MS Screws Up and Bans Game Site's Account for Fraud

GPT: "Like a lot of writers and gamers alike, I was one of those people who typically rolled my eyes when someone said they were banned from Xbox LIVE without a legitimate reason. Because let’s be honest here; most of the time the guilty party will declare their innocence to the very end. Today I’ve learned just how Microsoft’s erratic procedures result in gamers getting banned without any just cause."

[BeaRye]

lol - "Oops. MS did it again. They played with my mind. Got lost in the end."

[Gray-Fox-Type0]

Well unknown site probably got banned for abusing the system or somthing. Making many accounts and reviewing games down and up to thier liking. Who knows we need to know both sides to make this legitiment, Right now seems like the reviewers did somthing wrong, as always they people that get banned 99% always in the wrong and funny how they act innocent when they do get banned lol

[SilentNegotiator]

"Well unknown site probably got banned for abusing the system or somthing. Making many accounts and reviewing games down and up to thier liking"
-
So you didn't read the article, then? They were caught up in the "market theft" carpet bombing that Microsoft did recently, which wouldn't include multi-account voting - I doubt they give a flying crap if people use multiple accounts to change the ratings by a thousandth of a percent.

"During the course of a recent investigation, we have discovered users who illegitimately accessed Xbox LIVE Marketplace downloadable content. Our investigation reveals that this access was intentional and not accidental, constituting a blatant violation of the Terms of Use for the service. We will not divulge additional information regarding individual suspensions for these offenses"
^^^^^^^
Here's for you and everyone else that didn't read the article.

Oh, and this "No name site" has been around since 2007, and has several sister sites.

And now if the author wants to do anything Xbox 360 related, he'll have to buy another system. Chalk that up as another double purchase to add to the sales numbers, because there's no changing Microsoft's mind on permanent console-bans.

[Kushan]

Account bans != System bans. He won't need a new system, just a new account. He even states this in the article.
IF everything he says is true, then they got all the content for free from MS and the only thing they "lost" was 2 years of live subscription.

[snipes101]

Well the problem is that Microsoft is basically capable of turning anyone who claims innocence into that one guy who no one believes until something big happens because they don't have to divulge information about any bans or suspensions they issue. This is total garbage.

Goddammit if someone is going to ban someone from a PAID service they better provide the ban-ee with some irrefutable proof instead of this he said/she said garbage. If you were banned and then emailed documentation that shows that you were definitely in the wrong, ok go for it Microsoft. But this is wrong.

I love my xbox to death, but this, this little sneaky underhanded clause they keep on their side is shady as hell. They should not be allowed to do this.

[Rainstorm81]

My account was recently banned in this marketplace theft wave, and ive never stolen anything from XBL and wouldn't know where to start, also the ban came at a time when I haven't
been on my 360, in about 3 months ....

At the time my gold subscription was expired but the part that sucks is you can't fight the charges. Sucks because I lose all my achievements......its shyt like this that makes me understand why people hate MS

Smh and with gears 3 right around the corner...

[fatalred alarm]

"I was one of those people who typically rolled my eyes when someone said they were banned from Xbox LIVE without a legitimate reason. Because let’s be honest here; most of the time the guilty party will declare their innocence to the very end."

So why would I believe YOUR story?

[-Alpha]

You should read the excuses on their forums:

"I stepped out to feed my dog and my evil brother sabotaged my account"

[BeOneWithTheGun]

@Alpha. They are a riot. It reminds me of that episode when Cartman chops up that guys parents and makes chili out of them and then as the guy eats it he tells him what he's eating and as the guy starts crying Cartman stats licking his tears and saying, "Yeeeees, Ohhhhhhhh sweet tears"

[darthv72]

not so much the whole notion of them getting banned but as to why someone would change the original image on their site and post something as wrong as the nazi symbol.

http://www.gameplaytoday.co...

That is the real image from gameplaytoday.com

[TheMyst]

Well, MS regular round of bans is coming up for November. We all know how it goes, they ban millions and there's a huge boost for Nov. and Dec. They've done for a few years now.

[spenn2010]

LOL holiday season is right around the corner.

I know the websites account and not they're console was banned. To those of you who think this is just coincidental stop being naive and realize that MS is doing this for two reasons. #1 they cant pick out EVERY XBL cheater one at a time so they just drop a online tactical nuke on "suspecting accounts" whether your guilty or not lol. #2 The timing is perfect for them business wise, September and usually around November is when they ban accounts and systems every year (holiday season and major software releases). Whens the last time they have banned accounts and systems during the slow software season mainly the summer.

