Wii region: NTSC-J (JAP)
Chip: Wiikey
Condition: Both working fine (updated SPM on 2.2J firmware once)
I know this topic has been brought up loads and loads of times before, but one thing that has never been properly answered is: what really happens in the Wii when a PAL/EUR/JAP console is updated with a firmware from the wrong region?
Sure, we all know that it might brick (depending on games and firmware), but it also seems the updates are not entirely the same.
For example:
1. Mario Strikers and Super Paper Mario will run fine on a 2.2E/U/J firmware
2. Brain Age will semi-brick a 2.2E/U/J firmware
Some people say that on MS and SPM the update just does a check, but installs nothing. However, pushing the dreaded "Ok"-button will start a progress bar, which after making it's way up to 100%, displays a message telling you the update has been finished. Removing the SPM save file won't result in a new update request, so something must have been added to the firmware, be it just a simple key value. Otherwise the game would have asked again and again.
Now, let's say a bricked Wii could be restored with a new firmware version, what part of the firmware would be updated? The discs obviously contain more than just the general x.xE/U/J replaceable updates, so I doubt there are any guarantees that the right part of the firmware will be updated. What if old "incompatible" firmware from a bricked Wii is not fully replaced, but instead only patched?
This post is getting a bit long, so I'll get back to the point. The updates aren't just checking your firmware, they're very likely adding something as well. My question is what and where.
