Microsoft Gets Wise to " Dummy" Live Accounts

Like most game software, content on the Xbox Live Marketplace is region-specific -- meaning users don' t have access to content outside of their region. For instance, someone in the UK can' t download a demo that was released on the American version of the Marketplace. To get around this inconvenience, users have been setting up " dummy" accounts that trick the online service into thinking they are downloading from within whichever region holds the content they' re after. Microsoft appears to have caught on, however, and will be blocking further " unauthorized" downloads from these accounts.

In a brief statement on the Gaming Age forums, Microsoft' s Chris Placer explained that the accounts won' t be banned altogether: " Details aren' t all in yet -- BUT, I do know for a fact that we are NOT banning the accounts. We are blocking downloads in cases where gold accounts are being used to gain US content in foreign marketplaces. I think (my opinion) that it is a legal issue -- still waiting to hear back the official word."

In the past, content that was exclusive to one region or another was rare. But now with the addition of TV shows and movies to the U.S. Marketplace, Microsoft is apparently worried that these dummy accounts will pose more of a threat to its business model. Microsoft has not disclosed when it will make video content available outside the U.S.

source link for the picky nerds

....do you think anyone at Microsoft understands the concept of ' globalisation' ?...


...or maybe they just prefer the ' tight-fisted wanker' approach...

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Can' t they do this after the Japanese get the Lost Odyssey demo??

Why now?

Damn c*cks..

There are two rules to success:

1. Never tell all you know.

In a brief statement on the Gaming Age forums, Microsoft' s Chris Placer explained that the accounts won' t be banned altogether: " Details aren' t all in yet -- BUT, I do know for a fact that we are NOT banning the accounts. We are blocking downloads in cases where gold accounts are being used to gain US content in foreign marketplaces. I think (my opinion) that it is a legal issue -- still waiting to hear back the official word."

They didn' t say US users were going to be blocked for downloading from say, Germany. (I still love that beautiful German loophole that had ' em release the Rainbow Six demo early)

ORIGINAL: Bishonen


....do you think anyone at Microsoft understands the concept of ' globalisation' ?...


...or maybe they just prefer the ' tight-fisted wanker' approach...

It' s mainly because of bandwidth problems. Microsoft is finding it hard to cope with the demand for the video marketplace - hence the slow download speeds that are currently rampant. One way to alleviate this is to stop international users downloading content that they' re not meant to have access to anyway. It' s like trying to feed 10 million people with a meal that' s only big enough for 3 million.

I don' t give a fuck.

It' s like trying to feed 10 million people with a meal that' s only big enough for 3 million.

In light of this, would you say that the internet is more like a series of tubes, or a big truck?

ORIGINAL: Zoy

It' s like trying to feed 10 million people with a meal that' s only big enough for 3 million.

In light of this, would you say that the internet is more like a series of tubes, or a big truck?

Whatever makes sense for you I guess? I' ve never been good at analogies.

My point was that Microsoft simply doesn' t have the bandwidth currently available to cope with a demand that never was supposed to have been as big as it is.

I don' t give a fuck.

...well i must admit, i' m not exactly crying an ocean...

.....i was merely thinking of the well-being of those poor European cavemen in Eyerack.....

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I don' t give a fuck.

Y' know, that' s the exact response I get from most pirates on why the D/L games & music for free. They know they' re hurting the system, but they want it, so they don' t care how they get it. Nice avatar BTW.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zoy

quote:

It' s like trying to feed 10 million people with a meal that' s only big enough for 3 million.

In light of this, would you say that the internet is more like a series of tubes, or a big truck?

Whatever makes sense for you I guess? I' ve never been good at analogies.

LOL. Heh, you missed the joke UnluckyOne, search for " Series of Tubes" on Wikipedia.