Ever wanted to know what the Xbox 360 hacking scene was all about? Well, we've got a quick primer for you, covering the basics of the hacking scene without getting overly technical. If you're interested in learning more, why not take a look at our primer after the jump!

Xbox 360 owners who are closely following the project developments of the InFeCtuS homebrew developer team, be informed that the group has just released a new build for the Programmer bumping it up to version 0.0.3.9. Know about its details after the jump!

If you're one of the many who are into modding their Xbox 360s, this news bit might be of some concern to you. Modchip makers Team Infectus have announced a delay in the shipping of their ARGON modchips. There's also some new info regarding the upcoming Infectus2 modchip chips this January. See the full version to find out more.

A modder unlucky - or foolish - enough to advertise his Xbox 360 piracy and modchip business in the popular classified advertisement website Craigslist had his home raided by the San Diego Computer and Technology Crime High-Tech Response Unit (CATCH).

Thousands of pirated game software were confiscated from Frederick Brown's home in San Diego, as well as a considerable number of modchips. The modder was supposed to go about his piracy business scot-free, until the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) member company employees spotted his Craigslist advertisements. Said Ric Hirsch, Entertainment Software Association senior VP for intellectual property enforcement:

Some of our member companies had seen his listings on Craigslist. We started to make some inquiries on our own last year and eventually through our investigations accumulated enough evidence to bring it to the attention of the CATCH team.

Because of the wide scope of Brown's piracy business, ESA opted to file criminal charges against the modder - 10 felonies, mind you - instead of merely suing him in court. Brown was freed when he posted bail amounting to US $100,000.

Installing modchips in consoles is a booming business among gamers, but not necessarily for game piracy. Modchips, for the most part, enhance gamer experience by adding content and homebrew applications in consoles, as well as bypassing region locks. However, it is deemed illegal by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) since modchips circumvent copyright infringement measures installed in consoles. Microsoft also disconnects consoles from Xbox Live once they detect that the consoles are "modded".

Two new InFeCtuS programs have been released recently - the new InFeCtuS Programmer and the InFeCtuS Tool. For those who are unaware, InFeCtuS is a modchip that is supposedly the ultimate next-gen solution, as it can be used for all three next gen consoles. So having said that, here's a changelog for the new Programmer, which is InFeCtuS Programmer v0.0.3.4.D

• Fixed a problem in wizard. Hid the commands write/erase when xbox flash is selected.
• Fixed a problem in memory size for SST-39SF020A. Fixed Flash ID Detector (caused problems on wizard and first connection).
• Changed gui interface. If the flash isn't recognized all the commands are hidden.
• Added Double Nand Flash controller. Fixed a delay on HY27US08281A reading.
• Updated the reseller list. Flash Support for: SAMSUNG K9F1208U0B XBOX 360 DEV - NOT TESTED.
• Compatibility fix for NAND Flash and Double NAND Flash
• NAND Flash and Double NAND Flash controller ( PS3 )

As for the new InFeCtuS Tool, InFeCtuS Tool 1.1 says that the new version should be more user friendly.

Again, we have to note that using InFeCtuS, you can downgrade your PS3's firmware. We're not quite sure what that implies, but we're pretty sure that all you developers will be able to figure something out. Now that the latest InFeCtuS software is out, the tinkering should be easier for all of you.

We'll leave you with a two things before we go. First is a little observation posted by an Administrator at the InFeCtuS forums, and next, a download link for the new InFeCtuS software. Enjoy folks!

Admin says: "After some tests, we can confirm that the firmwares are specific and unique for each console, and it's not possible to use a firmware from a PS3 console to another one."

Download: InFeCtuS Programmer v0.0.3.4.D and InFeCtuS Tool 1.1

We know you are still weighing your options when it comes to the InFeCtuS modchip. It's compatible with all three new-gen consoles and we can't blame you if you prefer a console-dedicated one. Of course, we're not even talking about the repercussions of putting that chip in your beloved Xbox 360.

Anyway, in case some of you are convinced that this will in fact do wonders to your unit, be informed that the team behind the modchip just announced new flat cables for Xbox 360 drivers.

The Quicksolder Flat Cables, the team claims, will allow an easy and fast installation of InFeCtuS on the DVD drive mainboards.

When the modchip was first announced, the team mentioned that it can read and write the internal flash of any X360 DVD reader in the market. Aside from this, the InFeCtuS modchip is also capable of FLASH ID realtime patching, Globe Modchip 360 emulation, and NME 1.2 firmware emulation.

