Microsoft responds to XBL bans over modded 360 consoles

VG247: Microsoft has responded to the wave of bans on Xbox Live over modded 360 consoles, and while it has decided to remain mum on specific figures, it was quick to remind consumers that piracy is illegal and subject to consequences.

"While we don't comment on specific numbers, Microsoft's commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of the Xbox LIVE community remains a top priority," a Microsoft spokesperson told VG247.

"All consumers should know that piracy is illegal and modifying their Xbox 360 console violates the Xbox Live terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from Xbox Live."

[LordMarius]

Translation: We are falling behind in sales, so we need our bots to rebuy our console so it look as if we are extending our community and the 360 is still relevant

[Darkeyes]

Lol my friend modded his 360 to accommodate an intercooler and he got banned. Never seen someone shout at a M$ employee so much in my life lol (that too he bought MW2 a day before LMAO). As much as I appreciate a fight against piracy, M$ should really not ban people for modding their consoles to save them from RROD after it's out of warranty.

[Greywulf]

They know all the banned kids are going to buy more consoles.

[darthv72]

If someone has swapped the fans out for better ones or if they removed the heatsinks to put on better thermal paste. Are these forms of "modding" considered ban-able?

Same goes for the hdd. Can they really tell what size/type of hdd you have attached to the system? I guess they have a way of detecting if the dvdrom has been flashed.

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

It would be simply a PR nightmare if something like that would happen and you would have it plastered all over the news.

[crck]

@1.2 I have no idea how they can tell if someone changed the heatsink or what not. Maybe if the aftermarket cooler is pulling more power from the system then standard? Or maybe they can detect that the dvd-rom has been unplugged and reseated?

As for the HDD I believe each one has a unique key built into the drive's file system. When people hacked it to put in their own drive they all downloaded the same key or something to that effect.

BTW is it confirmed that they are banning 360's that had one of these modded hard drives? That seems a bit harsh considering the ridiculous prices. I bought a used 120 gb off ebay for $75 and I still felt ripped off. At $150 MS is simply gouging their base.

[Darkeyes]

Oh ya, he even modded it for a larger HDD, so that might be the real issue. But he never has pirated games thats for sure..

[starvinbull]

Fact is that M$'s machine isn't robust enough to support modding or altering the way it works, looks or runs. Coupled with a massive bill for the RROD they can't afford to allow simple, safe and perfectly honest modifications.

Counter this with Sony who openly encourage owners of PS3s to swap out the hard drive for a bigger one if the need takes them, not to mention the addition of compatibilty of linux with all PS3s and the implications that brings.

Much like the PSP, a hard core of people make piracy look like a very bad thing for everyone not engaging in it.

[Parapraxis]

http://www.n4g.com/xbox360/...
Look at all those disagrees I got back then.
MS only allowing authorized Xbox 360 Storage Devices was an anti-piracy tactic after all huh.

[starvinbull]

As a means righting an injustice you get one bubble vote and one agree from me.

I never disagreed at the time by the way.

[MaximusPrime]

MS is right at combating piracy.

you should have followed MS' terms.

[LordMarius]

if they wanted to combat piracy, then they should have made a console that couldnt be easily modded, did they? nope

[Godmars290]

Even if those terms mean that your 360 will break down or hems you into buying an exclusive and expensive HDD?

As much as effort MS is going to deal with piracy its sad that they didn't put as into making sure the thing worked right in the first place. Put solid blocks in place, not speed bumps that hacker got over within hours.

[Unicron]

While I agree with you in a sense Godmar, in that the 360's build quality is sh1t, I actually agree with them banning users. Piracy sucks, and SOMETHING has to be done about it.

[Christopher]

Microsoft is doing the right thing here and I support them 100%. Just make sure their process is as full proof as possible and make sure there's an easy way to appeal to the process in case it may include innocent persons.

As far as building a console that isn't capable of being modded... not possible. Even if you utilize a medium and medium reading device that exists in no other system, people will take the time to take it apart and build methods for modding it. I mean, honestly, you got people taking the time to custom mod consoles to look like swords, laptops, fridges, coffee tables, and more.

360's mod rate is based on its popularity primarily. Same thing with DS mods. More people that use it, the greater the chance it will be broken for the purpose of the individuals desiring to get something for nothing.

[NecrumSlavery]

This is BS. This where control takes over and fairness is lost.

Reminds me of all those bans from WOW for silly reasons. If you get a good lawyer who can right a smooth terms of agreement that people will sign, then you have them by the balls.

M$ said it clears as day "...You gamers are stupid and we now own your ass....love Bill.."

That's a major part in why I love Playstation

[Gen0ne]

Well said.

[Feral Gamer]

So you're saying that just because a console is easy to mod, it's ok? Should you steal something or commit any other offense because they make it easy to do?

[Gen0ne]

Please elaborate.

[Godmars290]

Except people are being punished for trying to compensate for shortcomings in the 360's design as well as in defense of piracy and HDD exclusivity. Without and warning at that.

If MS is going to continue to ban consoles for that reason, the very least MS should do is advertise the fact on XBL.

@MEGATRON D:
NecrumSlavery might be talking about the time Bill Gates once threatened to put Halo 3 out against the PS3's launch a year before it came out. To me, and I guess to others, that spoke volumes about MS's commitment to quality. As much as the RROD.

