Sony's Official Statement Regarding PS3 Hacking [Slashdot]

[DP ServBot]

tekgoblin writes "Sony has stepped up its stance on anyone circumventing protection of any kind on the PlayStation 3 and released a statement addressing it. Most recently Sony had barred George Hotz (Geohot) from releasing any more information about the console whatsoever. Now, Sony has their eyes set on other users that may be trying to use pirated software or modded PlayStation consoles on their network. The statement reads: 'Notice: Unauthorized circumvention devices for the PlayStation 3 system have been recently released by hackers. These devices permit the use of unauthorized or pirated software. Use of such devices or software violates the terms of the "System Software License Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System" and the "Terms of Services and User Agreement" for the PlayStation Network/Qriocity and its Community Code of Conduct provisions. Violation of the System Software Licence Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System invalidates the consumer guarantee for that system. In addition, copying or playing pirated software is a violation of International Copyright Laws. Consumers using circumvention devices or running unauthorized or pirated software will have access to the PlayStation Network and access to Qriocity services through PlayStation 3 system terminated permanently.'"

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[Flack]

This is Sony's official warning -- go online with a hacked PS3 and face a permaban.

[Oobgarm]

Those who want to pirate PS3 stuff or engage in homebrew will either

A. Buy another PS3 system to keep up-to-date if PSN/etc interests them.
B. Not care at all about being banned from PSN.

The gates have fallen. Sony's screwed no matter what, so this just seems like "we mad" posturing. Also, they're making this a lot more public than it needs to be, really. Way to get the word out there that your games can be pirated with relative ease.

[kupomogli]

They can't really do anything about piracy about people who don't care about playing games online, but those who care about the PSN and online play will have to get a second PS3 if they want to pirate single player games. They're doing as much as they can to contain it.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Interesting to note that every single console and portable this generation has now been hacked.

Begs the question, are there ANY consoles or portables in the history of the industry that haven't been hacked?

[megasdkirby]

This is Sony's official warning -- go online with a hacked PS3 and face a permaban.

I wonder if Sony will ban the user ID, the system or both.

I think Microsoft only bans the system, not the ID, right?

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I wonder if Sony will ban the user ID, the system or both.

I think Microsoft only bans the system, not the ID, right?

I'm pretty sure MS bans both when there's evidence of a modded console or pirated software.

[eskobar]

Denying access to the PSN is not the only effect, I am sure that many will miss trophy support .... at least the ability to sync them to make a gamercard or sharing account with friends for DLC.

[98PaceCar]

Interesting to note that every single console and portable this generation has now been hacked.

Begs the question, are there ANY consoles or portables in the history of the industry that haven't been hacked?

Most likely not. Even bootleg arcade boards turn up pretty frequently. If any escaped being hacked it's only because they were so obscure that nobody cared about them.

[MASTERWEEDO]

isnt this what microsoft did with modded xboxs?

[Clownzilla]

I really wish that gaming companies would reevaluate their stance on console modification. As a person who likes to tinker I would love greater access to the system that I purchased. There is nothing wrong with a company trying to prevent piracy or cheating on their network. However, is there really anything negative with letting a user program their own software and letting them use their purchased hardware to run that software. The Linux experiment on the PS3 was a good start but even then Sony didn't allow access to important functions of the system. I guess now they decided to pull it all together.

I guess I'm sort of impressed with Microsoft's effort to actually embrace basement developers and tinkerers (they are finally realizing the power of free advertising with Kinect hackers). Why can't game companies let loose a little more and allow the gaming public to breath a little independent creativity into the industry. All this can be done without allowing piracy or online cheating....

[Baloo]

isnt this what microsoft did with modded xboxs?

Yes, but people actually cared about that because of how much better Xbox Live is over PSN.

[eskobar]

I really wish that gaming companies would reevaluate their stance on console modification. As a person who likes to tinker I would love greater access to the system that I purchased. There is nothing wrong with a company trying to prevent piracy or cheating on their network. However, is there really anything negative with letting a user program their own software and letting them use their purchased hardware to run that software. The Linux experiment on the PS3 was a good start but even then Sony didn't allow access to important functions of the system. I guess now they decided to pull it all together.

