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New GameCube Network Loader Runs Homebrew Games

An anonymous reader submits: "Cube Hacker is reporting that a new network loader has been released which allows you to execute retail code by exploiting a known bug in Sega's online game, Phantasy Star Online. Obviously piracy is not condoned but this certainly opens the door for future home-brew development! Linux on GameCube anyone?" Update: 10/13 23:33 GMT by S : Previous update removed, due to it only referencing retail titles.

296 comments

  1. deja vu by PoPRawkZ · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    what if you could exploit x-box in this manner? imagine a beowulf cluster of these things!

    --
    peace,
    -Grokent
  2. Re:FURST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh yes, your parents must be proud.

  3. Not explained well... by Doomrat · · Score: 2

    I don't get it. Does this mean that you can now execute non-official code on a Gamecube? The Slashdot post doesn't really explain it properly, and the linked site is intended for people who knew what this all means in the first place. I'm sacrificing myself here so that other people don't have to look stupid too.

    1. Re:Not explained well... by t0ny · · Score: 1, Troll
      Dont worry, asking for clarification is something that is almost necessary.

      Anyway, I have a question about one of the statements made-

      Obviously piracy is not condoned but this certainly opens the door for future home-brew development! Linux on GameCube anyone?

      So, you are cheering the circumvention of anti-piracy protection by *claiming* you want to spread Linux to the gamecube. Seems like one of those "wink wink nudge nudge" statement I make about *trying* games out on my GBA emulator.

      That attitude is exactly why so many legitimate and possibly interesting projects are getting attacked- claiming to support freedom when what you really like is theft and lawlessness.

      I dont see that 'hacking' the GameCube is going to help anybody except for people wanting to pirate GC games. Homebrew projects? Dont make me laugh.

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    2. Re:Not explained well... by jjhlk · · Score: 1

      I'd love to work on a homebrew gamecube project! I'm considering getting a gamecube for non-pc games (something more relaxing, fun, and stable hopefully), and for C++ developement. I'm 1 in 1,000,000 on that though.

    3. Re:Not explained well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Homebrew projects? Dont make me laugh.

      Do you have any idea how many homebrew games are available for, say, the Sega Dreamcast?

    4. Re:Not explained well... by L-Train8 · · Score: 5, Informative

      A while back, someone hacked the GameCube disc format. They found a way to get the raw data off of GameCube discs. This data then could be posted to the internet or saved on your computer hard drive. However, that was a pretty useless trick, piracy-wise. You couldn't burn that data to a blank CD and put it into a GameCube and play your pirated games. GameCube discs are custom sized. You can't get a spindle of GCD's at CompUSA, and conventional burning software wouldn't write to it properly if you did. So it was a neat mental excercise, but with no practical applications.

      Until now. Now these guys have hacked the GameCube broadband adapter. These adapters are hard to find, and currently the only game that supprots them is Phantasy Star Online (although the new version of Mario Cart coming soon will support it, and they should make more broadband adapters available for that). So now, you can load a game over the GameCube broadband adapter.

      Those GameCube discs you previously could rip to your computer, now you can load them to your GameCube over the broadband adapter. That opens the door for piracy pretty wide. It also opens the door for you to load just about any code you want to the GameCube, hence the remarks about a Linux version for the console. So now it is possible to play pirated games our custom software on the cube. It is still a pretty involved and difficult process, involving hard-to-find hardware and requiring a lot of technical know-how, but it is possible.

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    5. Re:Not explained well... by L-Train8 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Here's the link to the article about breaking the GameCube disc format:
      http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid= 03/06/16/ 119233&tid=213

      --

      Don't forget that Friday is Hawaiian shirt day.
    6. Re:Not explained well... by Izago909 · · Score: 1

      That attitude is exactly why so many legitimate and possibly interesting projects are getting attacked- claiming to support freedom when what you really like is theft and lawlessness.

      I think they stated this perfectly. By saying piracy is not condoned they admitt that there will be peope who will use it for illegal means, but they don't support it as well as there being legitimate reasons to use the hack. By the other side of the coin, if they say something like they support piracy they open themselves to possible criminal or civil charges. Either way they will inspire statements like yours. A $99 computer that runs linux with network access could be valuable to many people. The thing about being a consumer is that people feel like they should be the one who decides what to do with their investment. If these people didn't publish the hack, someone else would have, it's only a matter of time. That's why you should be upset with pirates and not the hackers. They are the ones breaking the law.

    7. Re:Not explained well... by Qzukk · · Score: 2, Interesting

      So, you are cheering the circumvention of anti-piracy protection by *claiming* you want to spread Linux to the gamecube. Seems like one of those "wink wink nudge nudge" statement I make about *trying* games out on my GBA emulator.

      You are aware that there is a steadily growing number of homebrew dreamcast games, being that its the only other easily "hacked" modern-ish console.

      Not only that, but loaders like these allow those of us who look forward to games which will never be released in the US or who want to get their hands on them early play them without voiding warranties or paying twice as much for a second copy of essentially the same hardware, only with the "Japan" bit set instead of "US". And don't come whining to me about the copyright holders wishes to keep sales in a certain region. As a godless money-grubbing company they have no right or grounds to refuse my money, especially since the cost of a game in Japan tends to be much higher than games here.

      Will people abuse the hack? Of course. People abuse paint thinner, glue, and many other things that when used properly benefit us all. You don't see people demanding that those of us who use them for their intended purpose give them up, though. Meanwhile I'll continue to use my DC bootloader to play Napple Tale, which I purchased in Japan legally.

      --
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    8. Re:Not explained well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am not that poster, but I think that their main point is similar to the p2p issue, while it does have ligament uses it is unfortunately used for non-ligament purposes.

      I know that there is a lot of dreamcast homebrew stuff, and it gets lot of people are interested in programming for the dreamcast. Unfortunately, like the original poster I share my doubts that a majority of people will use this developments for homebrew and not to warze games.

    9. Re:Not explained well... by C. · · Score: 1
      I dont see that 'hacking' the GameCube is going to help anybody except for people wanting to pirate GC games. Homebrew projects? Dont make me laugh.

      I have to disagree - there's plenty of perfectly legal startups (mine for one) that rely on some level of reverse-engineering to improve on something that already exists. That was going on everywhere in the world for all products until software came along, executives wanted to increase sales, and started to include DRM in the products. For as long as executable code is expected to run on a computer, you can't expect the code to be safe from being copied.

      Piracy is indeed a problem, but it must be addressed by giving an incentive to buy rather than putting fragile padlocks on it.

      As for the Gamecube, it is an extremely good product by itself. Let people program for it, and you'll be sure to get very good suprises coming out of that.

      Christian.
      Aibotoys Aibo Games
      --
      C.
    10. Re:Not explained well... by Electrum · · Score: 1

      Seems like one of those "wink wink nudge nudge" statement I make about *trying* games out on my GBA emulator.

      That may be true for you, but it isn't true for everyone. I've actually written several programs for the Game Boy Color using emulators and the Bung XChanger and flash carts. I also wrote my own assembler and linker for the GBC.

      Just because tools can be used for piracy doesn't mean everyone uses them that way. Writing programs and development tools for limited consoles can be a lot of fun and a great learning experience.

    11. Re:Not explained well... by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 2, Informative

      Not only that, but loaders like these allow those of us who look forward to games which will never be released in the US or who want to get their hands on them early play them without voiding warranties or paying twice as much for a second copy of essentially the same hardware, only with the "Japan" bit set instead of "US".

      Freeloader- nice little boot disc that allows a US Gamecube to play Japanese games, and without requiring any modifications or (as far as I can tell) voiding your warranty. Much better than trying to shoehorn code onto the Cube via a bug.

    12. Re:Not explained well... by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

      Damn dude, are you trying to break a record for troll/flamebait mods today?

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      There is a war going on for your mind.
    13. Re:Not explained well... by aliens · · Score: 1

      The new mariocart supports hooking up to anther cube. Just for anyone who is reading. It does not enable netplay.

      --
      -- taking over the world, we are.
    14. Re:Not explained well... by _xeno_ · · Score: 2, Informative
      GameCube discs are custom sized.

      Actually, they aren't. They're 80mm DVDs, which is a standard size. While I couldn't find any at CompUSA, the media is a standard format. You can place a GameCube disc into your PS2, if you really want to. Pop open your CD-ROM drive. Look at the smaller circle groove. That's for 80mm discs. A GameCube disc will fit nicely in there. I haven't actually tried reading one through a DVD drive, but it will fit.

      [C]onventional burning software wouldn't write [a GameCube game] properly if you did.

      This is probably true. As far as I know, they do something screwy to the way tracks are written so that while conventional DVD pressing facilities can handle the GameCube games, a DVD-R/+R can't write them. But I could be wrong, I don't really know and don't have any urge to find out. But the size of the disc is a standard size, there's nothing "custom" about the small discs.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    15. Re:Not explained well... by Dr+Reducto · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I think the DVD-R's for camcorder fit in the GC. I don't have a GC, or one of the camcorders, but it's an idea.

    16. Re:Not explained well... by Trejkaz · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Shitty. So 8 player gameplay, but really isn't that much better since fitting 8 people in a single loungeroom is pretty bloody cramped.

      What I always thought would be neat would be transporting these 'link cable'-like protocols over IP, so you could get free net access for things like trading Pokemon or playing those games which you just can't rally up enough people to play normally (like Mario Party, that's screaming for it.) There's a hack someone should work on. Hook a PC up to the serial out and figure out the protocol.

      --
      Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
    17. Re:Not explained well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not like you all need to be TOGETHER. Just within 1 hop. Wireless router with TVs out in the garage/neighbors, or just run cable throughout your house...

    18. Re:Not explained well... by spitzak · · Score: 1

      How come the games, which expect to be running off the CD, work when there is no CD? I would think that even if they did not try to prevent this, there would be plenty of calls to the system that would act different because there is no CD in the drive and the game does not work.

    19. Re:Not explained well... by Kashif+Shaikh · · Score: 1

      What if a game needs to stream data from CD(i.e. music,speech, etc)? I mean, unless you change the game intstructions to load data from the network, I don't see how you can load 1.5GB "into" a Gamecube with limited memory.

    20. Re:Not explained well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i'm not a coward, just at work killing time. anyway, i read something a while back about a cd-rom drive that attatches to the cube so that the data can be on a 5-inch disc. those nice people in hong kong again.

    21. Re:Not explained well... by shadowcabbit · · Score: 1

      Putting a GC mini-disc into anything that is not a GameCube will do absolutely nothing. The disc refuses to load. It would be neat to have an audio track warning, similar to many PS1, Saturn, or Dreamcast discs (the audio track as well as a PC-readable track actually were mandatory parts of the DC's GD-ROM spec and some discs had some pretty neat extras or funny sound). The XBox DVDs have a brief, uniform "this disc is an XBox game, go buy an XBox" message when placed in a DVD player.

      Oh, and FYI, putting an 80mm audio CD-R in a GameCube also does nothing. The GC refuses to read it.

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    22. Re:Not explained well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The word you are looking for is 'off' not 'of'.

    23. Re:Not explained well... by t0ny · · Score: 1

      Nah, Im just in a crappy mood.

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      Manipulate the moderator system! Mod someone as "overrated" today.

    24. Re:Not explained well... by t0ny · · Score: 1
      But see, here is the problem: the GameCube is made to play GameCube games. If you want something more flexible, go buy a computer; it should be quite easy to buy something with the equivalent power of a GC for $100.

      Second, if your goal is to develop games for the GC (or the PS2, or the XBox, or the GBA, or whatever), there is a developer's kit for that purpose. But I really dont see a 'developer' booting up a GC rigged to a LAN and using a buffer overflow in FSO in order to test out their game.

      But it seems like exactly the hurdle a person would go thru in order to play a pirated GC game. In fact, the linked article in the additional note specifically tells how to load up a dump of Animal Crossing.

