| ard core gamers knows that many of the best | | | | or the Viper Gamecube chip to play your import and |
| games - or at least the most unique games, come | | | | personally backed up games. While the Freeloader |
| right out of Japan. Most of these games never see | | | | won't let you play backup games, it will effortlessly |
| the light of day in the United States or Europe and | | | | allow you to play Import games from any region on |
| gamers are left wanting and drooling for games they'll | | | | any Gamecube. |
| never have the chance to play. At least that was the | | | | I want to also say that this is NOT an article to |
| case with the Gamecube and now also with the | | | | promote the Freeloader as the next best thing since |
| Nintendo Wii. Then along came a little disc called the | | | | sliced The Legend Of Zelda for the Gamecube or |
| Freeloader, that allowed any Gamecube to play any | | | | Nintendo Wii. If you're not into Japanese games, or |
| Japanese game with ease, with no mod chip required | | | | import games in general, and have no interest in |
| and no need to open your console. | | | | them, then the Freeloader is not for you. It doesn't |
| Why do I mention Gamecube and Wii playing import | | | | offer any extras or advantages for any Nintendo Wii |
| games? Simply because the Nintendo Wii is also | | | | or Gamecube owner who is happy to just play the |
| compatible with every single Gamecube Game, | | | | offering of games available in their own country. Its |
| including the FreeLoader disc. Because the Nintendo | | | | sole purpose is to allow gamers like myself, and tens |
| Wii can boot Gamecube Discs / games, you can also | | | | of thousands of others, to enable the playing of |
| load the Freeloader and finally take advantage of all | | | | Import games. While I am stressing just Japanese |
| of the great Import games on the market. The | | | | games in this article as they are my own personal |
| Nintendo Wii Freeloader is a disc, that allows any Wii | | | | favorite. European gamers can also play the latest |
| owner to play import Gamecube games without a | | | | games released only in the USA on their PAL |
| mod chip. As you may have guessed, the Freeloader | | | | Gamecube or Nintendo Wii systems as well. |
| was not actually manufactured for the Nintendo Wii, | | | | Gamecube import games are not just from Japan. If |
| but was instead a product that has been out for | | | | you're a fan or Rally racing games, many of the best |
| several years (with various updates) for the Nintendo | | | | games in that genre are released in the UK and |
| Gamecube. Since the Wii can play Gamecube games | | | | Europe. |
| and is backwards compatible, it will also load the | | | | Just how do you use the Gamecube Freeloader on |
| FreeLoader on any Wii console allowing you to play | | | | the Nintendo Wii? First of all, think of it as a Nintendo |
| any region Gamecube game with ease. | | | | Wii Freeloader. Insert the disc into your Nintendo Wii |
| Now, if this were just any kind of disc, I wouldn't | | | | just as you would your Gamecube, and then select it |
| write a review on it. And often times, when I talk | | | | from your Wii Dashboard. It'll load up, and you'll be |
| about import games, people ask me why I would | | | | greeted by the Freeloader main menu, where you'll |
| want to play games that are all in Japanese and can't | | | | have several selections. While it isn't loaded with |
| be played anyway. Or ask me what the big deal is | | | | features that'll blow you away - that is exactly the |
| with these games from Japan. The fact of the | | | | reason it's so easy to use. I suppose there aren't |
| matter is, over 60% of Japanese import games can | | | | really a slew of features you could pack in to |
| be played with no problem. I'm a big fan or racing | | | | software that is intended to do just one thing - play |
| games and some of the BEST racing games for | | | | import video games. We can thank the simplicity and |
| Gamecube have only been released in Japan. The | | | | ease of use due to the few options it has. |
| same would go for first person shooters. But more | | | | The Freeloader is easy to use, both on the |
| than that, some of the games are just so very | | | | Gamecube and the Nintendo Wii console. You simply |
| unique, so well designed, that you must try them. | | | | put the disc in the Gamecube or your Nintendo Wii, |
| You'll immediately become an import game fan once | | | | wait for it to load and then pick the map |
| you do. | | | | representing the region you want to play. You'll then |
| Regardless of the genre of games you like. By being | | | | have to eject the disc from your Nintendo Wii, or |
| able to play import games, you're actually expanding | | | | open the Gamecube lid, and take out the Freeloader, |
| your software library, or at least the available | | | | put in the game you want to play and it will just load |
| selection by thousands of additional games. Many of | | | | for you. It couldn't get any easier really. |
| these games you won't hear about at your local | | | | In closing, the Freeloader for the Gamecube or |
| Blockbuster, or in magazine. But online review sites | | | | Nintendo Wii is meant to do one thing, and one thing |
| like or have entire sections devoted to import games | | | | only. It does it with ease and work perfectly each |
| and import gaming, because there are a tremendous | | | | and every time. It's not intended to do anything else. |
| amount of great games available. | | | | Comparing it to other software or add ons for either |
| This brings us back to the Freeloader. The Freeloader | | | | the Gamecube or the Nintendo Wii would be |
| was developed by Datel as a means to cut out the | | | | pointless. If you want to start getting the latest |
| need for installing a mod chip in your Gamecube | | | | import games without having to wait until the hit the |
| console to have access, and the ability to play these | | | | local market - if they ever do at all, then the |
| games. Before the Freeloader, you would need to | | | | Freeloader is the easiest and cheapest way to get |
| install a Gamecube Mod Chip like the Xeno Gamecube | | | | you started. |