Microsoft update will lock out unlicensed Xbox 360 storage devices

Microsoft has made a new move today that will likely anger many current Xbox 360 users; locking out unlicensed storage devices that are not sold by the software giant.

"When Preview Program members start receiving the Xbox 360 system update next week, one of the changes is that unauthorized memory units will no longer work with the Xbox 360," writes Xbox Live's Larry Hryb, via MajorNelson.

The new update is the one that adds Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm integration and was generally highly anticipated by the gaming community.

As an example of what is coming, the 512MB Microsoft Memory Unit sells for $30 USD while unlicensed storage devices such as the expandable (up to 16GB) 2GB Datel Memory Unit sells for $40 USD. You will now be forced to buy the lower capacity, much more expensive Microsoft drive if you want to have access to your gaming life.

"If you�ve moved your profile or saved games onto one to 'back it up,' you�d better move it back onto an authorized Xbox 360 storage device prior to taking the update. If you continue to use an unauthorised memory unit after the update, you will not be able to access your stored profile or saved games," adds Hryb.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Oct 2009 10:44

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62 comments

emugamer

The question is, even if you could live without the update, would you eventually need to get it for future updates? Future updates that you may need to utilize certain features of XBL or certain games? Are MS updates like Sony updates, where they tell you that they are optional, but in reality, you need them do sign on or play certain games? If I had a 360, I'd pass on this update due to having no interest in Twitter or Facebook or lastfm, but I'd be royally pissed if down the road I was forced into it due to subsequent updates.

Probably going to get some backlash from people who update without reading the details. What could be the possible reason from banning external storage devices besides wanting more money?

20.10.2009 12:07 #1

Teamlloyd

For a company that has yet been able to make their system last for more than a year they really should be walking on eggshells and be doing everything not to piss off their customers before they all jump ship.

Of Course if we all do leave then I dont see why Playstation wouldnt be on top because of all of our brand new money.

Also I will not be standing in line to buy the new XBOX console (whenever it come out.) I'll wait and see how many fail first. Better yet I might just get the PlayStation first since its not know for dying.

I'm off topic I know but I got thangs to say.

20.10.2009 12:55 #2

ville30

I wonder if a custom hard drive will still work after this update.

20.10.2009 13:03 #3

ZippyDSM

They are either targeting mem cards with high storage capacity or removing cards that didnt get properly licensed.

Either way without them suing for IP violations this stinks of anti competitive practices...

20.10.2009 13:11 #4

creaky

Originally posted by ZippyDSM: this stinks of anti competitive practices... I rarely comment on games consoles but your comment is exactly how i felt when i read the article. It's not even as if it's a modchip or similar, it's a damn memory card!. Greed is the only other thing that comes to mind.

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20.10.2009 13:15 #5

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by creaky: Originally posted by ZippyDSM: this stinks of anti competitive practices... I rarely comment on games consoles but your comment is exactly how i felt when i read the article. It's not even as if it's a modchip or similar, it's a damn memory card!. Greed is the only other thing that comes to mind.Well I have heard some programmer aqautiances mention cache and oth4er hardware issues as a reason why they would want to knock out unapproved devices, but frankly speaking if this was a IP issue they would sue first, just blocking it strikes me as if they are looking to force people to buy their products....

Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy!
Ah modern gaming its like modern film only the watering down of fiction and characters is replaced with shallow and watered down mechanics, gimmicks and shiny-er "people".
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

20.10.2009 13:17 #6

Hopium

if it was your money coming in you'd all be singing a different tune.

20.10.2009 13:39 #7

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by Hopium: if it was your money coming in you'd all be singing a different tune.
they (ms) could easily sale 4-16GB flash based mem cards for 50 a pop......

20.10.2009 13:42 #8

jookycola

This is so ridiculous.
I can't understand why a company that has been so good to gamers for so long would start to push people away over something so inconsequential at a time when their competition (Wii & PS3) is or has warmed up to consumers. they really better not do this an the rumored hike in Live! subscription services or this will truly be the beginning of the end for the 360's so-far great run.

20.10.2009 13:42 #9

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by jookycola: This is so ridiculous.
I can't understand why a company that has been so good to gamers for so long would start to push people away over something so inconsequential at a time when their competition (Wii & PS3) is or has warmed up to consumers. they really better not do this an the rumored hike in Live! subscription services or this will truly be the beginning of the end for the 360's so-far great run.good? MS has been bad to gamers for so long, its jsut they have the games thus people ignore all the issues the 360 has....

20.10.2009 13:44 #10

ThePastor

This reminds me of Sony with their proprietary memory chips and their insistance that you use a Pro Duo (sony) chip in all of their devices.

20.10.2009 14:49 #11

xnmalletx

Quote:Originally posted by jookycola: This is so ridiculous.
I can't understand why a company that has been so good to gamers for so long would start to push people away over something so inconsequential at a time when their competition (Wii & PS3) is or has warmed up to consumers. they really better not do this an the rumored hike in Live! subscription services or this will truly be the beginning of the end for the 360's so-far great run.good? MS has been bad to gamers for so long, its jsut they have the games thus people ignore all the issues the 360 has....issues??? By now those "issues" look cleared up to me. I think they have done a good job fixing the issues. The new chipset looks very promising and a 3 year warranty against the rrod? wow. sounds good to me

20.10.2009 15:01 #12

funksoulb

It's not anti-competitive. Apple do this thing all the time, for example, updating iTunes so it no longer allows Palm Pre owners to sync, or only allowing their operating system to run on computers sold by them. It's no different to that. MS doesn't have monopoly status in the games console world, so they can allow whatever peripherals they like to be used with their systems. It doesn't mean that it's a very nice thing to do though!

What is shitty about it is the fact that they've decided to do this now, after the console's been out for 4 years. The Arcade comes with 512 MB of memory built in now and obviously the Elite and Super Elite both have hard drives, so blocking unlicensed memory cards is likely to affect people who have already bought a console much more than it will affect any future buyers who will have less of a need to buy a memory card. Also, if I buy a cheap 4GB Datel memory card, it means I can buy more DLC and XBLA games. That means more money for MS in the long run. I think this is a really bad move on their part, especially as there are bound to be people who aren't aware that this is happening until after they updated and then they'll wonder why they can't access their gamertag, game saves etc.

Quote:I wonder if a custom hard drive will still work after this update.
Someone from MS said that it only affects memory units that plug into the front of the console, not hard drives. I can't remember where I read it, but one of the gaming sites asked them for confirmation of what exactly they were going to block. I still don't know what they mean by "unauthorized" storage devices though. Does that mean any non-MS device, or are some third party devices authorised? They're not making it very clear!

20.10.2009 15:20 #13

ZeusAV

Sucks to be a 360 owner if this is for non-MS hard drives. As far as I know right now the Microsoft branded hard drives are way more expensive than other hard drives of equal size on the market.

For example the $120GB Microsoft hard drive retails for $159.99 while the same size hard drive retails for around $40 from most other companies.

20.10.2009 15:31 #14

21Q

So wait will this stop custom hdd's from working?

20.10.2009 15:32 #15

Clownzill

Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: this stinks of anti competitive practices... I rarely comment on games consoles but your comment is exactly how i felt when i read the article. It's not even as if it's a modchip or similar, it's a damn memory card!. Greed is the only other thing that comes to mind.The problem is that this isn't anything close to anti-competitive behavior. Microsoft isn't the only game in town and consumers have a choice of the competitor's systems (Sony or Nintendo) if the consumer does not like Microsoft's lockout policies. I myself find this decision by Microsoft upsetting BUT Microsoft will be punished by the consumer by reduced sales IF the consumer sees this as a big enough problem. On top of that, if consumers don't like the infamous "greed" of Microsoft then those consumers need to stop buying Microsoft gaming products. Many gamers talk a lot of trash about Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo but that hate sure doesn't show in their sales numbers.

20.10.2009 15:41 #16

manny2564

Wow it's amazing how Micro$oft screws the people who buy their crap over and over.... Get a playstation !!!!!!

20.10.2009 17:37 #17

manny2564

How many xbox's actually it 3 years without getting some type of error ?
I'm not sure but this number seems to be way too low for me to stick with ms on this one. And that membership rummor is a go. Remember what Micro$oft stands for.. Buy one now and another after the first one breaks

20.10.2009 17:46 #18

ZippyDSM

Quote:Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: this stinks of anti competitive practices... I rarely comment on games consoles but your comment is exactly how i felt when i read the article. It's not even as if it's a modchip or similar, it's a damn memory card!. Greed is the only other thing that comes to mind.The problem is that this isn't anything close to anti-competitive behavior. Microsoft isn't the only game in town and consumers have a choice of the competitor's systems (Sony or Nintendo) if the consumer does not like Microsoft's lockout policies. I myself find this decision by Microsoft upsetting BUT Microsoft will be punished by the consumer by reduced sales IF the consumer sees this as a big enough problem. On top of that, if consumers don't like the infamous "greed" of Microsoft then those consumers need to stop buying Microsoft gaming products. Many gamers talk a lot of trash about Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo but that hate sure doesn't show in their sales numbers.its anti competitive because they are limiting the choices on their platform and adding confusion for the consumer.

20.10.2009 18:04 #19

funksoulb

Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Quote:Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: this stinks of anti competitive practices... I rarely comment on games consoles but your comment is exactly how i felt when i read the article. It's not even as if it's a modchip or similar, it's a damn memory card!. Greed is the only other thing that comes to mind.The problem is that this isn't anything close to anti-competitive behavior. Microsoft isn't the only game in town and consumers have a choice of the competitor's systems (Sony or Nintendo) if the consumer does not like Microsoft's lockout policies. I myself find this decision by Microsoft upsetting BUT Microsoft will be punished by the consumer by reduced sales IF the consumer sees this as a big enough problem. On top of that, if consumers don't like the infamous "greed" of Microsoft then those consumers need to stop buying Microsoft gaming products. Many gamers talk a lot of trash about Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo but that hate sure doesn't show in their sales numbers.its anti competitive because they are limiting the choices on their platform and adding confusion for the consumer.
That doesn't make it an anti-competitive practice. There are plenty of examples where companies deliberately limit your choice. It's a standard business practice. If you can only buy an iPhone on one carrier, your choice is being limited. If your printer only takes chipped cartridges to stop you buying cheap ones, your choice is limited. If you can only play songs downloaded from iTunes on an iPod, your choice of which MP3 player to buy is being limited (I know it's not like that now, but it was). Of course, when MS do it, they're "greedy" and should be sued. lol. It may be shitty and it may be a bit late in the day to do this, but anti-competitive it is not.

20.10.2009 18:18 #20

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by funksoulb: Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Quote:Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: this stinks of anti competitive practices... I rarely comment on games consoles but your comment is exactly how i felt when i read the article. It's not even as if it's a modchip or similar, it's a damn memory card!. Greed is the only other thing that comes to mind.The problem is that this isn't anything close to anti-competitive behavior. Microsoft isn't the only game in town and consumers have a choice of the competitor's systems (Sony or Nintendo) if the consumer does not like Microsoft's lockout policies. I myself find this decision by Microsoft upsetting BUT Microsoft will be punished by the consumer by reduced sales IF the consumer sees this as a big enough problem. On top of that, if consumers don't like the infamous "greed" of Microsoft then those consumers need to stop buying Microsoft gaming products. Many gamers talk a lot of trash about Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo but that hate sure doesn't show in their sales numbers.its anti competitive because they are limiting the choices on their platform and adding confusion for the consumer.
That doesn't make it an anti-competitive practice. There are plenty of examples where companies deliberately limit your choice. It's a standard business practice. If you can only buy an iPhone on one carrier, your choice is being limited. If your printer only takes chipped cartridges to stop you buying cheap ones, your choice is limited. If you can only play songs downloaded from iTunes on an iPod, your choice of which MP3 player to buy is being limited (I know it's not like that now, but it was). Of course, when MS do it, they're "greedy" and should be sued. lol. It may be shitty and it may be a bit late in the day to do this, but anti-competitive it is not.Oh that is very true, its not illegal just unethical ^^

I think the real issue is they didnt care about the mem cards so much let them make 3rd party stuff and then figured out they could be lanceing the boils on the bottom line if they did soemthign like this.

20.10.2009 18:25 #21

creaky

Apple are the King of 'Lock-in', you won't get Apple praise from me.

All this wordplay on whether it's anti-competitive or not is moot, what annoys me is that MS are blocking (for instance) 3rd party memory cards. Just because they built the console doesn't make it right. Why the hell would i buy a 512MB memory card when i could buy a cheaper, larger one from someone else. It's a bloody memory card, it's not like it's a hard drive or anything else. It's ridiculous. As it happens i wanted a memory card recently so that i could transfer my gamer profile between my two 360's as it's a pain to have to keep recovering the profile via xbox live. Then i saw that the memory cards were �10 so i decided to stay as i was. Or i could start swapping the two hard drives over.

However i certainly won't be buying a memory card now, it's more of a ripoff than before.

20.10.2009 18:28 #22

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by creaky: Apple are the King of 'Lock-in', you won't get Apple praise from me.

All this wordplay on whether it's anti-competitive or not is moot, what annoys me is that MS are blocking (for instance) 3rd party memory cards. Just because they built the console doesn't make it right. Why the hell would i buy a 512MB memory card when i could buy a cheaper, larger one from someone else. It's a bloody memory card, it's not like it's a hard drive or anything else. It's ridiculous. As it happens i wanted a memory card recently so that i could transfer my gamer profile between my two 360's as it's a pain to have to keep recovering the profile via xbox live. Then i saw that the memory cards were �10 so i decided to stay as i was. Or i could start swapping the two hard drives over.

However i certainly won't be buying a memory card now, it's more of a ripoff than before.
TO be fair they are blocking some 3rd party mem cards, its a gray area the IP owner can chose to ignore or not ignore. I think the 2 main reasons for it is to start hardening the loopholes in peripherals(notice there are not alot of 360 turbo controllers) and to further their own profit.

20.10.2009 18:33 #23

mike.m

What I find interesting is how they do not say why they won't let you use other storage devices other than those made my M$. Everyone here obviously knows why; money money money.

20.10.2009 18:38 #24

scorpNZ

Don't know what you lot are complaining about pricing for it's not as tho you live downunder,on average we pay 2-1/2 times what you'd pay,we're so used to getting shafted we all walk around hunched back *evil smiley*

20.10.2009 20:28 #25

bam431

ughhh Microsoft you make me mad!

20.10.2009 20:36 #26

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by scorpNZ: Don't know what you lot are complaining about pricing for it's not as tho you live downunder,on average we pay 2-1/2 times what you'd pay,we're so used to getting shafted we all walk around hunched back *evil smiley*Dose not mean those in the US would not want them to rise prices by 20% and set that as the world wide price.

20.10.2009 20:40 #27

chris4160

Originally posted by scorpNZ: Don't know what you lot are complaining about pricing for it's not as tho you live downunder,on average we pay 2-1/2 times what you'd pay,we're so used to getting shafted we all walk around hunched back *evil smiley*I know, it's so stupid. Before the price cut, the elite cost $399 usd in America, in Australia it cost %549 aud... that's about $500 usd, really stupid price differences.

21.10.2009 05:09 #28

emugamer

Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Quote:Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: this stinks of anti competitive practices... I rarely comment on games consoles but your comment is exactly how i felt when i read the article. It's not even as if it's a modchip or similar, it's a damn memory card!. Greed is the only other thing that comes to mind.The problem is that this isn't anything close to anti-competitive behavior. Microsoft isn't the only game in town and consumers have a choice of the competitor's systems (Sony or Nintendo) if the consumer does not like Microsoft's lockout policies. I myself find this decision by Microsoft upsetting BUT Microsoft will be punished by the consumer by reduced sales IF the consumer sees this as a big enough problem. On top of that, if consumers don't like the infamous "greed" of Microsoft then those consumers need to stop buying Microsoft gaming products. Many gamers talk a lot of trash about Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo but that hate sure doesn't show in their sales numbers.its anti competitive because they are limiting the choices on their platform and adding confusion for the consumer.
That doesn't make it an anti-competitive practice. There are plenty of examples where companies deliberately limit your choice. It's a standard business practice. If you can only buy an iPhone on one carrier, your choice is being limited. If your printer only takes chipped cartridges to stop you buying cheap ones, your choice is limited. If you can only play songs downloaded from iTunes on an iPod, your choice of which MP3 player to buy is being limited (I know it's not like that now, but it was). Of course, when MS do it, they're "greedy" and should be sued. lol. It may be shitty and it may be a bit late in the day to do this, but anti-competitive it is not.Yeah well when you by an iPhone or printer or download iTunes or whatever, you know what you are getting into. You already know that you can't do A, B or C. This move by MS strips away something from the customer that was there when purchased. Who knows, maybe some people purchased a couple of $30 memory cards. Now they have to spend more money for something significantly smaller. And on top of that, they may lose all of their data if they are not careful. It's ridiculous when a company can reach into your living room and take things from you. And that goes for all Companies and their hackware updates. It's one thing to improve with a firmware update. It becomes hackware when you strip something away. This thing stinks of anti-competitive and anti-consumer. All 360 customers should get a $30 refund just on principle. If you bought a console and it performs a certain way, and then the Company strips away a feature from it, it's de-valued. Unfortunately the TOU or EULA or whatever is cleverly worded so that there is no say. It sucks to spend $400 on a machine that I'm merely renting.

21.10.2009 08:01 #29

KillerBug

Just because Apple does something, that does not make it legitimate. Apple has done plenty of wrong over the years. So has microsoft, and sony as well. All sides have done plenty to proove that they care far more about grabbing a quick buck than taking care of their customers. This is hardly suprising at this point, and things will only get worse from here. Thankfully, my PS3 does not use memory cards (unless you count USB flash)...so at least there is no fear of Sony locking them out.

21.10.2009 10:40 #30

SDF_GR

Originally posted by emugamer: Yeah well when you by an iPhone or printer or download iTunes or whatever, you know what you are getting into. You already know that you can't do A, B or C. This move by MS strips away something from the customer that was there when purchased.Exactly, the issue here is that they are taking away something that you have already paid for.

Wrong move MS, and they should inform their customers through XBL, with red Big Bold text.

21.10.2009 12:57 #31

llongtheD

Yes its anti-competitive. How is this different than sony's psp go, and the downloadable games only available through sony? You can't even sell or trade your downloads as far as I know.
Yes I know this an article about microsoft, but all corporations are doing this now. Either we choose to buy, or not buy. If we choose to buy, then all the b*tching in the world isn't going to change what they do.

If your fish seems sick, put it back in the water.

21.10.2009 20:39 #32

4phun

Mummy and Daddy foot the bill for this overpriced stuff.

Who cares what Microsoft does?

22.10.2009 03:50 #33

ChiefBrdy

Piracy issues are one thing. But THIS is BS. I'll remember this the next time I shop for a console and I don't even have any 3rd party storage devices in my 360.

22.10.2009 07:15 #34

aralerm

Uao I just thought to subscribe to XBOX live...after this news will delay it or never subscribe in first place.
arale

22.10.2009 07:36 #35

kwackgt

I wander if this only affects people who use memory card, or if microsoft also intend todo the same with external USB harddrives. I have toyed with the idea of gettgina USB hard drive to put mp3 music on. As the 360 only allows ripping of original audio CD's to its harddrive!

p.s the 360 music program is crap, and really needs more development to make it on par with thier windows Media player

22.10.2009 08:29 #36

Jemborg

Originally posted by 21Q: So wait, will this stop custom hdd's from working?This is what I want to know too. The info seems vague on this.

22.10.2009 08:33 #37

Mez

funksoulb, how can you say this is not anti-competitive? Just because Apple and others are doing it. I guuess thousands of hackers are working on a sloution.

22.10.2009 08:41 #38

Gnawnivek

Quote:Originally posted by 21Q: So wait, will this stop custom hdd's from working?This is what I want to know too. The info seems vague on this.Same here, the article is not very clear... I want to make my Xbox's hdd bigger, but not paying that ridiculous price for it. If the custom hdd is no good (lock out), then it's pointless.

22.10.2009 09:53 #39

creaky

Originally posted by 21Q: So wait, will this stop custom hdd's from working? Don't know, have a read this ~ http://forums.afterdawn.com/t.cfm/f-152/..._banned-807256/

22.10.2009 10:10 #40

emugamer

Originally posted by llongtheD: Yes its anti-competitive. How is this different than sony's psp go, and the downloadable games only available through sony?It's different because when you buy a new PSP Go, you already know what the restrictions are. This is a case of MS taking away functionality from a product that you already purchased. You may have bought a 360 2 years ago, you purchased devices that would work with the 360, and then MS decides to change your device on you so that you can't use your external hardware anymore and are forced to buy from them. Whether you care or not, they've raped your console.

22.10.2009 12:10 #41

dufas

On a similar note, General Motors and Ford are making it mandatory that all V8 and V6 engines installed in their customer's cars be removed and 1400 cc 4 cylinder replacement engines be installed in their place. A small charge of $3,200.00 per change over will be levied. If another vendor is used for the change over or an owner fails to comply with the change over, the vehicle will be made inoperable. This is non-negotiable and is required if the owner wishes to go on operating the vehicle...

[Makes about the same amount of sense as the Microsoft move..]

22.10.2009 12:18 #42

Kyther

This is Idiocy, i cant even use my external hdd at this point now things are getting worse whats next taking away the ability to go wireless with our laptop instead of their wireless adapter or even making us buy a custom xbox only wireless router or even locking us out of our own networks so we cant stream music or video from our computers. i already have issues with that since there are no codecs available for most formats on te 360 thats what they should be working on updating there software to benefit the user not taking from us, never again will i buy a console from them i may even switch my computer over to Linux-Ubuntu

22.10.2009 21:22 #43

ghost89

yeah i've never had to use a memory card with the 360 but this is just plain ridiculous, it's just like when EA bought out the football license back in 07 cause madden is 60 bucks and 2k7 was outselling madden 3 to 1 and it was only 20 bucks. remember that? knocking 3rd parties out of the game means monopolyyyyyyyy back at it bill gates...no good very bogus of microsoft who also doesn't allow for any good free game content on xbox live

23.10.2009 02:16 #44

Lern2Hate

It's reasons like this that I haven't bought any games for the 360 or have even turned it on in over 6 months. I typically only read these articles without ever leaving any comments, but these big companies like Microsoft are so blinded by greed it so frustrating & ridiculous that it's hard not to want to comment. Yes, I can understand locking out modders for many reasons as has been previously mentioned, but non Microsoft memory chips. I mean c'mon on, Microsoft, what BS! What greedy thing will you lock out next time on a future update?
Gamers do I have a choice, but for many of the same reasons or others those choices can be limited depending on what your reasons are to wanting to buy that paticular console in the first place. I was going to make the switch to the PS3 this last summer since I wanted it for Gaming & mostly Blu-Ray reasons, but I chose to build a Home Media PC with a Blu-Ray drive instead and couldn't be happier. I now only focus on PC games as my 360 collects dust & haven't looked back since. Plus, these Multi-Billion Dollar Gaming Console Industries can suck it!

23.10.2009 15:57 #45

Warlocks

Typical Microsoft Crap - "Buy my higher priced, under-performing devise or We Will Hurt You!"

I am one of the old guys that waited for price to come down and trying to decide if my X-Mas present would be an X-Box or Play Station. This latest bit of user unfriendliness probably just made up my mind.

23.10.2009 23:06 #46

llongtheD

@warlocks

And sony is so consumer friendly? Either one of these corporations will try and squeeze every nickel out of you.
How many people use these memory devices if they have an xbox with a hard drive any way, I've never needed one.
I do agree its another fleecing tactic to take away support however.

24.10.2009 02:41 #47

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by llongtheD: @warlocks

And sony is so consumer friendly? Either one of these corporations will try and squeeze every nickel out of you.
How many people use these memory devices if they have an xbox with a hard drive any way, I've never needed one.
I do agree its another fleecing tactic to take away support however.ya but with the PS3 you can use usb flash drives to store saves so they kinda made up alil bit.

24.10.2009 02:44 #48

KillerBug

Sony has done nothing to dissable the use of accossories that already worked with the unit. Also, they allow you to upgrade the hard drive to any drive that will fit (with a couple of exceptions...but these are not intentional). Xbox360 won't even let you put a 500GB drive in.

I have stopped playing games on the PC since I can't seem to find any titles that are not 'Games for Windows' or 'Live'. The fact that 360 owners put up with the same, in spite of the lesser capabilities of the console and the higher cost of games is amazing to me. Yes, PSN is a lot like Live!, but it has no monthly fee, and most games that you get from the PSN can be installed on 5 consoles at once...Sony even knows about this, and allows it. Piracy is possible on the 360...but the PSN trick isn't piracy, it is perfectly legal, and Sony has never issued any statements against it.

Yes...Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are all big, evil corporations...just to different degrees. Microsoft knows that they can get away with ANYTHING...and even if they are convicted over and over, they still get away with it. Nintendo is generaly a good company if you ignore their generaly fascist stance. Sony is somewhere in the middle...and that makes them the best at the moment IMHO.

Current System: Windows 7 RC1, DFI M2RS, ATI 3870HD, Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600, Athlon 9950, 6GB Corsair DDR2, 3TB RAID 5, 750GB Raid-1, 500GB RAID-1, 640GB RAID-0 Boot, 3ware 9690SA, Adaptec 2610SA, Adaptec 1430SA, Intel Gigabit NIC (PCI), LG 20X Lightscribe DVDR, Coolmax 1200w Power Supply, Logitech G15(first edition), Logitech G5(Second Edition), modified dell poweredge 1800 server case.
Overall configuration: Perfect chair, two 22" widescreens overhead, Logitech 5.1 Audio

24.10.2009 03:52 #49

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by KillerBug: Sony has done nothing to dissable the use of accossories that already worked with the unit. Also, they allow you to upgrade the hard drive to any drive that will fit (with a couple of exceptions...but these are not intentional). Xbox360 won't even let you put a 500GB drive in.

I have stopped playing games on the PC since I can't seem to find any titles that are not 'Games for Windows' or 'Live'. The fact that 360 owners put up with the same, in spite of the lesser capabilities of the console and the higher cost of games is amazing to me. Yes, PSN is a lot like Live!, but it has no monthly fee, and most games that you get from the PSN can be installed on 5 consoles at once...Sony even knows about this, and allows it. Piracy is possible on the 360...but the PSN trick isn't piracy, it is perfectly legal, and Sony has never issued any statements against it.

Yes...Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are all big, evil corporations...just to different degrees. Microsoft knows that they can get away with ANYTHING...and even if they are convicted over and over, they still get away with it. Nintendo is generaly a good company if you ignore their generaly fascist stance. Sony is somewhere in the middle...and that makes them the best at the moment IMHO.Agreed for the most part.

Live needed a subscription but these days it really dose not as the micortransations will cover most of the cost. PSN is not bad and makes up for itself by being free.

Nins online is a bit different and has catching up to do but still its not that bad.

I wish there was more development for PC, its not THAT hard to ensure a 360 game can work on a general swaf of newer PCs, all it needs is a basic all button keybinding and res/vid options and the games can be sold at the same time for PC. But blah rush rush wank wank....I am really starting to hate all aspects of modern media...

24.10.2009 04:00 #50

Jemborg

Originally posted by manny2564: Wow it's amazing how Micro$oft screws the people who buy their crap over and over.... Get a playstation !!!!!!New Slim PS3 in the States $299 (about $330AUS)... new Slim PS3 in Oz $499AUS... about $170AUS MORE. Yes, they are region locked to games... which cost $10AUS MORE than X360 versions here. So what the heck makes $ony that much more munificent? Pffft.

