Sometimes I’m lost for words. I’ve seen some reasonably detestable things in my time in this industry. From outlets clearly not playing a game before committing to a review of it, to places purposefully posting lies and sensationalist rubbish just to get the page impressions up. It’s a cut-throat business for some, it seems, and ethics often take a back seat at certain outlets.
Last night, though, I saw something which simply astounded me. I saw a professional games writer, who works for a major UK magazine, make a snarky joke about how he was going to modify an Xbox 360 so he could play debug software at home.
Debug software is unsigned code that publishers send out early for outlets to do previews. It hasn’t been certified by the platform holder so it requires a special console, with the copy protection disabled, in order to run. Microsoft (and others) supply these consoles to outlets deserving of them but it is possible to visit your local market and get a dodgy guy with a soldering iron to break into the copy protection on your console and unlock the ability to play unsigned code. It’s possible, whether it’s legal, ethical or professional is an entirely different matter.
TheSixthAxis is currently waiting for access to a debug Xbox 360. We have already been sent debug software in the past which we’ve had to return because, even though it’s simple to get a console modified and take advantage of the early look at top software, we don’t think it would be ethical. We have chosen to work with our representatives in Microsoft PR departments in order to gain access to this incredibly useful tool which will enable us to bring our readers more coverage at an earlier date than ever before. It would be so much easier for us (and probably them – sorry for the constant badgering guys) if we just signed off our morals and nipped to the Sunday market for a mod.
Now, I’m not naive enough to believe that this sort of thing never goes on. I’m sure there are plenty of people in the industry that have spent some time standing within the grey area of the law when it comes to consoles. To joke about it openly and in a public place though, surely that’s just inviting attention to your lack of professional ethics? Even if it’s not an ethical issue, it’s certainly one of professionalism.
The law around console modification is not particularly clear. There seems to be endless arguments, in the more shady corners of the internet, about whether the modification itself might be legally acceptable, although the copying of software is most certainly not. I’m not a lawyer so I don’t know if there is some legal loophole which, while not making this sort of thing perfectly legal, might make the issue so unclear that it’s easier to ignore.
As far as I’m aware, the legal issue is one of a broken License Agreement (the page of text you agree to before installing many things – including Xbox 360 dashboard updates). I’ve been told that this agreement has basically ceased to be legally binding in the EU because nobody ever reads it before clicking the “agree” button and much of EU law is based on consensus. Whether this is true or not, I can’t account for but it certainly suggests that the issue is a complicated one that might have more to it than most are willing to accept.
The legal ramifications weren’t really the focus of my amazement though. I’m more surprised that someone who works closely with platform holders and software publishers would be so open about their foray into the legal quagmire of console modification. It would be like Jeremy Clarkson telling the world how they enjoy tinkering with the mileage on Fords.
It will be interesting to see if there are any repercussions to this event or whether – as is so often the case with outlets breaking embargoes, leaking rumours and simply making things up for page impressions – it is soon forgotten and all material incentive to be honest and ethical is gone. Sometimes I wonder why we keep trying to do things the honest way.
Blayney
A response to the very last line :
The reason you keep doing it the honest way is because you represent the only gaming website I bother to return to day in, day out. I moved on from ign because of their inflated review scores and obsessive hype of games they must’ve been paid to hype. Also their cross platform reviews were copy pasted with no mention made of significant differences between the two.
I left games radar/cvg because the community were idiots.
Then I found this place. Interesting and informative articles about all aspects of the industry – insightful previews and reviews. Honesty in all reporting. And a dedication to providing a deep and vibrant community – TSA meets is one of the greatest features I’ve come across in any website. Keep up the good honest work, and I’ll keep coming back!
colossalblue
Aaaaand that’s the nail hit squarely on the head.
Thank you :)
Grey_Ghost13
Name and shame them!
stonyk
There are loads of people like the one in question here, just let them get on with it and lets just worry about our own community. Regarding not getting the reviews as early as others (Particularly the guy above) it makes no real difference because I imagine the majority of people here won’t be ready HIS review, but will happily wait the extra time to read the TSA review. I know I do.
seedaripper1973
This is why i love you guys, integrity is key <3
Spotter5
What is that thing as the article picture? Looks like a penis torture device / sex toy..
Dan Lee
We call it Brenda…
BrendanCalls
LOL, from what I seen on the fron screen i was really worried
…and it was worse than I first feared ;-)
colossalblue
lol, it’s a soldering iron…
John Malcolm
… you can use it as Brenda if you like… Mmmm, hot springs…!
eye8have9you3
Well I think the important thing with mods is intent. I’ve got a custom firmware running on an old digital camera cos it’s fun and makes the product work better, as far as I can see there’s no sensible reason not to, even if there is a legal one.
However obviously modding consoles to play games illegally is wrong and I’m glad you won’t condone it. But in this case I’m not sure, I don’t know the guy and haven’t seen what he said (a link or fuller quote would be nice), but I understand he:
a) has the use of a debug machine at work and
b) got the debug software from the respective developers
then as long as he’s playing the games for journalistic reasons and not just for fun, it’s acceptable. In fact he probably wouldn’t be doing his readers justice if he didn’t test these games as fully as possible
Galgomite
Seconded. Modding is wrong for a number of reasons, and in almost all situations– but this one specific case, where your intent is to do what Microsoft was planning to do for you anyway, is sort of a non-issue. Not editorial-worthy, anyway.
Deathbrin
I wish you could purchase some mod to “amplify” gfx, like they do on PCs. Add full screen anti-aliasing and stuff. The GPUs running the models are all old-tech, they could’ve used some upgrading, i would pay to get 1080p and AA on all games really, multiplatform ones do really look sub-par compared to their PC counterparts
GranTurismo-Disciple
Can i use Brenda? I love pain… Joke lol
AddictedAndy
Name and shame!! When I 1st had a PS1 I did what everyone did and I chipped it. Getting games for £5 was great. Since then I’ve run my own digital media business (albeit small time) and that made me appreciate the price of piracy that much more. Quite simply, real people, with real lives work hard to create films, music and games for us to enjoy. If we don’t support them with our money then they can’t continue to work and then we lose out, I’ve seen this 1st hand! I also used to downloads films via torrent but now having a nice system has made me appreciate quality and a free film that’s been compressed is only 5% of the Blu-ray experience! If you are passionate about films/music/games then there’s only one way to go… legally! No matter how hard it hurts the wallet
t564y7
Ethical? Exageration much!