A new update for StartPatch has been released courtesy of homebrew coders Aquilino, BlackAce83, and TiMeBoMb. StartPatch is a homebrew app that allows you to patch the Nintendo Wii System Menu v4.0, v4.1, or v4.2, similar to StarFall. The homebrew is based on Menu Patcher by Isaac356.

Download: StartPatch v4.2 (for NTSC USA)

System Menu 4.2 caused quite a bit of grief not only for the Wii homebrew community but to the general Wii populace as well. While we haven't heard anything from Nintendo yet about the latter, we do have good news for the homebrew fans out there: a new version of Bannerbomb has been released.

Download: Bannerbomb Alpha v2

Apparently a new exploit for the Nintendo Wii was discovered today and it seems this one is quite difficult for Nintendo to patch. The exploit found by comex explores a vulnerability in Super Smash Bros. Brawl's stage builder code to run arbitrary homebrew code. So what's the difference between this exploit and the others released before? Read more.

Homebrew coder Comex has released a new update for Bannerbomb. Bannerbomb is an exploit that allows the user to load a .dol or .elf file from an SD card. It also allows users to run homebrew on System Menu 4.0 and all previous versions. The new update fixes some bugs and added new features.


Download: Bannerbomb Alpha 1 v108

Some recent evidence posted by Wiibrew developer Bushing has revealed that Nintendo may now be charging an extra fee for repairing a homebrew-capable Wii. It's long been generally believed that homebrew voids warranties, but the issue here seems to be the huge additional repair costs, not the fact that a homebrew-enabled Wii is considered out of warranty. More after the jump.

Which side are you on? Team Aliens or Team Predators? You might want to decide soon as Sega has announced that an all-new Aliens vs. Predator game is set to come out in early 2010. It's still in development at this point, but rest assured that developer Rebellion is working hard on it.

So you want to play backups but aren't feeling too grand about installing a modchip? Sure thing: here's WiiGator's Wii GameCube Backup Launcher v0.1 Theta. No need for modchips, it's just pure homebrew channel all the way! Demo vid and more info in the full article.

Many thanks to MahSixFo, aetharr, and girandhistacos for the tips!

Download: Wii GameCube Backup Launcher 0.1 Theta

Now here's a wicked display of programming knowhow. A programmer named Ryan Tani has slapped together a setup that will allow you to play 4-player split screen in the PC version of Unreal Tournament 3 using Wiimotes. Details and a vid after the link.

When people aren't talking about the economy, they are talking about the environment. Namco Bandai, for one, announced their "Enjoyable Game, Beautiful Earth Campaign" in Japan yesterday. What this campaign aims for is to basically engage players to play games on green energy. Find out what it's all about and join in the good cause.

Nintendo continues their war against piracy, arrrrr. They've revised the design of the Wii drive to render all current modchips completely useless. Sucks for "backup"-ers who came late to the party then.