Microsoft begins new round of Xbox Live bans

Heads up, Xbox 360 tinkerers -- it appears that Microsoft is bringing out the ban hammer once again. According to a thread on an Xbox-Scene forum, users are having their Live wrists slapped left, right, and center due to "bad discs" (i.e., non 1:1 copies of games). Initially, the problem seemed to be modified DVD firmware, but it now appears the cause is due to game data that isn't properly copied, or has been "touched" in some manner. Keep in mind, these are console bans, as opposed to Live account bans, which is a minor amount of good news. The forums are abuzz with profane indictments of Microsoft and calls for heads on platters (okay, it's not that bad) -- but mostly everyone is just waiting to see where the next hit will come from. You've been warned, folks.

[Kris S. @ Nov 21st 2007 12:01PM]

Good, stupid hackers.

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Nov 21st 2007 12:10PM]

@Kris
I second that opinion

[danny @ Nov 21st 2007 12:45PM]

I third that if you are referring to the cheaters, as in the ones who use their hacks to cheat on games. If you're talking about those who are simply hacking the hardware to make it their bitch, then I feel sorry for those guys. Yet they asked for it as there is no way M$ can differentiate.

[Brian @ Nov 21st 2007 2:15PM]

I "fourth" that. Good for MS for taking these pricks out.

[ssuk @ Nov 21st 2007 2:19PM]

Since this is now barring only consoles which Live identifies running games which don't meet a certain checksum, I would say Microsoft is just going after the cheats. Which I whole heartedly support, however doubt this has come around because they've seen some magical light, more like they're unable to detect the stelth firmwares used now since MS banned a bunch of accounts for using flashed DVD drive firmwares. But hey, whatever.

[mcatrage @ Nov 21st 2007 2:21PM]

You can't cheat by doing this. People gotta get your information right all this does is bypass the dvd drive the rest of the 360 isn't hacked so cheating is basically impossible (I think someone changed some .inis in Gears but it was easily stopped). The original xbox was busted wide open the 360 allows for piracy (back ups yeah right) and thats it.

[lordofthedirectrix @ Nov 21st 2007 9:28PM]

I purchase my games, but I wish there was some way to install the games to your hard drive so it would load faster.

Anyone know of any way to do that? Other than the expected "Get a PC" response?

[Das @ Nov 21st 2007 12:03PM]

The lesson here is pretty simple: if you mod your 360 in any way, don't use Live.
If you do you're really just asking for it.

[GregA @ Nov 21st 2007 12:06PM]

Notice how the article is dripping with contempt for Microsoft for, gasp, stopping people from illegally copying games? To bad Jump-the-shark.com doesn't have a section for blogs.

[Joshua Topolsky @ Nov 21st 2007 12:21PM]

I don't think we're "dripping with contempt for Microsoft" in this post, just telling people what's out there. You might also note that copying a game doesn't necessarily mean you're stealing it -- plenty of people make backups, because plenty of discs get trashed.

[Jason Smith @ Nov 21st 2007 12:49PM]

"You might also note that copying a game doesn't necessarily mean you're stealing it -- plenty of people make backups, because plenty of discs get trashed."

Oh please. That's like saying that there are "plenty of" torrents on thepiratebay for legitimate free content as an argument to not shut them down. You're as likely to run into the mythical "I make backups but never pirate" group as you are an honest politician. Even the forum thread you source, while outwardly claiming they don't promote piracy, has dozens of reports that may as well be openly admitting it.

The real shame is that MS is only banning the console hardware, and not also banning their Live accounts and credit card billing addresses as well.

[DomZ @ Nov 21st 2007 1:03PM]

Call me crazy but I don't know one person who "backs up" their games for legitimate reasons. Video games are usually treated better than CDs or DVDs because they cost a whole lot more so your "plenty of discs get trashed" theory is absolutely ridiculous.

[JeffM @ Nov 21st 2007 1:18PM]

Hey, if I could I would! I never use any of the music CDs I buy- they go to PCM on HDD and sit in a case, I only listen to copies.

[RichardBronosky @ Nov 21st 2007 1:45PM]

Every single disc that comes into my 5 year old nephew's possession is a backup. If I can't make backups, I don't buy into a platform. My home is stocked exclusively with HD TVs, but I will keep buying DVD until I can backup BlueRay or HD-DVD. The first platform that I feel to be a worth while investment will get my dollar.

I think claiming that games endure less abuse is ridiculous! Games are for kids, kids trash optical discs. The industry knows this, and that is why they don't sell media in this form factor anymore. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DVD-RAM_FUJIFILM_Disc-removalble_Without_cartridge-locking-pin.jpg

[Brian @ Nov 21st 2007 2:20PM]

Richard, I disagree.

Video games are NOT just for kids, anymore. The average gamer is in their mid-20's, these days. (I can't imagine my parents ever dropping 400 on a console, 60 per game, and 100's on accessories)

Also, by the time a secure high-def disc format (HDCP) is as easy to "back-up" as unsecured DVD's, your nephew will be old enough to handle the real discs.

