XBL Manager Explains Approach to Punishing Achievement Point Cheaters

**4me2** · 27th March 2008

Excerpt of an interview with Xbox Live General Manager Marc Whitten on blog.newsweek.com:

* When did you decide to take the steps that were publicly outlined today to punish people who are determined to be tampering with their game saves?
* We have always invested in upholding the Live Terms of Use through penalizing violations with user and or console bans. The method of having the individual's gamerscore reset is a more measured approach that addresses this particular form of behavior.

* How granular are your tools for determine whether someone, as your FAQ page states, "has earned achievements by using tools that circumvent the game or avoid game play entirely"?
* We look for abnormal Achievement and gamerscore activity using criteria that identifies members who have used external means to earn Achievements without really playing the game.

* Why did you decide to not only reset a player's Gamerscore, but also publicly label him or her a cheater? Is there any way for someone who has been so punished to have the scarlet "C" removed in the future?
* We want to make sure all Xbox Live members know there are consequences to violating the use of terms by cheating on the service. This label is primarily for verification to the user that yes, your gamerscore was reset due to cheating and can be observed on Xbox.com, and through the player's view of their gamercard on a console or PC connected to Xbox Live. Gamers who are labeled as 'cheaters' are still allowed to legitimately gain future Achievements and the player's experience doesn't change in any other way. Over time, we intend to remove the label - although the original achievements will remain reset. It is up to the individual player to prove that they won't do it again.

* Your adjudication process is secret, and you provide no means whatsoever for appeal, making it something of a star chamber. Aren't you concerned that in your zeal to punish the guilty, you may also ensnare the innocent?
* We only correct gamerscores for players who meet the criteria 100 percent. Like the vast majority of Xbox Live members, if you earn Achievements by playing through games like any other player, then you have nothing to worry about. Gamerscore correction only applies to players who use external means or avoid game play to earn Achievements.