It looks like Microsoft is banning users again today. All consumers should know that piracy is illegal, and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs, violates the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE..

As you may have read online, we've been actively banning consoles from Xbox LIVE that have been modified to play pirated games. Our commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of our Xbox LIVE community remains a top priority. All consumers should know that piracy is illegal, and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs, violates the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE. The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive from manufacturers, retailers, and the third parties that support them. This would also be a good time to remind you that the warranty on an Xbox 360 console is not transferrable and if you purchase a used console that has been previously banned, you will not be able to connect to Xbox LIVE.

Consoles can be suspended from Xbox LIVE for a number of reasons including, but not limited to:

• Console tampering: Physically opening the Xbox and modifying it to play illegitimate software.
  
  
• Online fraud: Attempting to social engineer users, take over Xbox LIVE accounts, or other fraudulent activities.
  
  
• Repeat egregious violations: Multiple actions taken on accounts on the console by the Enforcement team for disrupting the service or impacting users.

Frequenty Asked Questions

I have not committed any fraud, I’ve never had action taken against me by the enforcement team, and I know for a fact I have not modified my console. Can you undo my suspension?

The investigations and subsequent actions taken by the Xbox LIVE enforcement team are conservative in nature. We work very hard to try to fully understand that a console has been modified by looking at a variety of information. Sometimes it’s possible that a previous owner or another user may have performed unauthorized modifications to the console. It is also possible that the purchaser of a used Xbox 360 was not aware the console was modified. In either case we cannot undo the console suspension. We recommend customers who believe they have not modified their Xbox themselves (or committed other actions on the service to warrant suspension) to contact previous owners or users of the console.

How do you detect modified consoles?

There are many factors that lead to the suspension of a console and we do not publicly disclose any of those details.

My console has been suspended. Does that mean my Xbox LIVE account will be suspended as well?

Suspensions for both consoles and accounts are determined by looking at a number of factors. While some Xbox LIVE account suspensions may be issued alongside console suspensions, they are not issued with every single suspension. To avoid having your account suspended from the service, please follow the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and Code of Conduct.

If a console is suspended, what happens to the warranty?

If a console has been modified or tampered with, the warranty is void and the console is ineligible for an authorized repair, even for a fee. Please refer to the Xbox 360 console Warranty on xbox.com

Can I still be banned if I purchased a modified console second-hand?

Yes. The warranty on a second hand console is void, and the purchaser assumes the risk for any previous modifications. If you purchase a console that has been previously suspended you will not be able to connect to Xbox LIVE.

News-Source: majornelson.com
360-Hq Forum Thread: Xbox Live Bannings!"

A new NCAA Basketball 10 Demo is now available to download from the Xbox Live Marketplace. The new demo weighs in at 962MB.

From the hardwood to the broadcast, NCAA Basketball 10 provides the most authentic college basketball experience ever.

Content: NCAA Basketball 10 Demo
Price: Free
Availability: Canada and United States
Dash Text: Get your hands on the most authentic college basketball experience ever, in NCAA® Basketball 10. Enjoy ultimate control over your team’s strategy and style of play, including real Motion Offensive Systems including the Dribble Drive, Princeton and Flex to name a few. See the game like it has never been seen before, with authentic broadcasting presentations from the all-star announcing crews of Dick Vitale, Brad Nessler, and Erin Andrews of ESPN, and Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery of CBS Sports. From the broadcast table to the hardwood - it’s all there in NCAA® Basketball 10.

Add NCAA Basketball 10 Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

360-Hq Games Database: NCAA Basketball 10 for Xbox 360"

The posting last Thursday on Craigslist was alarming. Someone was selling a Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 bundle, with both a console and a game, for $500. The problem was that Modern Warfare 2, one of the most anticipated games of the year, doesn’t officially go on sale until Nov. 10.

Activision Blizzard, the game’s publisher, called in IPCybercrime.com, a Dallas private investigation firm that specializes in online investigations. The investigators tracked down the seller and stumbled into a scheme to pirate the game and sell a bunch of fake copies over the Internet. While the bust led to the arrest of just one hacker among many, it sheds light on the shadowy underground of the business of illegal piracy. It also offers a peak at how investigators try to head off a major piracy disaster before it happens.

“It all happened very fast,” said Rob Holmes, owner of IPCybercrime. “If these guys get their stuff out, then they can do some major damage to sales and spoil it for everybody. We plug leaks every day, but this was one of the biggest ones of the year.”

