Since the advent of home video game consoles there have always been ‘tinkerers’ intent on making the consoles do more than the manufacturer intended. Ironically, it was the earliest game consoles that were the best protected from users attempting to make modifications, with the first dozen or so home consoles having a limited number of unchangeable games built in. In 1976 the Channel F was the first programmable video game system, having plug-in cartridges containing ROM and microprocessor code rather than dedicated circuits. The blocky plastic cartridge with it’s unre-writable ROM chip would be the game console manufacturers number one defense against game copying and home modification for the next 20 years.

It was not until 1994, when Sony launched the PlayStation, (which it had originally begun to design by the request of Nintendo, who later rejected it – forever to their chagrin) that the concept of true home modification became a reality. Early PlayStation consoles had a parallel port on the back of the console and it was by using this port a method was discovered to use a Game Enhancer to swap an original disc with a copied disc. The first modification had been performed!

Soon after an unnamed software developer working in Hong Kong developed the first installable mod chip for the PlayStation which he sold for around $50. The code used by this developer was reverse engineered in 1997, and the code made public. This reduced the overall price of PlayStation mod chips to around $10.

Sony was not oblivious to the potential revenue being lost to console owners using modified consoles so increased the protection against copied and ‘homebrewed’ software that was built into the PlayStation2 which was launched in 2000. The PS2 console has a protection system based on original discs containing unreadable sectors. This part of the disc cannot be burned onto a copied disc. The PS2 console performs a disc integrity check on every disc when loading a game. If the unreadable sectors are not found, the game does not pass the check and consequently will not load. Fortunately for PS2 owners a mod chip was developed allowing the loading of copied and homebrewed games only a few months after the launch of the popular console.

The Nintendo corporation is one of the most active companies in the effort to deter game copying with it’s most notable attempt being the unique design of the optical disc system used with 2001’s Game Cube system. A proprietary format based on Matsushita’s optical-disc technology; the discs are approximately 8 centimeters (3 1/8 inches) in diameter (considerably smaller than the 12cm CDs or DVDs used in competitors’ consoles), and the discs have a capacity of approximately 1.5 gigabytes. The disc is also read from the outer-most edge going inward, the opposite of a standard DVD.

The Microsoft Xbox gaming console also went to lengths to protect against user modification but it too proved susceptible to the cunning of Modchip designers. Modchips for the Xbox usually take advantage of a 16-pin LPC debugging port that is included on the Xbox motherboard. The console can use this port to load an alternative BIOS. A pin header must be soldered to this port and connected to the modchip and a single solder point outside of the LPC header (D0) must be attached to the modchip also. This leads to the onboard BIOS being bypassed and the loading of the BIOS from the LPC port. A common practice in the modding scene is to use an alternative BIOS (that contains no copyrighted code whatsoever) that can load a Linux Operating System either from DVD or from the Xbox HDD.

The most recent Nintendo gaming console , the exciting and innovative Wii seems to have also inspired the greatest number of mod chip designs, with nearly a dozen on the market currently. Among the easiest mod chip installations available the Wii is capable of being ‘chipped’ via a solder-less mount which makes it one of the quickest and simplest machines to modify.

No one is quite sure what the next generation of game consoles will look like, or what manufacturers will do to try and secure them against modification, but mod chips seem to be as adaptable to change as the consoles they are built for.

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In an ongoing series of raids around the globe customs officials, copyright enforcement agents and revenue officers have been steadily chipping away at the game console modification industry.

The largest of these efforts, Operation Tangled Web took place in 16 US states in August of 2007, with police and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents executing 32 search warrants. According to officials illegal chips and other devices used on gaming consoles violate the American Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

Game console modification is the introduction of either hardware (or less frequently, software) to a videogame console which allows users to circumvent antipiracy and region specific coding limitations. Game console owners have a large variety of options for modifying their consoles, with the most frequent method being the installation of a ‘mod chip’ directly onto the console motherboard.

