Hackers throw lifeline to Xbox

As the console war heats up with Nintendo expected to slash the price on its GameCube again this year, Microsoft's Xbox may have been thrown an unlikely lifeline from the hacker underground.

A number of websites are reporting that Xbox modification chips have gone on sale this week, which may make the machine a more tempting buy.

According to XboxHackz.com, which is offering modification toolkits, users have a choice of two chips to 'enhance' the functionality of the console.

First to market is the Xtender chip, available for $79. Its nearest rival, the Enigmah-X, costs $10 less.

Both offer similar functionality, allowing you to play imported games, backups and copied games, as well as unsigned code, making them popular among less scrupulous users.

Both mod chip makers also claim to have region-free DVD mechanisms in the pipeline for their relative kits.

Although the arrival of the chips make consoles more popular with the pirated games community, as shown by PlayStation fans, they are not thought to be a major threat to the console makers.

Opening your Xbox will void the warranty, and fitting the current mod chips requires soldering some 32 wires to the motherboard. Screw it up and you have a $200 paperweight.