Do not use the Birdy Flasher with Xtreme v1.3 / v2.0 and Geremia Patch on a non-v46 or else you will brick your Xbox 360 drive!

Gary at OPA (GaryOPA) found what was wrong with the script, explaining that "the problem is the flashing never gets to the (FL592) line, as the labels above are all pointing to the v46 code" as seen here:

:Flash59
// ---- Flash --

status(flashing firmware)
EnCrypt

:fl461

status(flash 9003e000 Master checksum)
Flash(9003e000,1000)

iftrue
goto(fl462)
endif

YNMessage(Error by flash 9003e000 Master checksum retry ?)

IfTrue
goto(fl461)
endif
exit

:fl592

Homebrew software made by people for free (and in their free time) is not going to be absolutely foolproof! If you're going to flash or try free software, you always do it at your own risk!

Luckily, help is on the way. Geremia has released a fix for the Birdy flasher although it hasn't been tested on non-v46 drives:
"I've corrected by hand the problems in original patch.scp and reverse.scp that caused bricked drives with birdyflasher, thanks GaryOPA for pointing, anyway i've not such drives to test myself, so use at your own risk or wait OPA latest fw to come."

  

Team Underdog has released the installation diagram for their NME-360 Ltd. Edition Modchip for Samsung drives. (Note: The black arrows indicate zoom. The red arrows arrows are alternative points. Only solder one wire to either a yellow point or a red point.)

Along with the diagram, Team Underdog developed the NME aSSociat0r - an easy-to-use tool for creating an NME 360 compatible ISO.

The NME-360 aSSociator prepares a clean ISO or converts an Xtreme ISO to make it bootable with your NME-360 modded Xbox360 by adding the security sector to the correct offset. Please read the directions in the readme file before you install this application. Once you have installed the NME aSSociat0r do the following steps:

• Select the ISO file
• Select the SS file
• Press "CREATE"

The NME-360 compatible ISO will be created in 2 seconds. The NME-360 aSSociat0r can also convert Xtreme Images to NME-360 compatible images with a single press of a button.

Download: [NME aSSociat0r]

The Schtrom360Xtract version 2.0 which was released recently lets you backup your Xbox 360 and Xbox game discs all in one step. It needs the Toshiba-Samsung TS-H943A Xbox 360 drive for the PC flashed with Xtreme v2.0 or higher (or Xtreme 000/0900) firmware to work. It can also support the Samsung SH-D162C PC-drive flashed with Kreon's firmware, but this drive does not yet support full SS extraction.

Helpful reminders are in the readme.txt. Your Xbox 360 has to have the TS-H943A drive in Xtreme0800 mode. The SH-D162C drive must be flashed with Kreon's firmware, otherwise Windows XP can't see the drive. This program is for Windows XP SP2 only. Kai Schtrom thinks it might not work on other versions yet, but it should be easily ported thanks to the included source code.

Here's more information on it (from the readme.txt):

With the Samsung DVD-ROM SH-D162C, there's is no full security sector extraction possible. Maybe when Kreon makes some further developments with the firmware. As for the Xbox 1 games, we haven't tested it yet, and Schtrom didn't seem sure it would work.

Another good thing: you should be able to copy defective sectors. It should copy scratched discs, for example, and it's faster than version 1.0 (that was released July 31).

Download: [Schtrom360Xtract version 2.0]

All those who have a Hitachi/LG drive with their Xbox 360 and have been looking to modify their MS console will be happy to know that garyOPA has just released v2.1 of the Xtreme Firmware. This one, again a 7-in-1, will also allow you to rip the Security Sectors; a feature which has mostly been available to only the Samsung drives.

He did release a v2.0 of the firmware, but it contained a few bugs, which resulted in a quick re-release. Here's the info from the release:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OPA - Xtreme v2.1 firmware - Hitachi 7in1 - v32/v36/v40/v46/v47/v58/v59
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW PACKAGE: "OPA-XTREME-HITACHI-7IN1-V2_1.RAR" 08/08 - 991,956 bytes

 * ALL NEW XTREME V2.1 FIRMWARE FOR ALL BUILDS OF THE HITACHI DRIVES!

   - Now includes "Security Sector Extraction" for all Hitachi Drives

   - No other improvements, same as our earlier "Xtreme v1.3", this
     release just supports SS Extraction within Windows without the
     need to re-flash your drive back and forth between PLAY & RIP!

 * SMALL BUG fixes from last night release of our Xtreme v2.0 - 7IN1

   - #1: The new delay command frozed on some user's computer setups.

   - #2: Users with v46 drives had no TRAY FUNCTION after flashing...
    
         * To fix your BRICK (We are very sorry!, But it is fixable!)
         
