October 16th 2009 10:36 pm PT

Ooh dear, Datel and their customers aren’t going to like that very much.
Maybe if Microsoft released larger storage options at prices that weren’t completely ridiculous then customers may not seek alternatives.

All my stuff is from Microsoft so it’s all fine with me.

There are unauthorized storage units? This is the first time I’ve heard about them…

Great news! Another great thing about this update.

This is a joke right? I swear the ebay listing said it was an legitimate “authorized” xbox360 storage device… apparently they’re overstocked with them in Hong Kong which is why it was such a good price! ;P

Seriously though… drop the price point of the HD’s. If I can buy a 1TB external drive for $100CDN, what makes MS think it’s reasonable for us to shell out $150+ for 120GB.

Wow I bet the 3rd-party companies making 360 storage devices are really going to love this. So does this mean that none of the Datel memory cards are going to work any more?

haha I just read the post when Litheon brought it up and yes people make there own sata hard drives to work with the 360. Finally the big times modding people get a kick in the butt…. and EXU they are coming out with a 250GB HD for MW 2 and Forza 3 console and you know people will sell the hard drives later on…

whoa! an easy way to boost 120Gb HDD sales

some of u people are noobs and 250 GB hard drive will be out sooner or later aka MW 2 CONSOLE for the time being

After the Preview Program finish, will be the next update with these “features” mandatory to all Xbox Live users?, even for owners of “authorized Xbox 360 storage devices” (like me and had to pay a very expensive 120GB HDD, which, by the way, for the price it costs should be over 360GB instead of 120GB) and don’t care and don’t plan to use Zune, Facebook and Twitter…?

huh.. Years ago I had purchased a few 3rd party mem cards for my PS1. They were junk. My personal experience has tought me to always buy 1st party peripherals. When I got my 360 4 years back, I was happy to see Microsoft wasn’t licensing to everyone for cheap made stuff. My naiveness assumed that was that. I had no clue there were unauthorized mem cards on the market. If its not offically licensed, you can’t expect it to work the way the xbox needs it to. Should be no reason for complaints on this one. Even so, this shows very good show of face on Major Nelsons part by allowing these consumers a chance to get a proper MU. Good Job Larry! I’d like to add. I have had a 512 MU since Microsoft released them and it has not once ever failed me.

I only have legit memory cards/hard drives, but I’m going to have to say that your ridiculous price points don’t help you here at all.
30 GBP for a 512MB memory card or 90 GBP for a 120GB hard drive?

@xX4C1DxR41NXx You must have missed the part where I said “reasonable prices”, which the authorised storage devices DO NOT HAVE.

M$ you are about to make another a very very bad move…

@AngelAzrael1977 Yes. Some of those can be disabled, but how is unknown at this time.

Time for MS to play some whack-a-mole. I get that they need to protect LIVE users from modders, but it’s pretty crappy for the people that just wanted more storage at a price not beyond insane.

For those touting the 250GB MS drive, even if they release it (which they say they aren’t) what makes you think the price tag will be anywhere near reasonable?

@AngelAzrael1977 Of course it will be a mandatory update, just like every other dashboard update ever released for the 360.

What about people pirating games?

Just ban hammer?

Can’t wait. I’ve signed up for the Twitter and Facebook preview program. About 2 days ago. Waiting for start! Great news about the MU Unit.. Would stop alot of them people cheating gamerscore, etc. Wouldn’t harm me. I’m using my HDD! Now I can actually move up on MGC. Microsoft, once you do this update make sure you reset them cheaters again. There back… Not fare for people who gain them gamerscore points instead of cheating.

So my 2gb datel memory card will stop working? great.

And to everyone complaining about this, I would think it’s likely an issue with people modding more then anything if they have easy access to the data on the drive, which they likely do with a third party device but not with Microsoft licensed devices.

My HDD and MU are legit but Microsoft is making it pretty easy to jumpship and go with Sony. You can use any Hard drive and usb drive you want. Lower your crazy HDD prices!

Just2Lazzzy but this update is not going to stop them from taking screws apart of the official hard drives and hook it up to a computer.

Maybe if Microsoft sold hard drives for the 360 at a sensible and rational price, people wouldn’t feel the need to use modded or unlicensed ones in the first place. I certainly hope this isn’t going to render 3rd-party memory units built specifically for the 360 like this one useless: http://bit.ly/1d8KFi

Well I guess there’s one good thing to come out of all this: at least now we know that the upcoming update is going to have other system updates besides just Twitter, Facebook, last.fm and Zune Marketplace. So what else can we expect to be included, or should I say “removed”?

Why the hell has nobody from Microsoft ever come out and said anything about WHY the prices for this crap is so high? Oh wait, they can’t because they know how f’ing ridiculous it is. Honestly, you’d have a lot more people buying extra HD’s and peripherals if they were prices reasonably.

Thanks for the warning. Luckily, no one I know uses 3rd party storage.

Not gonna lie, this makes me very upset. Not because I own one, but because you’re hurting a market you yourself created, Microsoft.

I would LOVE to buy a new HDD, my 20gb is just not cutting it, but there is no way I’m going to spend the kind of money you’re asking for on a hard drive I can only use on the 360.

The ONLY reason I own a memory card is because I found one for $20 on eBay.

Lower the price of your peripherals and less people would feel the need to buy 3rd party. I know I would.

I have the same hard drive since launch. 20 gigs? I would give anything for a new hdd, but my family needs to eat. I got a 500 gig hdd for 130 bucks for my PS3. The MS price tag is just too expensive.

Who would bother buying 3rd party MUs? 2GBs is a ridiculous amount to have for an MU. I still have my 64 MB. All I use it for is profile storage and some gamerpics/themes. The rest is stored on the HDD.

Keep it comin’ with the updates Major!

NeshyD…becasue some people have caps on their internet.

@UnarmedGorilla

I don’t believe the Xbox 360 hard drive has any moving parts, thus that would make it a solid-state drive. Solid-state drives are more expensive and don’t offer as much capacity than traditional hard drives with moving parts. This is where the price and capacity difference comes into effect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_disk_drive
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive

Good. I just wish you hadn’t given them a heads up. Would’ve been a nice surprise to the pirates.

GameStop sold me my XB360 MAX Memory 4GB card and the recipt states that card is licensed with Microsoft is this incorrect. I went in with intention to buy the 512 and I was upsold to the Datel for the same price.

Is this another of Microsoft made cars we could only buy Microsoft gas and drive on Microsoft roads?

@lightsup55

I don’t know where you get your info but that’s incorrect. The 360′s hard drive is NOT a SSD. Do you have any idea how much a 20 GB SSD drive cost in 2005 or what a 250 GB drive costs now? MS wouldn’t even make up the cost of the drive when selling the console.

So… what MU is authorized and which one isn’t.

I really love Sony at this point for giving a free choice what MU/HDD to use.

But I have a big question now.
I guess, that like on the original Xbox-HDD there’s something like a “code” on the MU that the system can recognize… that would be the only way the 360 can see which one is an authorized MU and which isn’t.

Datel and other 3rd-Party-Producers have sold other MUs (at a more reasonable price and not the Greedy M$ Price)… So I guess there has to be a code on them too. Else they can’t be rendered useless with the next update.

That would mean that either M$ gave the code to them (thus authorized them to produce the MUs) or they just decompiled the MUs and used the code (which would trigger a big lawsuit).

So which of the MUs out there is actually authorized beside the MU from M$?
When it really comes down to “You can just use the MU from M$ I’ll just wait for the EU sueing M$ again for monopolizing… this time on Xbox-Hardware.

Oh well I saved a bunch of money on the Win7-Prof-OEM (cuz it can be bought without a new PC here due to the law) so I might pick up a MU for this tehehe.

Seems like this would violate some anti-trust laws.

The Hitler of the game consoles strikes again

What’s an unauthorized storage device? Are you saying we can’t use third-party devices, or just that we can’t use, uh what is it, devices that are ‘tampered with’? I don’t use either, but if it’s true that you’re making all third party storage devices ‘not work’, and only allowing the official microsoft devices, that’s ridiculous! It’s also artificially forcing a monopoly for themself, when the microsoft devices are WAY overpriced and everyone knows it. They’ve been out for how many years at the same price? Other memory devices must have fallen in price considerably more than microsoft is sharing, and to then force that into a monopoly is outrageous. The competition commission would have a field day! Though, maybe the cc only works in England lol. This turned into a bit of a rant, but oh well. I just wanted to say it even if in the end it’s only adding to the pile. The people need to speak up in their desire for healthy competition and fair pricing, or else nobody will change anything.

people… use your fuckin heads….

M.N. said UNAUTHORIZED Mem units… not 3rd party.

3rd party things like Datel and Nyko are AUTHORIZED.

Unauthorized means like… breaking open a mem unit and installing a 4 gig chip or an additional X-hard drive.

fuckin a’

To clarify, is this just the units, or will this include HDD replacements? The wording of this “warning” isn’t clear.

I don’t have either at the moment, but I AM on a 60gb which is running out of room, and there’s no way in hell I’m paying more for 120gb than I would for a 1 terabyte drive with enclosure elsewhere.

If the product doesn’t have the official seal of approval it would be considered unauthorized. Funny how 75% could hate the move and be vocal about it but it never get changed. I only complain to vent so my wife doesn’t have to put up with it. This company cares only for your wallet. 240 points for a costume for your avatar.

