Hacking the Xbox

Chapter 11 - Developing Software for the Xbox 171
the part of the hack’s implementer, as it helps ensure that the hack is not
directly useful for applications such as piracy. Implementing security
measures that protect Microsoft’s interests may help save the Xbox-Linux
project from the wrath of Microsoft and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Looking forward, the success of Project B could spell either a new age
for Xbox hacking, or the demise of Xbox hacking. Even though Project
B hackers have demonstrated social conscience and good will by trying to
protect Microsoft’s interests, it is impossible to prevent less scrupulous
hackers from reverse engineering the hack and eventually figuring out how
to reproduce the technique in some less Microsoft-friendly form. The end
result could either be a harsh crackdown by Microsoft upon all hacking
activity, or Microsoft exiting the video game business altogether since their
revenue stream would be cut off like Sega’s in the Dreamcast piracy debacle.
Or, Microsoft could just elect to plow more money into the business and
release a redesigned console that incorporates patches and countermeasures
for known security holes. The outcome will depend heavily upon how
events unfold in the next few months. However, with deep price cuts on the
horizon for the Xbox and rumors of a thoroughly redesigned “shrink”
version of the console floating around, it seems that Microsoft’s near-term
strategy is to focus its energies on storming the market instead of stemming
fair-use or piracy. After all, every Playstation2 or Gamecube sold probably
has a worse effect on Microsoft’s business than every Xbox converted to run
GNU/Linux, or even an Xbox converted to run pirated games.
OpenXDK
Many interesting and useful projects for the Xbox, such as the
XboxMediaPlayer and MAME-X (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator for
the Xbox), have been developed for the native Xbox gaming platform.
Unfortunately, these programs were developed using unauthorized versions
of the Microsoft Xbox SDK (Software Development Kit). Microsoft’s
Xbox SDK is supposed to be available only to approved, licensed developers.
However, the SDK was leaked even before the console was launched,
and since then many have used the leaked Xbox SDK for creating their own
Xbox programs. While the proprietary Xbox SDK is convenient and easy to
use, it is also technically illegal to use. The lack of a legal SDK for the native
Xbox platform makes it difficult to attract a large base of open-source
developers.
The OpenXDK project was created to address the need for a legal alternative
to the Xbox SDK. OpenXDK’s stated goal is to create a legal development
kit for creating Xbox Executables (XBEs). OpenXDK will allow users to
create native XBE files that, when signed with the appropriate digital
signature, could run on a vanilla Xbox. Since this appropriate digital
signature is as of yet unknown, this work is done in anticipation of a legal
technology that enables interoperability with programs developed using the
OpenXDK.