If you do not hack your console you are a lib.
If it can be hacked there is a good chance that I have done it and can help you.
Open the world of homebrew, emulators, and easy game piracy.
Your warranty is now void.
Some comprehensive guides on hacking a few different consoles:
https://3ds.hacks.guide
https://vita.hacks.guide
https://wiiu.hacks.guide
http://switch.hacks.guide
https://wii.guide/What about an old PS3? I have the original one (that is fully backwards compatible with PS1 and PS2 games). I want to be able to play Japanese import games on it.
The PS3 is very good for hacking, and the original model is always fully hackable (as are most of the slim). Installing the CFW will remove the region lock, and will also allow you to play the PS1, PS2, PS3 ISO files from the hard drive. It can look intimidating but I promise that it is not too hard.
If it is still running version 3.55 or lower the process is almost zero effort. Simply download the file called REX here and put it on a USB drive inside folders with the path
/PS3/UPDATE/, then rename the file toPS3UPDAT.PUP, insert it into the PS3, disable internet and remove any optical disk, then update the system from the menu using the USB.If it is running a newer firmware, we will need to discover if it is a NAND console or a NOR console. Check the model name on the back label. If it reads CECHA through CECHG, it is NAND. If it reads CECHH through CECHQ, it is NOR. For other user who have a slim model, it is always NOR. User with the super slim model will need a different method.
If it is a NAND console follow this guide and method 1.
If it is a NOR console follow this guide and method 1.
Once completed do the above update to the firmware I linked.
Next you should install webMAN and multiMAN to manage the downloaded game "backups" and files. You can copy to a USB and install from the new menu option for installing packages provided by CFW.
There is a store type program for game piracy called pkgi available, which can be installed in the same manner as the above package. You will then place this and this files in
/dev_hdd0/game/NP00PKGI3/USRDIRasdbformat.txtandconfig.txtusing the multiMAN to copy from a USB drive. pkgi makes downloading games for free very easy.The PS3 is very good for hacking, and the original model is always fully hackable (as are most of the slim).
I got the old old school one, before the slim, but good to know that it's possible.
It's pretty trivial to replace the HDD in PS3s with a much larger SSD, right? I might try to pick up an original model PS3 and jailbreak it, dump all my disc-based games to the drive, and do nothing but play PS2 games.
Yeah I've basically done this. Though I'd recommend a normal hard drive over a SSD, the PS3's SATA interface from 2006 can't really take advantage of an SSD.
The PS3 has, what, a SATA II interface? Tops out around 300MBps? That's still more than a HDD can do, and random reads will be orders of magnitude faster.
Nah it uses SATA I, tops out at 150MBps. You're right it will be faster on random reads and there will be a performance improvement, but it's not worth it for me personally. I'm not going to spend more on a SSD than I spent on the actual console.
I feel you. I just have a 500GB SSD I paid like $60 for that I'm not using. If it weren't for SMR I'd be willing to look at HDDs but I wouldn't want to get an SMR drive on accident and have abysmal performance.
Yeah that will work perfectly. PS2 games already see a massive improvement in loading times on a hard drive compared to the 4x DVD drive of a PS2 at 5.28MBps, so I can't imagine how fast it will be on a SSD. You'll see the most difference in game install time, that's actually a huge improvement.
Pretty much any PS3, including the superslims, is now exploitable with PS3 HEN. I play PS1 and PS2 games, as well as PS3 games that I download, on my superslim with a 500GB hard drive. It's not quite CFW but webMAN and multiMAN work.
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/update-4-87-ps3hen-v3-0-2-view-latest-changes-to-the-ps3-exploit-for-superslims-noncfw-models.23955/
The only annoying thing about hacking consoles is updates fucking everything up.
This is why the best time is late in the life.
Even so, the switch is too exciting right now for me to resist.
My main concern is getting my Nintendo account banned. I'm waiting for a Switch Pro so I can use that for legit stuff and get to hacking my (non Mariko) Switch.
That is a valid concern, especially if you play online. It is such a powerful and versatile device though, and when the time comes the scene will be even more mature for you.
the time comes the scene will be even more mature for you
Every time I look away from a console's scene for a couple years I'm amazed at what's changed. I went from being disappointed that 3DS flashcarts only played DS games to finding that the 3DS had been blown wide open while there were still new first party games coming out. I also went from hoping an SD card adapter was possible for the Vita to finding SD2Vita and Henkaku and all that was super mature.
Open source scenes like those are a great vision of what people can do out of their own free will and cooperation without a need for a profit.
It is especially impressive how clever the tricks are for the exploit. Vendors put a lot of effort into architecting the system so it is hard to crack, but the people working together still prevail in unexpected ways.
https://gist.github.com/jason0597/a47768992e9e8947f28144af27eb728a is a technical explanation of one 3ds exploit.
Best way to hack a Vita? Hacked my psp back in the day and my 3DS's.
https://vita.hacks.guide is good material on it.
You will want to get to firmware 3.60 and install HENkaku and enso. The guide explains this process well. If you are on a higher firmware follow this to downgrade. You will not lose anything by doing.
Once you have done that install reF00D will enable compatibility with games that require a newer firmware. Download the file, place the skprx file and bin file in the
taifolder, add it to the config.txt after nonpdrm.pkgj is a pirate store app that will let you download games and dlc in a click. It is incredible. PSP and PS1 games too. Just intall the vpk file from the file browser.
I recommend an SD2Vita adapter for more storage as an upgrade if you run out. I bought on taobao but I think western online store will have it too. Here is the guide to set it up on a hacked Vita.
Adrenaline is also of interest. It is a program that will let you use the PSP hardware inside the Vita, giving you access to PSP game and homebrew as well. Just install the vpk from the file browser.
Make sure you have an official memory card as well if you have a model 1000 like me.
The scene is mature and it is very easy to download games. Some of my favourite are Gravity Rush, Danganronpa series, Persona 4 Golden, Muramasa (especially on the beautiful screen of the model 1000).
I recommend an SD2Vita adapter for more storage as an upgrade if you run out. I bought on taobao but I think western online store will have it too
i got mine a couple years ago on ebay for ~£5
Ironically I have no real interest in hacking my Switch, but I've done crazy amounts of homebrew and hacking on everything else. Most recently I picked up a GB cart reader and have been dumping ROMs and saves from all my games in anticipation of the Analogue Pocket (and jailbroken firmware to load arbitrary content from the SD card). Going to use my JP copies of Pokemon and Zelda to finally teach myself Japanese.
Looking forward to SD card-based replacements for the Gamecube disc reader and more HDMI-out adapters.
If you have a network adapter you could add a hard drive and play games off that. Also burned games without a modchip.
Good for you I guess? If you can tolerate touch screen software buttons and do not want anything recent with poor emulation that is fine. Real hardware can always play the game correct however, and preserved the original form factor. The homebrew scene can also be a hobby itself and is cool and I like to tinker.
The development of the emulators is also dependent on information from the homebrew scene.
