Playing Pirated Games? Not on Live.

[Iron Past]

Major Nelson just made a post on his blog (http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/11/11/xbox-360-console-banning.aspx) about some recent console bannings that have been handed out. I know some of you were pretty jealous of seeing some people on Xbox Live playing, for example, pirated copies of Gears of War 2. Well, now you won't be seeing them on Live at all.

...Microsoft has taken action against a small percentage of Xbox 360 consoles that have been illegally modified in order to play pirated games. You should know that modifying your Xbox 360 console is also a violation of the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void your warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE. The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive, both from manufacturers and the local companies that support them.

MS is pulling it out of rest:

http://homepage.mac.com/demonhood/banhammer2.jpg

[Orca]

I kind of expected there to be a crackdown of some sort before the new dashboard. I always idly wonder how many people get banned during something like this.

[BLeeP]

I'm strongly against pirating games, but I hope this doesn't turn into a witch hunt. i.e. You get banned for playing a game early on Xbox Live.

[Loki]

I'm strongly against pirating games, but I hope this doesn't turn into a witch hunt. i.e. You get banned for playing a game early on Xbox Live.

Nah, the check is done by verifying the ROM that is flashed on the cd drive.

[Gerbs]

How can they tell they're playing on a modified console?

[BLeeP]

Nah, the check is done by verifying the ROM that is flashed on the cd drive.

Then why hasn't this been done automatically since day one? During the days of Xbox Live on ye olde Xbox, I always read that you could never ever ever get on with a modded box for you would be instabanned. I'm sure that was mostly BS, but still.

[Loki]

Then why hasn't this been done automatically since day one? During the days of Xbox Live on ye olde Xbox, I always read that you could never ever ever get on with a modded box for you would be instabanned. I'm sure that was mostly BS, but still.

Because that would create a logistical nightmare. It is better to 'flag' those who are playing games early then check their ROM version rather than have to check everyones.

[neutralism]

Then why hasn't this been done automatically since day one? During the days of Xbox Live on ye olde Xbox, I always read that you could never ever ever get on with a modded box for you would be instabanned. I'm sure that was mostly BS, but still.

I would think that instabans would be bad for the bottom line. They probably monitor the number of machines that are modded, wait for a high percentage of them to be attached to year-long Gold Live accounts and MS points in the bank, and then WHAM! :)

[KingGorilla]

Pirated copies of Gears? 7 Eleven is a black market?

[Xerxes]

Pirated copies of Gears? 7 Eleven is a black market?

Not just early copy according to loki. But early copies that are checked and assured to be pirated copies. I'm all for the bannings. I thought it was going to fuck them up when they went for NXE.

[Sandman]

I figure if your going to have a modded system you would be smart enough to not take it onto the online servers.....am I right? That's kind of the trade off....sure you can download and play your free games all you want but you'll miss out on all the cool community features and online gaming xbox live or PSN provides. Xbox live makes the 360 the first console to have more benefits to keep it un-modded IMO.

[biosc1]

Wait...according to Epic, there is no Gears 2 for pc due to pirating...don't tell me that the console versions of the game are being...gasp...pirated...

[Dukefrukem]

I figure if your going to have a modded system you would be smart enough to not take it onto the online servers.....am I right? That's kind of the trade off....sure you can download and play your free games all you want but you'll miss out on all the cool community features and online gaming xbox live or PSN provides. Xbox live makes the 360 the first console to have more benefits to keep it un-modded IMO.

Yes you're right.

Btw, Has anyone modded a PS3 yet?

[KamaItachi]

I figure if your going to have a modded system you would be smart enough to not take it onto the online servers.....am I right? That's kind of the trade off....sure you can download and play your free games all you want but you'll miss out on all the cool community features and online gaming xbox live or PSN provides. Xbox live makes the 360 the first console to have more benefits to keep it un-modded IMO.

I'm pretty sure that was always the idea after MS saw the amount of people modding the original Xbox and turning it into a media machine. Make the official service far more tempting than what can be done by mods.

