I’ve enjoyed Command and Conquer since the very first demo of the original game I played, back when all the game was a few nicely rendered squares moving around the screen. So when I saw RA3 was only 9.99 at newegg with free shipping, I had to scoop it up. I had played the demo, and thought it would be a good fluff RTS game to play some day.

When I opened the packaging, tucked in with game manual, disk, and advertising for another game was this little poster. At first it was folded up enough, I didn’t know what it was. I took it out and unfolded it, and couldn’t help but chuckle. That chuckle turned into disbelief at the pure assumption that he game would only be sold to heterosexual males, who only thought with their heads bellow. Sure, I admit it, I like the occasional potty humor, heck, I can be quoted as saying, if you live with one foot in the gutter, life is much funnier. It struck me though, how this blind marketing might effect purchasing.

I have a niece who at a very young age understood the mechanics of a game controller thanks to the time her and her dad would spend together in the mornings. He’d play games with her in his lap and eventually, to save his character’s life, she got her own disconnected controller. I think ahead several years and wonder, what if she wants to play a real time strategy game some day? Will she need to wade through a sea of pubescent boob jokes just to play? I’m just throwing it out there. Any folks out there thought about this in the past? Has anyone been detered from playing an otherwise good game because of its marketing tactics?

Proof

So when I discovered there was no easy way to stream any of that media to my xbox 360, I was a bit disappointed, but I didn’t give up. I’ve long been using my Xbox (1) to stream files to my entertainment center using the awesome, Xbox Media Center. Of course this meant if I wanted continued functionality, I had to keep both machines in the already over crowded entertainment center.

In order to share media with a 360, you either need a machine running XP and Media Player 11, or a media center pc. I had no desire to bring up yet another pc that was on all the time just to share files. With a bit of searching, I found an excellent article on getting WMP11 on to your 2k3 box. So far, I’ve got it installed, the only gotchya (if your sans-sleep) was that the search does not check hidden files and folders unless you specify to do so under “More Advanced Search Options.”

When I found the desired files I decided to copy them out on to my desktop, where I also pasted the article into a text file. This way I can burn all this to a cd and use it later, without the searching if I lose my OS. Install was easy, all files did need to be run in compatibility mode, and it was a bit scary restarting the machine remotely, but hey, WTH right?

So I got it installed, with the help of that article, and it has been configured to use my media, of which is a bit limited in file types. The next test will be to see if I can truly fire up the 360 and use the media, at least some of it anyway.

So lets think back to what brought this blog to life. . .

Oh thats right, those damn raccoons. They’re still around, in fact I had great fun, ehr, I mean I was left no other option, then to shoot one a couple weeks ago with my paintball gun while I had the electric fence repurposed on the garden for the summer.

But of course, I wouldn’t be here with such an audience if it wasn’t for my peeps. Those folks that both read my insane ramblings, and those that link to my blog. So since I can’t thank every single one of you by name, I’ll be certain to report out what WordPress tells me are the good folks linking to my site.

Thanks!

• Notes to Marquis
• Wii Sixty: File under – Suck it Sony
• Strong Kids, Safe Kids
• Moldy Snack
• mandymag.com
• Users Suck!
• spiralbound.net

I chose the referral option, so I need to get 9 people to sign up for something as well. So if after watching the news report your interested, please use this link. http://www.360Elite4free.com/index.php?ref=4146798

Why am I pushing products? Simple. . . XBOX 360 Fund. ;-)

Brand New Nikon Macro Cool-Light SL-1 Ring Light

Brand New Nikon AS-E900 Multi-Flash Adapter

Brand New Nikon MC-EU1 Remote Cord

There are many, many great sources out there that explain the process step-by-step in great detail, so I will not do that. Instead I will link to the instructions that Dave used successfully on his xbox, and brought to use on mine.

However, I will tell you the basic steps, and declare this has to be the true meaning of hacking. The process of softmodding is essentially making a small change to the eeprom in the xbox, backing up the original Microsoft dashboard, and installing a new version of the dashboard that will enable ftp access to the machine.

Because you need someway to get a special save game on to the xbox, you may need something to get the game from your pc to the xbox. Once the save game is on your xbox you can use it to exploit certain versions of Mech Assult (original, not platinum hits) by loading the save game. I found a version of the game at Game Stop this weekend for a whopping 2.99 so I picked it up.

By loading the save game, the Xbox reboots or crashes out (don’t know which is the case) to a version of linux, which like a wizard steps you through the process of softmodding the box. What’s great, is this mod can be turned on or off, and by starting up the xbox with a game in the drive, it appears as if it has never been installed at all.

Once the mod is installed, reboot and enjoy a new dashboard. However, just like anything out there there’s more to be done. Once ftp access is on, you can drop on the XBMC which can be used to read network shares to play videos, music and pictures. Download and install (by ftp) the new replacement for the dashboard and enjoy. IT takes a couple of hours for this process. The ftp was slow, I suspect I missed setting something up in the original ftp server that would speed things up. Its a clean tool and fun to use. Since it’s built on linux there are many scripts you can install to enhance the new OS with faster ftp and great customizations. My favorite, beyond the well built media center is the ability to add NES, SNES and N64 emulators if you wish.

EDIT: This was a completely software based hack. No need to open the case, and therefore less chance of bricking your Xbox. If you do, it’s not my fault.