Poll: How does console piracy work?

[Mandalore_15]

I should start by saying that I am asking purely for informative reasons. I have done a google search and narrowed down a bit of info on the subject but some of it seems a bit inconsistent and is mostly held on dodgy looking sites.

OK, so why I want to know: I am currently writing a research paper for my university on DRM and copyright protections in the videogame industry. From what I gather, most console piracy occurs by soldering a modchip into the console or performing a hardware or software hack to circumvent the security protections in its firmware. However, what I want to know is, what is the most common way that the games are distributed? Do most people buy pirate copies of games from friends or dodgy black-market traders, or is it much akin to PC gaming where the game is downloaded online and burnt onto a disc so it can be played?

Any more info anyone could add would be very useful, particularly with regards to handheld storage media and digital distribution. Thanks!

Note: I in no way support or condone videogame piracy. In fact, as a hopeful media lawyer, I categorically condemn it!

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I guess technically if you hijacked a shipment of Playstations on the open seas that would be a form of console piracy.

Aside from that I got nothin'. I'm not even technically proficient enough to pirate PC games. It took me forever to figure out to even seed a torrent, and even then I just used it to download an audiobook. I'm a poor pirate. I'm not even a buccaneer.

 

[MisterShine]

I can't really comment for certain of course (I don't even own any consoles, let alone pirate on them..), but I would guess that if you have the technical know how to either physically hack your system to allow it to play pirated games, or to change the firmware for your system to do so, you'd know how to work a simple torrent and a dvd burner to get the game for free like a PC version, and not buy it out of the back of some dude's trunk.

But, that'd just be a guess on the matter.

 

[Weaver]

I'd imagine torrents are where the vast majority of console piracy happens.
Once your console is modded all you need to do is download an illicit disc image from the internet and burn it to a disc. Your modded console will be able to play that disc, a non-modded console will not.

I also think there are ways to instead hook up an external hard drive which will then store disc images and your console can play those.

 

[fix-the-spade]

or is it much akin to PC gaming where the game is downloaded online and burnt onto a disc so it can be played?

Console piracy comes in two flavours.

Soft modded consoles use either boot discs or other removable drives to circumvent built in security, technically the console is not altered (hence 'soft'). It's the most common these days as the current and last generations rely mostly on software for their copy protection.

Hand held especially use this method, part of the DS's strength (or weakness) is how easily it can be booted into non-Nintendo operating systems, mine runs on Linux! Unfortunately it also makes it very vulnerable to piracy.

Hard modded console are less common, PS1s could be hacked by removing or short circuiting certain areas of the pcb, fat PS2s were vulnerable to the same method as well. I don't hear of that happening much on current tech as they are far more delicate.

As far as the software goes. Way back in the 90's software piracy for PS1 discs was the pass time of seedy car boot sale types, for players to 'make' the game themself was very rare.

Now, much the same as any piracy, torrents ahoy.

 

[Optiluiz]

Here in Brazil, 9/10 videogame stores sell mostly pirate games. People actually buy them. Some people don't even know the difference between a real retail game and a pirate one. Video-games do cost a lot of money here, though... So... Yeah...

 

[Mandalore_15]

Thanks for the responses!

Console piracy comes in two flavours.

Soft modded consoles use either boot discs or other removable drives to circumvent built in security, technically the console is not altered (hence 'soft'). It's the most common these days as the current and last generations rely mostly on software for their copy protection.

Hand held especially use this method, part of the DS's strength (or weakness) is how easily it can be booted into non-Nintendo operating systems, mine runs on Linux! Unfortunately it also makes it very vulnerable to piracy.

Hard modded console are less common, PS1s could be hacked by removing or short circuiting certain areas of the pcb, fat PS2s were vulnerable to the same method as well. I don't hear of that happening much on current tech as they are far more delicate.

As far as the software goes. Way back in the 90's software piracy for PS1 discs was the pass time of seedy car boot sale types, for players to 'make' the game themself was very rare.

Now, much the same as any piracy, torrents ahoy.

Some great info here, thanks. Just a quick question: I've read in a few news articles that the Xbox 360 has mostly been hacked through the use of modchips. Do you know if this still the case, or if things have changed since the slim version came out?

 

[Vigormortis]

The most common and prevailing form of console game theft is used game sales.

