Importing Brawl For Europeans.

[Chriso2989]

Hello! First time poster, long time lurker. I did search for this, but there only seemed to be tidbits of advice. So anyway, what I would like to know is.

A-hem.

If I imported an American Wii to play American Smash, would I need a special television? (Obviously I'd need adaptors for my electrical outlets). Anything else I should know? Is it O.K to connect to the internet from a seperate region than the wii you own?

Or would it be an easier option to mod a wii? I read in the posts I searched about something called bricking. I have no idea what this means! How much in U.K is a wii mod?

Which option is better/cheaper?

Any and all help will be gratefully received.

I'm just praying IGN is right and it does come out in England in Febuary, then I won't need any of this kerfuffle!

 

[Viral]

You'll need a tv that supports 60hz, which most of the non-ancient models should (I think). Modding a wii might be cheaper but would be a big illegal hassle since software updates on the wii could really screw you over.

 

[Chriso2989]

Mine does have 60 hz! Yay!

Are software updates not a risk if I buy an American wii? I assume the only downside to importing a wii is that I'll then have to import all my games. What about hardware? Would PAL wiimotes work on an NTSC wii?

Thanks for the help, lets keep the ball rolling!

 

[Sagem]

Yeah, you'll be safe. Im european and I have an american wii and it works perfectly fine with my Swedish television. Yes, european wii motes works.

 

[Chriso2989]

Does the virtual console and internet work fine? Do you use hardware (wiimotes and such) from Sweden? Do they work?

 

[Sagem]

Yup, I have two wiis actually
One european and one american wii.

Everything works perfectly fine. VC, controllers (both Gamecube and wii), wi-fi, televisions. etc. etc.
You'll be perfectly fine.

 

[Chriso2989]

Two words. Awesome. I might begin beggin someone here to go to there local gamestop and buy me a wii and a copy of smash. (Just so I don't have to pay companies usually crazily high postage costs.) So look forward to me beggin you Americans for that. Actually maybe the board should work out a buddy system!

Thanks a million sagem, I think I know what option I'm taking now.

 

[Storm Eagle]

I also may come back to this. Wanna be my friend? I have candy!

 

[B!ggad]

Hmh ...

I also have to buy an american Wii yet ... ! o.o

 

[Drclaw411]

Two words. Awesome. I might begin beggin someone here to go to there local gamestop and buy me a wii and a copy of smash. (Just so I don't have to pay companies usually crazily high postage costs.) So look forward to me beggin you Americans for that. Actually maybe the board should work out a buddy system!

Thanks a million sagem, I think I know what option I'm taking now.

dude nobodys gonna buy you a wii or smash. trust = MAJOR risk online.

 

[Pharrox]

Well, I'm in the minority here and it seems like you've already made up your mind, but considering I have a modded Wii, I figured I'd just let you know some of the details.

Bricking basically means frying the console or just generally making it unuseable. During modding this is usually cause by a short in the DVD drive because os solder creating a bridge between two points. Usually it's reversable.

There is the risk of bricking your console if it isn't installed correctly, but usually that can be undone on the unlikely event that it does happen. It shouldn't be a problem if you get a professional to do it. There is also the risk of bricking the system if you try to run another regions games before you update your system firmware. If the game tries to install another regions firmware on your system it could cause problems.

That said, getting a modchip does have its benefits. In addition to disabling region locking it also lets you run homebrew applications to let you watch dvd's and run emulators, as well as do some things I could probably get in trouble for mentioning here.

However if you import a Wii, every game you get from then on also has to be imported which could be quite costly over time. I assume you don't currently have a PAL Wii, but if you do it would be a lot cheaper than paying $40 for a modchip and $30-$60 to have it installed. (of course, due to different currency conversions, the numbers would be about 1/2 that)

So by getting a modchip you get more features and it's overall more convenient in the long run because you don't need to wait for imports all the time and pay the extra cost. You then have to weigh the risks of bricking the system or Nintendo detecting it and taking action (probably by banning you from wfc). Both the risks are minimal, but they are pretty significant if they do occur. They're easily avoided by keeping an eye on the modchip's official forums

I currently have an NTSC Wii with a Wiinja Deluxe modchip and the latest updates, and it all works great for me. If you want I can give you more details about modding and what you should know about it if you want to consider it.

