540°

Microsoft Labels Autistic Boy A Cheater On Xbox Live

There's a bit of a she-said, they-said situation going on near Seattle, with the mom of an 11-year-old boy saying Microsoft reset his gamerscore unfairly and the company saying it was done because he was cheating. Regardless of the truth, the boy has been branded a cheater on Xbox Live and has to earn whatever achievements he had before all over again.

Jennifer Zdenek told Q13 FOX News that her son Julius Jackson went online recently only to discover that his gamerscore had been reset and his account branded as belonging to a cheater.

Read Full Story >>
gameinformer.com
 
Nineball21124848d ago

Oh nice, Microsoft!! Way to pick on the less fortunate!

Ok, I just had to say that. I don't really know the details. :D

mcmmaster4848d ago (Edited 4848d ago )

You don't even need to see the details, clearly its the mum that is at fault as why on earth would she let an 11 year old boy play Dead Rising 2 (AN 18 YEAR OLD GAME, well in the UK), to make it worse he's autistic. Think its the mum that needs sorting out and not Microsoft

DaCajun4848d ago

Yea that is pretty messed up that you would let you kid play mature rated games and especially one as impressionable as a child with autism.

But on topic I like how microsoft just goes around banning whomever they want or resetting achievements without proof and SONY well never does anything to cheaters whether it be sharing saves to get trophies you didn't earn or just cheating on an online game to just plain internet stalking. One goes to the extreme the other does nothing. I had some loser on PSN with a racist name basically the name says he killed Ni***rs(Blacks), he would send me messages calling me the "N" word and would make new accounts when I blocked other ones. He went through 10 before he stopped. A Sony rep told me on the phone to just keep blocking him and that he didn't find the name offensive at all either even though dozens of people reported this racist stalking cheating POS. They also tried to push off responsibility to the publisher of the games. What a joke. Then you got M$ who will ban you or remove a gamertag if it even slightly offends someone and take away your achievements if you get enough of your friends to report one person as cheating for no reason but you don't like them.

One goes overboard and the other doesn't do crap but as for the boy I seriously doubt the kid was cheating he's probably just extremely good at games due to his autism.

edgeofblade4848d ago

It's quite telling that the mother was refereed to the legal department. That means she came in ranting and raving and claiming "AYM GONNA SEEW YEW" ("I'm going to sue you"). That's the standard response anytime someone threatens legal action.

Dante1124848d ago (Edited 4848d ago )

@ DaCajin

Idk, DaCajin. You can get banned pretty quickly for cursing someone out in a back and forth argument (replying back with mgs) on the PSN, surprisedly even in chat (notice the censoring in the text chat) as well as for ANY little thing you say (Damn fool-banned) or do in Home.

N4WAH4848d ago (Edited 4848d ago )

@ DaCajun

"especially one as impressionable as a child with autism."

How exactly can a person that does not know right from wrong, danger from safety, life from death, be impressionable by video games or m rated anything?

"I seriously doubt the kid was cheating he's probably just extremely good at games due to his autism."

^This you couldn't be more right about. My nephew
(autistic) is a savant at counting, memory and he has uncanny balance. He loves video games but unlike the kid in this article, he isn't very good at them. So this is probably the one area this kid excels.

Either way MS should find a way to make this right.

rezzah4848d ago

parents usually dont care as long as they see their children smile, which isnt really bad because they want to make their children happy. It makes them happy.

However they should pay attention to the things that make them happy from time to time.

DaCajun4848d ago

@dante

I took pics of all the PSN text messages he sent me and sent them to Sony and they did absolutely nothing. I even called them a dozen time to get no help what so ever. Maybe others have had better luck but I had none, so now I don't even bother.

Blaine4848d ago (Edited 4848d ago )

@mcmmaster

You never played any games the "rating" said you were too young for? You'd probably be the only person on earth.

(I put rating in quotation because, really, I don't know anything about the people who hand out these ratings. I don't know of any studies to back these ratings either, and I don't know of any respectable study that says ANY game genre affects children in any negative way. But here's a case study of one for you: me. Played every violent game I ever wanted to before I was old enough to meet the "rating", and it hasn't affected me in the least.)

ComboBreaker4847d ago (Edited 4847d ago )

Now you gonna tell her how to raise her kid?

When you were a kid, you played Mortal Kombat II, and you turned out fine.

Christopher4847d ago

Two wrongs don't make a right.

Sure, I'd be right there to tell her what games are and are not appropriate for a child, though one should note that many autistic children have a stronger bearing over what is reality and what isn't when it comes to these sort of thing (I have two autistic nephews like this). But, regardless of the possibility of this being a matter showing bad parenting, Microsoft needs to have a way to explain why someone is a cheater as well as proof to prove that someone has cheated.

