PS2 Exploit Allows Running of Unsigned Code

DrEldarion writes "This man has figured out a way to make the PS2 run unsigned code without a modchip. "To make a long story short, the exploit allows anyone with a memory card and a valid, legal PS1 disc to hijack the boot process and run any piece of code.""

Comments

That's not the point

[danaris]

If I can get my American PS2 to run Japanese PS2 games without having to pay $100 and do a lot of fiddly soldering, that's worth it. I don't know how much it would actually cost to get a memory card reader, since I don't have one, but I doubt one would have to pay $200.

Dan Aris

Re:Great news!

[tprime]

I don't think that the people who just buy xboxes to "hurt" microsoft really understand what they are doing. In the short term, YES, you are costing Microsoft money on their per console loss. In the long term, you are helping them.

For instance, 1,000,000 MS haters buy xboxes with the hopes of making a serious dent in the $60 billion (yes with nine zeros) cash reserve that Microsoft holds. In the mean time, Microsoft is able to report to the software vendors that they have those 1,000,000 extra xboxes out there. Vendors see the large numbers and make more games to support the xbox. In turn, the xbox software library grows and so does its legit customer base. I know the 1,000,000 xboxes for the MS haters is an exaggeration, but hopefully you will get my point.

Repeat after me: LEGAL IMPORTS

[danaris]

As I've mentioned a couple of times before in this thread, I want to use this (and was planning to get a modchip) to play games I have legally imported from Japan. I know that many people won't believe me, and that, unfortunately, that won't be the primary use of this exploit, but I know of no law that prohibits running region-locked games out of their region. I realize that it's possible the DMCA covers this, but if so, it really shouldn't. I paid for the PS2, I paid for the game, so why the heck shouldn't I be able to run it?

If this can really work (I haven't gotten the guy's code to compile, see one of my posts, above), it would be really great. I could use a $30 memory card reader/writer to let me play imported games, rather than a $100 modchip kit, which I would have to solder onto the PS2's motherboard. And those things look extremely fiddly.

So, yes, there is at least one legitimate use. And the point of our opposition to the DMCA is not (at least not for anyone who would have any chance against it) "so I can keep pirating stuff." My argument against it is that it probably will allow Sony to sue anyone who uses this hack, whatever purpose they put it to. It stops you from using certain devices or processes because they could be used for piracy or copyright infringement, even if you would truly, honestly, never use them for that purpose.

Dan Aris