Hexic HD Achievement Hacks Don't Touch Xbox LIVE Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Hexic HD Achievement Hacks Don't Touch Xbox LIVE -- Posted by XanTium on January 8 13:05 EST
From Major Nelson (Microsoft Xbox Live Director of Programming):
[QUOTE]
There was some misinformation floating around last week that I wanted to clear up. Specifically, that folks are cheating at Hexic and earning achievements or getting high scores that they got by cheating. I got an email from the Xbox Live Arcade team where they told me:
We're seeing reports of people hacking Hexic HD using the European Kiosk disk hack. The truth of the matter is that we actually removed the code from the kiosk version of the game that awards achievements and Gamerscore and posts high scores so the reports are false. While Hackers can play the game and trigger the achievement awarded animation as if is still there but they don't actually earn anything since they can't connect to Xbox Live.

So there you have it, keep working on your high score in Hexic with complete confidence that the folks above you earned their way to the top.
[/QUOTE]

[enixn]

hehe...its just weird to see confirmation from the "other side" of things that they are following everything thats goin on..., oh and good news about hexic too

[Itcouldbeyou]

Uhm, youre able to edit files on the hd. And Hexic retail does also use flash. The question is, is the flash file signed? Else you could just edit that file and put it back to the hd... but I remember it was in kind of an archive, so it should be protected...
just wondered

[theone31]

Reading that really makes me think that disc is useless why would they go to the extent of taking out code and still not get the disc signed unless this is why the disc isnt signed cause they made the error of taken out the code and forgetting to get it signed

[BasicAir]

Reading that really makes me think that disc is useless why would they go to the extent of taking out code and still not get the disc signed unless this is why the disc isnt signed cause they made the error of taken out the code and forgetting to get it signed

I agree. It's still great for WMV HD-DVD though (but since you wouldn't be able to fit a feature-length movie on it, I don't care). Other than that, who cares about running your own flash? Well it could be cool but the flash player is highly unstable. The *only* other thing I see that this disc is of use for is for people to learn a little about the internal workings of the 360.

With that said, this is GREAT NEWS. I had been angry since day one hearing that people could hack Hexic for achievments and GamerScore points. Now, I'm not one to care too much about the G.S. at all (nor achievments) but I still don't want people cheating to get them.

Glad to know "big brother" is watching over this.

[DivyX]

Xex files where there are much magic inside are signed in order for them to run ofcourse. No worries there for ms. Data files aren't signed but how deep "system calls" do they make in the first place? Shaders do though... Media flag is set to dvdr maybe because ms didn't have to factory press those discs ( how many were distributed?? no clue... ).

I must agree also that given all things, the emulation capability of old games when we think how good first gen was hacked, the leaked kiosk demo, it all seems to me that ms has great belief towards their security on software level. We don't even have to mention the security in hw level...

On a side note and speaking about the kiosk hexic, i think all did found the info from ummm... one file but i think it's interesting since it shows us some internal 360 executables names or then it's devbox and if theres difference i don't know:
**
Xenon target system 65.52.238.80 (65.52.238.80)

Drive FLASH is an Unknown Volume

Directory of flash:\

0 File(s) 0 bytes
09/06/2005 03:30p 397,312 bootanim.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 401,408 bootanim.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 81,920 connectx.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 81,920 connectx.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 40,960 createprofile.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 32,768 createprofile.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 2,596,864 dash.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 2,318,336 dash.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 256 dashboard.xbx
09/06/2005 03:30p 20,480 deviceselector.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 16,384 deviceselector.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 69,632 feedback.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 45,056 feedback.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 110,592 friends.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 90,112 friends.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 77,824 gamerprofile.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 57,344 gamerprofile.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 126,976 hud.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 110,592 hud.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 77,824 huduiskin.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 77,824 huduiskin.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 143,360 marketplace.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 98,304 marketplace.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 36,864 mfgbootlauncher.xex
09/06/2005 03:30p 36,864 minimediaplayer.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 32,768 minimediaplayer.xexp1
01/01/1601 00:00a 1,536 MobileB.dat
01/01/1601 00:00a 512 MobileC.dat
01/01/1601 00:00a 592 MobileH.dat
01/01/1601 00:00a 529 MobileJ.dat
09/06/2005 03:30p 409,600 processdump.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 409,600 processdump.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 28,672 quickchat.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 24,576 quickchat.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 29 recint.ini
09/06/2005 03:30p 257,636 recovery.ttf
09/06/2005 03:30p 1,233,340 rrbkgnd.bmp
09/06/2005 03:30p 921,656 saferec.bmp
09/06/2005 03:30p 49,152 signin.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 36,864 signin.xexp1
09/06/2005 04:02p 322,768 sysupdate.xexp1
09/01/2005 05:13p 16,384 testxex.xex
09/06/2005 03:30p 20,480 updater.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 20,480 updater.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 114,688 vk.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 110,592 vk.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 86,016 voicemail.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 86,016 voicemail.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 1,236,992 xam.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 1,216,512 xam.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 36,864 xapi.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 36,864 xapi.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 36,864 xapid.xex
09/06/2005 03:30p 102,400 xbdm.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 98,304 xbdm.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 405,504 xbupdate.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 303,104 xbupdate.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 1,159,168 xenonclatin.xtt
09/06/2005 03:30p 1,736,704 xenonjklatin.xtt
09/06/2005 03:30p 589,824 ximedic.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 589,824 ximedic.xexp1
09/06/2005 03:30p 9,183,232 xlaunch.fdf
09/06/2005 03:31p 92,672 xlaunch.strings
09/06/2005 03:31p 1,318,912 xshell.xex
09/06/2005 04:02p 1,318,912 xshell.xexp1
0 dir(s) 0 bytes free

