Homebrew Channel

Download

The Homebrew Channel can be downloaded from the official site.

Installation

Using Twilight Hack

Assuming the Twilight Hack is already installed on your Wii;

1. Download the installer from the link above.
2. Expand the archive to find README.txt, wiiload and boot.elf
3. Place the boot.dol file in the root of your SD card.
4. Run the Twilight Hack, and allow the installer to load.
5. READ THE DISCLAIMER! In the VERY unlikely case your Wii should be bricked by the installer, this will let you know where you stand in regards to Team Twiizers.
6. Press the RESET button on your Wii.

The installation should be automatic from this point on, and your Wii will reboot.

Using DVD

The DVD method requires a drivechip and won't work on 3.3 firmware update or newer. DVD images for 1.0 are currently unavailable, though you can install beta8 and then update.

Configuring Applications

In order to make an application appear in the Homebrew Channel, the following steps must be taken:

1. Make a folder on the root of your SD card called "apps".
2. In the folder "apps," create a folder for the application (for this example, ScummVM will be used).
3. Copy the files for the application into its folder (e.g. apps/scummvm/).
4. Find the executable file (either .elf or .dol) and rename it to boot.elf (or boot.dol if it was a .dol file) if it is not already named that (e.g. apps/scummvm/boot.dol). If the app comes with these files, copy the icon.png and meta.xml files into this folder.

Now the application will appear in the Homebrew Channel. However, if the application did not come with icon.png or meta.xml, its appearance on the menu is ugly, and difficult to distinguish from other applications. To fix this, text and an image can be added.

Adding Text

To add text to an application in the Homebrew Channel, do the following: (note: you may install the Homebrew Browser and download pre-formatted apps without performing this step for every app)

1. Make a file in the folder of the application (e.g. apps/scummvm/) called "meta.xml" (e.g. apps/scummvm/meta.xml).
2. Open "meta.xml" in Notepad and add the following text as a template:

 version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
 version="1">
 >>
 >>
 >>
 >>
 >>
 >>
>

3. Add the appropriate information in between the relevant indicators. For example, the name of the application goes between and . The purpose of each field is as follows:

 version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
 version="1">
 >The name of the application>
 >The name of the person or group that wrote the code for the program.>
 >The version of the application.>
 >The data the application was released.
 It has to be a timestamp using this format: YYYYmmddHHMMSS>
 >This is displayed on the main menu of the Homebrew Channel (before you select an application) and is
 used as a space to add a few words to describe the program.>
 >This is displayed once the application is chosen. It describes the program and its function in great
 detail, and can be used to elaborate on a program's controls.>
>

An example of a completed "meta.xml" for ScummVM is provided below:

 version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
 version="1">
 >ScummVM>
 >dhewg>
 >rev32231>
 >200805230000>
 >Point & Click Adventures>
 >ScummVM is a program which allows you to run certain classic graphical point-and-click adventure games,
 provided you already have their data files. The clever part about this: ScummVM just replaces the executables shipped
 with the games, allowing you to play them on systems for which they were never designed! Some of the adventures ScummVM
 supports include Adventure Soft's Simon the Sorcerer 1 and 2; Revolution's Beneath A Steel Sky, Broken Sword 1 and
 Broken Sword 2; Flight of the Amazon Queen; Wyrmkeep's Inherit the Earth; Coktel Vision's Gobliiins; Westwood Studios'
 The Legend of Kyrandia and games based on LucasArts' SCUMM (Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion) system such as
 Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, Sam and Max and more.>
>

A web application to create meta.xml files and code was made by abeisgreat, but has been taken down due to repeated abuse. Alternatively, you can use Pinecone's Java-based HBCXMLGen program.

Adding an Icon

See also: Homebrew Channel/Icons

In order to make icons for the Homebrew Channel show up, they must be in .png format with dimensions of 128x48 pixels. The full alpha channel can be used. Copy it into the folder of the application under the name "icon.png" (e.g. apps/scummvm/icon.png).

Complete Setup Format

You should have a compatible SD or SDHC card. See here for a list of SD and SDHC cards known to be compatible or incompatible. Note: it is by no means a complete list.

An SD card should be formatted in FAT16 or FAT32. After you have installed the apps on your SD card, its folder structure should look something like this:

• Removable Disk (eg: (E:) on Windows and where it is mounted to on Linux or Mac OS X eg: /media/disk/ )
  • apps
    • ScummVM
      • boot.dol
      • meta.xml(Optional)
      • icon.png(Optional)
    • WiiShopInstaller
      • boot.dol
      • meta.xml(Optional)
      • icon.png(Optional)

If you have any problems having your Applications showing up on the 'HBC', make sure you are following the correct format.

Removal

Removing the channel can be done by simply deleting it with the channel management in the Wii system software.

Wiibrew