[Silverfrog @ Nov 21st 2007 2:26PM]

Re: RichardBronosky

Games are not just for kids. The average age of a gamer rises every year. Last I checked, it was 28 years old. If your brats don't know how to take care of discs, don't buy them any.

[Cleverboy @ Nov 21st 2007 4:04PM]

Hey... I just feel sorry for people that unwittingly BUY a modded X-Box 360 on eBay or buy one that specifically been "pre-banned" for you. From what I remember from previous stories about this... its the after-market that has the onus placed on it. So... if they previous owner used a "copied" disk and then got the console banned, then sold it on eBay, and the thing goes a month without connecting to XBox Live, and even then, it seems to be some "technical" issue with Microsoft (from the user perpsective). Just an effed up thing.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Nov 21st 2007 12:10PM]

That's kind of (expected) behavior from M$ is what keeps me from buying Xbox...

Having helped people with WGA/(re)activation problems, I have least desire to call M$ ever again.

[majortom @ Nov 21st 2007 12:23PM]

o yeah? well bla bla bla. On an unrelated note, that Apple ad is just plain annoying. I am an Apple user and I am sick of the damm thing. Yes I know all the retorts that will come. Whoever is in charge, RUN another one. Makes me almost ashamed on Apple's behalf.

[John @ Nov 21st 2007 12:30PM]

wow, they don't want people using hacked copies of games. What jerks. And yes, that apple ad is ridiculous. It's not the main ad, it's the god damn "DON'T GIVE UP ON VISTA" banner on top of the page.

[Homeboy @ Nov 21st 2007 12:31PM]

Ditch the dollar sign boy.

MS is going this to help and protect us lawful consumers. Sure there are legitimate reasons for modding a console but some people misuse the purpose and install all sorts of cheats which ruin online gaming for many people.

[John @ Nov 21st 2007 12:17PM]

Could what's causing these bans be more clearly explained? I looks like people who use copied games are being banned... and does anybody actually so anything wrong with that?

[Luigi193 @ Nov 21st 2007 12:21PM]

Head on PLATTERS...get it, its a tech site...hard drives...

O forget it, its not even remotely funny...

[Bob @ Nov 21st 2007 12:26PM]

Aaaaarrggghhh...I am hit

[TC @ Nov 21st 2007 12:31PM]

I love it and would be stoked if they did this more often.. also, if you need "clarification" then you could be next. I think that anyone who has modded or tweaked any ANY way should be banned.

LOVE IT MS!!

[tadmarketing @ Nov 21st 2007 12:39PM]

Maybe this will help stop all of those senseless 10-year old kids who sound like little girls and scream when you veto shotty/snipers on Halo 3? Sure hope so, it would go far for all xbox live users.
http://www.tekbite.com/2007/11/oh-internet-pessimists.html

[Christian Martin @ Nov 21st 2007 1:26PM]

That would require devising a way for ten year olds to not exist, ever. Maybe if Steve and Bill get together and come up with some mutated Time Machine/WGA hybrid, this could work.

But then again, a pig and an elephant's DNA just won't spliiiiice...

[Zach @ Nov 21st 2007 2:00PM]

oh for the love of god, please. I saw this morning that someone told you to stop writing those one-liners to get attention to your half assed blog.

at least make it worthwhile for us to click the damn link, your making a bad name for legitimate bloggers who try to get traffic, even if their comment is relative to the topic.

[Tiptup300 @ Nov 21st 2007 12:41PM]

Ontopic: M$ apparently is working on a system to legally backup games which is good.
Offtopic and more important: Engadget, the ad is taxing on my computers resources, we cant live like this!

[tiuk @ Nov 21st 2007 1:15PM]

Source?

[Tiptup300 @ Nov 21st 2007 1:27PM]

That one leaked list of features for windows 7, if that was real.

[AzrealJG @ Nov 21st 2007 1:33PM]

It's was a Beta Testers wish list, not a feature list.

[optV @ Nov 21st 2007 12:45PM]

For those of you making or using backups, be sure to use xdvdmulleter to validate that your backup is 1:1 and stealth. They keep an active database to keep track of new games for 1:1 comparison.

Every time you log onto LIVE with a modified firmware and/or backup, you risk being banned. Always check the latest news for firmware updates before logging in (even if you are playing an original).

[JagerQ @ Nov 21st 2007 1:05PM]

Why is a console ban better than a Xbox Live account ban? I don't want to pony up for another 360, although I guess I'd get one that doesn't keep my toes toasty.

[tiuk @ Nov 21st 2007 1:16PM]

It's better because hardware can be replaced, but gamerscore (for those who it matters to), and saved games can't.

[Michal @ Nov 21st 2007 1:16PM]

It's great they're doing this.

