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syndalis bitches about Content Licensing

syndalissyndalis Getting ClassyOn the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Products regular
edited May 2007 in Games and Technology
So I purchased a 360 elite today.

And now I am mad.

The Elite is a nice system, and an absolute upgrade for people who watch a lot of movies (as it upscales Standard DVDs over HDMI), or just plain want a digital picture output for their swank HDTV. So I bit the bullet and upgraded this weekend to the new hotness. I used a friends transfer cable to move all my stuff to the new hard drive (thus making it impossible to move my saves and content back), booted it up, and checked out the picture quality.

Fucking night and day. It was beautiful.

So, after seeing that, I check and see if my friends' profiles can play my Live Arcade or DLC... turns out they can't. It's not surprising; same thing happened when I got a refurb'd 360 from Microsoft a while back, and they worked with me by giving me points to repurchase the content onto my new system.

Here is where it gets shitty.

Unlike a broken console, where they will give you codes to rebuy your stuff, Microsoft REFUSES to give you the means to carry over your console license for the DLC and Live Arcade games to the Elite.

Their policy is a such:
Digital licenses for downloaded content are tied to both your console and gamertag and they do not transfer when you move them to a different hard drive. That means if you download an XBLA game or television show from the Xbox Marketplace on one console and then move it to the new 120 GB HDD, you will have to be signed onto Xbox Live to access that content. An offline Xbox 360 will not play purchased content that has been transferred from a different console.

What this means is that unless my profile is connected and is the primary profile on the 360, all 200-300 dollars of my DLC either does not work, or is a demo. My friends' save games of oblivion are now unplayable, and the most popular live arcade games the be played (often when I am not) can't go beyond the demo mode.

So I talked with the rep and checked to see if there was ANYTHING he could do, as I was pretty damn upset. I asked him if he wanted me to respend 300 dollars just so my friends can use my system the way they could before I spent 500 more of of moneys to them today, and the guy had the audacity to say "yes, thats what you should do."

They build a system that allows (and ENCOURAGES) multiple profiles, with one for each user. But they do not let you share your games with other people.

The guy on the phone said to me that "But YOU are the one who paid for the game, why should they be allowed to play it as well?"

At which point I told him that I was also the one who bought Gears of War... that doesn't stop me from letting a friend play it on their profile.

This issue has solidly shaken my faith in the live arcade.

I have called Major Nelson, and have sent him a corresponding email. It wasn't scathing, but I made it clear that a solution for this issue would be good.

Also, I am not buying stuff off of Live arcade until a better solution exists. I was this services biggest fucking proponent on here, back when mcc (and others) thought I was on crack for thinking it was going to be a good thing. And despite all the great titles and the fun I have had with it, I am going to flat out ignore the DLC and new releases until they get their heads out of their asses and realize that their licensing scheme is screwing good consumer whores like myself in such a fashion that it is causing me to close my wallet.

SW-4158-3990-6116
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
syndalis on
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Posts

  • DusdaDusda is ashamed of this post SLC, UTRegistered User regular
    edited April 2007
    I thought this whole issue was being handled by the next update; something about removing some of the DRM involved, due to issues with people replacing their 360's.

    If I heard wrong, then yea, that's bullshit.

    Dusda on
    and this sig. and this twitch stream.
  • capable heartcapable heart Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    I understand that they want to prevent a person giving free DLC to like, a hundred of their closest friends, but not everyone can be connected broadband 24/7 with their 360. Also, if I'm interpreting this correctly, these restrictions also apply to people who merely upgrade to the new 120GB hard drive, but still technically keep the same Xbox. They really need to fix some of these issues.

    Also, it's retarded that people can't get the transfer cable separately from the new 120GB drive. How are the good, nice consumer whores who "upgraded" supposed to transfer stuff to their new Elite models?

    capable heart on
  • XieflowXieflow Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Before the Elite came out, Microsoft had gone out of their way to make it painfully clear this was going to happen, so it really should not have come as a big surprise.

    Hey, at least Microsoft gave you the option to tie your live arcade games to both your 360 and your account seperately. I'm really pissed off that a certain other system doesn't even let you make accounts to tie your micro-purchases to.

    Xieflow on
  • Xenogears of BoreXenogears of Bore Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    It's a shame, really, but they are trying to prevent people from getting the half off deal. You know the one, one person with the content on the drive, and one with the profile. The save issue is annoying as hell. This particular issue seems to be pretty far down on the marketplace complaint totem pole. Slow releases, bad releases, overpriced content would be my guess to biggest complaints.

