670°

Microsoft threatens Halo 3 gamers with LIVE ban

When contacted by Pro-G a Microsoft rep confirmed rumours that gamers who play Halo 3 early will have their LIVE accounts banned. Simply not connecting to the internet doesn't appear to be a solution either. The rep also confirmed that Microsoft is able to ban accounts based on information collected by the console which shows when the game was played. This news is sure to come as a shock to some gamers who have already started playing the final chapter in the blockbuster Halo trilogy.

AliC6464d ago

Thats kind of harsh isn't it?

uxo226464d ago

I think it is a bit harsh to ban the live account. You paid 60 bucks like everyone else. Instead of jumping on the consumer, MS should be putting their foot in the A$$ of the jerk merchants that are selling it early.

The problem with gamers in this type of situation is their inability to keep their mouths close. People will beat the game by not sleeping until they do, then they want to create a blog to post end game spoilers and other things to ruin it for the masses.

This is probably why MS is threatening to ban their accounts.

fjtorres6464d ago

MS is, and always has been deadly serious about the terms of use clauses for the console, LIVE, and the games.
Games sold before release are sold in violation of the retailer's contract (and could be easily be counterfeit or pirated) so putting a damper on the consumer side in addition to fining the retailer is quite reasonable.
Remember, you never actually *buy* software, movies, music, etc; all you "buy" is a license that grants you the right to access the content on the disk. This license has strings attached, regardless of whether you're "buying" from MS, Sony, or whoever.
So, legally, they are in the right.
Morally and ethically, the vast majority of would-be buyers who don't have access to illegally-released copies won't mind.
And PR-wise they win both ways; with free exposure in the media from the "controversy" and from the fans who will be waiting til the 25th.
They have nothing to lose and quite a bit to gain, especially by pointing out that Live is *not* a free-fire zone; there are rules and there are consequences to violating the rules.
That point is very much worth making at every chance.
Some customers you simply don't want on your network.

rubarb236464d ago

it is kinda harsh. a good idea would be to freeze the accounts until 9/25/07 but permanently? that's hard core man. i think the stores should get it up the ass from MS, why should gamers be punished? if a hot item is released sooner than expected who in their right mind wouldn't buy it?

secret6464d ago (Edited 6464d ago )

Like Ninja Giaden 2, with graphics like these, it hints that the xbox360 has maxed out graphically.

You should be concerned that this is a third / fourth gen title that is very (very) important like a new release of Mario and Ninja Gaiden. There should've been a breakthrough in graphical power, righ?

A) By the way, DVD isn't really hi-def despite talks about 720p / 1080p or else we wouldn't need HD-DVD or Bluray.

B) By the way, xbots will have spent the most money by the end of this generation for these reasons:
1) Internet fees of almost $400 to $500
2) Upgrading consoles for defective reasons
3) Buying a standalone bluray player (most likely a PS3) and / or an HD-DVD add on because the xbox360 lacks those
4) Buying a Wii because of motion sensing and eye toy that are lacking
5) Probably upgrading to the xbox720, adding another $400 to $600 because in a few years, the PS3 will put on its turbo boost and the xbox360 can't keep up anymore so it will release a new console prematurely to compete
6) all the number of games and movies and accessories purchased

Whether you like to believe it or not, that's the most money ever spent by people who brag about saving money.

C) By the way, micorosft is responsible for the crime of not only releasing fualty hardware, but also for restricting high quality graphics in this gen's games. Look at Halo or Ninja Gaiden 2 for example. Microsoft is a car that maxes out at 60mph. Not wanting to lose the race, the company rigged the laws so that all cars must not go beyond 60mph and unethically placed several roadblocks in front of the PS3 and other cars, even though the brooding PS3 lamborghinni knows it can burn rubber at 200mph or even 600 mph. Because of Microsoft, you not only get faulty hardware at a high price that can only play games, because of them, ALL gamers will have to settle for sub-par graphics this generation until we unleash the PS3. No one can tolerate unethical behavior forever. The cops are coming. The PS3 will be free, beginning with Grand Turismo 5 and Final Fantasy VIII and MGS4 and Killzone 2.

No one will tolerate Microsoft's 60mph law forever....

Skynetone6464d ago

id only settle if they bought me a ps3

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 6464d ago
P4KY B6464d ago

But I wouldn't risk it.

If I had a copy I would take it to a friends house and use his 360 :-)

EZCheez6464d ago

How can you do this to a customer? This is as if it's their fault stores broke the street date of the game.

You just can't do this to people.

hydrog6464d ago

Sure they can, LIVE is MS's network/infrastucture! They can do as they wish with it.

I personally think this is great.. hold both parties responsible, that'll solve the street break scandals in a heartbeat!

Moac6464d ago

in the end its not the stores fault its the individuals that buys it. I hope this is true and all of them get baned for life. =) GO MS.

This awesome news for gamers. =) ban the vermin.

EZCheez6464d ago

@Hydrog- You must not have read the whole story because it also says they will ban people who have played the single player campaign as well. And admit it. The only reason you think it's great is because you don't have it yet. I'm sure you would be speaking differently if you actually had a copy of it.

@Moac- It's not the store's fault? You do know retailers get fined for breaking street dates don't you? What do you think they should do with those fines? Divide the payment between the people who bought the game? Come on, please.

Both of you are obviously Americans that don't have a copy of the game and won't until the 25th. That's why you're saying this. It's just jealosy and you probably feel better now knowing someone is going to be punished for having already played a game you waited years to play.

