To Mod or not to Mod?

[xXHotfuzzXx]

HI all,
Thought I'd open up a subject that's discussed frequently on here for a sensible debate. I was reading through some threads on a Sony official web forum and thought it would be good to get all opinions!!

I personally feel modding your psp is personal choice. However more problems are caused by this. Bricking, lost files, applications failing etc.Ok you get free games but it's essentially illegal and directly affects sales of original psp games. I was thinking about sales of the psp and it did better worldwide business in 2007 than the xbox 360 and PS3 combined.

I was wondering how many of those units were modded and how it would effect the growth of the psp. I know developers are less keen to see there new titles hacked and copied for everyone to claim on the internet. This I think has led to a decline in new psp games. I understand why Dark Alex wanted to crack open the psp's functionality but his motives were not for piracy!! I believe the homebrew scene could bring some interesting new code and applications to the psp. But piracy is killing it!!!!

I could be playing a game on the net that I've paid for, with someone who got it free on some torrent site and also who has hacked it to death and subsequently ruined my gameplay. This I think is unfare. If you could mod any console and get pirated games would this make it right? I'm not tryin to stir up controvacy. How far do we go? My neighbour has three cars he does'nt use them all. I'll just take one.LOL You know what I mean somethings got to give or the psp could end up another dead console.

Only takes someone to release a virus on the new custom firmware updates and that would be fatal. At present noone is testing them to their max, since Dark Alex left the scene. I believe he's released a new one that man could do so much to positively enhance the psp. Sony if your taking note get this man on your team..........

[The Juggler]

Interesting.... was slightly involved in the pirate scene back in the day.... and I understand and sympathise with some of your comments... but historically the pirate scene has not so much killed off consoles/pc's but hightened the sales of such things... the original playstation pirate scene was HUGE.... and I know many many units were sold because people knew they could get software for the machines... yes I accept that piracy is theft and I know all the silly arguements for and against but historically the industries still keep going.... the PC industry still makes gazillions from the sales of games software... but pirate copies are out even before launch day sometimes.

I think piracy is here to stay in one form or another.... I also think that although it does harm the industry perhaps that harm is small enough not to cause a too big a gapping wound.


Des
(aka The Juggler... Pompey Pirates)
Topped the most wanted list for ELSPA and FAST circa late 90's
(Spectrum, PC, Atari ST, Playstation and a few other LARGER platforms)

[High Roller]

I see your point - the people that would buy these games, choose to find out how to get it for free... Many, and I mean a lot of people, have absolutely no idea about CFW and the suchlike, the PSP system is reaching the end of its life cycle too. In japan - where the console is hugely advertised and has games coming out for it all the time, the scene is HUGE (and i know youll back me up with facts and figures)

The fact here is, sony have not, given any where near as much support in the USA and ESPECIALLY Europe. Ive found a ton of games what were never for sale in the UK - It doesnt make piracy OK, but why should I have to get mail order games from Japan or USA when ive spent £150 on a games console. Put it this way, the DS was advertised on telelvision like buggery and I see little girls (hello MB) playing with them all the time...
Most notably - the DS can also be chipped with some sort of memory card reader that fits into the slot - piracy isnt killing that platform. the sales are still sky high, possibly because Nintendo dont waste all their time trying to stop the pirates and concentate on Good games.This said, If sony had put more effort into producing games, rather than realeasing new firmware every two week with nothing added but security patches (which, incidentally - failed) We'd be looking at whole different gameplan now IMO

Pull all this together.
You have a very succesful and feature rich platform with the PSP. Arguably the best ever made portable solution, whats going on?
It was advertised in Japan and every one got one, so their friends went and got one, so on and so forth. Also taking advantage of the multiplayer capabilities --- Here. not the case.
The DS got advertised and they made a killing - Nintendo actually released all the games, whereas Sony released a handful for the PSP and now theres only a trickle coming through, with regards to the UK.... Piracy may stunt the sales revenue, but it doesnt kill a platform - especially not a sony console as amazing as the PSP. they were still selling playstaions nearly 10 years after its launch, despite widespread piracy and such terrorist organisations such as the Pompey Pirates - Point is No Games - No platform. All this crap I hear about "2008 will be a big year for games on the PSP" is bull, and I aint seen anything done about it. If its the case, its too little too late. Consumers wont go out and justify spending £125 on a new console for 20 games a year that also cost £25, most of which they dont like to play. Sony have killed it, not the pirates (ooo arrr).