If I suddenly had my account labeled as such, you better believe I would be all over Sony or Microsoft with the reason why and method that they used to determine this. In fact, it's something they should have in place, ability to prove why someone is a cheater, prior to implementing the ability to label an account as such.

ExplosionSauce4847d ago

Microsoft banned some guy whose last name was "Gaywood". MS deemed it inappropriate and was banned from XBL, despite the guy proving them that it was his real name.

Microsoft can be pretty square to the point of lacking common sense at times.

gcolley4847d ago (Edited 4847d ago )

your post lacks common sense

jadenkorri4847d ago

yeah, bosse is Astrixed out on psn, i couldn't believe it, this was in a text chat room, confused the hell out of me as i was saying you have to defeat bosses to get your soul back in demon souls, i noticed and we loled over it.

AngryTypingGuy4847d ago

I can understand labeling someone with Parkinson's a cheater since they can press the buttons ultra fast, but a poor Autistic boy? This is uncalled for!

InactiveUser4847d ago

Who gives a hmmm if he's autistic or not. The question is, did he cheat or not? If he did, then it's deserved. It has nothing to do with being autistic or not. They're looking for sympathy support or something.

HolyOrangeCows4847d ago

Microsoft accidentally labeled a kid as a cheater who happened to be autistic.

Quick, attack their character! CHAAAAARGE!
/s

Kurt Russell4847d ago

You know there isn't enough war and famine in the world when the news are reporting tripe like this. Dumb fuck mum is unhappy because her spoilt brat had a fucking computer game score wiped. When I was a kid my high scores got wiped every time I went to bed... and nobody gave a fuck.

kunit22c4847d ago

yes, its true that the mom shouldn't let a little autistic kid play mature games, but Microsoft just labeling anybody that they "think" is cheating a cheater is so stupid, what a bunch of dumb asses if I had an Xbox I wouldn't even try to get my gamerscore high just because those guys might think i'm a cheater just because its high...

kancerkid4845d ago

ANd of course none of the trolls here who had none of the facts of the case are not commenting on the article that proves the kids was cheating...

+ Show (17) more repliesLast reply 4845d ago
Nineball21124848d ago

I'm sure they just saw how high the kid's achievements were and assumed he was cheating. Although, I'd think they'd have to verify it in some manner before labeling someone as a cheater. *shrug*

Anyone know what the procedure is for this?

SonyPS3604847d ago (Edited 4847d ago )

I really don't get the 8 disagrees you got for your comment.

Is N4G full of retards or something?

I was thinking the same thing, but surely they'd know for sure. Being "really good at a video game" shouldn't count as cheating, even Micro$oft know that.

MGRogue20174848d ago (Edited 4848d ago )

omg.. look at the pic, he puts the 360 on the carpet while playing.. fail

Expect a RROD/E74 error any day now.

sobekflakmonkey4847d ago

The kid has autism you fuckn idiot..

gamingdroid4847d ago

Now we know how all those RROD came! People just don't care there are vent holes on the bottom.

Silentmerc3nary4847d ago

"The kid has autism you fuckn idiot.."

True. But his mum, however, does not.

antz11044847d ago

Speaking of, so the mother probably brought up the fact that her child has autism, how would xbox know that? She probably tried to use that as leverage to get the kids score back. Mom of the f#cking year right there.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4847d ago
Dave13514847d ago

Well we dont know all the details. Did the kid actually cheat for one? If he did then yea he deserves the word cheater. But if he didnt microsoft needs shot in the head.

Led-Zeppelin4847d ago

Microsoft is just jealous a autistic boy can kick their ass when it comes to getting achievements.

gamingdroid4847d ago

I find it hard to believe a autistic kid cheated (albeit I don't know the severity of his condition), but I find it also hard that MS would detect non-cheaters and label them a such.

That would open them up to lawsuit so it seems reasonable that MS is 100% damn sure some cheating went on regardless of who did it.

tdogg060519914847d ago (Edited 4847d ago )

He shouldn't be playing those games regardless of his autism. He should be playing t for teen at best regardless of what or how he understands reality. Take that kid away from that parent.

Focker4204847d ago

Buy him a PS3, Way more autism friendly.

SonyPS3604847d ago

I actually laughed out loud.

JeffGUNZ4847d ago

This title is so missleading. Microsoft never even knew the kid had any disability. The kid cheated and got caught, cry me a river. The kid lied to his mother about cheating, who could ever imagine?!!!? That mom needs to stop making excuses for her child.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4845d ago
jay24848d ago

Yes love. And you've let your pre teen autistic son play 18 rated games. AND this news channel SHOW HIM DOING SON WTF! All of them are in the wrong. The news channel for showing and 11 year old playing obvously unsuitable games. The mum for buying the games. Come on guys, a normal 11 year old could buy them online but that poor kid most liekly can't :(. And that same mum just sitting on the sofa letting him play them.

