Comments on: Bunnie explains the technical intricacies and legalities of Xbox hacking http://boingboing.net/2010/12/04/bunnie-explains-the.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 00:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/04/bunnie-explains-the.html#comment-958484 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-958484 No more than an electrical engineer must plug themselves in at night... No more than an electrical engineer must plug themselves in at night…

]]> By: webmonkees http://boingboing.net/2010/12/04/bunnie-explains-the.html#comment-957475 webmonkees Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957475 Modding and getting other operating systems running on these platforms, which are essentially standard PCs with specialized graphic engiens (great for screensavers) allows a game platform to live beyond its original 'shelf life'. I still use my original xBox as a media player and also have games stored on the HD. More reliable, lets me keep the original game in its case. (because really, long-term.. isn't a unscratched game worth more years from now?) Caution: the game can now be modified. Such things as annoying movie clips, soundtracks, character sizes.. If one changes a text file in Lego Star Wars and ends up with a 10 foot tall Ewok, that's an infringement LucasArts and Microsoft never intended. Modding and getting other operating systems running on these platforms,
which are essentially standard PCs with specialized graphic engiens (great for screensavers) allows a game platform to live beyond its original ‘shelf life’.

I still use my original xBox as a media player and also have games stored on the HD.
More reliable, lets me keep the original game in its case. (because really, long-term.. isn’t a unscratched game worth more years from now?)

Caution: the game can now be modified. Such things as annoying movie clips, soundtracks, character sizes..

If one changes a text file in Lego Star Wars and ends up with a 10 foot tall Ewok, that’s an infringement LucasArts and Microsoft never intended.

]]> By: turn_self_off http://boingboing.net/2010/12/04/bunnie-explains-the.html#comment-957018 turn_self_off Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957018 i see two options for future consoles. Either going to online only sales, using a encrypted drive inside the console to cache game data. Or going back to selling games on "cartridges" so that the game can query the validity of the console at the same time as the console queries the validity of the game. i see two options for future consoles. Either going to online only sales, using a encrypted drive inside the console to cache game data. Or going back to selling games on “cartridges” so that the game can query the validity of the console at the same time as the console queries the validity of the game.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/04/bunnie-explains-the.html#comment-957061 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957061 Does an actual "reverse engineer" have to walk backwards too? Does an actual “reverse engineer” have to walk backwards too?

]]> By: bhtooefr http://boingboing.net/2010/12/04/bunnie-explains-the.html#comment-957087 bhtooefr Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957087 Except cartridge consoles have been hacked mercilessly, too, using various tricks ranging from pass-throughs that use an authorized game to trick the console, to FPGAs feeding the console what it wants. (Granted, IIRC, the DSi hasn't been completely broken (DS code runs, DSi code does not,) but most games aren't for the DSi anyway. The 3DS, OTOH, I suspect that'll get broken soon enough.) Of course, what I really see happening is game developers going to OnLive or similar, if they can get away with it. Then, piracy is impossible, without doing things like attacking OnLive's subscriber database, or using stolen credit cards. Except cartridge consoles have been hacked mercilessly, too, using various tricks ranging from pass-throughs that use an authorized game to trick the console, to FPGAs feeding the console what it wants.

(Granted, IIRC, the DSi hasn’t been completely broken (DS code runs, DSi code does not,) but most games aren’t for the DSi anyway. The 3DS, OTOH, I suspect that’ll get broken soon enough.)

Of course, what I really see happening is game developers going to OnLive or similar, if they can get away with it. Then, piracy is impossible, without doing things like attacking OnLive’s subscriber database, or using stolen credit cards.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/04/bunnie-explains-the.html#comment-957407 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957407 Actually there are different xbox 360 modifications. 1. DVD-drive flashing - just allows the play of burned games 2. JTAG-flashing - allows execution of unsigned code The JTAG hack requires an xbox with an old dashboard(6-7xxx), reflashing the nand, and soldering a couple wires to the motherboard. Where as DVD-drive flashing is much easier - and commonly requires just hooking up the dvd drive to a desktop computer. Actually there are different xbox 360 modifications.

1. DVD-drive flashing – just allows the play of burned games
2. JTAG-flashing – allows execution of unsigned code

The JTAG hack requires an xbox with an old dashboard(6-7xxx), reflashing the nand, and soldering a couple wires to the motherboard.

Where as DVD-drive flashing is much easier – and commonly requires just hooking up the dvd drive to a desktop computer.

]]> By: Rayonic http://boingboing.net/2010/12/04/bunnie-explains-the.html#comment-956907 Rayonic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-956907 The thing to remember is that Xbox 360 modding isn't like traditional rooting or jailbreaking. It bypasses the physical disc check, but doesn't allow you to run unsigned code. (i.e. there is no Linux port, there are no unauthorized apps.) I'm not sure whether this is because the Xbox's protection is just that secure, or because they've pacified the amateur coders with the cheap XNA developers kit. The thing to remember is that Xbox 360 modding isn’t like traditional rooting or jailbreaking. It bypasses the physical disc check, but doesn’t allow you to run unsigned code. (i.e. there is no Linux port, there are no unauthorized apps.)

I’m not sure whether this is because the Xbox’s protection is just that secure, or because they’ve pacified the amateur coders with the cheap XNA developers kit.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/04/bunnie-explains-the.html#comment-957165 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957165 "Unscathed"? Putting a guy through the federal wringer, disrupting his life and dangling a prison sentence above his head, all for a bullshit charge, and he's left unscathed? “Unscathed”? Putting a guy through the federal wringer, disrupting his life and dangling a prison sentence above his head, all for a bullshit charge, and he’s left unscathed?

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2010/12/04/bunnie-explains-the.html#comment-957935 teapot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957935 So, basically M$ is pissy cos their efforts to avoid paying for a CSS or other encryption license actually amounted to their content falling outside the legal protection against circumvention of decryption. HA! http://craphound.com/images/IMG_3381_display_medium.jpg So, basically M$ is pissy cos their efforts to avoid paying for a CSS or other encryption license actually amounted to their content falling outside the legal protection against circumvention of decryption. HA!

http://craphound.com/images/IMG_3381_display_medium.jpg

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/04/bunnie-explains-the.html#comment-957170 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957170 "Unscathed" is an overstatement. This prosecution's failure will, I hope, keep a lot of other people from prosecution, but the poor bastard who's been the target has been through an ordeal. Being put on trial is not fun. “Unscathed” is an overstatement. This prosecution’s failure will, I hope, keep a lot of other people from prosecution, but the poor bastard who’s been the target has been through an ordeal. Being put on trial is not fun.

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