@procrasturbater.. I looked up the Datel one on amazon and it did not have the microsoft approved seal on it.

Microsoft must really want those monopoly lawsuits. Either make the hard drives cheaper, or let people use external.

quote ZprivateZ: “The Hitler of the game consoles strikes again” LOL!

Will my old Microsoft XBOX 360 64mb memory unit still work? It’s official but MS doesn’t make them anymore..

I must have opened a can of worms with DATEL? http://forums.xbox.com/27678596/ShowPost.aspx

I have more than 40 XBLA titles totaling about $450, of which I’m sure Microsoft got a nice cut. If I want a hard drive that can hold them all, plus the other stuff I buy from the marketplace, I have to shell out 3x what the drive is worth. I’d happily buy the 120 GB hard drive for a reasonable price. If they sold it at half the price, they might get twice as many buyers (people like me) and with more space, those people might be tempted to buy more stuff.

With all the MS updates lately, pricy avator clothing, wireless, HHD, MU and games on demand same price as retail box version. When my xbox 360 dies one day, I am going to ditch this 360 for good. I own all 3 consoles and MS every moves pisses me off.

Is there actually any ‘authorized’ storage devices made by other companies?

I would like the option to buy a 360GB Xbox 360 hard drive, like the 360GB hard drive I put in my PS3 for $70. I am out of space on my 120GB drive and constantly having to delete things. How can you justify limiting existing users to 120GB now that you’ve unleashed Games on Demand, and unlimited Live Arcade sizes?

Sucks for people that did that. But like the rest of the people here say, MS is charging way to much for 120 GB, I purchased a 1TB eternal for 80$. You need to have a talk with those people that make the Prices over there Major.

Match the price of your hard drives/memory cards to ones I can buy off NewEgg and I’ll consider buying an official microsoft harddrive/memory card.

$150 for something worth less than half that, only to really pay for a special enclosure is bullshit.

Yay! Now we all can be overcharged for authorized Xbox 360 hard drives. This is the best day of my life! The 250Gb PS3 Slim is $215 more then the Xbox 360′s 250Gb hard drive! Come on! This makes me sick. Overcharging customers for hard drives to buy download content for that hard drive over a service you just so happen to be paying for.

Hmm…. I’m not sure how to process this information. If it was directed at illegal use and pirating – this would be a joyous occasion. But the words ‘Datel’ who took a small market to sell a device, a multimedia card reader you can pop MicroSD Cards up to 32GB (I think), in an out at will is now being disabled. Are we going to see such said device repackaged and licensed at a future date like MadCatz?

@SouthPaw
I purchased a 512MB MU off of eBay (in Nov 2008), but did not test it out until like around Feb or Mar of this year. It wouldn’t copy anything over 15MB. Friend at GS said “It’s counterfeit…”. I thought he was just joshing me then he asked where did I purchase it from, I replied “eBay…China.” “Yup, counterfeit.” Unbelievable and no, I did not get a refund. $50 down the drain. I should have known better as that was an issue we had at SanDisk with multimedia cards; but this was truly ridiculous – silver sticker and all. Look at the bright side, 512MB aren’t too expensive and there is a 60GB HD now.

Here’s why peripherals cost so much: Microsoft loses money on every console made. They want to make up for that by making a profit off of peripherals.

@Twilight Now…So does Sony, but at least they give you options.

Your prices are way out of hand with reality. Those “unauthorized” devices are the only reprieve most people have for getting more storage space for a reasonable price. $150 for a 120GB hard drive is ridiculous. There is no reason why $5 worth of martial for an enclosure for a SATA laptop hard drive should raise the cost so much. Frankly, I am sick of this, there is no reason to keep a strangle hold on storage space when you keep releasing an ever growing archive of content that takes more and more space per download. I have spent hundreds of dollars on the XBL market but this is the end of the line for Microsoft for me. I am tired of them trying to strong-arm money from me for every little tiny thing. (and yes, all of my stuff I have for my xbox 360 is official.) I will be looking to sell my xbox and get a PS3 instead, enough is enough.

Hey does that mean you’ll start charging reasonable prices for authorized m$ storage devices? No, because m$ is extremely greedy. And watch when the new bigger hdd that’s bundled with the MW2 system is released seperatly, you’ll drop the prices on the smaller ones and be like “look we’re heroes”. I can buy a 1 tb hdd right now for my computer for the same price as the 120 gig xbox hdd. Isn’t anyone in the company ashamed of this?

@twilightnow, microsoft, especially the 360 division makes a lot of money. I’m entirely certain they can continue to make a profit off cheaper accessories.

By the way, everybody here praising them for doing this to stop piracy, you need to fact check. This will not prevent it, nothing you can do with the hard drive and memory card will allow you to play a copied game because of the way they set up the DRM. All it stopped is competition for the storage on the console, making them the only place you can get it so they can continue to charge the ludicrous prices. $150 for 120GB drive that can be had for $55 on newegg, $30 for something you can not even GET anymore because nobody bothers to make something so small. You can get a 2GB thumb drive for $8-$10! Seriously!They are selling this crap for 3 times or more the cost of a consumer. Keep in mind they buy this stuff in bulk, so it costs them even less then we would pay in a store.

(Once again, my stuff is all Microsoft branded, 120GB Hard drive, 512 MB Memory Card, two 256 MB Memory cards, Wireless unit and even the HD-DVD drive, two wireless game controllers, Microsoft’s HDMI cable kit… etcetera. Anybody interested it buying it and the games I have for it?)

Microsoft just digging a bigger ditch. NO WONDER MAJOR KEEPS IGNORING NPDs because they realize the Slim is gaining. I may just switch to back to PC gaming. Tired of these damn restrictions. Thank God if Money Hungry Microsoft did this with the PC market again, there would be anti-trust suits against them. I bet next year, they will disable the disc drive and make all games on Games on Demand.

@MACPH1ST0
Hmmm… I guess Stepto is having a long long, long conversation with Twitter and Facebook Integration Teams. I’m not a twitterbug and only look when you throw it at me, but I do remember the day that that ‘thing’ crashed. And I do recall something going on with FaceBook. My thing is, I look forward to last.fm, the others, cool. I just hope the information is locked down, disabled just like the Vision Cam update from long ago. “I don’t know you, so I do not see you nor do you see me.”

As for reasonable rates for hard drives and memory for the Xbox360, why should they make the cheese cheaper if the rats are eat’in up? I would not, but you understand that point. My reason for not upgrading is all the horror stories of lost data and games when transferring to the new HD. Crackdown + Transfer x File Corruption = Thanks, I’ll make do with what I have. I know one thing, my Staples Branded SanDisk 2GB flash drive (music, and photos for Photo Party) no longer is found on my Xbox360. I rarely use it, not sure when that happened, nor have I tested it or asked anyone about it. (You have a Zune now?)

I did buy a 120 gig harddrive, but I’m not surprised that others found a way to use other non-MS products because the harddrive prices are a rip off.

The official Microsoft storage devices might as well be unauthorized: they must be illegal at those prices. Who the HELL would pay 30$ for a measly 512 MB, or 130$ for a 120 GB drive? Ridiculous. Next you’ll want me to pay 40$ to download games I can find at my local EB going for 15$… Oh, wait.

@procrasturbater
Fail you dumb flaming idiot.
Unauthorized = accessories Microsoft hasn’t given the approval to use. That DOES NOT only mean accessories others have built themselves.

They mean accessories, like the Hard Drive, that has the “Microsoft” logo when you go into Memory in System Settings. That logo is the certificate for the 360 to recognize, which is also the reason why everything by them is priced so high. Memory Units don’t have it so I wouldn’t know how the 360 can tell the difference. lrn2technical,nub

Does this mean MS going to start making the prices better. If not the PS3 and Wii are the better choice with open memory standards.

I suppose the main thing needed is some clarification…a lot of people, like myself, had experienced the limits of the 20gb HDD and looked for options. as I have over 2TB of space on my CPU HDDs (2 internal, 1 external), I opted for the Datel memory card transfer kit, in order to store my Arcade games (at one point I owned 99% of the games that had been released) in case they were “de-listed” or whatever. I don’t think it is “licensed” or “approved”, but the data is NOT copied, and it only accessed on my 360 by an official MS MU, so what is the deal with something like that? I hardly use it anymore, but it would be nice to know if it’s even an “illegal” device in MS’s view. Definitely looking forward to Nov…getting the 250Gb (upgradeable) PS3, and the 250GB MW2 360…storage will no longer be an issue!!!

I am just happy that Microsoft is making my decision to purchase a ps3 slim so easy.

SSD for the WIN!!!

5,400 RPMs. Microsoft is sooooo 1998.

SSD for the WIN!!!

Why can’t MS just use SD cards for saves? Ohhh, they can’t charge outrageous prices for too small of a memory device.

I’m so glad that there is at least a few people out there who pay attention.

250GB HD is released soon.
This should cause 120 GB HD price to drop.

@flashuk1983….yes they will drop the price but I bet the 250 gig is at least $150 or more. Doesn’t solve the problem!!

I didn’t know there where unauthorized storage units. Interesting. Why? Price? What else do they offer?

trustypelletgun.com

@xFistsClenchedx: “Will my old Microsoft XBOX 360 64mb memory unit still work? It’s official but MS doesn’t make them anymore..”