      So you can talk about higher ideals, but from its very inception it is just being used to pirate games.

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      Manipulate the moderator system! Mod someone as "overrated" today.

    25. Re:Not explained well... by Tha_Zanthrax · · Score: 1

      about the 80mm disc:
      just burn the game to a regular writeable DVD and cut the GC's box to fit the discs.

      and I can recall a rip-off GC by pioneer (?) which could also play regular sized DVD's due to it's size.

    26. Re:Not explained well... by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 1

      Oh, and FYI, putting an 80mm audio CD-R in a GameCube also does nothing. The GC refuses to read it.

      This is because the GC's discs have their 'tracks' starting at the outer edge of the disc, rather than the inner edge of the disc (the way every other optical disc is done). Even if you filled an 80mm disc (so that the outer tracks were written), the wrong data would be at the outside edge of the disc, so it wouldn't be able to read it.

      If someone does find a way to write 80mm discs with standard hardware that work in the Cube, it will most likely involve creating a disc image that is completely full, yet has the TOC data on the outer edge of the disc, and empty space on the inner edge of the disc to fill it (unless the game itself takes up the entire disc).

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]
    27. Re:Not explained well... by digitalsushi · · Score: 1

      my friends and i have each reserved kart for november, and when it comes out, we're going to install openvpn on each of our linux nat/router boxes and do an ethernet bridge type thing -- it will pipe all the broadcast traffic and such across a virtual link, and we'll actually see each other's remote machines in the arp table. hopefully our cubes will talk to each other. fortunately we're on the same isp so the latency shouldnt be much higher than if we were in the same room.

      --
      slashdot: where everyone yells sarcastic metaphors to themselves to understand the issue
    28. Re:Not explained well... by Caffeine+Pill · · Score: 1

      It's not for the gamecube, but I recently found out about xbconnect for the xbox. Came out prior to Live. Basicly it installs on a computer and makes that computer look like an Xbox - then your xbox (on the same network) recognizes your computer. The app includes chatrooms and buddy lists to set up games. Once you set up a game (on your PC) the app tunnels the packets to the other players - so you can play any games that support game link (multiple consoles in one building) over the internet.

      Long reponse, but basicly what I'm saying is that if it's been done for the XBox then surely it could be done for the Gamecube.

    29. Re:Not explained well... by calethix · · Score: 1

      "These adapters are hard to find, and currently the only game that supprots them is Phantasy Star Online (although the new version of Mario Cart coming soon will support it, and they should make more broadband adapters available for that)"

      I thought you were full of it until I tried to find one online. I've seen them at my local Walmart in the past and assumed they wouldn't be too hard to find.
      Doesn't really matter to me though unless someone comes up with a hack to play Mario Kart across the internet. I don't have too many friends to begin with, let alone ones that have a GC and would want to lug it + a TV over to my house.
      P.S. I did finally find one online at amazon

    30. Re:Not explained well... by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      just burn the game to a regular writeable DVD and cut the GC's box to fit the discs.

      I'll try and resist the urge to flame you here, and just say that this would be an incredibly stupid idea. You would ruin the box, and be no better off, as a normal Cube cannot read regular DVDs.

      and I can recall a rip-off GC by pioneer (?) which could also play regular sized DVD's due to it's size.

      It's made by Panasonic, not Pioneer, it's an official product, not a "rip-off", and it's known as the "Panasonic Q". Costs about 4-5x as much as a normal Cube, last I checked.

      Also, again, the size is not the only difference, as it has a Panasonic DVD player built in.

    31. Re:Not explained well... by Qzukk · · Score: 1

      nice little boot disc that allows a US Gamecube to play Japanese games

      Except that the Japanese companies are already learning how to deal with this. I forgot where, but I think there was an article on /. earlier where (I think it was a mario kart game, running without any kind of HUD) games were going to run crippled with Freeloader. Freeloader was a great idea, its just a shame that Nintendo is already trying to kill it, even though it has no piracy potential at all unlike modchips and this bug.

      --
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    32. Re:Not explained well... by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      Do you have a link to actual proof that this's going on? Just curious, because I haven't seen anything to indicate that Nintendo is trying to kill the Freeloader :)

      The only story I can find on Slashdot is this:

      http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/07/2 3/ 2326215&mode=flat&tid=127&tid=186&tid= 213

      Addressing a bug with F-Zero GX & the Freeloader disc, which I think is what you're talking about. As far as I know, that problem was solved by a new version of the Freeloader a month or two ago (and the US version of the game is out now).

      This comment here:

      http://games.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=72228& ci d=6517205

      Seems like a pretty good guess at what was going on, i'll try and find something more official if I can.

      The Freeloader's good, but not perfect, and it's not a good idea to immediately equate any of it's bugs with a crackdown by Nintendo.

    33. Re:Not explained well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's made by Panasonic, not Pioneer, it's an official product, not a "rip-off", and it's known as the "Panasonic Q". Costs about 4-5x as much as a normal Cube, last I checked.

      So estimating by the rate the GC price keeps falling, it should only be about 20 bucks by christmas!

      20 bucks for a DVD player... sweet!

    34. Re:Not explained well... by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      Yes, I realize you're just joking, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. If memory serves, it used to cost $300 a few years ago, now it's US $449. :P

    35. Re:Not explained well... by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      I don't see a CLOSED-SOURCE NINTENDO APPROVED developer booting up a GC rigged to a LAN. However, if you don't WANT to buy the $10,000 (I don't know the actual number) devkit, or you want to release open source software, you've got to make "signed" games, or get around the signing process.

    36. Re:Not explained well... by Trejkaz · · Score: 1

      Well of course. The difference there is XBox does all its networking over ethernet, so it's somewhat easier to program tunnels for.

      Try the same thing with GameCube's 'link cable', which probably won't be coming out the ethernet port. Unless they intend to sell a crossover cable for Mario Kart, which would just be dumb.

      --
      Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
    37. Re:Not explained well... by SmittyTheBold · · Score: 1

      That's why the only game mentioned is Animal Crossing. It's tiny, so it fits in the GCN's RAM. The game reads istelf off the disc when you play it normally, and never has to access the disc again - so there are no calls like what you're mentioning.

      A bigger game will not work with this method.

      --
      ± 29 dB
    38. Re:Not explained well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I found it a lot cheaper from nintendo themselves. http://store.nintendo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servle t/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&lan gId=-1&productId=13901&categoryId=14708

  4. Maxconsole by CrazyConsole · · Score: 5, Informative

    www.maxconsole.com has lots more information about this subject matter.

    1. Re:Maxconsole by CrazyConsole · · Score: 2, Informative

      http://www.maxconsole.com/?mode=comments&newsid=10 33 , this link will help you alot as will the whole of www.maxconsole.com , I honestly don't know why cubehacker was reported for this news , as it maxconsole was certainly the first to report of it and most informative.

  5. Slashdotted already! by ErMaC · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Holy cow, that's the fastest slashdotting ever! Less than 10 comments and the site's already gone.

    Take THAT! all you RTFA folks :)

    --
    "I want to get more into theory, because everything works in theory." -John Cash
    1. Re:Slashdotted already! by st0rmshadow · · Score: 2, Funny

      They're probably using a gamecube for a server

    2. Re:Slashdotted already! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...and need a beowulf cluster of them

  6. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by ZephyrTheBreeze · · Score: 1

    'Cause it's not Microsoft.

    --
    Jesus saves... the rest of you take 5d20 damage.
  7. Could someone translate what this does? by caferace · · Score: 1

    Granted, I know it's a n00b question. I looked at the Gamecube site and couldn't quite understand the gist of this. Anyone want to step up to the plate?

  8. Nintendo 64! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    VIVA EL NINTENDO 64!!!!

  9. That was fast.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fatal error: Call to undefined function: themeheader() in /www/c/cubehacker/htdocs/header.php on line 47

  10. Ummm... by Tyrdium · · Score: 1

    How would you do Linux on the Gamecube? It uses a smaller disc, so you can't just stick it on a CD-R (I don't know if the mini ones work). The only way I can see is through the broadband adapter or something. Does the Gamecube have any USB ports or the like? It'd be awesome to have a cluster of $100 computers, though... I'd love to see some benchmarks comparing them to other computers...

    1. Re:Ummm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      mini-cdr maybe?

    2. Re:Ummm... by thgreatoz · · Score: 1

      The Xbox has already been clustered. While it's not $99, it shows that modern consoles have more functionality than they're perhaps designed for.

      --
      When their numbers dwindled from 50 to 8, the dwarves began to suspect Hungry.
    3. Re:Ummm... by spyder913 · · Score: 1

      The Gamecube uses a mini-DVD format, so you might have trouble burning it.

      However, this article talks about using a glitch in the game Phantasy Star Online to load code off your computer.

    4. Re:Ummm... by asdfghjklqwertyuiop · · Score: 1

      How would you do Linux on the Gamecube? It uses a smaller disc, so you can't just stick it on a CD-R (I don't know if the mini ones work).

      The gamecube disc is a miniature DVD disc developed my Matsushita. I don't know exactly how proprietary it is or if there are DVD-Rs that small.

      Does the Gamecube have any USB ports or the like?

      No USB ports or any standard IO ports for that matter. Just the four controller ports on the front, and three expansion bays on the bottom.

      More info here.

      The controller ports are pretty capable though. They are used to send code to a gameboy advance when hooked up. When you play a GBA link capable game, you just get a link cable that runs from the GBA's link port to any controller port on the cube, and the GBA will display a 'please wait' screen and a few seconds later the game will be running on the GBA, no cartridge required.

    5. Re:Ummm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      The server's hosed, but you can still read the blurb on Slashdot. It's the first sentance of the paragraph your Linux comment refers to.
      "www.cubehacker.com is reporting that a new network loader has been released which allows you to execute retail code by exploiting a known bug in Sega's online game.
    6. Re:Ummm... by forevermore · · Score: 1
      I don't know exactly how proprietary it is or if there are DVD-Rs that small.

      don't know how if these would work, but it's easy enough to find mini DVD-R disks for sale.

      --
      Do you really need reason for beer? Wingman Brewers
    7. Re:Ummm... by tjohns · · Score: 1

      Actually, it would be next to impossible to burn, since GameCube discs actually spin backwards in the drive! When Nintendo designed the system, they did this explicitly to stop piracy. I think that the GC's disc format has probably been one of the major reasons why nobody has seen any attempts to port Linux to GameCube yet.

    8. Re:Ummm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that's a myth look it up...or better yet, just look at the disc spinning when its playing. you're like aristotle claiming women didn't have the same amount of teeth as men. he could have just counted. even you can do this.

    9. Re:Ummm... by avageek · · Score: 2, Informative
      Actually, it would be next to impossible to burn, since GameCube discs actually spin backwards in the drive!

      Arrhhhggg! when will this stupid myth die?!? Everyone, please do me a favor. Turn on your gamecube (well, assuming you own one) and then press the 'open' button....which way is the disc spinning? That's right! clockwise!

    10. Re:Ummm... by Hi_2k · · Score: 1

      The xbox is *NOT* a console. It is a off the shelf computer with a special bios and a dumbed down version of win2k. Its been proven many times. Microsofts official specs say so.

      --
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    11. Re:Ummm... by Trejkaz · · Score: 1

      You can actually buy mini-DVD blanks, and a quick google search pulls up a few sites where you could buy them from.

      Although... they list as 1.4Gb of data. Nintendo were quoting 1.5Gb for GameCube disks, so if that is true, coupled with the fact that the boot sector is stored at the opposite end compared to a usual DVD, you might have trouble. Unless of course, the disks overburn for the extra 0.1Gb.

      --
      Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
    12. Re:Ummm... by veritron · · Score: 0

      The NES is *NOT* a console. You can connect a keyboard and do word processing, programming, midi editing, and even connect a robot to it. Nintendo itself even says it's not a game console - it's called the "Nintendo Computer Entertainment System."

