Datel 'disappointed' by Xbox 360's unofficial memory unit lockout
by David Hinkle 
{ Oct 21st 2009 at 1:30PM } 
What to do if you're the owner of one of these bad boys? Unless you want to stay offline forever, you'll have to back up your data and transfer it to an official memory unit or hard drive. Failing that, you could just lift anchor in protest and set sail for Redmond, but we wouldn't suggest doing that unless you're English and living in 1983.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Raffi @ Oct 21st 2009 1:34PM
Well, it probably wasn't the best business model to begin with.
Ridgecity @ Oct 21st 2009 2:52PM
It was, until Microsoft decided to stop sharing profits for its console.
fwacce @ Oct 21st 2009 3:09PM
I really find this move strange on their part. Is this going to be worldwide? I mean, hasn't MS paid enough fines and legal fees for their history of anti-trust issues, especially in Europe? I don't see how this is any different than refusing to package Windows without IE or with FireFox... which is a move they got busted for severely by the EU. Why can't they see they'll get sued by a company like Datel, who would win based on their past anti-trust history.
It's not just a bad business decision, it's a stupid and self-defeating business decision.
BigD145 @ Oct 21st 2009 3:30PM
Datel is sold by Best Buy, which also happens to sell Xbox's. Microsoft is giving the shaft to a retailer.
CzAr @ Oct 21st 2009 1:34PM
Now Microsoft can charge $200 for a 256mb memory card and have no competition to have the same thing at a lower price.
R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Oct 21st 2009 1:43PM
Except the competition of their 120 gig HDD for $150, of course.
muddyhelmit @ Oct 21st 2009 1:49PM
120GB for $150 is still ridiculous.
Colditz @ Oct 21st 2009 2:07PM
Amen.
I'm using a Max Memory with around 16GB. . . It's a lot better compared to this 256MB crap MS is selling (And of course, cheaper!), you can't put anything on that, sometimes you can't even put an Arcade game onto it, not even a CoD MapPack for instance. Damn MS, I'm really in rage mode now. . .
derek @ Oct 21st 2009 2:29PM
For those who are worried about Microsoft raising the prices of their own memory cards............DON'T BUY ONE! A consumer DOES have choices after this decision and those choices are Sony, Nintendo, PC, or nothing (nothing is often overlooked). I hate this decision as much as everybody else but if this is such a problem then don't purchase Microsoft gaming products. It's not like having to buy water or food from one source and having to pay gouging prices to stay alive. Consumers have many choices in this market and the best way to send Microsoft a message is through the consumer's wallet.
Michael Johnson @ Oct 21st 2009 3:11PM
i agree with muddy about overpriced 120 GB hdd, but what is really bugging me is that they haven't dropped the price of the 120 hdd to $100 to go along with the pricing of the consoles. 199 for arcade, 100 more for elite w/120 hdd, which means basically that the hdd is $100, but yet they still sell it separately for $150, doesn't make sense, i guess the transfer cable is worth $50. Oh well hopefully they'll drop price soon.
D dogg @ Oct 21st 2009 3:22PM
That's just stupid (to OP). C'mon, no one would buy any. Here's the thing about capitalism... you vote with your MONEY. If it's $200, who the FUCK would buy it? Seriously, if you're going to exaggerate, then I'm going to quote your exaggeration.
Yes, it does limit who can make what for... MICROSOFT's product. Xbox 360 is a choice, NOT a right. Stop fucking confusing the two.
Imagine if Xbox 360 was YOUR brainchild... would you want to make the most money off YOUR brainchild!?
If you want to be heard, DON'T BUY. SIMPLE. BOYCOTT.
whylekat @ Oct 21st 2009 3:24PM
@Derek
Tell that to anyone who ever bought anything off the Avatar Marketplace =P we doomed ourselves to this.
Olicon @ Oct 21st 2009 4:58PM
Agreed with D Dog--you vote with your money.
The best example: PS3. We voted. It took Sony a few years to realize (their marketing team isn't exactly smart..looks at PSP Go), but the price did drop--and despite what they say, we know why they dropped the price.
B3astofthe3ast @ Oct 21st 2009 1:34PM
It's a shame that MS is the only one still using propriety memory while the PS3 and even the Wii allow you to use cheap, standard memory.
Shadow08 @ Oct 21st 2009 2:12PM
Agreed. It's also sad how the Wii and PS3 include WiFi, and Microsoft is still making us pay $99 for it.
Monica Dickey @ Oct 21st 2009 2:23PM
It really is. I hope they don't find a way to detect what brand controller battery packs are anytime soon or I'm screwed! haha
$150 can buy a 750 gig laptop hard drive nowadays... Paying that much for 160 is so ridiculous. You know MS just buys them in bulk from whoever is selling them cheapest and I doubt the enclosure is more than a few bucks.