Also, no one is going to put viruses in a CFW package, thats absurd.
Bricking not possible with Pandora, so forget about that
In conclusion- I said a long time ago that SONY could learn a great deal from the Homebrew community. Dark Alex in particular - But thats not their style. I think theyre working on a better PSP anyway - One that cant be hacked? they rushed the release of the current psp with the worst firmware ever from their perspectives cause it was basically an open book for hackers. Apart from the abilty to run rips from Memory, these guys made the PSP better. Something SONY failed to do with lack of advertising, Insufficient support for new games, a concentration on trying to secure the firmware exploits. If you disagree, just compared the Japanese market with the UK market. Japan have all the games, publicity and still have access to custom firmware. Stark barren contrast in the UK... thats the difference

Case closed

[xXHotfuzzXx]

Hi ,
I agree with you both in part, as sony has yet again stuffed up with the games for psp as they have with PS3, this year is not a great year for games. I'd like to see some really different stuff. Not just the remakes or serial ports were used too!!

The point I was trying to make is it only takes one clever hacker to invent a virus that could kill the CFW scene! Don't you think Sony have got there guys out there. Virus's are not unheard of on the psp. Things often go wrong when installing CFW as it's a reasonably complicated job.

That's why there's so many post's about it. Am I right or not??? Yes most problems can be combated using Pandora and recovery. However I've heard of psp's that just can't be sorted as hardware is ruined. Cappow new motherboard!!! I just think we should'nt take it for granted. There's always gonna be piracy so that makes it ok and justifies the proccess....

Sony may start to release games as a download service alongside regular titles they already have platinum games to buy on playstationstore..
This could make way for less piracy in time to come. Like you said though there will always be someone who will try to Hack n Crack it open.

Thanx for yor comments Chris

[High Roller]

Originally Posted by xXHotfuzzXx

Hi ,
I agree with you both in part, as sony has yet again stuffed up with the games for psp as they have with PS3, this year is not a great year for games. I'd like to see some really different stuff. Not just the remakes or serial ports were used too!!

Damn Right, but do you seriously think were gonna get some wicked games for the PSP now it's just a cash cow?

The point I was trying to make is it only takes one clever hacker to invent a virus that could kill the CFW scene! Don't you think Sony have got there guys out there. Virus's are not unheard of on the psp. Things often go wrong when installing CFW as it's a reasonably complicated job.

Yeah but seriously, think about what you're saying here. Virus scans, people that pick this code apart, bit by bit as well. It goes through official CFW channels, such as PSP Hacks and QJ.net, or even the Dark Alex Website. Its not gonna happen. As soon as one PSP goes down with this evil virus, it raises alarm bells and someone get their legs broke. The suggestion that someone could effectively bring down the CFW scene with one virus it completely absurd. How clever is this guy? He hacks every psp site on the net, planting seriously dodgy firmware everywhere etc etc. Surely you can see the improbability of that,or anything similar with what you have insinuated. It will not happen.

As for things going wrong... Possibly, but I put that down to complete incompetence. I've never come across someone doing things correctly (by the book, not just saying they have... And don't use lisa as an example plz b4 u do (shes on another planet)... ) .. and completely messed up their PSP. Ive done it successfully myself 4 times, sometimes with the most shady methods too and I still havent messed it up. Sure, you get these people who delete all the flash files by accident, but again, thats just incompetence, theres always a risk youll do something wrong, the chances of rendering it useless are over, unless your a retard.

That's why there's so many post's about it. Am I right or not??? Yes most problems can be combated using Pandora and recovery. However I've heard of psp's that just can't be sorted as hardware is ruined. Cappow new motherboard!!! I just think we should'nt take it for granted. There's always gonna be piracy so that makes it ok and justifies the proccess....

Yeah sure, but everything has a lifetime though, my monitor is going - because i use it all the time (i need to warm it up before the ignitor will kick in) Or are you saying this is people that have done it "by the book" and youre sure they not just blaming the CFW for their own incompetence.... Im not quite sure what you mean there, but id like to see reference as to what exactly cause hardware to go "Cappow".