Xbox is plagued with extreme nerds who mod, hack systems, games, and XBL. LMAO i remember being really nervous last fall when they started banning blindly and i decided that this is my last year of XBL and that 60 dollar fee. Not worth the headache or the money.

[BattersUp]

Banning a website from XBL? Now that's one way to stop your games from getting panned. ahaha

[IceAc]

Looks like they wanted some better Summer of Arcade scores.

[Godmars290]

Well this should certainly call MS's procedures into question. Though they've been doing it for years.

[iamnsuperman]

This will be a mistake. Annoying and potential really bad mistake if it isn't corrected. They do need to sort this but it is most likely an error

Off topic but is it really necessary to have a swastika in the photo.

[Hicken]

Agreed on all counts. Especially the swastika. Bad taste.

[vgn24]

Actually, that depends on where you're from. It remains widely used in Indian Religions, specifically in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, primarily as a sacred symbol of good luck.

[SimplySara]

Of course that wasn't what was meant by using the symbol. And you, and everyone else here, knows that.

[iamnsuperman]

@vgn24 that is true but not slanted like that. The Nazi one is often slanted. The holy one isn't(as far as I know)

OT: I kind of thing it is a little bit unnecessary. I know they are angry but totally unnecessary. Microsoft have just made a error. What I would do is try to contact them and make them aware of the error

[IceAc]

There's no contacting MS. I learned that lesson a long time ago. Bans are permanent. Good luck to them, but doubt they'll have better luck than anyone else.

[SegaSonic]

And everyone said that MS is flawless, secure and never bans good people. I wouldn't call game reviewers good people, but banning them is plain stupid.

[gamingdroid]

... and you would believe a no-name site claiming innocence, over a corporation that loses money from loyal paid subscribers when banning?

There is nothing companies love more than loyal customers that pay far in advance so by banning these guys they are essentially saying we don't want your business anymore and what company does not want business unless it is bad for them?

It reminds me of the time on n4g.com, when everyone (including me) was up in arms about Sony refusing to warrant a PS3 due to excessive dust. When the proof showed up, I was mighty embarrassed myself and wondered if the guys home was in the open desert:

http://www.homotron.net/200...

[rob6021]

and you would believe a corporation over a no name gaming site.

[gamingdroid]

I believe in logic (and motive/motivation), and logic tells me no company ever leaves any money on the table!

Banning somebody is cutting off a "loyal" paying customer while this no-name site is getting hits while showing no proof or even accountability.

When in doubt follow the money trail.

[kreate]

What if the corporation is making money by banning someone. And that someone has to go make a new account and re-buy the gold membership?

why cant it be a temporary ban?
Or refund the remaining amount of the services the user already paid for?

What's up with straight up permanently banning someone like this?

I got ban from psn before. But it was temporary and the ban was lifted after a month. I was warned that if my actions was continous. next ban will be even longer or permanent.

Sony's approach is more reasonable isnt it? Or am I missing something? o_0;;

[gamingdroid]

***What if the corporation is making money by banning someone. And that someone has to go make a new account and re-buy the gold membership?***

Because that is not a sustainable business model.

Let alone the fact, that not only is the cost of acquiring a new customer pretty high. If you know anything about business, that is the first cost they look at.

However, expecting customers to stick around and pay again is ridiculous if you wronged the customer. Not only will they leave, but they will tell all their friends.

A permanent ban means MS don't want you as a customer anymore either.

Keep in mind that this is due to marketplace theft. You know, the equivalent to piracy!

http://forums.xbox.com/xbox...

MS do actually have temporary banning due to bad behavior. You can find those incidents here:

http://forums.xbox.com/xbox...

[kreate]

according to the user, he used a code to download. why is this theft?

if MS doesnt want u back on xboxlive. they should ban ur ip instead of just the account/console. thats how sony does it. they ban ur ip so none of ur ps3s will connect to the psn on that network.

if only the account/console is banned. one can always just buy multiple consoles/accounts/gold memberships and continue to play on xboxlive further increasing sales.

and u know those millions of consoles went on sale on ebay/craigs and they just went and bought a new console. MS does a wave of mass banning once every few years. as well as continuosly banning ppl like this.

u know the drill and the way MS is. ur a high level n4g user.

[aGameDeveloper]

@gamingdroid

You say the bans are unsustainable, and I won't argue against that, entirely. However, if one were inclined to believe the "Evil corporate giant" angle, one might consider the following thought process over at Microsoft:

"Hmm, this user showed up in our list of questionable activities. Checking online activity... Alright, he's been logging an average of 50 hours a week of multiplayer COD and dozens of other games for the last 6 years - I think he'll be inclined to buy another gold account so those games don't become worthless to him!"