           - manually open the dvd tray!
           - now power up your PC system
           - power up your bricked drive
           - re-flash the drive with 2.1

   - #3: Users with v47 drives had random "64" errors when playing...

         * To fix this problem, just re-flash your drive with v2.1

He also said that he will be working hard for a new version that would offer the same "Stealth" functionality, which has been offered for Samsung drives with the new Commodore4Eva firmware.

If you're an Xbox 360 Fan Boy (or just plain Xbox 360 owner) dying to get your hands on the Fantasy360 Controller Shells, here's the good news. Fantasy360 announced it will start shipping the controller shells starting August 15. The controller case mods were expected to go on sale last month but that didn't happen. Says Xtreme Enterprise:

"After much anticipation for this product's full release to the Xbox360 world, we are happy to announce that a large shipment of products will be coming into our warehouse on 14 August 2006 and shipping of orders will be out the next day. For all our loyal fans who have made an order of this wonderful, high quality product, you will be pleased to know that your patience will be rewarded with a free Jewel360 guide button."

A free Jewel360 guide button! See, good things do happen to those who wait. And there's more news from the company. Fantasy360 says it will unveil their Fantasy360-Console prototype before September ends.

Indeed, variety is the spice of life - and if you think that Commodore4eva's Xtreme firmware can do with a little competition, then kreon has got something for you. As he said some weeks back, he'll be coming up with an alternative firmware for Samsung SH-D162C - and he stays true to his word with Alternative FW for Samsung SH-D162C V0.60.

This release may not be the biggie Xbox 360 users with the SH-D162C drive are waiting for as there is still no SS extraction feature, yet kreon decided to release it anyway. As he explained, "why wait releasing something good just because something else hasn't been completed." If that's okay with you, go ahead and try kreon's creation and get the following features:

- Two types of unlock for XBOX 360 game discs. One for making xtreme style images and one for making wxripper style images. Both types of iso can be made using isobuster. As of the moment, there is no support for ripping using wxripper.
- A 'lock' function that will cancel any enabled unlock state. This can be very useful for custom applications.
- 'Error skipping' which basically speeds up the error handling of the drive. A complete wxripper style image (including video) can be obtained in 15-16 minutes, when error skipping is enabled. Getting through the critical area of LBA 19408-20479 will take you more than 20 minutes alone, if error skipping is disabled.
- Read and decrypt of SS. The SS returned from the drive is complete except for the missing C/R data at offset 0x200. This is very handy since you can compare the SS from the game in the drive to a SS found on the internet. No more coasters due to an incorrect SS.
- A much more streamlined command interface, which is good news if you intend to write an application that makes use of the drives extra features.
- The drive will default to unlock state 2 and error skip enabled when a 360 media is inserted. You can in other words use isobuster to obtain a wxripper style image without issuing any commands to the drive.
- RPC1 support (RPC-2 actually but with automatic change of drive region and RCE support).

A few reminders from kreon: when using a program like DVDinfo, you might see the drive reportsas RPC-2...don't fret, it's not a bug. As the developer explains, "The drive changes it's region setting according to the media inserted. The region code listed in DVDinfo (and other software like it) is the current region setting of the drive and it should match the region of the inserted media. If the media allows playback in more than one region, the drive region will be set to the region with the lowest number."

Another thing, don't bug him about when he'll be releasing the C/R part, "it doesn't help the process in any way," he says. But you can be assured that C/R is "progressing quite well", kreon is just not sure when it will be completed. If you do have any other queries or suggestions though, feel free to speak up via the comments.

kreon says that full challenge/response functionality can be expected in next releases. He also noted that credits go to FlexyZ for helping him test the firmware.

The Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has again provided us with some great scans, this time featuring footage from the slightly erotic Dead or Alive: Xtreme 2. Currently on schedule to be released later this year in Japan, DOAX 2 sees the return of the DOA babes taking out their aggression on volleyballs instead of on other people. Developed by Tecmo, these scans should be enough for you to realize why some gamers have already made their mind about purchasing this title (and no, it's not because of the Jet Skis).

Birdy recently released an update to his Hitachi Friendly Flasher, taking the criticisms and observations of the users as his inspiration for improving it. You may ask what in the world is new with this one, well let me give you a hint: Birdy + GaryOPA + Geremia...what could be even more better than that triumvirate? Yes, the updated version of his Hitachi-LG friendly GUI Flasher firmware is packaged with the new Xtreme FW v2.0 (which is Xtreme v1.2 with F900 - for extracting SS of original discs - merged in one FW, currently only available for FW 46). The Birdypack 2.1 comes with the following:

-Birdyflasher 7in1 version (Hitachi-LG 32 36 40 46 47 58 and 59)
-For the version 46 it includes the xtreme 2.0 (xtreme 1.2 and F900 merged).
-The F900 core is active only in modeB.
-Also includes the Geremia Dashboard Timeout Patch
-Also includes the ScpCreator: You select an original firmware, an modified and it create a patch and reverse scp file auto.