I dont condone piracy. I want to say theres more to it than evil people wanting to rip off the poor corporation that serves us so dearly. I love SONY, I just wish they would have gone about things so much differently. Now they are effectively paying for it. theyve made some poor decisions.
More games, more online play (which is possible cos theres an unofficial network - which is free) more features (which are possible, as demonstrated by homebrew) and for the love of God, MORE GAMES!
Incidentally, most of the games i have, i wouldnt have bought anyway. I play for about an hour and I never play them again, just curiosity more than deep desire. There is absolutely nothing on the shelves I'd dream of buying thats come out in the last 6 months too
I use my PSP as an MP3 player more, encode movies for in bed sometimes and play on old console games, like streets of rage and pipedream lol. I'm using my PSP though, which is what sony would have wanted, im sure. Just not this way.... The case continues

Thanx for yor comments Chris

And thanks for yours, just seriously rethink what ur saying

[xXHotfuzzXx]

Hi High Roller,
To add to the comment I made about virus's in CFW, you seem to know better than me that it is possible to corrupt unofficial FW updates with a virus. Ok Maybe it won't stop CFW or the peeps that create it, very clever code must I add. I Know myself how easy it can be to install the CFW....

Use CFW installer to put all the relevant files on your memory stick= magic memory stick, Use Pandora battery to enter psp into recovery memory!!
Combine both to install CFW on psp.

BUT THINGS CAN GO WRONG AND DO GO WRONG, because you have people of different abbilities attempting the procedure!! Not to mention what type of computer and programmes its got installed on it. Most people are not like you may I say and obviously yr well versed with CFW!! I feel sorry for that lady as I think she mean't well trying to get it sorted for one of her children.

I hope she gets the psp recoverd she may need to take the psp to someone who can fix the problem!! I think sony must have seen this coming as downgrading as been around since almost day one of psp. Also may I add noone yet has been able to copy a movie umd. I Know of people who ripped images but they just don't play off memory stick. Sony could have utilised some kind of encrytion that would render the games unplayable.

Sony did'nt really think it through, but the psp is'nt just about games like u said. Psp is used as MP3 player, Movie player. You wanna see some I've encoded they look lush did all 6 starwars movies and put on a 8 gig stick at full 480x272 can't tell much difference between UMD. Anyways back to the subject I just think I feel cheated as I like the psp as a device and want to see it grow further in coming yrs so we have a truely awesome handheld...
Never felt the need for CfW as my psp's just fine without it.:-P

[High Roller]

Originally Posted by xXHotfuzzXx

Hi High Roller,
To add to the comment I made about virus's in CFW, you seem to know better than me that it is possible to corrupt unofficial FW updates with a virus. Ok Maybe it won't stop CFW or the peeps that create it, very clever code must I add. I Know myself how easy it can be to install the CFW....

Re read what I wrote. How can a virus get into the PSP firmware???

1. Official Channels of distribution - These aint like seedy pron sites or crack sites set up for the sole purpose of infesting you with trojans and viruses. Theyre well respected and vetted distribution points, the coders such as dark alex wouldnt want anything less
2. Ok there may be viruses that have been made, but they were pretty unsuccessful. How would they spread? There isnt the opportunity to multiply, which would make it a pretty bad virus.
3. Whats to stop these viruses infecting Official Firmware. The difference between official firmware and "custom" firmware is about 300 KB, which is applied as a patch. The firmware is fundamentally the same

Back up these claims with sources and references please.

Use CFW installer to put all the relevant files on your memory stick= magic memory stick, Use Pandora battery to enter psp into recovery memory!!
Combine both to install CFW on psp.

Nice try. You just got a little bit mixed up there. More or less correct though. Well done

BUT THINGS CAN GO WRONG AND DO GO WRONG, because you have people of different abbilities attempting the procedure!! Not to mention what type of computer and programmes its got installed on it. Most people are not like you may I say and obviously yr well versed with CFW!! I feel sorry for that lady as I think she mean't well trying to get it sorted for one of her children.

Like I said - Going wrong is down to incompetence. Theres perfectly good guides out there, and Kev and many others will vouch for the fact it works. Believe me, we'd find out about it! theres probably 100s of people that have followed that guide and not even registered.

And lisa hasnt bricked her psp, she just hasnt completed the process yet, theres a massive difference - she just assuming the worst cos she cant make it work anymore. In her own words, shes been coming here since April - which is a bit longer than the 30 minutes it took me. In her defence - I dont think English is her first language and she obviously struggling with not only the language, but a concept completely alien to her, and has to put up with a 56 kbs dial up connection too. I feel her pain, and were trying to help every which way we possibly can given the info. she will get custom firmware if she sticks with it.

I'm well versed with custom firmware cos I studied up on it. I wouldnt have gone near it if I thought theres was a real danger of it making my PSP a very expensive paperweight

I hope she gets the psp recoverd she may need to take the psp to someone who can fix the problem!! I think sony must have seen this coming as downgrading as been around since almost day one of psp.