[shodan2020]

Wait...according to Epic, there is no Gears 2 for pc due to pirating...don't tell me that the console versions of the game are being...gasp...pirated...

Uh oh... if that's true then I guess we won't be seeing GoW 3 for consoles! :)

[LongStepMantis]

Uh oh... if that's true then I guess we won't be seeing GoW 3 for consoles! :)

It will be beamed directly into your imagination.
So in other words...

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd315/longstepmantis/wonka.gif
;)

[Orca]

Wait...according to Epic, there is no Gears 2 for pc due to pirating...don't tell me that the console versions of the game are being...gasp...pirated...

Compare the numbers some time. PC piracy DESTROYS its console counterpart.

[boratika]

I figure if your going to have a modded system you would be smart enough to not take it onto the online servers.....am I right? That's kind of the trade off....sure you can download and play your free games all you want but you'll miss out on all the cool community features and online gaming xbox live or PSN provides. Xbox live makes the 360 the first console to have more benefits to keep it un-modded IMO.

Don't forget that you sure don't want to lose that warranty.

[Urizen]

Not just early copy according to loki. But early copies that are checked and assured to be pirated copies. I'm all for the bannings. I thought it was going to fuck them up when they went for NXE.

If you follow the homebrew/emulation scene closely, you know that the security packs are 'attached' to the full game code that goes gold. Xbox ripping software removes those security files and pads them with other crap. Similarly, the Wii has software like wiiscrubber which does the same thing.

A pirated version of Brawl, for example, will not require a firmware check/upgrade on the console that the retail disc demands. Pirates have done some really incredible stuff on the Wii with their custom channels and piracy of Wiiware and Virtual Console titles.

I figure if your going to have a modded system you would be smart enough to not take it onto the online servers.....am I right? That's kind of the trade off....sure you can download and play your free games all you want but you'll miss out on all the cool community features and online gaming xbox live or PSN provides. Xbox live makes the 360 the first console to have more benefits to keep it un-modded IMO.

So, actually, you're wrong. If you look at places with piracy really thrives - Latin America and the Caribbean, parts of Africa and South Asia - you see those consoles go online as much as any others. It's easier for the Wii because it doesn't have the hosted infrastructure that constantly monitors usage, but it's quite doable for the 360. In fact, you can opt out of Nintendo's offer to collect usage statistics on your machine and you're in the clear. This is what you should do if you have the Homebrew Channel installed.

I've said this before, but there's a level of piracy the console manufacturers will happily tolerate, and a level they will turn a blind eye to. The easiest system to abuse right now is the DS and it's doing gangbusters in every region, selling insane amounts of software in every genre even though its games are the cheapest and they ship on the most expensive media. It's still on pace to pass the PS2 global installed base.

MS will always crackdown on a few dozen (maybe a hundred) systems when a highly-anticipated title releases, and they make a big deal out of it by issuing these warnings hoping to scare people. But those pirates who are hit will happily drop another $150 on a used 360 and continue on their way.

Don't forget that you sure don't want to lose that warranty.

Also a non-issue. Savvy modders can open a system without leaving any evidence of doing so. You can send your system to MS if you get a RRoD - they never check what firmware is installed. You might not get the same system back, but then you just flash whatever you do get back.

[Xerxes]

If you follow the homebrew/emulation scene closely, you know that the security packs are 'attached' to the full game code that goes gold. Xbox ripping software removes those security files and pads them with other crap. Similarly, the Wii has software like wiiscrubber which does the same thing.

A pirated version of Brawl, for example, will not require a firmware check/upgrade on the console that the retail disc demands. Pirates have done some really incredible stuff on the Wii with their custom channels and piracy of Wiiware and Virtual Console titles.



