The Playstation 3's biggest nightmare?

If it's not the Nintendo Wii or Microsoft X-Box 360 that's the problem, then there's something chewing at Sony's shoes: Hackers. In 2011, the PS3s were exploited thanks to Fail0verflow. Their motive? Fail0verflow's explanation? Hackers want to run their own code on the hardware they buy and PS3 allowed them to do that from day one. Only when the Linux-stripped PS3 Slim appeared – which they say can run the OS just as well at the older model – and when OtherOS was removed from the "fat" console, were the hackers suitably motivated to expose the security shortcomings of the system. Now come on here, Fail0verflow. Video Game systems are something you don't crack open. They're something you cherish like the Playstation 1 and 2. None of that other stuff matters. And how dare you want to play Linux on the PS3. Heck, running Linux or even Windows is about stupid and they should be replaced with the Sony OS. So how did Fail0verflow get their gritty mitts on the code? Well However, the Fail0verflow team's work goes way beyond this traditional style of hacking. They have released the technique by which any kind of unauthorised code can be run on any PS3. Every PS3 executable file is encrypted, or signed, using private ciphers only available (in theory) to Sony itself. It has long been established that brute-forcing the keys would take hundreds of thousands of computers hundreds of thousands of years to complete. However, despite this mathematical reality, Fail0verflow are now in possession of all of the encryption keys Sony uses. They can create DLC-style packages that will run on any PlayStation 3, and yes, they can create their own custom firmware upgrades. Their stated aim is to produce their own firmware update that boots directly into Linux on any PS3, but the methodology allows for any kind of custom firmware to be produced – and we all know what that means. So how did Fail0verflow get the keys so quickly? Well, in creating the encrypted files, an important element of the mathematical formula is the use of a random number. The PS3 encryption scheme uses just a single random number that never varies between each signed file, while the proper way of carrying out the signing process is to use a different random number every time a file is signed. Armed with just two signatures, it is possible to mathematically reconstruct the encryption key thanks to this constant variable. In theory, it's as simple as that. In practice, some simple equation work is required. In other words, it takes rocket scientists to crack the PS3, and it seems Fail0verflow are rocket scientists. More than a year has passed since the worst came. Patch 3.6 blocks out the hacking completely, though something did manage to slip between the cracks. And this is for those who didn't update, this is where Sony is about to fall apart. But first, details on what 3.6 was suppose to do The firm's response - firmware 3.60 - plugged many of the holes, neatly working around the entire root key problem, and even with the release of the new custom firmware, any console running system software 3.60 or higher is effectively locked out. Only hacked consoles, or those still running 3.55 or lower can run the new code unless expensive, difficult-to-install hardware downgrade devices are utilised on older hardware. That meant if you wanted access to the PSN, you needed Patch 3.6, which locks you out of custom firmware. Those with Patch 3.5.5 and below were out of luck. Until recently, unfortunately. Despite the effectiveness of firmware 3.60, PS3 has still had to contend with piracy issues, notably the JB2/TrueBlue dongle, but this hack still locked consoles to 3.55 and stopped compromised consoles gaining access to PSN - until recently at least, where the "passphrase" security protocol protecting PSN was leaked, giving hacked consoles full access to the service. The release of the new custom firmware - and the LV0 decryption keys in particular - poses serious issues. While Sony will almost certainly change the PSN passphrase once again in the upcoming 4.30 update, the reveal of the LV0 key basically means that any system update released by Sony going forward can be decrypted with little or no effort whatsoever. Options Sony has in battling this leak are limited - every PS3 out there needs to be able to decrypt any firmware download package in order for the console to be updated (a 2006 launch PS3 can still update directly to the latest software). The release of the LV0 key allows for that to be achieved on PC, with the CoreOS and XMB files then re-encrypted using the existing 3.55 keys in order to be run on hacked consoles. So just how did LV0 come to be released at all? The original hackers who first found the master key - calling themselves "The Three Tuskateers" - apparently sat on its discovery for some time. However, the information leaked and ended up being the means by which a new Chinese hacking outfit - dubbed "BlueDiskCFW" planned to charge for and release new custom firmware updates. To stop these people profiteering from their work, the "Muskateers" released the LV0 key and within 24 hours, a free CFW update was released. Folks, this may be the biggest hack in the history of the Playstation legacy. What next, a hack that lets you revert to Patch 3.5.5? Stay tuned to see if Sony can get themselves out of this mess. Works Cited: Eurogamer Link 1 Link 2

