Dongle Wars - The Scene vs TB/Cobra

Published on 03-23-2012 02:27 PM

122 Comments

Recently, one very hot topic going around the scene is the discussion of True Blue and Cobra dongles, and whether they are good or bad. It has become a war of sorts, which has divided up the communities of the PS3 scene. Users are calling each other names, and are using labels such as pirate to describe fellow users. We here at PSX-Scene are 100% against bashing/bullying, and believe it to be an issue in the current PS3 scene that is not acceptable. There should be no bashing of Sites/People/Teams.

To better understand the current state of the PS3 scene, let me take you back to the beginning. It all started with the release of a dongle that cost a couple hundred bucks, which lacked any quality security and was soon reverse engineered. So after that, the market was flooded with dongle clones, which everyone used to Jailbreak there PS3's on 3.41 OFW.

Near the end of the 3.41 dongle era, a new dongle that offered more options for PS3 users was announced, the Cobra USB; which, if you had a backwards compatible PS3, you could now run PS1 and PS2 backups. Soon after, geohot used fail0verfl0w's tools and was able to bring the first 3.55 CFW to the public. Followed by backup enabled CFW shortly thereafter. Cobra USB soon followed suit with the release of 3.55 method, which allowed for better backup support than any other CFW.

And then the True Blue dongle came out which allowed users to play the backups of newer games; games that Sony had successfully prevented users of CFW from playing. But with one major problem, you need special dics in order to play most some of the games, while others are playable via patches. The problem with the disc method is that the discs can become hard to come by, leaving users waiting for the latest patches. Unlike the Cobra dongle, the TB dongle does not offer any better backup support than the rest of the CFWs; well, except for the fact of playing newer backups.

Now comes the big question. Are dongles like this a good thing or a bad thing? It basically comes down to personal opinion, but it is important in this day an age to make your own opinions instead of having them made for you.

Pros:

This scene started because of a dongle.
These dongles allow for more options than the free options.
They are keeping the scene moving.
One day could be reversed and open sourced.
It is better than nothing.

Cons:

They are not free, and neither is the information surrounding them (not open source).
They promote piracy.
They are moving the scene in the wrong direction.
Strong securities, and cracking it is expensive and time consuming.
Need special discs, or wait for patches. Discs not always available.

The Dongles:

PS Jailbreak allowed for the very first homebrew to be made, as well as backup support. The primary function, backups.
Cobra USB allows for better back compatability, as well as PS1 and PS2 back support for BC models. Also, backup support for DVD/BR. Primary function, backups.
True Blue allows newer games to be played. Some require a patch, while others require a special disc. Primary function, backups.

My opinion, what the hell does it matter why we are here, and if someone pirates or not. What people do with their money and life is their own damn business. If we really want to stop these dongles makers, then the work is going to need to be reverse engineered it and make it open source. After that, they would not be able to continue to monopolize the scene. Perhaps that would also force their hand, and they would reveal more tricks hidden up their sleeves; but on the other hand, Sony might be able to patch it easier. In the mean time, the best thing we can do is support the developers, and as a community we can hopefully all make some great progress and advancements.

My thoughts; well, all the dongles are possibly the work of one person/team. They did not mean for the original dongle to be cracked so easily. They could possibly have more "secrets" they are waiting to release for the PS3. They are most likely watching the scene as closely as Sony, and Sony has been watching pretty damn close it seems. All that we know is there is someone out there with a lot more information than anyone else and they are not sharing. But perhaps they are in there own way, and perhaps our actions as communities will affect the outcome of future releases by this mystery team; what if they leave, then who really won?

The bottom line is we as a scene need to stop fighting with each other. The only way to progress is to come together and share information. This needs to be the welcome place it was back when I first joined in September 2010. Reversing the PS Jailbreak is what made this scene. Reversing the Cobra/TB could be what breaks it. The war should not be between users, but between man and machine!

So there it is, some pros and cons. I'm sure there are a ton of other issues left off this list too. What is your opinion on the Dongle Wars and where they are headed?

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_{Tags :

cobra dongle,

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122 Comments

Noisemaker89 - 03-23-2012, 02:37 PM
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i'll prefer free.
jailbreaking/hacking this scene must be a hobby and sharing with anyone is a good thing

vodcas - 03-23-2012, 02:39 PM
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Somethings arent meant to be opensource.
As i said before, sometimes when u open your mouth to much, it bites u in the ass.
The ps3 scene is a perfect example of that.