The Operation Tangled Web warrants targeted US based manufacturers of game console modification chips, though the Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not commented on the numbers of arrests or the quantity of illegal chips seized in the raids.

As the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, ICE plays a leading role in targeting criminal organizations responsible for producing, smuggling and distributing counterfeit products. ICE investigations focus on keeping counterfeit and pirated products off U.S. streets, and on dismantling the criminal organizations behind this illegal activity.

“Illicit devices like the ones targeted today are created with one purpose in mind, subverting copyright protections,” ICE Homeland Security assistant secretary Julie Myers said remarking on the Operation Tangled Web raids. “These crimes cost legitimate businesses billions of dollars annually and facilitate multiple other layers of criminality, such as smuggling, software piracy and money laundering.”

Counterfeiting and piracy is estimated to cost the U.S. economy between $200 billion and $250 billion annually and results in the loss of up to 750,000 jobs according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

As might be expected console manufacturers do not favor this kind of alteration to their technology, as it allows the user to play games and software not purchased from the parent company, resulting in a loss of income. According to estimates from the Entertainment Software Association sales of counterfeit or illegally obtained games cost the video game industry about $3 billion a year globally.

While game console modification itself is still a grey area in a dwindling number of countries none debate that the ultimate purpose of aftermarket modification, enabling a console to play pirated games, is a violation of international law. Privacy advocates complain that consumer rights are being trampled in what they see as a strictly business-driven desire to prevent console modification.

“Plain and simple, selling and distributing products to illegally bypass game consoles’ piracy protections is a crime with real-life consequences. This is not a game; we’re talking jail time. Enforcement initiatives of this scope send a clear message to both the public and pirate community that this illegal activity will not be tolerated,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president of ESA, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. “We commend Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Department of Justice, and the participating U.S. Attorneys’ offices for targeting individuals and groups selling the Modchip and pirated game software.”

A November 2008 raid of the popular and often notorious Sim Lim electronics shopping center in Singapore turned up 10 Nintendo Wii gaming consoles illegally modified to play pirated games. This is the first time modified Nintendo consoles have been discovered by authorities.

More than 35 million sets of Wii have been sold around the world since its launch in 2006, making it the best-selling game console in recent years.

Nintendo maintains an anti-piracy task force of it’s own based out of Redmond, Washington, which claims to have assisted law enforcement officials in the seizure of over 61,000 Wii mod chips.

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Poker, the card game has different variations. Though they all follow certain standard rules but to fully understand a poker game one needs to know the different hand values, how many betting rounds would be involved, the exact cards and the like. Other important considerations before getting all set up for a game of poker are choosing the right poker table and poker chip sets.

The three most common categories of games found in most casinos and game rooms are Draw Poker, Stud Poker and Community card Poker. Draw poker is a game where players are dealt a complete hidden hand that can be improved by replacing cards. Stud Poker is when players get a combination of hidden and face up cards and also there are several rounds of betting. Finally the community card poker is a game where players receive a mixture of incomplete hidden hand and shared face up cards. A few well known poker games are five card draw, seven card studs, Texas Holdem etc. Poker can also be played as a mixed game for instance a game could have half an hour of Texas Holdem and another half hour of seven card stud.

However among all the different poker games worldwide, be it online or in a casino Texas Holdem is the most popular one. The biggest advantage of this game is that it can be played with as few as two players. The popularity of this game is because of its simple rules and also because of its quick gripping pace. Up to ten people can play this game. One complete round of Holdem has four rounds of betting. A variant of the Holdem is Omaha Hi .The rules are very similar and this too can be played by anywhere between two to ten players. Poker players who play in casinos and tournaments tend mostly to play Holdem however most of the home poker games are still played as ‘dealer’s choice’ which means the dealer at each hand decides which variant of the game is to be played.

