SlashGear Japan
In typical Microsoft fashion, their next-generation Xbox 360 console has been successfully modded to allow pirate discs to be played. Also in typical Microsoft fashion, they’ve managed to blow the whole mess out of proportion, claiming that the whole industry is at risk due to the actions of these, er, pirates. The mod, which overwrites the BIOS of the console’s DVD drive with modifications, isn’t the simplest modification in the world (it requires a fair amount of work along with a specific DVD burner), but apparently it’s enough to have Microsoft worried. For their response, hit the jump!
“The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive, both from manufacturers and the local companies that support them.
Microsoft will continue to employ and bolster its anti-piracy security measures to counter piracy in the gaming industry. Opening an Xbox for modification voids the warranty, and may cause the system to work improperly. Moreover, customers can only enjoy access to the Xbox Live community through the use of a genuine Xbox console.”
[via GamePro]
4 Responses to “Xbox 360s Hacked; Microsoft Cries Foul”
Denisb October 11, 2006
The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the “complete” products and services they receive, both from manufacturers and the “foreing” companies that support them.
Microsoft will continue to employ and bolster its “anti-fair-use” measures to counter any “fair-use” in the gaming industry. Opening an Xbox for modification “harms the captive consumers market”, and may cause the “seller of the “system to work improperly. Moreover, customers “can’t enjoy access to the product they paid for” through the use of a genuine Xbox console.
NeutralChris October 11, 2006
The thing about “piracy” that really is just silly and that none of these companies really think to much about is really what happens. For example, downloading and ripping music. I’ve bought so many more CD’s than I ever would have because I could listen first, or I would love an artists music so I’d buy all of their albums. With games, I have an original xbox hacked and modded, I use it all the time as a media center, it’s the best thing out. I also buy a lot of games, store them on my hard drive and literally use them as a back up, plus they load faster since they are run directly from the hard drive. This is taking a product and making it better, not endangering anything. I know a lot of people who have bought many xboxes cause they messed it up in the modding process, so in that respect it’s selling more microsfot products. They seriously need to chill and just look at the reality, not the fantasy loss projections.
NeutralA Different Chris October 11, 2006
The losses aren’t fantasy, they are real. And ultimately the people that are paying for it isn’t Microsoft, it’s the gaming community. All the effort required for antipiracy development, and loss in game revenues translates into games selling at hire prices.
If these people are really trying to “make the product better”, than perhaps they should do that the legal and moral way by doing it with legitimate methods.
Neutralyuck October 18, 2006
I wouldn’t have purchased the first xbox or any of the five games that I actually bought if I didn’t know I could mod it and play “backups”….
I was waiting for news like this about the xbox 360 before purchasing it…
How’s it a “loss” when I never would have bought the thing or any games in the first place?
Neutral