That could work only in an alternate world.

The biggest problem is that even the best intentions to free a system result in misuse from hundreds of thousand people ... Maybe GeoHot just wanted to give PS3 users the chance to re-install Linux but the scene deviated in the ability to play games from the HD ... etc etc

If you want to program games or apps for your console, you can do it in your computer, its easier, faster, cheaper .... or try XNA. The amiga was very popular for this but the business model is quite different.

And again, its nice to be able to customize your devices but if you really need that versatility, the PC has had it for years

[theclaw]

Well some recent arcade games use powerful hardware that hasn't been emulated. I'm not aware of bootleg UMDs or actual N64 pirate carts either.

[buzz_n64]

Well some recent arcade games use powerful hardware that hasn't been emulated. I'm not aware of bootleg UMDs or actual N64 pirate carts either.

N64 Pirate carts known to exist:

Killer Instinct Gold
Pilotwings 64
Top Gear Rally
Wave Race 64
(Diddy Kong Racing)

http://nesworld.com/n64piracy.php

[98PaceCar]

Well some recent arcade games use powerful hardware that hasn't been emulated. I'm not aware of bootleg UMDs or actual N64 pirate carts either.

See above for pirated N64 and the PSP was hacked to not even require UMD anymore.

[Howie6925]

Yes, but people actually cared about that because of how much better Xbox Live is over PSN.

People only cared because you have to pay to go online with Live, not because it is better.

[bcks007]

See above for pirated N64 and the PSP was hacked to not even require UMD anymore.

I've seen Road Rash 64 too.

[WanganRunner]

Begs the question, are there ANY consoles or portables in the history of the industry that haven't been hacked?

Blackberry.

If that even counts.


I can't think of anything else....although older stuff probably didn't get hacked just because there IS no pirate Atari Lynx software, for instance.

[NayusDante]

I highly doubt that anyone has hacked the R-Zone.

[theclaw]

Last I recall, the GBA Video full movies remain undumped. Pointless to bother with them. As its entire library consists of exactly:
Shrek
Shrek 2
Shark Tale
Shrek & Shrek 2 (2 in 1 cart)
Shrek & Shark Tale combo (2 in 1 cart)

Not kidding, XFD.

[NayusDante]

There were also numerous Pokemon and Nickelodeon compilations.

[kedawa]

What's so different with the full movies?
I downloaded a ROM of Strawberry Shortcake just out of curiosity a while back, and I'd like to see how the Shrek movies turned out.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

...
I can't think of anything else....although older stuff probably didn't get hacked just because there IS no pirate Atari Lynx software, for instance.

While I don't recall any bootleg commercial releases, there are plenty of homebrew games for sale/still being produced that run with no modification to the system.

I'm not sure what the consensus is on that, but I assume some measure of reverse engineering of code went on there. Hacking? Not strictly, but something in that realm.

Also, a quick Google search brings up plenty of Blackberry hack sites/apps.

[Clownzilla]

That could work only in an alternate world.

The biggest problem is that even the best intentions to free a system result in misuse from hundreds of thousand people ... Maybe GeoHot just wanted to give PS3 users the chance to re-install Linux but the scene deviated in the ability to play games from the HD ... etc etc

If you want to program games or apps for your console, you can do it in your computer, its easier, faster, cheaper .... or try XNA. The amiga was very popular for this but the business model is quite different.

And again, its nice to be able to customize your devices but if you really need that versatility, the PC has had it for years

Atleast XNA gives the user access to the console (although not complete access). Nintendo never did and Sony decided to rip it off of their console. I'm not a Microsoft fanboy but I have to give them credit for realizing that the basement developer matters. I understand the desire to keep pirate programs off the system but I have never seen piracy issues related to XNA. Sony and Nintendo needs to step back and see how independent development can be done without totally locking out a system.