While I'm not an XBOX Live subscriber, it reminds me of the old days when I played Diablo 2 on battle.net. It was the same thing, people abused the system and created a whole lot of problems, most annoying of which was duplicating items I guess. While it never happened to me, it must've been pretty upsetting when you got an item from a trade and then it disappeared during one of Blizzard's duplicates-sweep.

[Michal @ Nov 21st 2007 1:18PM]

I guess this is a little different though, cause this seems to be more about hardware modding rather than online cheating.

[DomZ @ Nov 21st 2007 1:32PM]

It is.
This is how it works:
1. A large portion of people start pirating games
2. Game companies make less money
3. Game companies cut back staff and raise game prices
4. Crappy games come out and they cost more
5. People buy less games because of the lack of quality and higher price
6. Game companies don't even come close to making enough from game revenue to justify the continual innovation and upgrading of hardware
7. End of gaming as we know it (or consoles start the 20 year lifespan plan)
7. Bye bye video game industry.

[Ken @ Nov 21st 2007 2:55PM]

9. People start getting lives

[Michal @ Nov 21st 2007 6:14PM]

Oh, c'mon, enough with this nonsense "play games => no life" stuff.
By the same principle, you're gonna say that ppl who watch movies have no lives??? That's a pretty darn huge number of ppl without lives then. And by having no life, do you mean not hanging out with people? That would imply that those people who go watch movies, watch them alone and that's pretty strange, because if you go to any theatre, most people there are with someone.

I don't often say this, but your comment was just...kinda dumb.

[Romey Rome @ Nov 21st 2007 1:32PM]

I like how there's an ad for Blu Ray DVDs under this article.

[TrackSol @ Nov 21st 2007 1:49PM]

It's good that Microsoft is banning these people. They're trying to maintain the integrity of their products and services. Xbox LIVE should be a level playing field with not cheaters and hackers.

You would think these guys would know that Microsoft would be looking at the hardware/software after the first round with the original Xbox. You couldn't have a modified BIOS (hence no playing of burned games) and you couldn't have an unlocked HDD as well as the HDD needed all the original MS files on it. They could also detect modified Halo1 and Halo2 saves, maps and cached data.

Although I believe it's the consumer's right to do whatever they want to the product they purchase, it's also Microsoft's right to protect their products and services from piracy, circumvention and modification where it can affect the experience of other players.

[hig @ Nov 28th 2007 11:50AM]

you are making assumptions there pal. There is no way that anybody can hack in a game on xbox live.Glitches can be exploited by anybody. All that a firmware flash does is modify the drive to play backups, nothing more nothing less. There is absoultley no way anbody can cheat at halo due to having a firmware flash. Get your facts straight before saying that modders can cheat and hack games on live. It doesnt and cant happen. Get some skills then maybe you wont get owned and accuse people of cheating.

[al @ Nov 21st 2007 1:56PM]

ah,always reminds me of Adolf :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYvZnTFpip0
http://www.gamershrine.com/games/34/bowman-2-.html
:D

[Magallanes @ Nov 22nd 2007 12:19PM]

LOL.

[Michael @ Nov 21st 2007 1:57PM]

I wish they COULD ban cheaters.
Judging by past results all they've done is hurt modders and in some cases, unsuspecting purists.
The greasy, little zit-faced pre-teens who like to cheat at Halo are still there.

[Silverfrog @ Nov 21st 2007 2:40PM]

What we need to start doing is actively adding these guys to "not a preferred player" lists. Or, better yet, someone needs to create a website where people can report cheaters in a forum. Then, you can go in and blacklist all the cheaters before even playing against them.

[Michael @ Nov 21st 2007 10:48PM]

Agreed.
Option 1 is a great idea and possible now.
Option 2 is also, but would definitely have to have some kind of trackable membership control, or all the little cheats have to do is flood the site with the names of honest players. Not to mention the potential for people with grudges using it to retaliate for irrelevant reasons.
In both cases, control would be left to the players, not Microsoft, so those probably are the best options.

[Onefastgta @ Nov 21st 2007 6:43PM]

Im getting to the point where im scared to turn on my xbox. The last go around my friend got banned and he is to stupid to ever figure out how to open the case up much less mod it.
Now im wondering what do they mean by 1:1 copy because any scratched disk is going to have corrupt data and there for make it different. Dont get me wrong I like microsoft trying to stop cheaters but they should do it in a case by case fashion not just start getting ban crazy.

[Chris Forn @ Nov 21st 2007 7:39PM]

I didnt modify or tamper with my unit at all and I have been shut out. In July 07 I sent my unit in to be repaired and I was sent back a new one or a modified one. I'm thinking that this is the problem or it could be that I changed my username from unroots to methedez 3 days ago. Bottom line is that I dont know what the heck caused it and its going to run me another 350 for another unit. This aint right. Microsoft offers not detailed explanation and when I offered to send my console back and cover the shipping so that they can at lease find out hands on that i'm telling the truth. Seems like scam to me. They are promoting xbox live hardcore and nobody is playing offline anymore. Whats the point. Its scam that channel 4 needs to get involved with.