DVD playback comes to wii (no mod chips required)

mgsrocks

http://hackmii.com/2008/08/libdi-and-the-dvdx-installer/

Simple to install through the homebrew channel. Playback seems a bit buggy atm. Only watched one movie and it played through fine, problems only started when i tried to use menus, select chapters or change language. But for a first release its good.

Best part, no mod chip required, just install the homebrew channel using the twilight princess hack, then install mplayer.

This will not void your warrenty.

Anyone need help, just leave a comment.

Good step by step tutorial here:
http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/photos/guide-to-watching-dvds-on-wii/974761/

Kernel

Does this affect the Wii drive laser? I've heard playback of DVD movies may cause laser problems?

mgsrocks

Taken from hackmii:

The myth of you being able to ‘burn out’ a DVD laser is pretty much what it says on the tin, a myth. This drive was designed specifically for two things. reading Wii games, and reading DVD-Videos. There are special commands in the drive for doing so. (We use these commands to read these discs without a modchip). So, these drives were designed with reading DVD-Videos in mind. (And even if they wern’t, you’re running the entire drive in spec. I’ve been told these myths came about when people were pot-tuning their PS2s, running them out of spec. Running any piece of hardware beyond the limits that were set for it will break it in the long run)

So your wii will be fine...

Adyx

Also afaik the only major difference between a Wii DVD and an ordinary DVD is the file system used on a Wii DVD, which would be unlikely to have any effect on the laser. I could be wrong though.