Microsoft disconnects Xbox gamers

[MarcMorris]

This could have affected as many as a million users due to some reports - who were running pirated software.

BBC News: Microsoft disconnects Xbox gamers

[jayzus]

Ha ha ha ha ha What a shame.

[AndyBlade]

I know a few who have been affected - to be honest, they save potentially thousands a year on games by doing this, and all of them have said that with the money they've saved, they'll just go out and buy a new console and still not be out of pocket. I'd imagine most heavy/regular games downloaders will do the same thing and view it as a minor inconvienience. They can all be online again the same day.

[MarcMorris]

I wish they could do the same thing with DVD players!

[zanner]

My son got a warning,that's all, he had a proper game but played it before the official release date. He actually got it 4 days before from an online game site.

[christats]

I have a Playstation that was altered,but to play Japanese video games that never got over here.
It was alot easier with the Dreamcast,using a game cheat disc and swapping it did the trick.

Nowadays most games worth playing on Xbox make it to the UK,
and the Ps3 is region free for games so there's no excuse for modding.
So illegal software users get what they deserve.

I thought a good thing at first,but as been said its no great expense to buy another console.
I think I read that there was already a chip being made to bypass the lockout.
Persistant swines,pirates.

[zanner]

Believe me,there are chips for everything, and not just fish Everything the manufacturers do to stop it, it can be bypassed

[jacksmith1983]

Believe me,there are chips for everything, and not just fish Everything the manufacturers do to stop it, it can be bypassed

You say that almost as if it were a good thing...

If people want games they ought to pay for them and, as Christats rightly pointed out, we're no longer in the age of the original Playstation where you needed your console chipped if you were a hardcore gamer who wished to play games such as the uncut version of Resident Evil, Clock Tower 2 and the original Parasite Eve which were released in either Japan or the United States but not the UK. Even back then it's worth pointing out that chipping your console still invalidated your warranty, and most people did it purely to play pirated games burned onto cheap CD-R's. My secondary school years (1995-2000) coincided with the glory years of the PS1 and back then I was one of the only kids I knew who hadn't had their console "chipped" in order to buy cheap, illegal pirated games instead of saving up for legitimate copies.

As far as I can tell there is no good, legal reason to own a "modified" XBox 360 and Microsoft are well within their rights to introduce sanctions amongst those participating in such behaviour.

[zanner]

I am just telling it how it is Jack, I know for certain XBOX 360 wise, there are ways and means around all Microsofts efforts to thwart them.

[MarcMorris]

Can you please lay off the piracy chat please? Along with games, DVD and music, the industry is in a right mess caused by lost sales due to piracy.

And I really can't believe you're encouraging your kids to take this illegal route. I'm astonished.

[zanner]

I am not saying it's a good thing Marc, I'm just saying that's how it is, well XBOX 360 wise anyway.

Actually Marc, my son's 360 is not modified in anyway, and he buys origiknal games for them

[jacksmith1983]

At the end of the day there unfortunately is a "something for nothing" generation who will unfortunately persist in finding new ways of getting everything for free. As far as the games industry goes this has been a problem ever since the industry switched over to the 32-bit CD based games consoles in the mid-nineties. I don't think the industry had any idea of the Pandora's Box it was opening up where piracy is concerned when they embarked on that.

Personally I don't think Microsoft's powers to deal with this sort of thing go far enough. If anything they should be able to seek a court injunction to get any "modified" consoles seized and destroyed. Some might view this as a bit extreme, but this sort of stuff is having a really detrimental effect on the entertainment and publishing industry right across the board.

That's the last I personally have to say on the matter though as it's clear Marc doesn't want endless piracy discussion.

[zanner]

I agree with your statement Jack, but at the end of the day,being legal to own a backup copy of a game if you have the original game, doesn't help the issue.

[MarcMorris]

That's a stupid excuse and you know it. Why does one need to own a so-called back-up copy? That's just an excuse for piracy.

Hey, I think I'm entitled to a free spare car in case my other one gets damaged. Yeah, right.

[zanner]

I know it's a stupid excuse Marc, but sadly that's how it is, and sadly it's legal. Anyway Marc, gladly you don't drive

[jacksmith1983]

I think the old "back-up copy" excuse is one of the lamest going. At the end of the day if my copy of a certain DVD, CD, game, etc got scratched, got stolen, got lost or so on, then I think I'd rather buy a new copy than be stuck with a lame homemade copy.

It's just an exploitatable, dubious loophole. I bet all sorts of people rent, buy or lend games, DVD's or CD's, make a "back up copy" then return it to the shop or the original owner. It's a loophole that needs sewing up.

My understanding of the law in this country, relating to DVD's at least, is that while it may be legal to own a "back up copy", decrypting or circumventing the copy protection on the original DVD to make one is an illegal act. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong though as I'm admittedly not 100% clear on the legal position, that's just my undestanding of it.

[zanner]

I totally agree Jack, that's why IK said earlier, that this loophole doesn't help the issue

[AndyBlade]

Amusingly, a bunch of X-Boxers (or whatever they call themselves) in the US are apparently planning a class action against Microsoft for taking the action they took. Microsoft had this to say on their website:

Microsoft Corp. has responded to a possible class-action lawsuit over banning up to one million Xbox 360 consoles from accessing its online gaming service, arguing the company is well within its rights to ban users from Xbox Live.

A spokesperson from Microsoft reacted to the possible lawsuit on Friday. “Piracy is illegal and modifying an Xbox 360 is a violation of the Xbox Live Terms of Use. Microsoft is well within its legal rights to ban these users from Xbox Live.”

[gax]

Remove Regional lockout from games and piracy will fall