Yes, it should as it’s licensed. I have a 256MB 360 MU that came with the Arcade console.
Major Nelson needs to come out and clarify this more.

If you want to get MICROSOFT for something. Why file a complainte with the FTC. And anything like that.

“microsoft, especially the 360 division makes a lot of money.”

Microsoft doesn’t have a 360 division. They have an Entertainments & Devices Division, which the 360 is part of. In 2007 that division made a loss of nearly 2 billion dollars. In 2008 it made a profit of 325 million and in 2009 the profit was 5 million. I’m not trying to excuse MS for the price of the hard drives and other accessories, but if you think they’re raking it in from profits generated by the Xbox 360 you’re wrong. Sony’s gaming division has made huge losses too, but the difference is they have the PS2 and PSP on the market which both sell at a profit, yet they’re still making an overall loss because of the PS3. It would be great for us if the accessories were cheaper, but when you look at the financials you can see why they’re not. It’s all very well jumping ship and getting a PS3, but you end up getting DLC later and at a higher price (all 800 points games/DLC seem to be £7.99 on PSN) and you lose cross-game chat, voice messaging, an invite/join system that works, the party mode, Netflix etc. etc. The grass isn’t always greener! I own both and PSN just doesn’t stack up against Live. The only blessing is that it’s free, but I wouldn’t pay for it if it wasn’t.

I agree with some of the other comments though. 120 GB isn’t enough when there’s games on demand that take up nearly 7 GB and there’ll soon be movies that you can buy to own I believe. Who’s going to buy a 250 GB or 500 GB hard drive if they’re released, if the prices are in line with the current hard drive prices? Not me, that’s for sure. As for blocking unauthorised devices, isn’t it a bit late in the day for that? It’s just going to p*ss off a lot of legitimate customers that bought a non-MS memory card.

Maybe if Microsoft would learn how to price things in a reasonable range people wouldn’t have to use “unauthorized” hard drives. It’s little shit like this that just proves that Microsoft is ONLY about money, and doesnt give 2 shits about the consumer. Makes Sony seem a little better every day.

@xX4C1DxR41NXx He is referring to the memory units. The addon hard drives are limited to 20gb, 60gb, and 120gb capacities even if they go that way. They also have to duplicate a specific sector off a pre-existing drive so that the drive will even be accepted. If you duplicate a sector from someone else’s drive and both xbox’s are online then you will likely get both units banned anyways. I just take the safe route and got a legit hard drive.

Now then as for Datel. They have a bad habit of making plenty of unofficial devices. The cheat devices for Nintendo DS? Yep. Unofficial. They also are fully functional passkeys to boot which allows users to boot the GBA slot in DS mode so they are functioning from technology that Nintendo doesn’t want out there.

I can fully understand and support the need to stop piracy. This however has nothing to do with that. Not allowing people to create more room to buy more stuff seem ridiculous. Keep pushing us over to Sony. The PS3 Slim keeps looking better.

Wow, another way Microsoft eliminates competition. I got a refurb 120 gig from EB but was tempted to get a datel memory unit and an SD Card but glad I didn’t now.

This is pretty ridiculous. You are taking something away from potential legitimate purchasers of Live content to prevent people from boosting their gamerscore with game saves? Nice.

I just bought the Datel Max Memory Card and a 8MB microSD card to back up my saves and content. Now in a matter of weeks it’s a useless hunk of junk thanks to a mandatory update. I’m not doing anything shady with it; I’m just a loyal customer who thought he found a solution for his growing storage problem.

Fuck you Microsoft, Larry Hryb, and any decision makers responsible for this update.

I have the legit MS stuff but this is change is pretty lame. Time for MS to lower the prices.

I think that this is a good idea as what if one of these third-party HDD’s that some people buy from singapore or wherever, has a Phishing program on it. And the PS3 has much less features than the Xbox on and offline. Thanks for this news Major.

How is this information going to be made available to 360 owners, other than on this blog? It’d suck if someone updated the dashboard and then found that they could no longer access their profile and game saves. If that happens, you know it’s going to be all over gaming sites which means even more bad press for MS and the Xbox 360.

Master Ninja – It’s a bit harsh to say **** you to Major Nelson. I doubt he had any part in this decision. Don’t shoot the messenger dood!

If MS going to sell a $150 drive they need to use this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148374

You can actually find out some of this information on the Xbox.com forums.

Major Nelson, and Microsoft employees are just tools. The people at Microsoft don’t care what consumers say. They just find more ways to extract money out of us and make it seem ILLEGAL if we try to save money. They make it seem like selling games is wrong. Buying used games is wrong. Sharing games is wrong. It seems like Microsoft has found its Monopoly in gaming. I can see who will win the console wars next generation. Sony is obviously going to focus on online for the next PlayStation. I can see a lot of people jumping ship to Sony. Do you really think I care about my Gold Tenure or Gamerscore. Both do nothing for me. I still have to pay the same amount a new member would. There are no discounts except the CRAP deal of the week. You guys truly suck. I seriously was starting to like M$ and they obviously always find a way to just piss everyone off again. W/E. Thank God I don’t work for them. I’d have to resign.

I’ll just wait for the internet faeries to enable my Datel MU again once this is over. Instead of disabling them they should look into competing with them.

Hey, don’t call Microsoft or their employees that. Look at what Microsoft has done in the industry. And Sony’s PS3, I have nothing against them except for the fact that the reason that they probably don’t have to pay for their online gaming is that their service isn’t monitered and therefore is filled with cheats (you should hear them complain about COD WAW) and people who would get banned on Xbox Live for what they do, or people who HAVE been banned on Live and realised that they can terrorise people on PSN and NOT get caught. Also, Xbox has more features than all its competitors and that’s why we pay for a service that, if you don’t remember, pioneeered the online console gaming world.

thx Major :]
It has not used it any longer.
However,
Please sell a formal very large memory.

How can you defend this? I’m a loyal, legit customer and thanks to this impending update I’ll be out $80 plus whatever it would cost me to buy something “authorized” if I want to keep that data. Microsoft doing nothing at all would be more consumer-friendly than what they’re planning to do. This is especially ridiculous because you’d think they’d want consumers connected to Xbox Live to be able to buy and store as much as possible.

@mchiefvs360: When a pioneer becomes too powerful, they tend to use it negatively toward us to better themselves. I call that GREED! I call that Money$oft! I’d don’t care what you want me to call them but they are TOOLS if they don’t tell us that they are going to do this long ago. They should have been saying this YEARS ago so people wouldn’t buy them. Not a week before you release an update. Look how Major is not replying. It’s obvious he won’t be welcomed in the discussion here. IMHO, Sony’s PS3 has more customizations. Change hard drive for cheap, use SD cards as memory cards. You can download a theme through the browser for FREE. Microsoft’s customizations require you purchase something. They don’t give two craps about what you like or how you want to do something. It’s One Microsoft Way or the No way!! The innovation they bring now is AVATAR MARKETPLACE, FACEBOOK, TWITTER???? Are you kidding me? A marketplace to customize an animation?? Instead of a browser, they make an Facebook and Twitter apps (with less features than a mobile device). It’s obvious they don’t care. That’s how Microsoft has been since the beginning. Let’s MILK it if we have little competition.

Hey everyone, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or FTC, and let’s see if we can rile this shit up. With the way things are looking, memory hard drives may reach to be as expensive as the systems, and if we really don’t want to stand for it, we have to TELL them. Make your voices known!

Thanks Major, i don’t know what all of you are complaining about anything to stop piracy or people using modded xboxs is a good thing. i just wish they make a stand against modded controllers next.

@DarkGin87 and Ignorant People: Why is it assumed that a person who does not own “Official Licensed Accessories” is a “modder”, “hacker”, or “pirate”. This is not always the case. Some people started with the Arcade with no HDD. They saw a cheap way to save content and profile on a memory unit (which even Microsoft advertises as an easy way to move your profile). Some people don’t know that the Memory Unit is not licensed because Microsoft does not speak up about what is licensed and what is not. They wait until the last minute so they can get a spike in sales and report NPDs when they see Xbox 360 doing better than PS3.

Personally I bought an Arcade system, then before the NXE came out jumped all over the 20gb HDD for $20, once that drive was filled up, I sold it for $50, and bought the 60gb HDD for $149, for $50 more I could have gotten the 120gb HDD, or for $80 could have bought a 1 Terabyte sized drive.

I do have a USB bus powered 160gb HDD, which I use to Play music/Watch movies off the Xbox, and it works great, pity I can’t save my game data to it though.

However when you are selling a relatively small HDD (The 120gb) for more than 2/3rds the cost of an Arcade console, you know that they are price gauging!

However one of the biggest money losers for the original Xbox was the HDD, it added a fairly large chunk to the cost of the machine, and they were loosing allot of money on the Consoles themselves already, it was a smart move by Microsoft to introduce console “Tiers” to reduce that cost and try to break-even on the hardware, unfortunately I find that we haven’t been passed on those savings in any way/shape or form.

Regardless, as long as the Xbox has the games I want, I’ll keep purchasing. – I’m still waiting for Perfect Dark and Halo 2 to come to the Arcade/Games on Demand.

@IconicSoulJA, would you like to know what has “Official Licensed Accessories” Anything that has the official Microsoft sliver label on it, The Joypad,the MU,the HDD,the Data Transfer kit, the Vison cam,the messenger kit. Microsoft is doing this because people are modding there xbox by unofficial Storage Devices so they are just patching that up to stop it, they ain’t doing it because they want to make money there doing it to stop getting ripped off. There trying to stop modder’s there just going to be people that will also be effected which is why i think Major should broadcast this on insider xbox because not everyone check his site.

