Hacking Possibility of hacking Cyber Gadget software to work with PowerSaves?

[flarn2006]

I just realized something: Cyber Gadget allows for direct save editing, so doesn't that mean all the encryption/decryption keys or whatever you need for that are in the software? Is anyone working on extracting the keys, and writing their own software that uses the same keys to encrypt/decrypt saves using the (cheaper) Powersaves device instead? What about enabling it to be used on American games?

I don't have either Powersaves or Cyber Gadget, so there may be something obvious I'm missing.

 

[Huntereb]

Nope, the modifications are sent over a server. Decryption still requires an actual console to work (Or some other, secret means of decryption/re-encryption).

 

[flarn2006]

Nope, the modifications are sent over a server. Decryption still requires an actual console to work (Or some other, secret means of decryption/re-encryption).

Do you know for a fact if Cyber Gadget works that way too? Even if so, someone could figure out the protocol it uses to communicate with the server and have their own app connect to the same server.

 

[SciresM]

Do you know for a fact if Cyber Gadget works that way too? Even if so, someone could figure out the protocol it uses to communicate with the server and have their own app connect to the same server.

Yes, I know for a fact that that's how CG works.

I can make the CG dongle do whatever I want at this point, read arbitrary stuff, send arbitrary data to the server, etc.

It doesn't matter at all because the server verifies game compatibility info, and you can't pretend.

 

[flarn2006]

Yes, I know for a fact that that's how CG works.

I can make the CG dongle do whatever I want at this point, read arbitrary stuff, send arbitrary data to the server, etc.

It doesn't matter at all because the server verifies game compatibility info, and you can't pretend.

Are they intentionally making it only work with Japanese games (when it would be just as easy to support all regions) or is it just a technical issue preventing it? If the former, what motivation would they have to do that?

Also, what about creating a version that works with a Powersaves dongle instead, so you don't have to buy the more expensive CG?

 

[SciresM]

Are they intentionally making it only work with Japanese games (when it would be just as easy to support all regions) or is it just a technical issue preventing it? If the former, what motivation would they have to do that?

Also, what about creating a version that works with a Powersaves dongle instead, so you don't have to buy the more expensive CG?

They are intentionally making it only work with Japanese games. I don't know that it would be easy to make it work with non-JP games, but they are definitely limiting it to JP only right now.

I don't think you could make a version that works with the powersaves dongle. Theoretically you could, I guess, but I'm not going to try because I don't really want to shoot the golden goose, so to speak.

 

[flarn2006]

They are intentionally making it only work with Japanese games. I don't know that it would be easy to make it work with non-JP games, but they are definitely limiting it to JP only right now.

I don't think you could make a version that works with the powersaves dongle. Theoretically you could, I guess, but I'm not going to try because I don't really want to shoot the golden goose, so to speak.

Thanks for explaining. Any idea what reason they might have to make it JP-only, when the product would be objectively better if it worked on all cartridges?

 

[SciresM]

Thanks for explaining. Any idea what reason they might have to make it JP-only, when the product would be objectively better if it worked on all cartridges?

They only want to sell to japanese customers, and don't want to support western games?

 

[Huntereb]

Any idea what reason they might have to make it JP-only, when the product would be objectively better if it worked on all cartridges?

I can't argue with the fact that they'd make a lot more money if it were available to the west, but it's a lot easier for them to only handle Japanese games. A lot shorter compatibility list...

 

[flarn2006]

The way SciresM puts it makes it sound like they don't like foreigners, like they're prejudiced or something.

And if having to support American games is their concern, why don't they still have it work with American games (as in, not actively try to prevent it from working), but explicitly say that it's an unsupported feature? As in, if you can get it to work, that's great, have fun, but if not, sorry, that's not our priority right now.

 

[Reisyukaku]

The way SciresM puts it makes it sound like they don't like foreigners, like they're prejudiced or something.

And if having to support American games is their concern, why don't they still have it work with American games (as in, not actively try to prevent it from working), but explicitly say that it's an unsupported feature? As in, if you can get it to work, that's great, have fun, but if not, sorry, that's not our priority right now.

