Game Console Hacking (eBook)

Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Game Boy, Atari and Sega

Joe Grand, Albert Yarusso (Autoren)

eBook Download: PDF

2004 | 1. Auflage
512 Seiten
Elsevier Science (Verlag)
978-0-08-053231-8 (ISBN)

Infos

The worldwide video game console market surpassed $10 billion in 2003. Current sales of new consoles is consolidated around 3 major companies and their proprietary platforms: Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. In addition, there is an enormous installed retro gaming base of Ataria and Sega console enthusiasts. This book, written by a team led by Joe Grand, author of Hardware Hacking: Have Fun While Voiding Your Warranty, provides hard-core gamers with they keys to the kingdom: specific instructions on how to crack into their console and make it do things it was never designed to do.

By definition, video console game players like to have fun. Most of them are addicted to the adrenaline rush associated with winning, and even more so when the winning involves beating the system by discovering the multitude of cheats built into most video games. Now, they can have the ultimate adrenaline rush---actually messing around with the soul of the machine and configuring it to behave exactly as the command. This book builds on the motto of Have Fun While Voiding Your Warranty and will appeal to the community of hardware geeks who associate unscrewing the back of their video console with para-jumping into the perfect storm.

* Providing a reliable, field-tested guide to hacking all of the most popular video gaming consoles.

* Written by some of the most knowledgeable and recognizable names in the hardware hacking community.

* Game Console Hacking is the first book on the market to show game enthusiasts (self described hardware geeks) how to disassemble, reconfigure, customize and re-purpose their Atari, Sega, Nintendo, Playstation and Xbox systems.

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The worldwide video game console market surpassed $10 billion in 2003. Current sales of new consoles is consolidated around 3 major companies and their proprietary platforms: Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. In addition, there is an enormous installed "e;retro gaming"e; base of Ataria and Sega console enthusiasts. This book, written by a team led by Joe Grand, author of "e;Hardware Hacking: Have Fun While Voiding Your Warranty"e;, provides hard-core gamers with they keys to the kingdom: specific instructions on how to crack into their console and make it do things it was never designed to do. By definition, video console game players like to have fun. Most of them are addicted to the adrenaline rush associated with "e;winning"e;, and even more so when the "e;winning"e; involves beating the system by discovering the multitude of "e;cheats"e; built into most video games. Now, they can have the ultimate adrenaline rush---actually messing around with the soul of the machine and configuring it to behave exactly as the command. This book builds on the motto of "e;Have Fun While Voiding Your Warranty"e; and will appeal to the community of hardware geeks who associate unscrewing the back of their video console with para-jumping into the perfect storm. - Providing a reliable, field-tested guide to hacking all of the most popular video gaming consoles- Written by some of the most knowledgeable and recognizable names in the hardware hacking community- Game Console Hacking is the first book on the market to show game enthusiasts (self described hardware geeks) how to disassemble, reconfigure, customize and re-purpose their Atari, Sega, Nintendo, Playstation and Xbox systems

