Market Society

Throughout the history of computer games, gamers have loved to modify both software and hardware for pleasure and profit. Be it simple programming hacks on microcomputers like the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum to give you unlimited “lives” on computer games back in the 80s, to DSi flashcarts permitting one to play a larger range of games on their Nintendo DSi.

System developers and games makers have had an on/off relationship in regards to the hacking and soldering crowd. In a sense, they bring more worth to the systems and games - for example modchips make it convenient for gamers who can play backups on their consoles. To add to that, games hacking breathe new life into “uncompletable” games, and nowadays it’s even a convention for software makers to embed cheat codes for games players to find.

On the other hand, software developers say that such chip modding lessens their profits, as chipmods are also carried out to circumvent piracy steps, and circumventing hardware that limits cartridges to work only in particular geographical locations. These are persuasive reasons for console and games producers to continually develop progressive steps to make modding all that more dificult.

Whatever the causes in opposition to chip modification, chipmodding is now a huge industry that isn’t going to disappear anytime soon.

No Comments

No comments yet.

Comments RSS

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.