    Xenogears of Bore on
    3DS CODE: 3093-7068-3576
  • DusdaDusda is ashamed of this post SLC, UTRegistered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Xieflow wrote: »
    Before the Elite came out, Microsoft had gone out of their way to make it painfully clear this was going to happen, so it really should not have come as a big surprise.

    What do you call painfully clear? I didn't know about it, and I spend a good chunk of my day reading about this sort of stuff. How do you expect the average consumer to not get pissed off?

    Dusda on
    and this sig. and this twitch stream.
  • syndalissyndalis Getting Classy On the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Products regular
    edited April 2007
    The call center supervisor said, after I mentioned that I would be calling M. Nelson, that he would LOVE to see a better answer for this, as his phones had been ringing off the fucking hook today with regard to this issue.

    So "painfully clear" is a misnomer. A Big sticker on the box warning people that they shouldn't buy the elite to replace a premium or core unless they plan on rebuying all their shit would be painfully clear.

    syndalis on
    SW-4158-3990-6116
    Let's play Mario Kart or something...
  • capable heartcapable heart Registered User regular
    edited September 2021
    deleted

    capable heart on
  • XieflowXieflow Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Dusda wrote: »
    Xieflow wrote: »
    Before the Elite came out, Microsoft had gone out of their way to make it painfully clear this was going to happen, so it really should not have come as a big surprise.

    What do you call painfully clear? I didn't know about it, and I spend a good chunk of my day reading about this sort of stuff. How do you expect the average consumer to not get pissed off?

    From just one of the various news agregrates (I'm sure others covered it just as much) :
    http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/26/joystiq-hands-on-xbox-360-hard-drive-transfer-kit/
    XBLM and XBLA data will be moved, but the licenses "are tied to your console not your hard drive." This means you will only be able to play/watch those items while connected to Xbox Live. (Update: this only applies to switching consoles -- users upgrading to the 120GB drive on their existing console shouldn't encounter this shortcoming)
    There were a bunch of other Joystiq links that just linked back to this FAQ instead of restating it, for example like this : http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/27/xbox-360-elite-qanda/

    Microsoft's page on this :
    http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/console/datamigration.htm
    This process is permanent—do not transfer your data if you wish to access it while offline.
    is in bold for those of us who don't like reading lots of words.

    Also, I think the Elite itself was a mistake of Microsoft's. HDMI + 100 extra gigs is not worth $20 less than a PS3 model that no longer exists. The Elite actually convinced me the PS3 wasn't too expensive, but then Sony stopped making the cheap one, so whatever.

    Xieflow on
  • AccualtAccualt Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Well talk about the suck. Hopefully that DRM update rumor turns out to be true.

    Now when you say night and day you are using hyperbole, right? I have a 720p/1080i 40" Samsung LCD running VGA for the 360 at a resolution between 720 and 1080, no idea why but it only shows up proper like at 13somethingX768orsomthing. ANYWAY HDMI isn't really going to show that much improvement, is it?

    Accualt on
  • Neo RasaNeo Rasa Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    This begs the question, do they sell the Elite at a loss?

    Neo Rasa on
    "You know how Batman hangs people over the edge of buildings and gets them to spill information. That's Neo Rasa's way of it, but instead of information, he just likes to see people suffer." ~Senor Fish
  • syndalissyndalis Getting Classy On the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Products regular
    edited April 2007
    Accualt wrote: »
    Well talk about the suck. Hopefully that DRM update rumor turns out to be true.

    Now hen you say night and day you are using hyperbole, right? I have a 720p/1080i 40" Samsung LCD running VGA for the 360 at a resolution between 720 and 1080, no idea why but it only shows up proper like at 13somethingX768orsomthing. ANYWAY HDMI isn't really going to show that much improvement, is it?
    Have you ever had a monitor that outputs both VGA and DVI?

    Have you seen what both outputs look like on the same monitor?

    Yeah.

    What is different for me at least is that the colors are MUCH punchier, and the lines are better defined. It's that whole digital image thing.
    Neo Rasa wrote: »
    This begs the question, do they sell the Elite at a loss?
    Actually, i am going to assume a decent profit. They were making 70 bucks on the premium per unit, last I looked... so with only an HDMI cable and a different hard drive happening here, I am assuming they are making at least that much.

    syndalis on
    SW-4158-3990-6116
    Let's play Mario Kart or something...
  • AccualtAccualt Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Oh, P.S., the Elite is a retarded idea. Almost as retarded as releasing it at the start of summer...when video games see their lowest sales.

    Accualt on
  • ThreepioThreepio New Westminster, BCRegistered User regular
    edited April 2007
    The Apple model might not be a bad thing to follow if we absolutely had to have something similar - have a limited number of machines that work with your ID. I've got all my iTunes on my iMac, my Macbook and my PC at work.