Inhalt

Front Cover 1
Game Console Hacking 4
Copyright Page 5
Contents 12
Foreword 22
Introduction 2.0 28
Introduction 30
Part I: Introduction to Hardware Hacking 34
Chapter 1. Tools of the Warranty-Voiding Trade 36
Introduction 37
The Essential Tools 38
Basic Hardware Hacking 41
Advanced Projects and Reverse Engineering 46
Where to Obtain the Tools 49
Chapter 2. Case Modifications: Building an Atari 2600PC 52
Introduction 53
Choosing your Features: Why the Atari 2600? 54
Preparing for the Hack 56
Performing the Hack 62
In Conclusion 115
Resources and Other Hacks 115
Part II: Modern Game Consoles 118
Chapter 3. The Xbox 120
Introduction 121
Opening the Xbox 125
Controller Hacks 128
Getting Inside Your Controller 130
Xbox Networking Hacks 145
Creating Your Own Crossover Cable 149
Extending the Network Status LEDs to the Front Panel 153
Wireless Networking Hacks 156
Installing a Modchip 164
Running Linux on an Unmodified Xbox 174
Other Hacks 177
Homebrew Game Development 177
Xbox Resources on the Web 179
Chapter 4. PlayStation 2 180
Introduction 181
Commercial Hardware Hacking: Modchips 181
Getting Inside the PS2 183
Installing a Serial Port 189
Booting Code from the Memory Card 197
Other Hacks: Independent Hard Drives 203
PS2 Technical Details 204
Homebrew Game Development 209
PS2 Resources on the Web 210
Part III: Handheld Game Platforms 212
Chapter 5. Nintendo Game Boy Advance 214
Introduction 215
A Very Brief History of Nintendo 219
Opening the GBA Console 220
Replacing the Display Lens 226
Light Up Your LCD with the GBA Afterburner Mod 231
Enhancing Your Afterburner with the GBA Stealth Dimmer Chip 250
Nintendo GBA Technical Specifications 259
Homebrew Game Development 266
Other Hacks 267
Nintendo GBA Resources on the Web 271
Chapter 6. Gamepark 32 (GP32) 274
Introduction 275
Out of the Box: Configuring Your GP32 278
Opening the GP32 Console 284
Replacing the GP32 Screen Cover 290
Repairing Your Buttons 295
Accelerating Your GP32 (CPU Core Voltage Increase) 297
Creating a DC Power Adapter 302
Installing the Multifirmware Loader 308
Homebrew Game Development 313
Other Hacks 317
GP32 Resources on the Web 319
Part IV: Retro and Classic Systems 322
Chapter 7. Nintendo NES 324
Introduction 325
Opening the NES Console 327
Replacing the 72-Pin Cartridge Connector 332
Blue Power LED Modification 335
Disabling the NES "Lockout Chip" 344
Opening an NES Game Cartridge 349
Replacing the Battery in Certain Game Cartridges 352
Creating an EPROM Cartridge for Homebrew Game Development 357
Homebrew Game Development 363
Other Hacks 365
NES Resources on the Web 366
Chapter 8. Atari 2600 368
Introduction 369
Atari 2600 Left-Handed Joystick Modification 370
Repair Your Atari 2600 Joysticks 375
Revitalize Your Atari 2600 Paddles 382
Use an NES Control Pad with your 2600 389
Atari 2600 S-Video/Audio Mod 397
Atari 2600 Stereo Audio Output 415
Homebrew Game Development 424
Atari 2600 Resources on the Web 429
Chapter 9. Atari 5200 432
Introduction 433
Opening the Atari 5200 434
Atari 5200 Blue LED Modification 441
Atari 5200 Two-Port BIOS Replacement 446
Creating an Atari 5200 Paddle Controller 452
Freeing Yourself from the 5200 Four-Port Switchbox 467
Atari 5200 Video and Audio Upgrade Modification 479
Other Hacks 500
Homebrew Game Development 503
Atari Resources on the Web 507
Chapter 10 Atari 7800 510
Introduction 511
Blue LED Modification 512
Game Compatibility Hack to Play Certain Atari 2600 Games 519
Voltage Regulator Replacement 523
Power Supply Plug Retrofit 528
Other Hacks 534
Homebrew Game Development 535
Atari 7800 Resources on the Web 539
Appendix A: Electrical Engineering Basics 542
Introduction 543
Fundamentals 543
Basic Device Theory 552
Microprocessors and Embedded Systems 563
Soldering Techniques 564
Common Engineering Mistakes 570
Web Links and Other Resources 571
Index 574

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 12.11.2004
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber
• Themenwelt: Informatik ► Netzwerke ► Sicherheit / Firewall
• Themenwelt: Mathematik / Informatik ► Informatik ► Theorie / Studium
• Themenwelt: Informatik ► Weitere Themen ► Computerspiele
• Themenwelt: Wirtschaft ► Betriebswirtschaft / Management
• ISBN-10: 0-08-053231-4 / 0080532314
• ISBN-13: 978-0-08-053231-8 / 9780080532318