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