The way I’ve got things set up, my Wii is hooked up to one TV, with my current-gen consoles hooked up to another. The latter is in my computer room.

The other day, I was loafing on my couch and felt like I wanted to watch a DVD. I didn’t really care to get up and move to my computer room in order to watch it there, so I figured I’d pop a DVD into my Wii. I didn’t really expect it to work and wasn’t entirely surprised that it didn’t. It was a little bothersome, though. It occurred to me that the Wii was the only non-portable console currently on the market that was incapable of playing DVDs.

I decided this should be remedied. Here’s how you can set up your own Wii so that you can watch whatever movies you please.

First Method: Let ‘er Rip

This is the simplest method on the list and won’t require any modifications at all to the Wii system software. All you’ll need is an SD card and an application that’s capable of ripping and converting DVDs. For this example, we’ll use DVD Converted Platinum- though, theoretically, any DVD converter should work just fine.  Note that you’ll need an SD card slot on your computer or a USB attachment that lets your system read SD cards. Most newer PCs should be equipped with the former.

• Step 1: Installation: Pretty self-explanatory. Download and install DVD Converted Platinum from here.
• Step 2: The Rip: Rip the video files from your DVD onto your PC. Click on “Load DVD” Depending on what you’re banking to watch, this could take a while- best kick back, maybe grab a bite to eat. Once you’ve got the DVD ripped onto your computer, it’s time to move to the next step- the conversion.
• Step 3: Optimizing The File: At the bottom of the application, you should see an option titled “Profile.” Click on it, and then navigate to Game Hardware->Wii. Click on “Start” to start the conversion process.
• Step 4: Enjoy!: Copy the converted file onto your SD Card. Pop it out, and pop it into your Wii. Make some popcorn, and watch your movie.

Carrying on the rich hacker tradition of picking up the slack for companies that are unwilling or unable to provide the functionality users need, a team of Wii coders have given the console what Nintendo could not: DVD playback. By installing a small, hidden channel on a system, this package blesses the console with a libdi file (DVD access library), and allows you to watch your favorite videos with the MPlayer application, an open source media player.

Second Method: Hack The Wii

Note that you’re going to need to tweak your console’s OS a bit, and you’ll be required to install software that Nintendo doesn’t technically approve of, and that this could potentially void your warranty.  If you’re not comfortable mucking about in the digital guts of your Wii, you should probably turn back now. Thankfully, no physical modifications will be required- a modchip isn’t necessary to run the software.

Oh, and you could also turn your Wii into a very expensive paperweight if you do something wrong.

1. Download and install the Homebrew Channel. You’ll need to do this using either the Twilight Hack, Bannerbomb, or Indiana Pwns exploit. You can find all of the hacks (as well as instructions on how to use each of them) on the Homebrew Channel Website.
2. Insert a DVD into your Wii.  That’s it, you’re done!

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