forums.ps2dev.org

Hello,

I've got to put a bit of a disclaimer here: I'm not a programmer or a software developer. I'm just a bit curious about the plausability of an idea I've got, and I figured the homebrew community's the authority who could probably answer my question.

What I'd be interested in doing is installing software on a PS2 that would run parallel to games that are running. Here's the rub, though: no use of a loader or modchip or anything like that (basically an "idiot-proof" modification of the PS2 system). I'd be looking for a one-time installation of software either from a CD/DVD, memory card or an independent device with USB connection.

Then, I would need this software to run every time the PS2 booted up without a CD/DVD being in the bay. A memory card would be inserted or a USB device could be connected (allowing the program to run off the memory card or USB device - if that's possible), but the "install CD/DVD" would not be present.

I know that if I were to modify the PS2 OS or browser software itself, I could do this. But it seems like there should be an easier way to do this. Is something like this at all plausible without working closely with Sony to modify the PS2 firmware?

Here's another important disclaimer: I am not interested in any way shape or form with any sort of playing of imported games, backups, emulation or anything of the kind. I am considering having one of my companies develop software that could be marketed/distributed to PS2 owners that would have no bearing or interaction with games played on the PS2. The software would have to run parallel to played games either as a separate process or as a transparent shall over the (unmodified) basic PS2 system. Prior to investing resources into a project of this nature, I am trying to determine whether it is viable to develop software that could be installed by an average PS2 user - someone who knows nothing at all about IT or homebrew development.

I know one option for pursuing this type of opportunity is to work with Sony, but I'm trying to examine alternatives before committing myself one way or another.

Thanks in advance,
cgmodzel

Few points,

1) I don't really understand what on earth you would plan to do with such a application, the only ones I can think of are piracy aid, region free dvd, cheat device and probably video hijacker. Piracy aid isn't even worth going into and both region free dvd and cheat devices are 2 a penny, no money to be made there, and video hijacker, well has been tried before and quite frankly it never works quite as well as you would expect. If it is to enable homebrew then sure even datel have got that sorta covered.

2) You would have to have some _serious_ reason and credentials to get Sony to go along with it. If it was something worth doing then it would be likely that Sony would have done it already. Sony aren't really interested in anything which could embed itself deep into the system, cheat devices what ever, period. They won't even let game devs do seemingly trivial things because it might not work 100% on all models and subsequent models.

3) Well there are always ways but probably not without massively violating copyright at least somewhat, not that that would stop people...

Without even giving the slightest clue as to what you even have in mind I don't think this is even worth discussing further :)

Thanks for the prompt response. To give a little more background, the application which I have in mind is for in-game audience measurement. I don't know if you're familiar with television, radio or print ratings (the type of stuff done by Nielsen Media Research or Arbitron), but the basic principle behind these services is that the research agency convinces a representative sample of people to install a device on their media-consumption device (their TVs, for example). This device anonymously records what respondents are watching, and then uploads this data to the research agency. This data is then used to estimate how many people watched various shows, etc.

I own a number of media research companies in Europe, and recently some of my media agency clients have asked me if we could do some sort of audience measurement for video games (basically estimating how many people were playing a given game at a given time). It would require getting opt-in and agreement from a random sample of console-users, but would specifically be designed a) not to infringe on any copyrights (no reason to do so), and b) avoid influencing gameplay in any way (which would skew the audience measurement results and be self-defeating).

The net result of this would be to publish "ratings" for video/computer games that media agencies could use to incorporate in-game advertising into their media plans. So as this concept has no relationship to piracy, video hijacking, cheat devices, etc. I figure it's pretty "legit". :-)

cgmodzel

Something like that would HAVE to be done in conjunction with Sony. The most obvious way to do it is have the PS2 BIOS report the game anytime the protection check is done. So when you insert a game disc and the BIOS checks it, it then also reports back via the ethernet. This would require special machines and people willing to use them. Most likely, you'd have to give them away to interest anyone.

Considering that Sony is working on the PS3 right now, they aren't likely to be interested. Besides, Sony doesn't care what games are run or how often - they only care if they are SOLD. Selling a game makes Sony money, not running it. The only exception would be an online game, and online games don't need the PS2 to be modified to track usage. You track them from the server. So what you are wanting to do is futile in any case.