So yes, Personally i hope TB doesnt get cracked, why because god forbid if it does get cracked = back at square one!!!

bitsbubba - 03-23-2012, 02:39 PM
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"can't we just all get along!"

vodcas - 03-23-2012, 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by bitsbubba

"can't we just all get along!"

Apperantly not

You should know that by now

bitsbubba - 03-23-2012, 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by vodcas

Apperantly not

You should know that by now

indeed I do

Xellos - 03-23-2012, 02:53 PM
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I am not sure what with the hate either.. a year or 2 ago people were happily buying dongle like p3 t-break for like $30 and no one has any complain, at least not until cfw start poping up.

tthousand - 03-23-2012, 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted by vodcas

So yes, Personally i hope TB doesnt get cracked, why because god forbid if it does get cracked = back at square one!!!

I am glad you brought that up. That is infact one theory about this scenes future. Okay, so we do all the hard work of cracking TB and/or Cobra... and then Sony sees what we did and fixes it right away. Not really anything they could do about Cobra, but if we figure out the EBOOT method, what is to stop them from figuring it out.

Originally Posted by Xellos

I am not sure what with the hate either.. a year or 2 ago people were happily buying dongle like p3 t-break for like $30 and no one has any complain, at least not until cfw start poping up.

Yeah, once people get something for free, they have a hard time imagining paying for it. CFW came through an changed this scene big time. With the announcement of geohot's 3.55 exploit, the scene grew 10 times in size; which means, more people and more opinions.

Goku1992 - 03-23-2012, 03:01 PM
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Cobra/TB > PS3 Scene

I am so sorry to say that but I would RATHER pay than have no solution in my face. For god sakes guys TB cost 60 and Cobra cost 50 its a SMALL price to pay.

What have the PS3 "Scene" been doing lately *crickets*

tthousand - 03-23-2012, 03:44 PM
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Well for starters, the PS3 scene has been taking a lot of un-needed crap from people... but that has been going on for a long time. Too long if you ask me.

I think feelings need to be set aside. If that is your thing, I am sure there is a Feelings-Scene site out there somewhere for you.

The only way for everyone to grow is to set aside differences, and start working together.

And Cobra/TB is not the scene. They are the underground, and we (the scene) are always on the front line. True we may be the bastard child of the PS JB dongle, but that does not mean we are the same as these machines. We are people!

No0bZiLLa - 03-23-2012, 03:46 PM
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so noone thinks sony hasnt got ahold of a true blue dongle?

whats stopping them from using their bank account to reverse engineers the dongle them selfs? hell sony could be the makers of JB KING lol

tthousand - 03-23-2012, 03:52 PM
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Sony could be the makers of the TB too, right?

I don't think Sony knows what to do with the TB dongle. It looks like they are finally going after the suppliers.

wwefanatic - 03-23-2012, 03:55 PM
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i am pretty sure the cobra team are the same guys as
the original jailbreak team,
since all the features promised like ps1/ps2/blu ray were fulfilled,

i got no problems with the cost of dongles,
but a unified cfw for both cobra and tru blue needs to exist for 3.55,
or cobra needs to get the new keys implemented.

on 3.41 i use cobra 2.0 or e3 or user cheat(oldcheats).
if 3.55 gets the same ease of use i am all aboard

tthousand - 03-23-2012, 03:59 PM
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Well, you could follow this guide and be switching between fws in 3 minutes without the need of a USB device. That makes this thing less of a hassle. http://psx-scene.com/forums/content/...hout-usb-1888/

Then you could go get a USB splitter, and plug in all three dongles, that way you do not have to get up and switch them around. And good point on the Cobra/JB team comparison

Keywar18 - 03-23-2012, 04:08 PM
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You know what you have to do , as I did buy a new xbox flash it and tadaaaa you can play all the new games including play online . And everybody is happy

Goku1992 - 03-23-2012, 04:13 PM
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tthosand I know what you are saying but the whole PS3 scene started off by a dongle. Like I said in ealier posts, People are too used to the payloads and the CFW. 2 years agp people didnt have a problem shelling out the money before. But now things has seriously changed.... Yes I will agree that TB and Cobra are not appart of the scene but atleast they are doing something right. Sony did not patch anything because they do not choose to have things open source. (Emulators, Applications, and etc..etc.. )have NOTHING to do with TB and Cobra now that is homebrew when does "backups" have to do with the PS3 scene. It doesnt the PS3 scene is meant for homebrew not backups. So there is no reason why the PS3 scene have to stop becuase of what Coba and TB are doing. Cobra and TB promotes piracy face it. The PS3 scene does homebrew

Lets take a trip back in December 2010 remember Geohot 3.50 CFW??? No backup managers and nothing but homebrew???? People complained about how the CFW sucked because they couldnt play their "backups" and there you have it.