    I now have 2 Wiis. I'd like the option of being able to log into that account - verify my purchases and play. Same goes for the PSN and XBLA titles.

    Either that or we go back to the old SimCity code wheel approach. That was rad.

    ...

    Threepio on
    142.jpg
  • DusdaDusda is ashamed of this post SLC, UTRegistered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Actually now that you mention it, syndalis, I am kind of annoyed that there is no DVI cable for the 360.

    Dusda on
    and this sig. and this twitch stream.
  • Xenogears of BoreXenogears of Bore Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Neo Rasa wrote: »
    This begs the question, do they sell the Elite at a loss?

    Best guess, fuck no. The HDMI port can't be more than a few bucks at most, and the bigger hard drive, while costing more, isn't probably that much more. At best guess, they make $75 on the non gimped 360. There is no way that the bigger drive costs them that much more than the smaller one. I bet they are making at least as much on the Elite. Probably more if they are ordering the new drives in a quantity large enough to replace the 20GB line.

    Xenogears of Bore on
    3DS CODE: 3093-7068-3576
  • AccualtAccualt Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    I actually run a DVI to HDMI cable from my desktop to my TV. In the past I lugged the thing into the room and hooked it up with VGA. I don't recall noticing any difference when playing games...though that could have more to do with the games I played on it in the past.

    Accualt on
  • XieflowXieflow Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Threepio wrote: »
    The Apple model might not be a bad thing to follow if we absolutely had to have something similar - have a limited number of machines that work with your ID. I've got all my iTunes on my iMac, my Macbook and my PC at work.

    I now have 2 Wiis. I'd like the option of being able to log into that account - verify my purchases and play. Same goes for the PSN and XBLA titles.

    Either that or we go back to the old SimCity code wheel approach. That was rad.

    ...

    My roommate has a Wii. I don't. There are so many virtual console games I haven't bought because I won't be able to transfer them when I do buy a Wii.

    Anyone have a PS3? How does that track your purchases?

    Xieflow on
  • syndalissyndalis Getting Classy On the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Products regular
    edited April 2007
    Dusda wrote: »
    Actually now that you mention it, syndalis, I am kind of annoyed that there is no DVI cable for the 360.
    You can DVI out on the Elite.

    The reason the original 360 couldn't is because the last step on the video chain before the cable port was an analog scaler. This is what allowed the 360 to run anything at any resolution (something the ps3 lacks). However, this means the outbound signal was anolog.

    There is a digital scaler in the elite that does the same thing, and you can get an HDMI to DVI adapter.

    syndalis on
    SW-4158-3990-6116
    Let's play Mario Kart or something...
  • Neo RasaNeo Rasa Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Neo Rasa wrote: »
    This begs the question, do they sell the Elite at a loss?

    Best guess, fuck no. The HDMI port can't be more than a few bucks at most, and the bigger hard drive, while costing more, isn't probably that much more. At best guess, they make $75 on the non gimped 360. There is no way that the bigger drive costs them that much more than the smaller one. I bet they are making at least as much on the Elite. Probably more if they are ordering the new drives in a quantity large enough to replace the 20GB line.

    With that in mind, it would make sense for them to do an DRM loosening update. Now that they're actually making money on one thing...

    Neo Rasa on
    "You know how Batman hangs people over the edge of buildings and gets them to spill information. That's Neo Rasa's way of it, but instead of information, he just likes to see people suffer." ~Senor Fish
  • Wonder_HippieWonder_Hippie __BANNED USERS regular
    edited April 2007
    I now have 2 Wiis.

    !!!

    Stop hoarding! The gaping maw of Ebay demands a sacrifice!

    Wonder_Hippie on
  • DHS OdiumDHS Odium Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    syndalis wrote: »
    Dusda wrote: »
    Actually now that you mention it, syndalis, I am kind of annoyed that there is no DVI cable for the 360.
    You can DVI out on the Elite.

    The reason the original 360 couldn't is because the last step on the video chain before the cable port was an analog scaler. This is what allowed the 360 to run anything at any resolution (something the ps3 lacks). However, this means the outbound signal was anolog.

    There is a digital scaler in the elite that does the same thing, and you can get an HDMI to DVI adapter.

    So there is absolutely no hope of them making an HDMI connector on the normal 360? Because I have a 720p LCD panel, currently the 360 is hooked up through VGA, but my TV has an HDMI port and I'd like to free up the VGA port.

