Video Game Modder Arrested

[Durahansolo]

Poll: Modifying game consoles a no-no? : Opinion L.A. : Los Angeles Times

All I can say is Dang. This article was probably the only one I've read so far that has somewhat made sense. He was arrested and charged with modifying the consoles for profit, some of the other articles I read said that he was arrested just for modifying them to play pirated backups. Since when they caught him they found like 12 game systems in there, I don't think there is a way to know how many he had done before that, but at 30 bucks a pop that is good change on the side.

[Raydeus]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

I'd rather go to jail than stop playing undubbed versions of games (which I already bought legally) like Persona or FFX-2. But I don't make any profit out of it.

The only thing modyfiying consoles should affect is warranty. Pirated games through the internet are a very grayish topic though.

/point Undubbed versions of Japanese games.

I'm 100% behind gamer generated products like those if the companies are unwilling to provide the service themselves. But again I already own the original crappy NA version of the games (which is why I turned to undubbed versions in the first place.) Otherwise I go for the original for many reasons ranging from respect of the companies intellectual property to the quality of the product.

But that's just me.


PS > The guy should be left alone for modifying the consoles. Someone has to do it.

Now, selling pirated discs is a completely different subject. And that is what should be punishable by the law.

[Feba]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

It very much depends on the details.

If he's saying "NEVER PAY FOR GAMES AGAIN! [I'LL MODIFY YOUR CONSOLE FOR CHEAP/BUY MY MODIFIED CONSOLES] AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ALL THE GAMES YOU WANT! INCLUDES <Random three digit number> CLASSIC GAMES FOR NES/SNES PRELOADED!", then yes, I think that's pretty reasonable to sue for. This is the only sort of modification I've ever seen people charge for, and I see it all the time on places like craigslist.

If he's offering to modify hardware for peoples' own ends; for example, homebrew software and games, game modifications (DON'T START ARMANDO ON THE SUBJECT OF SSBB, IT IS NOT WORTH IT), and so on, then yes, that oughtn't violate the DMCA.

I'm guessing what happens is that he was A, and he gets off under B because what he was charged with isn't really a crime. Bad precedent; doing the wrong thing but getting the right verdict; etc.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

(DON'T START ARMANDO ON THE SUBJECT OF SSBB, IT IS NOT WORTH IT)

Seconded.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

Idiot. Plain and simple. You start doing this shit for other people and profiting off it and they are sure as hell going to come after your ass.


Idiot.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

I'd rather go to jail than stop playing undubbed versions of games (which I already bought legally) like Persona or FFX-2. But I don't make any profit out of it.

There is no such thing as "undubbed." Video game characters don't speak a native language to start with, nor do animated characters. A script doesnot speak. Whether its Spanish, Chinese, Japanese or English, all vocal recordings are dubs.

The only thing modyfiying consoles should affect is warranty.

Except this is about modifying game consoles for profit, which can also encourage software piracy.

Pirated games through the internet are a very grayish topic though.

/point Undubbed versions of Japanese games.

So I guess if you buy the western release, then shoplift the Japanese version while you're chilling in Tokyo would also be a "gray area," right? And the police wouldn't arrest you. Every thing is just sunshine and rose and they'll buy you some ramen in Shibuya afterward, right?

You've made it quite clear that condemning english dubs (which isn't your first language to start with) is a big pasttime for you, while popping a chubby when things are in japanese (also not your first language). This leaves me to wonder if you could even fairly critique things in your native language (probably not), but more importantly your preference is a poor rationale for stealing.

Now, selling pirated discs is a completely different subject. And that is what should be punishable by the law.

No, its not a completely different matter just because you want to split hairs. Its stealing if you shoplift, stealing if you download it without payment and its stealing if you burn copies and sell them. There is no gray area, just someone that wants to make up the rules as he goes along.

[Akashimo]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

There is no such thing as "undubbed." Video game characters don't speak a native language to start with, nor do animated characters. A script doesnot speak. Whether its Spanish, Chinese, Japanese or English, all vocal recordings are dubs.

Wrong. Its dubbed moment a second voice track is made, namely when imported to NA.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

Wrong. Its dubbed moment a second voice track is made, namely when imported to NA.

You're confusing video games with movies. When you know of any video game characters that give original performances in Japanese on thier own and then need english recorded over that later for a western release, please let me know. That is, if Skynet hasn't taken over the world by then.

Also "dub" is also slang for a recording, just as "sub" is a slang for text. If you want to babble "original japanese recording" a lot, that's your waste of time, not mine. I will call it what it is - a dub. Video game characters do not give original performances or appear on David Letterman to talk about the games they are in. They get dubbed, regardless of the language.

If you were talking about Kung Fu Hustle, you'd have a point.

And none of it changes the fact that Raydeus is wrong in his rationalization for stealing the Japanese versions.

[Akashimo]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

And none of it changes the fact that Raydeus is wrong in his rationalization for stealing the Japanese versions.

This I agree on.

You're confusing video games with movies.

If it has voice overs for any cut-scenes, it is a movie in some regards. It has a plot, it has characters and it has voice actors. So when its imported and localized its the same as dubbing it.

[Raydeus]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

The good news is modding consoles (mainly PS2) wont be an issue for me in the future as most PS3 games now include the original audio in NA versions.

Not to mention my current Japanese level is high enough to be able to play Japanese versions of games. And since the PS3 doesn't have the regional restrictions the PS2 had I have no reason to mod a PS3 (or a PSP for that matter) anymore.




I just wish the ignore feature also filtered quotes from posters on your blacklist.

[Nuriko]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

There is no such thing as "undubbed." Video game characters don't speak a native language to start with, nor do animated characters. A script doesnot speak. Whether its Spanish, Chinese, Japanese or English, all vocal recordings are dubs.

I tend to go by the standards of the anime community: dub is a re-done voice track to change the language, sub is added subtitles with a translation (both accuracy notwithstanding), and raw is the original. Granted that different contexts can be used, but don't think you can simply state that yours is right and that of others isn't.

[Evion]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

Did you say English isn't Raydeus's native language??? Thats pretty good english then Ray, grats! Is this any worse than downloading a free ROM/Emulator? Which, I'm sure everyone here has done.

[Feba]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

Did you say English isn't Raydeus's native language???

Whether it is or not, there's nothing impressive about tweens picking up fluency in new languages. Spongy language centers in the brain and all that.

[Raydeus]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

I'm more worried about knowing what a tween is in the first place. I don't even remember learning that word.





PS > Febar is just jealous of my leengw1stik skillz.

PPS > Thanks Evion, Spanish is my first language. I live in Mexico.

[Elwynn]

Re: Video Game Modder Arrested

People force-defined "tween" in the past few years to mean "pre-teen", when pre-teen started sounding too uncool.

I would prefer it to mean 20-somethings who haven't grown up and still act like teenagers, since that is constantly on the rise.

(In fact, I think I first heard of the word years ago in reference to Tolkien's hobbits, who live longer enough to have a longer teenage time.)