[gamingdroid]

@kreate
***if MS doesnt want u back on xboxlive. they should ban ur ip instead of just the account/console. thats how sony does it. they ban ur ip so none of ur ps3s will connect to the psn on that network.***

The thing here is "according to the user". Do you know the details?

I'm more inclined that a company isn't out to screw a select few customers, and instead interrested in earning your business over time.

***MS does a wave of mass banning once every few years. as well as continuosly banning ppl like this.***

So banning pirates/cheaters is not a reasonable action?

@aGameDeveloper

***"Hmm, this user showed up in our list of questionable activities. Checking online activity... Alright, he's been logging an average of 50 hours a week of multiplayer COD and dozens of other games for the last 6 years - I think he'll be inclined to buy another gold account so those games don't become worthless to him!"***

Ok, so it never occured to you that maybe this person is lying? That if he was wrongfully banned, he might be so pissed off jump ship, then tell all his friends on Facebook of the horrible experience he had. Keep in mind that, to his friends he is far more trustworthy than a "big evil company like MS".

Big companies like MS and Sony aren't out to earn $500k by screwing people, they are out to make billions on an eco-system. Clearly screwing people over isn't a business model that would work.

That said, it isn't impossible that MS did something like that. However, the logic behind it doesn't add up.

[Christopher]

I'm with gamingdroid on this one. I'm thinking it may be as simple as giving another user access to one of their review download codes, which would be a gross violation of their marketplace policy.

It just doesn't seem probable that MS made a SNAFU with this one user. Especially considering we have heard similar complaints before that turn out to be that the end user did in fact do something that violated MS policy.

[kreate]

I dont think Ms is out to get u either (or maybe they are?)

But during these reasonable waves of banning. It seems to appear innocent bystanders get screwed in the midst of it.

There is two sides to the story. U seem to defend MS. I'm saying MS probably makes mistakes too especially when I read articles like this from time to time.

Neither users or the corporate are innocent. Is my opinion.
There cannot be a definite answer due to lack of evidence.

Further debating on this issue is based on speculation thats not really going anywhere. I'm also running out of bubbles. How do u guys get so many bubbles?

Especially cgoodno.. I want to horde bubbles too.

Hook it up plz.

[starknight321]

"How do u guys get so many bubbles? "

You had to do a lot of butt kissing early on in the site's development.

Those bubbles come from other uses, so just say things that'll impress them, and you'll get them. Rather than having a sensible system of being on the site longer, thus allows you to have a better basis, they leave it up to a community...and the community is obviously heavily biased anyways.

[kreate]

butt kissing huh?

and u gotta rely on the n4g community?

hehe =)

i am now mute from here on out at least on this article.

[Christopher]

***You had to do a lot of butt kissing early on in the site's development. ***

OMG... that's the one thing I never do. You want bubbles, think about your posts. Don't worry if they're meeting a certain group's opinion, but make level-headed arguments and back them up with quality material and facts when available.

I had 9 bubbles before I became a moderator, but 10 is reserved for moderators.

[Wikkid666]

Or... this entire thing is fake, so some crappy game site that no one has ever heard of gets some hits.

[IceAc]

xbl ban fake? New to the web much?

[Wikkid666]

Nope... gets all their games free (Retail, trials, arcade game, etc), but have to pay for Xbox live subscription. And that was their big worry is coming up with the money to pay for it again.

COME ON!

[jonlynch]

Yea. Everyone has to pay for XBL Gold. That's why devs make throw away accounts (nonsense gamertags) so they can test online. Looks like you don't know as much about XBL as you think. ^_^

[BeOneWithTheGun]

@Wikkid I actually agree with you. They get all this swag and get games early, I am sure they have SOME ad revenue and they are bitching at buy a new GOLD account.

Cry me a river.

[MrBeatdown]

What is "Marketplace and Code Fraud" anyway?

I mean, if XBLM works like it should, and I'm sure it does, how does someone even commit fraud?

[Wikkid666]

Code generators and buying and selling codes.

Codes are then linked to Live accounts as soon as they are entered.

[Kushan]

No, it's different to that. There's a way to place a hacked account on your 360 that has access to the game, however with some trickery, it lets you play the game on your main profile (I don't know the EXACT details, but it's something like signing in with this hacked account, then starting the game, then signing out and signing in with your own account).

[SuperStrokey1123]

Did they contact MS and get their side of the story? You would think that they would...

