Nintendo petition

From WiiLi

Nintendo Petition - WiiLi, a live Linux CD for the Nintendo Wii

To whom it may concern at Nintendo,

We are currently developing a Linux-based Operating System for use on the Wii (known as WiiLi). This has the potential to culminate the revolution of human-computer interface by pushing into all breeds of software. Our project aims to create new concepts for how to apply the Wii controller and allows small developers with unique and original ideas to expand upon existing ones.

Nintendo has always proven itself a leader in innovation within the gaming and entertainment industries. With the conception of the Wii, Nintendo has once again proven that it can innovate in ways its competition can only dream about. The Linux community is also centered around innovation. Linux has provided us with 15 years of solid innovation in everything from servers to mobile phones. It has proven its versatility time and time again. We feel that the Linux desktop is ready for the public, and we would be honoured if Nintendo would share in this bright new field. By all counts, the Wii is a stable, fast and readily accessible platform to bring Linux to the public. To have any member of the public be able to put in a Linux Live-CD and have a low cost, fully functioning and 'fast' desktop or server at their fingertips would be a giant step in the right direction. We, as members of the Linux community, would be honoured to work hand in hand with one of the most innovative companies in existence towards this end.

And the independent software developers also lead in innovation. The development of applications for various games consoles is expanding. An example of this lies in the PlayStation Portable development. While not supported by the Sony Corporation, the development for the PlayStation Portable continues to bring forth innovative applications and games. And we believe that independent software may allow the Wii to progress further too. Both of your main competitors have produced a platform for such software and we hope you too follow. Through Linux, development of these applications can move onto the Wii.

WiiLi will not include any software that would allow illegally copied Wii software to run on the Wii nor will it include software to emulate other consoles, manufactured by Nintendo or otherwise.

We would appreciate any assistance you could provide, in terms of advice, funding, or joint collaboration; we feel that the only way to bring about both Nintendo and the community's shared vision of the future is through cooperation. By assisting us, you would be allowing your supportive community of fans to expand our knowledge and experience as well as bring more versatility to your excellent system. We will also take full responsibility for creating a safe OS for the Wii that will damage neither the Wii nor its licenses at all.

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Please help improve this petition with any ideas you may have before we send it to Nintendo.

• SUGGESTIONS
  • You know... actually start DOING something? wiili's just a couple of wallpapers as far as I can tell.
  • Start developing Wiili.
  • Nintendo is in a unique position for Linux to complement their business model because they make a profit on each console. As such, their profits are not cut by people who buy a Wii mainly to run Linux. As far as I know, the Wii has also shown an extremely high ratio of games sold for every console sold. Because of these things, Nintendo shouldn't have anything to worry about in terms of losing out on profits. Jmacaulay 14:38, 3 January 2007 (EST)
  • Mention the fact that Sony is allowing the PS3 to run Linux, or any other alternate OS.
  • Nintendo, the last thing we are trying to do by enabling linux to run on the Wii console is to allow any misuse of programs allowing emulation of any copyrighted or licensed Nintendo game or console, without written permission. We can only suggest that by allowing us to run linux for the wii will in the end make the wii a better console for us all to play and even improve the standard with which we expect game company's to have.--Swimgod 03:06, 27 December 2006 (EST)
  • We should put our signatures at the end, it wouldn't exactly be a petition without them! Eranmane 09:52, 29 December 2006 (EST)
  • May I suggest rewording the part about 'following' Sony and Microsoft, as Nintendo have explicitly stated that they refuse to 'follow' their competition. It's a simple matter of semantics, but it's an important one.

• IDEAS
  • It would be more special if said ideals were introduced in person. Once you guys finish producing the final project, I can personally bring it in to NOA headquaters. I'm in Seattle, WA and Redmond is literally 15 minutes away :). - Eddyisgreat - Dec 10, 2007
  • We, the community, are intrigued by the ability to install Linux on Sony's PlayStation 3. In a way to bring that same functionality to the Nintendo Wii, we are endeavoring to create a highly customized Linux distribution (henceforth referred to as "WiiLi") to accomplish this goal. -- ElvenNerfer 20:21, 18 December 2006 (EST)
  • As a community, we are working together towards the major goal of making the Nintendo Wii able to run a Linux distribution, only for research and entertainment purposes. We know there is a possibility for malintentioned or illegal software to run on such a distribution, but its existence does not limit or increase that possibility. If we wanted to run illegal software on the Nintendo Wii console, we wouldn't be writing a petition in the first place. --Luis villase
  • Maybe you could suggest to Nintendo, if the WiiLi turns out great, that they upload this to their Wii Shop Channel (At the rare chance they might), so people do not have to mod the Wii, or have anything special to install it. -- Ryan

I, a Wii owner for about a year, would like to see Linux, or any OS really, on the Wii. This is in your interest because if you don't, we will. It will be created, and then the Wii will be hacked. By hacked , I mean that people will open up the Wii, upgrade it's hardware. Then you will start to lose money. Because if we can run linux on the Wii, then we could run the Wii/Wii games/Gamecube games on a PC! You will lose money, Nintendo! --Andrew Howe - Jan. 15, 2007

COMMENT

Nintendo will never allow this to happen. See Microsoft and Sony wanted to build a console for all types of media usage and Sony kinda thought that people would buy the ps3 and use it as a powerful home computer. But at Nintendo they want a console mainly for Games. The proof is how they didn't add much music, video, CD, DVD support. Also Nintendo is focusing on getting people off the couch and getting into their console and not about having you sit around using the wii as a fake PC. As much as I would like it to come true and as much as I am trying to be optimistic that it will happen whether Nintendo passes it or not Nintendo will never agree. Glyn Morris wiili supporter