 

[xbrinkx]

Er... I'm sorry, but is this legal?

 

[Mic_128]

I'm just praying IGN is right and it does come out in England in Febuary, then I won't need any of this kerfuffle!

IGN's wrong on that, Brawl in PAL has been confirmed not to be out in the 1st Quarter, and most likely Q2 as well.

 

[Chriso2989]

Then I'm definitely importing! How hard is it to find a wii at RRP in America? I know one person that might visit America soon so I'll ask her to try and find me one, but short of that I may have to ask a board member, as I think finding a RRP wii online is just not gong to happen, and most companies tend to overcharge shipping.

I am sort of serious about asking a boardmember to do this for me. (It'd have to be a member with a paypal account that was highly trustworthy.) Do you think that has a chance in hell? I certainly don't want to wait the extra months, but I also don't want to pay $500 dollars plus $80 shipping fora wii.

 

[Drclaw411]

Then I'm definitely importing! How hard is it to find a wii at RRP in America? I know one person that might visit America soon so I'll ask her to try and find me one, but short of that I may have to ask a board member, as I think finding a RRP wii online is just not gong to happen, and most companies tend to overcharge shipping.

I am sort of serious about asking a boardmember to do this for me. (It'd have to be a member with a paypal account that was highly trustworthy.) Do you think that has a chance in hell? I certainly don't want to wait the extra months, but I also don't want to pay $500 dollars plus $80 shipping fora wii.

wiis have been next to impossible to find since launch. i luckily got mine for christmas, but people still do camp out for random shipments and other intense ooftang to get wiis. the only conisistant way of getting them in the states are ebay or expensive bundles.

 

[Chriso2989]

Mother****. I have to say over here they were available quite consistenly between August-November. But Christmas is back so of course there is craziness afoot. It makes it seem awfully risky having to paypal a board member cash for something they potentially couldn't buy.

 

[Pluvia's other account]

I'm just praying IGN is right and it does come out in England in Febuary, then I won't need any of this kerfuffle!

England?!?

It's the United Kingdom! England is only part of the U.K.!

And actually, it's released all over the whole of Europe simultaneously.

 

[Chriso2989]

Yes I know. But I am English. So the fact it comes out in France at the same time does not affect me.

 

[Pharrox]

Er... I'm sorry, but is this legal?

I assume that was directed at me.

Getting a modchip is legal most places. It's your Wii, why should you get in trouble for what you do to it? Unfortunately it is not legal in the US, as anything that can bypass copy protection is illegal. Technically, in the US, it is illegal to own a region 0 DVD player. Fortunately for me I live only 15 minutes from the Canadian border where it is legal and pretty easy to find someone willing to do it. To my knowledge, it is legal in most, if not all, European countries.

 

[Pluvia's other account]

France isn't part of the United Kingdom.

 

[Mic_128]

You'd be better off getting a Wii from an importing place than someone just randomly from here. Not saying that they would screw you over, but better to be samer than sorry.

 

[Chriso2989]

Importing wii games is actually cheaper than buying them here, sad but true. England is super expensive. If I can actually get a wii at RRP from America, that'll be cheaper than buying one here too!

Although modchipping is still an option as it would cause less bother. But I have to say the idea of bricking my wii terrifies me.

And Pluvia France is in Europe though, correct? Which you mentioned in your post, correct?

Yeah but Mic....that option is expensive as hell. I'm being hopeful here I know, but a little optimism never hurt anyone...(did it?!)

 

[Pluvia's other account]

Yes, but I'm correcting you on the fact that you're calling the U.K. England.

Like in your first post where you mentioned that you hope IGN is right, and it's comes out in England in February. Which should be, you hope IGN is right, and it comes out in the U.K. in February.

