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Sony's Net Yaroze homebrew PS1 development community shutting down
The Net Yaroze is a special black PlayStation console that allowed homebrew developers to run their own code on the system, interfacing with a computer via a serial connection. The mail-order-only system also included development software. Sony's servers allowed Yaroze users to discuss PlayStation development and even share their creations.
"We plan to make a copy of the site available for our original members," said SCEE's Paul Holman, who also said that some kind of get-together would be held for the Yaroze development community, all of whom are now left with nothing but extremely rare PlayStations.
Homebrew: This is what Patapon on DS looks like
Apparently, someone called E-eragon is working on a DS version of Patapon, looking to upgrade the original title to include stylus controls. Tiny Cartridge discovered a clip of E-eragon's work (posted after the break), and though it doesn't look as smooth as the original, it is by far a rather good-looking copy. Check out the game before Sony slams the law book on this one.
Guy runs Windows 95 on Wii, wonders why
Using a Wii version of the open source DOS emulator DOSbox, a Wii homebrew devotee has managed to get Windows 95 running on the console -- if your definition of "running" is "working, but just barely." In fact, the boot process spans most of two YouTube videos, which the author admits have been edited for brevity. (It takes upwards of 13 minutes just to see the taskbar.)
You're probably asking yourself, "What's the point?" and "Why even try?" Well, to prove it can be done, of course. But even the one who did it -- while providing instructions on how to replicate the process -- advises against following in his footsteps, saying, "I did it and now I can move on to more productive things." But, hey, you could be doing worse things with the system. Waste your time with videos of Wiindows 95 in sort-of action after the break!
You're probably asking yourself, "What's the point?" and "Why even try?" Well, to prove it can be done, of course. But even the one who did it -- while providing instructions on how to replicate the process -- advises against following in his footsteps, saying, "I did it and now I can move on to more productive things." But, hey, you could be doing worse things with the system. Waste your time with videos of Wiindows 95 in sort-of action after the break!
Nintendo convinces eBay and Amazon to ban DS flashcarts
Nintendo has announced that it has reached an agreement with Amazon and eBay through which the shopping sites will prohibit the sale of the R4 and other DS flashcarts. "Nintendo is pleased with the co-operation it has received from both eBay and Amazon to prevent the sales of game copying devices," Nintendo's global head of anti-piracy, Jodie Daughtery told MCV. eBay has actually pulled auctions for copying devices for years (presumably as an "item encouraging illegal activity), so if there is a policy update, it involves even more vigilant policing of auctions.
Amazon UK games director Chris Poad told MCV that Amazon has a "notice and take down" process for its third-party Marketplace. "So where a third party believes that their IP has been infringed, they can highlight it and we can take it down. This is what happened in the case of the R4."
Now Nintendo just has the rest of the Internet to deal with in its efforts to curtail DS piracy (and, as an extremely unfortunate side effect, homebrew).
New FPS on the way -- for Dreamcast
Hypertension is a reimagining of Blood, made in the Doom-based EDGE engine. The use of fairly antiquated technology, and source material, seem appropriate for a game being released on a console that came out in 1999 After the break, you can see some footage of the current alpha version of Hypertension, which is looking very Doomy. TDGMods has yet to specify a release date for the game, but it's not like there's a rush at this point. The Dreamcast will still be old.
[Via Sega Nerds]
'Super Monkey Kong' renders Donkey Kong in LEDs
The Meggy Jr. is a build-it-yourself handheld console with a striking 8x8 LED display, programmed using the open-source Arduino platform. Somehow, clever game designers have managed to shoehorn playable, fun video games into that astoundingly low-resolution display (which, to use TV terms, would be "8p").Programmer Steven Read has now created "the world's first LED Donkey Kong video game" for the device. The graphics are, naturally, scaled down, and each level now spans multiple screens, but Super Monkey Kong retains the essence of Donkey Kong -- climbing girders and avoiding barrels and fireballs. It even adds a bit of complexity. At the top of the level, you have to jump up and headbutt "Monkey Kong" in the LED beanbag five times to win. Unfortunately, like the NES version, this one lacks the cement factory level.
See Super Monkey Kong for yourself at Read's site.
[Via GameSetWatch]
Bob's (playable) Game: Homebrew demo released
We're a bit shocked to see that Robert Pelloni has done something in relation to Bob's Game other than release fake news. In fact, the release of a real, playable demo goes a long way in our minds toward faking an alien abduction. Maybe. At the very least, it's finally something we can believe -- who could ever tell if anything Bob (or the character "Bob") said was real?The demo is an NDS file and thus requires either a flash cart or a DS emulator. The Bob's Game website says that the game works in NO$GBA. Now here's the really freaky part: we haven't loaded it up yet, but based on early reports from sites like Infendo, it's ... pretty cool! Bob seems to be delivering on the idea of a game about growing up with Nintendo, combining a real-world RPG about "Bob" with Retro Game Challenge-style, Nintendo-inspired minigames.