The investigators started by calling the Craigslist ad phone number and talking with the seller, who said he had two items for sale. They negotiated a deal to buy two bundles for $800 each. Then IPCybercrime dispatched its investigators in Los Angeles to perform an undercover pickup. Then another Craigslist ad appeared for the same Modern Warfare 2 bundle. A search on social networks revealed that the first seller was a friend of the second seller. And the second seller said on his social networking page that he worked as a “box boy at a major retail chain.”



IPCybercrime’s client, Activision Blizzard, approached the sellers, who then admitted having stolen a crate of the bundles from the backroom of a game retail store. Then IPCybercrime folks turned the case over to the loss prevention department at the retailer, which dealt with the thieves. This kind of inside job involving physical theft is becoming common, though it’s hard to do because retailers get a major game just a week in advance and then lock the boxes up in a high-security part of their warehouses.

On the HQ homepage?? Click the link to view the entire story"

Walmart is having a pre-black Friday sale this Saturday Nov. 7th that includes an xbox 360 arcade for $200 which includes a $100 walmart gift card. This card can be used to go back to the store and pick up MW2. Heck with some of the great deals that will be had on black Friday you might be able to get quite a bit with that $100 gift card. Heck maybe MW2 and a nice DVD player. But be warned, this will most likely be limited to a small number per store so to take advantage you should get there when they open the doors. You can see on the pic above it says at least 10 per store so this is a clue that they will have a small limit to how many of these they will give away for this deal, after that it is just to get people in the store. I would suggest having someone help you out and hit a different store at the same time so you have a better chance of getting one.

News-Source: Walmart.com"

Rico parachutes back for the second installment of Just Cause. Grab your sun cream and pack your bags, we’re off to the island of Panau!



360-Hq Game Database: Just Cause 2 for Xbox 360"

A EA Spokesman has confirmed the beta rumors. "As for the beta, we'll have more details later this week"..

Gamestop leaked news about the upcoming beta and even provided a launch date. (November 19th, 2009).

"Stay tuned to the blog or follow us on Twitter for future developments on all things Battlefield Bad Company 2," said producer Gordon Van Dyke in response to the beta/demo question.


In "Battlefield: Bad Company 2", the ‘B’ company fight their way through snowy mountaintops, dense jungles and dusty villages. With a heavy arsenal of deadly weapons and a slew of vehicles to aid them, the crew set off on their mission and they are ready to blow up, shoot down, blast through, wipe out and utterly destroy anything that gets in their way. Total destruction is the name of the game, delivered as only the DICE next generation Frostbite™ engine can. Either online or offline, enemies will soon learn there is nowhere to hide.

For all the latest Xbox 360 gaming, hardware and homebrew news, stay tuned to the 360-HQ Homepage or install our FREE 360-HQ Toolbar which will automatically link you with all our latest content including: games, achievements, screenshots, trailers, cheats and much more.

360-Hq Games Database: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for Xbox 360
360-Hq Toolbar: here"

Microsoft has given developers the option to control chat options while playing in Multi-player games. Modern Warfare 2 will be using this system. When you are in party chat and try to get into a Public Multi-Player online match, You will be given the choice to switch to game chat or to remain in Party chat and not play. This system is intended to put a stop to people in party chat on opposite teams informing on locations of other players. Basically A spy on your team telling his buddy on the enemy team where you guys are in a map. This is expected to start showing up in many online games including Gears of War."

The Xbox 360 is keeping those third party devices at bay and those who intend to make any would literally need Microsoft's seal of approval. X-Gaming does not have such a seal. So instead of knocking on Steve Ballmer's door to get a "yes" and later find Major Nelson clarifying it as a "no", X-Gaming found a way to bypass security to enable the use of their X-Arcade stick for the Xbox 360. The irony of it all? It uses a PS2 adapter.

The PS2 adapter we're talking about here is X-Arcade's PS2-to-Xbox 360 Adapter, which will make the X-Arcade stick work with the Xbox 360.


First, you need to plug a PlayStation 2 adapter to your X-Arcade stick. Then you plug that adapter into an Xbox 360 to PlayStation 2 adapter and link a wired Xbox 360 gamepad to it. Finally, plug the daisy chained device into your Xbox 360 and like magic the X-Arcade stick and any other PlayStation 2 accessories become Xbox 360 compatible. Want to connect two players to a dual stick? Better get two adapters and two wired controllers.

It's a bit confusing, but as soon as you get a grasp of the ingredients, the recipe will be clearer. With this little setup, you'll be able to use any PS2 accessory (including the X-Arcade stick) with your Xbox 360


News-Source: xbox360.qj.ne"