There are two more games that need mention here, the Caribbean and the Ananconda. The Caribbean stud poker is a different type of game. In all other Poker games players bet against each other, in Caribbean however everyone plays against the house. The house pays out all winning bets. Anaconda -the other one is played with seven cards. It is also called ‘pass the trash Poker’. This is a relatively new game and is not as popular as the ones mentioned earlier but off late it has been voted by many as one of the most fun games.

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If you’re thinking of starting a Texas Hold’em poker league in your area and aren’t sure what to do, then read on.  This article is for YOU!

You, of course, have to decide if you want your Texas Hold’em poker league to be all men, all women or a mixed poker league.  Then you have to poll your friends and acquaintances to see how many would commit to a ten month poker league.  You will want to start out with at least 16 – 20 people.

Then you need to decide why you want to start your Texas Hold’em league, what would you like the group to be called, how often would you like to meet, is your poker league educational, how do you want to pay – one lump sum or for each session.  And you have to set up the prize that you’re playing for (usually to send the top 2 – 3 players for the season to a compete in a major tournament).  You will need to establish your poker league rules.

Also, you will need to find one or more of your new recruits to host the league.  Preferably someone who has poker tables, poker chips, poker software or timer, and everything else you’ll need to shuffle up and deal.

Don’t forget about setting up your blind structures.  And establishing points for the  league players in the order that they finish.  The top two or three players will be given their buy in for the major tournaments that you identify in your poker league rules.  You’ll also want to establish how many chips that all poker league players will start with.

I belong to two poker leagues and we use the WSOP sanctioned poker rules for each league.  The difference is one of the leagues meets once per month and we pay at the beginning of the league and play 12 games.   The other league is set up so that we pay $20 twice per month as we play.

Both have their merits.  If you pay in advance, you don’t have to worry about funding your prize pool if someone misses one game.  The downside is that there is no prize money per game – it all goes to the final prizes.

The pay as you go method offers the top three winners a small prize pool (half goes to the final prizes).  Each poker league is set up to help the members to become better skilled Texas Hold’em poker players, with all aspects of the game including betting and heads up play which can be more challenging parts of the game.  There’s a lot of strategy involved in playing poker and this will certainly help to develop an individual’s poker strategy.

The prize money that is set aside is used to send at least two people to a major tournament.  One league that I play in pays for the buy-in for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Ladies Tournament which is played in June at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A poker league can be very effective for improving your poker play and give you more confidence when you play in major tournaments or casino or card room sponsored cash games.

A Texas Hold’em league is educational, fun, and a great social outlet as well – it’s enjoyable to play poker with friends and acquaintances.  You can add to the social aspect by  bringing food and sharing personal stories during play.  And, of course, you can keep each other up on what tournaments are coming up that are close to home just in case one or more of the poker layers can participate.  Starting a poker league in your area has many benefits and can be very educational, fun and rewarding!

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Scala 40, uno dei più giocati Ramino giochi in tutto il mondo. Conosciuto anche come Kalooki o chiamare Kaluki, è la variante di Ramino. Riproduzione di Scala 40 è molto più complessa e molto più divertente.

Nel Scala 40 versione del gioco, avete alcune opzioni aggiuntive, come un giocatore, che non avete in altri giochi come Gin Rummy. Queste opzioni rendono il gioco molto più qualificati per i migliori giocatori. Giocare a Scala 40 si gioca con due Jokers nel gioco. E dare l’opportunità di un altro giocatore sul tavolo per meld loro carte.

Scala 40 progettate per i giocatori esperti, che può costruire e scartare le carte dal tavolo, prima della fusione, anche la loro prima carta. Un’altra opzione è quella di “giocare” con il set di Piste e sul tavolo, il ripristino e l’aggiunta di organizzare le carte dalla propria mano a loro.

Il giochi di scala 40 /51 ogni nuovo giocatore che giocano Scala 40, può svolgere il più popolare gioco online, in italiano e altre lingue. I giocatori possono godere di italiano italiano software, Scala 4o guida e informazioni sul gioco, come giocare a Scala 40 e strategia di gioco.