[Thanks, Sean!]
Waninkoko's Wii USB loader demoed
While the software isn't currently available, a pre-release version has ironically been leaked but is said to be unusable for the time being. However, footage of the software in action (found after the break) shows the current release does work. Of course, as our sister site Engadget notes, we are inching up on April Fool's Day so the entire thing could really be too good to be true. But all signs from forum crawlers point to Waninkoko's software as the real deal.
[Via Engadget]
Wii System Menu updated to 3.5 in Korea
A preview of what's on the way for the rest of the world: four months after 3.4, Nintendo has sent out Wii System Menu version 3.5 in Korea. The specific feature changes are as yet unknown, but in terms of security updates, it includes IOS254 code, which, like IOS9, blocks the use of the PatchMii program (a custom update manager tool). The new menu apparently adds some kind of updates to the Shop Channel, and adds a "Region Select Channel," which the Wiibrew wiki suggests is nowhere near as exciting as it sounds. Until we find out for certain that this somehow blocks new installations of the Homebrew Channel, or removes existing ones, we're going to refrain from panicking. And even in that case, we don't mind waiting a week or so for someone to fix it.
Japan court bans sale of DS homebrew-enabling R4 flash carts
The Tokyo District Court placed an injunction on the Chinese cart manufacturers who make the R4 today, making it illegal to sell the cartridge in Japan. It has already disappeared from shops and Nintendo, Capcom, and Square Enix have all come forward with their support. These companies haven't ceased their efforts yet, however, as they've vowed to continue pursuing those responsible for similar devices.R4 carts, along with other flash carts, allow users to run homebrew (and pirated) material on their DS or DS Lite (no dice on the upcoming DSi, folks). If this is all still over your head, then check out our guide to homebrew on the DS right here.
[Via Eurogamer]
Supersonic Wii: Classic music game revived through homebrew
Aaron Lindsay and Kevin Dodge, rather than just writing wistful blog posts about the defunct series, have created a homebrew "tribute" to Amplitude on the Wii. Supersonic Wii: Winter Edition, submitted to the Drunkencoders Winter Compo, is a pretty accurate imitation of Amplitude, right down to the typeface. In Supersonic, as in Amplitude, various instruments in a song correspond to "tracks" on the game field, and players must complete measures on each track, quickly jumping from track to track to maintain combos.
The game features nine songs, and is totally free! Provided you can run Wii homebrew, of course. If not, there's potentially some cost involved with the setup. Check after the break for gameplay footage!
[Via 4cr]
Wii Warm Up: Homebrewing
Wii Homebrew Channel turns 1.0
Despite continuing efforts on Nintendo's part to thwart its installation, the Wii Homebrew Channel – which, as its name implies, enables the use of legal, homebrew games and apps on Wii – soldiers on, with development now hitting the version 1.0 milestone.
The big 1.0 brings a slew of changes, updates, and fixes, including support for multiple Wiimotes, the Wiimote's power button, the Classic Controller, and Nunchuk. If you're curious about the Wii homebrew scene and want to try the channel out for yourself, check out this handy-dandy guide.
The big 1.0 brings a slew of changes, updates, and fixes, including support for multiple Wiimotes, the Wiimote's power button, the Classic Controller, and Nunchuk. If you're curious about the Wii homebrew scene and want to try the channel out for yourself, check out this handy-dandy guide.
New Wii update targets modded save files, alters user agreement
When dealing with new and apparently minor Wii updates, we always consider Nintendo's struggle against the homebrew community to be as futile as Arnold Schwarzenegger's barrage of attacks on the T-1000. The aggressive application of shotgun shells, grenades and liquid nitrogen tanks can do naught but delay the 'brew crew, always reassembling itself and slipping through the next exploitable crack*.Aside from, once again, removing "unauthorized modifications to save files" (think: Twilight Hack), the 3.4 update alters the Wii's Network Services User Agreement, adds an "enhancement" to parental controls and enables compatible USB keyboards to be used with the Mii channel. Exciting!
[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
*Of course, the T-1000 is defeated in the end ... but then Arnie tosses himself into a smelting pool. Hmm. Honestly, we didn't really think the comparison through. Does the lava represent core gamers?
Homebrew Channel beta9 works with latest system update
- Installer / updater now works with the October 23 update
- SDHC support
- REALLY fixed the memcard bug
- Installer now picks newest sane IOS, fixes some beta8 regressions
- Added a reload button (for SD card changes)
- Return to system menu skips warning
- Fixed some graphical glitches
- Saner XML load code
- Many fixes to underlying stuff in the newer libogc
The homebrew community is doing nifty things with the Wii. Have you learned how to play DVDs on your console yet? Or read about the app that lets you play games from other regions? What about getting Goldeneye to run on Wii? Alternatively, you could just use homebrew to get your cheat on. 