BX814848d ago

Because you wouldn't let your kid play that game doesn't make her wrong. She clearly knows what he's playing. If she thought he couldn't tell it was a game not real life I'm sure she would do something. I guess your parents must have locked you in a room with Barney all day long?

jadenkorri4847d ago

as much as we all say we wouldn't allow kids to play 18 rated games, its gonna happened, fore most whats important is that they know its not real, 2nd would be you know their playing... and third if hes playing any game online and swearing like n**ger this and f**k you, please god take it away.

MidnytRain4848d ago (Edited 4848d ago )

That's not really the point of the article, though. No one is blaming video games for this, so I don't know why people are getting so defensive. There's no actual proof that shows us if he was or wasn't cheating, so it doesn't make sense to pick sides at this point. But I will say that this wouldn't be the first time Microsoft has punished somebody who was innocent.

tdogg060519914847d ago

I completely agree, that kid should not be playing those games. it is very irresponsible and its like letting your kid watch R rated movies you just don't do it. I am going to learn from all of these idiot parents.

Warprincess1164848d ago (Edited 4848d ago )

Ok you guys need to stop acting like you never played a mature game when you were a teenager. Now if the boy had a ps3, this would have never happen.

Dante1124848d ago (Edited 4848d ago )

Guilty lol

Back in the day....

Mortal Kombat 1, 2, 3.
Resident Evil 1, 2, 3
Doom games
Eternal Champions, etc.

.... It was my cousin's fault though lol

bilbob12345ca4848d ago

Surree blame the cousin ;)

Dante1124848d ago (Edited 4848d ago )

lol XD

After seeing this, how could I resist.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

mcmmaster4848d ago

Yeah but this kid has autism for christ sake, this can't be good for the brain

Megaton4848d ago

Why is his mom content to let him be a loner just because he's autistic? Kid can still have friends.

Megaton4848d ago

You even watch the vid? She says the Xbox is so important to him because he can't have any friends because of his illness.

BX814848d ago

I'm sure Megaton is on his way right now to go hang out with the kid... I know I am... well his mom any way!

Boody-Bandit4848d ago (Edited 4848d ago )

Really, and you know this how exactly?
Autistic people don't all fall under one class. There are so many variables. Most autistic people lack social skills and most excel at certain things. Maybe gaming is his.

As far as mature rated games. I don't think this applies to most autistic kids. They don't know what age means. Sex, death, illness or right and wrong. How are they suppose to be influenced in anyway by M rated titles? Most of the people posting under this article obviously know very little about this subject.

SWORDF1SH4848d ago

But a News channel showing a 11yo playing a mature rated game is very irresposible. The vast majority won't understand your insight. I'm sure they could of showed him playing a different game.

Megaton4848d ago

Just judging by how he spoke to the camera, I highly doubt he's so bad that he can't have at least one friend. If for nothing else, just someone to game with.

Boody-Bandit4848d ago (Edited 4848d ago )

I agree with that swordf1sh but I am not debating that. I am merely pointing out that megaton could not be more wrong about autistic kids having friends. The most common trait of the illness, besides severe OCD, is next to no social skills.

Megaton perception is often very misleading. I don't get into it on this site to often but this is one topic I probably know more about the 99.9% of N4G members.

SWORDF1SH4848d ago

@BH
On that subject I totally agree with you. It's also nice to have insightful comments. Bubbles

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4848d ago
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300°

Microsoft Survey Asks About Handheld

A new survey from Microsoft has further hinted at the possibility of an Xbox handheld being in development.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
EasilyTheBest5d ago

This is definitely happening, I just hope they have 2 versions one with a much bigger screen.

GamerRN4d ago

I'll be happy with this, and a PC console hybrid that rivals anything we have power wise

Number1TailzFan4d ago

The problem with bigger devices is playing them on your side in bed, Vita and before that was fine. Since the Switch you gotta have a gooseneck holder & controllers detached so you can lie down holding them, or your arm will quickly get tired.

1Victor3d ago

@thesofware: “A much bigger screen than what?”
A gaming laptop 🤷🏿🤣

Kosic3d ago

Than the screen originally planned...duh... :D

darthv724d ago

it kinda already did... https://www.xbox.com/en-US/...

They are just gauging interest in one of their own.

crazyCoconuts3d ago

A Xbox version of Logitech G-Cloud?
I mean, why bother? Not like the G cloud is flying off shelves and what would Xbox add to make it better?
They're surely not going to create bespoke architecture here and there are already a few Windows handhelds out there. I have little confidence in their ability to put together an attractive UI in the way Steam did. So I doubt anything will come from this.