I haven’t upgraded my 20gb drive yet, but I was going to.

I phoned Microsoft Support a few months ago and they said that using altered drives would not cause problems.

How can you change the policy this late in the game? (as it were)

Microsoft could care less about the consumers their only concern is the consumers money. $150 for 120gb harddrive isn’t overpriced its legalized stealing. Microsoft has deep pockets and can buy off lawmakers and have the laws made in their favor much like the music and movie industries do. They will never care what the opinions of consumers think for them its their way or no way and if you find a way well they will get that ruled illegal soon enough. I’m telling you the are the modern day Hitler for gaming consoles, kill off competitors and rape your wallets. Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!

@anyone who doesn’t believe me. Did anyone ever play online games on a console properly before Xbox Live came out? Answer. No. And yes, the only thing that I’ll say that the PS3 has one-upped the Xbox is that it has a Web Browser on it, but so does your PC. Microsoft are powerful because they have great tech and if you look at what it has done. Has anyone ever used DOS? No, well, here it is: After DOS, came the first graphical interface (Windows 3.x) and it was good for its time, and now look at where the company has come, everyone thought that the Xbox would fail, but, with games like Halo, it made all other consoles at the time look like last gen consoles. Apple tried to make a console, and failed. Also, please note, has Sony or Nintendo got an XNA equivalent, answer is no, and all the game devs say that Xbox is the best platform to program on.

Is this just referring to Datel’s Max Memory product?

MS would only have the right to do this when they release a BIG MU.
HDDs are so unpractical when for example you take your DLC to play at a friend’s.

This ‘upgrade’ is utter crap. Way to waste your time and remove functionalyty while adding useless functions, MS.

Charging $150 for a 2.5” 120GB HDD in 2009 is absolutely stupid.

Flip sides of a coin I guess. On one hand, you can reign in on gamerscore cheaters and modders. On the other, getting seriously close to some anti-trust issues, while “authorized” devices are clearly more expensive than they should be.

While all my devices are made by MS, I was a little cranky about the price of the 120 GB drive when I got it. So, I can see why some might be a little ticked off.

I’m all fine with that, but right now my 120 Gb is busting at the seams and I need the 250 Gb drive so I don’t have to delete a bunch of XBLA games or game saves.

Given that I have 7 x 360′s throughout my home, I think it is very unfair to make me purchase a special edition Forza or CoD 360 just to get a 250 Gb drive. Its not that I can’t afford it… Its just frustrating that the only way for me to keep gaming without managing space is to spend $400 on another console I don’t need.

Datel isn’t going to like this…

Simple solution to make everyone happy:

1. Release the firmware and a program so you can take any 2.5″ HDD and use it with the Xbox.
2. Don’t make a big deal out of it, then most of the customers will still buy MS’s overpriced harddrives (because they don’t know that you can buy one for 1/10 of the price) and MS still make a huge pile of money.
3. ???
4. Profit!

I dont think that they will ban/block wd homemade hdd’s. Thousands of people already bought them via ebay/shops without knowing that they are not original ones…
More space on hd = user buy more content = $$ to m$.

And i agree that these prices are rip off, i can buy new WD WD2500BEVT 250GB 2,5′ SATA for 37euro + 7euro for hdd case from dealextreme. total 44euro – microsoft 120gb hdd price: 149euro…

Microsoft have got to bring out bigger hard drives and Memory Units at more reasonable prices, especially as they keep increasing the size of Arcade titles and demos are getting bigger. I only use Microsoft’s official products, but can see how this will annoy legit users of these third-party products.

come on people bill gates lost billions this year he needs the sells

what abaout external hard drives? I use them to for movies, music and pics

Wow, another thing Sony does more user-friendly.

Keep’em coming MS, you’re better at promoting the PS3 than Sony is

Let’s hope this crackdown coincides with a drop in price for Official Memory Units and Drives. I really doubt it though.

$31 for a 512MB MU from Major’s amazon.com link… that’s not just expensive, it’s crazy expensive… a Kingston Data Traveler I 16 GB USB Stick is $32 for 16GB on amazon. The 360 MU is only 775% more expensive per GB.

The Xbox 360 120GB Drive is $135, when a 640GB Seagate Go USB 2.0 drive is $120, both on amazon. The 360 Drive is only 600% more expensive per GB.

man i hope i get accepted. did you guys get your “accept email” yet?

USB/HDD drives, Media Players will still work for playig video and music. The unauthorised memory units will not work (to save games, etc).

I thought Datel was a third-party publisher but I couldn’t find the logos. So I guess that I was wrong

Well i am fine, i only have an official 512 and original hd.

1TB HDD for PC $90 Australian Dollars.
120GB HDD for xbox360 $169 AUD.
Being financially raped by a Multi Billion dollar company for wanting to purchase more of their content via XBLA = BAN… Seriously, what on earth?

You know how hard it is to stand up against people who say Microsoft is Teh Evil when you do stuff like this?

that might upset some people…

does the word “MU” means the hard driver?

Bad form Major

I just got a 120gb drive from Hong Kong a few weeks ago… I bought it no even questioning if it was Legit, i didn’t even know you could get a non-legit drive… but now I have no idea if this is legit or not…. It looks legit… If this update comes out and kills my hard drive… and I lose all my game saves its the last straw… I have been very patient (5 dead consoles,) I’ve have also bought well in excess of 120 games and spent thousands on my 360. If MS nickel and diming catches me out for importing a HDD at a reasonable price. It’s going to be packed up and traded at EB… Fingers crossed my drive is legit, i’m looking forward to Forza 3…

I would also like to voice my concern over the prices of Microsoft’s storage devices. I hope the right people are reading these comments and realize that when you take away peoples’ options and force them to buy your overpriced devices that you’re simply angering your customer base and you’ll just end up losing customers to Sony. People can only take so much gouging. Personally, I own all MS brand storage devices .. or at least I HOPE I do .. I only buy them used because I refuse to pay the ridiculous full retail price.

OOOHHH microsoft trying to stop modders????
NOT GONNA WORK always remeber hackers are ALWAYS more clever than microsft
look at windows 7 isnt even out yet and you can get ultimate on the internet for free

WIth all the “connectivity” coming to the 360 is there any reason why we still can’t use external USB hard drives? Besides the $$$ to be made by ripping off customers with “Authorised” hard drives? This is one way Microsoft can’t escape being Microsoft, even with the image they have built for themselves with the xbox.

Maybe if Microsoft weren’t such rip off merchants, people wouldn’t have to seek alternatives.

Hmmm,

512mb for £30, or 2GB for £28

Tough choice isn’t it?

This is stupid. Seriously, My new car, if a part goes bad, I don’t need to put in “AN AUTHORIZED PART” for it to run, a brand new dell pc, I can put a new cd drive, or a new hard drive and it’ll still connect to the internet. My ps3 I can change that hard drive to! Hell, even my laptop can do it! Honestly for something so stupid as storage space I don’t believe microsoft should put a limit to it. Thats like me sticking a 1TB drive in my laptop and it saying “Sorry but now you can’t read your files because we can only allow you to have 80gbs”. Seriously though, I own my xbox, I paid hard earned money for it, and still spend hard earned money almost every day. Why should I be limited to upgrade something that I rightfully own. Microsoft may be losing a lot of customers with this move. **END RANT**

As a mom and a gamer I would also like MS to lower the prices of their HDDs. I have been wanting to get myself a 120gb for the longest and that $120-150 dollar price tag just won’t cut it. I would rather spend that money on getting my kid some clothes and something she would use rather than on an accessory on a console that might break and render it utterly useless (its in repair for the third time). I buy very cheap, I never buy the games when they come out, cause like I always say “If I haven’t played it, its new to me.”

Next yr when taxes comes around I am going to get my daughter and myself a PS3 (preferably a used one in good condition) because you can actually put it your own HDD, and I plan to get a very cheap TB HDD.

@Major Nelson

The policy regarding third party storage and storage pricing needs to change.

Storage is a key component of the 360 and Xbox Live. Yet the number of options and pricing makes it one of your weakest areas. Considering storage is vital for digital distrubution you would think peneration would be your main goal. But at the current pricing it seems you’re more interested in selling to less people with a higher margin, than more people with a lower margin. Why you would want your install base to be running on smaller storage and (in many cases) without storage is totally mind boggling.

Although I’m unaffected by this announcement, I strongly support those affected. Microsoft has wronged some of it’s loyal customers, and for that you should be ashamed.

Hey, MS:

Stop ripping people off. Maybe then people wouldn’t create their own storage solutions to get around your pricing ways.

Kay? thanks.

PS: While you’re at it, lower the price on the Wi-Fi adaptor too. I heard people use bridges to connect their 360′s for far cheaper than that thing. hint hint.

The 250GB HDDs will not be sold separately, it will only be coming in a bundle with the MW2 and the other game I forgot…I think its Forza 3. I saw on IGN that maybe in the late future they might release them but for now, we might be stuck with ridiculously priced HDDs. :\

Not that I use them, but if this does indeed cover third party accessories like the Datel one everyone goes on about, then this is bang out of order. Since when has there ever been a problem with using third party accessories for legitimate purposes? They should be issuing a free memory card or hard drive to everyone they screw over with this latest customer conning policy.

