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