I read on some websites that you need a special dvd writer to rip wii games, do you also need a special dvd writer to burn wii games?

No, you can burn it using any dvd writer.

to make the ISO you need an LG 8161, 2, 3 or 4. 2 is the fastest but hardest to find. you can use any burner to make the disk. Use Verbatim disks.

why verbatim? i have memorex, that wont work with this brand?

It will, don't worry. Verbatim's are generally reliable, and I believe that's why ishuwereme recommended it, but memorexs will do fine too.
Cheers

can i use maxell dvd+rw and anydvd to open then clonedvd2 to burn wii games?

Should be fine. You can also mount the ISO in daemon tools and then burn it from any program, like if you had two DVD drives
And welcome to the forum ;)

personally i would NEVER use memorex after today since i lost 10 memorex dvd to faulty copies...
now i would personally use either a Virbatim brand or iMation since they never failed me before in the past...

Well, ***t happens... :( I usually buy Verbatim because of this,
but even with them you can end up with counterfeits :/
Sometimes your burner just doesn't like a specific brand also. My old dell lappy did never successfully burn a maxwell disk.

I had a problem with XP a while back, it failed to burn every disk. The program K3B from linux saved me, you should give it a try some day ;)

Cheers

another newbie question which i prob know the answer for...
is there anyway we can play burnt games without a mod chip? like using a prog?

yes, a modded wii uses a pirated game which was also burned in the same process.