UPDATE: PS3 Hacker GeoHot Claims He's on Vacation

[Arehexes]

I really have a hard time believing people when they say "consumer rights" when most of the hacked PS3's will most likely be used to pirate

Ignoring the fact that anecdotal evidence is a shitty way to live your life I do have a question:

Is this what defines when an action is just or not? If 51% or more of the activities that come from a previous action are just, does that mean the previous action was just?

What if only 49% of the people using his cracks were pirating?

Finally since this all happened how have Sony's sales been doing? I would presume since companies like Nintendo blame 100% of their sales loss on Piracy and that in the UK that is causing them a 50% reduction in sales that the PS3 being cracked must have lead to a similar loss.

I find it improbable with all this rampant Piracy that PS3 game makers will even exist by years end.

I personally run by the policy that if a game isn't worth my money ( a physical manifestation of time lost to a job), it isn't worth my time (the raw currency of my time off). But that doesn't stop me from finding these vitriolic and largely empty rages against piracy obnoxious.

You aren't raging mind you, but your one liner is very popular.

Makes me wonder, considering how many criminals use cars in their operations why we haven't started suing automakers.

Not to put you down but I remember Iwata going on about how piracy isn't the main reason why games don't sell it's because they are crap. And while you live that policy in life (Mine is more or less the same I don't like having a copy of a game if I don't own the real thing), but not everyone follows that I mean I have friends who the moment I hacked their psp(Note I'm not against modding systems, my stance is people are banging on about "rights" but 9 times out of 10 most of the use will be to pirate) they pirate any game they please and I unmod it and let them deal with it. Now you my say "well that's just you but not me" but the worlds are not full of yous, it's full of people who if given the chance might pirate a game or two.

 

[Arehexes]

I really have a hard time believing people when they say "consumer rights" when most of the hacked PS3's will most likely be used to pirate

If I had a PS3 it would probably be hacked because I prefer not having the disc in the drive all the time. I would keep my games safe and the PS3 laser would last longer. I would only play my own backed up games from the external hard drive. If people want to pirate games then game developers should go after those pirates. This crusade of Sony's is getting ridiculous. They're just trying to control your own purchase.

No I would say more like trying to control their own system so investors won't say "well gee they let it be rampant to piracy so why should we bother"(And I'm including devs in this when I say investors). If you made a game that had a budget of 7,000,000 what system would you publish for the one were piracy is a problem or the one were it is secure (why do you think PC games have all these anti piracy things that end up broken anyway). Personally I'm on neither side because I feel both are wrong, but I don't also see it from the little people I see it on the side of people who make the games the little people play.

 

[RoBi3.0]

Innocent people do not run.

True fact.

Tell that to all the Jews who ran in WWII.

And 'true fact' is a bit of a tautology. 'Fact' can't be false.

I guess I should apologize I had no idea that after their defeat in WW2 Nazi Germany moved to the United States and started Jew hunting again.

See, I was under the impression that in this day and age something called due process existed in the United States and that according to the law everyone was innocent until prove guilty by a jury of their peers. Taking this into account it would be fool hardy to run off unless you where actually guilty.

But if Nazi Jew hunting is currently a problem in the United Stated then I will apologize and retract my statement.

Also the statement "true fact" is meant to be redundant.

PS: To the guy who quoted me saying "tell that to the witchs burned at the stack please read the above post but replace every instance of the word Jew with Witch and every mention of Nazi Germany or Nazis with Religious D-bags.

 

[BRex21]

Most of this appears to be based on "Sony's claims", i dont hink they are an unbiased party in this matter. I'm not saying its untrue, im saying i would like to hear it from a source that hasnt already tried circumventing the law.

The thing is since it's a video game related case (very low on the U.S. courts' importance level) the U.S. courts aren't going to be giving out news. Sony's info is the best we've got.

AAAnd now the other side of the story, All the people who accused him of taking the money and running are proven wrong, the guy has already payed his lawyers who are responding with proof that no evidence tampering took place.Of course people could have looked at how sony got the information that this guy was in South America or what the removal of controller cards actually means, but no. Just look at all the people on here who bought into Sony's slander. I would gladly donate to the legal fund for GeoHot to sue Sony for this.

 

[Worcester Sauce]

Yes, he did something stupid. However Sony taking away the right to use the PS3 however you want (like the military using them as cheap supercomputers) is just sad. Throughout this case I have lost all respect I had for Sony, and GeoHotz running made me lose almost all respect for him.

Settle down there matey. Sony sell the PS3 console at a huge loss only because they make the money back on game sales. If the military buy several hundred of these machines but no games, it's as if sony is now paying to support the US army. Before jumping to the thought of "but theyhave so much money, it shoudln't matter!" don't forget they wouldn't have much if all they did was hand out freebies.

respond as you like.