      You could argue that an Apple II is a console because you just put the floppy in, turn the machine on - and start playing the game. The only differences between consoles and computers are those of marketing and ease-of-use.

    13. Re:Ummm... by lucas+teh+geek · · Score: 1

      and a dumbed down version of win2k. *cough*bullshit*cough* if that were so, we'd see people running windows apps on their chipped xbox

      --
      TIAEAE!
    14. Re:Ummm... by Stormwatch · · Score: 1

      Well, duh! What is a game console, other than a game-dedicated computer?

    15. Re:Ummm... by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Umm, AFAIK, it IS a dumbed down version of Win2K, but dumbed down to the point that it only runs XBox-only DirectX apps. And yes, you DO see people running Windows apps on their chipped XBoxes - the same way you see people running Linux apps on their chipped XBoxes - by installing the appropriate OS.

    16. Re:Ummm... by lucas+teh+geek · · Score: 1

      Umm, AFAIK, it IS a dumbed down version of Win2K, but dumbed down to the point that it only runs XBox-only DirectX apps. Oh! I see, dumbed down to the point where its no longer anything even resembling win2k. just like cardboard box is a dumbed down version of a house

      --
      TIAEAE!
  11. The loader obviously doesn't cover something.... by gtaluvit · · Score: 1

    ...Loading their PHP libs.

    Fatal error: Call to undefined function: themeheader() in /www/c/cubehacker/htdocs/header.php on line 47

    --
    - gtaluvit (prnc. GOT-tuh-LUV-it)
  12. Copy Protection by rf0 · · Score: 0, Interesting

    Article is /. but one thing worthy of note is that the copy protection on Gamecube also involves spinning the CD the wrong way round. To make a Linux distro you are going to need a very special CD burner

    Rus

    1. Re:Copy Protection by wahay · · Score: 1

      mod this down. this is not true. the disks merely don't have an iso filesystem....don't fall for the rumors.

    2. Re:Copy Protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Article is /. but one thing worthy of note is that the copy protection on Gamecube also involves spinning the CD the wrong way round. To make a Linux distro you are going to need a very special CD burner.

      I thought the reverse spin was a myth? Can someone post a link to a site that verifies this either way?

    3. Re:Copy Protection by NTmatter · · Score: 1

      It might be fairly trivial to write a simple program that reverses the order of bits in an iso image. Perhaps someone will hack up xcdroast or the like.

    4. Re:Copy Protection by neafevoc · · Score: 2, Informative

      Article is /. but one thing worthy of note is that the copy protection on Gamecube also involves spinning the CD the wrong way round. To make a Linux distro you are going to need a very special CD burner

      I thought it spun normally, but instead the laser reads from outside to inside and not inside to outside?

    5. Re:Copy Protection by asdfghjklqwertyuiop · · Score: 1

      Article is /. but one thing worthy of note is that the copy protection on Gamecube also involves spinning the CD the wrong way round. To make a Linux distro you are going to need a very special CD burner.

      I own a gamecube. I just popped open the lid and checked. The disc spins clockwise. I don't know if that is what you define to be "the wrong way around"...

    6. Re:Copy Protection by FauxReal · · Score: 3, Funny

      Article is /. but one thing worthy of note is that the copy protection on Gamecube also involves spinning the CD the wrong way round. To make a Linux distro you are going to need a very special CD burner.

      ...I own a gamecube. I just popped open the lid and checked. The disc spins clockwise. I don't know if that is what you define to be "the wrong way around"...

      Maybe it spins in different directions depending on what hemisphere you live in, kinda like water down the drain.

    7. Re:Copy Protection by kulpinator · · Score: 1

      This is not the issue. The CD has a spiral track, which would have an opposite orientation to the normal one (IF the CD spins "wrong way round"); the laser would continuously be crossing the spiral track. Unless, of course, you start at the outside and go inward, as is mentioned in another post.

      Note that I don't know anything about the Gamecube or its format; just noting that reversing the bits isn't going to help, assuming it has an ISO fs in the first place.

      --
      Karma: Positive (mostly due to rash moderations)
    8. Re:Copy Protection by Tumbleweed · · Score: 1

      Quick, call someone in Australia and have them check their GameCube, and their neighbor's, too. Call collect.

    9. Re:Copy Protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, if it were true that GCs use the kind of copy protection (which it apparently isn't), this wouldn't work anyway.

      The data on CDs is laid out in a spiral. Think about a vinyl record (remeber those?). If you spin the disc the wrong way, then try to move the read head in towards the centre, it will be crossing the groove instead of following it.

    10. Re:Copy Protection by MisterFancypants · · Score: 3, Informative
      Article is /. but one thing worthy of note is that the copy protection on Gamecube also involves spinning the CD the wrong way round. To make a Linux distro you are going to need a very special CD burner

      The entire point of the system being discussed here is that it bypasses any need for using the special GameCube formatted discs. The system in question uses an exploit someone found in Phantasy Star Online (a networkable GameCube game) to download executable code over a network. Someone exploited this to make a loader which will stream in game data over a network from some other system, such as a PC. The only disc that will be in your GameCube is an original copy of Phantasy Star Online, everything else will be streamed in from the other networked system, whether it be a Linux distro or warezed GameCube games.

    11. Re:Copy Protection by Jahf · · Score: 1

      From what others are saying, the disc spins the proper direction but reads from the outside-in. So, a reversal of bits + proper padding algorithm may just work.

      However, reading the articles it also seems like what the hack involves is a buffer overload which allows you to load games via ethernet, so the whole mess of CD issues appears to be avoided entirely by this hack.

      --
      It is more productive to voice thoughtful opinions (reply) than to judge (moderate) others.
    12. Re:Copy Protection by stratjakt · · Score: 1

      It's neither.

      It spins normally, is read normally. It's even has full sized sled for the laser, the only thing seemingly preventing a full sized disc from being read is the plastic tray. I'd say one day, if we see a modchip, we'll see a replacement plastic top as well.

      People said the same things (backwards spin, inside-out read) about Dreamcast, PS2 and Xbox.

      Think of it - Nintendo would have to rebuild the entire infrastructure for pressing discs just to make a backwards spinning or inside out disc.

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    13. Re:Copy Protection by kulpinator · · Score: 1

      You're right, naturally. My puny brain is unfortunately incapable of adding two and two. I was thinking of only one issue at a time.

      however --

      I have an unfounded inkling that it would be almost as hard to get a CD laser to track backwards as it would be to get the CD to spin backwards (provided, again, that this is true). At least from what piddling things I know about CDs.

      that's even less than two cents woth

      --
      Karma: Positive (mostly due to rash moderations)
    14. Re:Copy Protection by asdfghjklqwertyuiop · · Score: 1

      Maybe it spins in different directions depending on what hemisphere you live in, kinda like water down the drain

      lol... well I live in the northern hemisphere, now if someone from the southern checks in...

    15. Re:Copy Protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Just in case... water spins differently based on the container it's in, NOT the hemisphere! The force from the coriolas (sic) effect on small amounts of water is almost nothing.

    16. Re:Copy Protection by rifter · · Score: 1

      Article is /. but one thing worthy of note is that the copy protection on Gamecube also involves spinning the CD the wrong way round. To make a Linux distro you are going to need a very special CD burner

      Rus

      Or you could take your Gamecube to Australia! :)

    17. Re:Copy Protection by Jahf · · Score: 1

      But as long as the laser is tracking the same distance at the same speed, it wouldn't matter. Reverse your bits and then pad enough to the beginning (of a regular CD, "end" of a GC CD) of the disc so that the last bit you write (again, on a regular CD) is in the same position as the first bit of a GC CD. In theory at least.

      --
      It is more productive to voice thoughtful opinions (reply) than to judge (moderate) others.
    18. Re:Copy Protection by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      "The disc spins clockwise. I don't know if that is what you define to be "the wrong way around"..."

      Damn you sinister lefties! Everybody knows that the right-hand coordinate system is the One True Coordinate System! Stop trying to confuse us with your clockwise rotations!

      Of course, I suppose the laser sees a counterclockwise rotation from its POV... my head hurts!

    19. Re:Copy Protection by kulpinator · · Score: 1

      Sorry, I had to draw a picture to help me think. :-D You are right of course. I forgot again that spinning the disc backward AND reading it inside out is "the same" as going "forward" both ways and inverting data order.

      See ya. I'm going out to buy a brain.

      --
      Karma: Positive (mostly due to rash moderations)
    20. Re:Copy Protection by Rolman · · Score: 1

      Making warez LAN GCN games is going to be difficult to say the least, since they require a hack that enables all DVD drive calls to be fed through the LAN. This will break many games that rely on fast and constant access of the drive.

      It's not impossible to hack all games like this, but it's surely difficult. Games like Animal Crossing and applications like the Action Replay are easy to do because they fit nicely into the GCN's memory and don't ever need additional loading from the disc, but there are drive-intensive games like Eternal Darkness which load models, textures, sound samples and everything to memory while streaming sound from the drive, all at the same time.

      The best thing about this is that we can have homebrew development without having piracy easy enough to be widespread. I hate when us console hackers get mistaken as regular warez kiddies.

      --
      - Otaku no naka no otaku, otaking da!!!
    21. Re:Copy Protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wrong. Think of a spiral spinning out. Then think of a spiral spinning in. It doesn't work. Your theory works if you use concentric rings like a hard drive. But it doesn't work for a spiral track like a CD.

    22. Re:Copy Protection by keith.bronstrup.com · · Score: 0

      I could mod a reader and burner for about $3 a piece with some wire and a 2-channel dipole slide switch.

      Clip the wires to the motor that spins the disc. For this example, we'll assume that they are red and white. The switch will have 6 leads on it, one pair for the input (wires from the board), and two for the output.

      Connect the wires to the middle pair - the input set. Be sure to connect red to one side and white to the other.

      Now, connect red-to-red and white-to-white on one of the remaining pairs.

      Finally, connect red-to-white and white-to-red on the remaining pair.

      Modify the face plate of the drive to accomodate the switch

      If you do know absolutely understand everything in this post, do not attempt it. You run the risk of toasting your drive or wasting the $3 on the switch to hook it up to do absolutely nothing.

      Don't violate the DMCA by doing this in the US and then copying a Game Cube game. You can try to burn your backps and what-not in this manor with the disc spinning in reverse -- however, I have not tried this and do not know if the drive will be able to identify the CD-R media to burn to it if it is spinning in reverse. In fact, I don't think it will. You may be able to let the disc spin in the proper direction while the drive identifies it, then flip the switch before burning the disc. No guarantees -- again, I haven't tried this.

      Good luck to all. If you do this, let me know if it works. If you toast your drive or waste your time/money -- oh well, I'm telling you right now that's likely to happen, not my fault.

      --
      Error 666 - SCO source has been found in your Linux kernel. Please remove it.
      Formerly kdsolutions
    23. Re:Copy Protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For those from the US, we have a special machine that makes the cd spin the right way.

    24. Re:Copy Protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      annother ac already posted this, but here's the real deal on backwards spinnging. http://www.snopes.com/science/coriolis.htm

    25. Re:Copy Protection by Alsee · · Score: 1
      I hate when us console hackers get mistaken as regular warez kiddies.
      <humor>
      Exactly! Console hackers are ELITE warez kiddies!
      </humor>
      -
      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    26. Re:Copy Protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a myth that has been applied to every other console. First it was the PS/2, then the Xbox, and then the Gamecube.

      The consoles DO NOT spin the discs backwards! There is far too much expenditure involved in building all the neccessary non-standard spindle and lens motors.

      All they do is mess with the filesystem. The only reason it's taking so long to crack the Gamecube is because there are more people oohing and aahing over the PS/2 and the Xbox. Wether on technical merit or quality of games, it doesn't matter; there are far fewer people trying to break the GC's copy protection.

