Next Next Gen Console, Xbox and Blu-Ray?

[nickmas80]

Everything I have heard says that Sony owns Blu-Ray. So, what is Microsoft going to do for their next next gen xbox? Anyone know more (anything) about this?

[MHAQS]

Nah, don't underestimate Microsoft and Toshiba , they'll invent something better than BluRay.

[Jay]

I'm just glad that Blu-Ray players are available that are backwards compatible with DVDs. I don't want to have to purchase all my DVD titles over again. Hell, I still keep a VCR hooked up for playing movies in the VHS format.

[MHAQS]

I'm happy I can buy a 1 TB HDD for $125 or less now. I don't care how the Optical Disc scene turns out. I can store all the madness on HDDs.

[Jay]

Yeah, what I want to do is back up everything I have to an external hard drive and play them on the TV using something like S-Video. I'm gonna get another TV tuner for this new computer. I had one on my last computer and it was awesome.

[slackpipe]

Yeah, i hate all disc based media anymore.  it's too easy to damage.  All my dvds get ripped to avi, and then put in a box.  My dvd player plays avi, so it works out well for me.  I've heard there's a way to get the wii to stream vids from a hd, but i haven't attempted it yet.  bricking my wii would be very very bad.

[MHAQS]

Yeah, i hate all disc based media anymore.  it's too easy to damage.  All my dvds get ripped to avi, and then put in a box.  My dvd player plays avi, so it works out well for me.  I've heard there's a way to get the wii to stream vids from a hd, but i haven't attempted it yet.  bricking my wii would be very very bad.

I love the PS3's Media Server Feature for that . I also stream my TV Tuner using VLC whenever I want to enjoy TV and the PS3 at the same time.

[slackpipe]

Can't get behind the PS3.  Still feel like it's WAY overpriced.  and the only game i really wanna play on it is the new MGS.

[MHAQS]

Can't get behind the PS3.  Still feel like it's WAY overpriced.  and the only game i really wanna play on it is the new MGS.

I think Sony might announce a price cut in this GDC. I got my PS3 in an odd manner for about $299 and I got the first series model CECHA. Oh, I kinda love this world at times.

[slackpipe]

Yeah, there for a while walmart was selling them for 399 and they gave you a hundred dollar gift card with purchase.  So 299 wasn't too bad.  I still can't justify the price.  Only 1 game out that I REALLY want to play on it right now.

[MHAQS]

Only 1 game out that I REALLY want to play on it right now.

*mhaqs scrolls back a page and makes sure he saw somewhere that slackpipe's a Nintendo fan*

[Jay]

Oh he's a Nintedo guy alright. That's why Bazzie Bizzle.com is expanding to cover Nintendo first... he's relentless. I must say though he's been very helpful. I'd love to have a PS3, but like I said in another post, I'll wait till the price drops and someone hacks it. That way I can get it cheaper and make sure the one I get can be hacked as soon as I get it home. I'd hate to buy a brand new one after they find a hack, just to come home and find out that I have the wrong firmware or something and have to wait. Hacking a console is my favorite part of buying one.

[nickmas80]

I've never hacked a console before. Is it easy to do without f'n it up?

[Jay]

It depends. Most of the time it's fairly simple. There are two ways you can hack a console, software mods and hardware mods.

A software mod (or softmod) involves exploiting a flaw in a game to allow playing of backups and execution of homebrew software. It's ussually a simple process, but varies depending on the exploit. A good example of this would be the XBox exploits in savegame code for MechAssault, Splinter Cell, and 007: Agent Under Fire.

A hardware mod (or mod-chip) can be a little more complex and involves altering the hardware of a console to achieve the  intended behavior, usually by installing a mod chip. This method varies depending on the mod chip and console combination and involves some soldering (although some mods have been made that just plug into a port). This method is much more dangerous than the first. It also voids the warranty.

I'm sure either method is well within your skill set.

[slackpipe]

First of all mods of any kind void your warranty, and CAN screw up your console.  However, they are usually well documented, and even unbricking techniques are posted.  When you decide to do it, be sure to look at ways it can be bricked, and if there are any ways to unbrick it.  It's good stuff to know BEFORE you get in trouble.  Sometimes you need to do something BEFORE you brick it (Like backing up the EEPROM on the reg XBox)

When mods first come out they are usually EXTREMELY complicated.  The first mods for the wii involved taking the drive out soldering wires to it and hooking it to a computer to stream iso's off your hard drive.  The first mods for the ps1 involved taking it apart, removing a plate and soldering 4 or 5 wires to the board.  But as the mods improve they can get very simple.  The XBox had solderless mod chips just involved removing a screw, setting the mod chip in and putting the screw back in and i think the ps2 has a memory card that will work as a softmod.  I prefer softmods myself.  Should you need to send it in for service it is sometimes possible to remove the mod.  since you didn't open the case to do it, you haven't noticeably voided your warranty.

From what I've seen, the xbox, wii, psp and DS mods are pretty simple.  I've read up on the 360, it seems fairly simple too, but you have to take the thing apart, which is a pain.  I'm not sure on the ps3, haven't really paid much attention to it.  I know they have successfully gotten it running linux. 

Just did a quick check, and it still looks like the ps3 isn't modded.  But give it time.