How do i make a back up copy of my wii games?

DisgruntledGoat

I dont understand why anyone would want or need a back up copy of any game?

My toddler has managed to kill a Wii game and a DVD by scratching them up, so would be useful to make backups - they're usually kept out of reach, but the older kids have a habit of leaving them out. Sadly, at least as far as i'm aware, it's not a right to do so...

DrScotsman

DisgruntledGoat wrote: »

While the making of a backup copy is no doubt highly
desirable, it seems arguable that it is not usually
necessary ... The fact is that if you spoil
your CD, which has a recording of music on it, you have to
go and buy another. The same is true of a CD carrying a
game. Backups are not necessary at all.

Huh?

I'm not trying to say that backing up games isn't a grey area, I know it is. However those judge's comments make no sense. Nowadays everyone and their dog has backed up their music CDs already using iTunes or EAC or similar. If your CD is scratched you do not have to buy a new one. Methinks this judge needs to get with the times

(Although to be fair it seems that backing up a music CD in the UK is technically illegal, but it's a law that everyone thinks is outdated and hence is ignored, and the judge should know this).

Personally I think making backups should be legal - I had to shell out for a new copy of Spyro 2 because my brother's was completely unusable. However while I think it should be legal I don't think it should be a legal right (which I think is Australia's view), and I'm perfectly happy for the all of the copy-prevention mechanisms to remain in place, so long as no one stops me from circumventing them

totalsolutions

jinky67
Too keep the original in mint condition and frequent use the spare copy, then when its worn out/damaged or lost recreate a new copy from the master, locked in the safe.

ddoris

I don't play games but, as I understand it, the main reason to softmod a wii isn't to play your own backups but to play other peoples backups. I think it's a lot harder to make your own backups rather than d/l someone else's.
I just searched "wii" on one torrent site, for purely research purposes, and got 22000+ returns.

DisgruntledGoat

Huh?

Hey, I didn't say it was sensible, just that appears to be the current legal view of the High Court...

Bikertov

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Ive not really kept tabs on this but as I understand it, there were already a load of modded xboxes that never worked online anyways and that report above was just microsoft removing more that theyve found (As there are quite a few different 'mod chips' in existence and also makes the report above incorrect)

So again I would ask, does updating the wii firmware to play 'copies' of games prevent online play?

I may be wrong, but ...

My understanding is that (if your Wii is online) it regularly checks for latest updates. These updates may also then check for f/w and h/w mods ?

Not sure if this is Nintendo scare tactics - but remember the Wii has no hard drive, so has a basic onboard OS only. I also think the games themselves have a lot of OS built into them. If you watch the Wii, whenever you close a game, it seems to do a complete re-boot to get back to the Wii menu.

Maybe I talking rubbish - so not saying all this is gospel.

kwikbreaks

I don't recall if the online updates are automatically offered or if you have to check. Some games come with a mandatory update which I assume is to support something that wasn't originally in the firmware. All these updates warn that if there is a hardware mod installing the update may trash the Wii. I suspect that this is FUD as I've never seen a report of a chipped Wii being disabled.

I own a Wii but bought it mostly for my grandchildren to play on and really only use it when they come around so can't be sure but from what I've seen the online functions are really only for running trivial Nintendo apps (weather news Mii sharing a browser etc. etc.) and buying stuff from their shop plus recent ads suggest iPlayer support - I don't think there is any huge online area for competetive play against strangers. Loss of the online facilities I've seen would be no great loss.

Bikertov

I've got to say, I agree with the principle of being allowed to make backups. It is to easy, especially with kids around, to scratch a disk rendering it useless. We should be able to work off a copy.

However, it would open up the way to make pirating very easy - just look at the DS with the R4 card.

So a solution ?

The game publishers should have a system where they will send you a new disk if you return an old one, for very little money or even free. SIMPLE. The cost to them - almost zero, as to produce the disk itself is pennies, plus a bit of postage. That would take away ANY excuse for needing to make back-up, and the publishers protect themselves against piracy. Cheap solution for them, good customer services for us.

BUT NO - they are too greedy to do this, as they want us to buy another game - that we have already bought :mad:

custardy

Bikertov wrote: »

I've got to say, I agree with the principle of being allowed to make backups. It is to easy, especially with kids around, to scratch a disk rendering it useless. We should be able to work off a copy.

However, it would open up the way to make pirating very easy - just look at the DS with the R4 card.

So a solution ?

The game publishers should have a system where they will send you a new disk if you return an old one, for very little money or even free. SIMPLE. The cost to them - almost zero, as to produce the disk itself is pennies, plus a bit of postage. That would take away ANY excuse for needing to make back-up, and the publishers protect themselves against piracy. Cheap solution for them, good customer services for us.

BUT NO - they are too greedy to do this, as they want us to buy another game - that we have already bought :mad:

TBH i trhink the console makers want to go digital delivery and control the games that way

DisgruntledGoat

TBH i trhink the console makers want to go digital delivery and control the games that way

The other 'advantage' for the makers with digital delivery is that it kills the secondhand market as DRM locks games to one console - so more sales and near-zero distribution costs. Equals $$$. Same for video on iTunes etc., although you can play on up to five (I think) machines, there's no way to sell secondhand without including your iTunes account details.

So I think there's a massive need for proper 'fair use' rights to govern what you can do with something you paid for, digital download, physical DVD or whatever. But fat chance of that...