[Biosyntrix]

I do find that humorous, Major Nelson.

Surely, Mr Nelson you could easily remove this text:

// [onClipEvent of sprite 265 in frame 273]
onClipEvent (load)
{
if (!_root._SignedInToLive)
{
_root.gotoAndStop("NoLive");
return;
} // end if

... and be signed in to Live.

What a joker.

I would like to say in reference to my above post, that I do not support cheating AT ALL. Please do not contact me asking how to cheat.

I personally could care less, but I think the public needs to know that Mr Nelson is wrong.

Yes it is true, by default in the code, Live is disabled. But it is as simple as removing or even commenting out that code.

[BasicAir]

Shucks... So when yuo say he is wrong are you saying you -can- get the achievments and gamerpoints by 'hacking' Hexic off this kiosk disc?

If so, I am bummed.. I do -not- want to know how because I don't think that is right at all. Like I said before, I don't care too much for the GamerPoints and GamerScore (as far as trying to be #1 or anything) but I do have no respect for people who cheat it.

And I'm not calling you a cheater, either, but are you saying you can? If so, have you actually seen the points and/or achievments show up on a GamerCard online from someone doing it as proof?

:curious:

[Biosyntrix]

All I am going to see is that it can be done. TheBigCheeseOfTheSouthSeas was unlocked by enabling the live methods and altering some code.

I would like to someday Earn this achievement, however so I did use a 2 month trial, and not my Live Account.

I am not going to give a whole lot of information regarding this, as I am not sure how much of it would be permitted in this forum.

I would need the permission of the moderators, or Xantium himself.

[shanafan]

All I am going to see is that it can be done. TheBigCheeseOfTheSouthSeas was unlocked by enabling the live methods and altering some code.

I would like to someday Earn this achievement, however so I did use a 2 month trial, and not my Live Account.

I am not going to give a whole lot of information regarding this, as I am not sure how much of it would be permitted in this forum.

I would need the permission of the moderators, or Xantium himself.

Just say what you gotta say.. Putting up this strong front that you are a Live hacker doesn't mean much when you can't back it up. You admit Major Nelson is wrong, so prove him wrong

[Biosyntrix]

Say what'ya need.

Other than that which will have me banned.

[GameAngel]

Just look at the top score, how was that done with so little?

[zilli0n]

Correct me if im wrong... but doesnt the Default.xex kick you off live before the game even begins on the demo disc, even just alone as a flash file... ? As far as the HD Hack... I can assume it does work, however, taking apart the HD, plugging it in your *nix comp, taking the image of the drive, extracting the file, etc.. for some gamerpoints is a bit much. I think the true people who are doing this is simple proof of concept.

[balupton]

// [onClipEvent of sprite 265 in frame 273]
onClipEvent (load)
{
if (!_root._SignedInToLive)
{
_root.gotoAndStop("NoLive");
return;
} // end if

... and be signed in to Live.

What a joker.

Biosyntrix......, all that code does is say that if they are not (HENCE THE !) SignedInToLive gotoAndStop on the "NoLive" page.

Hell, heres a link from macromedia for you to tell you what the ! is:
http://www.macromedia.com/support/flash/ac...tutorial08.html

Now you'll use an operator called the logical NOT operator to write an expression that shows and hides the puzzle pattern. The logical NOT operator, which is represented by an exclamation mark ( ! ), calculates the opposite Boolean value of its operand. For example, the expression !true yields the value false .

This post has been edited by balupton: Jan 9 2006, 11:41 AM

[Biosyntrix]

I understand Macromedia/adobe expressions just fine. I have been a student for 2 years.

Try to launch the demo with this code removed and you will see. By default, it says "Disconnected from Xbox Live" right away.

Of course, there are many other snippets that require "adjusting", regarding other events in the game(like accessing the leaderboards).