Shrygue
June 26th, 2007, 21:46
via Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/gaming/the-hotlines-are-open/modder-faces-jail-time-272371.php)
In San Diego, a modder named Frederick Brown was arrested after his house was raided by the San Diego Computer and Technology High-Tech Response Unit (otherwise conveniently known as "CATCH"). Brown had advertised on Craigslist and other website as being able to install mod chips and provide counterfeit games. The raid in his home proved he had over a thousand copies of pirated games as well as a large number of mod chips and hard drives preloaded with games that could be installed onto Xbox consoles.
Brown allegedly was turning modding into a business, so it does make sense that the ESA chose pursue a criminal case against him. However, what does that mean for the average kid who just wants to mod their console to play games from other countries? It seems like console manufacturer's have avenues other than physically blocking modders to get them to stop like making every game available to every one at the same time. It's called subtitles. Tell your game developers to use them.
In San Diego, a modder named Frederick Brown was arrested after his house was raided by the San Diego Computer and Technology High-Tech Response Unit (otherwise conveniently known as "CATCH"). Brown had advertised on Craigslist and other website as being able to install mod chips and provide counterfeit games. The raid in his home proved he had over a thousand copies of pirated games as well as a large number of mod chips and hard drives preloaded with games that could be installed onto Xbox consoles.
Brown allegedly was turning modding into a business, so it does make sense that the ESA chose pursue a criminal case against him. However, what does that mean for the average kid who just wants to mod their console to play games from other countries? It seems like console manufacturer's have avenues other than physically blocking modders to get them to stop like making every game available to every one at the same time. It's called subtitles. Tell your game developers to use them.