Microsoft has made good on threats to make 'bad things happen' to users who artificially inflate their Gamerscore. The Gamerscore is built up by playing games and meeting objectives but some users have been doing so by hacking.
Microsoft has punished cheats by resetting their score, making it impossible for them to complete falsely claimed objectives, and putting "I'm a dirty cheater" on their profile.
Microsoft has not provided any avenue for appeal, saying that they identified players "who have used external means to earn achievements without really playing the game" using "specific and automated criteria".
I think it's a great idea. In terms of legality, MS must've looked into this before they implemented it. Maybe there's some clause which states that by cheating you waive certain rights. Who knows, but I support the idea.
The rules of what they can and can not do are covered by that form that no one ever reads, the End Use License Agreement. MS retains ownership and control of their networks on that level, they have the right do delete your account for any reason they want. I think its funny personally, cheaters are feeling cheated by this?
Sure it does. The service and games are owned by microsoft, you're only being allowed the previlege of playing on it, you don't actually OWN your profile or anything else on the server for that matter.
If I get reset to 0 I will no longer be playing around with my 2 xbox 360s (one just got a RROD and is not remotely able to go in for warranty either). If I get reset to 0 I will get a PS3 just in time to mess with it and learn to "artificially inflate" my trophies on PS3 home.
Some people ask why I waste my time and I reply with "why do you waste time playing the games?"
For me playing games is fun once in a while, but it is always fun to try to mess around and "hack" (for lack of a better word) the console. Not to show off my e-penis, just because I actually find the act of modding/cheating fun to do as long as no one else is affected.
I'm assuming it's your opinion that when your "artificially inflated" score displaces people from their proper position on the scoreboards, it's not affecting anyone? Or is that when the "it's only a game" defence gets whipped out?
Have you never read an end user licence agreement (the massive chunk of text you have to scroll thorogh before ticking a box when you install something). This waves your rights.
I believe truth is a valid defence to both. Considering that the only did this to the worst offenders on this occasion you'd only be increasing the publicity to the fact that you cheat.
Yes, people hate to be called out on their malicious actions and, ironically, they'll even go to the point of lying to protect their "good name." Strangely, people believe they have a right to innocence instead of a responsibility to it.
I'd love them to try this on me I don't have an XBox, but hypotheticaly if I did, and they labeled me with "I'm a dirty cheater".
I would take them to court for defamation of character/libel faster than a speeding bullet.
But Microsoft would have a) 10 Million dollar lawyers to your 1 bubba gump lawyer you can afford
B) They would have proof you cheated in the game making you a dirty cheater by definition.
Basically what all would end up happening is the court would officially acknowledge you as a dirty cheater. So not only would you be a dirty cheater among game nerds you would be a dirty cheater among the average news reading american.
"Oh you're that dirty cheater guy" Could have just kept it in the game.
I've never cheated in an online game in my entire life, but I'm tempted to now because it sounds like it'd be fun. More fun than that Gamerscore crap.
And darkrom - when you say you don't care about your e-peen, and that you cheat for kicks... then threaten to quit if you lose your precious gamerscore... it sort of proves you're not just in it for the fun of playing the games.
your missing my point, i'm not saying that they are incorrectly labeling me as a cheater.
It's the 'Dirty' part that I would take issue with.
If you feel you are right, then it doesn't matter if they are the worlds largest organisation with 1 billion lawyers at their beck and call, you should take a stand regardless, if you don't defend your rights, then you will loose them.
If you win a big payout from them then I could like with being that cheating guy, because i'd be that rich cheating guy.
I d'ont own a xbox but i agree with their methods. Cheating in online games is becoming rampant and it's getting harder and harder to play some good competitive games with people. More penalty to cheaters!!! Put up a Wall of shame on xboxlive website lol
I don't own any game console, but I've read thousands of EULA's in my time.
What the document says, and what is actually legally enforceable or can be challenged are two entirely different things.
Just because Microsoft says that "by using this service you give us the right to..." doesn't mean that you actually can waive those rights at all. Microsoft likes it when you think the EULA is actually a legally binding, lawful contract.
I've no problem with them reseting the scores to 0 - IF there is an avenue of appeal (Microsoft has an incredibly high history of false positives for WGA, and I'd suggest it is equally likely here), but the public shaming "I'm a dirty cheater"? I don't think Microsoft can actually legally humiliate users of their service - this is one of those "unwaivable" things.
Things like this remind me that real people work at Microsoft. I think this is awsome, i dont play Xbox360 often but when i do there are so many losers that have unbelievably large scores and i kick there arse. the first Xbox had heaps of cheats but not so much 360. I think Microsoft's actions are awsome and if i was a software company i wouldn't just shame them i would ban them by credit card, name, address, IP address and any form possible. People like that you don't want using your service because there not there for what the service was designed for ... to game. Why ruin something for every one else... because your a jerk... cause you have no skill or just because your some ignorant arse that uses your implied anomnimity as a way to f*&k with others. Sorry for the rant, i am all for being a jerk but not when you use the internet as a way to hide your self.
sounds like we we have a few dirty cheaters here...
my opinion in most games if you cheat your automaatically a loser, likely incapable of beating the game on their own... if you cheat i think everyone has the right to know your a cheater, and for that matter to not play with cheater, i also think cheater should be banned from online play until a time when cheaters are incapable of cheating... personally that what i would do if i were microsoft, and i know its well within their rights as well.
Or at least if the cheaters would go on cheater server(like americas army) that would be just fine. I hate when they ruin good gameplay with stupid cheat I'm in there for the competition not for the cheaters. There is enough cheater in real sports we don't need any in online gaming. :)
Why do I get the feeling you are being sarcastic? I realize I am a cheater. That is only because I am a geek. I find it fun to cheat. I can say with 100% of confidence that my "cheating" has never made your game any less fun for you.
I do not cheat online or glitch or do anything like that that would affect actual people. The only thing I have done is inflated my own gamerscore because I like to see how high I can get it. Its a mini game for me if you will. I am not on the leaderboards to ruin that, and I never make the game any less fun for anyone else. Explain the harm in that now please?
I just happen to think that the idea of Accomplishments/Gamerscore/Trophies/whatever is the most retarded idea ever. What do these things do for you in real life? Nothing, except flex your e-peen. If you want to feel accomplished, go learn a skill. Not "ZOMG I got 1,000,000 kills in Halo!!"
Video games are IMO for personal enjoyment, not something to feel accomplished about or something that should destroy your life if M$ labels you a "Dirty Cheater".
In response to those who say 'I just love to hack and mod', no-one is stopping you from doing that - but do not try to claim it isn't to try and inflate yourself unfairly over other players. That line of reasoning just doesn't fly when the score is purely for inflating your personal ego and showing off to others - there is no other use for it.
Maybe they should just turn the gamerscore off completely - it seems to generate nothing more than trouble anyway...
