| PS2
SCPH-15000 Hacked |
Don't Trip |
The new
Playstation model SCPH-15000 resisted all attempts at modification, and the gambit was
good... for a couple of weeks. A new mod-chip coded on the old, reliable Microchip ®
12c508 PIC has surfaced in Asia overnight which hacks the unit and foils the new PS2 mod
lockout. Hint: one signal bumps another... The chip allows the SCPH-10000 swap trick to be
utillized for the use of bootlegs and potentially, USA Playstation 2 software. As such,
the supposedly unbreakable is broken. Time and again we have seen this repetitive cycle
betwixt PS and modifiers and it gets redundant after a while.
There is a very simple way that Sony could render the Playstation 2 nearly
unmodifiable by the layman, leaving any successful attempts up to the core professionals.
Those pros who make their own VGA cables and tinker inside a new box just for the hell of
it. There are not many of these players around and a simple pcboard change at the
production level would stop the masses from modifying their consoles. Sony has never taken
this step in the USA with the original Playstation and NCS doubts that they'll start now
with the PS2. Motives are unknown as to why they wouldn't make the final move to stop
amateur mod attempts but we have a couple of guesses, one of which was espoused a couple
of months ago. No need to repeat it again as it drew unwanted attention from the
"powers" that vie. In any case, modifiers need never fear a permanent lockout on
the Playstation and Playstation 2, Sony is your friend in this respect. |
NCS disseminates the news of the new PS2 SCPH-15000 mod chip for
informational purposes only. We are merely reporting an event and not offering any service
or product associated with this mod.
Our opinion of the current PS2 mod chip is not generous. It is a primitive
hack that works but it is neither elegant nor efficient. It is oftimes hazardous to the
well-being of your PS2.
NCS does not support or sell any Playstation 2 mod chips and we fervently and
frequently frown upon any theft of software. Sony is entitled to each and every penny that
is due to them for producing the technical marvel that is known as the PS 2. Love them,
don't hate 'em. |
| NCS
RGB Production Completed |
Crystal |
A full
complement of RGB cables have been produced and are now available for shipping from NCS.
Currently available for sale are Japanese RGB leads for the Dreamcast, Nintendo 64 and
Super Nintendo, Sega Saturn, and Sony Playstation and Playstation 2. A minor modification
must be performed on the Nintendo 64 pcboard before the unit will output RGB but all of
our other cables are plug and play, including the Dreamcast RGB cable. Current production
schedules allow us a 14-day lag-time from beginning to end in case we need more quantity
but ample supplies of all cables are now in stock. Any out of stock situations should be
short-lived.
NCS can accept special RGB cable production requests. If we receive enough
demand for a particular cable, we will manufacture it and offer it for sale. Our minimum
production quantities per cable are about 500 units to make it economically feasible but
we don't mind keeping RGB cables in stock since the raw materials are on hand and our
XRGB-2 user base is growing. Feel free to submit RGB cable requests by e-mail. Our price for all RGB cables is US$20 and this
includes any that are produced in minute batches of 500. |
Composite video is vanilla and it's a flavor
that is de-facto on most consumer electronics. Mixing four video signals together into
one, composite is acceptable for the general use. The video elite usually opt for RGB aka
component video. In plain speak, RGB as opposed to composite is not a combined signal but
rather three separate signals which are not degraded by mixing them into one. As such, RGB
goes in clean and comes out looking crystal and unblemished. Less is more in this case. |
| Official
Saturn S-Video Cable Restock |
Mid-Level |
| NCS has
bought out the last remaining inventory of Sega's official S-Video cable for the Saturn
from a distributor in Japan. We had assumed that we would never be able to stock this item
again a couple of weeks ago when a primary Japanese distributor sold out. A fairly sizable
quantity is now available from NCS and we'll keep it on the on-line store until supplies
are depleted. We don't anticipate the item to sell out anytime soon. Pricing remains at US$28.
|
Composite video blends four signals into one
but the magic of S-Video transmits two separate signals for chrominance and luminance.
