Xbox 360 Hacks - News, Hacks, Cracks, Mods.

As it turns out, 1080i works with NetFlix over component.

The copy protection with the new HD Netflix streaming service on the Xbox 360 requires an HDCP compatible display device.  This is true with HDMI.  If you try play a movie while not connected to an HDCP compatible display, you will get the “Secure HDCP Link Not Found” error.

The original issue was for people that have a non-HDCP LCD monitors, or are hooked up via DVI to their Xbox 360, that you were out of luck.  Was was not clear either, was whether your resolution be limited to 480p if you have an older Xbox 360 with only component outputs.

Bottom line: Some older LCD monitors don’t support HDCP over DVI. If you’re in the group of people using an HDMI to DVI adapter to drive an older display that doesn’t do HDCP, then HD Netflix won’t work, since it can’t authenticate.

The Xbox 360 60GB Live Starter Pack includes a 60 GB Hard Drive,  headset, 3-month LIVE Gold subscription, and an Ethernet cable. That basically means this pack has everything not included with the Aracade or CORE systems. SO, how much does it cost? Yeah, of course; it sells for $99, the monetary difference between the Xbox 360 Arcade ($199.99) and the Pro ($299.99).

This will also work with all other systems, so if you have a 20Gb system, and want to upgrade to 60GB?  Well, this is worth the money with the items it comes with; considering a 20GB HDD new in the pask is still like 70 bucks retail.  So, for 99.99, the only thing you may not need is the Headset and Network cable.  Me? I can always use network cables, and you?  Price them separately, and it’s much more!   Or, you always have Ebay to sell of the stuff:

3-Months Live – $19.99 Retail
Network Cable – $10.00 Retail
Headset – $10.00 Retail

SO, sell it all to someone in your neighborhood, TAX FREE, and only end up paying 50.00 for the 60GB drive.  Eh, now that you think of THAT, they’re not worth $50.00 are they?  Nope…  Still, it comes in the nice detachable unit…

The glitch occurs during the quest called “Monk’s Quest,” in which players are tasked with speaking to the Abbot of the Temple of Light in Oakfield. Apparently, if players run into the temple, begin the conversation with the Abbot, and then leave the region before the conversation is finished, they are be unable to resume the quest, thus preventing them from completing the main story. Lionhead is currently working on the issue and advises all players to MAKE SURE sure to finish the conversation, and cut scene before leaving the area. Unfortunately, there is no fix for those who have already encountered the glitch.

Wow, that seems kind of major to me…

Another glitch discovered in the game causes those who take one of their heroes into co-op with another player starting a new game. Apparently, when leaving childhood, all experience and gold will be wiped from the co-op character. Lionhead hopes to address this glitch in a title update, but advises players to only play co-op after the childhood stage has been completed.

Man, I hope his game wasn’t rushed out just to GET it out on the shelves… I won’t be buying it now… I will wait till there is a fix. There is also an infinite money glitch that has to do with changing the time back, load game, save, then set it way forward, then you make money based on your properties and what not.

Here is another one: One of the pub games that is a surefire moneymaker. In the Fortune’s Tower game, bet the minimum amount and deal the cards, before the first few cards are dealt, press the LB button to max out your bet. The game will think you bet the full amount, even though you only bet the minimum. This increases your potential winnings by ten times what they would have been.

Infinite experience: Wait until your Fable 2 character is at least somewhat leveled up. Plug in a second controller and begin a co-op game without using a second profile. Using the second controller, go to your henchman’s abilities and discard all of them, returning the experience to the pool. Then quit out of the co-op game. You should find that all the “leftover” experience has been transfered to your hero. Repeat ad nauseum. Note: Your co-op henchman will have the same abilities that you do, so the stronger the hero the more abilities there are to sell off and thus more experience.

A Miscrosoft spokesperson has told Edge that Epic’s long-awaited Gears of War 2 will not be released in Japan. “We can confirm that Gears of War 2 will not be available in Germany or Japan indefinitely” said the spokesperson.  The news may come as a shock to many observers as the original Gears of War was one of the first titles to crack the Japanese software charts during a time when the 360 console was selling at its slowest.  The reasons why the game will not be released remain unclear. In May this year Germany’s ratings organization declined to issue the game an age certificate.

You saw push activated LEDs for the PSP; now it’s the same modded makeover for the 360 controller — courtesy of KingMike. All that’s required: a couple LEDs, some wire, and rudimentary soldering skills.

The schematics and other info are available via the source link. Nice work, KingMike.

- source: acidmods

The new dashboard update, coming November 19th, requires 128MB of memory; be it on your HDD or MEMORY CARD.  So, where does this leave Arcade and Core owners?  Well, they can delete space for it – OR- they can participate in the Xbox 360 Memory Upgrade Program.  This means a free 512MB memory card, or a discounted $20 20GB HDDs to Core owners, and a $30 20GB HDD + 3 months of Xbox Live package to Arcade owners looking to upgrade.

I bought an Arcade unit (for the HDMI port) Friday the 17th, and signed up immediately.  With tax, the 20GB is costing me about 32.00, and there seems to be no shipping charge.  Yes, the 20GB drives are REFURBISHED ones, it says so when you sign up.  This is also with the 3 months of free live card, that I plan to include with the premium system I now have for sale.  So grab your serial number, and console ID from the current Xbox 360 Dashboard (system information) and go to the registration website HERE (Yes, click HERE, as in HERE).

Once you use the new experience though, you WILL be required to make an Avatar.  You cannot proceed until you do.  I am not sure if they are making the new dash mandatory or not.

By the way, the 20GB drives only being 20.00 or 30.00?  You have probably figured out where the profits from those now $149 120GB HDDs went…   Also, you can get 120GB drives on Ebay for as low as 79.99 shipped for refurbed ones.   They don’t say if they come with the data transfer cable, which is needed for seemless upgrading.

SO, upgrade away Core and Arcade owners.  Also, if you already have drives for your consoles?  So what, it’s cheap, so get another one.

Following up on reports that the new Xbox 360 dashboard will no longer feature photo and movie sharing, Microsoft has confirmed with Shacknews that the latest software update will launch without the ability to share movies with other Xbox Live members; Awwwwwwww…

However, the update will still feature online Photo Sharing functionality when it arrives as a free software download on November 19. They explained that comments from Xbox senior strategist Rob Gruhl regarding the addition of Photo Sharing were hypothetical, meant to stress that the software is dynamic and can be easily updated.

Microsoft is suing U.S.-based cargo-delivery service DHL Express for allegedly losing 21,600 Xbox game consoles because of a train derailment in Texas, according to court documents.

Microsoft claims that DHL has refused to compensate it for the loss, even though the delivery service “negligently breached its duties as a common carrier, handler, bailee, warehouseman, agent, or in other capabilities,” according to the court papers.

The fall update going to allow you to install gamed to the HDD, so they can be run from there. The entire facts are not known, but it would be logical to assume you would need the original to start it. This is going to save a lot of wear and tear on their WEAK DVD drives; which we all know is one of the other faults of the system. I have had mine replaced once, only due to DVD drive failure, no 3LOD, or other overheating issues. Anyway, here is a video showing the load times, for DVD -vs-HDD while playing Grand Theft Auto IV:

http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?umid=275585