A Gentle Introduction to Gaming and Chipmods
Right through the history of computer and video games, gamers have been compelled to alter both hardware and software for pleasure and for monetary gain. Be it neat machine code tweaks on microcomputers such as the Oracle and ZX Spectrum to give you unlimited lives on games way back in the 80s, to DSi flashcarts allowing you to play a larger range of applications on their DSi.
Hardware producers and software developers have had a tricky relationship with modders and gamers who are often one and the same. In a sense, modders add value to the games and systems – for instance modified chips make it convenient for games players who can download non-sanctioned games from the net. Likewise, games hacking adds new purpose “uncompletable” games, and these days it’s de rigeur for games producers to actually embed cheat codes for games players to discover.
Then again, software developers say that such modification lessens their revenue, as chipmods are also utilized to get around steps against illegal copying, and bypassing firmware that restricts discs to work only in certain geographical locations. These are persuasive causes for console and games developers to forever develop progressive steps to make chipmods more and more tricky.
Still, no matter how powerful the causes are in opposition to chipmods, chipmodding is a big industry that isn’t going to go away.
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