What will a Modchip do for me?

The intended purpose of the modules (chips) on this site is to allow you to use your game console to play imports and backups of software that you own, as is allowed by law.
For the XBOX, even more so. The suggested purpose of the Xbox Modchip is to be able to install Linux or reverse engineer the hardware that you own. Why? Well, the Xbox is more than just a gaming machine. Its the most powerful computer you can purchase for $150. Inside the case, the Xbox is equipped with a 733-MHz Intel Pentium III processor, an Nvidia graphics subsystem, hard drive, Ethernet, and four USB ports. Modding the Xbox turns it from a gaming console into a fully functional PC or multimedia center that can still run games.
The PS2 Modchip cannot yet do this for the PS2, but with the addition of a hard drive, a network adapter, and finally, homegrown applications installed to either the hard drive or a memory card, the possibilities for the PS2 are growing by leaps and bounds.

The XBOX 360 can now be modified, though not with a chip...well, chips are being created for it anyway, but at this point, we can do a firmware upgrade to the DVD Drive that will allow the use of backup copies, saving your originals from use/misuse/abuse. Since there's no modchip installed, not only is it undetectable by Microsoft's tsop/bios checks, but using backups to play LIVE is do-able... a first in the XBOX world.

The Wii is the latest addition to the modding scene, and we are now able to use backup copies and preserve our originals in pristine condition. The WiiKey is the best chip on the market for playing your legally owned backups, so that's all we're interested in carrying.

Are modchips legal?

In Canada, Modchips are legal to purchase, own, and have installed in your console. It's your console... do with it as you please. What is illegal is the making of backup copies of titles for which you do not own the original. Fortunately, here in Canada and in the US, we may, by law, make a backup of software we legally own, for archival purposes. For you to have the right to make backups, you must have bought the original game. CMS does not condone the illegal copying and/or distribution of software for the games consoles or any other format.
Interestingly, though Sony and Microsoft know that we are allowed this right, they have designed their consoles in such a way as to make it impossible for law-abiding citizens to play their legally owned backups on their own systems.

Will a Modchip void my warranty?

Currently, both Microsoft and Sony offer a 90 day warranty on their products. In this period of time, yes, a Modchip will void your warranty. Actually, opening the console itself, which requires 'breaking' a seal, is what voids the warranty, Modchip installed or not.

What effect does the Modchip have on my console?

Other than letting your console now play backed up games and unsigned code, none. The chip has never, nor will ever, cause hardware break-downs, failures, or melt-downs. It does not interfere with the power supply, the drive tray, or the laser, or any other hardware part, for that matter. If you have heard anything other than this, you have been mislead.
The chip inserts code into the data stream supplied by a copied game. That code is what 'tricks' the console into thinking that a copied disc is the real thing. It has been proven that once a game passes the initial test of a console, where the console looks for a media tag (also known as a 'digital signature') that proves the disc authentic, which is supplied by the chip for copies, the chip is not referred to again. Case in point... some of the newest chips have a 'sleep' mode that automatically engages after a game boots. This turns the chip off, reducing power usage and a source of heat within the console.

I had a chip put in a year(s) ago, but now I cannot play any burnt games. Why?

Two possible reasons (at least): most likely, the 'eye' of your laser is the culprit. Consoles are delicate creatures, with the eye of the laser being any consoles weakest link. Dust, dirt, dog/cat hair, smoke film ... etc, inside the laser unit can all impact a lasers' ability to read data. It's surprising the number of people who never take a moment to clean their lasers, but expect them to go on functioning like the day they bought their console. Another possibility: the chip may indeed be toast. This can be tested for a number of ways, and is very rare.

How do I clean my laser's eye?

There are retail versions of laser cleaners... cd's designed specifically for the purpose of cleaning lasers. For regular use, these are fine.
Should that no longer work, a thorough cleaning can be done, from the inside. We provide such a service. In fact, we include it with every install... no charge. It includes blowing out the insides of a console, and taking apart the drive unit to expose the eye, which is gently cleaned with isopropyl alcohol.

Why is it that when a laser begins to 'fade' or 'die', burnt games are the first to not work?

This is why we refuse to modify older consoles... PS2 versions 1 to 6. Old lasers. The issue is Reflection Rates. To summarize, a brand new original retail PS2 game of the DVD variety is not burnt, they're "pressed". These carry the highest Reflection Rate, often just posted at 100%. Everything else compares against it. Now then, the single best quality DVD-R media available today will give you roughly 60% of the reflection rate of that original we talked about. 60%, that's all. And you know where I'm going with this... it goes steadily downhill from there. Crappy media hovers in the 40-50% range, while CD-R's can be even lower.
So, as the laser fades, guess what the first things are that won't read? Backed-up copies. Yep, it's true. And now the calls start coming in... "my chip sucks". And per our earlier answer... "clean your laser"! Once a laser starts to 'fade', there are a couple steps that can be taken to improve performance. Obviously the first step should always be a laser cleaning... isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab. Next we can adjust what is known as the azimuth... really just the distance between the laser eye and the disc. A hair closer and the laser doesn't have to work quite as hard. Finally, we have the ability to adjust the voltage to the eye, whether for cd or dvd based titles. Ever so slightly upping the voltage can be all it takes to turn an uncooperative laser into a working thing of beauty. A combination of these three steps yields positive results almost 100% of the time. Almost!

I have heard that a chip will not allow me to play some of the newest games, true?

