I turned 25 today and got an Xbox 360, which I promptly modded through a software-only firmware hack so that it would play burned DVD+DL games. The firmware installation required nothing more than simple disassembly of the Xbox 360, and then connecting its DVD-ROM to a standard PC with a Rosewill RC-212 PCI SATA controller to perform the update.

• Xbox 360 Premium: NTSC, HDMI
• Manufacturing Date: 2007-12-10
• Lot: 0749
• Team: CSON
• DVD Drive: BenQ VAD6038
• 175W Falcon

Thanks, Microsoft — it’s payback time!

Note: Obviously, I only intend to use this to play backups of original games that I have legally purchased, and absolutely would not download games that could be acquired illegally through torrent sites like Pirate Bay.