Check-in: what's up with hacking Xbox 360?

That's the question, isn't it: what exactly is up with hacking Microsoft's hack-proof Xbox 360 console? Thing hasn't even been out a month and a half, but we want some answers as to where we stand, and Joystiq's got 'em. In short, we can rip games from 360-encrypted DVDs (that came first), and the system can in fact be booted from custom discs (no huge surprise there, when you think about it), but can untrusted code be executed in the system, enabling homebrew and pirated games? No, not yet. But make no mistake about it, there are hundreds, if not thousands, hard at work on the very same -- and apparently you can already rip and run Hexic from a PC. Keep an eye on our pals at Joystiq and Xbox 360 Fanboy for more in time. Us? We'll check back with you soon when the gettin's a little better.

[Meathooks @ Jan 2nd 2006 6:47PM]

I've already hacked the and ripped the Xbox 360 to produce a social life. Next I'm going to rip and run a program that increases my strength and endurance, yet reduces body fat.

[Jennifer Kind @ Jan 2nd 2006 6:48PM]

Wow , reminds me of the old BBS days.

[Mike @ Jan 2nd 2006 7:36PM]

I miss those BBS days! When hacking a local PBX was the discussion on the message boards. Anyway thanks for the post I can't wait to play Sonic the Hedgehog on my 360! :-P

[Hoss @ Jan 2nd 2006 8:00PM]

Hexic? I haven't heard of this, but I do know you can play quake2 on the quake 4 demo disk.

[happy sam @ Jan 2nd 2006 8:45PM]

crazy, I have heard nought good about the 360

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http://hotcelebfemales.blogspot.com

[Michelle @ Jan 2nd 2006 11:43PM]

Gotta love when things get hacked! Sounds like a common occurrence lately with the whole Window Live Mail hack so that anyone can test it without being invited.



http://blog.cyberwags.com/2006/01/01/how-to-join-windows-live-mail-beta-without-an-invite/



-Michelle

[ET @ Jan 3rd 2006 12:00AM]

Michelle, your link is dead.



Anyhow, read about it here. I, for one, could *not* get this to work, and it appears to be dead...so YMMV...



http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=22&threadid=563163

[Michelle @ Jan 3rd 2006 12:52AM]

It works it appears the formatting of the link by the Engadget comment engine through a line-break in the end of the link. This should fix that:



http://blog.cyberwags.com/2006/01/01/how-to-join-windows-live-mail-beta-without-an-invite/

[Maksym @ Jan 3rd 2006 1:50AM]

On an unrelated note, it's interesting that the word fuck is edited out on the Engadget picture but not on the Joystiq one...

[Jason @ Jan 3rd 2006 3:08AM]

9 and 4, the Xbox360 being hacked is a GOOD thing. It's why I liked my Xbox more than any other console last generation. I used the excellent emulators and homebrew apps developed by the dedicated community to turn my Xbox into every classic console ever made and a media center PC (with a 120gb hdd slapped in there). I connected the Box to my home network and streamed video and audio to it. I know that the 360 may have alot of that functionality out of the box this time, but mods mean that I get to do it on MY terms, not MS'. In fact, if the 360 is ever hacked to the degree that the original Xbox was, it will be a huge selling point for the system. In fact, the whole reason that my brother bought an Xbox was because its hackability (i just invented a word, i think).

[X emu @ Jan 3rd 2006 3:13AM]

when they figure out how to boot game backups on the 360 I will go and buy one.

[Daniel @ Jan 3rd 2006 3:38AM]

The 360 DVDs aren't encrypted at all. As I understand it, they just have a standard empty video DVD section at the starts that tricks PC DVD drives into thinking that is all that it on the disk. Also the layer breakpoints are different from that of standard DVDs. This is why the hotswapping technique works to rip 360 games.

[russdogg @ Jan 3rd 2006 3:46AM]

The instant - and I mean instant - this is reasonably cracked, China will start mass producing bootleg discs ASAP.

[Philipp Eigenmann @ Jan 3rd 2006 3:46AM]

I hope they manage to unlock the "upsampling" feature for SD DVDs to HD DVD... I really miss that one and was disapointed when I heard that they wouldn't integrate it into the final console...

[dash488 @ Jan 3rd 2006 3:49AM]

If you make it.



They will hack it.

[mike @ Jan 3rd 2006 6:28AM]

Gotta love when things get hacked!



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especially when there have only been about a million of these things sold.. compared to about 25 mil secure virus-proof Macs. (old Macs had some viruses)



Security through Obscurity, hmm Bill? Care to explain yourself Bill?

[Andy K. @ Jan 3rd 2006 6:54AM]

Bunnie just made some comments guys, be sure to check those out ;)

[seb james @ Jan 3rd 2006 7:39AM]

so, is the PS3 going to be hackable?theres gotta be a load of people working on that!

[Mephistophelian @ Jan 3rd 2006 7:52AM]

360 hacked to run OS X and I'll buy one.

[Chakaaaj @ Jan 3rd 2006 7:54AM]

Kewel.



I lova PS#3 an eet weel rok Crabbox buttah!

[Chakaaaj @ Jan 3rd 2006 7:54AM]

Kewel.



I lova PS#3 an eet weel rok Crabbox buttah!

[Rick Bowman @ Jan 3rd 2006 10:03AM]

Mike - ever hack the C-64? Good ole M.U.L.E., lol

[Squinoogle @ Jan 3rd 2006 11:01AM]

I'd be overjoyed if MS would let you download demos and burn them on a CD... I'm not paying �70 for a tiny hard drive to do what we *know* you can do with a 2p CD�R (ok, ok, I *will* be buying one... when stock arrives).

[A2 @ Jan 3rd 2006 11:26AM]

Well the XBOX 360 has been pulled back by Microst from retail suppliers and Microsoft is in the mits of repairing all the consoles. If Microsoft hears about the hacking that has been going around because of the 360 than the chance is he may not send the 360 back to retail suppliers until this gets resolved or they will recall all the consoles and forget that the XBOX 360 ever appeared. It is very sad because I have XBOX not the 360 but the original, I don't understand why the XBOX 360 came out. A waste of time and money although it is a pretty sweet system.

[Justin @ Jan 3rd 2006 12:40PM]

A2: I declare bullshit. Microsoft isn't going to "forget the 360 ever appeared" regardless of any hacks done to the system.

[360 Hacks @ Jan 3rd 2006 4:27PM]

Hacks and cracks are a good thing...

[Dr Martini @ Jan 29th 2006 7:49PM]

I want to know if you can upload full games to the 20gb hd or movies...can they be rippped to the HD?