    27. Re:Copy Protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No point. The discs don't spin backwards. It's a lie.

    28. Re:Copy Protection by Mr_Silver · · Score: 1
      Article is /. but one thing worthy of note is that the copy protection on Gamecube also involves spinning the CD the wrong way round. To make a Linux distro you are going to need a very special CD burner

      Not quite. Rather than writing data to the discs normally from the inside to the outside of the disc, Nintendo does it vice-versa and write the data to the disks from the outside in. Therefore the data is written to (and read from) the disk backwards. But the disk itself spins the normal way around.

      --
      Avantslash - View Slashdot cleanly on your mobile phone.
    29. Re:Copy Protection by rgraham · · Score: 1
      Article is /. but one thing worthy of note is that the copy protection on Gamecube also involves spinning the CD the wrong way round.

      No, it doesn't. Can we please put this false piece of info to rest. Open up a GC the next time a disk is in there and you'll see it is spinning in the exact same direction as all the other disk based media, clockwise.
    30. Re:Copy Protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gotta love the Simpsons.

    31. Re:Copy Protection by FauxReal · · Score: 1

      Geez... I can't believe that. I swear I was told this in some science class and saw it repeated time and time again on television.

      This explains why I felt so dumb when I first enrolled into college, when I previously thought I was a genius.

    32. Re:Copy Protection by mink · · Score: 1

      LOLROF.
      Thats the old copy protecion that Wizardry (1,2,3 and maybe 4) games on the PC used to use.
      The "scenario discs" you made were formatted with tracks in reverse order, and the "loader disc" set up the system to read and write to them properly.

      --
      Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
  13. Re:Give it up for the coward! by AnonymousCowheart · · Score: 1

    coward needs to learn how to format, lazy ass!

    ACLoader 1.1 now plays more GCISOs

    Unregistered User writes "WIth the first to produce a tool that plays a real gamecube game (if you call a N64 port real). Eurasia released Animal Crossing loader 1.0. WHile this was cool, seemed a bit limiting.

    Well, now Eurasia presents Animal Crossing Loader 1.1 which allows you to play the following confirmed games:

    Animal Crossing
    Luigi's Mansion
    F-Zero GX
    Wave Race: Blue Storm
    Rogue Leader
    Madden NFL 2002
    Starfox Adcentures
    Disney's Magical Mirror
    Raman 3
    SKies of Arcadia
    TimeSplitters 2

    It is suggested that you remove the memory card during play as it is known to freeze the game. Also, sound issues and load times will be appearent.

    CyKiller"

  14. Re: Because ... by jjhlk · · Score: 1

    ... you might already have a Gamecube.

  15. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by Short+Circuit · · Score: 1

    Among old-time gamers and game developers, Nintendo doesn't have much better of a reputation...

  16. No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Linux on GameCube anyone?

    For the love of god, no. Can't we have a (modern) console that just stays as a gaming machine?

    If you want an everything-box that can run Linux, go buy a PS2, Xbox, or just a cheap computer, but leave the Cube. It's designed to be for gaming and gaming only.

    I guess that sounds incredibly jealous, narrow-minded, or fanboyish of me, but that's my gut reaction upon seeing this story.

    1. Re:No! by Carnildo · · Score: 1

      Linux on GameCube anyone?

      For the love of god, no. Can't we have a (modern) console that just stays as a gaming machine?


      Where's the hack value in that?

      --
      "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    2. Re:No! by bobthemonkey13 · · Score: 1
      Can't we have a (modern) console that just stays as a gaming machine?

      The GameCube is now under $100. It has a fairly fast processor, Ethernet capabilities, and a very small case. Put these together, and you have a serious option for cluster nodes. Of course, real benchmarks would be needed to tell if the price/performance is good.

      That said, I do tend to agree with you -- a single GameCube, hacked to run Linux, is pretty much useless.

    3. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      I don't know, something about it just rubs me the wrong way. Granted, Sony and Microsoft have put out some nice games, but Nintendo seems to be one of the last focused on a pure gaming machine.

      Why would you want Linux on a Cube, anyway? No hard drive, no mouse, non-standard media format, etc...

      Looking at more details about this exploit, seems like it's going to be more useful for playing illegal copies of games, something I don't really think should be condoned either.

      And also, I fail to see how my above post is off-topic, as whether you disagree with me or not, i'm discussing something mentioned in the submitter's post itself...

    4. Re:No! by Carnildo · · Score: 1

      Why would you want Linux on a Cube, anyway? No hard drive, no mouse, non-standard media format, etc...

      Why would you want Linux on a C64, or a Palm PDA, or any other piece of oddball hardware? For the sole purpose of saying "My is running Linux!"

      --
      "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    5. Re:No! by Carnildo · · Score: 1

      Blasted code. That last quote should be "My is running Linux!"

      --
      "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    6. Re:No! by SharpFang · · Score: 1

      I think Linux running from a cartridge which would work as harddrive (or flash-drive) too would do the trick. It's not "Why would one want that?" but "Can it be done?" question. Launch Linux on Cube just to show it can run there. And nothing more... well, maybe except turning it into an inexpensive game development platform? AFAIK GameCube developer kits cost a small fortune, this could be alternative. Plus the border between "game" and "reality" is blurred. (I personally consider hunting Mozilla bugs on bugzilla.mozilla.org a great game, porting linux to laundromats, cellular phones or game consoles is just another. :)

      "Offtopic" m2'ed "unfair".

      --
      45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
    7. Re:No! by notque · · Score: 1

      Can't we have a (modern) console that just stays as a gaming machine?

      Note to PhoenixFlare.

      When I port Linux to my Xbox, your Xbox is unaffected.

      Thank you.

      --
      http://use.perl.org
    8. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      Yes, and that's what i'm taking issue with. That argument gets trotted out everytime something hackable comes out, but I don't think it always makes sense.

      What would you do with a Linux-running Cube that you couldn't do with a PS2 or XBox that's only $50-100 more, and better suited for the job in terms of media type and perhipherals?

      The ultimate fate of every computing device is not to have Linux installed somehow, l33t as it may be :P

    9. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      I don't own an XBox, and I never will, as I absolutely abhor the things.

      I own a Platinum Gamecube.

      Where in the world would you infer that I own an XBox?

    10. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What he was trying to say, as it went COMPLETELY over your head, is that what he does to his own property affects you in NO TANGIBLE way.

    11. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      And I GUESS your CAPITAL letters are SUPPOSED to make me UNDERSTAND somehow?

      I take issue with hacking a Gamecube to run Linux, or other devices on which it would make no sense at all. Nothing else.

      And if people can have the attitude that everything can or should be hacked somehow, i'm entitled to have the opposite opinion, thank you.

      I'm also quite well aware that nothing he does affects me, but again, this is free discussion, and I can say what I like.

    12. Re:No! by Twister002 · · Score: 1

      not to mention it stacks well!

      --
      "For a successful technology, honesty must take precedence over public relations for nature cannot be fooled." -Feynman
    13. Re:No! by brianosaurus · · Score: 1

      No, the ultimate fate of every computing device is to become a mail reader.

      --
      blog
    14. Re:No! by Phil+Wilkins · · Score: 1

      Why would you want Linux on a Cube, anyway?

      Because it's there!

    15. Re:No! by Ziviyr · · Score: 1

      It has very fast memory access speed (and a decent amount of RAM anyways). Opengl CPU command extensions to play with, ethernet potential, a nice controller, small size/low power consumption, and a nifty GPU to explore.

      Its definitely a game machine, but its cool because of that. The xbox is a pc with known PC parts. Gamecube is the current frontier! And its about as elegant as it will get nowadays.

      Why not linux on Gamecube? Wheres your curiousity gone?

      --

      Someone set us up the bomb, so shine we are!
    16. Re:No! by damiam · · Score: 1

      It was a hypothetical situation. No one said you had an XBox. The same thing would be true of any console - if I port Linux to my Gamecube, yours is unaffected.

      --
      It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
    17. Re:No! by DAldredge · · Score: 1

      YES, CAPITAL letter are our FRIENDS. They are nice and bake us COOKIES!!!

    18. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      Why not linux on Gamecube? Wheres your curiousity gone?

      My curiosity hasn't gone anywhere. I just want to use my gaming console to actually....play games :)

      If I want to run Linux, i'll just boot into the happily stable Redhat partition I already have set up on my PC.

      Why hassle with finding a broadband adapter for the Cube, getting a copy of PSO, getting a keyboard and mouse hooked up somehow, making it work with a network-mounted harddrive, etc....When I can just wait 30 seconds and be set to go?

      And yes, I can already see the "Because it's there!" comment coming again...I think there's a point where it just makes more sense to spend time elsewhere, though.

    19. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      " I just want to use my gaming console to actually....play games :)"

      It will still do that.

      In fact, no matter what he does with his gamecube, yours will function unaffected.

      A better question that you need to ask yourself: "Why do I worry about what other people do".

      You're probably one of those meddling people that is bothered when I watch porn or have sex doggy style. Its not your businesses. Ignore if it if really bothers you.

    20. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      It will still do that.

      In fact, no matter what he does with his gamecube, yours will function unaffected


      Gee, really? I hadn't guessed that.

      A better question that you need to ask yourself: "Why do I worry about what other people do".

      Because i'm stuck working in an extremely easy lab assistant job for 5 hours tonight, that's why :P

      Maybe a question you should ask yourself is..."Why am I too scared to post using a real screenname?".

      You're probably one of those meddling people that is bothered when I watch porn or have sex doggy style. Its not your businesses. Ignore if it if really bothers you.

      Sorry, no. I can't get at my porn at the moment, and I find joy in arguing and annoying people exactly like you :)

    21. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "and I find joy in arguing and annoying people exactly like you :)"

      Not to disappoint you, but I just finished sex doggy style.

      And you're stuck in a lab worrying about your game cube.

      You tell me who's screwed up....

    22. Re:No! by Lemmy+Caution · · Score: 1

      If the only defense of your opinion is your right to have one, that opinion exists on the flimsiest of grounds.

      The essential point is correct. It is no more a matter of concern for you if someone hacks their GC to load linux than if they put it in their washing machine. It may be reasonable to describe it as "silly," but to use the sort of moral/ethical language you chose is absurd.

    23. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      Not to disappoint you, but I just finished sex doggy style.

      And you ran right back to posting on Slashdot? What a trooper!

      And you're stuck in a lab worrying about your game cube.

      My Cube's perfectly fine, "friend". Read some other posts in this thread, and you might see that i'm not worried at all. I applaud your ability to be a tunnel-vision troll, though.

      In any event, I was doing some actual productive work to earn a bit of money. Is that a foreign concept to you? Maybe magical little faeries come and bring you gold coins inbetween your wild sex sessions, I don't know.

      Apparently they haven't brought you any courage, at least, as you're still too much of a pansy-ass to post non-anonymously :)

    24. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      If the only defense of your opinion is your right to have one, that opinion exists on the flimsiest of grounds.

      So, just because I disagree with those that want to throw Linux on anything with a CPU, I have no grounds for my opinion? At any rate, my defense is this- I wish to see the Gamecube stay as a pure gaming machine, and not turn into a hacked everything-box like the XBox or PS2.

      It really irks me that when some sort of bug like the one the story's about is discovered, the immediate reaction from people around here is to find ways to exploit it and shoehorn Linux on the device any way they can. Never mind if the device was even designed to have an OS of any kind, or if it would even be usuable with Linux installed, let's just do it to be l33t!

      The essential point is correct. It is no more a matter of concern for you if someone hacks their GC to load linux than if they put it in their washing machine

      By that logic, you should not be any more concerned with my posts than if I scrawled them on the sidewalk outside my apartment- i'm never going to meet you in real life, I probably won't affect your opinion on this subject, and I sure as hell can't personally stop you from hacking up a Cube.

