Rumor: MS to freeze Live accounts playing Halo 3 [Joystiq]

[DP ServBot]

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360 (http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/), First Person Shooters (http://www.joystiq.com/category/firstpersonshooters/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/bigbrother.jpg (http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/19-09-2007-6492.html)We're still gathering info, so at this point we're mostly giving a heads-up to those who may have gotten their hands on Halo 3 early (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=28803). Pro-G reports that a Microsoft rep had confirmed to them (http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/19-09-2007-6492.html) that gamers who play Halo 3 early will have their Live accounts banned. Not connecting to the net won't help either because the console tracks when the game was played, so according to this rep the first time you connect to Live they'll know. Microsoft is preparing an official statement on the issue, according to Pro-G.

If true, this opens up a big scary can of "Big Brother is watching" for us. Why should consumers be punished for the actions of retailers who sell the game early? We're going to wait for the official statement from Microsoft, but if you happened to have gotten lucky and have Halo 3 in your possession, either don't stick it in your console just yet, or tell us if you get banned. We're a bit skeptical about this as well because we've played Halo 3 (with permission) and it's been linked to our gamertags, which haven't necessarily been registered as "press" with Microsoft. As such, the alleged banning can't be done automatically. Will Microsoft really be doing a case-by-case banathon? We'll update as soon as we get the official statement.

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[GrandAmChandler]

It looks like this has been semi-debunked already, hopefully true!:

http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/19-09-2007-6492.html

-GAC-

[agbulls]

It looks like this has been semi-debunked already, hopefully true!:

http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/19-09-2007-6492.html

-GAC-

Good thing. That would be some NASTY bad PR that Microsoft is smart enough avoid.

[heybtbm]

This story is so obviously bullshit. I feel sorry for anyone who fell for it.

95% of gamers have no idea when the "official" release date of a particular game is and MS knows it. Why would they punish people for playing a game? Where in the TOS does it forbid such a thing? I have the answer, it doesn't.

It's just a bunch of haters trying to give MS bad publicity. Nothing more.

[Alucard79]

I could've had a copy of Halo3 about a month ago, but I passed on it because I was unsure what kind of repercussions it would have on my account. I agree that people shouldn't be banned for playing a game a few days early, but having access to a game a month or more before it's release may be a different story. So either way, I'll just wait for my legendary edition that I bought in January (before the price raise) and enjoy the game with other people that have it too.

[8-bitNesMan]

Alucard what are you going to do when you go in to pick it up and they ask for your outstanding balance before they let you have your game?

[gepeto]

Microsoft has to worry about maintaining the network once it is release. There resources will more than likely be pointed that way.

Like the sports show. I am selling.

[Vinnysdad]

I ran into a guy selling copies out the back of his delivery truck about a week ago. He wanted a $100 a copy. I almost bought it but I was worried about something like this happening to my account and $100 was kind of steep anyways.

[ProgrammingAce]

Somehow i think it's an empty threat, even for Microsoft employees. My guess is, whoever made the statement isn't high enough up the ladder to actually make a decision like that.

There are people in Microsoft with legitimate copies, i've had one on my desk for 2.5 weeks and i don't even work for them. Playing a game on XBL is in no way, shape, or form a breach of NDA...

EDIT: That being said, there's something definitely wrong with xbox.com's tracking of achievements for Halo3