 

[RA92]

snip snip snippity snip

Well, maybe you should have been more specific about it. "Innocent people do not run under current American jurisdiction." If you want to be such a smartypants, go all the way and don't leave room for ambiguity.

And what's the point anyway? This is a civil case, not a criminal one, so the defendant is allowed to leave the country. Come back and accuse him of fleeing when he misses a hearing.

 

[SpaceMedarotterX]

The bad that stemmed from it, AKA the Pirate crowd? the onus is on his shoulders because he gave them a means to an end.

Always remember, Information is power, at the right time it can end us all.

The pirates chose to pirate not Geohotz.

And they wouldn't have been able to without him posting the rootkey, if you give a man a gun and he kills someone you are an accessory. If you walk next to someone who shoplifts, you are an accessory. If I post a detailed murder outline online and someone follows that outline to kill someone? It is my fault because I misused information.

And Geo gave them a means to pirate, he posted it in a public forum, bragged about knowing the key. He's at fault, especially if he does have a PSN account. People have to take responsibility for their actions, and he misused information and preformed modifications on his hardware, also ya know tampering with evidence and fleeing the country on 'vacation' but hey It's not like disobeying a court order ever got anyone thrown in jail!

 

[DanDeFool]

First: I love that picture of GeoHot. It makes me laugh, and it's just so perfect for the cover story.

He's like: "D'oh well! Guess I'd better FLEEEEE the country! Duh-hur!"

Second: Apparently, GeoHot is a complete ass. I'd heard people badmouthing him before, and this pretty much validates everything they've said. People donated to his cause because they thought he had a legitimate gripe against Sony taking control over OUR hardware, and now he just cuts out on them, making a foolhardy attempt to cover his own ass, without even seeing things through.

Now, Sony's going to be able to do whatever they want. This sucks.

EDIT: Never mind. Guess he's just on vacation though the tampering with evidence stuff, if it pans out, is still pretty assy of him.

And I still stand by point one. Even though he's not fleeing the country, I'll always imagine GeoHot saying that every time I see that picture.

 

[mirasiel]

Logic is my thing, but not yours obviously. Riddle me this, should not any of his EXCESS money go to help fund his defense? Since he begged his supporters for money instead of getting a loan, or selling his car like the rest of us have to do when we have legal troubles, he USED his "fame" to have his supporters pay for his responsibility. He is having fun, not buying groceries, or paying his bills, he is getting drunk and partying thanks to his supporters paying his legal bills.

To be blunt, yes he is quite right to ask for support from others TO BATTLE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION OF EQUAL TERMS IN A LEGAL SYSTEM WHERE WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN THROW AT THE OTHER GUY....he wanted help to fight them on equal terms not just scrape by, Im willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in that he is putting at least a portion of his disposable income into the fight (which since he already had 2 lawyers on retainer...i guess they didnt start working for free).

At the end of the day I do not know this mans full finanancial position, I dont know his after tax income nor his liing expenses...the only things I know are that Sony have more lawyers than the deathstar had storm troopers and that he had arrange the vacation before this shit started for real and before he set up the appeal for legal assistance and the cost of a vacation in south america is probably about equal to a lawyer taking a dump and wiping his ass whilst his secretary makes him coffee.

My personal stance on the morality, ethics or even likability of this geohotz guy doesnt matter on this issue but you and many of the people here are coming at this issue on a personal level and frankly its disgusting to me that so many people are so in love with the idea that a persons access to justice should only ever be equal to the sum value of his wallet, which is basically what you are saying.

/edit, damn monty you really have a hardon for this poor guy, like 90% of your posts are about him

 

[mirasiel]

Logic is my thing, but not yours obviously. Riddle me this, should not any of his EXCESS money go to help fund his defense? Since he begged his supporters for money instead of getting a loan, or selling his car like the rest of us have to do when we have legal troubles, he USED his "fame" to have his supporters pay for his responsibility. He is having fun, not buying groceries, or paying his bills, he is getting drunk and partying thanks to his supporters paying his legal bills.

To be blunt, yes he is quite right to ask for support from others TO BATTLE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION OF EQUAL TERMS IN A LEGAL SYSTEM WHERE WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN THROW AT THE OTHER GUY....he wanted help to fight them on equal terms not just scrape by, Im willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in that he is putting at least a portion of his disposable income into the fight (which since he already had 2 lawyers on retainer...i guess they didnt start working for free).

At the end of the day I do not know this mans full finanancial position, I dont know his after tax income nor his liing expenses...the only things I know are that Sony have more lawyers than the deathstar had storm troopers and that he had arrange the vacation before this shit started for real and before he set up the appeal for legal assistance and the cost of a vacation in south america is probably about equal to a lawyer taking a dump and wiping his ass whilst his secretary makes him coffee.