      So, why should you even bother posting replies to my posts, eh?

    25. Re:No! by utd-blaze · · Score: 1

      The Game Cube is now under $100. It has a fairly fast processor, Ethernet capabilities, and a very small case. Put these together, and you have a serious option for cluster nodes.

      Gaming consoles are never a serious option for a cluster. Game consoles have chips and architecture meant for features a cluster doesn't use. Unless what you want is a cluster of gaming consoles (a good thing in its own right) you can get better capabilities for cheaper with off the shelf parts.

      --
      Do me a favor and double it!
    26. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      wow... stupid dicksucking fanboy above gets my weekly "Missed the fucking point" award.

    27. Re:No! by Froug · · Score: 1

      I for one would really like to have backups of my games. I've had too many close calls with those little discs.

    28. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No hard drive

      Broadband adapter. Network-attached storage.

      no mouse

      USB-to-GC adapter.

      non-standard media format

      This is part of the fun, and will be figured out eventually. Faster if the GC ever gets enough people working on it like the PS/2 or Xbox.

      Some people in this society have retained the curiosity that got us where we are, you know.

    29. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think there's a point where it just makes more sense to spend time elsewhere, though

      There are billions of people on this planet, and adding resources to a select few projects will only hit a point of diminishing returns.
      Furthermore, those billions of people will spend their time however the damn hell they want, thankyouverymuch.

    30. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why am I too scared to post using a real screenname?

      I just don't care for the karma system, myself. It would restrict what I have to say just to appease this biases of whoever happens to have mod points at the time.
      Besides, since when is a pseudonym truly onymous?

    31. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Somehow I doubt "PhoenixFlare" is in the phone book.

    32. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you should not be any more concerned with my posts than if I scrawled them on the sidewalk outside my apartment

      I wouldn't have seen it there, which isn't the case here. So I see your post here and feel that you are an knee-jerking idiot, thus I act on that feeling by telling you that you are a knee-jerking idiot.

      Knee-jerking idiot.

    33. Re:No! by RollingThunder · · Score: 1

      At any rate, my defense is this- I wish to see the Gamecube stay as a pure gaming machine, and not turn into a hacked everything-box like the XBox or PS2.
      You still don't get it.

      Nothing changes on your Gamecube, or Gamecubes in general, if somebody figures out how to run something else on them. Nothing. They still do everything they did before, just as well as they did before.

      You are claiming a loss of some kind. Itemize that loss, prove to us exactly what you are losing, and you may just manage to not look like a raving nutjob.

    34. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      Indeed. But at least I can be traced back to this account, rather than getting lost in the sea as one of the AC horde.

    35. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Launch Linux on Cube just to show it can run there

      Does this really need to be proven? It's a computer, of course it can run there. The only thing preventing it was copy protection.
      The copy protection is now gone. With it gone, we now know linux can run on it. ...why waste the time to 'prove' it?

    36. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just want to use my gaming console to actually....play games

      Uh, you still can?

      If I want to run Linux, i'll just boot into the happily stable Redhat partition I already have set up on my PC

      Uh, no one's making you?

      You're one of those people who likes to argue for the saking of arguing when he's grumpy. Aww...look at baby, he's all fussy! Whoops! GOT YOUR NOSE!

    37. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      Nothing changes on your Gamecube, or Gamecubes in general, if somebody figures out how to run something else on them. Nothing. They still do everything they did before, just as well as they did before.

      Wow, really? I would never have guessed. Please, point out a post of mine where I claim that my Cube will stop functioning as it should if someone ports Linux.

      My issue with this whole thing is that I think the Gamecube should be kept to playing games. Not turned into a Linux box, not used as an SNES/NES/Genesis ROM player, not made incredibly easy to play illegal game copies on, etc. Look at the XBox- there's a good number of people that aren't even buying them to play XBox games anymore, or if they are, they've hacked it up to play disc images they downloaded for free. Maybe i'm just a fanboy or something, but i'd like to see people using Cubes for what they were designed to do. Just because you can hack something, that doesn't mean it always makes sense to do so.

      You are claiming a loss of some kind. Itemize that loss, prove to us exactly what you are losing, and you may just manage to not look like a raving nutjob.

      I am claiming nothing of the sort, and i've already said so at least 2 or 3 times. To claim that i'm personally losing anything would be preposterous.

      I think you're confusing my defense of the Cube's overall situation with a claim personal loss somehow, though I wish I knew why. I guess actually caring for something outside your own possessions is getting rare these days.

      Furthermore, i'm under no obligation to prove anything to "us", especially not if you're going to insult me.

    38. Re:No! by digitalsushi · · Score: 1

      aw.. he just doesnt want to see Princess Peach turned into the Borg Queen...

      --
      slashdot: where everyone yells sarcastic metaphors to themselves to understand the issue
    39. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      And everyone that's posted "But your system wouldn't be affected!", etc. gets mine.

      Including you, dumbass AC. And are you really such a spineless coward that you can't even log into a fairly anonymous account here to insult me?

    40. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      Damn, I guess you found me out.

      Actually, though, a Mario-STNG combination would be...Interesting. That's probably left to the realm of disturbing fan fics that i'll never read, though.

    41. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      Furthermore, those billions of people will spend their time however the damn hell they want, thankyouverymuch.

      Please, point to an example where i've said that I can actually stop someone from doing whatever they want.

      I'll wait.

      What's that, you couldn't find any? I actually said the opposite?

      Okay then.

      I swear, it's like disagreeing with someone's hobby is a cardinal sin around here.

    42. Re:No! by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

      Uh, no one's making you?

      Uh, I never said anyone was? Stop reading so much into every damn thing I say.

      You're one of those people who likes to argue for the saking of arguing when he's grumpy. Aww...look at baby, he's all fussy! Whoops! GOT YOUR NOSE!

      Your childishness aside, this is all rather funny. Were I to be defending the idea of Linux on the Cube (or any other device), i'd probably have people tossing praise around like nobody's business.

      But instead, disagree with the idea that Linux should be put on anything with a CPU, and you get roasted up one side and down the other by people acting like spoiled children.

    43. Re:No! by SharpFang · · Score: 1

      Why waste time on trying to land man on the Moon? It was theoretically proven that this can be achieved. We knew we can. So why do it?

      GameCube's architecture is as different from PC or other Linux boxes, as the Moon's natural environment is different from Earth's. It's not just a play, toying with new hardware. It's a real challenge.

      --
      45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
    44. Re:No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How the fuck did you find this site? And which part of "News for Nerds" didn't you understand?

      It's designed to be for gaming and gaming only.

      That's the cool thing about it. It wasn't desgined to run Linux, but it will be running it perfectly - just like every other architecture.
      In fact, I think having a proprietary architecture running Linux means the liberation of that architecture.

  17. Maxconsole more helpful by CrazyConsole · · Score: 3, Informative

    Maxconsole shows a tutorial on how to actually use this and explains it in more depth! maxconsole has lots more information on this , I don't know why cubehacker was mentioned at all.

  18. Ha! by Tuffnut · · Score: 1

    Fatal error: Call to undefined function: themeheader() in /www/c/cubehacker/htdocs/header.php on line 47
    Linux on GameCube? I THINK NOT!

  19. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by Brian+James+D'Astous · · Score: 1

    How's this for a reason:

    Gamecube: $99
    X-Box: $149

    See my point?

  20. Sorry, but the princess is in another castle by DancingLlama · · Score: 2, Insightful

    From what I have read, the hack consists in exploiting a weakness in the sega video game PHANTASY STAR ONLINE using the same method than with the xbox memory card exploit: a modified saved game that will cause a buffer overflow. Exploiting the overflow allows the user to gain control of the ethernet adaptor, enabling him to transfer the 'loader' bootstrap, causing the reboot of the Nintendo Gamecube, and from there, the loader will open a connection to the user's computer, and using the server software included in this pirate release, will allow the user to upload game files in the gamecube 'generous' 48mb of ram. Nintendo will send their death squads at these guys.

    1. Re:Sorry, but the princess is in another castle by DancingLlama · · Score: 1

      I bet The lack of formatting in my last post has caused a few overflows in my fellow slashdotters.
      :D

    2. Re:Sorry, but the princess is in another castle by notque · · Score: 1

      Yep, You're getting reformatted and turned into a router.

      --
      http://use.perl.org
  21. Re:Copy Protection [this is irrevalent] by DancingLlama · · Score: 1

    The copy protection is worthless here since the data files are being uploaded to the Gamecube on the fly using the gamecube broadband adaptator

    Pretty crazy heh?

  22. RTFA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    From what I have read, the hack consists in exploiting a weakness in the sega video game PHANTASY STAR ONLINE

    Nope, try again. This one exploits Animal Crossing. An understandable error given that the article is currently /.'d, but try not to be in so much of a hurry that you just core-dump before you read the article in the hopes of guessing what was in there.

    1. Re:RTFA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      YOU are incorrect, the exploit is generic, v1.0 was targetted at animal crossing (using PSO for booting) presumably because that's the ISO the crackers had for testing at the time.
      v1.1 can boot other games as well.
      The /. post glossed over the fact that the whole thing so-far is a warez method.
      No one of consequence has even mentioned lunix.

  23. Site Down? by IonPanel · · Score: 1

    powweb.com, the host of the afore mentioned site, seems to have nicely disabled the site within the past few minutes. I wonder why...

    --
    Dave Bell
    1. Re:Site Down? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because thousands of slashcrap sheep are sucking up their bandwidth.

  24. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by macshit · · Score: 1

    Why have an x-box?

    --
    We live, as we dream -- alone....
  25. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by Ianoo · · Score: 1

    How's this for a reason:

    Gamecube: 458MHz
    X-Box: 700MHz

    See MY point? ;)

  26. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by MisterFancypants · · Score: 3, Insightful
    How's this for a reason:

    Gamecube: $99 X-Box: $149

    See my point?

    Not really, no. I have both an XBOX and GameCube and they are both great gaming machines, but the XBOX is for obvious reasons the XBOX is a much better PC-replacement for running alternate OSes like Linux. The GameCube may be cheaper, but because of its design (the memory system, CPU, etc) it would make a crappy general purpose Linux box.

  27. The article forgot to mention by imadcow1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    that the webserver was running on the Gamecube as well.

    1. Re:The article forgot to mention by Flunitrazepam · · Score: 1

      no one every got metamodded down for rating a 'webserver must be running ' comment, that's why

      i agree, it is painfully unfunny shit

      --
      1) Your analysis is based on bad assumptions so your result is way off. 2) You're a sick bastard for fucking a horse.
    2. Re:The article forgot to mention by imadcow1 · · Score: 1

      You're right, it isn't funny at all, but it does help out the karma nicely.

  28. Re:Network, yes by kulpinator · · Score: 1

    Yes; the point appears to be to load Linux/other OS over the network. There is some discussion on Planet Gamecube about Linux on Gamecube.

    You don't need a full CD's worth anyway, nor could you do much with it anyway, except run it straight off the CD, or buy a really big SD card (they use SD cards? I really didn't double check this), which would make the point of doing it at all rather obscure.

    Oh wait this is Linux. I want Linux in my ceiling fan and vaccum cleaner...because!!! Gentoo, while you're at it.

    --
    Karma: Positive (mostly due to rash moderations)
  29. Here's the software to do it by TheBadger · · Score: 4, Informative

    All the software is available from dextrose

  30. Trolling.....But Come on people think about it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just because you can put Linux on your toaster does not mean that it is a good/cool idea. In about 5 years we will have more linix doorstops than we know what to do with.

    1. Re:Trolling.....But Come on people think about it! by jjhlk · · Score: 1

      YOU might not be interested in knowing when your toast is done remotely, but I sure am.

  31. 3 words by Raul654 · · Score: 1

    Smash Brothers Melee

    --


    To make laws that man cannot, and will not obey, serves to bring all law into contempt.
    --E.C. Stanton
    1. Re:3 words by yerricde · · Score: 1

      3 words: Halo's Less Fun.