@SSofreich – MU = Memory Unit

This was the first wave of complaints =D Now we’ll wait for all the peeps who own a 360 and no PC to call MS support in November.

They force ppl to get storage space (e.g you HAVE to install the 2nd disc of Forza3 in order to get the full experience) and then charge a ridiculous price for it. Ah… I remember those M$-officials saying something like “Who needs a Bluray for gaming?!”… Now they might add “Better go with us and get overpriced hardware to get the full experience”.

@that one guy using that hitler stuff
I’m german and it’s not very funny reading it. I know he was an asshole but that was 40y before I was even born. Still you read something like that nowadays. Why not using Bush =>

Any chance Major you can come in and clarify which products can still be used? It doesn’t matter to me because I use the Microsoft Hdd and MU but it does seem to be causing quite a bit of confusion here.

Every cloud has a silver lining. And also official hard drives; why else would they charge the 300% premiums for official drives..

Way to prove your unscrupulous credentials microsoft.

@DarkGin87 Too bad you can’t see that sticker on the internet when purchasing a product. Based on your post, a modder is anyone who purchasing “unofficial” or “unauthorized” memory units. They are a company with a product. You really need to learn Microsoft’s history. They like to lower their price to entry on their main item and then charge you an arm and leg for accessories. Microsoft, Apple, heck almost every company does that. The Zune HD is a great example with ~$70 to $80 HD pack for it to watch HD movies on a HD TV. They don’t care about modders. They care about the bottom line. If they cared about modders, then Gears of War II wouldn’t have so many lag switchers running around. You are just apologizing for Microsoft’s greed.

Major – MS need to address the underlying issue here – WHY the unauthorised storage exists.

By “unauthorised storage” I take it to mean that a user has put a laptop harddrive into their 360 enclosure, and updated it to make it work.

The reason people are prepared to do this is because the prices of “official storage” is so far removed from reality. In the UK the 120GB official harddrive has an RRP of £129.99 and can be bought for around £100. In comparison, a 320GB laptop harddrive, marked compatible with PS3, can be bought for under £39.99 – the cost of a single game.

If MS are so intent on clamping down on users I would much rather you put attention into removing piracy from the system, and banning users that have hacked their gamerscores.

The sad fact is, that after this update blocks a load of harddrives – you know what will happen? Someone will find a way around it, and start flashing harddrives again to make them work.

Major, people are upset because this doesn’t seem pro consumer.

Maybe a justification behind the move would help.

Maybe I should call my sister n law up who has been working for Microsoft for about 10 yrs now and complain to her about it. I know she will listen to me or maybe she’s the one jacking prices up.

Damnit, I should have let the Max Memory order with the Windows 7 order. That way I could just cancel it. Now I’m stuck with some shit piece of junk. Atleast I can still use the 4 gb Card that came with it.

I bought the Datel Max Memory MU because the official MS MU was too small (insufficient to my needs) to hold my saves, profile and arcade games. As I swap between my elite and arcade xboxes a MU is necessary. This is completely out of order if it gets blocked because some of my saves cannot be moved to ANY OTHER memory unit (Rockband, Forza etc) this means I will LOSE data because of MS changing the product software.
I am going to BBC watchdog right now, anyone else in the UK should fire off an email too –

http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/gotastory/

Way to support the consumers who have purchased more than one machine microsoft.

This wouldn’t be a problem if Microsoft’s first party accessories weren’t so overpriced (it must be a HUGE profit area), but forcing us to stick with Microsoft accessories (hard drives in particular) as our only option is probably one of the biggest downfalls of the platform. That’s why I’m stuck with a 20 GB hard drive still; The 120GB costs as much as some 500-1000 GB hard drives.

These are the days of our lives…

Wow… some clarification would be nice. I myself have been tempted to pick up a Datel just so I can move my huge update for Burnout Paradise off my drive when new arcade demos become available. (Yes, it is getting THAT dire on a 120GB, have one of the flunkies go download EVERY available arcade title and tell ME how much room they have left.) The update, at it’s whopping 2GB wont fit on a current MU. I think there would have been a lot less backlash here if some specifics were given, and an alternate choice. I mean, if you had stated that 500GB HD’s are going on sale for xmas at $79, and 16GB MU’s were coming for $29, I don’t think most would complain. They’d simply get the new thing and transfer over their files prior to this update. Even if this IS a move to combat modders and whatnot, this becomes a case of pointing out your own systems shortcomings. Microsoft failed to provide a memory unit bigger than 512MB, and the consumer found a workaround. This would be like a 3rd party patching Windows to secure a flaw, only to have a Windows update undo the benefit. I have a Microsoft 256MB that I carry my profile with me everywhere, but since the ISP’s here have usage caps, I wouldn’t mind being able to bring an arcade game or two out with me too. As for HD’s, I haven’t seen a 3rd party option or I would HAVE ALREADY BEEN ON IT. My 120GB is full, and if I clear it out, who’s gonna send me Double Dragon now that it’s de-listed? Major, please open fire on the R&D and marketing goons who are killing the consumer here. The people have spoken, we want the same options for storage that the competition offers, and we don’t want to get gouged in the process. Simple enough request, now please, while I still love my 360…make it happen.

I use official Microsoft items. But the 120GB HDD and wireless adapter is waaayyy too over price. Bill Gates is already rich enough. I think that we should able to put in a bigger HDD by ourselves like 1TB, without getting banned nor having this update.

Sorry…but what does this mean for those that replaced their 20GB hard drive with the 120GB one? I mean the hard drive’s are identical to the ones in the MS 120GB…and the drive is in the 20GB hard drive caddy. The difference…is it cost $55 to upgrade.

Microsoft better do the sensible thing & stop this update.

They’re gonna lose out a LOT more in the long run.

If people weren’t ready to pay the extortionate prices for Microsoft HDD’s or MU’s, then what makes you think they will now.

Fewer storage solutions means fewer DLC purchases, which in turn means less money for Microsoft.

Well done Microsoft, you really know how to treat the customer.

I’ll be the first to defend Microsoft when it comes to a vast amount of the decisions they make, but I can see this being troublesome. While I understand that denying third party hard drives is a means to solve and prevent issues with modders cheating, if the official hard drives were more reasonably priced, this wouldn’t be an issue for anyone.

Major faux pas.. no pun intended… some of the decisions made at MS are just sooooo stupid, locking down a console is what makes people turn to other things!

oh, id also like to say, get ready for an absolute shit storm of complaints, cause a lot of people dont want to buy your over priced crap and would go to someone like datel, and pay an actual reasonable price.. i imagine they aint gonna be so happy when they stop working

Oh dear…Major if MS goes ahead with this and I bought my 120gb off ebay (so i bet its a non authorized one – though no idea as it looks ok to me?? i`m not an expert in what is and what isnt i`m afraid sorry). But that is the last straw with the Xbox 360. I bought the HD-DVD and thats no good anymore, my xbox is in Germany waiting to be fixed for the 2nd time, they sent it back with a non working dvd drive!! and Ive bought tons of games including arcade ones – if my drive no longer works it will be adios Xbox and Hello PS3…

@ Heliophage

Modders *will* still be around.

How is this update gonna stop the Official Hard Drives from being connected to a PC & modders putting data onto it?

This update is just harming customers seeking cheaper/more affordable ways to add extra storage to their console.
If the storage solutions offered by Microsoft weren’t so extortionate, then they wouldn’t have this problem.

Microsoft Prices (Amazon):
512MB Memory Unit = £30
120GB HDD = £94

Alternate Solutions:
4096MB Memory Unit = £29
320GB HDD + XBOX 360 Enclosure = £48

If you have the ability to make your own HDD, then you should be allowed to use it.
Preventing this is not helping anyone.

Maybe you should then work towards making the “authorized” storage devices a little more reasonably priced.

This is a bull**** move.

I never knew about these. This is great imho. People complain about the price of a 120gb hdd then go and pay $40 for 2GB. Dont get me wrong I myself waited until the price went down to get my 120GB for price reasons but $40 for 2GB Vs. $150 for 120GB. I dont get it!

bye bye naughty hackers with there 20gig drives turned up to 120gig, with the hard drive hack !

But then again, i feel for them, when microsoft charge £90 for 120gig harddrive !!! WTF.

Microsoft need to put the deal they had before for people who bought arcade systems, they had a deal where you could get a 20 gig hard drive cheap from them……

@Cayne I love my Playstation 3. It is a great addition to my gaming collection. I have been spending more and more time on it and less time on the Xbox 360!!! So if this decision is making it easier to buy a Playstation 3 then go for it. Oh and by the way if you get it see you in Playstation Home!!!!

@ bUbbALoUmCc

That’s because it’s 2GB or flash memory!!!

Don’t compare apple’s with oranges.

@Cottonjaws
“I just got a 120gb drive from Hong Kong a few weeks ago… I bought it no even questioning if it was Legit, i didn’t even know you could get a non-legit drive… but now I have no idea if this is legit or not…. It looks legit… If this update comes out and kills my hard drive… and I lose all my game saves its the last straw… I have been very patient (5 dead consoles,) I’ve have also bought well in excess of 120 games and spent thousands on my 360. If MS nickel and diming catches me out for importing a HDD at a reasonable price. It’s going to be packed up and traded at EB… Fingers crossed my drive is legit, i’m looking forward to Forza 3…”

Amen, When I bought my hard drive off ebay I never thought about it not being legit either. I just hope it is. This isn’t right if I update and it doesn’t work. I will definitely call Microsoft and give them a piece of my mind!!