    DHS Odium on
    Wii U: DHS-Odium // Live: DHS Odium // PSN: DHSOdium // Steam: dhsykes // 3DS: 0318-6615-5294
  • RehabRehab Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    syndalis wrote: »
    The call center supervisor said, after I mentioned that I would be calling M. Nelson, that he would LOVE to see a better answer for this, as his phones had been ringing off the fucking hook today with regard to this issue.

    So "painfully clear" is a misnomer. A Big sticker on the box warning people that they shouldn't buy the elite to replace a premium or core unless they plan on rebuying all their shit would be painfully clear.

    Damn man, that really sucks. Hopefully you can get the issue worked out somehow though.

    I couldn't really tell from your post but is all of your downloaded content completely gone or is it altered in a way that your friends can't use any of their save files?

    Rehab on
    NNID: Rehab0
  • syndalissyndalis Getting Classy On the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Products regular
    edited April 2007
    Rehab wrote: »
    syndalis wrote: »
    The call center supervisor said, after I mentioned that I would be calling M. Nelson, that he would LOVE to see a better answer for this, as his phones had been ringing off the fucking hook today with regard to this issue.

    So "painfully clear" is a misnomer. A Big sticker on the box warning people that they shouldn't buy the elite to replace a premium or core unless they plan on rebuying all their shit would be painfully clear.

    Damn man, that really sucks. Hopefully you can get the issue worked out somehow though.

    I couldn't really tell from your post but is all of your downloaded content completely gone or is it altered in a way that your friends can't use any of their save files?
    No, its all there for me.

    For my friends, all the XBLA games are in demo mode, and the DLC is inaccessible. This means that any savegame reliant on the DLC (read: Oblivion) is now locked out. So I will have to explain to a friend that I just killed his 40 hour save.

    syndalis on
    SW-4158-3990-6116
    Let's play Mario Kart or something...
  • syndalissyndalis Getting Classy On the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Products regular
    edited April 2007
    DHS Odium wrote: »
    So there is absolutely no hope of them making an HDMI connector on the normal 360? Because I have a 720p LCD panel, currently the 360 is hooked up through VGA, but my TV has an HDMI port and I'd like to free up the VGA port.

    I won't say NO hope... but it's unlikely.

    syndalis on
    SW-4158-3990-6116
    Let's play Mario Kart or something...
  • DritzDritz CanadaRegistered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Man I wish at least one of the three console manufactures would do downloaded stuff right. I'm not sure how Sony does it but both Microsoft and Nintendo are a pain to deal with when transferring stuff. I'm beginning to think memory cards weren't such a bad system.

    Dritz on
    There I was, 3DS: 2621-2671-9899 (Ekera), Wii U: LostCrescendo
  • DHS OdiumDHS Odium Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    syndalis wrote: »
    DHS Odium wrote: »
    So there is absolutely no hope of them making an HDMI connector on the normal 360? Because I have a 720p LCD panel, currently the 360 is hooked up through VGA, but my TV has an HDMI port and I'd like to free up the VGA port.

    I won't say NO hope... but it's unlikely.

    But there's no way it could be digital, and thus wouldn't offer any improvement? That's lame. I thougth the connector on the back was supposed to be able to output anything, I guess it was just PR speak?

    DHS Odium on
    Wii U: DHS-Odium // Live: DHS Odium // PSN: DHSOdium // Steam: dhsykes // 3DS: 0318-6615-5294
  • RehabRehab Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Wow, this is a pretty big oversight on Microsoft's part.

    I suppose the change is permanent too huh?

    Rehab on
    NNID: Rehab0
  • FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2007
    They seriously need to implent a 360 deauthorization option like iTunes

    FyreWulff on
  • BamelinBamelin Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    I don't understand why they can't just give out a point refund the same way they do with broken consoles.

    Bamelin on
  • mrotsmrots Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Bamelin wrote: »
    I don't understand why they can't just give out a point refund the same way they do with broken consoles.

    there should be a more elegant way of handling it that isn't "well you just own half the license" or this

    i don't see why, with the transfer cable, the two HDDs/360 can't just transfer the license as well.

    mrots on
    mrots.png
  • thunderclumpthunderclump Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Once again anti-piracy shit gets in the way of legitimate users enjoying content.

    Syndalis is not trying to con you out of money Microsoft. He's the last person likely to do so.

    thunderclump on
    421629-1.png
  • RookRook Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Steam, ftw. Seriously that's how they should have organised this.

    Rook on
  • Mr_GrinchMr_Grinch Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    syndalis wrote: »
    Rehab wrote: »
    syndalis wrote: »
    The call center supervisor said, after I mentioned that I would be calling M. Nelson, that he would LOVE to see a better answer for this, as his phones had been ringing off the fucking hook today with regard to this issue.