      --
      Will I retire or break 10K?
    2. Re:3 words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      christ almighty. you wouln't believe how exciting, advanced and great this game is. you should stop playing your games like a little kid (having no attention span) and learn to play with some skill. if you don't believe me on all the advanced strategy and high level gameplay, search google for some videos or check out this site.

    3. Re:3 words by Trejkaz · · Score: 1

      I'm with the other disagreeing persons. Super Smash Bros Melee is in fact an exceptional game, and I would venture to say it's the most fun console game I ever played, only Super Monkey Ball 2 has somewhat taken the title away for me.

      Now, XBox does have Kung Fu Chaos which appears to be an attempt to do the same sort of thing, but I haven't tried it so I'm not going to comment.

      --
      Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
  32. hrm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    and the point of linux on gamecube (or anything besides a server) would be...?

    1. Re:hrm by jjhlk · · Score: 1

      GTK games? I can only think of things developers might be interested in playing with. Nethack! (wouldn't tie up my computer at least)

  33. slashdoted by DanThe1Man · · Score: 1

    Slashdoted

    I wonder if Nintendo submitted this link to /. to take down www.cubehacker.com.

  34. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by Duckman5 · · Score: 2, Funny

    So that you can use your Xbox running linux to serve a copy of linux to the gamecube when it loads it over the LAN. That way it can play nice with your PS2 running the linux kit on your all-linux all-console network.

  35. This is cool and all... by The+Human+Cow · · Score: 1

    This is cool and all, but it's going to be a pain in the butt for the average 1337 h4x0r to have to network the GameCube and invest in $70 worth of stuff to pirate some games. Granted, it is a step in the right direction.

    For running bigger home-brewed stuff and emulators, not pirated GameCube games, I mean. Yeah. I'm definitely not talking about pirated games.

    --
    The Human Cow - bringing you scrumtrelescence since 1995
    1. Re:This is cool and all... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mod chips + installation cost about that much anyway, more if you want extras like a disable switch for Xbox-Live. At least this doesn't involve any soldering.

    2. Re:This is cool and all... by the+grace+of+R'hllor · · Score: 1

      $70 gets you one legal game and a cup of Starbucks coffee. So money isn't the problem for potential pirates. Having to keep a PC around is, of course, a slightly bigger problem.

      To make this really interesting, maybe you could run 'em off of your hacked XBox?

  36. Re:Seriously... by Esion+Modnar · · Score: 1
    Hobbies. Some people sail, climb mountains, collect stamps, set up miniature scale railroads, etc. If you got the spare time, you figure out something to do with it, or go crazy.

    These people chose hacking the Gamecube. Not my thing, exactly, but I'm sure it's entertaining as hell to them.

    --

    They say the first thing to go is your penis. Well, it's either that or your brain. I forget which...
  37. Re:Give it up for the coward! by notque · · Score: 1


    It is suggested that you remove the memory card during play as it is known to freeze the game. Also, sound issues and load times will be appearent.


    Sounds a lot like headache medacine that gives you cramps.

    I'll just buy the game, thanks.

    --
    http://use.perl.org
  38. Gamecube viruses? by Carnildo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Thinking further on this: This is a security hole that allows remote execution of code on the affected machine. Sure sounds like what's needed to write a worm!

    Any bets on how long it'll be until the first ones show up?

    --
    "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    1. Re:Gamecube viruses? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      forever because its a pso exploit, not a gamecube exploit. kthx try reading the fucking article first

    2. Re:Gamecube viruses? by Carnildo · · Score: 1

      Gamecube, PSO, Xbox, what's the difference? They're all computers.

      --
      "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    3. Re:Gamecube viruses? by PygmySurfer · · Score: 1

      Gamecube, PSO, Xbox, what's the difference? They're all computers.

      No, PSO is a game - Phantasy Star Online.

    4. Re:Gamecube viruses? by gklinger · · Score: 1

      There's already a virus for the Gamecube. It's called Animal Crossing. Since it 'infected' my Gamecube, I haven't got a damn thing done. I do know how to spell coelacanth now though.

    5. Re:Gamecube viruses? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's it going to do, change your timezone in the cube's NVRAM?

  39. This is not about linux! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Running homebrew apps on the gamecube is not new, the tool to do it is called PSUL (available on www.dextrose.com), this is enough to make a linux port.

    This news post is about another loader (that is loaded using PSUL) that runs a few "warez" games using DVD emulation over Ethernet, as the Gamecube media is not cracked yet.

  40. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by gl4ss · · Score: 2, Insightful

    as pc replacement they're both crap(no, really, they are).

    currently as 'stream content and run some stuff from pc world' modded xbox takes the crown though.

    now, xbox's value as a general pc replacement has been dropping steadily since it got introduced. as for games.. well, i guess everyone to their own(yes, i'd like to play kotor but thats just about it). but gc is starting to look like a healthy addition to my dreamcast now, though it'll probably take another few years before i can afford it the way i want(but eventually i want to play sunshine, and at the moment thats just about the only game i think might be worth the money on gc, apart from party games like smb)..

    well, i'd still like a ps2 also, if only for gt3.

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  41. Re:Network, yes by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

    Yes; the point appears to be to load Linux/other OS over the network. There is some discussion on Planet Gamecube [planetgamecube.com] about Linux on Gamecube.

    The discussion on PlanetGamecube aside, the point of the announcement linked to on maxconsole seems to be the use of illegal game images. Not everyone that hacks something does it to run Linux.

  42. Re:Seriously... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    as long as you have time to read slashdot...

  43. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, because everyone reading Slashdot knows that MHz == speed.

    Intriguing question: if a Hz is a measure of speed, how fast are the radio waves from New York's Smooth Jazz, CD 101.9 FM travelling? Are they faster or slower than Hot 97, Blazin Hip Hop and R&B? And if faster, how can I tap into its power to make my Athlon run faster?

  44. Re:Seriously... by stratjakt · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The first person to develop a mod chip and learn to press silvers will make cash hand over fist in Hong Kong - the land of piracy.

    The various mobs have their hands in street level piracy (silvers, bootlegs) up to their elbows. The top warez groups get huge "donations" in exchange for 0-day access to new cracks and releases.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  45. Re:Man, that's doing it the hard way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Haha. This is the first time a post has made me laugh in a long time. MOD PARENT UP!

  46. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by itzdandy · · Score: 1

    what makes you think that?

    Its a PowerPC processor with RDRAM, it's short a hard drive but drive space can be mounted over the lan via nfs. Consider that a PowerPC processor is 60% faster per clock, its ~500Mhz p3 equivelent, and the xbox uses a 733 "celeron" equivelent processor. The Cube would be a pretty descent little linux box.

  47. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by ziggles · · Score: 1

    Know what makes a better general purpose Linux box than the xbox? A PC! I can understand getting Linux on the xbox because you like tinkering or you have too much free time. For the same reason I can equally understand doing it on the gamecube. But I can't understand someone using any console as if it's a PC. What's the point?

  48. Offtopic?!? Way to go idiot mod. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why the hell did this get modded offtopic? It is perfectly on topic. Sure, you may not agree with him, but he likes his embedded systems to remain that way. He's attached to the GameCube. That's fine, to each his own.

    To the mod: If you really want to mod him down, mod him troll because he doesn't like to hack like the poser slashbot you think you are. He is definately on topic though, you idiot.

  49. Re:Network, yes by kulpinator · · Score: 1

    Sorry, I didn't RTFA. My mind triggers on the "Linux on " and starts spewing out silly nonsense.

    --
    Karma: Positive (mostly due to rash moderations)
  50. fact by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    since no one seems to know shit i'll clear some things up. first, homebrew gamecube code has been running for quite some time now - http://www.gcdev.com/ for more info. 2) no buffler overflow shit involded, it just uses the PSO's built in self patching schtuff, and makes the pc pretend to be the pso server, then pso downloads up to a 2 megabyte patch which it then runs. thats how the first homebrew was executed. now, the 2 meg app acts as a loader wich then will open a netowkr connectiong and get the rest of the iso or watever. this doesnt work with all isos released so far, but a great many do work.

    thats it i guess, piracy is BAD, i hope you all rot in hell for it :)

    btw consolevision roxors

  51. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by scot4875 · · Score: 1

    Do you compare P4's and Athlons based on clock rate as well?

    How 'bout this:

    Gamecube: 256k l2 cache
    XBox: <=128k l2 cache (I forget how much exactly)

    --Jeremy

    --
    Jesus was a liberal
  52. It exploits... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Phatasy Star Online to load Animal Crossing through the Network. The 1.1 version was genericized.

  53. Invocation of the DMCA in.... by Rassleholic · · Score: 1

    5, 4, 3, 2, 1...You filthy pirate! How dare you!!

    --
    Not noteable, IMO a rubbish article.
    1. Re:Invocation of the DMCA in.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget to do bit revival.

  54. /. strikes again by howhardcanitbetocrea · · Score: 1

    Fatal error: Call to undefined function: message_die() in /www/c/cubehacker/htdocs/db/db.php on line 88

    --

    President ISES
    (International Society for Elimination of Sigs)
  55. Re:Network, yes by typobox43 · · Score: 1

    They don't use SD cards yet, I don't think... but I think that Panasonic will be coming out with an adapter that will allow you to use them.

  56. Have fun burning by NitroPye · · Score: 1
    Burning anything to play on the gamecube is going to be a complete pain in the ass.

    It is NOT a mini cd-r, or dvd-r. It is a mini dvd burned backwards, inside instead of the outside, a regular DVVD burner will not work.

    1. Re:Have fun burning by andfarm · · Score: 1

      Although I'm not sure about the Game Cube in particular, consensus is that most tales of games being uncopyable because of some oddity of the CD/DVD (recorded outside to inside, spins counterclockwise, ...) are false.

      --

      TANSTAAFI: There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free iPod.

    2. Re:Have fun burning by CheeseMonkey · · Score: 1

      This one, however, is not. You can't even read the things at all without a special drive, so I don't really see how this will be that useful for pirating games...

      --
      Nothing to see here.
    3. Re:Have fun burning by macshit · · Score: 1

      Although I'm not sure about the Game Cube in particular, consensus is that most tales of games being uncopyable because of some oddity of the CD/DVD (recorded outside to inside, spins counterclockwise, ...) are false.

      "The concensus" about what (since you say it's not about the "gamecube in particular")? PCs? Other gamesystems?

      Since the gamecube intentionally uses non-standard hardware to avoid copying, applying general observations about other systems to it seems a bit suspect.

      --
      We live, as we dream -- alone....
    4. Re:Have fun burning by PixelMokey · · Score: 1

      I seem to remember that the Dreamcast used a propritary format that was writen big endian to little endian. needless to say it was hacked, i have a cd binder of proof if anyone has any doubts about that.

      Anyway if you could get your computer to do a raw read of a disk, then you could flip it using software to the "normal" way that data is written. and if you can do it one way, what says that you can't do it the other. uses software to flip an image and raw write it to a cd. should wor the same way no?

      anyway i'm sure whoever invented the copy protection for GC looked at the DCs failures and improved so i'm probally just talking from my ass.

    5. Re:Have fun burning by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nothing is physically reversed. The parts in the gamecube are perfectly standard (the lens even uses a standard-full length sled even though it can never extend out that far). It spins clockwise and reads from the inside out.

      The only difference between a Gamecube disc and a 80mm mini-DVD is the filesystem. This is what needs to be cracked, because it's (surprise, surprise) not the DVD standard UDF. It's taking longer than the other consoles only because it doesn't have the advertising and technical allure that drew hackers to the PS/2 and Xbox.

