September 7, 2009Unpleasant surprise awaits Halo: ODST pirates, says MS
Posted by The Ori
A few fortunate gamers were able to pick up retail copies of the next Halo game, Halo 3: ODST, when a French retail store inadvertently put the game out last week, which isn’t due out until September 22nd. As usual, illegal copies (ISOs) turned up for download on many file-sharing networks, but there’s a nasty surprise in store for any Xbox 360 owners who tries to play THOSE downloads.
Xbox Live’s Policy and Enforcement Director says, anyone spotted playing downloaded copies of the game on Xbox Live faces a permanent ban from the service. That’s not new news, that’s fact, and fair warning.
Some have asked, how can they tell if it is a copy of the early release? Simple geography, IP addressing, and console IDs. You need to THINK people (well, if you THOUGHT, you would not download it illegally), where it was released early (a specific area), then WHERE you’re playing it, duh? That should not need any further explanation.
People who bought the pre-releases are supposed to be safe, but “accidents” do happen. So, again, I am sending out a warning myself, as I have many times before, the bans are a’coming!
dont play online
cant find it for download no where.Where is a good place to get it.
the reason they can tell that you downloaded it is because the leaked copy of the game was missing a rar file and was released without that section of the game. the iso reads that it is stealth patched but without that section anyone who plays online will just give the flag for the banhammer.
if i get banned i will pop to the shops and buy a new 360 and flash it again.
i have saved over £2000 with all the games i have so £130 on a new xbox is fine by me!
Yeah, since the Arcade is cheap, keep your HDD, and buy a new one.
Also, it is not just a RAR file that is missing, even if that is the case, they probably don’t do file checks. IF the game and FMVs play, it’s all there.
If the ISO is a full copy of the game they bought EARLY, in a FRENCH store; playing it in ENGLAND means you downloaded it. Playing it in any other PAL region (except where it was MEANT to be played), means you downloaded it, it really is THAT simple.
If there is a RAR missing, to cause a bad ISO, then that was done on purpose, so people would be banned; they MEANT for that to happen. That is the risk of downloading game; people purposely messing it up for people, so they get banned. It only takes one person to start a mass download of their BAD iso file, to bring down a million bans the next wave.
well they can c not only missing files but remember the 360 keeps and sends data 2 microsoft about the games u play and if u play a game in aug meant 2 b released in september….thats a big flag…and if u play it offline the 360 still keeps the record and next time u connect 2 live it sends the data back 2 M$ or u can b like the rest of us and wait until after the release date and then get it….the right region….
You don’t even have to LOG IN to live. As long as their is a LAN cable plugged into your Xbox, and it is connected to the internet, they get the information.
Actually, Its not about IP addressing or Location mapping, I wonder who thought of that -.- Have people ever realised that xbox has entered the stage where it can be LITERALLY manipulated? As far as i know, Playing on a proxy/VPN server allows you to manipulate your IP and location, And I doubt M$ will have the time and patience to check who’s on a proxy and whos not, I mean common they got bigger fish to fry, The idiots who don’t think twice before playing before release dates. I’ve done it before, And again i say, IP tracking is one thing that is out of the question, Initiate a french IP and your untracable from where you thought you were so easy to spot. Besides, As long as you play with a french VPN IP, M$ cant ban you, after all its out of their jurisdiction :)! They really cant ban you for as we all know it, the prerelease was given out, And btw, the reason the files was a ‘bad or curropt’ part missing is because it doesn’t take a genius to realise that , the missing fragment is what makes the game RegionFree -.-. Not all M$ games are RF, Like shadow run is a game by M$ yet there were 40k copies that were korean/japan made and didnt work on pal, Id know since I was a victim.
They can ban you no matter where you are. Once your KEY is in their DB, you won’t be able to sign on no matter where in the UNIVERSE you may be. It has nothing to do with Jurisdictions, or where you are, and what you use. Their servers keep the keys ion their ban lists, which will not allow your console on, EVER. I think someone needs to read up on how they ban consoles. Then again, you people never believe things till it’s too late, so that’s all on you.
Ofc this also means that, Those who don’t know HOW to use VPN’s don’t be stupid, and those who know how to use em can stay out of the spotlight, This ofc means that you do this at your own risk, I do not advise anyone to attempt this if in the end you mess up and blame me. Stay out and stay safe. I’d be best if owners of the godlike downloaded version don’t log in a week before the release and 2 weeks during the release time.
Lol, Lets just be safe , I doubt the effort should be on trying to play online safe, but rather on how you can find ways to stay offline :P
Have one console for your eye patch wearing ways, and another one for the normal visioned.
Hahaha Well said :P
The real surprise for pirates is that this game is barely worth downloading and deferentially not worth buying. Its too short and the storyline is a little simple, and the game overall is too easy. Took less than 10 hours to beat it on normal my first try. if i’m going to buy a game it better have more than 10 hours of play time.
Now that you mention it, Yes the game was rather short, Don’t get me wrong, I loved the graphics,and the changes being made, Finally a ghost that moves like one -,- they really edged off a few weapons, But what really ticks me off is, The pistol fire rate, Notice how from Halo 1-3 the rate of fire has drastically and dramatically slowed down? 3 being the least, and suddenly ODST comes out with a pistol 2x the firing rate. On online play, Id say about 2 weeks before the pistol becomes imba. Makes me REALLY wonder, If Halo Reach is worth the wait.
Halo was done after #2, it’s all repetitive now. This is no different, you’re inferior to the Master Chief, so how great can it REALLY be? Just another way for M$ to get THEIR hand in your pocket, with this poor excuse for a Halo game. “HALO” took place on a, well, HALO, the others? No reason to call it HALO anymore…
well when are they going to banned the ppl and are they banning their accounts too.
They do not ban your Live gamer account (but it is flagged internally for them). They ban the console, that being ID and KEY. The bans have started already, since last Friday I read.