No really, it is. Every time a store, even ones as large as Gamestop, sell a used game they make 100% profit. (essentially) None of the money from the purchase goes back to the publisher or company that made the game.

But what you're talking about is home-brew piracy. Wherein someone mods their console via internal or external hardware changes or "additions". I.E. a mod chip, etc, etc. And, I'm not going to go into detail about it because:

A: I'd rather not share the ins-and-outs on how to do it as I'd rather not have someone become "inspired" to start pirating.

B: Fix-the-spade gave a fairly concise explanation of the basic methods.

 

[Jaloopa]

The most common 360 hack a couple of years back (it may have changed with the more recent firmware) was to connect the DVD drive to a PC and use a utility to flash the firmware, removing the code that checks for an authentic disc. Handhelds tend to use cartridges which can be loaded with a few games at once.

 

[vrbtny]

From what I gather, most console piracy occurs by soldering a modchip into the console or performing a hardware or software hack to circumvent the security protections in its firmware. However, what I want to know is, what is the most common way that the games are distributed? Do most people buy pirate copies of games from friends or dodgy black-market traders, or is it much akin to PC gaming where the game is downloaded online and burnt onto a disc so it can be played?

Clever people download the games from private sites, burn them to a disc and play them that way, as you suggested.

Dumb people, or people in countries that have shitty internet access(Or highly monitored) get theirs from the dodgy black-market traders, or sometimes from shops on the high-street in some countries. Hell it happens in China, and I'm guessing many other places.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Do you know if this still the case, or if things have changed since the slim version came out?

I have no clue, all the mods I know of for 360s revolved around improving the cooling and airflow for older models. I haven't seen much on altering a 360's basic functionality, but I haven't been looking either.

 

[Mandalore_15]

The most common and prevailing form of console game theft is used game sales.

I must emphatically disagree with you that this is "theft". The same copyright laws that protect videogame companies against piracy also protect the rights of consumers to sell on and buy second-hand copies of copyright works. This has been the situation for over a hundred years, and it is only the videogame industry that has ever complained about it: books, music and DVDs are all sold second hand every day and the industries involved just accept it. Frankly, I find any industry attempt to remove this right to be monopolistic and draconian.

 

[Mandalore_15]

Ech, sorry for double post. First one didn't appear for about 5 minutes...

 

[Vigormortis]

The most common and prevailing form of console game theft is used game sales.

I'm sorry, I can't understand you; you're mumbling with that corporate dick in your mouth.

Besides, public libraries "steal" a hell of a lot more merchandise than Gamestop could ever hope to. Our circ is in the millions and we're just one county in one state.

Hating on Gamestop is for dickless chumps. It's like picking on the handcapped, or children. Why pick on the little guy when a god is looming just behind them? You scared?

Go ahead... go full retard. Say it. The library is right there... stealing all those books and movies and video games... millions of them. All you have to do is call 'em out...

Wow. You seem to be taking my statement personally. Let me guess. You work at Gamestop, don't you? Why else would someone defend a place like that who's company policy is "rip-off both the publishers and consumers". "Gamestop....the little guy"? I may literally die from laughing. You should do stand-up. Just because a company tends to hire hipsters and geeks it doesn't mean they're run by the same.

Libraries don't steal, they "borrow" by rights. And, they lend books and other media out on a temporary basis. They don't sell. Places like Gamestop charge publishers for the right to have the games sold through them. Then they share the profit. But Gamestop doesn't stop there (irony), they find ways of charging extra to the consumers. Then, they keep 100% of the extra profits generated by these schemes. Paying only the percentage they have to to the production companies and developers.

Therefore, when they buy a used game, then turn around and resell it, often at near full price (or in many case, at full price because they've repackaged it and labeled it "new") they give absolutely none of the profit to the publishers. If you do something like that at home, it's no big deal. But when a company does it, while they're charging the publisher money to carry the same game, it's just the epitome of a dick move.

But I'm guessing you're the kind of person who either doesn't get that or doesn't care. You just enjoy accosting people on internet forums, throwing out insults and expletives like they're going out of style, and hiding behind a veil of anonymity. Ironic, then, that you ask me if I'm scared. Ha!

In any case, I'm going to do what I do with all trolls that try to rile me up. I'm posting this message, then I'm going to ignore you because, honestly, you just aren't worth my time. Feel free to bombard me with hateful responses/quotes/or messages. The most amount of time I'll spend is the time it takes to click the 'report' button.

