Windows 7: Xbox users - MS blocks servers due to piracy

Hi all
XBOX users (600,000 approx) have now been blocked from accessing MS servers since some have been "chipped" to be able to load / play pirated games.

Just listening to this via the web from BBC R5 ("Radio Five Live") program.

Here's the linfo from the BBC site if you want further information.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8354166.stm

I should think there will be a lot of disappointed / angry legit users -- suppose it was because "Warefare II" or whatever its called has already made its way "out into the wild".

Cheers
jimbo

Serves their own right for using pirated games....cheep skates! lol

indeed, if only they did this for pc gamers, the gaming scene would be in much better shape.

Heh, I'm sure there be many people that hate you for that comment.

It's true though - Piracy has killed the golden age of PC gaming

But you'll never be able to stop the proliferation of Pirated PC games because it's so easy to get away with.

Hi all

"Psst want a cheap X-Box 25 GBP" !!.

I'll bet these type of offers will soon be around -- just wait and see how people will get suckered into buying one of these "chipped" boxes and wont be able to play their games.

I don't suppose it will be too long before someone comes out with a "Re chip" -- but don't forget unless you use a proxy your IP address will also have been logged in MS'es Servers.

So the moral IS

Don't use the edition shown below for your apps.

Cheers

jimbo

Xbox'es aren't chipped, they're flashed, well the dvd drive firmware is flashed so that it can read backups, and theres no way to unban your console, once its banned.

Technology will usually find a way -- if people can update the firmware - they could conceivably change the serial number etc etc etc. - Whether its "Flashing" or "Chipping" I think the meaning is clear -- the device has been "unofficially modified".

They could even put a brand new hardware chip into it I suppose -.

The biggest problem of course is if your IP address is blocked - then you'll have some serious explaining to do if yo want to connect again to that server from the same IP address.

Cheers
jimbo

The modded 360s still play games and "backups" offline just as they did before. The only functionality that's affected is the ability to connect to Live and play online, which may not be that big of a deal to someone looking for a 360 on the cheap.

ETA: It seems that if a console that was scheduled to be banned subsequently tried logging into Live, they also lost the ability to play "backups" offf the HDD.

IP addresses don't mean squat if they wanted to they could go by MAC address of the NIC. That would have you pretty much nailed. I was hoping MS would track my stolen XBox via the NIC but I'm just not high enough on the food chain to get it done. MS has the serial number and corisponding MAC address of every XBox out there. Technically if you have a modded XBox they could knock on your door any day it would be very easy for them. We all know how easy it is to trace an IP address. So by just banning your box consider your self lucky.