Hacker unlocks the 3DS system kernel key to running pirated software

Currently, Neimod’s hack uses a very specific save game in a certain retail 3DS game to exploit the handheld’s hardware. The hacker doesn’t want to reveal which game permits this hack, because Nintendo could then easily patch it.

[chadboban]

Hmmm... sounds quite similar to a method I've heard of where a Twilight Princess save game is used to install the Homebrew Channel to the Wii.

[Kratoscar2008]

Indeed thats how my brother is able to run it.

[Knight_Crawler]

If this is true then you can expect the 3DS numbers to triple in the coming months...Smart move Nintendo.

[Gamer1982]

Indeed DS sales were amazing but piracy really helped. I dont know a single person with legit games. They all have R4 carts or similar.

[Omega Zues]

Developers cry.

[NYC_Gamer]

It was bound to get cracked open like every other piece of hardware

[3GenGames]

Especially when they didn't include the best security device there is against it: A way to program the console. Look at the PS3...it wasn't touched until they took Other OS away. Every other console was.

[lodossrage]

George Hotz actually used other OS and a dongle to "hack" the ps3, THEN other OS was taken away and he found a way to do it without other OS being there.

[3GenGames]

He hacked it because it was a challenge. Because nobody messed with it. Okay he did it, but who cares? It still delayed the hacking by SIX YEARS. Get over yourself, if they don't include a way to program the hardware directly, they should be hacked WIDE open. Piracy is the punishment.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

wiiU running homebrew day 1..
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[MooseWI]

Sadly, you can buy flash cards and have unlimited games, know a few people >_>

[Venoxn4g]

... in DS mode

[Samus HD]

you mean no 3ds games??!

[Eamon]

Actually, the currently existing flashcarts only run DS games.

As of now, no way to run pirated 3DS games.

[Samus HD]

thanks Eamon.. Bubble up

[FriedGoat]

It's been known that the old DS flashcards work on the 3DS in DS mode since launch. What this will enable eventually is full 3DS mode support for homebrew. Seems the developers are activley against piracy so no need to worry until some black hats get hold of it.

[the worst]

yes this is what i wanted to hear

[Kratoscar2008]

You are the worst ;)

Anyway i think it was going to happen to some extent and now that people are really upset with Nintendo for region lock the system will be more hacked that even the DS (The psp in second place)because people are mad with nintendo.

[ElectricKaibutsu]

I don't like piracy but I HATE region locking :(

[ShaunCameron]

@ ElectricKaibutsu

But unfortunately region-locking is here to stay as long as economic and cultural protectionism exist.

Don't be surprised if Sony goes to back region-locking for their next home console or handheld. Besides, region-freedom has done nothing for them except lose money.

[ElectricKaibutsu]

@ShaunCameron

I'm afraid you might be right about that. It's a shame because I chose a PS3 over a 360 because I live away from my home country so having a region free system is important to me.

[FriedGoat]

Bloody Sony, I love them but they got LikSang shut down because of selling imported goods and then they go and make the Vita region free.
bleh

[deletingthis34675334]

So piracy is justified for Nintendo but not Sony, or so I gathered from your comment.

[Yodagamer]

Well obviously it's won't be hard to patch since the guy isn't even giving away what game was used to hack it. I don't see it lasting long.

[Jadedz]

Valve's my next hope (steam box) if that ever happens.

[JBernardo]

What the heck is that even suppose to mean? You are implying that since the console has been hacked it is now dead? lol If anything, it "gained" more life: homebrews are not bad things IMO, it actually brings cool things to the console. I remember, back in the PSP days, the GBA emulator which was quite enjoyable to me (I used to play pokemon emerald on it, and yes, I own the game!). That said, of course there is the flip of the coin (game piracy), but I am quite happy with this news actually: might as well get a 3DS now...

[Jadedz]

Both the Wii and NDS suffered significantly from this. PSP, Dreamcast - it scares off developers, and then support wanes.

http://www.vg247.com/2013/0...

Jools Watsham (Renegade Kid) thinks so, at least.

