Why Halo 2 Hacks?

The term hacking has a bad reputation in the press. They use it to refer to someone who breaks into systems or wreaks havoc by using computers as weapons. Among people who write code, though, the term hack refers to a "quick-and-dirty" solution to a problem, or a clever way to get something done. And the term hacker is taken very much as a compliment, referring to someone as being creative, having the technical chops to get things done. The Hacks series is an attempt to reclaim the word, document the good ways people are hacking, and pass the hacker ethic of creative participation on to the uninitiated. Seeing how others approach systems and problems is often the quickest way to learn about a new technology.

In the Halo community, hacks performed on a modded Xbox are referred to as mods. Halo 2 Hacks will introduce you to a wide variety of mods. However, you do not need to have a modded Xbox to enjoy Halo 2 Hacks. Half the book is devoted to tricks, glitches, and Easter eggs, none of which require a modded Xbox. For those of you who want to enjoy the rest of the hacks, you'll need a modded Xbox. If you don't have one, you may be wondering where you can get one. A modded Xbox refers to an Xbox that has been physically modified to allow all sorts of tinkering: everything from messing with the behavior of a game to running Linux on the Xbox. You can find information on modding your own Xbox at sites like http://www.xbox-scene.com and http://www.xbox-modchips.com. If you don't feel up to performing a hardware mod, you may be able to find information on softmods, which take advantage of a bug in certain games to allow you to make changes to the Xbox's built-in software.

Modding your Xbox will void its warranty, and because some mods enable you to play duplicates of copy-protected games, certain mods may be illegal in some jurisdictions. Under absolutely no circumstances should you attempt to connect to Xbox Live with either an active mod chip or a modded map. If you try to do this, you will be permanently banned from Xbox Live. Furthermore, attempting to use any mod on Xbox Live will seriously undermine the credibility of all modders. Anyone who uses a mod to cheat will lose the respect and support of the entire modding community.

If you don't want to damage your existing Xbox, and you don't want to undertake the modification yourself, consider buying an Xbox that's already been modded. You can sometimes find them on eBay as well as from independent retail and online gaming vendors. The large chains will probably throw you out of the store if you ask about modded Xboxes. Chapter 6 has a comprehensive list of modding resources.