Giocare Scala Quaranta è come giocare a poker più grandi tavole Giovanni. B.G.

Giovanni è un mio amico, giocando a poker online per ora le età. Quando ho offerto lui per cercare Online Scala Quaranta giochi egli si mise a ridere di me. Beh, ci sono voluti tempo, ma egli era convinto di svolgere alcuni Scala Quaranta giochi on-line dove ho dato il link.

Giovanni, come altri, non sapevo molto su Scala Quaranta, ma lo fa sapere ora. La Scala Quaranta richieste gioco altamente qualificati giocatori. Giocatori di poker sapere qualcosa circa le competenze e sono pronti a imparare a giocare Scala Quaranta. Al fine di vincere Scala Quaranta giochi hai bisogno di avere un po di tempo giocando alla Scala Quaranta on-line, di conoscere i trucchi e per imparare a caccia e come andare Gin.

Ricordando le carte di rigetti, Melding carte sul tavolo al più presto e con il Joker con il tuo cervello sono tutti i più importanti al fine di vincere la Scala Quaranta.

Dal momento che la Scala Quaranta è ben svolto in tutto il Regno Unito, ci sono alcuni grandi Scala Quaranta freeroll e Scala Quaranta tornei per giocare online a diversi fornitori Rummy. Scala Quaranta non è molto diverso da Gin Rummy, se sei giocatore di Gin Rummy Scala Quaranta è il nido passo.

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Poker chips are used as currencies in casinos and they come in an assortment of shapes and sizes. They can be made of clay, wood, composite material or ceramic.  The poker chip sets come in a variety of designs with logos, faces, shapes, images, etc., on the chip. The chips are chosen according to the grouping activity of the cards game. Like the 300 poker chips are just perfect for 8-10 players.

But what is it that makes a particular type of chip set better or worse than the other. The styles, colors, durability, cost and most importantly the material they are made up from are factors that differentiate the poker chip sets from one another. Amongst the ones that are widely available the plastic chips are the most inexpensive. But these are not impressive and not great either when it comes to stacking. They are lightweight and are handy when you need to be on the go.

Diamond poker chips are a wee bit costlier than the plastic ones and are made from composite resin. They are popular because of the ease in handling which is made possible due to the textured surface. They weigh about 8 grams and generally come in an elegant matte finish. They are great for home poker games and add a casino feel to them.

Composite poker chips are customizable and come with variety of chip faces. They weigh about 11.5 grams and are smoother than the diamond chips. They are durable, economical and have an authentic feel about them which can be attributed to their wide usage in home poker games.

The clay poker chips are by far the most popular among all the types as they are said to be closest in look and feel to the casino chips. Recently different varieties of imported clay poker chips are being made available which are durable and reasonably priced. These imported variants are popular picks for home poker game enthusiasts. Most often 13 gram clay poker chips are used for home poker games as they have a rich texture and smooth finish. But nowadays clay is being replaced by composites in favor of giving the poker chips more durability, strength and functionality.

Choosing the best poker chip set will depend on the tastes and preferences of the poker player. Knowing about the different types that are available and matching the pros and cons of each to suit your needs would be the key to selecting the right one.

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Poker chips have come a long way from the plastic ones available at the local drugstore to the more classy and nifty ones that give the real casino like feel to a home poker game. Owning a set of authentic poker chips would be a dream for any poker game enthusiast.

There are a great many reasons as to why you need to purchase a set of poker chips. All casinos and major tournaments use poker chips as currencies. If you like playing poker at home, then a durable set of poker chips are a must buy. Clay poker chips are the best in terms of their look, feel and ease in handling. With a plethora of colors, designs and textures you should actually look no further.

Some of the top reasons why you should own a set of authentic poker chips are:

The sheer weight and the sound they make are simply too good to resist. You would simply love to feel them and shuffle your checks around with ease.