Well Japan is xenophobic, so it's not a stretch, lol

 

[kingaz]

The way SciresM puts it makes it sound like they don't like foreigners, like they're prejudiced or something.

And if having to support American games is their concern, why don't they still have it work with American games (as in, not actively try to prevent it from working), but explicitly say that it's an unsupported feature? As in, if you can get it to work, that's great, have fun, but if not, sorry, that's not our priority right now.

Best as I can tell, that's not how it works. It's not like they have some code blocking other regions. Rather, they would need to implement a solution to decrypt carts from other regions. Given that their entire operation is currently limited to Japan, and that the vast majority of titles come out there first, there is likely minimal (if any) demand in Japan for expanding regional support.

(If SciresM or anyone knowledgable on this wants to correct me, I'll fix this up right quick)

Beyond this, if they did open it up, this could have negative consequences for the company. You know how the Powersaves servers have been known to go down under high loads? Well, with multi-region support, CG is going to have to deal with a spike in overseas use of their services. If they aren't equipped to deal with it, the whole operation will collapse under its own weight (and CG wouldn't work for anyone).

Finally, and this is the most paranoid reason I could think of, a larger international presence could risk retaliation from Nintendo.

This is all speculation, of course. Still, until the day they decide to expand to international markets (if that day ever comes), there really isn't a compelling reason for them to support those regions.

 

[gamesquest1]

Best as I can tell, that's not how it works. It's not like they have some code blocking other regions. Rather, they would need to implement a solution to decrypt carts from other regions. Given that their entire operation is currently limited to Japan, and that the vast majority of titles come out there first, there is likely minimal (if any) demand in Japan for expanding regional support.

(If SciresM or anyone knowledgable on this wants to correct me, I'll fix this up right quick)

Beyond this, if they did open it up, this could have negative consequences for the company. You know how the Powersaves servers have been known to go down under high loads? Well, with multi-region support, CG is going to have to deal with a spike in overseas use of their services. If they aren't equipped to deal with it, the whole operation will collapse under its own weight (and CG wouldn't work for anyone).

Finally, and this is the most paranoid reason I could think of, a larger international presence could risk retaliation from Nintendo.

This is all speculation, of course. Still, until the day they decide to expand to international markets (if that day ever comes), there really isn't a compelling reason for them to support those regions.

pretty sure they wouldnt need to do anything extra to support other regions other than allow the saves to be decrypted, pretty sure there is no difference in the decryption routines....just that they specifically dont allow decrypting of EU/US saves, in regards to the sudden "influx of users"....there can only be as many users as units they produce, so if they felt the sever load was too high....just stop selling them until you either get a higher sever capacity....i find it hard to believe any company would turn down sales though, maybe they just cba offering international support and they are already feeling the strain on their current setup, but from what i have heard their servers seem more stable than datels, so im sure they should at least consider the option unless its truly just either A) they just dislike EU/US customers, or B) they dont want to encourage any sort of action coming from Nintendo, neither of which seem entirely plausible

 

[kingaz]

pretty sure they wouldnt need to do anything extra to support other regions other than allow the saves to be decrypted, pretty sure there is no difference in the decryption routines....just that they specifically dont allow decrypting of EU/US saves, in regards to the sudden "influx of users"....there can only be as many users as units they produce, so if they felt the sever load was too high....just stop selling them until you either get a higher sever capacity....i find it hard to believe any company would turn down sales though, maybe they just cba offering international support and they are already feeling the strain on their current setup, but from what i have heard their servers seem more stable than datels, so im sure they should at least consider the option unless its truly just either A) they just dislike EU/US customers, or B) they dont want to encourage any sort of action coming from Nintendo, neither of which seem entirely plausible

It wouldn't be a lot of work, but it would be more than zero work, and to support markets/languages that they don't actually operate in.

I wonder though: has anyone actually requested that they expand their support? Let alone gotten a response? Maybe it just hasn't occurred to them.