Modifying My XBOX 360, Is It Worth The Hassle?

You may have heard that modifying your XBOX 360 console enables you to enter a whole new world of opportunities. But is it worth the risk? In this article, we reveal the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

As most console gamers will agree, the XBOX 360 is the ultimate gaming machine ever produced! With its ever-growing number of games becoming available, this high-graphic delivering masterpiece is never short of providing action-packed fun.

Apart from all its glory, one of the drawbacks to the XBOX 360 is the high cost of games being released on the market. Some new games can cost you as much as $120 through most retail outlets. With this high cost in mind, some gamers' look for ways to backup their purchased game libraries as a form of insurance. This form of protection guards against having to replace purchased game discs that no longer work due to the discs becoming scratched. Non-playable scratched discs can occur every time they are swapped in and out of the Xbox 360.

For gamers to be able to make playable back-up copies of their games, they first need to modify their Xbox 360 console. Modifying the console involves either installing or "burning" a hacked firmware onto the consoles internal DVD drive. Doing this tricks the Xbox 360 console into playing a backed up game disc as if it was an original one. The other way to modify the Xbox 360 console to play backed-up game discs, is to buy and install a special modchip (like the much talked-about Globe 360).

The developers of the Globe 360 modchip claim that this modchip doesn't rely on any DVD drive firmware hack to be able to play backed-up copies of original games. It is also claimed to be the world's first Xbox 360 modchip that is compatible with all models of DVD drives currently available in the console.

After modifying their consoles, gamers can then backup Xbox 360 games onto standard DVD+R DL media which is available just about everywhere.

So, what are the risks involved in having your Xbox 360 game console modified?

Either way, hacking the DVD firmware in your console, or having a modchip like the Globe 360 installed to play backed-up games, will involve opening up your console. Opening up your console can potentially void your warranty. There are guides on the web that show you how to open your Xbox 360 without voiding your warranty, however this involves using a standard hair dryer to heat up and lift the special tamper-proof sticker off of the console. For a successful removal of the tamper-proof sticker, you need to be very patient and have a steady hand as the sticker was made to react in a special way to reveal that the Xbox 360 console had been opened up (watch the video below to see how its done).

Also, opening your console yourself or even if you have someone else do it for you, exposes you to its super sensitive electronic innards which can potentially be damaged just by the touch of your finger. You may not know it but you have electrical current flowing through your body. Although harmless to you, it's lethal to sensitive electronic equipment. When your body comes in contact with another metallic object that is grounded, the current in your body passes over to it. If the current that is discharged from your body onto any specific part of your Xbox 360's innards, it can potentially damage it resulting in a dead, unplayable, Xbox.

Copying Xbox 360 games for back-up purposes is also considered illegal. This is a very touchy and a hot talked-about topic within various forums around the web.

So, is modifying your Xbox 360 game console worth the risks mentioned in this article?

Well... this is a question only you can answer.

Apart from the technical and physical challenges in modifying your console and not to mention the risks in creating a dead one; the biggest risk of all, is potentially breaking the law by making back-ups of copyrighted material.

To avoid these risks, plus having to replace your games due to the discs becoming scratched or damaged, is to simply...

Take better care of your games!

You should always take extreme care when placing your game discs into and out of your console's DVD drive tray. This is to avoid scratching the surface of the disc itself.

Also, always place the game disc carefully in its original case when not in use. Or even better; purchase a DVD game folder to store your games. Compared to the original hard plastic game cases that can scratch your discs, these folders are a great way to keep your discs in tip-top condition.

In this article, you were given information on what's involved with modifying your Xbox 360 and all the potential risks associated with it. Now that you have been exposed to the pros and cons in performing this task, if you want more information on what's involved in installing a hacked firmware or you want to know more about modchips like the Globe360 and how it's installed, then check out the links below this article.

For more guides on hacking your XBOX 360, check out: www.xbox-scene.com

For more information on modchips check out:
Globe360.

How to open your Xbox 360 without voiding your warranty: