Xbox LIVE BanHammer for Playing Forza 3 Early

[Raptor]

It looks like Microsoft started banning users from Xbox LIVE for playing Forza 3 early (the game was leaked on the internet a few days ago). It's not the first time Microsoft puts out the BanHammer from playing leaked games and it will certainly not be the last time. For now it seems to be an Account BAN and not a Console BAN.

Here a quote of the email banned users got from MS:

Notification of Permanent Suspension: Pre-release title play

This email is to notify you that your Xbox LIVE account privileges have been permanently suspended due to illegitimate pre-release title play.

Your conduct was brought to the attention of the LIVE Enforcement Team through the course of our operation of the service. The LIVE Enforcement Team has reviewed the complaints and other evidence regarding this content and determined it violates the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and/or Code of Conduct. Because your conduct is in violation, the Xbox LIVE Enforcement Team has enacted this permanent suspension against your gamertag.

During your suspension, you will not be able to log into Xbox LIVE. Your Xbox LIVE privileges will not be reinstated.

Customer Support is not able to modify or provide any further details about your suspension.

Microsoft expects that all customers abide by the Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct provides guidelines for appropriate behavior while using the service.

[ilscuro]

If it's just an account ban then that would suggest that MS can't detect Forza 3 copies that easily, otherwise wouldn't it have been a permanent ban? confusing.

[Simate]

If it's just an account ban then that would suggest that MS can't detect Forza 3 copies that easily, otherwise wouldn't it have been a permanent ban? confusing.

If they can't detect copies then what right have they got to ban accounts at all considering they said recently that they wouldn't ban people for playing Halo ODST early and have never banned people for playing games early.

[AD]

According the ppl in #fw if you get this ban and reboot your xbox, you are perm banned.

-=AD=-

[Anakin]

LOL a reviewer has been banned for playing a review copy

http://forums.xbox.com/29476424/ShowPost.aspx

[Omgporn]

Looks like they're just 'picking' people on the spot haha.

[Flat]

nice one

[ilscuro]

If they can't detect copies then what right have they got to ban accounts at all considering they said recently that they wouldn't ban people for playing Halo ODST early and have never banned people for playing games early.

It's just confusing, they are account banning people for playing this early, then evveryone can't have a review copy, lol meaning most are copies, so why didn't they just ban the console like normal?

[bobo06]

It's just confusing, they are account banning people for playing this early, then isn't that pretty much saying that most are copies, so why didn't they just ban the console like normal?

IMO i think it would hurt people more by banning there account and there gamertag . Because if I had a choice i would let them ban my console and let me keep my gamertag as you can get a console for next to nothing. So it would hurt people more with loads of gamerpoints and game rankings the likes of prestiges in call of duty halo ETC.... If I lost mine I would be gutted

[moonrat]

IMO i think it would hurt people more by banning there account and there gamertag . Because if I had a choice i would let them ban my console and let me keep my gamertag as you can get a console for next to nothing. So it would hurt people more with loads of gamerpoints and game rankings the likes of prestiges in call of duty halo ETC.... If I lost mine I would be gutted

Totally agree...i only have 7000 (or so) points, but i would still be way more upset loosing my account over loosing live use on the box

wish i had read this last night before playing it hehe oh well cross fingers and hope for the best

[SiE]

could be worse they could ban both.

[moonrat]

could be worse they could ban both.

lol true, although they will probrobly come for the console in nevember (or whenever the xmas ban hammer comes).

ah well knew there was a risk..canny complain

[fevernova]

lol true, although they will probrobly come for the console in nevember (or whenever the xmas ban hammer comes).

ah well knew there was a risk..canny complain

sigh u must work for ms knowing there is one in November then.

[Anakin]

banning accounts first which means people who have bought a shitload of DLC will be tempted to buy the same again on there new account. The MS follow up by a console ban which means the user will need to purchase a new 360 as well. So boosting Christmas sales.

Typical MS greedy fucking cunts.

[Eric]

It looks like Microsoft started banning users from Xbox LIVE for playing Forza 3 early

Does this mean playing on Live early ? Or can they detect the date it was played on the 360 when you eventually log in to Live AFTER release date.

[snoz]

Does this mean playing on Live early ? Or can they detect the date it was played on the 360 when you eventually log in to Live AFTER release date.

I wonder this too, with early releases I always unplug the lan cable from my xbox360 and play early then plug it back in on release day. Never been a problem in the past.

[ilscuro]

I've read stories that say there's a chip in the xbox that somehow stores info on what games you've been playing, regardless of whether you've unplugged the lan cable or removed the hard drive.

Personally i think it's bollox, but i could be wrong.

[BBK]

I've read stories that say there's a chip in the xbox that somehow stores info on what games you've been playing, regardless of whether you've unplugged the lan cable or removed the hard drive.

Personally i think it's bollox, but i could be wrong.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you get achievements offline as well as online? And when you reconnect, doesn't it just synch up? I don't know, but surely its pretty damn easy for MS to datestamp the achievement and see. My coding is lightyears from understanding how the Xbox works, but I find it very difficult to believe that with all the data that goes on within the xbox I'd be gobsmacked if it isn't datestamped somewhere along the line when you first play a game.

[Omgporn]

When you remove your ethernet cable the date reverts back to the USA launch date (22/11/2005).

As for the 'chip', that's the Nand. Personally I think its just banning people with it on their gamercards already. I'm sure MS know which region copies have gone to stores already.

[snoz]

When you first go online with your achievements it shows you gained them on the date you went online @ xbox.com not the date you got them.

This has lead me to believe it does not timestamp them hence I play early with ethernet cable out then go online on release day. This is just my little thoery ofcourse and I could be wrong and get banned Have to wait and see I guess.

Like you said though you would think it would be frigging easy for them to timestamp the achievements, but I guess then you could just change the time/date on your xbox360 to get around this anyway.