Microsoft Banning Modded Xboxes From Online Gaming
from the deeper-conspiracy dept
The Register has the story about how Microsoft is checking any Xbox that tries to connect to their online gaming system to see if it has a modded chip - and then banning that machine for life, even if the mod chip has been removed. There are some semi-valid reasons for this (a modded chip could let people cheat, making the online gaming experience less worthwhile for users). However, the Register extrapolates out from there to think about a future of Palladium-style "trustworthy computing" where anyone who modifies their PC might no longer be able to use the internet, or certain services online because Microsoft deems them untrustworthy. Going beyond even that, they wonder if this sort of thing could kill the second-hand market. Who would want to buy a computer on eBay, if there's a chance it won't be able to get online because the previous owner had modded something?
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No Subject Given
Seriously.....
Is there not a point where people start to think for themselves? Can the Register maybe report the news for once instead of taking every MS story and turning into some play for world domination?
Sony could skin babies and use the parts in their next PC and sites like Slashdot and the Register would be blindly glaring at Redmond....
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Re: No Subject Given
(2) Microsoft has a dominant position in the market, with an unbalanced impact with any move they make. That said, they clearly deserve more scrutiny than a smaller player.
(3) The Register has been known to take on other companies as well.
(4) Protecting against pirates and hackers???? We're talking about a device that has been modified after it's been purchased. These people have paid for the box, and given Microsoft their money... and after all that Microsoft says that people can't mess with their own box.
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(2) Sony has a dominant position in the market, with an unbalanced impact with any move they make. I see nobody upset about them constantly shoving proprietary memory sticks, mini-cd's and the new SACD format down people's throats....
(3) Yes, and Fox News and Bill O'Reilly picks on other people than Jessie Jackson.
(4) You do know what the purpose of a mod chip is...don't you? We're not talking about running Linux on the thing.....
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Re: No Subject Given
(2) Sony's position is not nearly as dominant or influential as Microsoft's. Sony offering different storage formats don't have the same impact as Microsoft shutting access off to people. Besides, I don't see how any of Sony's proprietary formats are being "shoved" at anyone. Many people would say that so far, many of those are complete failures. I don't know anyone who uses any of those formats. It's not as if they've forced all computers to ditch their CD-RWs in favor of memory sticks.
(3) Er... you were the one who said the Register did nothing but talk about Microsoft.
(4) Sure I know what the purpose of a modchip is. My point was that the box is the end user's who bought it. They should be able to mod the box. I also think that Microsoft has the right to block those people from using the service (as I said in the original post, and as the Register suggested in their article). I have nothing against that. I just think that your claims of Microsoft protecting its investment against hackers and pirates is completely off-base. It's their box that they paid for.
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Re: No Subject Given
2) If Sony was in as good a postition as MS, we'd all be using BetaMax now. If Sony was as successful in abusing our rights as purchasers, I'd only be able to play EMI and Arista CDs on my car stereo.
3) odd that Ummmmm can't remember which side of the argument he's discrediting.
4) MS forgets that, while they have been almost completely successful in convincing us that we don't own software, they also want to try and tell us we don't own the hardware either.
4.1) Now *I* don't have one whit of a clue about a mod-chip, and I can only assume it allows me to run my own software on XBox in addition to allowing my pirating-bastard cousin to drop in a CD that hasn't been approved. It's almost like playing my burned CD in my car. I think that's all I need to know, though, as that's the heart of my concern.
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Re: No Subject Given
2) Sony simply has a better PR department and doesn't leave dumb ass e-mails lying around.
3) You show me a Reg. article someday that doesn't put some demonic spin on something MS does...and I'll give you a kiss, sugar pie.
4) A "mod chip" has NOTHING To do with modifying the box man....It's a tool to exploit game code...aka CHEAT...and it allows for pirated copies to be made...
Neither of you even understands what mod chips is...stop pretending. I'm all for tinkering with the box itself...mod it, break it, put linux on it....that has nothing to do with "mod chips" that are sold via the internet....nothing at all.
Microsoft is protecting their interests and investments into Xbox live on this one. Nothing else. As someone who plays on Xbox Live! I applaud the move. I don't want cheating jackasses ruining the experience.
When they do something bone headed and anti-consumer I stomp like everyone else....but I don't play lemming and automatically assume they're up to no good like apparently you're both willing to.....
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Re: No Subject Given
Neither I, nor the origianl Register article were complaining about Microsoft stopping modded Xboxs from using their online gaming platform. That is a Microsoft decision that they can do.
All we were discussing was the basic issue - which is STILL a valid issue to discuss. A single ID like that does bring up possibilities that could be used negatively (whether by Microsoft or by someone else).
Isn't that an issue worth discussing?
Neither I, nor the Register, were specifically demonizing Microsoft on this issue. We were both just bringing up the issue.
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