This provides a sharper image and improved definition. |
| Playstation
2 USA Launch Offer |
USA PS2 Roster |
A domestic
distribution company recently faxed NCS their offer for the USA version of the PS2. The only
available package was as follows:
Purchase a PS2 and any 20 pieces of software at US$1450.00. No exceptions. I.e, if we
wanted to order any quantity of the PS2, the per "unit" price would be
US$1450.00. Order a small quantity like 100 PS2s and our bill would amount to US$145,000.
This was one of the better offers. Other distributors forced the less
desirable games into their package deals and at a higher price than what we list above.
No one is offering the PS2 console by itself. This presents an interesting dilemna as this
will ensure that no independent retailer in the United States will be
able to offer the Playstation 2 at US$299. Here's our math: Assuming that each game
retails at US$49, the 20 software titles will rake in US$980. This leaves US$470 as the
cost of each Playstation 2 console. However, there is no assurance that all 20 software
titles will sell and mom 'n pop shops will have to take a hit on the ones that rot on the
shelves. They'll make up for that with a higher selling price for the PS2 of perhaps
US$550 all the way up to US$750. It will happen because the wholesale pricing structure
forces it.
All of the distributors in the USA are packaging their PS2 consoles in this
manner or some variant of the offer listed above. All of the independent retailers will
buy from these distributors since Toys R Us and Electronics Boutique ain't giving up their
supply to the competition. It's done and done. In retrospect, the chaos that was the
Japanese PS2 launch wasn't so bad after all... |
Twenty four Playstation 2 domestic titles are
currently scheduled to ship on October 26 as follows: Armored Core 2, Dead or Alive 2,
Dynasty Warriors 2, ESPN International Track & Field, Eternal Ring, Evergrace,
Fantavision, Gun Griffon Blaze, John Madden Football 2K1, Orphen: Scion of Sorcery,
Q-Ball, Ready to Rumble 2, Ridge Racer V, Silent Scope, Silpheed: The Lost Planet,
Smuggler's Run, Snowboard Supercross, Summoner, Swing Away Golf, Tekken Tag Tournament,
Time Splitters, Unreal Tournament, Wild Wild Racing, and X-Squad.
At least half of these may be AWOL at launch time. Still, it's nice to put
out a large list of debut games to impress the press and instill confidence in retail
consumers. Bravo. |
| Kapital |
Intentionally |
| It's coming but we haven't made the trade
yet. The scenario is setting up beautifully again this year however and
the VIX should flash a clear signal when it's time to strike. Perhaps we'll wait a day or
two after the VIX signals since it can always get more extreme. Money is now taking
opposing sides and the market will wag this way and that way to pull everyone in. One day
the bulls will win and another will be dear for the bears. Fool everyone. This polarized
capital will provide the rocket fuel that launches us for the remainder of the year. We'll
play it simple with OEX contracts or for a pure play, SP00S (futures). Long. |
Blank |
| Neo Geo Update Originally Posted on 10/04 |
| Neo
King of Fighters 2000 Confirmed |
Retail |
| It's on.
SNK of Japan has served up the ship date for Neo Geo King of Fighters 2000 and
it hits on December 21, 2000. All pre-orders that have previously been submitted to NCS
are on hold and we'll send out e-mail confirmations for this game about two weeks before
the game arrives. This early December mailing will serve as a reminder to our customers
and also settle shipping arrangements. New pre-orders are welcome via e-mail request for
addition to our reservation schedule. Final pricing for the game will be posted on October
17 and we will be able to fulfill all pre-orders received up until the game ships. New
orders after the release date should also be okay as we will bring in a large quantity of
this product. |
SNK's retail pricing for King of Fighters 2000 sits at a hefty 38,000 yen or
roughly USD347 at this morning's forex ratio. NCS expects our own pricing to be listed at
USD319 or lower when the cartridge is released in December but this will be finalized in
about 2 weeks. There will only be one production of this game. |