I never even knew there was unauthorised storage devices. All I can say is ‘meh’.

@ MJGAMING

I also bought a 120GB HDD off of ebay a couple of years ago.

Hope it still works after the stupid update.

“I Resendetra I” and others who have said this is a good thing, what possible reason could you have to believe this is anything but bad? Microsoft charges prices that are utterly RAPE for hard drives. $149 (MSRP for the official Microsoft drive) is a 750GB drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136414), not 120GB.

This is solely to put more money in Microsoft’s pocket, not at all good for consumers. Not a single one of you gamers will benefit at all from this change. If their games didn’t all suck, I’d be a Sony fan given that they let me swap out my hard drive all day.

@ K1LLER HORNET

I would imagine it’s just a measure, among many measures, to try and crack down on modding, cheating, and piracy. I’m not disagreeing with you, I think inexpensive alternatives provide the competition necessary to convince Microsoft to lower the prices of its 360 peripherals, but I can understand the motivation behind this.

Apart from just wanting people to buy the expensive hard drives.

Microsoft wants everyone to buy their overpriced hardrives now.

Wow. I sure hope Microsoft have put some money aside to fight legal cases regarding this. I’m sure the EU commission will be real pleased to see this move.

Plus I look forward to someone from Microsoft UK appearing on Watchdog. I think they’ve done with Sony now.

Guys, it’s not about the price of the drive – the unauthorized hard drives allow people to save manipulated/hacked game saves. Thats the concern – not external storage.

Not a problem for me as i have all XBOX 360 official accessories.. Tough luck for all the modders! Keep up the great work on keeping XBOX LIVE a mod-free place! I have a friend on my friends list who constantly boasts of having a modded HDD. Il have the pleasure of informing him of this news Laters Major

120gb drive $150
Brand new arcade console $199
Makes sense to me

@JohnnyDethmatch

Well you have to decompile the code of the original drive… So when you’re able to access that you’ll also be able to get your hands on the savefiles. Beside this, I guess I could find an easy manual to perform this myself. Hurray for the internet.

Well let, M$ do this step and wait for the lawsuits and of course the hackers out there who will crack the nutshell again. The only ppl that are really punished are the loyal and buying customers.

Loyal customers would buy Official Microsoft gear, if not then they’re not really ‘loyal’, if you see what I mean.

@JohnnyDethmatch

Actually, you can move save files to and from a MS hard drive just as easily as a 3rd party drive. This move isn’t stopping cheaters, it’s just guaranteeing MS more sales on their over priced storage solutions. They’re not making XBL a safer place for gamers, they’re just making it a more profitable place for Microsoft.

@JohnnyDethmatch

Wrong.
1. ‘unauthorized hard drive’ is a clone of original hdd.
2. You can extract anything from original hard drive to pc, then bo,ost your gamerscore/h,ack game saves.
If you dont belive me, connect your xbox original hdd to pc via ‘authorized xbox 360 transfer kit’ and use xplorer360 or Xport360 software to see/export/delete all the content on drive.

Microsoft to the rescue again! Thanks for saving us from those 3rd party choices. I am happy to hear the news of being forced back into having one exorbitantly overpriced option. Why don’t you come and get my Turtle Beach X4′s why you’re at it Major?

Bunch of greedy snakes.

@ killer hornet
I am not comparing apples to oranges. I am comparing GB’s to GB’s. Flash or HDD it dosnt matter. The purpose of both is the same. Save things on it.

Well this doens’t effect me as I’m still on my ickle 60gb hd. The whole pricing structure for xbox hd’s is cureenlty a joke though… how do they really expect people to start paying for their (also over priced) games on demand when HD space is cureenlty so tight on existing 360 hd’s?? Hey who needs a recession? lol

Absolutely disgusting. I’ve been saying for a while that Microsoft’s behavior continues to make the PS3 more and more attractive… and this will be the final straw if you go through with this. I am not personally affected by this YET (about 13 gigs free on a 60 gig drive), but the fact Microsoft has seen fit to take the choice away from me so as to make way for their overpriced equipment is unacceptable. I will begin setting money aside for a PS3 immediately.

If my ebay bought 120GB hard drive stops working after this update I am finished with the Xbox 360.
I was first in line for one back in 2005,and after spending about €2000 on the system,games etc and 2 red rings,one of which was 2 minutes out of the box as a replacement from Microsoft,I am going to be punished for trying to save a few € over Microsoft’s extortionate price for their hard drive?

No bloody way.

I will be first in line emailing my MEP for Europe about it and demanding something be done.

I have a PS3 and it’s going to be taking pride of place in my living room if this kick in the teeth for ordinary gamers goes ahead.

Absolu1tley SHAMEFUL Microsft,hang your heads.

This is a pretty slimey move by Microsoft. The only reason for doing this is to force people into having no alternative but to buy their OVERPRICED memory units and hard drives. Very customer unfriendly!.
And to those who think this has anything to do with people “modding” gamesaves/profiles etc, please wake the F up!. Gaining access to data stored on official products is just as easy as gaining access to the data stored on unofficial products.
Like others have already stated, the unofficial products only exist for the simple fact that Microsoft’s offerings are overpriced and don’t offer enough storage.

i agree with everyone that the drives and memory units are overpriced. i did purchase the 120gb official drive when first released, so yeah they are expensive. hopefully there will be a price drop soon.

i’m not gonna get upset and say i’m switching to ps3 (since i already own one), just hopefully something good will come out of this (ie: price drops)

hey K1LLER HORNET, is your account on live still working? noticed a ‘no-no’ in your recently played titles…

For the folks who bought a HDD off of eBay, follow these steps to check and see if your HDD is authorized

If you are unsure if your HDD is Authorized, go to System Settings > Memory > On this screen check to make sure the Microsoft Authorization Logo is there on the right. This is how you know if your device is Authorized or not.

@ Beasty Drummer

So my wd1600bevt is authorized: http://i33.tinypic.com/30kx9hy.jpg

nice ;-D

I didn’t read all 16 pages of comments, but people with homemade hard drives can chill. He specifically mentions Memory Units. No mention of hard drives. This will only affect the folks using the crappy Datel memory units that use MicroSD cards. I’ve seen the 2GBs on sale at Best Buy for $40. They are soon to be worthless.

To start i only have the official 120gb HD that i got with my elite, however this is pure bull. Banning unauthorized units is ridiculous it is just another way of MS shafting customers with over-priced official hardware. If Sony had a decent catalogue of games i would have fooked MS off ages ago as they are a bunch of robbing dogs. Can you squeeze any more money out of your customers? you already have virtual over-priced clothes and Premium themes that you cannot even preview (themes)(which should be free, it is advertising after all) what next a banning on 2nd and 3rd part peripherals. Seriously MS are becoming complete scumbags…

Pretty harsh microsoft, what next ? no unoffical controllers?

@ K1LLER HORNET

Yeah my account is still active (as of 2hrs ago).

To the folks who say it will stop the hackers/pirates..It’s not ever going to happen. When I was a kid there was no internet. I went to flea markets and swap meets to buy my bootlegged movies and game cartridges. They couldn’t stop it then and won’t now. This will be a set back for them yes, but they will work around it. Microsoft has not said it’s to fight piracy/hackers but if they do then it is a ruse to force their products onto us. I will also bet that the home made HDD’s will not work either unless it has the Microsoft Seal that Major talked about. I agree that Microsoft is entitled to sell at what ever prices, it’s just not a smart move to overprice storage devices. The Wii gives you storage choices, the PS3 does and so did/does the PS2. Do the right thing and delay the update and let us use what ever storage we want.

@ bUbbALoUmCc

Then why don’t you compare a HDD to a HDD???

Microsoft 120GB HDD = £94
Western Digital 320GB = £40

You can not compare Solid State media to a HDD.

Sure they are both used to store information, but one is very portable, the other is not.

Would you compare a Laptop to a PC?
By your logic, you would never buy a Laptop, as the PC would always be the cheaper option with better specs.

Not sure if this will get read by many, but I have echoed some of the concerns posted here w/ the accessories team.

Thank you Major Nelson.

Much appreciated.

Thanks Major.

Cool! Thanks MAJOR!!!!!!!!
I’m glad to see that you listen MAJOR!!!!!!

YOU’RE THE BEST!

Thanks Major

I take it there is no way of telling the MU is authorized and not a fake. Neither the MU or the built in memory on my 2nd 360 (Jasper) has the MIcosoft logo.

I have 1 120GB HDD I bought at Game in the UK. When I moved to the US, I bought a Japser Arcade and an apparent OEM 120 Elite HDD from amazon.

After seeing this post, I panicked and transferred all my profiles (kept on MU) to the jasper internal memory (not convenient). MY OEM elite does not allow XBOX1 game.s I do have the micosort name like ‘i tomek i’ above, but now, I am confused. I have now wiped then transferred what I can to the known authorized HDD. The OEM one, I will not touch (stay off-line)till I know I am OK.

Major can you confirm which devices will be affected by this? I read that the eBay HDD’s are actually mimic flashed to make it look like a legit HDD, so now Im worried. So does that mean even if the Authorization logo is there, it isnt really authorized?

