Homebrew Channel

Homebrew Channel
Type	Downloadable (third party)
Developer(s)	Team Twiizers
Publisher(s)	Team Twiizers
Platform(s)	Wii Channels
Release date(s)	AUS April 2, 2008 EU April 2, 2008 NA April 2, 2008 JP April 2, 2008
Genre(s)	Utility
Mode(s)	Single-player
Input methods	Wii Remote, Wii Remote + Nunchuk, Classic Controller, GameCube Controller, Guitar Controller
Compatibility	4 Playable
GameIDs	HAXXHB, OHBCHB, LULZHB, JODIHB
See also...	Dolphin Forum thread Open Issues Search Google Search Wikipedia

The Homebrew Channel is a freeware homebrew application loader that was developed to provide a way of easily running unofficial software on the Wii console. Once installed, it appears as a standard Wii Channel on the Wii Menu. When launched, it displays a list of applications found on an SD card or USB drive. The user then selects an application to launch by using a Wii Remote or GameCube controller. It also accepts application uploads via a USB Gecko or TCP/IP (over Wi-Fi or Ethernet), which allows for quick application testing during development. When launched from the Wii Menu, the Homebrew Channel will check for updates to itself and automatically download them if the user chooses to do so.

The functionality provided by the Homebrew Channel is provided by Dolphin directly, so the HBC is not needed.

Problems

Blackscreen

The developers of the Homebrew Channel have placed traps into the program specifically to prevent the HBC from loading in Dolphin. All versions of the HBC launched after the traps were put into place will show a blackscreen. The version in which the traps were first put into place is unknown, but there have been no recorded instances of the HBC booting since before Dolphin 3.5.

Unable to Install/Load Homebrew

In versions of the Homebrew Channel created before the traps were put into place, the HBC will start and load; but it will be unable to install or load any homebrew.

Home Button Reset Hang

Starting the Homebrew Channel, then reloading through the Home button may cause Dolphin to hang up randomly.

Configuration

No configuration changes are known to affect compatibility for this channel.

Version Compatibility

The graph below charts the compatibility with Homebrew Channel since Dolphin's 2.0 release, listing revisions only where a compatibility change occurred.

r7598

Δ

5.0-21401 (current)

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Δ

Δ

Δ

Δ

2.0 (r5384)

Compatibility can be assumed to align with the indicated revisions. However, compatibility may extend to prior revisions or compatibility gaps may exist within ranges indicated as compatible due to limited testing. Please update as appropriate.

Testing

This channel has been tested on the environments listed below:

Test Entries
Revision	OS	CPU	GPU	Result	Tester
r7598	Windows 7	Intel Quad Core Xeon @ 2.8GHz	ATI Radeon HD 5770	All issues in the Problems section are present.	SephirothFanatic
3.0	Windows 7	Intel Quad Core Xeon @ 2.8GHz	ATI Radeon HD 5770	All issues in the Problems section are present.	SephirothFanatic
3.0-376	Windows 7	Intel Quad Core Xeon @ 2.8GHz	ATI Radeon HD 5770	Starts and runs normally, except when reloading or exiting with the Home button.	SephirothFanatic