Microsoft has greeted reports of a hack to run pirated Xbox 360 games by claiming that the "core security system" is intact - and, unusually, the hackers themselves seem to be in agreement.

Last week, hackers said they had fooled an Xbox 360 into running a copied version of Project Gotham Racing 3 by modifying the DVD drive firmware, which was apparently left relatively unprotected, so that it sidestepped an authentication routine. Video footage of the game booting seemed to confirm this.

Since then, those responsible have said their motive was curiosity rather than a desire to pirate games or develop a mod chip capable of circumventing security regularly - and claim they will not release information on how to repeat the feat, and that it's useless in its current form anyway.

Gamerscoreblog, a page run by Xbox employees, this week aired a statement from Microsoft which, though it stopped short of admitting that this particular hack is legitimate, did promise to counteract security threats with software updates - something the group behind the hack acknowledged was possible.

In an interview with Xboxic, one of the hackers involved - calling himself Robinsod - said, "We will not be releasing a hack, we won't sell it and no-one from Microsoft has approached me either to pay me off or shut me up with legal threats."

"I want to polish this hack a little more for my own satisfaction and then I will consider it done. All the information needed to implement this hack is available and I have no interest in doing further research," he added.

He also warned anybody eager to try and repeat the feat of the potential dangers. "This hack is useless to the public in its current form, it has not been 'weaponised' and currently requires that the flash chip is removed from the drive circuit board and inserted into a special flash programming device. And I want to stress that if you don't know what you’re doing you can easily destroy your 360 - don't do it."

Xbox enthusiasts should also watch out for software and mod chips claiming to be based on the hack, he said, as they will almost certainly be designed to destroy vital software or simply scams designed to make money.

Microsoft also played down the significance of the breakthrough in its statement. "The core security system has not been broken. However, it is reported that the authentication protocol between the optical disc drive and the console may be attacked, which if accurate could allow people to play illegally copied games," the Gamerscoreblog statement says.

"Our security team is aware of this and we are investigating potential solutions to this issue. The Xbox 360 platform was designed to be updated, and we are prepared to respond appropriately should any unauthorized activity be identified.

"Everyone should keep in mind that Microsoft invests a great deal of time and effort to ensure that Xbox gamers enjoy the most powerful and exhilarating game experience available today. Genuine and unmodified Microsoft Xbox products provide gamers with the reliability, security, support and dynamic gaming experience that they expect. Microsoft works with a large group of legitimate business partners to sell and service genuine Microsoft Xbox products. Microsoft does not authorize or support any products or companies that modify or change the Xbox console in any way."

Microsoft has in the past declared Xbox 360's security to be its best yet, and attempts so far to break through it have yielded little success. That said, Robinsod reckons there's a better chance of it happening than not.

"Given the complexity of the software (and MS's reputation for secure software) it seems unlikely that there's no way in," he told Xboxic. ...

Source Engadget

So if you recall, way back at E3 2004 when Sony was showing off the PlayStation Portable for the first time in the US, they were also generating some buzz with translucent keyboard and cellphone attachments. Of course, those never materialized -- but they have in fact finally shown up online, albeit at the USPTO. In two filings dated November 10, 2004 (and made public in late February 2006 and only three days ago, respectively), a gaggle of Sony designers submitted applications for both "ornamental design[s]" for a keyboard and phone add-on for the PSP -- and trust us, the patent filings couldn't have been much less verbose. So will we ever see these things get manufactured and released? Eh, even though Sony's launched some unexpected PSP accessories recently, we'd assume the phone attachment won't ever take off. However, Izumi Kawanishi has made it no secret that he wants email on the PSP, and a keyboard would be quite a nicety if that's in the cards.

Check out the screens via comments ...

Source - CVG

Playing Tekken on the PSP is something that's always appealed. Can you imagine, sitting on a crowded commuter train, headphones ripped free, volume cranked up, as you bloody one man's face with another's boot? Just think of all those shocked looks fluttering your way. Lovely.
Keeping our excitement tinkering up in the 'warmer' category, Sony has just released a batch of new screens from the PSP-only Tekken: Dark Resurrection, plus details of all the game modes on offer (see below). In addition, it has also (re)confirmed that it will boast a line-up of more than 30 customisable characters, including newcomers Dragunov and Lili, plus the return of Armor King.

Well, without further ado, here are the modes as promised. The game is set to launch around summer time, so beautiful cranium-cracking action can wait 'til then.
Tekken Dojo: Fight your way to the top in a selection of different Dojos based on a private island owned by Mishima Zaibatsu.

Arcade Battle: Earn your purse of fight money as you defeat ghosts matching your current level. And each test you pass sees you elevated a rank in the fighting hierarchy.

Quick Battle: Choose from 1-on-1 battle or team battles against the CPU. Alternatively form a team of up to eight players in team battle mode for a knock-out tournament.

Network: Challenge friends, or enemies, to a duel via Ad Hoc Mode, exclusive to PSP.

Story Battle: Get under the skin of your character in the new story mode and uncover your history.

Time, Survival and Gold Rush: Beat your previous best score with a choice of three attack modes: Time Attack as you go against your opponent and the clock; Survival as your stamina is put to the test and your work to defeat as many opponents as possible and Gold Rush which allows you to earn fight money for damage dealt within the time limit.

Practice: All new practice mode includes tutorials, freestyle training and command training covering both attack and self-defence.

Screens and news article here --> http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=136217 ...