Those DRM dongles have nothing to do with how the PS3 scene is doing. The dongles are for those who want to play the newer games and the PS3 Scene is for people who is interested in emulators and applications and such but who are we fooling? We bought a PS3 to play PS3 games not games from 20 years ago. The PS3 scene failed because of the devs who lost interest into it. The devs who wanted fame and wound up beng sued

The PS3 scene failed because of the many people who didnt donate to the developers.... hell all the PS3 scene really have is Deank once he split no more multiman the bottom line is people buy a dongle to pirate games end of story and for those who dont like it then dont buy. Why have open source for Sony to patch it? I guess I have TB and my jailbroken PS3 for the games I could care less for homebrew or emulators but what I am trying to point out is that homebrew and emulators didnt have to stop because of what the PS3 scene is doing the developers just left

rob_1980 - 03-23-2012, 04:29 PM
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nothing in life is free.......

why should this be any different?

regardless of the explit, the method, the materials used etc etc, somebody / people have spent time on producing a method, or a product that allows the endusers to either play newer backups, or run games from their pc via network etc etc..

try and get a plummer to work for free in your house!

were talking about a hacking scene, the majority will / have or will continue to pirate games, "maybe" some wont.. thats not the issue here, nor does it need discussing..

The simple fact is, money makes the world go round,If I want an upgrade on my car, I have to pay for it, If I want to have faster internet, i have to pay for it, if i want a bigger tv package, I have to pay for it, if I want anyone to do any of the above on the cheap, for free, avoiding tax, VAT i still have to pay for it.

If the scene moves on for the sake of paying people for their time, then I'm all fo rit.

I've read for years posts on forums, xbox, ps3, iphone etc, people bitch and moan about devs not releasing , or not hitting deadlines they predicted, why should these people do it for you?

What do they owe you?

I rely on those with talent, regardless of the reasons I jailbreak my ps3 (put it this way, how many of us here download free music / movies?) I purchased a TB dongle 2 weeks ago to play 70-80? newer games than I can now, my money, my decision, and lets face it, I could have doen it months ago, but Ive wasted time thinking people will do it for free (but why would they when they can make money doing it??)

I was torn between the TB and Cobra, Id love the newer games with transfer from pc option, if either manage to do both, ill get that one.

Of course Id love the scene to be full of people with the time to move things forward and not ask for a penny, who likes to spend where they dont have to? But im also happy to pay what I think is worth it for a solution that I cannot fix myself.

tthousand - 03-23-2012, 04:42 PM
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Great points Goku1992 and rob 1980. Thanks for sharing.

@Twig, the grown up are talking. Hush

A big point here is that devs do not want to promote piracy, so for most cracking these dongles is not in there agenda.

And exactly, why should we get ANYTHING for free. We should be happy with what we get, and foucs on doing more with what we have.

I will admit, this was a tough article to write while trying to remain as open minded as possible. I hope no one was offended.

soulreaver - 03-23-2012, 04:50 PM
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forget this post......sorry!!i just didn't know.......

tthousand - 03-23-2012, 04:52 PM
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The least you could do is not assume he is working with Cobra, there by making an ass out of him and you. And then you could do some research and find his pay pal and make a donation. What you just said is disrespectful, and the type of thing this scene can do without. Unless you can show me where he said that...

DeadKurt - 03-23-2012, 04:52 PM
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Well I'll start by saying that the ps3 scene is dead for so long, there was never anything concrete, since GH's gone and we were just kids ****ing fake to fool us and make fake developers.
In all that time nothing came out except for a few miserable fix a couple of exclusive that no one really knows how to have gone out.
Now I do what I'm wondering if at this time there had been no TB to find a way to play games 3.55+, I explained how on earth we have done without this dongle to play? We will still play old games on the usual kmeaw, and complain that no one you've never released anything, eventually became a frustration for many of us who have left the PS3 to sell the 360 and have done well, I can understand them .
One other thing I want to add, you speak of piracy with the dongle, but was sorry when the jailbreak piracy did not exist? What kind of raginamenti do??
What I do not understand is that if the scene is dead because you get upset with the team of dongle? Prefer to wait a CFW that will never come out and then not play new games? You should look at the facts, the scene does not exist anymore and have to call her by that name does not make sense, until there is a serious developer with a support group that will give information on open source and do his duty ps3 scene will never exist.
That said I am a happy owner of True Blue and I hope that will continue to do their work and get better and better, I give all my support and I think others will be with me, because TB without you we could never play our new games "bought" at 3.55