 

[Chriso2989]

God **** you are unneccesarily picky. I was not calling the U.K England, I was calling England England. If you posted saying it was coming out in Scotland in February, that would've been fine! I'm just interested in it coming out specifically where I live. Thats England. I don't live in the entire United Kingdom, I don't live in every single PAL region either.

Its nice to be patriotic, but pick your battles when there is a battle to be fought! I love your country O.K? Scotland has given me much joy (and pain!) I know its part of the U.K. But I didn't mention it, because I only really care that it comes out WHERE I LIVE.

 

[Sagem]

There is no major risk buying a wii online... -.-
I don't know if this is legal on the forums but if it's not, please go ahead and delete the post.

If you're going to import a wii I highly suggest you import it from vgp.ca, best import site there is. I imported my console from there and all of my wii and ds games. They have very cheap prices compared to our european prices.

 

[Pluvia's other account]

Ok, but anyway back to you post.

You need to make sure that you have an NTSC(?) TV. Or an NSTC to PAL scart socket converter thing for your TV.

Plus the power in our plugs if much higher than that in America, so I think you'll need to use a PAL power cable.

 

[Sagem]

You need to make sure that you have an NTSC(?) TV. Or an NSTC to PAL scart socket converter thing for your TV.

That is incorrect. All you have to do is make sure your tv supports 60hz wich most do today. When I bought my american wii I just plugged it in and played.

Plus the power in our plugs if much higher than that in America, so I think you'll need to use a PAL power cable

That however is correct. We swedes use 240V and US use 110V so you'll need a power converter.

 

[orintemple]

Good luck finding an American Wii. I am from Illinois and I had to get my Wii from Florida, almost a year after it's release.

But seriously good luck with this stuff. I think its bull**** that you Europeans should get the game so much later than everyone else. I am looking forward to playing the European crowd online just as much as the American or anywhere else in the world crowd.

 

[Mini Mic]

You'll need a tv that supports 60hz, which most of the non-ancient models should (I think). Modding a wii might be cheaper but would be a big illegal hassle since software updates on the wii could really screw you over.

Modding is legal here is Australia but still not cheap.

 

[Cactus13]

After modding the wii and it going wrong, im going to get this and SSBB, or if its not out in time, just SSBB.

 

[kashikomarimashita]

Yeah Wiis are going left and right. I was actually surprised to see that they were sold out here again, because they have been available since summer. Here being Japan. Well, you could always get one in early February. Stocks should be replinished by then. And why not get Smash at the same time? A late Christmas gift never hurts.

 

[Bli33ard]

Yes, but I'm correcting you on the fact that you're calling the U.K. England.

Like in your first post where you mentioned that you hope IGN is right, and it's comes out in England in February. Which should be, you hope IGN is right, and it comes out in the U.K. in February.

Calm down, mate. You've made your point

I've already gone and got my Wii, Feb 07 @ me. But if I was going to import, then I would have at the beginning.

 

[Spork-Ninja-Draken]

I wish I could import.

I can afford it under fair prices but I can't get them at fair prices.

Oh well, I'll have to wait for European launch.

Incidentally on the whole "UK issue" I always refer to England rather than UK as well because... well, I'm English and England is my country.

The United Kingdom is more a group banner as far as I'm concerned.

I guess it's just an English thing? I believe no offence is made by it.

 

[Storm Eagle]

Ok, now i have another question. Can you use an american safe file with a European game?

 

[Spork-Ninja-Draken]

Ok, now i have another question. Can you use an american safe file with a European game?

well... you couldn't with Gamecube games, me and my girlfriend tried it with Sonic Adventure 2 so maybe not.

 

[Corax The Cold]

you are better off getting an american wii than trying to mod, so in the future you can import other games too. and not miss out on updates

 

[Eagle]

Wait wait wait, Wii's can play DVDs??

 

[Chriso2989]

I like the mini-debate on U.K and England. I use England to refer to England, and U.K to refer to U.K, I'm old fashioned like that. I'll check out the earlier mentioned website.