Avalokan

Its an ongoing battle between the big guns of the gaming industry and the hackers..

In August, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., launced the web browser in the PlayStation Portable, its US $250 handheld device.It seemed to be a great addition but Sony was only playing catch up to the hackers who beat Sony by launching the unauthorized version months before.

A similar story happened with Microsoft's $150 Xbox.With it's 733 megahertz Intel processor and network capabilities,it created a breed of hackers looking to use its potential.Through a so called mod-chip and other counter copyright measures they converted the Xbox into a hub for playing music and displaying photos even before Xbox 360 was launched.
The hacked boxes were not just being used as gaming devices but a as a full fledged 'media center'.

This community of users believe in not just using the device but exploiting its full potential.They are exploring all the possible potentials a device has to offer and not just what the manufacturer says it can do..
This so called mod community,it seems is pushing both the software as well as the hardware forward.

The industry is not pleased however, with these developments and has made to close many of these mod chip factories.They say that they recognise the creativity of some of these mod chips but they are more comfortable in following their own schedule for official updates.
The hackers on the other end believe the heart of the problem is that gaming devices like PlayStation(PSP) and Xbox should be more open.

But both sides are not giving up,not as yet.
Who will win only time will tell ..but whoever does eventually, its the gamers who are having a ball till then.