I know one of the banned. I don't think he's ever paid for a single game for his xbox though. I told him he's already saved more than enough money pirating games than it will cost him to replace the xbox so he can get online again. He'd been getting it for free for so long that I think he might actually quit altogether rather than spend the money. Of course he can always play his pirated games at home, just not online.

Just spoke to my brothers who play this game. They're laughing at all these people. But they also mention that there are over 10 million legitimate sales of this game and every player, bootlegg or not, has to pay for the online service so they wonder why Microsoft is even bothering since its not a guarantee that every single bootleg is a sale lost.

To me, the idea of invalidating a legally purchased account because they identified one illegally acquired game seems over the top. They could have just invalidated the accounts ability to play that specific game. Plus there is the collateral damage of users who share a system/account, who may play other legitimately purchased games. They are being penalized through no fault of their own.

HC, I don't know about XBox Live per se, but sometimes pirated games are also sources of game hacks and cheats. In other words, someone gets on and plays a pirated game with 20 other people who all purchased their game legitimately, they can negatively affect everyone else's experience.

Kill the BOTS!

Without fully understanding all of the technicality behind it, many of the games are played peer to peer, which means one player is hosting while the others connect to that player's system. There's gotta be potential for harm in allowing a player to connect to another with a pirated, potentially comprimised game.

BTW, I've already been cussed out by a 10 year old on MW2. The game is working as intended.

HC, I don't know about XBox Live per se, but sometimes pirated games are also sources of game hacks and cheats. In other words, someone gets on and plays a pirated game with 20 other people who all purchased their game legitimately, they can negatively affect everyone else's experience.
#3

In that sense I agree and its why I suggested that Microsoft just invalidate the accounts ability to play that game with the pirated software.

BTW, I've already been cussed out by a 10 year old on MW2. The game is working as intended.
#6 | Posted by LIVE_OR_DIE

I called my brother a couple of nights ago. instead of hitting ignore, he unknowingly hit answer and I got to listen to him playing that game for a couple of minutes. I know he has a talent for vulgarity, but I was a little surprised at how he was talking to people.

Made me glad that first person shooters make me nauseous when I play them.

why I suggested that Microsoft just invalidate the accounts ability to play that game with the pirated software.

#7 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2009-11-12 03:45 PM

If the DRM stems from the console, and the console's been tampered with, I'm not sure how they can just ban one piece of software for a user. That would affect the console's ability to verify all games played on it.

#9 | Posted by LIVE_OR_DIE

Why wouldn't the DRM exist on each CD? couldn't each individual game have its own unique identifying number? a number that could only be used on one system at any given time? this would allow for going to other peoples homes to play the game and also allow resale.

Why wouldn't the DRM exist on each CD? couldn't each individual game have its own unique identifying number? a number that could only be used on one system at any given time? this would allow for going to other peoples homes to play the game and also allow resale.

#10 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2009-11-12 04:01 PM

One thing that would have been helpful is, instead of all this peer to peer crap, if the games would have to be played on a dedicated server that can then detect and eliminate pirated games or hacks & cheats.

Grow up.

#12 | Posted by COMMONSENSE at 2009-11-13 04:39 PM | Flag: Old Curmudgeon

#12 | Posted by COMMONSENSE at 2009-11-13 04:39 PM | Reply | Flag: Back in my day we bowled, and it was fun!

Why wouldn't the DRM exist on each CD? couldn't each individual game have its own unique identifying number? a number that could only be used on one system at any given time? this would allow for going to other peoples homes to play the game and also allow resale.

#10 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine

I think that would require re-authoring every individual CD. The manufacturer could no longer easily duplicate them for distribution.

"Kill the BOTS!
#4 | Posted by LetUsPrey at 2009-11-12 03:37 PM"

Without fully understanding all of the technicality behind it, many of the games are played peer to peer, which means one player is hosting while the others connect to that player's system. There's gotta be potential for harm in allowing a player to connect to another with a pirated, potentially comprimised game.
#5 | Posted by LIVE_OR_DIE at 2009-11-12 03:38 PM

It would have to be purposefully designed.

"Kill what is flashed within the reticle provided. Disobedience will not be tolerated and could result in cancer. Any product modification will result in depletion of college funds, loss of employment, mortgage revocation and potential organ sale pending legal fees."

Just found out that three kids that work at my office got banned. They all live at home with very supportive families so they're going out this weekend to get new systems.

they're going out this weekend to get new systems.

#17 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine

I guess it'll be good for the economy then.

lol

If I know these kids like I think I do, those systems will probably fall off the back of a truck.
Yemeni mafia.

Hmm I wonder if the bans will affect my plans to build an x-box out of an old toster merged into a comodore 64?

I mean should I keep working on it or just scrap the system.

Decisions Decisions.

Kill your X BOX !

The new Call of Duty just gave me the E74 ring of death. You'd think that for the obscene amount of $$ Microsoft wants for a Xbox360 Elite, their hardware would be more robust. This is the second time in under a year. Kiss another $75 goodbye.

To me, the idea of invalidating a legally purchased account because they identified one illegally acquired game seems over the top. They could have just invalidated the accounts ability to play that specific game. Plus there is the collateral damage of users who share a system/account, who may play other legitimately purchased games. They are being penalized through no fault of their own.

#2 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine

I think it's funny that some of you guys don't have a problem with the pirating of the games/software.

Do you have any idea how much $$ it costs to develop a game, especially one like this? Millions!!

No doubt, they made their $$ back with release day sales alone, $340 million I read, but intellectual property rights are no different than any other property. No different than stealing a car and replacing the VIN tag and saying it's yours.

You probably download your music for "free" also.

An absolute ban is what's needed when these people are caught and if share an account with someone, chances are you are in on it too. No sympathy here!!

PS3 is better anyway.

"You probably download your music for "free" also."

Where TF did I even imply that, seedy? I don't.

"An absolute ban is what's needed when these people are caught and if share an account with someone, chances are you are in on it too. No sympathy here!!"

Guilty by association? Yeah, you love American values.

^.^

This makes me glad I don't bother with the X BOX stuff ... my online "crack" is World of Warcraft.

JEB

Sorry...modding your xbox is not an American Value. Either is helping yourself to something you didn't pay for. Got caught? Tough shit.

And WTF is all this fanboy twaddle about one system being "better" than another? I'm an adult and I make enough to afford both systems. I like the 360 for shooters because the controller is better designed for the size of my hands. My PS3 is used primarily for driving simulators and as my Blue Ray player. I just wish my 360 didn't have that nasty propensity to over-heat.