So, actually, you're wrong. If you look at places with piracy really thrives - Latin America and the Caribbean, parts of Africa and South Asia - you see those consoles go online as much as any others. It's easier for the Wii because it doesn't have the hosted infrastructure that constantly monitors usage, but it's quite doable for the 360. In fact, you can opt out of Nintendo's offer to collect usage statistics on your machine and you're in the clear. This is what you should do if you have the Homebrew Channel installed.

I've said this before, but there's a level of piracy the console manufacturers will happily tolerate, and a level they will turn a blind eye to. The easiest system to abuse right now is the DS and it's doing gangbusters in every region, selling insane amounts of software in every genre even though its games are the cheapest and they ship on the most expensive media. It's still on pace to pass the PS2 global installed base.

MS will always crackdown on a few dozen (maybe a hundred) systems when a highly-anticipated title releases, and they make a big deal out of it by issuing these warnings hoping to scare people. But those pirates who are hit will happily drop another $150 on a used 360 and continue on their way.



Also a non-issue. Savvy modders can open a system without leaving any evidence of doing so. You can send your system to MS if you get a RRoD - they never check what firmware is installed. You might not get the same system back, but then you just flash whatever you do get back.

All of that is actually sickening. :(

I know a pirate and let's just say I don't like him too much. Sure I have a R4 and a cfw PSP, but you can't find one lick of pirated software on me.

[Virtual Machine]

Your saintly glow is keeping me warm...

[KingGorilla]

Yes you're right.

Btw, Has anyone modded a PS3 yet?

No real point with a region free device, with a hard drive. You can already run Linux on it out of the box. The main reasons to mod are not piracy, they are to play foreign games or likie on the first Xbox it is geek law to run Linux on anything with a processor(even a g1 Ipod).

[frederec]

Yes you're right.

Btw, Has anyone modded a PS3 yet?

You occasionally hear reports of possible routes in through the Home Beta, some people even blame the constant delays of Home on these holes that are found. So there aren't soft mods like for the original Xbox, the Wii, or the PSP. I don't know about hard mods.

No real point with a region free device, with a hard drive. You can already run Linux on it out of the box. The main reasons to mod are not piracy, they are to play foreign games or likie on the first Xbox it is geek law to run Linux on anything with a processor(even a g1 Ipod).

I disagree. I would LOVE to mod my PS3 and start loading up PS2 and maybe PS1 and the occasional PS3 game on the hard drive. I would love to rip my Sony game library and have it all sit on one massive console. Well, that would totally work if the PS3 could play PSP games too...

[Urizen]

I know a pirate and let's just say I don't like him too much.

You must be a ninja person.

[nixpayn]

From what i understand the only way to detected a pirated games is via the disc jitter. if the numbers are within the acceptable range, the game isnt pirated.

that being said, i was REALLY surprised to hear that there werent bannings galore when fallout 3 got leaked 3 weeks in advance. it would be an easy thing to run a script that says if user has fallout achievements 1+ weeks before release, then execute ban hammer.

but then i realized F3 is a 3rd party title and MS prolly doesnt care. of course gears theyre gonna kick a few people in the nuts.

[Telefrog]

that being said, i was REALLY surprised to hear that there werent bannings galore when fallout 3 got leaked 3 weeks in advance. it would be an easy thing to run a script that says if user has fallout achievements 1+ weeks before release, then execute ban hammer.

Not to mention all the devs and reviewers that would get caught in such a blanket policy.

[LarsenNET]

Not to mention all the devs and reviewers that would get caught in such a blanket policy.

Yeah, getting it a week early doesn't mean your a pirate. It could mean a lot of things, reviewer, someone broke release date, etc.

You should only be flagged a pirate if you are actually playing on a pirated game.

[Xerxes]

I disagree. I would LOVE to mod my PS3 and start loading up PS2 and maybe PS1 and the occasional PS3 game on the hard drive. I would love to rip my Sony game library and have it all sit on one massive console. Well, that would totally work if the PS3 could play PSP games too...

Omg that would be so boss. :eek:

You must be a ninja person.

What's that?

Edit: I'm a little slow I guess. Not pirate so a ninja. I'd rather be a ronin.