    6. Re:Have fun burning by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      its not burned backwards or spun backwards....the data is written with constant angular velocity instead of constant linear velocity, so you cant even read bits off the discs unless your drive supports constant angular velocity reads.

      constant angular velocity means that the same amount of info is stored in a certain angle near the center as near the edge (very inefficient for full size discs)

      constant linear velocity means that the same amount of info is stored in a certain distance in the center (allong the circumference if you look at it as a circle)...this means that more data is stored on the outer edge than the inner edge. (this is how most cd's/dvd's are written)

  57. You got the copy protection scheme all wrong by Rolman · · Score: 4, Informative

    The copy protection scheme works in several ways. You DO need to have a special DVD burner, since the LENS is what's different on the Gamecube. It can't read regular DVDs. Also, the retail discs use a special barcode imprinted on the disc to prevent the cube to be tricked into reading fake discs.

    There's a special debugging Gamecube which can read burned games, it's called the NReader, and you can only get it from Nintendo if you are a) a developer b) an important gaming news house.

    The catch is, this NReader can't read retail discs, it can only play those burned specially for beta testing or magazine reviews.

    Also, the PSO loader works by tricking PSO into loading special code by resolving the DNS of the Sega PSO server to your own PC. Then you have access to the GCN. Animal Crossing is a port of the same N64 game, so it fits on the GCN's memory without having to read the disc more than once, that's why it's completely playable.

    The situation is far from the "retail games pirated!" outcry.

    --
    - Otaku no naka no otaku, otaking da!!!
    1. Re:You got the copy protection scheme all wrong by Brobock · · Score: 1

      How does the panasonic version fo the gamecube read DVD's then? Isn't there just one lense in that?

    2. Re:You got the copy protection scheme all wrong by Rolman · · Score: 1

      No, the Panasonic Q is very different. It actually has the two different technologies on the same pickup mechanism, and the firmware requires it to change between GCN mode and DVD mode.

      This makes it difficult, though not impossible to have the lens be used to read regular DVDs on the game mode. Some groups have already claimed some success, but haven't seen anything myself.

      OTOH, the regular GCN can never read normal DVDs, unless there's a special hack, chip or replacement pickup mechanism.

      Note: I own both a regular GCN and the Panasonic Q.

      --
      - Otaku no naka no otaku, otaking da!!!
  58. You're a moron. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    >How's this for a reason:

    >Gamecube: $99
    >X-Box: $149

    >See my point?
    Umm, Gamecube should really read:

    Gamecube: $99
    PSO: $49
    Gamecube BB adapter: $34

    (ignore PeeCee and other crap that you'd need for an Xbox as well) and your total is still at least:

    $182 and you don't get a hdd, and it's more of a pain in the ass to hack on.

    Still, these sorts of things are really intended to put warez back onto GC, which isn't a bad thing and deserves a lot of credit since the GC took so long to get there. Great work Eurasia!

  59. Re:Seriously... by L-Train8 · · Score: 1

    That's the whole thing with piracy. You are never going to eliminate it because there is a small group of people who will break copy protection just for the intellectual challenge.

    What you can do is minimize it. It seems like they did a good job with the GameCube. You can play pirated games on it, but it is such a hassle to do so that the average gamer won't. Only the hardcore hacker.

    Incidentally, you to play GameCube ISO's, you need a broadband adapter and a copy of Phantasy Star Online, neither of which were made in large quantities. They will be making more broadband adapters for Mario Kart:Double Dash, but if you want to pirate games, you better be checking ebay or GameStop for a used copy of PSO.

    --

    Don't forget that Friday is Hawaiian shirt day.
  60. Maxconsole Tutorial by CrazyConsole · · Score: 1

    The maxconsole tutorial is intended to work for homebrew games hence the image being required (homebrew title) , why the hell would you need to boot retail games over a lan lol ?

    1. Re:Maxconsole Tutorial by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Being able to never have to switch discs? I'd do it in a heartbeat if this works 100%

  61. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by illumin8 · · Score: 1

    well, i'd still like a ps2 also, if only for gt3.

    Our long wait is nearly over... On November 4th Rockstar Games is releasing both GTA3 and GTA:Vice City for Xbox. I think they are bundled together for something like $40.

    Anyway, I'm excited to get a copy and play GTA:Vice City on a decent platform... PS2 graphics suck compared to Xbox.

    --
    "When the president does it, that means it's not illegal." - Richard M. Nixon
  62. Re:Give it up for the coward! by John+Hurliman · · Score: 1

    Go out and buy homebrew games for the Gamecube? Do you have a link where I can purchase those?

    Or maybe you missed the point.

  63. Used PSO by Megane · · Score: 1

    One problem... PSO comes with a printed key code in the game. This can only be used only once to sign up for network play. Sega did this intentionally to screw with the used market. And I wouldn't be surprised if you have to sign up for network play to use this exploit. (Not that they can't make it work with an unregistered PSO if they emulate enough of the server, including pretending to be Sega's servers. But that's a lot more work. And right now the site is slashdotted.)

    --
    #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
    1. Re:Used PSO by Ultra64 · · Score: 1

      No, you don't have to be registered to use this exploit.

    2. Re:Used PSO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, no network play to use the exploit.
      The exploit actually functions by redirecting the Gamecube's attempt at contacting Sega's servers, and having it contact your own PC instead.

    3. Re:Used PSO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      your'e wrong...eat my penis if you aren't made of cheese.

  64. RTF WEBSITE by MukiMuki · · Score: 0

    It's a Linux COMPILER for the GameCube, NOT a distro. Jebus, RTFW.

  65. Re:Give it up for the coward! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Unless either one of these:

    Animal Crossing
    Luigi's Mansion
    F-Zero GX
    Wave Race: Blue Storm
    Rogue Leader
    Madden NFL 2002
    Starfox Adcentures
    Disney's Magical Mirror
    Raman 3
    SKies of Arcadia
    TimeSplitters 2

    is a homebrew game (hint: NO), then YOU are missing the point.

  66. Clarification by MukiMuki · · Score: 0

    In case that didn't get across clearly (possible, I didn't fully explain)... It allows you to compile a homebrew app for the GameCube in Linux. There's also one for OSX. You don't need to burn ANYTHING. You don't even need a MOD CHIP. You play PSO. You log onto "Sega's Network" (faked by some software). You use PSO Loader to load homebrew/backed up software.

  67. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by BizidyDizidy · · Score: 1
    Intriguing question: if a Hz is a measure of speed, how fast are the radio waves from New York's Smooth Jazz, CD 101.9 FM travelling? Are they faster or slower than Hot 97, Blazin Hip Hop and R&B? And if faster, how can I tap into its power to make my Athlon run faster?

    I'll bite. They are travelling at approximately c, the speed of light. They're not faster, but they are skinnier; maybe you could harness their power for a new weight loss system.

    In all seriousness, this is just a silly semantic argument; the unit hertz is about frequency. The more Hz, the more time something happens in a second; that can be periods of an electromagnetic wave, or cycles of a cpu.

    --
    The safest way to approach lava is to have another person with you and he goes first.
  68. Seriously... by Rob+Simpson · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I just don't understand how incredibly boring your life has to be to MAKE POINTLESS COMMENTS ON SHIT LIKE THIS. If you're not interested, don't click on the story, dumbass.

  69. Hebrew? by waldoj · · Score: 2, Funny

    Man, for the life of me, I could not understand why it was such a big deal that the "New GameCube Network Loader Runs Hebrew Games." I mean, don't they sell Nintendos in Israel? I found myself quite literally scratching my head over the matter, and even headed over to nintendo.co.il.

    Oh. Homebrew. D'oh.

    -Waldo Jaquith

  70. 48 MB? I wish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Try 24MB dude. And aram doesn't count.

  71. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by n0wak · · Score: 1

    Anyway, I'm excited to get a copy and play GTA:Vice City on a decent platform... PS2 graphics suck compared to Xbox.

    You do realize that it's a direct port, right? Don't start expecting improved graphics.

  72. Re:Seriously... by notb4dinner · · Score: 1

    I just don't understand how incredibly boring your life has to be to TROLL WITH SHIT LIKE THIS.

  73. GameCube discs spin clockwise by yerricde · · Score: 2, Informative

    I own a GameCube, and I've never opened the cover to see a disc spinning counterclockwise. GameCube discs seem to store the boot sector on a data layer that goes outside-in (like the second layer of a DVD) rather than inside-out (like a CD or the first layer of a DVD), and this may be how the myth started.

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  74. Re:48 MB? I wish by yerricde · · Score: 1

    And aram doesn't count.

    Doesn't? I've read that many GameCube games use the sound chip's slower RAM as a disc cache.

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  75. Explanation by Otto · · Score: 1

    Short version:
    Using a GC and a GC ethernet network adapter, along with a copy of Phantasy Star Online, one can upload code to the Cube which the cube then runs.

    Longer version:
    Combined with the ability to read in a GC disc over the broadband adapter, and write it back similarly, this makes GC Game piracy possible, although it also makes possible other things like writing a version of Linux for the Cube. There exists a GCC cross compiler for the Cube, and people have been using this write their own homebrew demos and such already. This trick makes it possible to run those more easily, if you happen to have a copy of PSO and a GC ethernet adapter.

    Even longer:
    A mod chip is rumored to be coming out for the GC soon. The trick to the GC is that it uses non-standard discs. They are basically just mini-DVD's which hold 1.5 gig, but they swapped the direction of the tracks. Instead of reading from the inside edge to the outside edge, as all CD's and DVD's do, the GC discs go from the outside edge to the inside edge. They spin the same direction, but the track is reversed. So no existing DVD writer or reader can read them. With the PSO bug exploit and the broadband adapter, one can read the disk via ethernet instead, and now write the disk contents back into RAM on the cube to run the contents and such.

    I know what you're thinking, the disk is too large to hold all in the GC's RAM. And you're right. I think the way this works is that it exploits the PSO bug to load a small program into the GC's memory which then remaps the calls to read from the disk into calls to read from the ethernet. So the disc image is sitting on the PC and being read by the GC if and when the GC needs to load data. Then it simply loads the boot block from the image file over and starts 'er up. Voila, it's now playing, and you only have a delay in load times as the network transaction occurs. There's a program running on the PC which handles the disk image to be sent back to the GC as well. It probably must be running all the time the game is playing, or at least whenever the game needs to load something into memory from the disc. Not all games do. Notably, Animal Crossing does all its disc access right at load time, then the disc is idle until you shut the thing down. This program is known to work with Animal Crossing and Luigi's Mansion (which does do loads from the disc on new levels and such).

    --
    - Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set him on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
    1. Re:Explanation by Talez · · Score: 1

      you only have a delay in load times as the network transaction occurs.

      Ummmm... With optical media access time in the 10s of milliseconds combined with their relatively low throughput, wouldn't fastethernet and a hard drive have both a faster access time and a faster throughput? :P

    2. Re:Explanation by Otto · · Score: 1

      Well, from what they're saying on the page, it can take 1 to several minutes to transmit the data over. So I'm just going by that. In theory, with a hard drive and a 100mbit ethernet, then you're probably right. All I know is that the load time on my GC is very, very low for most things.

      --
      - Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set him on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
  76. Nintendo: No religious content in NES games by yerricde · · Score: 1

    One of the reasons Wisdom Tree published NES games without becoming a Nintendo licensee is that Wisdom Tree wanted to publish religious edutainment, but Nintendo had a policy of not allowing overt religious content in the games. I once owned an NES cart from Wisdom Tree called Exodus, a total conversion of the earlier Crystal Mines (a boulder dash clone). The game's bonus stages referenced Exodus, the second book of the Tanach. (The Tanach is the Jewish Bible originally written in Hebrew and Aramaic, and it together with the New Testament forms the Christian Bible.)

    If you put "om" (a syllable associated with Hinduism) into "Hebrew" (the English name of a language associated with Judaism), you get "Homebrew". How's that for religious content?