The fall of prices

The holiday season is right around the corner, even though Halloween is close by. But it seems prices will drop around this time so more people can buy a new video game system. First, let's talk about Microsoft. The 360 has confirmed a price drop to $250 How will the Xbox 360 compete with Nintendo’s Wii U for attention this fall? Not with a line up of blockbuster exclusives, and but with a price drop. The Xbox 360 is quietly enjoying its retail dotage. November will mark the system’s seventh year on shelves, making it positively ancient by video game technology standards. It’s getting just two major exclusive release this fall in Forza Horizon, which will appeal primarily to a niche audience, and Halo 4, a game that isn’t attended by the manic hype that surrounded its predecessor in 2007. Microsoft is opening new services associated with the box, like Xbox Music, and laying the groundwork for the brand’s future with Windows 8, but the Xbox 360 is largely staying quiet going into the always-competitive holidays. The Xbox 360 is getting a price drop this holiday though. Microsoft isn’t announcing a line wide price drop for all Xbox 360 packages, but its retail partners are. Best Buy, Kmart, GameStop, Amazon, and Target are all selling brand new Xbox 360 bundles that are $50 cheaper than usual. GameStop, for example, is selling a $250 box that comes with a 250GB Xbox 360, a copy of Forza Motorsport 4, and a download voucher for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, alongside another $250 package with a 4GB Xbox 360 and a Kinect. Other retailers are offering similar packages at the same price. Microsoft isn't one to take it lying down. They are planning on going after the Wii U when it comes out and challenge it to a one on one duel. They also hope to help re-energize the video game industry, which has been lagging all month. Can they do it? Only time will tell. But Microsoft isn't the only company doing a price drop. Nintendo, who is releasing the Wii U next month, is also doing a price drop on its Wii systems. Nintendo has dropped Wii’s price to $129.99. A new bundle will include a black Wii along with both Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort on a single disc, as well as a matching black Wii Remote Plus and a Nunchuk controller. Nintendo says the new price is “in advance of the busy holiday shopping season” and is expected to be widely available by October 28th. “Nearly six years after it launched, people are still attracted to the pure, inclusive fun of the Wii console,” said Nintendo of America executive vice president of Sales & Marketing Scott Moffitt. “A new suggested retail price and the inclusion of two great games make it an easy choice for families looking for a great value this holiday season.” The new bundle replaces last year’s New Super Mario Bros. Wii bundle and once again includes the “newly reconfigured” Wii Family Edition, which sits horizontally rather than vertically. The system does not offer backwards compatibility for GameCube games or accessories and was first seen at Gamescom in 2011. That's right. If you can't afford the Wii U, you still got the Nintendo Wii to back you up. Cheaper than even a 3DS, the Wii still provides tons of fun for the whole family, and those who like oldskool NES/SNES/N64/Genesis/MasterSystem/TurboGrafx/NeoGeo titles. So what about Sony and its Playstation 3? Well while you will be getting a super slim model, it seems Sony won't be dropping the price anytime soon. No PlayStation 3 model is getting a price cut this holiday season. Not the new ultra slim models. Not the old slim models. Speaking with Engadget, Sony VP of marketing John Koller, said that the lack of a price drop at the suggested retail price level is because retailers are already running promotions that lower the price of the console significantly. “There’s no price drop formally, but the thing that’s been happening in the market over the last year or so is that there’s been so many retail price promotions, and so many different gift card offers, and all those things, being done by all of us (Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony), that we’ve heard from our consumer, ‘Enough with all these weird price moves. What we really want is content and games and value,’” said Koller. That’s right: Having two models of PlayStation 3 on shelves, in more than 5 distinct hardware and game bundles, priced everywhere between $250 and over $300, is exactly the sort of clear pricing and value that customers so badly want. If you squint real hard, you can see a layer of logic in Sony’s decision to release the brand new PlayStation 3 models at higher prices than what’s already on shelves. The company is reeling from two years of profound financial losses, the mediocre launch of a new handheld gaming system, and the cost of purchasing Ericsson’s half of its mobile phone business and trying to relaunch the line in an Apple-dominated market. Kaz Hirai, former head of SCEA and new Sony CEO, needs the PlayStation division to make some cash. Releasing a new system designed to save on production costs at a lower price won’t earn Sony that paper. Sony. What are you thinking? Not only will the 360 extend its lead, but the Wii U will crush you in the process. There's more on the line than just a new model, but you also got new competition to go against you. So there you have it. Out of the 3 companies, only 2 will get a price drop. Who will win? Stay tuned this Holiday season where the debate will at least be more hectic than what Obama did early this month. Works Cited: Digital Trends IGN Digital Trends link 2

Kevin Butler under fire

It seems Sony isn't happy with Kevin Butler playing Mario Kart Wii on a Bridgestone commercial and has now filed a lawsuit against the actor Jerry Lambert of Wildcat Creek, and of Bridgestone.

