PS3 Flash Goodies - Part 2: The XML Revolution
Inside the directory exists 30 XML files. They control quite a bit in regards to the PS3's appearance and functioning, from telling the XMB what types of information to display, all the way to letting you download PlayStation Home!
Do make sure to check out the attached image, as it is code snippets of the XML files we're speaking of below.
For example, in category_game.xml, it appears upon disc insertion, the insertion is added into a database, along with what type of media it's on (CD/DVD/BDVD), and if it detects, what format it is (PS1/PS2/PS3) and so on. Now there are your different media types of course: PS1 CD, PS2 CD, PS2 DVD, PS3 DVD, PS3 BD.
Additionally, in that particular XML file pertinent game information is stored in a similar fashion such as game saves, including the type of Memory Card, if it is from Memory Stick, USB, Internal, Virtual, or through a PS2-USB Memory Card is also stored.
Also a hint for what's coming from Sony.. quite a few references to the Trophy room, right in the XMB!
In another XML file, category_tv.xml, contains all of the XMB options for the Korean IPTV service, MegaTV. It has the options for the buttons, as well as the download information.
Finally, category_psn.xml is an important one.. the one for PSN. The PSN, among other things, contains similiar options to the MegaTV service for downloading of files, including both F@H and HOME.
There are quite a few more files, and we will release a full filelist soon.. other files include registory.xml and category_video_bdponly.xml so check back this weekend. We only have so much freetime to work on this per day, and for the most part prefer to utilize it dev'ing versus posting news on every little step along the way.
Finally, in related PS3 Dev news next week we will discuss how a PS3 game boots up, what the HDD has to do with it, and why the PARAM.SFO is just so very important to the PS3, much MORE than what you would think!
We will also cover some VERY nice PS3 Flash ECC regeneration work that was a success recently among other things.
PS: In case you didn't notice, the PS3 KeyVault Project has been officially put it on hold, as significant progress is being made in other areas with the PS3 which we feel supercedes the Project's priority for the present time.
Comments
Very nice stuff guys, and like always seeking Part 3 this weekend! :)
Very nice. You guys are making progress! I give you all props. Just a question, is there anyway you can edit those XML files so that the ps3 can launch backups? If I understand, these xml files can change the PS3's appearance and functions?
In the listing (on the screenshot) I see URI like this: xcb://localhost/query?table=MMS_MEDIA_TYPE_SYSTEM&sort=StorageMedia:StorageMedia.type&cond=...
This certainly seems as some sort of query to something running on top of some database (the query seems very SQL-ish). Maybe there would be option to exploit/explore this as well? Is any of the Devs capable of telling what xcb:// protocol is like and possibly accessible from outside? Or maybe from internal browser?
So if we can change category_game.xml to think that a DVD9 is a PS3 game than we could boot ps3 backups? But this will only work on ps3 devs, right?
And we could, if the ps3 is more unlocked, make custom menu for the homebrew games so for example a ICON next to the PSN icon where you can find all the homebrew games, right?
Well, your jumping the gun. There is still code that inserts the game into said database, in which say its on a DVD9, it will be inserted on a DVD9. Not to mention the fact that after all this, the SELF wont decrypt due to media flags in the header! So no, although its a piece of the puzzle, it is not the edge piece, more one of the middle pieces.