My personal stance on the morality, ethics or even likability of this geohotz guy doesnt matter on this issue but you and many of the people here are coming at this issue on a personal level and frankly its disgusting to me that so many people are so in love with the idea that a persons access to justice should only ever be equal to the sum value of his wallet, which is basically what you are saying.

What? Are you serious? I said and have said, that instead of using his excess money to party, he should put it where next to the money his supporters put theirs. How is that so hard to understand? Do you need me to break out the crayons?

Will I slowly explain to you the implications of him already having 2 lawyers on retainer BEFORE the appeal or will the penny drop for you on its own?

I'll give you a free clue, it implies that he has already been using his own money to fund the legal battle, what he asked for was support to take the fight to Sony an equal footing (You know, the company with legal teams larger than your entire family and circle of friends and the resources to match).

Shall I break out the crayons for you? I suck at MS paint but I think I could draw you a picture if you want.

/edit Im not yelling, i simply cant remember what the tags are to bold, underline and italicize and possibly pink-i-tise too. perhaps with flashing red alert lights and alarm bells so that you can grasp the inequality of the situation.

 

[Deadman Walkin]

Settle down there matey. Sony sell the PS3 console at a huge loss only because they make the money back on game sales. If the military buy several hundred of these machines but no games, it's as if sony is now paying to support the US army. Before jumping to the thought of "but theyhave so much money, it shoudln't matter!" don't forget they wouldn't have much if all they did was hand out freebies.

respond as you like.

Not since may of last year. Escapist news story link [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.194610-PlayStation-3-System-Sales-No-Longer-a-Money-Pit]

 

[mirasiel]

Logic is my thing, but not yours obviously. Riddle me this, should not any of his EXCESS money go to help fund his defense? Since he begged his supporters for money instead of getting a loan, or selling his car like the rest of us have to do when we have legal troubles, he USED his "fame" to have his supporters pay for his responsibility. He is having fun, not buying groceries, or paying his bills, he is getting drunk and partying thanks to his supporters paying his legal bills.

To be blunt, yes he is quite right to ask for support from others TO BATTLE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION OF EQUAL TERMS IN A LEGAL SYSTEM WHERE WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN THROW AT THE OTHER GUY....he wanted help to fight them on equal terms not just scrape by, Im willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in that he is putting at least a portion of his disposable income into the fight (which since he already had 2 lawyers on retainer...i guess they didnt start working for free).

At the end of the day I do not know this mans full finanancial position, I dont know his after tax income nor his liing expenses...the only things I know are that Sony have more lawyers than the deathstar had storm troopers and that he had arrange the vacation before this shit started for real and before he set up the appeal for legal assistance and the cost of a vacation in south america is probably about equal to a lawyer taking a dump and wiping his ass whilst his secretary makes him coffee.

My personal stance on the morality, ethics or even likability of this geohotz guy doesnt matter on this issue but you and many of the people here are coming at this issue on a personal level and frankly its disgusting to me that so many people are so in love with the idea that a persons access to justice should only ever be equal to the sum value of his wallet, which is basically what you are saying.

What? Are you serious? I said and have said, that instead of using his excess money to party, he should put it where next to the money his supporters put theirs. How is that so hard to understand? Do you need me to break out the crayons?

Will I slowly explain to you the implications of him already having 2 lawyers on retainer BEFORE the appeal or will the penny drop for you on its own?

I'll give you a free clue, it implies that he has already been using his own money to fund the legal battle, what he asked for was support to take the fight to Sony an equal footing (You know, the company with legal teams larger than your entire family and circle of friends and the resources to match).

Shall I break out the crayons for you? I suck at MS paint but I think I could draw you a picture if you want.

Yet he still has enough left over to go get drunk in South America? How can you or anyone justify that?

heres a timeline from the facts we have available to us, are you paying attention? good I'll begin.

November: man arrange spring break vacatation, in my experience something thats paid for in advance and doesnt get refunded,s eems to be everyone elses experience too.

some point before january: starts consulting lawyers, presumably pays fee's himself (savings or loan, who knows?), guessing that costs him several hundred to several thousand bucks.

11th january, sony begins brings its case against him.

19th of Febuary, begins legal defence fund to match Sony on equal terms.

21st of feb, fund closed, thanks given, has enough to hire extra lawyers ontop of the ones he already pays for to fight evenly.

23rd march, takes vacation that was paid for months before case started, most likely only chance to do so before case starts and starts consuming his life, home and bank account.

Same day, escapists publishes BAD journalism, people decide that he is actually snorting cocaine off of models asses in brazil using legal funds.

Later that day, turns out bad journalism is bad, most people mumble under their breath about "well he coulda been", Monty carries on acting like the man personally stole money from his wallet and is some kind of master conman...earns diploma in ignoring reality.

Mirasiel buys crayons and starts learning to MSpaint.