The said Quicksolder Flat Cables will be available in a few days and the ones for the PlayStation 3 (PS3), PlayStation 2 (PS2), and Wii will follow soon.

A group called InFeCtuS (yes the alternating caps is part of their identity) has announced that they are planning to release a modchip on the market that has support for Microsoft's Xbox 360, Nintendo's Wii, and Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2.

For the X360, the chip is said to allow access to the Xbox 360 flash driver, so that (their claim) you can read and write the internal flash of any X360 DVD reader in the market. It also promises FLASH ID realtime patching, Globe Modchip 360 emulation, and NME 1.2 firmware emulation. For the PS3, InFeCtuS promises that the chip will allow users to flash directly to the PS3 BIOS by USB. Here are their words:

The first work to be done is to allow our users to flash directly the PS3 BIOS by USB. So no more problem with firmwares, you can install everything you want, when you want. All the complications due to firmware versions that cannot be downgraded will not bother you anymore.

This solution will be released in the next 4 weeks!

Another new feature that we want to add is a REAL TIME patching of the firmware part that you want to be emulated from the chip. Being the 512Kb flash not enough to store a real dual firmware, we'll have to wait for the first hacked firmware to understand if a "realtime" patching will be possible. In case we won't be able to find more ideas, a new version of Infectus with a memory expansion bay will be released.

For the Wii they promise that the chip should be able to do Wiikey and Wiifree emulation, which means that you'll be allowed to play what you want on your Wii. As for the PS2, they promise complete O2 modchip emulation.

For more info on their potential product, feel free to head to their site via our read link below.

Those guys at Xbox-Scene really do get word of new modchips quickly. Strangely enough, they've decided to compile some of the latest modchips released to the public for people to try out - all of which have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Want to mod? Not good with tools? Want versatility? Well that's just great. A modchip roundup is just what you need then. Keep reading, and enjoy the info!

The first modchip in this humble roundup is the Xeno 360 DVD Patchmod. Depending on your drive type, you'll need to solder a different number of wires, so it's definitely not for novices to modchips.

Here are the specs that have been dug up so far:

• Patchmod for XBox360 DVD Drive
• Original firmware stays unchanged
• No flashing or damaging of your firmware
• T/S drives 4 wires
• H/L drives 5 wires
• One chip for both drives
• Supported drives: T/S MS25, T/S MS28, H/L DJ46, H/L DH46, H/L DJ47, H/L DH47, H/L DJ59, H/L DH59
• SS required at offset #FC021E (NME-Style)

Looking for more information? Click on "Full Article" for the roundup!

Well, those Xecuter folks are at it again. Xbox 360 owners with Hitachi drives will find themselves very pleased with Xecuter's new offering: a modchip for those pesky Hitachi drives.

Yes, ladies and gents of the gaming community. The makers of the XHM Homebrew Modchip project and the Blaster 360 recently announced that due to insistent public demand (they say, "A LOT of emails"), the Team has finished developing a modchip for the 078 Hitachi drive. While details aren't forthcoming as of yet, the team has mentioned that this modchip will be easy to install and ought to have the same features their other mods currently carry.

Rest assured that we'll be checking on them from time to time to have a look at their plans for this new modchip, as well as the final price for the item. Till then, sit tight and rejoice in the news.

Japan-based research firm Fujiwara releases today the results of its study concerning the controversial single-sided double-layer discs. In case you are wondering why these discs are controversial, be informed that they are currently being used for making backups of Xbox 360 software. Anyway, as we have said, Fujiwara releases the results today and the numbers are not in Microsoft's favor.

"Global DVD+R/-R DL disc shipments are expected to reach 100 million in 2006 and should double in 2007," says the Japanese firm. This is rather alarming as the sales of the said disc had not been impressive prior to the attack of the hacks. DVD+R/-R DL discs have as of now limited applications and a high retail value. Given that, manufacturers are more optimistic saying the disc is not used purely for pirating purposes. Accordingly, the demands are also coming from the extending penetration rate of DL-support recorders.

While Microsoft is yet to take some serious actions, the corporation on the other hand has always maintained its anti-piracy policy. On one occasion, it even noted that, "the health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive, both from manufacturers and the local companies that support them."

Currently, shipments of the said discs are mainly coming from Taiwanese manufacturers like CMC Magnetics and Ritek. The former, reportedly, has market share of 30% while Ritek has captured around 60%.