Recently, Microsoft slammed Xbox 360 hackers with a rather sketchily-defined patch. Although the measure promises to simply fix certain, unnamed “online issues,” instead it completely disables any attempt to establish a secondary or alternative operating system, the key ingredient for downloading mods. The rather sneaky move by Microsoft has some gamers, especially those who have modded an Xbox in the past, wondering if it’s a wise move.
Why wouldn’t it be?
Quite simply, the consoles that have been the most “hackable” – the Xbox and PlayStation 2 – gained the bulk of momentum through the last generation of consoles. On the opposite end, Nintendo’s relatively unpopular N64 and Gamecube systems – considered generally unhackable – have sold poorly, by comparison.
The ability to install a secondary media center on Microsoft’s last Xbox made it very appealing to even casual modders, with the result being gamers buying the console, hacking it, and then downloading pirated versions of the system’s titles.
So, who gets hurt?
Primarily, the software companies. Microsoft and Sony, the hardware makers, don’t feel the burn quite so much from modding. In fact, as most consoles reach the age of six months, they’re being produced cheaply enough to ensure manufacturers a tidy profit.
Clearly, software is still important to Sony and Microsoft. Both companies have their own game studios furiously working on critical exclusive hits, such as Microsoft Game Studios’ Viva Pinata or Forza Motorsport series.
However, for these companies the real, driving profits still come from hardware. In the last year, Microsoft has largely credited the popularity of the Xbox 360 for its surging entertainment profits.
Finally, there’s also no reason to believe that those with a modded Xbox, PS2, or Xbox 360 won’t ever purchase their games. When it comes to the truly impressive titles – such as Gears or God of War – gamers are often willing to shell out the money for a legitimate copy. In addition, because Microsoft has made Xbox Live impossible for hackers to connect to, some players have opted to purchase second editions of the console for online multiplay. But, is that possible when the hardware costs $400 or more?
It might just boil down to the same sentiment espoused by movie hackers. When game studios pump out stuff worth $60 or more, we’ll pay. But, for now attempts to curtail the hacker population are, quite ironically, only going to hurt the gaming industry.
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