Viney @ Oct 21st 2009 2:54PM
It seems to me like Microsoft still divides PC Gamers and Console Gamers into two seperate groups. One that likes the ability to upgrade their gear through 3rd party support and one that wants a simple solution out of the box with limited options to prevent confusion. Seems they're trying to capitalize off of that theory.
FYI Microsoft: Blur the lines between those two groups a bit more. Your customers aren't stupid and they don't like being ripped off. Your ideal way to make money isn't your customer's ideal way to enjoy their hobby. Take a lesson from your competitors, and your own PC business model that you've been banking on for years. Let the 3rd parties give your customers options and 1-Up them and make your money by showing everyone that you do it better.
Your current model is narrow-minded and it's completely disregarding how much your customers care about value.
borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Oct 21st 2009 3:16PM
Heh, it's kind of funny to think I've bought my 360 Elite for only $55 more than a 120GB drive (Dell Special + Rebate).
Otis Whitaker @ Oct 21st 2009 3:21PM
"FYI Microsoft: Blur the lines between those two groups a bit more. Your customers aren't stupid and they don't like being ripped off."
Uhhh... they bought a system that has a pay-for online service when everything else's is free. They bought a system that uses everything proprietary, when everything else is open, they bought a system with overpriced accessories that shouldn't exist in the first place, and lastly, they bought into the whole DLC model.
Are you REALLY trying to tell me 360 owners DON'T want to be ripped off?
Because if that's true, you have some sort of twisted logic.
The 360 is the HOME for people who don't mind being ripped off.
Viney @ Oct 21st 2009 3:46PM
I'm saying they keep working backwards, for all the reasons/examples that you stated. I'm not gonna start a flame war and criticize 360 owners for being gluttons for punishment, even though yes, I agree with what you're saying.
I'm simply saying they've been moderately successful so far despite the direction they've been taking. But turning it around and learning from these "proprietary" mistakes would go a long way in getting them some more favorable public opinion back. Making your customers happier than they are now is a better way to make money than constantly forcing their hand.
borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Oct 21st 2009 4:36PM
"...The 360 is the HOME for people who don't mind being ripped off."
Well no, not necessarily. If I were to relate the 360 to a philosophy it would be objectivism: Capitalism unleashed. As I said above, I bought my 360 Elite for $205. I have no intention of buying the wifi adapter, going gold, or paying for much in the way of spacebucks for arcade games. My avatar is standard and my theme is a default one. You CAN find value in the 360, but you must choose...wisely.
That being said I still like my PS3 a hella lot more. But while a lot more comes free or open (Blutooth, Wi-fi, USB, Multiplayer, etc.) there are many ways to screw yourself financially if you're a dumbass. I bought quite a few PSN games that I barely touched before reeling in the madness. Themes can be done free, but if you don't know about it you might buy into one of those "Premium" themes. Home is a great way to blow real world cash on virtual shit.
Spike (GT: SitriStahl) @ Oct 21st 2009 4:45PM
shadow08, to be fair, the wii makes you pay for a wired solution, which i use
Adam @ Oct 21st 2009 6:18PM
Otis, I hate to say this (because I have a 360), but I agree with you. I went with the 360 because it was first out - got hit with RROD x 2 + one DVD drive problem (warranty, thank god) and now have been growing more discontent with it.
I don't get ripped off though because I refuse to buy map packs (biggest rip off in gaming history), I refuse to buy new missions (two exceptions: GTA IV ... DLC done right) and I've cancelled my gold membership because I hate ads (my xbox is only connected to the internet when necessary.
If more people took my stance we'd have an ad free xbox gold, cheap peripherals, and quality DLC ... but no one has self control these days, sigh.
Premature ejaculation man @ Oct 21st 2009 6:18PM
It actually amazes me. Sony, the king of proprietary formats, horrible lockins and highly priced products actually created the most open console ever (Now almost competitvely priced in my country).
Standard memory format, exchangable HDDs, built in wifi, USB 2.0 for charging controllers, ability to install linux on there and the ability to rip music and video to it via things like your own HDD (instead of just using CD's).
Look at that list, Miscrosoft doesn't allow us to do any of that. Hell, I've only got my 360 and the grass most certainly looks greener on the other side. I think I'll be buying a Ps4 next generation.
pot @ Oct 30th 2009 7:12AM
Shadow, you aren't being "made" to buy anything smart guy.
Ryan @ Oct 21st 2009 1:34PM
I cant say I blame MS. I've owned a few of Datel's products in the past... Something like a 50/50 split on it either being crap or pure shit.
But then again, Im biased against the company every since their GameCube Keyboard fiasco back in the Phantasy Star Online GC days... Man that was a piece of shit.