Differences in the consoles in quality, power, value etc. come across as largely subjective. Horses for courses...

I strongly get the impression that this update, as mean spirited as it is, is not going to affect hddhackr modded BEVS, as it uses the dumped sector 16 etc. from original drives. Still, I'm not certain, wait and see is the only way we'll know for sure.

Another note about X360 peripherals, a really cheap USB dongle from M$ allows me to use my wireless X360 controller, steering wheel and headset with my PC on even old games and apps... I thought that was pretty good value as it effectively extended the usefulness of these things.

*Off topic warning*
Originally posted by funksoulb: Apple do this thing all the time, for example... only allowing their operating system to run on computers sold by them.A quick Google and I couldn't see any real problems people had updating their Hackintoshes.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

25.10.2009 02:20 #51

PCNetGuy

Just one More reason WHY Microsoft can KEEP their X-Box. Would never recommend it, and would never buy it!

31.10.2009 18:53 #52

iluvendo

"The flimsier the product,the higher the price"
Ferengi 82nd rule of aqusition

31.10.2009 19:42 #53

xboxdvl2

Quote:New Slim PS3 in the States $299 (about $330AUS)... new Slim PS3 in Oz $499AUS... about $170AUS MORE. Yes, they are region locked to games... which cost $10AUS MORE than X360 versions here. So what the heck makes $ony that much more munificent? Pffft.

Jemborg where are you getting your prices i live in australia and im sure a slim PS3 cost more than that??????.i was thinking about buying a xbox 360 but i think if i get a new gaming console i will go with PS3.

P3 750mhz
lite on 16X dvd burner
256DDR

sig compiled by Phantom69

1.11.2009 01:01 #54

chris4160

Originally posted by xboxdvl2: Quote:New Slim PS3 in the States $299 (about $330AUS)... new Slim PS3 in Oz $499AUS... about $170AUS MORE. Yes, they are region locked to games... which cost $10AUS MORE than X360 versions here. So what the heck makes $ony that much more munificent? Pffft.

Jemborg where are you getting your prices i live in australia and im sure a slim PS3 cost more than that??????.i was thinking about buying a xbox 360 but i think if i get a new gaming console i will go with PS3.Slim ps3 costs $499 in Australia, Jemborg was right.

Camping is not a legitimate strategy.

1.11.2009 01:12 #55

Tarsellis

Whelp, guess I'm not going to get the stupid console now. Between this, $ony's new blocking compatibility and other OSes, and the Wii's complete lack of games I want, I guess I'll skip this entire console generation altogether. Looks like 100% of gaming will be done on my PC, and I'll just use media players for my h.264 to my TV.

And it's not at all like getting these would be a financial hardship. I'm just not willing to be treated like this, so won't give these people any business on principle.

2.11.2009 13:12 #56

glassd

Chris, i know that you have a Crazy high import tax @ %10. What are your State/Local Tax rates? Just wondering what other reasons for the price differences.

2.11.2009 13:31 #57

chris4160

Originally posted by glassd: Chris, i know that you have a Crazy high import tax @ %10. What are your State/Local Tax rates? Just wondering what other reasons for the price differences.I suppose it's because ms and sony can get away with it... most xbox's/ps3's are made at mostly the same place, so the price should be the same as the US.

3.11.2009 00:35 #58

Jemborg

Quote:Originally posted by glassd: Chris, i know that you have a Crazy high import tax @ %10. What are your State/Local Tax rates? Just wondering what other reasons for the price differences.I suppose it's because ms and sony can get away with it... most xbox's/ps3's are made at mostly the same place, so the price should be the same as the US.Yep.

As far as I know there are no State/Local taxes involved. AND there is bugger-all profit for the retailers... They just figure (rightly, I suppose) Aussies will pay that much. Plus you have to ask yourself why Sony feel the need to charge $10 more for new cross-platform games? To my mind they're at least as greedy as MS... (who are, yes, very greedy).

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

3.11.2009 08:15 #59

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