Xbox.com 'tool' to fix XBLA DRM fiasco next month
by Christopher Grant 
{ May 22nd 2008 at 5:21PM }
If you've had your Xbox 360 replaced, or if you've upgraded to an Elite and used the inelegant Xbox 360 Hard Drive Transfer Kit, you may have found yourself with a handful of XBLA games that were tied solely to your gamertag and not to your console. That meant you couldn't play them offline or on another account tied to your system. This new tool purportedly solves this dilemma by giving consumers much finer control over the content they've purchased (go figure!).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Moorio - XBL: peacebyanymeans @ May 22nd 2008 5:27PM
:)
Freeze @ May 22nd 2008 5:28PM
Well when are we gonna get at LEAST a rewind/fast forward function for playing music?
john @ May 22nd 2008 6:11PM
Seriously. I just got installed connect360 again and found they've added transcoder support, which is great. Unfortunately the xbox 360 media player functionality is clunky and anemic. There's no good way to sort files (just 'name' and 'type', and switching between the two doesn't change anything), there's no way to start with a specific song (not the first one) in a playlist and have it continue through the playlist (it stops, or repeats the same song), no way to make the visualizer full screen, and everything just feels very bare bones.
They need to take a look at XBMC, and give their media blade an overhaul.
Classic_Gs @ May 22nd 2008 5:29PM
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would rather have this fix than a spring update, so stoked!
343 Guilty Fart @ May 22nd 2008 7:46PM
Wow wow wow, I totally agree. I can't believe this is finally happening! So sick of having to log in on one account before being able to play on another! Plus I'll be able to use my Halo map pack and LAN parties. Thank you thank you thank you.
Ignatius @ May 22nd 2008 7:55PM
Now I might actually send my 360 in for service.
AoE @ May 22nd 2008 8:06PM
I'll second that!
Good lord this fix makes me happy! Thanks to a RROD on my first xbox, and a theft of my second, I'm on my 2nd HDD/3rd Xbox... needless to say the vast majority of my content doesn't work when I'm not hooked up to live.
Supino @ May 22nd 2008 5:29PM
I haven't heard anyone complaining.... :P
Roto13 @ May 22nd 2008 5:49PM
I hope that tongue means you're joking.
Supino @ May 22nd 2008 5:52PM
yup, :P = irony
XLM @ May 22nd 2008 6:34PM
in your case, :P ≠ irony, :P = sarcasm :D
Chase @ May 22nd 2008 5:30PM
Finally.
ordigas @ May 22nd 2008 5:32PM
Finally! I hope said tool really works.
koehler83 @ May 22nd 2008 5:35PM
Just as Microsoft get around to fixing this, Sony decides they're gonna go ahead and do what MS have been doing.
*face palm*
Oh well.. well done MS. It took a long time, but at least you're moving in the RIGHT direction. Can you grab Sony's arm and turn them 180 degrees when you pass by please?
Vidikron (FU) @ May 22nd 2008 5:55PM
What are you referring to? Has Sony changed their policy for downloaded games?
koehler83 @ May 22nd 2008 5:59PM
Yes, unfortunately. Though they don't really want anyone to know about it. Threads on the subject on the official playstation boards are being locked.. in typical Sony fashion.
Anyway, to sum up, Sony has gone from allowing installation of DD software on 5 systems to 1, regardless of the user account, binding the software to the unit. Ostensibly this policy is worse than Microsofts, as you can at least use your XBLA software on your account if you replace your machine. If you have to replace your PS3, you're going to be screwed.
Chase @ May 22nd 2008 6:01PM
I did not know this. Thanks for the news, Koehler.
Vidikron (FU) @ May 22nd 2008 6:01PM
Damn... that does suck. I really liked their 5 machine policy. Even though the PS3 is fairly reliable, I at least had the assurance that even if it did die it was going to be no big deal to get my games back.
Will this affect any games that have already been shared between machines?