Good day.

[edit] Upon further "research" I have discovered that you've been on the Escapist for a short time yet have already racked up 3 warnings. Once again, o' shock of shocks, someone who verbally attacks one of my posts is someone who seems to revel in trolling around the forums looking for a fight. Maybe the Escapist should hire me. I seem adept at drawing out the trolls with nothing more than a simple, non-threatening response to a thread.

 

[targren]

Therefore, when they buy a used game, then turn around and resell it, often at near full price (or in many case, at full price because they've repackaged it and labeled it "new") they give absolutely none of the profit to the publishers. If you do something like that at home, it's no big deal. But when a company does it, while they're charging the publisher money to carry the same game, it's just the epitome of a dick move.

Except you're wrong and he's right, however flame-baity he might be. True, the publisher gets nothing from the purchase and sales of USED property. The problem they have is that they have no right to part of it. That disc ceases to be their property to buy and sell when they sell it the first time (to the retailer). Just because they've decided to start whining that they're not entitled to double-dip doesn't make it wrong. It makes them greedy pricks.

 

[dfphetteplace]

I should start by saying that I am asking purely for informative reasons. I have done a google search and narrowed down a bit of info on the subject but some of it seems a bit inconsistent and is mostly held on dodgy looking sites.

OK, so why I want to know: I am currently writing a research paper for my university on DRM and copyright protections in the videogame industry. From what I gather, most console piracy occurs by soldering a modchip into the console or performing a hardware or software hack to circumvent the security protections in its firmware. However, what I want to know is, what is the most common way that the games are distributed? Do most people buy pirate copies of games from friends or dodgy black-market traders, or is it much akin to PC gaming where the game is downloaded online and burnt onto a disc so it can be played?

Any more info anyone could add would be very useful, particularly with regards to handheld storage media and digital distribution. Thanks!

Note: I in no way support or condone videogame piracy. In fact, as a hopeful media lawyer, I categorically condemn it!

You can just download them from torrents like everything else.

 

[yuval152]

The only way that i know is by modfing the DVD player or using a modchip and disguiseing your illegal CD to an "offical xbox 360 game".

And people usually download it via HTTP or torrent.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

or is it much akin to PC gaming where the game is downloaded online and burnt onto a disc so it can be played?

Console piracy comes in two flavours.

Soft modded consoles use either boot discs or other removable drives to circumvent built in security, technically the console is not altered (hence 'soft'). It's the most common these days as the current and last generations rely mostly on software for their copy protection.

Hand held especially use this method, part of the DS's strength (or weakness) is how easily it can be booted into non-Nintendo operating systems, mine runs on Linux! Unfortunately it also makes it very vulnerable to piracy.

Hard modded console are less common, PS1s could be hacked by removing or short circuiting certain areas of the pcb, fat PS2s were vulnerable to the same method as well. I don't hear of that happening much on current tech as they are far more delicate.

As far as the software goes. Way back in the 90's software piracy for PS1 discs was the pass time of seedy car boot sale types, for players to 'make' the game themself was very rare.

Now, much the same as any piracy, torrents ahoy.

This basically explains it. To be a bit more specific about where the actual pirated games come from, currently most pirated games are torrented. With modern consoles, you generally don't even need to burn a disc. For example, the homebrew channel on the Wii allows the user to hook up an external hard drive. It doesn't allow piracy in and of itself, but some of the less scrupulous homebrewers have made apps that allow users to load .iso files off of such a hard drive. Going back a generation, to the PS2, people actually did use burned discs. My cousin had a copy of Swap Magic, which was the cheapest and easiest method of getting a PS2 to run a burned copy of a disc. He would rent games from Blockbuster, and then burn a copy using his computer. This was back in the days of Kazaa, though; well before torrents.

This is all very US centric, by the way. I understand that in most countries outside of the first world, pirated games are actually sold in shops, and the majority of consoles in circulation are modded from the get go. Here in the US, this just wouldn't fly. Depending on where you are, you can occasionally find people at flea markets and along the side of the road selling pirated DVDs, but modded consoles are rare enough that something similar for console games would just be unsustainable, especially with how crazy our government is at cracking down on this sort of thing.