though. My video game system is the last major place I use original media.


RE: lol...
By Felofasofa on 1/16/2007 8:44:53 PM , Rating: 2
I can relate,....I came across a DVD drive at a friends loaded with fresh peanut butter. Toddlers think drive trays are excellent places to store food, especially the really messy stuff. You just push the button, place the bikkie on the tray, push the button again and it disappears - wonderful!


RE: lol...
By brandontres on 1/16/2007 9:32:05 PM , Rating: 2
I agree. My GC games seem to get scratched up even when I take good care of them. If I could preserve my original Wii games, then it wouldn't be an issue.

I've let my friends borrow my games before after I've finished them. Is that wrong? I personally don't think so. If this is possible, I could give them a copy to borrow then have them destroy it.


RE: lol...
By jugbander on 1/17/2007 12:23:53 PM , Rating: 2
Yea, especially since the wii has all those great party games. I can already forsee someone drunkenly dropping one of my games and scratching it.


RE: lol...
By Spivonious on 1/16/2007 11:18:44 PM , Rating: 1
Or you could actually pay attention to what your kid is doing and tell him to stop damaging your discs. Either that or place them out of his reach. Tell him/her that DVDs are not toys and he shouldn't touch them. Whatever happened to some discipline?


RE: lol...
By Andrwken on 1/16/2007 11:52:55 PM , Rating: 2
Spoken like someone who has never had kids. I suppose you in your child rearing wisdom would have to swap out all the videogames for them too because "they are not toys and he shouldn't touch them." How about a better lesson. Take care of it because if you scratch it or break it, you can't play it anymore.

Personally, I like the idea of having a backup if possible.


RE: lol...
By Spivonious on 1/17/2007 2:10:57 PM , Rating: 2
I'm a strong believer in the "let him do it and learn the consequences" strategy. If they're his videogames, let him do what he wants. If he scratches his favorite game and can't play it anymore, then too bad it's his fault. Maybe he won't scratch the discs anymore.

If the kid is scratching my movies, then "they are not toys" is a true statement. He can scratch his movies all he wants to. He'll learn very quickly that when he doesn't treat the object with care, he loses the use of that object. It's a valuable lesson that I wish more parents would let their kids learn themselves.


RE: lol...
By HammerZ on 1/17/2007 6:53:28 PM , Rating: 2
I have no opinions about this topic, but I want to reply to your logic on raising kids. I have 2 kids (a 3y/o and a 6 months old).

Have you ever tried to reason w/ a 2yr old before? Please give it a try and then report back about the "let him do it and learn the consequences" theory of yours. It's like telling a kid learning to walk that he/she should not fall down. Its bound to happen regardless of what you tell them because they cannot understand the logic of cause-and-effect at such an early age. You obviously do not have any children of your own.


RE: lol...
By BadKarma on 1/22/2007 5:05:23 PM , Rating: 2
LMAO.
I don't have any kids of my own but I've been around many of them to know what you're saying is true. You'd be lucky if the kids don't try to jam peanut butters into your Wii much less break the discs.


RE: lol...
By KashGarinn on 1/17/2007 6:06:22 AM , Rating: 1
God.. I'm beginning to hate and loathe how people defeat themselves with this crap..

If you really think that EVERYONE IN THE WORLD would pirate software just to get it for free, then realise that you're WRONG. The fact that windows is probably THE MOST PIRATED software out there, and microsoft is still THE MOST SUCCESSFUL software company out there should turn on some lights in that dusty cavern which is the normal persons brain.

Yes, Being able to create backups means that you could be unethical and get the crap for free, but does it mean that people REALLY do that? No.

Let's look at a personal example: I have grabbed games to play them, I have also bought games after I've already got them 'for free' and played them. Now why do you think that is? Was it because I'm afraid boogey man was gonna get me? No. I have no real fear that I'll get caught by downloading full games.

Same with movies, music, tv shows, books. I merely look at the internet as a try-before-you-buy, similar to what you can do at a library.

I won't buy alot of the crap I download, because after seeing it/playing it, I don't feel it is worth me supporting it. there are however things I do try, and then decide to buy to encourage the producer to continue go doing that voodoo that s/he-do so well.

you might think that's wrong, but why is it viewed today to be wrong to try the complete product before you decide if it's worth buying or not? Why should I merely accept that the product I'm interested in 'might' be a good product worth buying by ads and promos, especially as marketing today is a science in how to lie as much as you can without going overboard. Also, why should I be restricted to having to buy the product, try it for only 15-30 days and if I don't like it, I have to return it.. for money? no, for a receipt for things only in that store.. so I don't get my money back, I get a receipt for some other crap which expires in a year or so.

So we've learned that 1) getting the thing for free is easier, more comfortable way to testing the REAL product to see if you like it, and you can do the testing until you're satisfied it's a good product worth your cash, or if it's crap you should delete from your HD.

Let's look at another thing.. Let's take the internet out of the equation. Before the internet I was sharing games over floppies, music tapes, video tapes and books with friends.. things which was recommended by them, so I tried it out.

Some of the things they let me borrow I just checked out and gave them back, others I actually liked that much I bought myself.

the internet has expanded the amount of crap I can check out, the behavior of checking things out before I buy them hasn't changed. so what has changed with the addition of the internet, I get exposed to alot more stuff, which means that there's actually more chance I find stuff I'll buy.