Anthony M. @ Oct 21st 2009 1:37PM
Hah! I imported the Japanese official gamecube controller with the keyboard in the middle.
http://www.play-asia.com/image/content/tgs/large/sammy_keyboard3.JPG
Worked like a charm.
Ryan @ Oct 21st 2009 1:39PM
In the end I did too. The ASCII was a kickass controller/keyboard.
Monkey Fetish @ Oct 21st 2009 1:48PM
I have their micro-SD adapter for the 360, it works great.
A 2GB micro-SD card goes for around $5 these days, not much more then a Frappacino- 512MB 'official' memory costs $30 fro MS.
BigD145 @ Oct 21st 2009 9:57PM
I've been using Datel batteries in my Nintendo handhelds and the one in my DS Phat is still going after I don't know how many years.
captainprotonx @ Oct 21st 2009 1:34PM
MS is giving a choice. Buy MS products or buy nothing.
Mazrael @ Oct 21st 2009 2:15PM
but on one hand.. MS licence MatCatz to make accessories.. so can't a simular solution be done here, where someone can make non-expandable 16GB cards.. surely that would give us better storage & prevent that file-swapping some people do
That Burning Sensation @ Oct 21st 2009 2:36PM
There is another choice, buy a PS3. You eyes and wallet will thank you for it.
DeepFriedSushi @ Oct 21st 2009 3:00PM
i'm guessing the licensing fees are too high to make it worth it, but ms probably wants people to get harddrives for better access to the content thats online. also more and more games are utilizing the harddrive and i can see some future games requiring it.
John @ Oct 21st 2009 1:35PM
Alright chaps, let the voyage commence! Come one and all; there are crumpets for everyone!
Luke @ Oct 21st 2009 1:58PM
I want tea.
XBL: xGeneral DEATHx PSN: Deeth82 [Planeteer | Power of General Hostility and Angst] @ Oct 21st 2009 2:07PM
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/nations_morons_march_on_washington
Spartan [Planeteer | Power of Sunshine & Lollipops] @ Oct 21st 2009 2:08PM
There's sumptn about, knowing what a crumpet is first, before doing something...
E.J. @ Oct 21st 2009 1:37PM
This really sucks for Arcade owners that haven't ponied up for a HDD (smart of them not be gouged).
I really hope the next Xbox doesn't require proprietary storage. But since MS likes making money, the chances of that happening are probably pretty low.
R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Oct 21st 2009 1:45PM
"This really sucks for Arcade owners that haven't ponied up for a HDD (smart of them not be gouged)."
Id have to actually disagree and say they are stupid for buying an Xbox without a HDD, and actually thinking that they wouldn't need one in the future.
Neuromancer @ Oct 21st 2009 1:37PM
Well I got downvoted last time this came up, for saying 3rd party memory cards often corrupt saves. I'm just going to sit quietly in the corner by myself this time.
B3astofthe3ast @ Oct 21st 2009 1:41PM
I'm downvoting you for not adding anything to the conversation.
(jk)
Neuromancer @ Oct 21st 2009 1:45PM
*cries softly to self*
captainprotonx @ Oct 21st 2009 1:48PM
Could be true. I had a PS memory card Yeeeeears ago that deleted my precious 98 hour FF7 file.
So, I have to say, yes...DOWNVOTED!
KeenCommander @ Oct 21st 2009 2:00PM
I had a N64 official memory card that lost my fully leveled wizard and completed game save in Gauntlet Legends. Annoyed, I was, but these things happen.
Dr. Stabbingworth @ Oct 21st 2009 2:06PM
Saved-game loss is a good excuse to do it again.
jayeffaar @ Oct 21st 2009 2:10PM
Yes, Microsoft is obviously protecting users from the possibility of eventually getting corrupted data by making 100% sure the data is unusable now (or soon). That is so nice of them.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 21st 2009 1:40PM
Before the outrage begins, let me remind everyone that there are still authorized third party memory units, and they're cheaper than the official MS ones.
Morgon @ Oct 21st 2009 2:07PM
Thank you! A sane voice in a sea of unfounded knee-jerk reactions. I've been wanting to post this, as well, but always too late to the party.
"Third party" != "Unauthorized", and vice-versa. This does not prevent the sale/use of non-Microsoft memory units (Doesn't Nyko make one?), just ones that have been created by reverse-engineering.
I was going to say that this move could have been to 'stop' (read: at least mitigate) a lot of the alteration of data that happens with reverse-engineered units (which is *specifically* done by Datel), but it's probably more likely that they just want these companies to pony up for a license, so at least they make money from the idiots who can only feel good about themselves by cheating. ;)
joeybeast @ Oct 21st 2009 2:14PM
I've never seen one if true.