06-13-2007, 08:10 AM
Has the end of console gaming piracy arrived? Well no, but it seems as though that all three hardware manufacturers are getting better at tackling piracy. How so? We all know by now that the Wii has been modifiable for some time with the latest mod-chips, as well as Xbox 360. The PS3’s firmware was just recently hacked as well (but backups are not playable yet). But let’s be honest, this generation is not just about graphics vs. gameplay, it’s about online gaming.
Nintendo has now stepped up to the plate, at least in Japan. The company has now produced “non-modifiable” Wii’s in the country in which current mod-chips available in the market will not be able to work with. Of course a new way to modify these systems will likely happen, but what if you just couldn’t play Super Smash Bros. Brawl through Wi-Fi because Nintendo figured out a way to stop piracy through a firmware update (just as it happend with 360)? And how about WiiConnect24? You can kiss goodbye to the Wii channels!
What would happen if you had access to Xbox Live, had a great Gamerscore, invested heavily into the marketplace only to be banned from the service? Microsoft’s first major offensive against piracy had just recently happened when they had found a way to ban Xbox Live from users with modified systems. Sure Xbox Live was paid for, but games being played online were likely from a “backup”.
As for Playstation 3, Version 1.1 firmware has been confirmed to be hacked. Hackers are hard at work to allow Blu-Ray backups to become playable. But is it even worth hacking the PS3? For one, the latest firmware is at 1.8, which allows gamers to upscale all their PS1 and PS2 games (as well as DVD movies) to HD. Version 1.1 had crappy backwards compatibility (and other issues) and it seems that even if its hackable, spending $400-600 for a Blu-Ray burner plus BD-R discs seems like hassle. If Killzone 2 is as real as it is, who wouldn’t want to go online with the system? And if Sony can figure out a way to ban users from Playstation Network, you can forget about playing against your friends online.
Unless users who have modified consoles decide that they want nothing to do with online, piracy will continue…otherwise playing Halo 3, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Killzone 2 online seems highly unlikely.
source
Nintendo has now stepped up to the plate, at least in Japan. The company has now produced “non-modifiable” Wii’s in the country in which current mod-chips available in the market will not be able to work with. Of course a new way to modify these systems will likely happen, but what if you just couldn’t play Super Smash Bros. Brawl through Wi-Fi because Nintendo figured out a way to stop piracy through a firmware update (just as it happend with 360)? And how about WiiConnect24? You can kiss goodbye to the Wii channels!
What would happen if you had access to Xbox Live, had a great Gamerscore, invested heavily into the marketplace only to be banned from the service? Microsoft’s first major offensive against piracy had just recently happened when they had found a way to ban Xbox Live from users with modified systems. Sure Xbox Live was paid for, but games being played online were likely from a “backup”.
As for Playstation 3, Version 1.1 firmware has been confirmed to be hacked. Hackers are hard at work to allow Blu-Ray backups to become playable. But is it even worth hacking the PS3? For one, the latest firmware is at 1.8, which allows gamers to upscale all their PS1 and PS2 games (as well as DVD movies) to HD. Version 1.1 had crappy backwards compatibility (and other issues) and it seems that even if its hackable, spending $400-600 for a Blu-Ray burner plus BD-R discs seems like hassle. If Killzone 2 is as real as it is, who wouldn’t want to go online with the system? And if Sony can figure out a way to ban users from Playstation Network, you can forget about playing against your friends online.
Unless users who have modified consoles decide that they want nothing to do with online, piracy will continue…otherwise playing Halo 3, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Killzone 2 online seems highly unlikely.
source