Microsoft Permabans Forza 3 Pirates, Makes Warez Kiddies Cry

That's not surprising, since Forza 3 will be out soon in Europe, and earlier than the US (yay!), so it's more likely that PAL users would already have copies...It's probably not a problem if you play the PAL version a day or two before the release date, many stores will probably sell the game before the official street date anyway.

 

Is that a confirmed fact?

 

It's not a console ban thread until this is in it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj361FhvFOY

 

Anyone who used a leaked image was at risk, no matter if you ran it on a NTSC or PAL system.

Short version, MS did a higher than normal run of check discs for this one, and those were distributed to press and some select VIP consumers. Everyone who got a disc officially registered their Gamertag.

The early discs were NOT the exact same as the gold master which went to retail, much like the SR2 issue I mentioned earlier in the thread. Someone who got one of the check discs leaked it, assuming it was a final retail copy and that's what all the warez kiddies were running.

Since the disc image didn't match retail, it was pretty easy for MS to see who was running pre-release code and who was running retail code. And since they had a list of all the GTs which were issued pre-release code, that made an easy check for who should and shouldn't have the discs.

So basically, if you ran the warez version on a modded console or, if you somehow got a check disc through unofficial means, you were at risk of banning because your GT wasn't registered.

Just because it runs on a retail box doesn't mean it is final code.

-hl718

 

It's incredible how many versions of that exists :lol:

This gif always makes me laugh.



Just think in "Banned" instead of that famous windows screen...

 

this gen is so lame.....

don't care about the news, my unmodded, not online, rodded xbox is sitting in a corner of the living room awaiting repair, but it makes me a little bit angry, I think that is just a stupid move (if pirate games will be difficult to play on the 360, then pirates will simply change system)

 

Pirates don't make a system. They're usually the ones that kill them.

Warez kiddies killed the Dreamcast and they put a pretty big dent in the PSP.

Microsoft could care less if all the warez kiddies focused exclusively on Wii or PSP games.

-hl718

 

Just read on a Brazilian Gaming Forum, some members that got banned while the rest are making fun of them (that's where i got this funny pic). Anyway, i find hilarious that on the console, it shows they are banned till 31/12/9999. The fact that MS uses a date system must let people totally hopeless.

 

Where did you hear this? That's a very interesting bit of information. And it makes sense too.

 

My friend called m$ and bitched on the phone for like 2 hours, now yea he did pirate the game, but they changed that 12/31/9999 to october 30th, so i guess he got lucky....(or he's full of shit)

 

I don't understand why Microsoft don't start putting individual CD-keys in their game cases. These would be essential to play online (would register that game to your XBLive account), only need to be entered once and would go a long way to helping them kill off secondhand game sales.

 

Makes taking a game to another console more cumbersome. The only alleviation is linking it to an account or console, and both cases have heavy setbacks. You also presume that everyone has LIVE access. It's overall a step backwards.

 

They'd ban second hand copies if they could, too.

Imagine your friend's gamertag being banned because unknowingly you took over your VIP disc to show him the game.

Or maybe you were being a dick and without telling him he'd get banned, you gave him that perfect looking pressed original XBOX 360 disc..

There's a lot of grey area over here, and some people might have a valid claim against M$.

 

Shh... don't give them ideas!

AFAIK, it's technically illegal in most countries to prevent someone reselling a game they have purchased a physical item.

 

Mine arrived today (ltd edition of course) 3 days early, can't wait to get home and fire it up

 

Fuck, can't believe that. Wish i had ordered mine online now :crying:

 

Damn addictive!

 

x

 

second hand game sales are not something that needs to be "killed off"

 

I m surprised as well..

If anything, piracy has helped the penetration to some customers.

Realistically speaking, piracy harms developers when people who would otherwise pay real money for a title don't. It's potential customers lost - many people who pirate games wouldn't be a customer in the first place if there was no free ride involved.