Stacking them is so easy and counting is thus made simple. The weight of these chips makes them easier to handle.

Playing with them is so much more fun and real poker chips add the authentic feel to any game of poker.

These chips make great gifts and if the person you are gifting it to is fond of poker, he would simply love them.

With a little care and proper maintenance these chips can last a lifetime. Additionally these are not prone to breaking and are generally resistant from scratching and denting.

These poker chip sets make a style statement of their own. If you have your own set of clay casino poker chips, you would automatically give out an aura of professionalism and confidence.

A variety of colors and designs are available in different forms whether it is printed or painted. Each one is vibrant and bright and has a classy look.

The composite material makes these chips extremely rough and tough. They can easily withstand rough handling by irate players and have stood the test of time.

These poker chip sets are customizable and you can have your initials, logo or any design engraved on them. This gives them a special and personalized look.

A great poker chip set is a must-have for your next game of poker. Choosing the right one best suited to your needs from within the large number of options available is a trifle difficult but not impossible.

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There are so many different situations in poker and one key to winning is to know when/how to slow play your hand. What does slow playing actually do for you? It makes your opponents think that they have you beat.

So whether you flopped a monster and want to slow play in hopes of your opponent getting a hand to bet/call a decent amount. It also causes your opponents to bluff more. Slow playing isn’t only a technique to get the most out of your hand, but it can also be a way to have your strong hand taken down by a weaker one if it is not executed correctly.

Who to Slow Play Against

First of all, slow playing is a strategy that should be used when facing either advanced or aggressive opponents. The reason for this is that more advanced players are likely to try and steal pots when they feel weakness, and aggressive opponents like to buy many pots.

The key is to trap your opponent, which is when they make a bet or raise in hopes of you folding. You do not want to just give them free opportunities to see another card. When you are facing very weak and inexperienced opponents, it is usually best to bet them out of the hand, as they will often just check when they don’t have anything.

How to Slow Play

When people slow play they often think that it is best to check to their opponent. This is not always the case because you don’t want to give your opponent a free card. What you want to do is make a mediocre bet, that is smaller than your usual bet, to try to make them think that you are bluffing. Nothing’s better than flopping a straight and getting re-raised all in because your opponent felt you were bluffing.

However, if you make that mediocre bet and your opponent only calls it, then next turn you want to bet him out, and if he happened to catch or has a feeling that you are bluffing, then you may have caller, which should mean more money for you. Now, there are the occasions that odds will go against you and you will lose your hand. That’s why you take a chance when slow playing in order get a bigger pot.

The Dangers of Slow Playing

Obviously slow playing isn’t 100% reliable. It’s a chance that you have to take. If you never slow play, you won’t see as many bad beats and for some people that’s what they want. No one wants bad beats, but if you are willing to take a risk you can really get paid off.

The biggest danger of slow playing is that you give your opponent an opportunity to see a card cheaply. With that card they may catch a draw or even a stronger hand than you. If they get a straight or flush draw they may call a pretty large bet from you and of course they will eventually hit and win the hand. So there goes your whole idea of slow playing to win a bigger pot. If you don’t want to take the risk, bet your opponents out whenever you can.

Specific Situations

There are only a few occasions when you should check all the way to the river. If you hold AK and you flop a full house, slow playing is a good idea. If the flop is AAK, there’s only one ace left in the deck, along with two kings. This makes it a long shot that your opponent has anything worth playing.

However, if you check and allow a few free cards, your opponent can catch up. For example, if your opponent had J10, and you bet, he will probably fold. However, if you check and the turn is a Q, you are going to win a very nice pot. Also, if your opponent tries to steal at any point because of your checking, you will extract more money from him.

Another situation would be if you had a high pocket pair. You don’t want to slow play low pocket pairs even if the flop consists of all under cards because there is a pretty good chance that an over card will come up on the turn or river. If you have a high pocket pair, specifically AA or KK, you should slow play like you learned above.

