http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4530702.stm Xbox 360 copy protection cracks The raw data for 13 Xbox 360 games has been downloaded Hackers have taken the first step towards breaking the anti-piracy system on Microsoft's Xbox 360 game console. A group of crackers called Team PI Coder says it has discovered the basic workings of the console's file system. The information has helped the group dig out the raw data from the console for 13 Xbox 360 games. In response Microsoft said its console had several security systems in place that would prevent pirated games being played on it. Starting point Information about the work of Team PI Coder was posted to a Dutch piracy site along with the raw data from the games. There was also links to a small program the group produced that helps to extract the data. In the text file with the extracted data, the PI Coders admit that not much can be done with the data. "You can't run these dumps yet, but you will be able to sooner or later," reads the information file. The crackers have not managed to get the data off game disks, instead they have dug out the version of the game that the Xbox 360 creates when gamers start playing. The crackers said they were releasing the raw data to help other hacking groups start the task of working out how the Xbox 360 tries to stop piracy. "So the first task is done," wrote Team PI in the information files. "We hope this encourages all hackers, coders and crackers out there to take up the challenge." Using the raw data could prove a challenge because the extraction has left intact the protection systems that ensure that copies will not run on an Xbox 360. The non-standard format of Xbox 360 DVDs also means that a PC DVD drive will not read them either. A spokesman for Microsoft said there had been a series of improvements to the Xbox 360 that protect it against cracking. He said that hardware on the system only allows Microsoft certified and signed programs to run on the console. This meant that copied games would not be recognised by the system and would not run.
I hope this project goes far. I'm not for piracy, but I've always found this type of thing interesting.
Yeah but all it leads to is piracy and as much as i hate the price of games it just makes them more expensive for others.
yeah i agree with you alan but we are being forced to pay 60usd for sub-par games. Madden 06 isn't any better on 360 as it is xbox or ps2; American waste land; need for speed most wanted; none of them are worth it 60. I think this will be the death of Video games. Just look at the sales they have slumped. Sure the games look better on the new systems but it isn't as amazing as it was from Snes to psx. The level of power isn't going up and the level of game makeing is going down how many more generic fps 3 and amazing racer graphics 15 can you play. Only a handfull of games a year are good and maybe a few games every 2 or 3 years is excellent. I don't know i just see innovation coming unless there is a decline of company's like EA or UBI soft. The Best games usually come from indie makers because they do more with less but i don't see indie makers making games in the current game market model. So done ranting.. in summery.. Big game companies fuel piracy... Tony
I thought this thread was gonna explain how the 360 had been hacked? ...All it does is link to an old team PI article, lol!
Yeah but that excuse just doesnt wash anymore. Look at the dreamcast. It had great games yet the level of piracy on the console was huge. The only reason EA and UBI are going strong making shit is because people are willing to buy the games. If the games are that bad then people should stop buying them and not pirate to play them. Piracy just makes it worse for the small indie companies.
I don't think big game companies fuel piracy. It is just the that crap games are being released by both indie and big name companies, and the consumer doesn't want to pay $60 if they play it, beat it, then trade it in. The big companies have yet to realize that what made the industry what it is now were games that people played, beat, and then played them again and again, and know the game inside and out. Hopefully that change will happen soon.
no, what happens is that the big companies buy clerks in ebgames or good reviews in magazines that trick people into buying Doom III or Driv3r brand new when they can be beaten in a few hours, suck, or a combination of both. I got Doom III over the summer for xbox after never playing it on PC. I beat it with light play in two days and it wasn't even that great. Wow, I wasted $60 on a hyped generic fps. If I returned it, I'd get like $15 bucks, trade in for it.
That change doesnt look like it will happen soon! The only change i can see is companies taking the EA model of doing things to max out profits and make games that require you to buy the next one to have a few days of fun and then 2 months wait for the sequel!
It is the whole industry they make games for the money and instead of taking the time and make it good they put half concept ideas in one game then span it accross dozens of games. There just does't seem to be a point of end just wait till we make part two or 3 or 95.. look at madden shipping out with bugs. The quailty died when americans started to make most the games. look at all the fps's here they are all the freaking same..
That's the same argument that was applied to all those 2D platform games in the 8-bit era, all those shmups on the Genesis, and the 2D fighting games on the SNES. Now suddenly people have a longing for those types of games again...guess people will never be content or something. lol.
I think we're looking at things through rose tinted glasses here. I mean EA has (for the most part) just put out crap its whole life, and along with a whole bunch of other companies. There were 20 shite games for every good one on the Megadrive. Looking back even further to the Spectrum days, there was a lot of crap out there. And that is the reason people pirate imo. They don't want to risk the chance of going out there, spending £30-40 or even £50 on a game that they'll play once and wish they never had.
Yeah its the same people who complain that everything is a shit sequel to some crappy game but yet they support nintento and cant wait for that next Final Fantasy and Resident evil.
but those are good games... Each time they reinvent themselves with either better graphix way better story. Final fantasy is the same thing every time but your saving the world each time. The characters live lifes that you can follow and make choices (well just 7 and 8) but those games are deep that don't get stale but at least they reinvent themselves... Look at games like Zelda or Metal gear they reinvent new ways of playing. They started in 2d worlds but made it over to 3d with great stories and better game play. MGS was one of the greatest games made on the psx i didn't like the non-killing aspect mgs2 took but it was fresh take. Then ubi with splinter cell came out and made it impossible but it was a copy cat. I want games that make you play and play. The latest console game that did that was Halo for the xbox it had a great story and deep back ground plot, it wasn't the prettiest hooker on the market at the time but it was the best for the xbox. They just don't make games like that anymore. if they do they are usually on the next system.
Well, I can't say that pirating justifies all that. In the states, you can just rent the game. I don't like wasting $60 either, but in all honesty, if it's a crappy game, I'll just sell it, cut my losses, and buy another. No reason to steal.
i talk for italy but what killed the dreamcast here was that nobody knew that it was out no launch only little advertising on game magazines... and it seems it was quite so in all europe! europe is so disregarded by game companies but is a amrket as big as usa and japan nowadays... and anyway sega spoiled his name with saturn mega cd and 32x so lots of people waited before buying again....
I find it unreasonable that I need an extra PC with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to stream video to an Xbox 360. What's next? CF
