We’ve seen some great hacks with the Wii controllers since the console first arrived, and things could get even easier if Todbot has his way. He’s launched the WiiChuck, a tiny plug-in board that slots into the plug of the Wii Nunchuck, and allows you to access all of the controller’s connections – its 2-axis joystick, two buttons and 3-axis ±2g accelerometer – without needing to cut any of the cables.
Pleo’s fate may be decided by a bankruptcy sale, but the robot dinosaurs already out in the wild are too busy being hacked to worry about IP. Modder Andrey has developed a system which allows him to remotely-control his Pleo via a Wii Nunchuck, with the head, tail and basic movements all mapped to the Nintendo controller’s buttons and motion-sensors.
Video demo after the cut
It must be a week for Wiimote hacks, as there are two interesting implementations of Nintendo’s wireless motion-sensitive controller on offer today. First up comes a hack using DarwiinRemote, that allows you to play World of Warcraft using the Wiimote; then, there’s a self-balancing robot made of LEGO NXT, that can be remotely controlled with it.
Video demos of both projects after the cut
When we looked at WowWee’s Rovio last month, one thing we were certain of was its mod-potential. As of next year, one of the more ambitious hacks will go live: RoboDance 5, with added support for Skype. While setting up the Rovio’s WiFi webcam streaming currently requires a little router tinkering, RoboDance 5 will utilize Skype’s zero-config setup to instantly connect the robot and a remote client, whether that client be Windows or Mac, or even a smartphone.
If you’ve a spare NES controller lying around, a lust for retro-security and the ability to use a soldering iron without fusing electronic components to your hands, step on up for this Nintendo Keyless Entry System Instructable. The inputs from the NES controller are processed by an Arduino, which decides whether or not to open the lock by virtue of its salvaged CD-ROM mechanism.
Video demo after the cut
Nintendo have released another Wii update, version 3.4, installing which gives the software permission to “check for and automatically remove” any “unauthorized modifications to save files”. That means that any users of the homebrew channel will see their tweaked game save files – for titles such as Twilight Princess – deleted.
A moderate frustration about the Nintendo Wii is its stubborn refusal to recognize SD cards larger than 2GB in capacity. Given that larger, 4GB cards often support higher transfer rates – and, obviously, offer more storage – the frugal-fiends at Cheap Ass Gamer have come up with a system to create 4GB SD cards that, by pretending to be under 2GB, fool the Wii into accepting them.
It almost sounds a little too much like those “Bill Gates will send you a check for forwarding this email” scams, but apparently Microsoft is subsidizing certain hardware purchases to encourage use of its Live web search. The “Live Search cashback” logo appears next to certain sponsored results for searches such as “cheap netbook” or “cheap wii”; log in to your Live.com account and you can find discounts of up to 30-percent at collaborating retailers.
We’ve already seen hacks of Nintendo’s Wii Fit Balance Board – including 3D body control to fly through virtual environments – but if it’s sidewalk pounding you’re looking for then how about virtually walking through Google Maps? In this homebrew hack, stepping alternately on the Balance Board platform walks you through Google Maps at whatever pace you move at.
Check out the video demo after the cut
The latest firmware for the Wii made more than a few people upset with its ability to render both the Twilight Princess hack and Freeloader useless. We told you that the team at Hackmii was already preparing to release a workaround to one of those hacks. It’s not even been a week and they’ve already managed to release this “fix”.
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