This is interesting... and easily circumvented.. Yes, there are several new titles out (IE: MLB 2004, SWAT, Splinter Cell) that older chips (Apple and Magic 3.1, for example) cannot handle, which prevents them from being played. Hey, we couldn't expect Microsoft and Sony to have R&D departments and have nothing come out of them! Two solutions... the code contained in the newer chips is also new, and designed to handle the needs of these problematic titles; most chips can be disabled, turning a console back into it's original state, allowing play. For this reason we no longer carry the older Modchips that does not work with new games.

Can I play on-line/LIVE with a chip installed?

At this point, the XBOX cannot be played online with a chip enabled. Microsoft's servers remotely check the BIOS of consoles, and if they find it altered, prevent your connection. Actually, it's worse than that... Microsoft will actually ban your console from ever playing LIVE. The latest chips were built with this in mind. They have a 'disable' function, meaning they can be turned off, allowing normal play, hence LIVE. The method of disabling is different for all chips, so this is explained in the descriptions of each XBOX chip we sell, on the Product Page. One other detail... since the chip is disabled, an original, retail copy of each game must be acquired to play online/LIVE.

Now here's where it gets interesting with Sony and the PS2... Sony doesn't actually check the console's bios. They instead check for a hidden key on the disc that identifies it as an original. Just of late, some very smart people figured out a way to find the 'key' on an original, and patch it to the image on the copy. This will permit PS2 "backups" to work on-line and we will tell you how to do it.

Will I ever be able to play XBOX LIVE with a burnt copy?

Don't bet on it! In this case, we are actually connecting to a server at Microsoft. They hold all the cards, and their deck is stacked. On that note, research is being done to determine if this is possible... many a keen mind is testing potential solutions as we speak. Stay tuned... we'll let you know if this turns into a reality.

Someone else did my chip, and it doesn't work. Any ideas?

Yep... get it to us. We'll proof the "other guy's" work and let you know what it'll take to complete the job.
There are a lot of people who think they can solder. To be frank, installing modules is not for the faint of heart. It's delicate, tricky work, with the health and well-being of your console at stake. We had many "installers" drop of problematic consoles, and swear that their work is perfect, and that we're going to be soooo impressed... envious even. My lord!!! Let's leave it at that, shall we?

I have some friends who are also interested in modules for their consoles. Can we get a deal?

Sure, we're open to that. And the deal will always depend on the number. One caveat here... 2 units does not qualify as "volume". 3 is just getting there. Get several of your friends together, and we'll talk. Definitely worth an email to our attention... ^_^

Regarding the PS2, does the chip impact any of the available options to the console? IE, a hard drive?

As mentioned before, the chip in no way impacts the usual performance of the console. Go ahead and add a hard drive, a network bundle, a USB device. No problem.

Regarding the XBOX, can I install a custom dashboard?

Any custom dashboard can be installed, but is dependant on a chip. With a chip in place, and a custom dashboard burnt as an ISO on a DVD-R and placed in the drive tray, yep... you're gold.

What else can I do once a chip is in my XBOX?

There are several really great options available once the module is in your console. The description of the Aladdin Advance chips on the Product Page provide some details about those options. To summarize though, you have the ability to add many applications to the hard drive, not to mention Linux. You can swap out the 8GB hard drive that came with the unit for a much larger one. This is useful because the chip will allow you to copy games to the hard drive, and play them from there.
 

I want games... got any?

We DO NOT sell burnt games. Just to be clear... WE DO NOT SELL BURNT GAMES!!! Don't even waste your time asking.

I want to burn my own games. Any suggestions on burners or software?

Honestly, any CD burner will burn Cd-based games, while any DVD burner will burn DVD-based games. Having said that, the PS2 versions above version 7 will read both DVD+R and DVD-R, while the XBOX is hit and miss... we've seen some that read both, while others only seem to want to read one type. Regardless, do not be cheap with your media. If you find a source for DVD blanks under a dollar... you know the old axiom: you get what you pay for. Spend a couple bucks, get good media. To date, we have heard nothing but good things about DVD's from Sony, Fujifilm, Mitsui, Kodak, Ridata, Imation, and TDK.
As for software... popular names in the industry are Nero, Diskjuggler, PrimoDVD, CDRWin, Alcohol 120%.

How do I back-up XBOX games?

First, we'll assume you're talking about an XBOX title that you own. Otherwise, we kindly ask you to stop reading. The sequence to back up an XBOX game is complicated. Microsoft has encoded their games in a file format that cannot be copied by any reader in any pc (personal computer). Therefore the DVD drive of the XBOX itself must be used. In a nutshell, you need to make the XBOX a member of your home network. Once connected to a pc, the DVD-drive of the XBOX can be 'mapped', by one of two different methods. The easiest is to use a ftp client to 'reach into' the XBOX and read the contents of the disc. This can then be transferred to the hard drive of the pc, and a backup made.
Though this overview is simplistic, the actual steps are detailed, and several have been omitted. Again, once a chip has been purchased/installed, we can provide you a link for tutorials on the details involved in this operation.

How do I back-up PS2 games? PS1 games?

The assumption: you are talking about a Playstation title for which you own the original, right? All PS1 games are Cd-based. PS2 titles can be either Cd- or DVD-based. On that note, each type requires a suitable burner. Unlike XBOX titles, there is no encoding involved, so a straight copy and burn will do.

I have purchased my own chip... will you install it?

Yep, for $80 Canadian on the Ps2 and 50$ on the Xbox. Though we cannot warranty the chip under this scenario, we still guarantee our work (the wiring) for life.

Can I wait while you do the install?

No! Call it what you will... a distraction? Unneeded pressure? Too much conversation?