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  77. Good point... but... by Otto · · Score: 1

    1. This exploit uses a bug in Phantasy Star Online and a GC ethernet adapter to load the games both to and from the GC. Thus using Nintendo's non-standard drive to read the game itself, and loading the game back in via ethernet instead of from a burned disc (basically by remapping the calls to read from the disc to read from another PC on the network instead).

    2. A mod chip is coming out soon, according to fairly good rumors. It will have some means to connect it to an external DVD drive which will then be able to read normal DVD formats instead of N's reversed track format. People have already been able to grab images using the PSO exploit, with this modchip you should be able to burn an image onto a normal DVD or mini-DVD and then play them from the external DVD drive. Or if you have the capability to read them already using the exploit, now you have the capability to write them to the GC's memory and play them without a modchip.

    --
    - Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set him on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
  78. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by Recoil_42 · · Score: 1

    i know im offtopic, but the parent is totally wrong -- do not believe the fanboys. XBOX version is **confirmed** to have: - Specular lighting system (light sources now cast real light) - Higher detailed models of people, cars, etc. (this is especially evident when you look at the screenshots for xbox with cars in them -- *hubcaps* are now fully modelled) - Models all skinned fully, independent fingers now modelled - Reflection mapping on vehicles, buildings, windows, etc. (Gives real time reflections.) - Rain now adheres to the camera in GTA3, aka little rain drops on the screen. (Vice City had this for PC and PS2, but GTA3 did not -- now it does.) - Radiosity lighting now makes flames look a lot more realistic. - Overhauled particle system. (Sparks, splashes, etc. all look nicer) - High Def HDTV, 720 P, 16:9 Widescreen support - Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound added. - Custom Soundtracks, use the XBox to make your own radio stations. - Totally reassignable controls. so its NOT a straight port. just go check the screenshots at grandtheftauto.com and compare them to old ones -- you'll see it right away. ign's recent article: http://xbox.ign.com/articles/454/454117p1.html

    --


    Newsie, Moderator, www.tauniverse.com
  79. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by illumin8 · · Score: 1

    You do realize that it's a direct port, right? Don't start expecting improved graphics.

    AFAIK, it's a direct port from the PC version, which should definitely improve the graphics. Correct me if I'm wrong.

    --
    "When the president does it, that means it's not illegal." - Richard M. Nixon
  80. Panasonic Gamecube? by LoudMusic · · Score: 1

    So what do you think of the Panasonic Gamecube? It's more than a game console and a major manufacturer is producing it.

    --
    No sig for you. YOU GET NO SIG!
  81. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by Recoil_42 · · Score: 1

    ack.. reposting, firebird fucks up line breaks.

    i know im offtopic, but the parent is totally wrong -- do not believe the fanboys.

    XBOX version is **confirmed** to have:

    - Specular lighting system (light sources now cast real light)
    - Higher detailed models of people, cars, etc. (this is especially evident when you look at the screenshots for xbox with cars in them -- *hubcaps* are now fully modelled)
    - Models all skinned fully, independent fingers now modelled
    - Reflection mapping on vehicles, buildings, windows, etc. (Gives real time reflections.)
    - Rain now adheres to the camera in GTA3, aka little rain drops on the screen. (Vice City had this for PC and PS2, but GTA3 did not -- now it does.)
    - Radiosity lighting now makes flames look a lot more realistic.
    - Overhauled particle system. (Sparks, splashes, etc. all look nicer)
    - High Def HDTV, 720 P, 16:9 Widescreen support - Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound added.
    - Custom Soundtracks, use the XBox to make your own radio stations.
    - Totally reassignable controls.


    so its NOT a straight port.

    just go check the screenshots at grandtheftauto.com and compare them to old ones -- you'll see it right away. ign's recent article: http://xbox.ign.com/articles/454/454117p1.html

    --


    Newsie, Moderator, www.tauniverse.com
  82. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by Recoil_42 · · Score: 1

    you are right, to an extent -- the code they ported was supposedly from PC, its easier to go PC>XBOX than PS2>XBOX, and the graphical updates are already there, but it ISNT a straight port. as i said before, there are more than a few "enchancements" added to the XBOX version, because the guys at rockstar are so nice. :)

    --


    Newsie, Moderator, www.tauniverse.com
  83. old news by toast0 · · Score: 1

    the gamecube loader based on PSO is several months old...

    wheres the news?

  84. Useless for games? by JFMulder · · Score: 1

    It is suggested that you remove the memory card during play as it is known to freeze the game.
    What's the point of playing a hacked game if you can't save your progress?

  85. WHy is this interesting? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why do you feel the need to "protect" Nintendo; last I checked, they have more money, power and influence than you.

    This is a gee-whiz kind of thing. It is inherently interesting. Just relax.

  86. ...Runs Hebrew Games??? by WaKall · · Score: 1

    Sorry, I misread that. But they could be missing out on the lucrative Hebrew games market.

  87. Re:48 MB? I wish by Ultraken · · Score: 3, Informative

    Factor 5's "Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader" uses the ARAM as a "swap file", paging code and data to and from main memory. We did something similar at Pandemic for "Star Wars: The Clone Wars", and it worked fairly well. That 16MB came in handy. :)

  88. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    To develop homebrew games.
    Maybe someone will port netbsd, and use what infrastructure was developed for the dreamcast to make a consist homebrew gamedev environment.

  89. Re:Seriously... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Perhaps you would understand if you had an intellect to challenge.

  90. Way too expensive... by Trejkaz · · Score: 1

    The GameCubeQ is way too expensive. Good idea, good execution, bad pricing strategy.

    The interesting thing is there are already mods for GameCubeQ to run 'any code' on DVDs and even CDs.

    --
    Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
  91. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    All the better reason to screw 'em all. People: Stop paying for video games!

  92. Re:Network, yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Actually, the adapter is already out in Japan, the updated version of Animal Crossing(updated, not sequal) uses it to save screenshots. Unfortunatly games have to be specificaly designed to use it. Due to some shortsightedness Nintendo used two different interfaces for the memory cards and the SD adapter even though they use they use the same slot, which means old games cant use the cards as a huge memcard(which would have been nice)

  93. Re:Offtopic?!? Way to go idiot mod. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't reply AC to moderations of your own comments. It's obvious due to the matching writing style, and it's very pathetic.

  94. Whew! by superultra · · Score: 1

    Boy, I was beginning to think that "haxors" had it in *just* for MS's Xbox. At least now I know they're not discriminatory.

  95. Similar to GBA Loader...? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This actually got me thinking a little about how the Game Boy Advance loads games via link cable. The Metroid Prime/Metroid Fusion linkup relies on the Fusion cartridge being in the GBA, but the GBA starting up in "ready to load" mode (start+select during boot). When Prime accesses the link cable, the bootloader ostensibly checks the cartridge port for a specific set of information at a specific location and reports back whether or not it found it. Also, a very detailed pic shows up on the GBA screen.
    What I'd like to know is if this method could be used to force the GBA to begin loading a program froma cartridge that ordinarily wouldn't boot. Let's say Billy Hax0r codes up a homebrew demo and uses a cartridge flasher to create an unsigned, non-booting cartridge. Putting the cart into the GBA would result in the GBA acting as if the cart wasn't there (right?). Then Billy uses the GC exploit to load a GC mini-program, which subsequently sends a bootloader to the GBA that orders the GBA to begin executing code at cartridge://0xXYZ regardless of whether or not it's actually signed.
    This is, of course, ignoring the fact that the GBA probably has already had its cart-based bootloader cracked, and thus the link-cable method of running homebrews is needlessly complex and fundamentally useless. But it would be neat.
    Then again, the Game Boy Player disc is basically a GC bootloader that tells the Cube to start executing code at expansion://0x001 ... So if one had a data storage device attached to the expansion port....

    1. Re:Similar to GBA Loader...? by strags · · Score: 1

      Unofficial GBA devkits have been around for years. The GBA doesn't have any crypto protection - it's trivial to make a bootable cart.

  96. Ummm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "The only way I can see is through the broadband adapter or something." ... that is exactly how this works.

  97. Re:Offtopic?!? Way to go idiot mod. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Agreed. Offtopic is the wrong mod. Troll ("I find joy in arguing and annoying people exactly like you") is more apt.

  98. Re:An interesting observation by JasonAsbahr · · Score: 1

    What does Linux being _capable_ of running of every box have to do with business practices that lock out competition?

  99. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by scot4875 · · Score: 1

    but eventually i want to play sunshine, and at the moment thats just about the only game i think might be worth the money on gc

    There are much better games than Mario Sunshine on the 'Cube. That's not to say that Sunshine is bad by any means... But it's certainly not the best reason to get a 'Cube. Eternal Darkness, Viewtiful Joe, F-Zero ... now those are tough to top.

    --Jeremy

    --
    Jesus was a liberal
  100. Get lost. by jotaeleemeese · · Score: 1

    Nobody is forcing your unadventurous self to boot Linux in your machine.

    Leave that to people with natural curiosity and a passion for experimentation.

    --
    IANAL but write like a drunk one.
  101. How long until you can load games from XBox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The xbox would make a nice little server to load Gamecube games off of... the xbox already has a network port, can run Linux (+ dev kit cracked wide open), and has a hard drive. How long until you can use the XBox to load GCN games :) george ripnet

  102. Re:Why GNU/Linux on gamecube if you already have . by gl4ss · · Score: 1

    GT, NOT GTA.

    gran turismo 3 that is.

    i've played gta3 and gta: vice city through on the pc already, thank you very much.

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  103. Re:Seriously... by Jesse9 · · Score: 1

    What's the difference between people hacking up GameCubes and hacking up Chevy's? It's all just for hobby.

  104. Re:Give it up for the coward! by Zigg · · Score: 1

    No, you missed the point. Or, maybe you didn't, and you're just trying to confuse the issue.

  105. New Link by Dragoon · · Score: 0
    --
    Welcome to the End
  106. Re:An interesting observation by Overly+Critical+Guy · · Score: 1

    Wow. Apparently you people have no sense of humor whatsoever.

    --
    "Sufferin' succotash."
  107. Warp one, here we gooo! by Ziviyr · · Score: 1

    Captain Picario, versus the Borg queen (named Bowser). Realizing the truth of his hopelessness he eats mushrooms allowing him to see the monsterous cyborged turtles as helpless slowpokes in a wonderful blue brown world where he can fly on bricks and cough up flames.

    Only on UPeNdo!

    --

    Someone set us up the bomb, so shine we are!
  108. I would like to take this opportunity... by cableshaft · · Score: 1

    ...to point at all those people who argued with me relentlessly that the Gamecube could never be hacked despite endless prior evidence to the contrary (see past consoles which were also claimed to be unhackable), and say: Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah. That is all.

    --
    Creator of the popular web game Proximity
    1. Re:I would like to take this opportunity... by Dragoon · · Score: 1

      You tell em Brother,

      I got the same reaction from my peers. Until I showed them this article. Then they all started talking about it like its the first time anybody ever mentioned it. Heh, Ingrates :)

      --
      Welcome to the End
  109. Interesting! by waldoj · · Score: 1

    One of the reasons Wisdom Tree published NES games without becoming a Nintendo licensee is that Wisdom Tree wanted to publish religious edutainment, but Nintendo had a policy of not allowing overt religious content in the games.

    That's really very interesting. Thanks for turning my off-topic post into something useful. :)

    -Waldo Jaquith

  110. Then why can't WinXP update non-MS apps? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If WinXP is so great then why can't it do remote update of non-Microsoft applications like Opera and Mozilla? With regular linux it's as simple as running apt-get or up2date.

  111. Re:Offtopic?!? Way to go idiot mod. by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

    I didn't, so don't worry. *pats your head*

    People can moderate my comments however the hell they want- if I didn't want to risk criticism, I wouldn't post in a public forum in the first place.

  112. Re:Offtopic?!? Way to go idiot mod. by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 1

    Nice way to leave out context. If anyone with mod points is reading this, you may want to read this first.