Sony Computer Entertainment America filed a lawsuit against Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek, Inc. on September 11. The claims are based on violations of the Lanham Act, misappropriation, breach of contract and tortious interference with a contractual relationship. We invested significant resources in bringing the Kevin Butler character to life and he’s become an iconic personality directly associated with PlayStation products over the years. Use of the Kevin Butler character to sell products other than those from PlayStation misappropriates Sony’s intellectual property, creates confusion in the market, and causes damage to Sony.

As if Sony wasn't doing enough damage for itself.   Now Kevin Butler may have done more damage to the Sony brand than they thought.  But there is more to this story than meets the eye.


Actor Jerry Lambert, who plays the hilarious and arrogant Kevin Butler character in PlayStation commercials, is the president of Wildcat Creek according to Corporationwiki.com. SCEA claims that Bridgestone and Lambert violated one of Sony’s intellectual properties. Which one? Well, Kevin Butler.

In February of this year, Lambert began to appear in a series of Bridgestone promotions. You can see the actor mocking former NFL player Deion Sanders at the end of this ad:

Now, for those of you who are wondering what  ad was it, well Venture Beat, who posted up the info, has shown off the ad that began Lambert's pursuit into Bridgestone right here



And as you are aware, there was an ad where Lambert and others were test driving the Nintendo Wii, which will be outdated and replaced with the Wii U next month.  It was referred to as the GameOn promotion at Bridgestone


Bridgestone and Wildcat Creek are now running a “GameOn” promotion where customers can get a $70 American Express gift card or a Nintendo Wii console. A recent ad for this promotion — which the official Bridgestone YouTube account has removed from the video-sharing site — featured Lambert in a white lab coat appearing with the Nintendo console and a running copy of Mario Kart Wii.

And ironically, it seems removing Lambert from the commercial was not enough and has made Sony furiously mad.  Here's hoping Lambert can survive the lawsuit.  And if anyone should replace Kevin Butler, it should be Charlie Sheen.

Sony.  Forget about Kevin Butler and go with Charlie Sheen.  He will bring you up a real winning.

Works Cited:

Venture Beat

NPD August 2012: Pandas dancing around

Before I go talking about World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, I better get some business out of the way with the NPD of August 2012.

BTW.  It seems I'm putting in less and less info.  Why?  Because I may be limiting this blog to NPD reports or going all out completely.  Anyway, enough is enough.  Let's get this out of the way.

At number 10: Activision Blizzard's The Amazing Spider Man(360, PS3, NDS, 3DS, Wii), who's still holding on by a spider thread

At number 09: Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops(360, PS3, NDS, Wii, PC), though we wonder how well the sequel will do

At number 08: Warner Bros' Batman Arkham City(360, PS3, PC) with the Wii U version still on its way

At number 07: Activision Blizzard's Transformers: Fall of Cybertron(360, PS3) proving there's no rest for an Autobot or Decepticon

At number 06: SquareEnix's Sleeping Dogs(360, PS3), though that's betraying SquareEnix's dedication to over cheesy Japanese RPGs

At number 05: Warner Bros' Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes(Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSV, PC), which is becoming the de facto Batman game.

At number 04: Electronic Arts' NCAA Football 2013(360, PS3), a warm up for Madden.

At number 03: SquareEnix's Kingdom Hearts 3D(3DS), though that doesn't count as a cheesy Japanese RPG

At number 02: Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros 2(3DS), proving Mario still has what it takes to attract Nintendo fans everywhere.

And finally at number 01: THQ's Darksiders 2(360, PS3, PC), which means Death has ways to satisfy.

Finally for sales, this is all we could muster

X360:193K
3DS:Above 170K
PS3:Above last month, below 193K

For the first time, the best selling system didn't even reach 200K.  However, the 360 maintains its lead of the competition for the 20th consecutive month in a row.  The 3DS's XL launch represents 44% of the sales even though it was only released for a few days.


Will Madden bring a touchdown to the field?  Or will September be intercepted?  Stay tuned.

Works Cited: NeoGAF