The WiiTracker:
http://nintendo-scene.com/wiitracker is a database application designed to catalog Wii Serial Numbers and cross reference them with known data about the hardware inside a Wii console. The results of this data is automatically analyzed by the application to allow those looking to purchase a Wii, or considering modifying their Wii to find out exactly what is inside their console before they open it.
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If you're confused at all about the nature of the questions being asked you can see detailed descriptions below about where you can find the data and what it means to the application.
Wii Country of Origin: This is the country Where the Wii was originally intended for sale by the manufacture. While there are usually a group of countries that make up a "Region" more specific country data will help provide even more detailed info about which areas of the world get new console versions first.
Wii Serial Number: This is located on the large sticker on the bottom of the Wii (when standing vertically). It's 11 digits long and made up of letters and numbers. This number is unique to each and every Wii console and it also contains valuable data about the console. This data is not apparent and the main intent of the Wii Tracker project is to find out how certain data about the console correlates to the serial number. We require the full serial number, partial serial numbers will not be used. Because we require the full serial number the Serial numbers entered in this filed will never be available publicly and never be shared with anyone.
Wii Copyright Year: This is located on the top left of the large sticker on the bottom of the Wii console (when standing vertically). Since the Wii does not have a manufacturing date available the copyright year is the next best thing. Tracking that against the serial number could provide some insights.
Wii Drive Chip: This is the large chip located inside the Wii on the DVD drive module immediately adjacent to the modchip installation points. The model number of the chip is faintly printed right on it. This information is quite valuable as it allows us to find correlations between the serial number and the chip being used. If enough data is available this will allow us to predict the chip without even opening up the console.
Are the pins cut on the drive chip?: Some Wii consoles where found to have 3 pins cut off the drive chip from the manufacturer. These pins are vital to the installation of a modchip and make it much more difficult to install a chip. This information is quite valuable as it allows us to find correlations between the serial number and whether or not the pins were cut by the manufacturer. If enough data is available this will allow us to predict whether or not a console has cut pins without even opening up the console.
You are a: This is filed to help keep out spambots as well as give us an idea of the kind of person the entered data is coming from.
E-mail (optional): If there is an anomaly in the data you entered (maybe you happen to have a rare console) Opting to provide your email address will allow us to contact you for more information about your particular console if needed. And that information could prove valuable to the scene. Due to the sensitivity of this kind of data providing this information is completely optional.
Other Notes (optional): If there is anything else you would like to add, or feel the need to let us know about your console or this application, please enter it here. If you have nothing else to say feel free to leave it blank.
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F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. What if I don't know some of the data?/Can I complete data entry later?
A. If you don't know all of the data about your console you can enter it anyway. If you found out more at a later time you can fill out the form again. Duplicates will be marked inside the database and manually reviewed.
Q. Why can't I add just a partial Serial Number?
A. By entering the whole serial number we're able to pin point which consoles have which hardware with far greater accuracy, since the serial numbers are stored in a protected database and never shown publicly there is no reason to enter only partial serial numbers.
Q. Is there any way to track the data back to me personally?
A. With the exception of the optional email address there is no way for the system to trace anything back to any particular person.
Q. Who actually has access to all this data?
A. There are only two people, both Nintendo-Scene staff members, who have access to the data. They are the developers of the application and they only retain privileges to view the data for maintenance purposes. The application is capable of managing and updating the data on its own and because of that there is no need to give access to anyone else. None of the raw data or specific serial numbers will ever be shared with any 3rd parties.
Q. If the serial numbers aren't shown publicly then how do we check what hardware we have?
A. The application provides two methods for utilizing the data one is a chart showing the serial number ranges that contain particular equipment. The other is a search where you will be able to plug in a serial number and the system will estimate the probability of which hardware the system contains.
Q. When will we be able to view the Serial Number range chart, and check our serials against the database?
A. We wish to build a up a small amount of starting data before the data analysis tools are available to the public. Rest Assured that on August 1st they will become available and you will be able to use the tools.
Q. Why are there additional questions about modchips and case mods?
A. We figured since we're asking you a few boring questions it might be nice to ask a few interesting ones too. We have no plans for this data at present but at some point we might consider making a few graphs of what people choose here. Where open to suggestions if you've got any.
Q. What happens if new versions of the console start popping up?
A. The WiiTracker is designed to be flexible to these things and there are already fields in place for if and when Nintendo hits us with another update. When we get confirmed news of a new version of the console we will integrate it into the WiiTracker as fast as possible.
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Participation in the WiiTracker is completely optional, though we would genuinely appreciate it if you helped out. This information is quite valuable to the Wii modding community and the more good data we get the more benificial the WiiTracker will be to the community.Thank you to all that have shown your support by adding to the WiiTracker database.
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