She hasnt got the magic memory stick files, it just took 15 messages from her to figure that out, cos all she was talkin about was girls, wrong site and 98%, how grateful she is, and of course, how terrible it would be if it was broke...

Also may I add noone yet has been able to copy a movie umd. I Know of people who ripped images but they just don't play off memory stick. Sony could have utilised some kind of encrytion that would render the games unplayable.

Why would anyone bother ripping UMD movies?
Encryption is a good idea, the next system will be harder to crack, but thats what hackers get a kick from

Sony did'nt really think it through, but the psp is'nt just about games like u said. Psp is used as MP3 player, Movie player. You wanna see some I've encoded they look lush did all 6 starwars movies and put on a 8 gig stick at full 480x272 can't tell much difference between UMD. Anyways back to the subject I just think I feel cheated as I like the psp as a device and want to see it grow further in coming yrs so we have a truely awesome handheld...

you aint wrong there, but the product life cycle is coming to an end, help along by sony who aint gonna release or support many more games for much longer. I'll still use my PSP though. MAybe the homebrew scene will survive on the console for many years to come. Have you ever thought about that?

Never felt the need for CfW as my psp's just fine without it.:-P

I dont want you to have custom firmware

Peace

[Kernel Kev]

Des mate, you gonna need a 5,000 word post here soon mate, cant have these mere members out ranting you!

I would read all this but i really cant be bothered.



Kev

[xXHotfuzzXx]

Hi again,
I must say I would have to disagree with you about your comment!! I don't think the psp is coming to the end of it's life cycle at all. The psp sales tell us this. What's more alarming is how people follow like sheep just cause it's "FREE"!

Sony have got so many new things in the pipeline this year, I'm not talkin games here. The Go applications are just a small part. My intentions for the thread in the first place were to give people another opinion. Exploring the possibilities of using CFW and other applications on the psp. I'm a grown man and never suggested you wanted me to install CFW.lol I make my own decisions I never follow just for sake of something for free.

People generally do things because they learn it from others, what I'm saying is Piracy has whether you accept it or not affected the release of new games for psp. The developers are not keen for their hard work on game titles being transmitted into lost sales through free distribution on the internet.
I'm looking forward to up and coming downloadable content for the psp- I think this is the way forward. Sony are not gonna give up on the psp it's there baby there's no other console like it on the market that's portable.

I think it will evolve as Sony will learn from there mistakes, the slim is less than a year old there not gonna give up that easily!! Besides its culterally seen differently in Japan it's the concept that's unique. In a not to distant future portable systems will dominate the market, we will see multi complex systems with lots of functions. Mobile phone, PDA, Gaming, mobile internet, media device and coffee machine lol all in a plastic case.

I'm not sayin don't modd yr psp. I think its down to personal choice. Personally I don't really care I just like to stir people up and get people talkin
about things I'm intersted in. Long live the PSP:!:

[High Roller]

Ill keep this short cos ur missing the points im making. Plus it was a crap conclusion, cos my fingers were hurting but ye

Well, probably not the end of its life cycle, just the initial boom stage where sales are sky high then drop to a modest level, but continue to decline. Thats natural for any product. If you read my post(s) I said theres not enough effort going into promoting it in the dwindling markets, such as the UK. its like theyve given up on it or something. In Japan not the case, it continues to boom and games are a lot more common over there. This is in stark contrast to the UK. Both markets have the same console,BUT different games(more) and highly contrasting level of promotion. Yet they are still markets that have access to the exact same CFW on the internet.

I then used the example of the DS, which has been heavily promoted and has a very wide selection of games. And simply asked whats the difference between these two consoles? Bearing in mind the same level of piracy is possible on the DS, just like the PSP. This would make an extremely good case study for my degree come to think about it.
Piracy cannot be blamed for the decline. I'm blaming Sony primarily, because any noob can look at the figures for two markets and see that theres a massive difference.

But the variables and constants are very evident. Variables being: the promotion and games support, the constants being the console itself and the CFW firmware, which is equally available to all markets.

You could blame piracy, if Japans market was bombing too, but it isnt - so its not completely piracy.

And yes, i concur that copied game content available on the net makes developers think twice about developing, so the pirates are partly to fault for this. but the comparison between the markets AND the Nintendo DS PROVE that its not the only reason games are being produced.

But in all honesty, do you think sony will push sales for the PSP any where else but Japan?

(sorry for making the same point 3 different ways, but i felt it was neccesary)

Peace


And - join in forum! are you afraid to think or something?