A Wii, which Nintendo produces and distributes, is a wireless motion sensing gaming console that allows users to play games by moving their remote and bodies. A Wii responds to the user’s movements by using the remote’s built-in accelerometer to detect changes in motion and direction and displaying the appropriate results on a television. While Wii was once only used to play electronic sports and dancing games, it is now available for popular games such as Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda, and Call of Duty.

 

What is Modding?

Modding is a term used in the gaming and personal electronics industry that refers to enabling a device to access files and programs for which it was not designed. Modding allows Wii users to download games from the Internet and play them on their Wii without buying a disc. While modding formerly required an SD card that was specifically designed to mod a Wii, “soft-modding” can now be performed with any blank SD card.

 

Requirements

In order to mod a Wii, the user needs an SD card that can be left in the Wii console, several blank DVDs or a USB flash drive, and Wii unlocking software. SD cards can be purchased from any electronics store for $5-$10, while DVDs can be purchased in bundles of 20-100 discs that sell for $10-$20. USB flash drives and external hard drives are a little more costly, but can be used repeatedly. Wii unlocking software can be found here and here, although both websites provide the same software.

 

How to Mod a Wii

In order to mod a Wii:

1) Purchase and download the Wii unlocking software.

2) Extract the folder’s contents to the SD card.

3) Insert the SD card into the Wii and go to Wii Options -> Data management -> Channels -> SD Card.

4) A new window will appear. Click “Yes” in order to load “/boot.dol,” which allows the Homebrew Channel to be installed.

5) Run the Homebrew Channel, click on the cIOS_installer, follow the on-screen instructions, and wait for the Wii to reboot.

From now on, the user can play games that have been burned on a DVD by inserting the DVD into the Wii and launching the Backup_Launcher from the Homebrew Channel Menu.