There are so many situations when you should slow play and there’s no way to talk about them all. But then again, there are plenty of situations where you shouldn’t slow play. Make sure you think about your odds before you slow play and consider what your opponent may be holding.

In almost every occasion you don’t want to slow play if there are several people in the hand, because the chances of one of them catching something stronger than you is much higher. The only exception would be if you catch a monster such as a straight, a flush, a full house, and so on, but these never guarantee a win.

Overall it is a great idea to slow play, as long as you pick the right situations, the right opponents, and only do it on occasion. By following this strategy, slow playing will really help you build your stack if you do properly.

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Casino chips which are also known as checks are small discs used in place of money in casinos. These tokens can be made of various materials such as metals or clay. They are colored brightly in different colors. They come in different denominations as well and are mainly used in high stake game tables.

Plaques are similar to chips but different in certain ways for instance they are usually bigger in size than chips and are rectangular in shape etc. These tokens are used in place of money and are exchanged for money at the end of the games either at the game table or at the casino counter; outside the casinos they don’t have any value.

Poker Chips and tokens are used in place of money because they are more convenient and also because there is lesser chance of cheating and stealing with the usage of chips. Because their sizes and shapes are same it is easier to store and count. Sometimes they are not even counted they are simply weighed to find the value. It is convenient or casinos since it reduces the risk of casinos overpaying any customer.

History states that poker chips have always been used but no in the form we have it now. Very early poker players would use any kind of small thing as chips like coins or wooden tablets, even gold dust. Present day chips are made of clay like material that is not exactly clay. They are not painted rather different colored clay are molded together to have a colorful effect. These chips also have some design on them that is called the inlay.

Usually inlays are made of paper and are covered with plastic. The whole thing is then compressed together so that the inlay becomes a part of the chip and can not be pulled away. Ceramic chips later came into circulation and became popular immediately because of their low cost. They are actually made o plastic though they have a feel of clay. These chips weigh about 10 grams.

Each casino usually has a unique set of chips that are standardized. Different casinos have different security measures to prevent chips from being copied or replicated. Cheating or counterfeiting chips are not very common though not impossible. Casinos have at times replaced chip sets and identified fraudsters. Different materials are used to clean these chips like dry eraser, wiper fluid, mineral oil etc. These chips are an important part of any casino and without them casinos would seem incomplete.

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Position of players at poker tables is extremely important and strategic. The poker table position of a player may be the make or break factor in a game. The position of a player is where he sits vis a vis other players. Usually the point of reference is the dealer and what is significant is whether the person in question would have an early or late action in one round of betting.

Since the dealer is the point of reference, he usually moves from position to position so that everyone gets a fair share of being in each position. Being the last to act is considered the best.

There are nine players in a full table. The different categories of positions are

a) The early positions

b) The middle positions

c) The Late positions.

Early positions are the three positions to the left of the dealer. These are the worst positions because these position holders have to be the first to bet without having any idea about the other players’ strengths. Amongst the early positions the person exactly to the left of the dealer is the small blind. The person to his let is the big blind. The small blind has to put in any minimal amount before dealing of cards happen. The big blind has to put in an amount bigger than that of the small blind usually double.

Middle positions are better than early positions because they get to know about the early position holder; however they still have no information on the late hands.

The remaining are the late positions consisting of the dealer and the other two players to his right. These are the best positions as they have the most information on all other players.

Poker being a game of chance and luck as also a game of information, complete or incomplete-the more information one has the better are his chances of making an informed decision and thus better are the chances of win. Fortunately it is easy to learn the advantages and disadvantages of each position and thus the strategies that has to be adopted.

In the early positions one has to play the best hands because being the earliest to act every precaution needs to be taken. The middle position holders too need to be cautious but they are definitely at an advantage. The best of course are the late position holders and they can afford to be least cautious.

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