Nintendo Warns Against Mod Chips

Nintendo's UK website has issued a warning to its readers about the perils of mod chips, explaining what they do and why it's a Very Bad Thing.

Modification microchips (mod chips) circumvent the security embedded into Nintendo's products. To install a mod chip into a Nintendo hardware system, it is necessary to dismantle the product and, in some instances, remove components.

The use of mod chips voids the manufacturer's warranty. In addition, the installation of a mod chip can damage the functionality of a Nintendo
console, sometimes rendering it incapable of repair...People caught installing or selling mod chips may be subject to criminal charges.

The site goes on to say that installing a mod chip will render you sterile and kill your dog. Ok, it doesn't actually come right out and say that, but it's totally implied. To be fair, though, I don't think it's a bad thing for Wii owners, many of whom have likely never owned a game console before, to know the full mod chip deal, or else some guy at the game store who "knows everything" might end up convincing them that modding their Wii is the greatest idea ever, and then their Wii breaks, and then they're sad.

Information Regarding Mod Chips [Nintendo UK]