| As a serious gamer myself, I love to see | | | | programs to stream video and audio. But in |
| games before they hit our shores here in | | | | order to play / run this software, users are |
| North America. But more than that, I am | | | | required to be able to load unsigned / home |
| always looking for the hottest and most | | | | brew code onto their system. This is where |
| unique games I can get my hands on. | | | | mod chips come in. Not only do they allow you |
| Unfortunately, many of those games just don't | | | | to play the latest game offerings from Japan, |
| come to our side of the ocean from Japan. | | | | which as stated earlier, are often much |
| Typically, since the days of the original | | | | better both graphically and in the way of |
| Nintendo NES, Japanese gamers have enjoyed | | | | originality than the games that are for the |
| much more unique and often times much better | | | | North American market. |
| games than their North American Counter | | | | |
| Parts. I've been very fortunate to be able to | | | | As with any new system, and the new mod chips |
| play many of these Japanese games while I was | | | | that first come out - we're always hit with |
| living in Japan, but when I returned back | | | | loads of "compatibility" issues. Much like |
| home to Canada, I simply could not find many | | | | when the ps2 mod chip first came out, they |
| of the games that I had played with such | | | | had chips (different chips) for each |
| pleasure while in Japan. So I searched and | | | | "version" of the ps2 console. And the Xbox |
| researched and found exactly what I needed to | | | | 360 mod chips are no exception. The very |
| be able to just put those Japanese games into | | | | first chips that came out were for very |
| game console and really start playing again. | | | | specific "versions" of the XBox 360. First it |
| What I found was a Mod Chip, for my | | | | was a mod chip for the Samsung drives .. |
| Playstation console. And I've been using mod | | | | Which means that if your XBox 360 had a |
| chips ever since then. Having most recently | | | | samsung DVD drive, then you needed to buy an |
| purchased and installed my Xbox 360 Mod Chip | | | | Xbox 360 mod chip that worked on the SAMSUNG |
| into my system - and I've got games from | | | | drive, to bypass the current firmware. |
| Japan on the way. | | | | |
| | | | Then the Team Underdog chip came out, this |
| So Just what IS a mod chip? Let me explain. A | | | | chip had 2 versions. One for the samsung |
| modification chip or mod chip is a device | | | | drives, and another one for the LG/Hitachi |
| used to play import, backup, or home brew | | | | Drives. So again, you were "stuck" having to |
| games. Mod Chips first came into "fame" when | | | | find out exactly which Xbox 360 you had, in |
| die hard, hard core gamers who were tired of | | | | order to select the right chip for your |
| the slim offerings that were made available | | | | console. |
| for them in the USA, wanted to get their | | | | |
| hands on the often better and more unique | | | | Now, as with most developments in the mod |
| Japanese games that were coming out for their | | | | chip manufacturing world, eventually, some |
| game console. This is nothing new, even the | | | | very smart programmers and developers finally |
| Nintendo NES has a device that allowed gamers | | | | get it right. Naturally, it is common sense |
| to plug Japanese Famicom cartridges into | | | | to assume that customers would be much more |
| their USA NES system so that they could play | | | | likely to buy a mod chip for their Xbox 360 |
| those really unique Japanese games, or the | | | | is they could do away with the "version" |
| latest Mario offering that was only available | | | | checking, and buy a chip that they KNOW will |
| (or came out much sooner) in Japan. | | | | work in their Xbox 360 console... Of course, |
| | | | when they take it apart after receiving their |
| Mod chips are available for all the major | | | | chip, they WILL have to find out which model |
| video game consoles, including the Xbox 360, | | | | they have so they can use the right |
| Xbox, Sony PSP, PlayStation, Playstation 2 | | | | installation directions - but they don't have |
| and GameCube. Almost all modern console | | | | to fret or worry that the chip they have |
| gaming systems have hardware-based schemes | | | | purchased may NOT be compatible with their |
| which ensure that only officially sanctioned | | | | XBox 360. |
| games may be used with the system and | | | | |
| implement regional lockout similar to the | | | | Much like any product, customers want the |
| scheme used in DVD movies. The specific | | | | peace of mind of knowing that what they are |
| technical nature of these DRM systems varies | | | | buying will simply just WORK, and in the case |
| by system, and may include cryptographic | | | | of mod chips, will work in their Xbox 360 |
| signing (Xbox), intentionally unreadable | | | | console regardless of the version of the Xbox |
| sectors (PlayStation, Sega Saturn), custom | | | | 360 that they purchased. |
| optical media (GameCube, Dreamcast), or some | | | | |
| combination thereof. Modchips are available | | | | In comes the Globe 360 Xbox 360 Mod Chip. The |
| also for some DVD players, to defeat region | | | | Globe 360 is the world's First Xbox 360 mod |
| code enforcement and user operation | | | | chip that is compatible with ALL DVD Drives |
| prohibitions. | | | | currently on the market! Rather than having |
| | | | to figure out which model drive you have, as |
| Mod Chips first came into "fame" when die | | | | you do with other chips, the Globe360 Xbox |
| hard, hard core gamers who were tired of the | | | | 360 Mod chip works in ANY drive model to |
| slim offerings that were made available for | | | | date. And the home brew software that is |
| them in the USA, wanted to get their hands on | | | | available is outstanding - and I expect it to |
| the often better and more unique Japanese | | | | get a whole lot better. My Xbox already acts |
| games that were coming out for their game | | | | as a complete media center, even streaming |
| console. This is nothing new, even the | | | | Google Videos directly from the Internet. And |
| Nintendo NES has a device that allowed gamers | | | | my Playstation 2 has been transformed from |
| to plug Japanese Famicom cartridges into | | | | just an awesome games machine to a DVD |
| their USA NES system so that they could play | | | | Player, DivX Player, MP3 Player, and |
| those really unique Japanese games, or the | | | | streaming content directly to the console |
| latest Mario offering that was only available | | | | from the Internet makes it something that I |
| (or came out much sooner) in Japan. | | | | could not do without. |
| | | | |
| Modchips typically require some level of | | | | To sum it up, if you have an Xbox 360, then |
| technical ability to install. Most commonly, | | | | you should really consider getting an Xbox |
| modchips must be soldered on to a console's | | | | 360 mod chip. Not only will you be able to |
| motherboard, although there are no-solder | | | | protect your expensive investments by making |
| install kits (which instead rely on the | | | | backup copies of your own original games, and |
| precise positioning of electrical contacts | | | | putting the originals away for safe keeping, |
| within the case) which work with some | | | | but you'll also open up a whole new world of |
| revisions of the PlayStation 2 and Xbox | | | | games that you simply would not be able to |
| hardware. | | | | play otherwise. There are truly very unique |
| | | | (and playable) Japanese games that we'll |
| As console systems got better and better, a | | | | simply never see otherwise. And if home brew |
| whole following of home brew developers | | | | or cool utilities, applications or add-ons |
| starting making their own software for their | | | | are your thing, then having a mod chip is an |
| consoles. Software like the Xbox Media Center | | | | absolute must. |
| (XMBC) as well as their own little games and | | | | |