So point 2) I actually get exposed to more stuff, and thus more stuff fits into the "I'd like to buy this because it is something I want to own" category.

Then there's backups.. Why shouldn't I be able to buy a movie just once on whatever format I want to buy it in, and be able to backup that format any way I like so I can enjoy what I bought, not just on the normal television device, but on any device I'd like? I did not buy the movie/music/game/program/book so I can only use it on the media they let me have, I bought the full ownership of the information on that media. I don't have the copyright, but I damn well have ownership of it, and as thus can do whatever I bloody well want with it, and making backups of your crap just makes sense! If you want to rebuy your crap every 5 years or so, go ahead, I'll rather use the backups and keep the original media safe.

so 3) backing up your crap just makes sense.

So we've learned that :
1) testing the full product at your own discretion will be infinately better for your buying decision than any demo, ad, or trailer can ever accomplish
2) more exposure to crap means more chance you'll find something of value for you, and make you decide it's worth your money.
3) backing up your prized product is just good sense.

I doubt you can find examples of people who've never bought a single thing they've downloaded, Everyone thinks 'hey I can steal it' but people really only do product testing before they either decide to buy or decide to scrap.

There's no illegal behaviour from using free P2P programs in my mind.. it only becomes illegal if you actually sell the stuff to others without permission.


RE: lol...
By jugbander on 1/17/2007 12:20:12 PM , Rating: 2
Is it so hard to believe that if you spend $50-60 on a video game that you'd like to back it up in case it's lost or damaged? I remember the first time I realized the merit of this was when I was 15 and I found out that software companies won't send you a replacement for damaged discs when I scratched my Fallout disc.


RE: lol...
By timmiser on 1/17/2007 12:36:05 PM , Rating: 2
That's a great point. It seems to me the best thing these companies could do is send you a free replacement disk (less postage & Handling) if you send them the original scratched or cracked game disk. Then there would be no need to make legal backups and also would be a heck of a lot easier on the end consumer.


RE: lol...
By Spivonious on 1/17/2007 2:13:44 PM , Rating: 2
Some companies do. I remember when my Interstate '76 CD was too scratched to be read, so I sent it back to Activision and they sent me a replacement for $9.99 (this was back when the game was selling for $49.99)


RE: lol...
By timmiser on 1/18/2007 3:01:42 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah except that is the problem. It costs less than $1 to mail a disc and less than $1 to make a disk so why are they charging $10 for a replacement? That is the problem, anybody can justify making a backup for the price of a CD or DVD at a few pennies versus a $10 fee for disk replacement.


Great! Mod community in its genesis
By lemonadesoda on 1/16/07, Rating: 0
By therealnickdanger on 1/17/2007 10:27:40 AM , Rating: 2
I agree, there are some awesome mods out there for classic games. High-res texture packs for ZeldaOOT, multi-player conversions of GoldenEye single-player maps, even the user-created Streets of Rage 4 is pretty great!


By ElectricMayhem on 1/26/2007 6:47:25 PM , Rating: 2
Agreed. The PC community is filled with mods and add-ons. Odd that the console makers dont see that as a way of EXTENDING COMMUNITY which is a good thing for brand management.


GAMES ARE TOO EXPENSIVE.
By nurbsenvi on 1/17/2007 1:46:52 PM , Rating: 2
I know it costs $15-$20 million dollars to create a blockbuster games but they sold 2.7 million of copies at the price of $60.

Which means they made $162(-$15) million US dollars.
Ignoring distribution, licensing cost that's almost ten fold...

now compare this to the most expensive movie to date X-men 3:
it cost $210 million to make and made $459 million

I really think that I will buy twice more games if games were $25 dollars or even $30 dollars. $60 is just too high.










RE: GAMES ARE TOO EXPENSIVE.
By nurbsenvi on 1/17/2007 1:51:37 PM , Rating: 2
oops replace "they sold" -> "games like Gears of war"


By Rob94hawk on 1/17/2007 4:39:57 AM , Rating: 2
I would like to back up my Wii games before my kids accidentally puts a wicked scratch in one of the disc that I cannot fix.

I don't think we all could live without Wii Sports if that disc go fubard!




Read the article guys!
By encryptkeeper on 1/17/2007 9:57:11 AM , Rating: 2
Everyone!! Before getting your panties in a wad remember there is still no mod chip or program that will let you play the backed up discs! There's no point in worrying about it until then.




Modchip out now
By Avalon on 1/27/2007 10:31:49 AM , Rating: 2
There's a modchip out now just for this. It's a shame it didn't come out earlier, before someone stole my copy of Wii sports. This would have been handy.




wii games
By arru on 2/6/2007 5:52:52 AM , Rating: 2
hello does anyone know any place in madrid that has those types of drives to try it? i dont.please alexarruza@gmail.com
si alguien sabe algun sitio de madrid donde tengas esas grabadors




nothing new
By JonnyBlaze on 1/16/07, Rating: 0
"Let's face it, we're not changing the world. We're building a product that helps people buy more crap - and watch porn." -- Seagate CEO Bill Watkins

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