    So "painfully clear" is a misnomer. A Big sticker on the box warning people that they shouldn't buy the elite to replace a premium or core unless they plan on rebuying all their shit would be painfully clear.

    Damn man, that really sucks. Hopefully you can get the issue worked out somehow though.

    I couldn't really tell from your post but is all of your downloaded content completely gone or is it altered in a way that your friends can't use any of their save files?
    No, its all there for me.

    For my friends, all the XBLA games are in demo mode, and the DLC is inaccessible. This means that any savegame reliant on the DLC (read: Oblivion) is now locked out. So I will have to explain to a friend that I just killed his 40 hour save.


    Do it with chocolates.

    Mr_Grinch on
    Steam: Sir_Grinch
    PSN: SirGrinchX
    Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
  • ben0207ben0207 Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Or while wearing running shoes, with the car already running


    Man, if somebody lost (any of) my (many, mostly level 20+) Oblivion save(s) , I would literally stab them (in the throat).

    ben0207 on
  • imbalancedimbalanced Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Rook wrote: »
    Steam, ftw. Seriously that's how they should have organised this.

    As much as I hated Steam when they started doing it, you have an excellent point. You pay for the games, not what they are playing on. If your computer dies, you're not screwed when you want to boot up City of Heroes on a different machine. With game saves on any other system, it was a matter of putting them on a card and then it just worked (even Gamecube got that much right).

    If you don't want people sharing content, don't make that option available from the start. Don't just after the fact say, "Sorry, you're screwed!"

    imbalanced on
    idc-sig.png
    Wii Code: 1040-1320-0724-3613 :!!:
  • Bouncing_SoulBouncing_Soul Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Accualt wrote: »
    I actually run a DVI to HDMI cable from my desktop to my TV. In the past I lugged the thing into the room and hooked it up with VGA. I don't recall noticing any difference when playing games...though that could have more to do with the games I played on it in the past.


    Shit I didn't know a cable like that existed.

    Checking monoprice, is this what you have?

    Bouncing_Soul on
    Umlauf.gif
    Buy some useless stuff at my Cafepress site!
  • DeadlySherpaDeadlySherpa Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Dusda wrote: »
    Xieflow wrote: »
    Before the Elite came out, Microsoft had gone out of their way to make it painfully clear this was going to happen, so it really should not have come as a big surprise.

    What do you call painfully clear?


    Well it's clear that it's painful.


    ba dum pshhhhh

    DeadlySherpa on
    tf2_sig.png
  • DaedalusDaedalus Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Accualt wrote: »
    I actually run a DVI to HDMI cable from my desktop to my TV. In the past I lugged the thing into the room and hooked it up with VGA. I don't recall noticing any difference when playing games...though that could have more to do with the games I played on it in the past.


    Shit I didn't know a cable like that existed.

    Checking monoprice, is this what you have?

    Probably. DVI and HDMI are pretty much the same thing with a different shaped connector (although HDMI has pins for audio and DVI can do dual-link for hunourmous monitors).

    Daedalus on
  • GABBO GABBO GABBOGABBO GABBO GABBO Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    syndalis wrote: »
    S
    The Elite is a nice system, and an absolute upgrade for people who watch a lot of movies (as it upscales Standard DVDs over HDMI), or just plain want a digital picture output for their swank HDTV.

    Stop spreading FUD. HDMI is not any better than component. It's just a dvi cable with integrated audio and DRM.

    GABBO GABBO GABBO on
  • syndalissyndalis Getting Classy On the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Products regular
    edited April 2007
    Manifest wrote: »
    syndalis wrote: »
    S
    The Elite is a nice system, and an absolute upgrade for people who watch a lot of movies (as it upscales Standard DVDs over HDMI), or just plain want a digital picture output for their swank HDTV.

    Stop spreading FUD. HDMI is not any better than component. It's just a dvi cable with integrated audio and DRM.
    No, HDMI is WORLDS better than component on the 360.

    What you are thinking of is DVI. HDMI is not any better than DVI when it comes to picture quality; both are digital, both output the exact same 1s and 0s to the display device... DVI can't carry the DRM token you are talking about for both video and audio, wheras HDMI can.

    Also, if you have an HDTV that has DVI/HDMI, but no VGA input, this is the only way to use the 360 as an upscaling DVD player.

    What you have said is exactly the same as saying that there is no visual difference between VGA and DVI for your computer; we all know THAT is bunk, so why is upgrading from an analog video signal to a digital one on the console any different?

    syndalis on
    SW-4158-3990-6116
    Let's play Mario Kart or something...
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