Nintendo has just updated its Wii firmware from version 2 to version 3 without any fuss. The changes seem to be simple enough at first glance, but they have done more than they are telling us, which is definitely odd because console developers never kid with this kind of information.

Among all the bla-bla in the text below you will notice there is nothing of real importance, but startled users are starting to report that a semi-legal application of great importance, FreeLoader (an application that is used to play Nintendo games by circumventing the region protection) is not working anymore. I'm not quite sure what it is worse: not telling users about it or the fact they have compromised themselves as great marketing players.

Sure, some might use Freeloader for some unlawful purposes (cough) in conjunction with other software, but they must think further than that if they want to win this never-ending console race. Some will use modded Wiis to play their favorite games and some will even play their old Nintendo games on the same console. The main thing is that they have BOUGHT the console and will do the same with games they really enjoyed. Nintendo's main concern mustn't be the control of the player but the quality control of their software. "If you built it, they will come" can be quite simple translated into "If you make good game, they will play them, in original".

Feature additions on your Wii console when it is updated to version 3 from version 2:

Wii Menu
The weather forecast will now be displayed on the Forecast Channel icon in the Wii Menu.
Headline news will now be displayed on the News Channel icon in the Wii Menu.
The current time will now be displayed in the Wii Menu.
The area around the Wii Message Board button will now flash when a message arrives.

Wii Message Board
You're now able to rearrange the order of your Wii Friends in the address book.
You're now able to go into the Wii Friends registration screen by pressing the A Button on a blank spot in the address book.
Envelope message icons will now appear on the calendar only on the dates when a message is received.
Your message sending history will now be displayed in Today's Accomplishments.
You can now scroll the message text by pressing the B button on the message screen.

Wii Shop Channel
The search function on Virtual Console has been enhanced.