You might be asking yourself about the Geremia Patch. This patch has actually solved the Hitachi-LG Xtreme FW Dashboard Timeout. What is more impressive is the fact that this is Geremia's first work, which proves the saying that sometimes a problem could be solved with the help of fresh eyes.

The patch was able to solve the problem of dashboard timeout when DVD+R DL bitsetted is inserted. According to Geremia, "problem is not about cheap media or laser pot, is not in reading at all, is only about media check routines, so skipping some checks does the trick. About not bitsetted media, I've only 1 crap not-bitsetted DVD+R DL found in trashcan, it doesn't read the SS, maybe it works for you." Impressive. Truly, this guy has a bright future ahead of him; and in the company of seasoned guys like Birdy, there is no way but up for Geremia.

GaryOPA never fails to amaze us with his talents and with his creations! He isn't a trusted name in the field of creating legal backups for nothing, right? Well, he just updated the Xtreme v1.2 Hitachi-LG Firmware 7-in-1 package to Xtreme v1.3. This new version comes with the Dashboard Timeout Fix for all FW versions and improved flashing/restoring.

It seems that an Xtreme v1.3 merged with F900 (SS extracting) of the GaryOPA package for all FW versions should be coming soon, so let's hope for that. For now, let's shift our attention to the present -- that is the Xtreme v1.3 Hitachi-LG Firmware 7-in-1. Here is the changelog:

* ALL NEW Xtreme v1.3 firmware for all versions of Hitachi Drives
- Complete fast booting of backups, just like the Samsung drive!
- Thanks to "Geremia" for the full answer of better "media detect"
- Removed the "Birdy" double-tap EJECT trick (not needed anymore)
- Still in place the "Birdy" Mode B tweak for Windows usage

* EVEN MORE IMPROVED FLASHing
- Fail-Safe flashing system - Almost no chance of Bricked drives!

* GREATLY IMPROVED RESTORing - Can restore drive with NO BACKUP!

* Birdy is hard at work on the "Security Sector Extraction"
- Birdy has released a test package for the v46 drives
- Many small problems with the GETSS program by "Specturm4eva"

* Update to be released this week for complete Security Sector Reading
- After we have tested it fully on the all working Hitachi drives.

GaryOPA would like to apologize to everyone for the delay in releasing packages. Apparently, the guy has an outside problem that he needs to deal with and a hardworking guy like him deserves some rest, so don't be rough on the guy. But it is true that good things come to those who wait as GaryOPA guarantees that "this package has an IMPROVED flashing, almost ZERO chance of BRICKing your drive now!" Kudos to you, GaryOPA! Again, you have outdone yourself!

Kikizo Games have been chatting with Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki every summer for four years now. This time, the game site asked questions about Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 plus possibly developing for the PS3 and Wii.

Itagaki claims that this year is a "relaxed year", with focus only on the DoA Xtreme series which the developer claims is just a hobby for him. Although don't mistake "relaxed" for "not busy"...working on DoA Xtreme 2 definitely takes up a lot of time but it is definitely less taxing than the other action titles Itagaki has worked on.

Speaking more about DoA Xtreme 2, the Tecmo producer made it known that the he's taking the Jet Ski part of the game seriously. As to the gameplay, he reveals, "There are two types of gameplay with the Jet Ski. One is the racing, where you compete on the difference of one hundredth of a second. And the others are more about riding the waves with good style."

I remember how history paints the fact that most geniuses work best when under the mercy of alcohol (Van Gogh and Edgar Allan Poe, anyone?) - same goes for Itagaki, apparently. He says that "being drunk" gives him different ideas as a different person. He says that other fighting titles may have 40% of stages done when he was drunk, while fun-based games like DoA Xtreme 2 may be 90% done while he was drunk.

As a programmer and developer, Itagaki admits that he's highly curious about making games for the PS3 and Wii. With regards to the PS3, he says that he's been studying about the console's architecture and that with all the info being revealed about Sony's next-gen console, "it's a pretty exciting time".

About Wii, Itagaki made it known that he enjoys the type of games being developed for Wii but he's still undecided as to whether the gaming community will soon see a Wii title from him. Why? He answers, "it's just that if I change my way of doing things, it's going to be physically difficult because I tend to focus on one project at a time..."

If you want to check out more of Kikizo Games' chat with DoA Xtreme 2 developer Tomonobu Itagaki, just click on the link below.