Nintendo's 'virtual console' Revolution download service received a significant boost yesterday, when company president Satoru Iwata announced a deal to bring a back-catologue of Mega Drive and TurboGrafx to the download service. But there's another Nintendo revelation: old classics wont be the only games available via the Revolution download service.
In a statement issued alongside Iwata's speech given at GDC, Nintendo said: "The new forms of innovative software that can be created by any size developer will be made available for download via Revolution's Virtual Console service." It seems, then, that in addition to the catalogue of classic games, unique downloadable games will be offered through 'virtual console' too.

Sound familiar? Of course it does, at it's akin to Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade. The Xbox 360's game download service has been a big hit for Microsoft, with the likes of retro-shooter Geometry Wars receiving critical acclaim from all corners of the games industry.
No doubt we'll hear more from Nintendo on this particular feature of 'virtual console' at E3. ...

Activision looks set to follow last year's securing of a 12-year Spiderman license (ouch) with a version of Spider-Man 3 built exclusively for Nintendo's Revolution, according to reports on IGN.
You'd still expect the game to hit all other major formats, but what's being said here is that Nintendo's next-gen incarnation will be tailored specifically for its new shiny piece of whizz-bang. That mean's you can probably expect Spidey's web-slinging and athletics to be orchestrated through inventive use of the Revolution's nifty controller.

Spider-Man 3 will almost certainly be a movie 'spin-off' from the in-production flick, due to hit cinemas next Summer. Sam Raimi directs, Tobey Maguire once again stars, and the main villain of the piece is the Green Goblin II. Sounds good to us. If it builds on the free-form mechanics of Spider-Man 2, we could have another super superhero blast to warm the cockles. ...

News from Divineo China

MAX Media Player turns your Nintendo DS into a powerful home entertainment device, with movie playback, music on the move and a convenient picture viewer. Make sure to not miss on it by reserving yours now (first batch will be limited quantities)!

Heres more info:



MAX Media Player turns your Nintendo DS into a powerful home entertainment device, with movie playback, music on the move and a convenient picture viewer.

At the heart of MAX Media Player for DS is Datel’s exclusive MAX Media Player. Just insert the cartridge into your DS’s game slot, and boot up our fully featured browser. From here, you can play your MP3 audio tracks, watch videos and view your JPEGs on your DS’s screen.

MAX Media Player for DS comes supplied with a 4GB hard drive unit, which you plug into your DS’sGBA cartridge slot. It draws its power directly from the DS – no additional batteries are needed. And 4GB is a lot of storage space. Enough, in fact, for up to ten full-length movies. Or over a thousand music tracks. Or thousands of digital pictures.

First of all, you connect your MAX Media Player HDD unit to your PC with the USB cable supplied. Open the Media Manager PC application (also supplied), and use it to transfer your media to the 4GB hard drive. It’s easy – the PC application even converts movies to a format your MAX Media Player can understand, and resizes your digital images so they fit perfectly on the DS screen. Now you can kill time on that long journey by watching movies on the move or listening to your favourite sounds. You can take your digital holiday snaps round your granny’s or down the pub without printing them out too! ...

News from Divineo China

MAX Media Player turns your Nintendo DS into a powerful home entertainment device, with movie playback, music on the move and a convenient picture viewer. Make sure to not miss on it by reserving yours now (first batch will be limited quantities)!

Heres more info:



MAX Media Player turns your Nintendo DS into a powerful home entertainment device, with movie playback, music on the move and a convenient picture viewer.

At the heart of MAX Media Player for DS is Datel’s exclusive MAX Media Player. Just insert the cartridge into your DS’s game slot, and boot up our fully featured browser. From here, you can play your MP3 audio tracks, watch videos and view your JPEGs on your DS’s screen.

MAX Media Player for DS comes supplied with a 4GB hard drive unit, which you plug into your DS’sGBA cartridge slot. It draws its power directly from the DS – no additional batteries are needed. And 4GB is a lot of storage space. Enough, in fact, for up to ten full-length movies. Or over a thousand music tracks. Or thousands of digital pictures.

First of all, you connect your MAX Media Player HDD unit to your PC with the USB cable supplied. Open the Media Manager PC application (also supplied), and use it to transfer your media to the 4GB hard drive. It’s easy – the PC application even converts movies to a format your MAX Media Player can understand, and resizes your digital images so they fit perfectly on the DS screen. Now you can kill time on that long journey by watching movies on the move or listening to your favourite sounds. You can take your digital holiday snaps round your granny’s or down the pub without printing them out too! ...

Been a while since i did a review but i jumped at the chance of reviewing the Aluminium Charge Protection Case 3600 mAh , this is a case with a difference as it comes with a Battery included,

Heres an excerpt from the review:

Inside the case there was a moulded area with a soft finish to hold the PSP perfectly, One thing to note is to not push in too hard or it would be hard to get out. Once the PSP is inside the case you arent going to be able to play games on it, but for watching films it is just the ticket. The Lid acts like a Sun shield

Check out the full review here --> http://psp-news.dcemu.co.uk/aluminiu...e-review.shtml

Thanks to Lik Sang for the review sample.

If you have a PSP Hardware or PSP Game or UMD Movie Review then post in our Review forum here --> http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=86 ...

Well, I have been busy for more than couple of month now (Still busy now).

Not much time for (Windows and PSP coding) and playing (sad....).

I will be leaving the great PSP scene for a while ........ (I am flying to other country for my work)

By the time I can back, I will release something great and interesting


BTW:
Bye Bye and Thank Admin, mod and everyone ...