This is really confusing.

i wonder if monopoly and price gouging mean anything to MS? i do think it means something to the united states government. remember when MS had to make word available for mac users and they were no longer aloud to offer it free of charge? this has inspired me to write a letter to my senators. good luck M$

@MajorNelson that’s good of you to pass on the messages.

Next on the agenda, how about making the DRM for games be a little more like the DRM on PS3. If I were able to license my DLC to 5 consoles like with PS3, I might buy more Xbox 360s. As it is now, I’m just sticking to the one and moving it between rooms as necessary. This is less hassle than fighting the DRM if I lose connection to the Internet.

One thing that Sony got right this generation was to allow users to upgrade their hard drives, and get away from this proprietary BS!

The Hard Drives that are official Xbox 360 drives, from MS, are way too overpriced. Everyone knows it.

I play my 360 all the time, and I’ve always recommended them, but the decisions that MS, keeps making is making me contemplate the Sony PS3.

Bring out the 250 GB for $120, and drop the 120GB to $60…

MS you ever thought of selling a few 120′s and making a lot of profit, or selling a whole lot of 120 giggers for less, and selling a ton of them, and still making profit, and pleasing your customer base at the same time. Gouging has got to stop.

So Nelson, by you passing on peoples comments here, are you confirming that HDD’s are going to be targetted??

Why not just let us know if they are going to be banned now? I am pretty sure that you know the answer.

The prices Micro$oft are charging for the xbox 360 hard drives is disgraceful.

I guess there will be 3 losers on this front, from this action. 1. The consumers with the intent of working around the storage problem. 2. The modders with the intent on modding gamerscores, game files, and ect. 3. Everyone has to buy overpriced HDD’s.
Now if I remember correctly back when action reply “Made by Datel” came out for Xbox 1 there was issues on many games on Live Specialy RTCW “Return to castle Wolfenstein” With hack game files, many complained and they fixed the issue. Because it was affecting the players games on the LIVE service. Now why don’t they do something about the modded controllers?

This is honestly disgusting, im never giving ms any of my money again. Thank god i’ve got a ps3 by my side.

I doubt if hacked gamesaves is the major reason for this change, the problem of course is that Datel et al aren’t paying the “Microsoft accessory tax”. Whilst Microsoft campaign and lobby around the world for “free-markets” and “tariff-free-trade” this of course never applies to their own closed systems.

Major, I know you’re only the messenger, but this is going to hurt a lot of legit xbox 360 owners.

I have 3 xbox 360′s in my house, 2 arcades and an elite. I also have 2 (legit) 120gb hard drives. It was a bit of a pain to keep swapping hard drives so it was only a couple of weeks ago I bought a datal max memory card so I could easily transport my profile around the house and between friends. Due to it’s size I could also carry the odd arcade game / demo with me. Now it looks like in a few weeks my £30 ($50) purchase will be reduced to a worthless piece of plastic by Microsoft. After reading all the comments it seems it’s as easy to hack game saves etc. with an official product as an unofficial product so the only reason for this course of action is greed. I’m not in the habbit of throwing money down the drain, so who is going to reimburse me? MS or Datel?

This is a DOUBLE STANDARD Major. You’ve advertised third-party unauthorized products such as the Turtle Beach X1 headset and given them away. Their site says NOTHING of being an authorized product, so how should we know if it is authorized. http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/efx1/home.aspx Now, in the case of the memory cards, the same is true. There is no statement of the product being authorized. THIS IS JUST WRONG!!! I QUIT the Preview Program because of this post. I don’t need to help M$ fix their problems and spread their agenda of greed. I appreciate Major’s post but it doesn’t mean anything to me until I see this type of monopolistic policies ended.

I could see the FTC getting involved with this. Read the first paragraph

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission

@IconicSoulJA amem to that! I also have an ebay 120gb HDD i bought only a month ago. So this news that it will be rendered useless took me by complete surprise. How should I know if it is legit? It looks like it is, but hell, I’m not sure. I am not a criminal, I’ve done nothing wrong, so why should I pay this price? I hate so say it, but PS3 seems a bit closer to me… I used to bash it, but, MS seems to be bashing me!

@capiotti at least you’ve had yours for a month! I just received mine after 17 day shipping on October 9th. If this “update” screws up my HDD, I will be done with MS and moving to PS3.

@Beasty Drummer: MS has money. Money buys stuff, people, and the government

A fine example of greed right here. There’s nothing preventing modding, and as said before, most casual modding is actually done using official products.

They just want to sell us products at double the cost of normal.

Well i’ve tried a back compat game and it doesn’t work so it looks like my HDD is probably unauthorised, it looks just like any other 120gb hdd and even has MS holographic stickers etc… I’m stuffed now…Where is the amnesty etc… they should honour existing storage and ban new purchases additions after a certain date… That would mean MS getting the monopoly they prize and consumers wouldn’t feel so done over…

I just gave away my 20gb thinking all my storage was sorted… the only storage i have now is a 64mb mu and a hardrive thats about to be wiped out with at least 500mb+ of game saves… I guess my only option is to not take the update until i can talk my wife in to letting me spend $200 on a hard drive that should cost $50.. it might take sometime…

Everyone chill. they are banning the crappy Datel Memory Units. They are so crappy that people have lost all their saves. Your haxor hard drive is safe.

@DieLustigeWitwe – We know.

@DieLustigeWitwe well why haven’t they come out and said that then? It reads ‘Don’t use unauthorized Xbox 360 Storage Devices’ – this could mean hard drives too.

Fine if it’s only the datel max memory cards, but Microsoft need to be more precise and an explanation is in order. This is still going to hurt a lot of people who use them, and I for one will want reimbursing from either Datel or Microsoft as I’ve only had it a couple of weeks (and it works fine btw).

@DieLustigeWitwe

Well, until someone *who knows* confirms that, people will have to keep making noise…

(I love btw how this site lets you see the amount of *paying customers*, which seems to fair outweigh us silver members, yet have the same concerns…)

Please clarify your statement Major.

Thanks

@Fowl2: It’s MS. It’s as clear as it gets

My LIVE goes out November. I wonder if I should renew or just disconnect completely. I’ll be fine with this update. I don’t use the Avatar Craplace anyway and rarely get the overpriced and usually crap DLCs anyway.

I’ve been thinking about PS3 and stuff like this makes it all so much easier. LIVE is not needed to have fun. I usually play single player games anyway.

Well in his statement, Major specifically mentions “Memory Units” more than once. Later on, he mentions authorized storage devices in a generic way, but the part about the ban relates specifically to “Memory Units”. No mention is made of hard drives. Datel makes a lot of accessories, it’s possible Microsoft does not want to call them out by name. Plus for all I know, there are other non-Microsoft memory units out there besides Datel’s. Theres is the only one I’ve ever seen for sale at retail, and it allegedly has issues with borking saves not just on itself, but other attached storage devices.

When a thread on Microsoft’s Greed almost surpasses the Preview Program thread, there is an obvious problem. I bet they will ignore this anyway. All they care about is lining their pockets.

I guess we’ll have to wait for an official statement on what will be affected.

The team working on the Xbox 360 at Microsoft is past it. They’re out of touch, and the system no longer belongs in their hands.

This if for the benefit of all of us as third-party products occaisonally fail. I once bought a controller for the original xbox and as soon as it was out of the box, it broke. I’d rather pay a few more dollars for a certified microsoft product than a third-party MU that will probably corrupt in a few months when I need it most.

@Exu: It’s been like that since… Before launch?

@mchiefvs360: In my experience M$ accesories are no better. Those recharge kits die fast and Ive had stuff die on me so conveniently just ad the warranty expires. Reading other posts it does seem like Microsoft would be committing a monopoly crime. Its not okay to take away alternatives for consumers and force them to buy heavily over-priced accesories.

@ Exu – My Xbox360 is a Microsoft certified product and it broke 3 times and my controllers are Microsoft certified and I have to send them in for repair as well.

yeah, i have the overpriced harddrives M$ sells
you’re selling the most expensive harddrives in computer history… and then M$ still has the nerve to produce advertisement that says: “when you buy a mac, you pay extra for the brand”. Same happens with xbox, and M$ isnt complaining. At least with the PS3, you can exchange the HDD, and so far it has not been plagued by piracy!

@BillyMagnumFOD: I’m not saying that all third-party products are broken, just that the ones that microsoft actually certify are better. For example, if you went to Game, and they were selling their play-and-charge kit, it doesn’t neccessarily mean it’s better, but, it actually costs more than the Microsoft one, another example, I bought an intercooler, and the power cable wouldn’t even go in it due to faulty manufacturing. But brands like Logitech who might make products that Microsoft sign off on are good, but just not as good.

@peejam – lol! I never made that connection, you’re quite right. Same with the second point as well.

@mchiefvs360 – Does Microsoft even sign off anything to third-party dealing with memory? I’m fairly sure they’re just keeping that to themselves.

Lower the price of Authorised Hardware MS then people wouldnt want to use third party hdd’s

Then lower your HDD price, M$!!!!!!!!!

XB360 is already losing on the forthcoming exclusive game lineup; You fail on the Japan market and hence losing many Japanese titles; And with these ridiculously expensive accessories (HDD, WiFi-adater, etc.), I found myself more and more speechless when trying to convince my friends to buy XB360 instead of PS3!

I cant wait to see how badly they screw themselves over with this.