[WitWolfy]

One cant contact the support team and ask why you got banned, you got to the xbox.com forums and ask there and hope and pray they answer our query. And what I read there the mods seem to get VERY sarcastic with people who get banned for the stupidest stuff

[gamingdroid]

They don't listen to "reason", if it occurred they will ban you so if your mother's friend's sister's cat stepped on the controller, it won't be a good enough excuse.

However, if you claim innocence, you can appeal and MS will re-verify it. They seem to be pretty responsive in the appropriate forums.

Customer service in the forums for suspended account M-F 9am-5pm PDT:
http://forums.xbox.com/xbox...

"How does Enforcement/The Complaint System Work? Bootblack explains."
http://forums.xbox.com/xbox...

FAQ:
http://forums.xbox.com/xbox...

Note this:

"My brother/daughter/sister/mother /father/son/dog did it!

You are responsible for who has access to your account."

Information about Marketplace theft:
http://forums.xbox.com/xbox...

[Christopher]

Damn cats!

[WitWolfy]

DAMN CAT PLAYED ON A MODDED PROFILE USING MY ACCOUNT!!!! I didnt know... honest....

[vgn24]

Looks like they did and got the door slammed in their face, lol. They updated it with a response from XBL. Too funny. That's what you get for paying for what should be free.

[SuperStrokey1123]

Yeah i just read that, pretty lame. Ive always wondered that if you get banned from a service you have paid for dont they have to give you your money back? He had 2 years of live already paid for. You would think hed get the prorated amount back.

[Christopher]

Certain states and countries may have laws that require a refund on termed services not rendered, but most don't. IIRC, for example, California has a law stating as such, but not most other states. Severability clause in the agreement makes it so that they can make all persons agree to a standard agreement and only use those portions of the agreement that would apply for the region in which you live.

[allyc4t]

I'm sure that putting a Swastika in the Xbox logo will get your account back.

[swice]

I'm not seeing the Swastika...

[Parasyte]

Go to the top of this page and look at the picture for the article.

[swice]

Oh. Duh. Thank you. At least they changed it...dumb asses

[omi25p]

Yeah its always good to take a company thats main aim is to make money and this may or may not have been a mistake and comparing then to some of the most demented evil beings ever to walk this earth.

A group that went to war with the world and caused mass geneside. I mean i see the resemblence...

(Not talking about allyc4t im talking about whoever made the dumb picture)

[DrFUD]

NO SOUP FOR YOU!
OR REFUND.

[TheEerieCold]

Where to start...

First off, they mention other accounts being banned, are they talking about reviewer accounts? I did a quick check using Google for recent articles or anything of this sort and came up with only their website. There were other websites that mentioned banning for marketplace theft but nothing about reviewer accounts. This basically shows they are jumping to conclusions.

Second, a swastika... really? How immature can these review sites get. Talk about unprofessional. Note that they did change it to a smiley face, but still.

Last, maybe they could attempt to contact someone higher up in the chain at Microsoft and get an answer. They will only get a canned response from the Xbox forums.

This all makes me wonder if this site was using the same account for multiple people to download stuff multiple times from download history onto different consoles. You can't do this, and they probably did....

[jonlynch]

Looks like you didn't read the thing at all. From a quick glance - some n4g goof changed the image. They did contact someone and got what looks like a standard (and rude) response.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

There was nothing rude about the response. it was very matter of fact. There are certainly ways for banned accounts to reach out to MS and state your case as to why you shouldn't be banned. I would think a smartly written email stating the case to MS about their situation would clear things up...or even a phone call and have it raised to supervisor level for review. Something tells me there is more to this "situation" than we can see here.

[Shaner_Bock]

If GPT has a legitimate agreement with MS and/or any of the game publishers, I don't think this would have happened.
I guess I could ask someone at a real video game website about how these agreements and accounts are handled.

[ElementX]

How does some unheard of site called Gameplay Today get review access in the first place?

[gcolley]

shit happens

[SITH]

Every transaction on your Xbox live account generates a email reciept. Take your proof of legitimate purchase and sue for MS depriving you of a paid service without just cause. And this website probably cost more to run yearly than Xbox live cost for two years. 2nd I am not going to automatically assume just because you review games you somehow have a halo over your head, and are magically immune to such acts of exploitation.

But I also can see clearly they have no intent to fight the claims of MS. Take that into account before you boys and girls go on a blame MS game. You ain't going to listen but burden of proof is on MS and they seem damn confident it will uphold in any capacity.

[vgn24]

They're clearly trying to fight it and getting stone walled as anyone who's dealt with MS knows is always the case.

[Shojin1]

BANHAMMER!