NATO_Duke @ May 22nd 2008 6:05PM
Oh that new policy just blows.
ZildjianKX @ May 22nd 2008 8:32PM
Can you please provide a link? I see nothing in the official Playstation forums and can't fund anything on Google. Thus far Sony has killed MS in the kindness of their DRM (you can easily un-register a PS3 it is licensed to) and so far they have been very generous in allowing it on multiple PS3s.
ZildjianKX @ May 23rd 2008 12:34PM
Since no one ever responded, I'm ruling this as spreading crap. Gran Tourismo and Warhawk have different DRM schemes, maybe the poster was confused. They are not locked to a single PS3 though, only locked to it for a 24-hr time window to prevent sharing due to these games being full retail games.
CB @ May 22nd 2008 5:35PM
It'd be nice for more info regarding this. How exactly will they be doing this and will it work for everyone? I've had my launch 360 replaced with Best Buy's replacement plan so I have absolutely no info from my old console, which is the reason 1800-4myxbox can't help me.
J @ May 23rd 2008 12:42PM
My x-box rrod'ed just last night and I also have Best Buy's replacement plan. Do you have any helpful tips? Will they let me keep my hard drive?
Any response is appreciated!
CB @ May 23rd 2008 8:45PM
Yes they do! Just tell them you want to switch the hdds from both consoles. You may get who will say you can't but you are allowed to.
CB @ May 23rd 2008 8:45PM
*may get someone who
J @ May 27th 2008 11:39AM
Cool, thanks man! I got an "extra" wireless controller, now too.
Mutant @ May 22nd 2008 5:44PM
About time. I hope the process is simple and lets you transfer to a new machine in single click of big red ring-shaped button.
bigd7387 @ May 22nd 2008 6:18PM
That has been the only problem I've had with MS on the Live issue. I've upgraded from a Core to a Premium and then to an Elite and was really upset that I had over $200 worth of DLC that I couldn't access offline and would be excited beyond belief if this can work. I would probably purchase more but was scared away after I went thru the process of not be to get ahold of the content offline. Finally someone at MS could actually be listing.
BranDamn @ May 22nd 2008 6:19PM
Microsoft already fixed the issue regarding this. Basically once you get your new console back from M$ you go to the account management section then download history and re-download your online games with your gamertag. Check out the xbox support link.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/account/postrepair.htm
liquidate @ May 22nd 2008 6:33PM
This doesn't work for me, I can re-download over and over and it won't activate the full game unless my gamertag is logged on.
LongshotX @ May 23rd 2008 7:51AM
This only works if you've allowed Microsoft to repair your Xbox 360, and sometimes it still doesn't work even after the repair.
umm....hello??? @ May 22nd 2008 6:27PM
'bout fucking time. i might finally download Geometry Wars...
liquidate @ May 22nd 2008 6:31PM
Good to hear!
I've been going back and forth with whatever company does their XBL support over this DRM issue. My launch console died recently, it was suggested by support that I take it back to Costco to get a replacement. No problems there, Costco took it back and refunded my money. Unfortunately, this was a couple months back when 360 stock was low in the retail channel, so Costco didn't have any more in stock and wouldn't know when they would. I ended up having to get the replacement from Best Buy.
Long story short, XBL Support first claimed I was ineligible because I returned at one store, then purchased at another. I told them BS, they said they'd get back to me. Got a call last week and they said now the reason was because I had bought a Premium launch system, and though my replacement machine was a premium system, it had HDMI and as such, was considered an "upgrade"... More BS, how exactly am I supposed to find a new Premium system without HDMI?
Hopefully this new tool will allow this lame circle of phone calls from MS to finally stop with a satisfactory resolution.
Tombstone @ May 22nd 2008 6:36PM
Hell yes. I've been waiting for a fix for this for ages.
tmmoore_nc @ May 22nd 2008 6:44PM
I hope the term "single console" refers to the main one you have and not 'when you send in your next 360, prepare for the same old crap'.
