Modding a Video Console

Modding a video game console can be fun. You can use a mod chip to play some of your old favorites on a new system, to make your console look cool or to improve functionality. Got a favorite game? Modify your console to incorporate elements from that game. Unfortunately, modding a video game console comes with its own share of dangers. Modding your vide game console can result in everything from a broken system to breaking the law. Do you know what you can and can't do? Consider these potential dangers of modding a video game console before you go crazy with yours:

• Modding a console voids its warranty. If you open a video game console or otherwise modify it, manufacturers clearly state that the warranty is void. This can be a big problem, especially, with the Xbox 360, with known equipment issues (the Red Ring of Death) that caused Microsoft to extend the initial warranty to three years. The Xbox 360 has several other hardware issues that you may want Microsoft to repair while under warranty, so it's a good idea to avoid this danger of modding until after your warranty expires.
• Modding may break your console. Some of the more advanced forms of modding your video game console require you to deal with modifications to circuit boards, including soldering and de-soldering existing hardware. If you're not extremely experienced and careful, it's easy to break the console by damaging sensitive internal hardware. If you break your console, you'll have to pay for expensive repairs (since you've voided the warranty by opening the console) and possibly buy a new console. Do not attempt to modify a video game console's internal hardware unless you're confident with solder and circuit-board modification, or unless you're ready to get rid of the machine.
• Modding your console may prevent online play. Certain modifications to the Xbox 360 prevent it from accessing Xbox Live. Live runs a system check for some known modding techniques prior to connection, and if your system fails the check, you won't be able to log on to Xbox Live to play games or download content. While some workarounds exist, Microsoft is very outspoken against many modifications and will likely continue to develop patches to prevent certain types of modding. The next firmware update could boot you off Xbox Live.
• Modding may prevent some games from working. Nintendo, in particular, has been very aggressive in dealing with players who mod their consoles, both physical and virtual. Certain games, including Super Smash Bothers and Mario Kart, won't run on a modded Wii. While software patches have been developed to work around the freeze-out, new system updates for the Wii that enhance system functionality are built to seek out these patches and erase them. This leaves modders with a choice: mod the console and hope it keeps working as is, or leave it alone to take advantage of new options and features.
• Some forms of modding are illegal. Adding a mod chip that allows you to play pirated copies of copyright-protected games is illegal. A California court ordered mod-chip importers and resellers to pay more than $9 million in damages in a 2006 judgment, and manufacturers continue to pursue mod-chip users and resellers aggressively. If you install a mod chip in your video game console to play pirated copies of games, or even to circumvent NTSC codes to play legitimately purchased imported games, you could be breaking the law.