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Video Games Console ‘Chipping’ Criminals BUSTED

Yesterday saw the successful launch of a new multifaceted crime-fighting initiative in which three people from the North East of England were put under investigation for producing and selling modified games chips and ‘chipped’ Nintendo® Wii™ and DS™, Microsoft® 360™ and Xbox®, and Sony® PlayStation®2 and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) consoles.

In a radical new departure for the way anti-piracy operations are handled, Police officers from the Cleveland Police Economic Crime Unit in conjunction with Stockton Police, two Trading Standards authorities and members of ELSPA (the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association) Anti-Piracy Unit, joined forces to hit three premises simultaneously.

The raids: two at separate addresses in the Billingham area and another in Lingdale were carried out at 7:30 yesterday morning, where an Aladdin’s Cave of illegal ‘chipping’ equipment, counterfeit and pirated games plus other infringing items were seized.

I do not have a problem with Mod ‘Chipping’ I like Mod Chips. I have one on my Xbox not for using pirated games, but for using EvolutionX menu system and functions. At the Time my son was 8 when I did this and well, he was not the best for taking care of his game CDs. With the help of the mod chip I was able to make back ups of his games and place them on the hard drive. I can play Homebrew games along with using it as a media player (Scheduled recording, fast forward, rewind, pause Live TV, almost like a TiVo).

It appears that at least two of the three suspects questioned were offering pirated games for sale over the Internet and a significant quantity of advanced electronic devices and chips that allow counterfeit gaming to be played on almost every current console; they were also selling illegal copies of the games themselves.

Prevention and disruption of illegal Internet trading is now the number one priority for all UK economic crime authorities, where traders of counterfeit goods and pirates have been operating with relative anonymity and virtually unchallenged. Criminals operating on the Internet or in the marketplace now face tough and effective counter-measures to deny them opportunities to profit from the sale of counterfeit goods and the theft of Intellectual Property.

Mod ‘Chipping’ should not ever be considered a crime. Its your game system you can drop it off the roof if you want and no one should care. Its only a crime when you use it to pirate games. I know the downfall of all the people busted in the raids, is that they also sold pirated games and that’s a NO NO. The mind set of people is that “Well if it can be used to pirate games then, Oh my that must be what you are doing with it”. That would be like saying “You own a gun you must be robbing people with it”. IT does not work that way folks. A DVR with a DVD recorder in it can be used to copy a movie off HBO. Should they be outlawed as well since you could sell them? IT is the game corps using the “I will Burn the town down to get the 1 person I really want” approach.

Summer Release dates from Nintendo

As we move into summer Nintendo is launching a range of games which will keep everyone from hardcore gamers to complete newcomers entertained. The unprecedented success of the Nintendo DS has helped to expand the gaming audience more than ever before and is the fastest selling console to reach the 10 million mark in European history, now with sales of almost 12 million, while the newly released Wii has already sold approximately 2 million in Europe since launch. Now Nintendo’s already strong software line-up is being bolstered even further by a selection of new titles launching in the third quarter of 2007.
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Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition

Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition has shipped to retail stores across North America. RE 4 Wii Edition is a new version of the award-winning game that incorporates the control functionality of the Wii Remote™. The incredibly successful Resident Evil® series has sold more than 30 million games worldwide. The game carries an “M” rating for mature audiences by the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) at a suggested retail price of $29.99.Resident Evil® 4 is one of the highest rated games on Game Rankings.com and Metacritic.com, garnering dozens of awards and nominations for its amazing game play and incredible re-invention of the “survival-horror” genre. This celebrated game now comes to the Wii with added Wii Remote and Nunchuck™ support, allowing players to immerse themselves in the game as never before. With RE4 Wii Edition, Capcom is offering new and more immersive sense of control to players, while keeping all of the game’s incredible game systems intact. As Leon Kennedy, players will explore a town overrun by cultists, mutants and mind-controlled villagers, using the Wii Remote to aim, fire, slash and avoid oncoming adversaries with intuitive motions and movements. RE4 Wii Edition also contains the additional content included in the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system version of the game.

No Manhunt 2 for the UK

The BBFC ( British Board of Film Classification ) has rejected the video game Manhunt 2. This means that it cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK. The game was submitted in both a PS2 and a Nintendo Wii version. This is the first video game to be refused a classification since Carmageddon in 1997, when that decision was overturned on appeal by the Video Appeals Committee. The decision was taken by the Director and the Presidential Team of Sir Quentin Thomas, Lord Taylor of Warwick and Janet Lewis-Jones. Full Story »

Three New Classic Games Added To Wii Shop Channel

Three new classic games go live. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wiiâ„¢ owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Pointsâ„¢ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

NES Open Tournament Golfâ„¢ (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): We all knew that Marioâ„¢ was a top-notch plumber, but did you know that he could also be a world-class golfer? You can challenge another player in Stroke, Match and Tournament modes. Play on three fantasy courses in the USA, the UK and Japan and try to win a million dollars. Make sure you keep an eye on the wind and distance to the hole before selecting your club, or else you’ll be racking up some high scores - which is exactly what you don’t want to do in this game. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced golfer, NES Open Tournament Golf is perfect for those days when you just can’t get to the local golf course.

World Sports Competition (TurboGrafx-16, 1-5 players, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Play through a total of 18 Olympic events in this action/sports title. Players compete in six categories of events that include shooting, archery, rowing, swimming and track and field. The game features Olympics mode, where you play all the events over the course of a few days, and Training mode, where you can choose individual events to play. After practicing in Training mode, go for the gold in Olympics mode and break world records. Depending on your play time and ability, you can enjoy the game a number of different ways. Gather friends and play in competitions with up to five players to get even more out of this great game.

Bloody Wolf (TurboGrafx-16, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Animated Blood, Violence, 600 Wii Points): Enter alone, deep into enemy territory to rescue the kidnapped President in this overhead-view action shooter. Take on the role of a commando in a Special Forces team and face your enemies with an onslaught of weapons, including machine guns and grenades. Earn valuable information, weapons and items by rescuing POWs. Fight your way to the end of each stage and defeat the boss by effectively using your weapons and equipment. This port of the insanely popular arcade game features refined graphics, story and cut-scenes, making this action game a must-have. This new and enhanced version includes the never-been-told second half of the story that was left out of the arcade version.

Space Station Tycoon for the Wii

Follow the adventures of Shawn and Tam on an intergalactic journey through Pirate infested space, meteor fields, supernovas, and countless dangers as they seek out fame and fortune in the high-stakes world of Space Station management.

Station Tycoon is a fast paced, simulation game focusing on character interaction and humor, light puzzle solving, and customization in a free form, non-linear world. Meet exciting characters, buy new stations to customize, and try to keep an insane collection of clientele satisfied.

• Tons of customization: Continually expand your empire with an increasing number of islands and customize each one to attract business. Add Galactic Taverns and overflowing treasure chests to befriend the unruly Space Pirates. Looking for a livelier crowd? Build luaus and water parks to attract the fun-loving Party Pigs!
• Awesome cast of characters: Play as entrepreneur Shawn, with the help of his monkey sidekick Tam, and keep a crazy cast of quirky characters happy so they will gladly spend their money! Make the right friends and you will run your competition into the ground. But, it’s not so easy when your competition seems to have ties to Space Pirates, Ninjas and mysterious voodoo-practicing Chickens!
• Physics-based object interaction: Create gravity points with your Wii controller and interact with objects in the environment. Catch asteroids to keep them from smashing your space station, bounce rowdy ships, retrieve tips from visitors and even lob cannonballs at those troublesome pirates that keep attacking!
• Goal-based gameplay: Manage stations all over the galaxy and take advantage of the ebb and flow of the economy to maximize your income. Meet the objectives of each level in order to continue to expand your empire and become the ultimate Space Station Tycoon!
• Multi-player Party Mode, Co-op play and more!

Game Summary:

Publisher: NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
Developer: Wahoo Studios
Release Date: Summer 2007
Platform: Wii
Genre: Simulation/Adventure
Player: 1 – 2 Players
ESRB Rating: RP

Video game systems and the rise of drug use!

With all the data we as a society track now days this is one that has been over looked. All the talk about violent video games and what they are doing to our kids, I thought I would look at the numbers a little more. Scanning the U.S. Department of Justice crime numbers thinking I would not find anything new. I found something so crazy that I could not even believe what I was looking at. If you will look at the numbers you will see what I see. Full Story »