[Gen0ne]

Too bad you had to elaborate for him though.

[Christopher]

Actually, when you sign up for XBLA, it's in the ToS about modding the console. This is available in print with the game manual and you must accept it when you create a new account.

[corywebb93]

MY xbox 360 comrades that got banned

Just buy a new xbox 360 and You will keep on experiencing the best gaming console on plannet earth and the online service that makes psn look like horse vomit

[STRAIGHTASL]

tell me why should i buy a new xbox 360?

[snake_eater]

Theres no reason to keep defending micro$haft bots? why? why do you persist??

[the worst]

im still not ban
xbox360 is like a demo box
try all free games
and the one's i like
buy them for the ps3

[NecrumSlavery]

So they want you to buy a new system and a new account? fvck that!

PSN is where customization is encourage. We aren't Nazi regime like M$, we are the answer. Viva La Resistannce!

[Gen0ne]

F#ck with your machine, and pay the consequences. Come up with as many really good excuses you want to necessitate the reasons for modding or pirating and it matters not. Banning is the end result. Can't say they didn't tell you so. Sorry, in a not really type way. I came so close to modding my machine a few times, sure glad I didn't, I would be sad sad sad right now. And pissed.

[Unicron]

I have to agree with you. I can't think of a valid reason to mod a machine.

[bjornbear]

I have download games sometimes, but i havent recently, but thats for PC, to test out (half don't work cz mac isn't good enough xD)

But when I get a console, i get it for that sturdy "quality" vibe...and to me modding is the opposite of quality...

[Godmars290]

But when do they actually tell the general consumer, who's being told by the general gaming community about the RROD and how to prevent it?

"I can't think of a valid reason to mod a machine."
http://images.google.com/im...

General appearance?

[Gen0ne]

"Hey see this Intercooler, you probably wanna buy that bad boy too. 'Cause the 360 is notorious for over heating and this will help prevent it." Even the most uneducated Gamestop employee knows that. And I'm pretty sure that somewhere in the licensing and agreement pamphlets that come with the 360 your instructed to leave your machine alone. There's no mystery or conspiracy here.

[Godmars290]

That you said, "pretty sure that somewhere" tells me that you haven't read it, so how can you expect that others have?

Beside, those agreements generally talk about about voiding warranties. Not that your console, a product that you bought, will be rendered inert on a later date w/o warning because you wanted to improve cooling or even make it look better and unique.

[ThePlaystation3guy]

It's taken Microsoft 5 years to do this? Translation: Ban Modders. Modders then go and buy a NEW 360.

Nice move, Microsoft!!

[Rocco Siffredi]

well, i also got banned, and i already sold my 360 without the HDD on ebay.. so how can you tell that they fake sales?? I mean.. at the end somebody else buy the console.

And what about the 80% of the members here on n4g who told that they will go and buy the SLIM... they also got 2 consoles.. right?

[Rocco Siffredi]

The PS3 fans sound so desperate.. OMG!

So 360 fans can also say.. that 50% of the FAT users went to the shops to buy a SLIM one...

There are 20 Million GOLD members on xbox live. WIth a banned console you cant even use the HDD anymore.. lol.

PS3 boys sound desperate these days, cause MW2 sold on day1 as much copies on THEIR OWN system as all exclusives putting together into a bag (day 1 sales)!

Poor sony, poor fans and poor exclusives.

But but but. graphics!

[Troll_Police]

Sure M$, you never have any problems gloating about sales numbers but you can never talk about the RROD numbers and banned Xbox numbers. Go figure.

[Gen0ne]

You name screams irony.

[PLAYSTATIONGENRATION]

WE SHALL OVERCOME>>>> PIRATES AWYYYYYY BUT WE WILL RETUUUUUUUURRRRRNN

[BRG9000]

Of course you talk to the press about the good numbers and not the bad. Would you run your business otherwise?

[PLAYSTATIONGENRATION]

...I fix that easily...

[Man_of_the_year]

Why is nobody doing an article about 360 owners who received the console ban notice and yet their console was not modified? There are plenty of cases over the internet where people are saying that their console was banned yet they didn't soft or hard mod the unit. I have also read that some people who got a retail copy of MW2 early and played it ALSO were banned.

WHY IS NOBODY BRINGING THESE ISSUES AND QUESTIONING TO MS FOR A RESPONSE. MS is being mum with the details...so how do we know that the data they have is legit data and only pertain to modded 360's?

[xoxideu]

and you don't do that ever

bots rule #1: praise and worship m$ but don't ever question them or what they do, and be prepared to pay cash up front.

[Rocco Siffredi]

MS already respond to that.. If you have the BILL, just show it and they will fix the problem.

[SuperStrokey1123]

Well i dont see how a modded console 100% means that you are pirating games. what about all those people who just wanted after market HDD's or things like that or had systems that scratched discs so they modded it and own a kreon drive and make up back ups of their own games (which is legal here i should point out)? Did they all get banned too?

[mxpxboy]

They curtail pirating and get more money when the pirate has to buy another system. I've heard plenty of stories about people buying new systems last week because they couldn't wait to play MW2 before it was released a few days ago.

Why would they NOT do this!?

[starvinbull]

Very good point.

Give people no way to play their most anticipated game shortly before it comes out other than to legitimately buy another (brand new) console.

[devilhunterx]

bwahahaha

[eagle21]

LMFAO