Top Wii Backup Loaders
By Chad Anderson
Wii Backup Loaders allow users to load Wii games that have been backed up to an external hard drive. Because game discs only have a certain number of reads before they begin to deteriorate, many users choose to back up their Wii games right away so they can protect game data. There are many USB Backup Loaders that exist, but a few have become more popular due to their features and aesthetics.
USB Loader GX
USB Loader GX is one of the most actively developed and popular loaders available. The mod supports drives over 1 TB, supports the Homebrew Channel for running home made Wii games, and has a Parental Control feature for restricting game play time or game ratings. They are also in the process of developing a feature where you will be able to launch and play old Nintendo GameCube games from the USB Loader GX console.
WiiFlow
WiiFlow is an alternative to USB Loader GX. The WiiFlow interface is slightly different in that the modification creates a more Apple iTunes cover flow look to your game library. WiiFlow supports dozens of themes and can load games off more than the default WBFS file system type used by USB Loader GX. Because WiiFlow supports NTFS file systems, you could back up your Wii games on the computer and then transfer them later instead of having to back them up using WiiFlow. A particularly exciting thing about WiiFlow is that they recently went open source, allowing community members to contribute and expand the project much faster than a single developer could.
Configurable USB Loader
The Configurable USB Loader attempts to be one of the most configurable loaders available aesthetics-wise. The loader itself has most of the same features as WiiFlow, but comes with the ability to greatly customize the user interface. Transparency, game renaming, background music, and other options make the loader a bit nicer when it comes to appearances.
uLoader
The uLoader backup loader was developed by Hermes, who wrote one of the original custom operating systems that allowed Wii users to modify their gaming consoles without having to use a commercial modification chip. For this reason, uLoader is loved and used by many. While uLoader is still fully functional, Hermes has discontinued development since the 5.1e version. This has made a lot of users start looking for different loaders, although many remain loyal and uLoader remains a popular backup solution.
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Writer Bio
Chad Anderson began writing professionally in 2009. He primarily contributes articles on technology and outdoor topics for various websites. His areas of interest include Linux and open-source software along with cycling and other outdoor sports. Anderson holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Nevada in Reno.