Hacking the PSP Blog

Massive Mod Chip Raid Sweeps Nation

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from nearly two dozen cities executed 32 federal search warrants in 16 states in the past 24 hours as part of a mammoth crackdown on chip modding.

Operation Tangled Web, the result of a year long investigation headed up by the ICE office in Cleveland, is the largest national enforcement action of its kind targeting the sales of modification chips and "disc copyright circumvention devices" in history.

Neither the Department of Justice nor the ESA would name the businesses, homes or storefronts involved in the sweep that took place in California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin today.

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Brian Crecente
August 1, 2007

Source: Kotaku

The Full Scoop: No Announcement for U.S. PlayStation 3 DVR

Sony Computer Entertainment America's PlayStation 3 offers a hot list of capabilities including Bluetooth controllers, Blu-ray movie playback, WiFi internet connectivity and hard drives capable of storing demos and movie trailers. Yet, trailers seem like child's play when compared to Xbox 360's full movie download rentals and the future use of TV over IP (IPTV) over the Xbox Live service.

SCEA hasn't said much about its intentions to get into video but a new head of marketing for SCE New Zealand recently said that digital video recorder (DVR) capabilities would soon be offered as the country gains Freeview terrestrial digital broadcast channels.

Just yesterday, we talked to SCEA's Dave Karraker about the agreement that Sony Electronics, Inc. has with TiVo. Back in 2001, Sony and TiVo signed an agreement that would allow Sony to feature TiVo software. While Sony has offered standalone TiVo (SVR 2000 & 3000) machines along with a DirecTiVo (T60) receiver, Sony hasn't made much use of the agreement.

Considering that the original contract is scheduled to end in October 2008, there's still time. With TiVo's growing list of patents and U.S.-based user base, which should grow as a TiVo-enabled Comcast digital receiver releases, adding DVR capabilities via a unit that would decode channels through the CableCard interface seems theoretically possible.

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Michael Mullen
August 1, 2007

Source: GameDaily BIZ

Rockstar finally appeals BBFC’s Manhunt ban

Publisher applied for hearing yesterday

MCV has learnt that Rockstar has lodged an official plea with the Video Appeals Committee over Manhunt 2’s ban – the UK body that has the power to overturn the British Board of Film Classification’s decision to keep the title off shelves.

The publisher notified the VAC yesterday – taking almost the full six weeks allowed to formulate its appeal since the game was rejected by the BBFC on June 19th.

A date will now be set for the VAC’s hearing, which will take into account both the BBFC’s and Rockstar’s position and view demonstrations of the game.

Read the full story here...

Tim Ingham
August 1, 2007

Source: MCV UK

PlayStation 3 to get DVR functions in early 2008

Sony is to launch a digital tuner for the Playstation 3 in early 2008, offering programmable TV recording functions to users of the next-gen console.

Warwick Light, sales and marketing manager for Computer Entertainment New Zealand, revealed the details to local website The Press, promising to "transform the PS3 capabilities so as to meet people's changing entertainment needs."

"We're also hoping next year – about the same time that Freeview launches its terrestrial broadcasting service – to release a digital tuner for the PS3, turning it into a programmable TV recorder," said Light.

Freeview services are expected to launch in New Zealand next March.

Although some industry watchers expect an announcement regarding the service to be made at this year's Leipzig Games convention, Sony has previously refused to comment on the speculation.

Matt Martin
August 1, 2007

Source: GamesIndustry.biz