AirIntake @ May 22nd 2008 7:13PM
I wonder if this will fix my saved games that due to faulty DRM my gamertag is now locked out of.....
Ha, I'm a funny guy, of course it won't :) But hey, at least my Texas Hold'em will work offline again.
Debikul @ May 22nd 2008 7:53PM
I want a fix for the whole DivX thing.
If I have DivX movies I want to watch, why the hell do I need to connect to Live! to do it? Huh? Huh? WTF man!
John @ May 22nd 2008 9:41PM
what do you mean you have to connect to live? I thought DIVX was supported now, not that I'd know, I use transcode.
Debikul @ May 23rd 2008 2:17AM
It is supported. But if I'm off-line and try to play a DivX movie from my external USB drive it says it can't play the media and I should get the update from Live!. So I connect to Live! and it works.
I even disconnected from Live! in the middle of a movie because my cable went out and no less than 15 seconds pass and an error pops up telling me to get back on Live! to play the movie.
And no, these aren't Live! video rentals, but personal backups of my collection so I just don't understand why it's setup like that.
GMack @ Jun 2nd 2008 3:43PM
Hey D:
Go into your memory and delete the optional media update, then go onto live and redownload it from the video section. Once done, start playing a Divx movie while connected to xbox live, and pull out the network cable while the movie is playing. Then try it offline.
Sunny @ May 22nd 2008 8:24PM
So does this mean we won't be able to play them on another console with the gamertag authenticating anymore?
BMErdin @ May 22nd 2008 10:39PM
Sounds like good news to me. I'm currently in the abysmal waiting period for MS to call me about my licenses. If this is coming out in the next 30 days, I doubt I'll ever hear for them.
Though I was kinda hoping for the old "all points refunded" option. Oh well.
ill trooper @ May 23rd 2008 3:00AM
Nice, I'm glad they're deciding to address this. I will hold my excitement, however, until I see that it is a total solution, and not some wonky work-around like they have had for this issue.
T @ May 23rd 2008 8:20AM
I got the 360 Pro shortly before RB came out, and almost immediately afterward I realized the error of my ways.
A "20" GB harddrive with 7GB of preinstalled unaccessible space. So I've got a 13GB drive.
I may never need 120GB, but if I can take all of my DLC and transfer it to a 120GB HDD and not have to worry about DRM or who's logged in to what...freakin' count me in!
Because right now my Arcade and DLC purchases are based not only on cost, but on HDD space. With 120GB that would no longer be a concern I'd have.
Ever.
Chadd @ May 27th 2008 7:18AM
OK dreamtime - maybe this is just in preparation for another patch to allow us to use non-Microsoft hard drives!! The recently raised the XBLA file size limits. HD-DVD died and MS is really pushing support for digital downloads. With a possible deal with Netflix they have to know that they need to do something to get more hard drive space to their console owners. I don't
We can always dream!!
T3KK9 @ May 28th 2008 1:20AM
Well it's about goddamn time is all I can say. Not being able to play SFII HF really burns my ass when I bring my 360 over to a friend's.
Gnata @ Jun 2nd 2008 4:48PM
Microsoft (and Sony) are still failing to address the bigger issue. If you look at both companies' strategies, they want their products to be more than just a great unit you buy--they're looking to make these central devices in an interconnected home media experience. If that's the case, what about for people (admittedly this is currently a limited audience) who own multiple consoles (i.e. 2 or more Xbox 360s)? It makes absolute sense that someone would have a 360 in their living room, media/bonus room, and living room. As a media center extender alone this makes good sense. But if you have multiple consoles, why should you not be able to have your content on more than one. Microsoft (and Sony) needs to revisit their DRM model to allow more flexibility in pursuing the vision that it established.
Gnata @ Jun 2nd 2008 4:49PM
sorry....should read living room, media/bonus room, and master bedroom.