Posted Nov 12, 2008 at 10:08AM by Isaac C. Listed in: News, Xbox Live Tags: Microsoft, Major Nelson, piracy
Ó

Xbox 360 - Image 1If you choose to mod your Xbox 360 to play *cough* backups *cough*, you void your warranty and your right to access Xbox Live.

It's that simple.

If this idea fails to penetrate, here's a neat explanation from Major Nelson himself. Apparently, some people still protest their banning in certain forums:

I’ve gotten a few messages and seen some forum threads pop up on console bannings so I thought I’d post and let folks know what’s up.


In our our continued effort to keep gameplay safe and secure for our community of more than 14 million members, 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.


We will continue to employ and bolster anti-piracy security measures to counter piracy in the gaming industry and improve security in the Xbox LIVE community.


Have a nice day.

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17 Comments


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   by vinsonbar - 2008-11-12
 » ya

Yet another reason why xbox and microsoft suck. I don't have a modded xbox360 but I get most of my games from the developers for free so it doesn't matter. but not being able to play a backup game sucks. plus who's t say there doing it to play modded games. maybe there modding it for other reasons.


   Re: RavenSPe - 2008-11-12
 » Why would THIS make them "suck"

I don't particularly care for MS but to say they suck because they ban modded consoles is just stupid. And if not modding to play games then modding to do what exactly? They're not talking about simple mods to the appearance of the console but rather mods that affect the way the console works/runs/and accesses data. All of which are high risk to illegal activities. In any case, if you mod a console, don't expect to play it online. If you do and get banned and STILL cry about it, then your a moron.

   Re: Musev - 2008-11-12
 » ..

Considering the way the 360 damages discs you might want to back your games up.

So you might get banned from what supposably gives the 360 the edge for using a workaround for the ***** job ms did of creating that console.

   Re: Cortador - 2008-11-12
 » Musev.

Do you actually own a 360? If so, you must know that everything you said was BS. Try to do some research before you talk about a console that you do not own.

   Re: Xastabus - 2008-11-12
 » NXE

The only "good" reason to play "backup" images on your Xbox 360 is to reduce strain and stress on the DVD drive. Microsoft has a solution for this in the NXE to be released next week. Now there are no excuses. If you're playing backups you're a pirate.

   Re: Pajo - 2008-11-12
 » Xastabus

how exactly does playing a backup reduce stress on a 360 drive?
a disc is a disc, retail or dvd-dl

and if you own the game, you are legally able to backup the game, provided you dont share it publicly

   Re: Silver-Tiger - 2008-11-13
 » ....

@cortador: and are you actually a fanboy? Musev gave a valid point. Some models of the 360s are scratching discs. DO SOME RESEARCH YOURSELF before calling other people's comments BS.
And playing backups is completely fine IF YOU OWN THE ORIGINAL. Sometimes it's even better to play a backup of game, because you can unlock things you normally couldn't do.
Example: Manhunt 2. Full gore was only possible when you have a hacked copy of it.

And don't call me fanboy, just because I say the truth.

   Re: Cortador - 2008-11-13
 » @Silver Tiger

True, to use a backup is completely legal as long as the console officially supports it.
Imagine if you have a modded console and you go ahead a play on xbox live, you never know what people might make for modded consoles (Online cheats?), and no, i'm not a fanboy, i was just stating my views based on personal experience.
   by Pajo - 2008-11-12
 » people do it legally tho

if you own the game, then you can make a backup of it
there are actually people that do that

but in order to backup the game, they would have to hack the console firmware

they could buy the game brand new (never open it) download the game and burn it (which would be legal since they own the game) and play the backup
hence they would have an easier time selling the game when they dont want it anymore

of course they would have to destroy the backup too

   by Predator04 - 2008-11-12
 » pajo..

i dont think you can make a backup and use it. even if you own the game. its still illegal

   by rollypoly - 2008-11-12
 » not illegal

the backups issue has yet to be tested in court... it's definitely not wrong to backup software you have paid for.

to all those screaming illegal, show me precedent...

it's not just about backups either...

cheating online is a very real possibility... and who wants to pay for a service that isn't secure?

the problem i have comes in when they insist on banning based on swapping out the fans. people should not be punished for trying to fix a faulty product...


   Re: Starayo - 2008-11-13
 » What irritates me...

...is that here in Australia console modding is perfectly legal.

   Re: rollypoly - 2008-11-13
 » guns don't kill people...

the issue was tested in court, and users won.

modchips don't circumvent copyright protection users and pirates do...

the actions of a few shouldn't effect the many, if it is avoidable...
   by NEXTgenPASTEY - 2008-11-12
 » If it wasnt for the modders...

the 360 wouldn't have half of the features it does today.

   by NakedFaerie - 2008-11-13
 » user base

Just think of it. If M$ keep banning people they will all get PS3s and play there for free and M$ will eventually loose its userbase. (Oh where have all our users gone? Did we just ban the last 360 user?)

I for one have given up on M$ and gone to $ony. I pay for my console, I pay for my game and thats it. I refuse to pay to play it online.

I keep hearing MORONS saying they've had thier 2nd 360 banned and about to buy thier 3rd. How stupid are they? Buy a PS3 and dont pay again for another console as you wont get banned with the PS3.
I use to play online with the PS2 and I never got banned. It still to this day can connect and I play backups online without any problems.

As a comment above said "Its legal here in Aus" so there you have it.
$ony is the future of gaming. You can play online for free and wont get banned as $ony like you and Micro$oft dont.


   Re: Cortador - 2008-11-13
 » Yes yes...

Sony is the future of gaming. Take for example the PSP how they handle the online service. Cheaters everywhere. I know that it is not sony who hosts the server and w/e but the hardware is theirs, so they could do something about cheaters.
   by rollypoly - 2008-11-13
 » morons eh?

that's what i would call someone that doesn't see the value in a secure UNIFIED online service...

you can have your "free" online service, and when "pay for play" like GHWT on wii becomes more common, have fun with your 10 subscriptions to diff games...

i've spent about $1300 on 360 systems total (i have 4). i've only spent about $150 for the 156 weeks of online play. maybe about $700 on games (all of which i still own).

so a little over $2k... i've spent way more and gotten less enjoyment before.

how much have you spent on gaming? can you buy one copy and play a local lan game for an extra $2 a copy? can you try out the MP aspects of a game before you LOSE $40 on it?

yes i'll take the chance i will get banned (and lose that $50) so i don't have to give up $40 on every game that doesn't provide more than an hour of fun. none of my current boxes got banned, and i've played plenty of burned games pre-release.... can your precious ps3 do that?



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