[JBernardo]

NDS and Wii sold a lot of systems, I don't see any problem in that. Scared the developers? I've seen a lot of good games in the Wii/DS/PSP, I don't know what you are talking about (just off the top of my head, I remember games like MGS Peace Walker, Pokemon Black/White, Zelda: Skyward Sword, etc). As for the Dreamcast, it wasn't a great success anyway, so I don't know why you brought that up; and I'm pretty sure that that lack of success was not due to piracy!
Piracy has been around for a long time, I can't recall any console system that has not been hacked, it's just a matter of time. Saying that you are no longer interested in a particular system just because it was hacked is just baffling to me, but hey, it's your opinion and I have to respect that.

[animegamingnerd]

by that logic the PS3 and 360 would have died years ago

[fatstarr]

If Nintendo never gave people excuses
like region locking and stuff like that.
then there wouldn't be that 1% niche crowd that has a need for hacking the system.

if you just give everyone everything from the jump then the only reason left on the table to hack is to pirate, and you cant justify that. you just admit that you like to pirate and play free games.

[Welshy]

"if you just give everyone everything from the jump then the only reason left on the table to hack is to pirate"

And there lies your problem. Hackers will ALWAYS find a way to "justify" what they do knowing full well it leads to piracy and devs dropping support in the long run. Hackers will never be satisfied by what manufacturers provide out of the box, and i'd put a large sum of money that even if a 100% completely open platform was released, they would still try some exploits or some form of hack on it.

They can shout "we only done it for homebrew" till the cows come home, but at the end of the day you need to be stupid (which these guys clearly aren't) to think that it won't at the very least end up as piracy in another hackers hands eventually.

[MegaLagann]

Exactly. It doesn't matter if the system was region free or if a game is only five dollars, the people who pirate will still pirate no matter what. I mean hell look at the PSP, region free and was a hacker/pirate's paradise.

[younghavok]

All I wanna see are bricks. Somebody will blab the big secret, nintendo will release a system update, and if there is a gaming god there will be a brick in place of every hacked 3ds.

A man can hope can't he?

[Plagasx]

Damn, I just sold my 3DS XL too...

[LOL_WUT]

Time to get a 3DS then. ;)

[tachy0n]

PSVita is next.....

[tubers]

Yup.. except that it's gonna be a hundred times worse if it hits VITA games.

Ninty's pretty big.. they can handle piracy just fine..
DS has a much wider variety of users.. more dumb old folks and kids and parents who don't know how to pirate..

but the VITA has more tweeners/adults who are geeks.. GG if VITA games start getting pirated.

Yeah, yeah.. IK, I don't have articles to back it up.. but it's too obvious.

[MoXxXi]

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD PS VITA GAMES WORTH PIRATING KYUK KYUK KYUK

No but seriously, there are like no games worth pirating, so.....

I don't see a Vita hack being useful at this point in time. Maybe in the future, but until the Vita actually becomes a useful system, it would be a waste of time to hack it. Besides for emulators, I guess.

[TacoTaru]

more dumb old folks and kids and parents who don't know how to pirate..

Maybe more people with morals and honor and integrity than the thieves who steal games. More people who would "do the right thing" even when nobody is looking rather than steal from others. What a stupid comment tubers.

[megamanX2]

lol why is this being advertised? internet sites like this are nosy as hell....hey look illegal things are happening look see.

[ziggurcat]

bu-bu-but i thought that the previous hack was harmless, and only used to unlock the region? bu-bu-but i thought hackers' intentions were good? /sarcasm

*facepalm*

we see time, and time again that even the most innocent of hacks will get developed further, and eventually lead to piracy. this garbage is exactly why we can't have nice things, and why companies tighten their restrictions..

[DragonKnight]

But I thought hackers don't condone piracy and only ever want to put homebrew on these systems.... right?

*sigh*

[Tzuno]

Now they will sell more handhelds :)

[Moentjers]

And less games. Guess on what kind of sale they are making money ?

[lizard81288]

Now I can hack it, and remove region locking.