Darknet Diaries

136: Team Xecuter

64 snips
Aug 1, 2023
Gary Bowser, a significant player in the video game modding scene and member of Team Xecuter, shares the fascinating rise and fall of the group known for their innovative modchips. He discusses their journey from pushing gaming boundaries to facing legal turmoil with companies like Nintendo. Bowser recounts both the culture of modding and the harsh realities of intellectual property laws. His personal experiences during the pandemic add a gripping layer to the narrative, revealing the challenges of navigating legal troubles and life after prison.
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ANECDOTE

Watch Paint Dry on Steam

  • A game developer tricked Steam into publishing their boring game, "Watch Paint Dry."
  • They bypassed Steam's review process by manipulating a dropdown menu on the website.
ANECDOTE

Gary Bowser's Early Career

  • Gary Bowser started a company in the 1980s making software and hardware for Texas Instruments computers.
  • After the home computer market crashed, he found a niche supporting and extending the life of these machines.
ANECDOTE

The Switch to Consoles

  • Gary Bowser transitioned from building and repairing computers to fixing video game systems as the market shifted.
  • This led him to explore modding consoles due to the difficulty in sourcing parts and the closed nature of the systems.
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