Submitted 9 hours ago by emotional_soup_88@programming.dev to [deleted]
I’m auctioning out/away (? Non native speaker 😅) my old-ish gaming consoles and this person is asking about a unit’s serial number. Why? I mean, I put up more than ten images of the console from various angles and such… What’s the significance?
With many vendors, you can look up serials to validate that it is a genuine item, as well as warranty status, manuals, etc.
It’s buyer protection and due diligence.
Sweet! Thanks!
If they’re looking to mod it to accept pirated games, when it was produced during that console’s run would tell them if it has certain firmware versions that are easy to exploit. Otherwise, I have no idea.
Serial numbers are also used by pawn shops for the prevention of buying stolen goods. Only works if you report an item stolen and know its serial number, of course, and this is usually done with bicycles since they're expensive and the most commonly stolen item there is.
Ah, got it! Thanks! :)
For the nintendo switch for example, it makes it hackable or not.
For other consoles where it matters less, it can be to get information about hardware inside and such, as consoles can sometimes change internal components without changing the name of the console, and the serial number would be a way to determine it I guess.
I had no idea. 😅 I wonder how hard/fun it is to mod consoles, as opposed to fiddle with single board computers.
I’ve modded a few.
For the Nintendo DS, you just plug in a cartridge that looks like a DS game, but it has an SD card slot on the back. The DS boots the cartridge, which has custom firmware, including a list of games you might have on the card.
For the 3DS, you had to put an SD card in it, and the 3DS would store certain system files on it. You could take one off and modify it… it’s been a few years since I did mine. Most of the work is on the computer. You then boot into the system and flash the custom firmware.
For the PlayStation 1, you installed a spring that made it always think it was closed, you plugged a dodgy generic GameShark into the back, and ran any game (including a demo disc) to bypass the copy protection, then you swapped in a burned game.
The Switch needs a hardware chip soldered onto the board. I haven’t attempted it. I’ve heard it used to be easier but it’s since been fixed. I have one of the newest Switch 1 models (it’s the OLED variant) so mine can’t even be modded AFAIK.
Modding most modern consoles runs a risk of “bricking” the console, which means it’s damaged internally beyond repair and you might as well throw it out. So there is a risk sometimes.
After reading all of those replies with which I agree then all I have to add is congrats on the sale.
<3 there is still good in this world
Since your main question was answered, but not your other question, it’s generally “auctioning away”
American English speaker here. While I would understand what “to auction away” means, I’m not aware of anyone here in California that would say it like that. Usually, I would say “to auction off”, which follows in a long series of other “X off” verbs, like “to bake off” or “to shake off”, all of which usually involve some sort of adversary or competition.
Note that we do use the verb “to give away” but that would mean a gift without compensation, which is definitely not an auction.
Agreed as a non-Californian American. Also just "auctioning".
“I’m auctioning off my gmaing collection” (many items)
OR
“I’m auctioning my gaming console” (single item)
Oh, interesting! I haven’t heard “auctioning” on its own.
I would find that an odd phrasing.
I’ve always heard “auctioning off” or “putting up for auction” or just auctioning.
Oh wow!
Yeah, putting up for auction is more general and common. I guess I don’t “auction off” enough things to know what most people say.
I’ve heard “auction away” enough – maybe that’s what the nom-professionals say? Lol
This made me smile. Thanks! 😁
kmartburrito@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
Sometimes consoles undergo version changes throughout their production runs, and it could be anything from older consoles using better hardware (or opposite, newer being better), or sometimes certain revisions of consoles may be able to be modded to run custom firmware or software, etc.
It’s probably not fishy, just people hunting for a specific revision of the console itself.
emotional_soup_88@programming.dev 9 hours ago
Ah. I see. Then I’m relieved! :D
elvith@feddit.org 7 hours ago
An example: If Im ever going to sell my Nintendo Switch (1), I’m absolutely going to include the model number. The reason: It’s a launch day Switch. While this means that it is the oldest model and also the battery might have more wear than a newer model, it also suffers from an unpatchable hardware bug that allows you to hack the system (and run homebrew, pirated games, modded games,…).