KicksnSnares5d ago

Day One buy for me if they'll make a dedicated handheld device.

darthv724d ago

i have that logitech g-cloud. Its a sweet little piece of kit. I like that it can also install games from the play store unlike the other android based handheld.

mudakoshaka4d ago

It sure is! Don't understand why you get the down-votes. Whoever does not like the G Cloud must have been dropped down a well, head first, when they were of a younger age.

PassNextquestion4d ago

I wonder if Microsoft will perform better in Japan if they do actually make a handheld since everyone says handheld and mobile are king over there.

TiredGamer4d ago

This looks like the future of the game industry... all three platforms with a handheld option.

I wonder if the Playstation Portal is a technology test-bed/prototype for a future Playstation handheld?

rlow14d ago (Edited 4d ago )

It’s a possibility but I can’t help but think would that be the best way to go about it? Though it would give you data on how much it is used and game type. It’s still not a true portable device and so people approach it differently. I think that data on phones, tablets, and of course the competition would give a better indication.

But I really think if Sony is considering a new PSP that could play ps5 games, now would be the time to dive in. Honestly, if they do this, it would be huge.

Traecy4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Doubt if Sony PS wants to support a new handheld with first party games. Something they lacked with the Vita. What they should do is have a handheld that is like the PS Portal which can play all games but play those games on the go as well as at home. Something like that is a better investment.

TiredGamer4d ago

Agreed that you will probably never see a separate line of games specifically for the handheld (a la PSP or PSVita). The modern economics and expectations of game development make that cost prohibitive. What makes more sense is if the full-fat game on PS5 or PS6 has a special "handheld" profile that is automatically optimized for the lower spec handheld. There would be some significant compromises compared to the bigger console variant, but it would be the same game overall and would only require a single purchase.... somewhat what the Switch does with a lower resolution when playing handheld versus docked.

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310°

Xbox Games Showcase Followed by [REDACTED] Direct Airs June 9

- Xbox Wire - Mark your calendars! The Xbox Games Showcase followed by [REDACTED] Direct airs June 9. More info inside.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
bionicstar5d ago

Will they show Fable 4, Stalker 2, GoW 6 & Perfect Dark?

PhillyDonJawn5d ago

Crossing fingers for Fable and perfect dark. And State of Decay 3

RaidenBlack4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

And maybe Clockwork Revolution, South of Midnight, Contraband, Project 007 & OD? lol
and whatever happened to Everwild ?
+ that rumored Wu Tang RPG

Sonic18814d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Will they have official release dates and gameplay?

anast5d ago

Another game pass event with their plans to go all streaming.

5d ago
Lightning775d ago

It's an Xbox showcase that they have every year.

Make smarter comments for once.

anast4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Tell me what a smarter comment is.

If they don't sell game pass the entire time, then I will be wrong. All of this can be proven once the show gets underway. Let's wait and see.

InUrFoxHole4d ago

@Anast
Anything you didn't type. Good day sir!

5d ago
4d ago
4d ago
4d ago Replies(1)
Lightning774d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Wow too easy.

You went from MS going all streaming to selling gamepass content in which we all know they are.

Which one is it?

Pretty clear you don't know what a smart comment is at least you admit you don't know.

4d ago
anast4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

"Another game pass event with their plans to go all streaming."

It's both. I would worry about your own intelligence at this point. It seems that there is not enough to go around for you to worry about how smart other people are.

Lightning774d ago

It's just a regular event announcing games. Nice one captain obvious they're gonna mention gp stuff like they do every year what else is new.

The all streaming part is just you, being you I guess. They have streaming options but going all streaming again is just you pulling stuff outta thin air.

anast4d ago

You don't know what a smart comment is or isn't. You're welcome for the help.

Lightning774d ago

No you said something dumb then you tried to back track and mention GP.

Again make smart comments for once.

anast4d ago

And we have broken record syndrome.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
darthv725d ago

Wonder if they will address the handheld rumors....?

jimb0j0nes5d ago

For a brief moment I thought we might get a whole Direct for Gears 6 - seems like it's COD though!

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290°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv729d ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle9d ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18819d ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio9d ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning779d ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga9d ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv728d ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer19928d ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff21839d ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga9d ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan9d ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit8d ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus239d ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv729d ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier8d ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

itsmebryan8d ago

@chevalier

It looks like made a great purchase. Much better then Sony buying Bungie. 😉
Cheers

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 8d ago
purple1019d ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos9d ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-8d ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac9d ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1019d ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic9d ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead8d ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

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