There is a label located on the back of a gamecube by the power switch that will have the serial number. It's also on the box in the rare event that you kept it. As for the games, there should be an insert with that validation code, but you probably won't find it in used games and often times people threw them away.

If this is for club nintendo US, though, I'm pretty sure Nintendo isn't accepting Gamecube items for points.

HDCP makes it impossible to work.DaGamingGod

He's right, HDCP will prevent any game or blu-ray from showing on your monitor. Even if you could convert the signal, there is no HDCP in most DVI connections and it's never in a VGA connection, so the signal wouldn't display. HDCP is in HDMI and a few DVI ports and allows copywrite protection, kind of like Macrovision did with VHS. The result: no picture. You know you're having this issue is you hear the sound but don't see the picture.

Not sure about response time, unless you're talking about delays regarding video and audio sync. As for refresh rate, I assume that means 30 hz, 60 hz, 120 hz, etc. Each stands for the amount of frames per second the television or monitor can handle. Most standard televisions are 60 hz. Most HDTVs are 60 hz as well but there are some that are 120 hz and occassionally support (but it's not the fixed highest rate) 24 hz. 120 hz supposedly makes for a smoother broadcast format but in console gaming you rarely see 60 fps, let alone 120, so it's not that big a deal. 24 fps is the exact frame rate of film and therefore keeps blu-ray movies in its most native and smooth format in the transition from film to video.

Monitors and really high end HDTVs can support 120 hz and even higher (I think I recall a really expensive 360 hz set). Computers are capable of higher than 60 fps and therefore may need the higher hz support, however all in all 60 hz is the safest HDTV and 120 hz is the safest monitor for gaming. Anything more is just copying frames in an attempt to smooth the signal.

Uncharted is still my favorite as well, but if you want a really aggressive FPSer, you'll get some time out of Resistance: Fall of Man. Now that the holiday season is upon us, LittleBigPlanet and Resistance 2 are great for online play. This, of course, disregards the multiple console releases.

HDCP is probably the biggest reason you don't see 1080p via Component. There's some copywrite issue with analog (component) video but they are fine with digital (HDMI) because it allows HDCP (high definition copywrite protection?). The reason you've seen it on the 360 is (and I get flack for this every time, but...) because it's upscaled 720p. It has been stated time and time again that this is the case, plus every time people tell me it's full HD can't explain why, even with an HDMI cable, I can't view HD-DVDs in anything but 1080i. My console automatically drops to 1080i when i view an HD-DVD.

Unless it's in HDMI, you will see tons of issues in 1080p for both games and movies because of input HDCP.

Browsed the boards and didn't see anything recent pertaining to this. On Socom.com, last night, they announced how the beta will work for Qore users.

-You will get an e-mail for a beta key (the e-mail you're registered under) sometime today. If your e-mail isn't up to date, get it up to date NOW!

-At approx 5:00 pm PST (8:00 pm EST), the beta can be downloaded.

***YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD THE BETA VIA THE DOWNLOAD CENTER WITHIN QORE.***

Here's the official link:

http://socom.us.playstation.com/default.aspx

See you guys tonight!

For everyone who only has a small initial hard drive (20 GB, 60 GB, and I guess the 80 GB), I don't see why you don't just update. It's very easy to do and not that expensive (especially compared to the 120 GB $150 update for the 360). Just buy a 2.5" SATA hard drive (Sony has plenty that are completely PS3 compatible, but many others are also manufactured within spec and the PS3 is not picky at all). A simple google search will reveal the location of the 1up how-to guide (needs very little tech knowledge and a screw driver).

Installs aren't going anywhere and they may even get larger. I'd recommend future-proofing with a 200-500 GB HD. I got my 250 for only about $120.

I listen to a bunch of podcasts and from what I know, this is what's going on:

If you downloaded Qore, episode 1, you should be able to unlock the beta. I don't know when the cutoff was, but there was a point that, if you buy it, you won't get the beta. Then again, maybe the first episode isn't even available and that's why you don't get the beta. Also, I heard that if you downloaded your copy of Qore, deleted it, and then redownload it, you won't get the beta either.

Having said that, I guess on Friday (according to an old posting on the playstation blog) you should be able to download the beta through Qore (when you choose to download the beta it will actually download instead of saying 'this isnot available"). Since this is through an application, no beta key required. At the same time, Sony may decide to just e-mail the key to the account attached to your PSN, so make sure that's up to date (heard of Home beta keys being sent to old e-mails, that would really tick me off). I think with this, just like with the Rockband 2 export patch, it's going to be a case of lets see what happens.

There's 3 SKU's out right now. They are Playstation 3 40gb, Playstation 3 80gb Core, and Playstation 3 80gb Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition Bundle.

The console's have all the same components w/ a few exceptions 40gb has no PS2 BC but has PS1, x2 usb 2.0 slots and from what I've read the 80gb Core has the same thing as the regular 80gb just 2 less usb port and no memory card slots (Memory Stick/SD/CompactFlash Slots). The Playstation 3 80gb Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition Bundle is the regular 80gb w/ a Bluetooth DualShock 3 controller.

Nanj29

Just one problem. I am 99.9 percent sure that the 80 gb core that's $399.99 and just starting to come out is NOT BC. The old 80 gb was and the MGS bundle 80 gB was also BC. Be careful telling people these things are BC if they aren't, it could cost some people lots of money.