Moac6464d ago

What i meant was that the Stores aren't the ones that have the most responsibility or that they are the ones that are to be burnished because u cant punish the entire chain for the actions of the 1 store nor is it possible to punish a single store within the "chain".

i Shank u6464d ago (Edited 6464d ago )

@EzCheez - yo im american too, but i dont think the same as them, don't generalize us "americans", or we'll invade your country too :P
@ Moac - are you serious about it being impossible to punish one store within a chain? thats ridiculous bro, thats what happens when street dates are broken. the individual stores and employees are punished

point is, when an xbox live customer is banned in this situation, they are being banned even tho they are breaking NOT ONE RULE. the stores, on the other hand, are breaking SEVERAL RULES AND LAWS.
Also, the stores are the more easily controlled factor; there are thousands of stores, versus MILLIONS of customers. if i walked into circuit city tomorrow, and by some fluke they happened to have Halo 3 out on the shelves for sale, there's no question i'd buy it. and then if i got banned later on that day for playing it, MS would lose my business no question, id be mad as hell, because im a good paying customer that didnt do anything but support MS, didnt break any rules

uxo226464d ago

The store/chain should be soley responsible for breaking the street date. If halo was on sale today, I would buy it. Especially since everytime you go out to buy a great game, if you didn't pre-order it they are usually out because they only received enough for pre-orders (Gamestop).

The merchant had the product, they could have kept it in the storage room and not put it in the main store. The consumer should take NO responsibility for buying something sold to them by a greedy merchant.

Also, if they are going to do this, they should only punish gamers that played AFTER they gave their warning. How would one know about it beforehand.

AdolfBinBush6464d ago

I'm also an American... and i think we should stop invading Iraq

and leave Iran alone.. let the UN deal with their nuclear agenda

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 6464d ago
HeartlesskizZ6464d ago (Edited 6464d ago )

If I was your friend consider me your enemy from now on. How can you do that to a friend? You kidding right?
anyways getting ban til 9999 is something you cant tell your grandchilds

BlackCountryBob6464d ago

Thats overly strict IMO, how about complaining to the shops that have brken the street date instead, after all it is their responsibility to honour the street date.

Show all comments (92)
30°

I Think Call of Duty Zombies Is Lying to Us About These Huge Deaths

While Treyarch has seemingly already killed off the current Call of Duty Zombies crew, there may be more to their fate than meets the eye.

Read Full Story >>
gamerant.com
300°

This New Wild Hunt Release is Hopefully a Sign of What's to Come With Witcher 4

The Witcher 3 released a special item for its 10th anniversary, and it's hopefully a sneak peek at The Witcher 4's launch plans.

Read Full Story >>
gamerant.com
FullmetalRoyale5d ago

The "New Wild Hunt Release" that they are referring to are the controllers, and wanting to see more stuff like special edition controllers for The Witcher 4.

darthv725d ago

I just received the xb controller and while it's nice looking, the packaging was a total fail. An unbranded plain brown box. Not even a themed box like Doom got, or at least a regular looking box. Just a plain brown box.

Oh, and a 10th anniversary sticker in the box too.

FullmetalRoyale5d ago

That sucks about the packaging, I'm glad you like the controller at least. The last controller that I bought I would put back in the box at the end of the gaming session.

CrimsonWing695d ago

Thanks for saving me a click! Doing the Lord’s work.

FullmetalRoyale5d ago

Didn't want to go that hard, but kinda felt a little baity to me.

Eonjay5d ago

Everything this site does is a bait to absorb ad revenue... we need to reform our submission process. We need a quality litmus test.

Eonjay5d ago

Can we please ban this site?

230°

Peter Molyneux recalls how Project Milo, the Kinect game with revolutionary promise, died a death

Vapourware can end up being the stuff of legend, like Rockstar's Agent, Star Wars 1313, or StarCraft: Ghost. Without ever seeing the light of day, these games never risked the possibility of being played and forgotten, and instead live on forever as the subjects of lengthy YouTube essays.

Still, Molyneux's most notable lost game (or tech demo, depending on who you asked at the time) was arguably Project Milo.

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
darthv728d ago

I can see the potential of the kinect hardware... its rather impressive tech, but it was just not meant to be for gaming. If anything, MS had a huge missed opportunity to have used it for the AR/VR projects.

S2Killinit7d ago

Missed opportunity? They lied. It was the biggest lie in gaming history.

merlox7d ago

You can use the Kinect as an SLS camera for paranormal investigations. So it wasn’t a complete failure.

Cacabunga7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

Remember Star Wars Kinect announcement? Biggest laughable acting seen

7d ago
7d ago
rlow17d ago (Edited 7d ago )

Do you mean about project Milo?

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 7d ago
-Foxtrot8d ago

It was built on lies Peter...you know this.

isarai8d ago

Bro that thing NEVER existed, what we got was a concept video

Knushwood Butt8d ago

"Unfortunately, as we were developing Milo, so the Kinect device was being developed. And they realised that the device that Alex Kipman first showed off would cost $5,000 for consumers to buy.

"So they cost-reduced that device down to such a point, where the field-of-view...I think it was a minuscule field-of-view. In other words, it could only just see what's straight in front of you."

Hmm, exactly what tech was in it, that was cut, affected the development? It was only ever interpreting visual and audio inputs right? The xbox was processing those inputs.

Nor do I see how the field of view thing is relevant to the discussion.

isarai8d ago

Exactly! Tf kinda BS statement was that? i don't really see how fov is relevant at all, since when do you move all around a room while talking/interacting to someone?

Amplitude7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

This is entirely untrue. There was never a 5000 dollar Kinect prototype that could somehow use a wider field of view to scan and import generated in-game items and advance AI by over a decade. Anybody that fell for this was a stupid moron child, myself included. Anybody that falls for this lie now is a stupid moron child who doesn't realize that these people *only* know how to lie.

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