@Misaki Ki: No, I think that the only accessories that Microsoft sign-off on are things like controllers or plug-n-charge kits.

A few months ago, I finally succumbed and bought a 120GB hard drive. Totally out of necessity. Bought it for cheaper than retail on Amazon, but still – way too expensive.

Do they even take notice, I mean all Xbox owners are angry about the pricing but still no explanation or reduction in price from MS. PS3 has and support 3rd party drives but still manages to horde off people who copy games.
People who want to play ripped games can do it without you charging us arm & leg. Seriously MS is like that ugly duckling in you family that you just can’t let go even if it’s an f****** d*** a** h****.

Just another M$ cash grab.

This has no effect on me nor do I fully grasp where the line is being drawn. I can say the current MU and HD’s are a JOKE. Luckily for me your Hardware breaks ever 12 months and when I return it to Costco there is a newer model waiting for me. I have 2 60 GB units as it stands now and am in the market for an MU for my wife.

Quit the BS and let us use our own storage instead of sticking it to your most loyal customers.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft RAISED prices on their hard drives. Count me in as one of the many who wants a new HD to replace my 20 HD (I wish I had more room for Rock Band songs) but doesn’t want to pay the crazy prices they have. I wonder just how many of us are chomping at the bit to get more space but refuse to pay their exorbitant price.

I know you aren’t involved in making these policies Major. At least I hope you aren’t. But this is insane! I mean you guys charge 160USD for a 120GB HDD. That’s only $40 less than an Arcade unit. That’s a $1.33 per GB, which is a little over six times higher than the market average at only $0.20 per GB on laptop HDDs! Not to mention that you only offer up to 120GB. Is this 2002? Why do you guys even allow people to install games if you’re only going to make hard drives this small? C’mon! Where are the 1TB drives? I’d actually be willing to pay $160 for one of those and I’d still be overpaying! Not only are there shades of price gouging and anti-competitive measures going on here, but I’m pretty sure it’s just morally wrong to charge that much. You need to crack some skulls over there Larry. Set them straight.

I hope they (modders and 3rd party companies) find a way around the new restrictions fast even if it requires new third party hardware. The prices Micro$haft charges for storage are Ridonkulous as on so crazy a new word had to be crafted to describe it that involves a donkey doing ridiculous things they wouldn’t even dream about in Mexico! This shouldn’t be a dead horse we are beating here…. upgraded hard drives should not cost an arm and a leg. 20GB is not enough. 120GB is not enough. 250GB is not enough. They are keeping sizes artificially low so that people outgrow them and have to buy a drive 3 or more times. If modders don’t find a way, I hope the courts do and sue the crap out of M$ for this bull$h!t.

This is quite unconscionable! As someone who just lost his entire saved game library due to a stupid menu design on Microsoft’s part (no confirmation prompt for delete profile and all items), I’ve already found it hard to start gaming again. This may push me over the edge to finally give up on console gaming all-together.

I need a way to back up my game saves so I don’t loose years of gaming in an instant AGAIN. The Datel was the best way of doing it.

Good luck on convincing me to continue gaming. Facebook and Twitter ain’t going to cut it!

The sad part is if it is for the modders it will fail. Sony failed with the New PSP Go, hacked. Apple with each Iphone update, hacked. Nintendo with the Wii, hacked. This is going to hurt more legit customers than modders. PS3 allows you to use your own HDD. How about MS match this? I hope after this update PS3 Slim sales go thru the roof.

The only way I got a 120GB HDD was through am Amazon gift card (through CC points), or else I would have modded the 20GB and installed the 180BG I had for it. I put the 180GB into the PS3, which doesn’t punish people for wanting more space.

I’m so sick of Microsoft showing more and more how they could care less about the gamer. I got rid of my 360 today and I feel much better. PS3 all the way!!! You should be able to use any hard drive or memory card that you want. Just another way for micorosft to get gamers money by forcing to buy their hard drives and memory cards. If anything Micorosft owes the gamer after all of the RROD issues. I had to send several in and there wont be another!!! Micorosft wants to take our gamer freedom away and i wont take their crap anymore!! I made the switch to PS3 and I’m glad I did!

The ps3 is starting to sound good like a lot of people have said. Look at it this way:
XB360 Elite 120GB: $300, Wireless Adapter: $99, Wireless Headset: $60. Total: $459.
PS3 Slim: $300, Wireless Adapter: $0, Wireless headset: $30 (Bluetooth standard, so price varies, $30 for a cheap model). Total: $330!
Look at that price difference for the same package! Not to mention the Blue Ray Player! Don’t get me wrong, I LOOOOVVVEEEE my xbox, I play a good 40+ hrs a week, but the prices are just so ridiculous. This is why it took me 3 years before I even broke down and bought one.

I BEG YOU M$… PLEASE PLEASE RETHINK THIS LUNACY!

I bought a couple of cousins and myself some 120gb xbox hard drives from Ebay… they are obviously not M$ LEGIT as they seem to be shipped from Hong Kong in a box – we were forced to do so due to M$ price point literally being more than double the price we paid!

Now your telling us out of the blue our 8 months worth of hard core gaming will be deleted in the upcoming dashboard update!

PLEASE RECONSIDER!

At least announce you will half your Hard drive prices first then announce there is an AMNESTY period to buy a new M$ harddrive at a discount and make the cut off date in 6 months time!?!?!?!

Here in Australia from time to time there are illegal firearm amnesties which you can hand in guns, no questions asked… surely you could consider doing something like this for us?

I have now swapped my Game.co.uk bought 120gb HDD to my US jasper (Having to delete all my uk bought stuff – thanks)

I now have no HDD for my UK 360 – I bought the it from a US Amazon afilliate, but it seems to be a knock-off the advertised as Elite OEM drive (No XBOX1 support). I suppose my 512Mb MU is fake too (Ebay bought) Now I have a redundant 360 because I have no way of keeping my profiles mobile for muli-play/play in another room/Play my UK locked games and DLC (FTA4, MC:LA tons of Live games locked to my UK 360), unless I fork out for another MU or HDD.

Thanks a bunch.

SOMEONE PLEASE START AN ONLINE PETITION ASAP… or Twitter about it till it gets viral!

Oh my GOD!
Larry – how much of a corporate muppet can you possibly be???
March your keyster straight into your boss’s office and tell them to get a bloody grip! Accessories prices are beyond ridiculous and Microsoft’s ‘crackdown’ is only damaging the brand further and further.

Do you realise what’s happening in the market? Do you realise what gamers are saying? The Xbox brand is destroying itself through greed – that’s what. The mass migration to Sony is ALREADY started because there is now NO incentive to stay with a brand that delivers zilch on exclusive games while gouging their own customers.

WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

did no one read the X-Box Live Terms and conditions when they joined the service?

15. Service Operation and Equipment.

The Service may only be accessed with an original Xbox, an Xbox 360 console, a personal computer, or other device authorized by us,or by logging into your account via Xbox.com. You agree that you are using only authorized software and hardware to access the Service, that your software and hardware have not been modified in any unauthorized way (e.g., through unauthorized repairs, unauthorized upgrades, or unauthorized downloads), and that we have the right to send data, applications or other content to any software or hardware that you are using to access the Service for the express purpose of detecting an unauthorized modification.

@Nod Nolan: that’s exactily right, not only by not using third-party hardware are you violting the TOC, but you are, by using the hardware, you become illegitimate for using the service, more or less.

@Nod Nolan

Did you not read some of the post properly. Like me, one of my 120Gb HDD was bought from amazon, through an affiliate. An 120Gb HDD – advertised as genuine, as was my extra MU. And no small affiliate, I might add. So yes some people my have modded their HDD or used a Datel device. But what about the other who bought HHD in good faith. I, thinking buying it from Amazon rather than ebay from an And affilite with a 98% rating and 1,000s of sales based and posted inthe US, I was no getting ripped off.

At no point did I or a lot of people here try an do MS over, bar spending an excessive amount of money on a HDD. You a over generalizing here, assuming everyone here is modding like crazy.

@Nolan- So yeah that’s basically saying don’t buy the other cheap shit, just buy our overpriced shit. Yeah its all clear now >:}

I’m in the same boat DarkEquitus… bought a HDD believing it was legit, maybe i was naive but with the crazy pricing i see in australia vs US (120gb = $250AUD)I thought $100AUD was probably just regional difference…now from what i can see the drive is likely unauthorised…

Maybe MS can pursue the people selling the pirate hardware rather than stuffing up customers… I’ve spent ungodly amount on my 360, much to my wife’s chagrin, and if one unfortunate mistake causes me to lose all my saves it’s an excellent break point to pursue gaming on the PS3 and/or the Wii (WAF factor is much higher)…

@DarkEquitus
I’m not assuming anything of anybody…. I just posted a section of the XBox Live T & Cs.

@EveofLight
Microsofts Terms and Conditions might not be liked by anybody, but everybody who plays online must have ticked the “agree with terms and conditions” box. It’s a bit late to complain now.

If my wife knew how much money I have spent on the 360, she would kill me. Lol. At leased $5000 on games alone. And there are people on this site who have spent much more. Every game new; no 2nd hand and not one rented, including the crappy ones. Should have bought every f****r 2nd hand, cutting M$ out of the loop.

Now, it seems I will be among many who will be bent over and shafted without a smidging of grease to ease the pain.

I hope the legit gamer really back-lash on M$

Time to dust off my PS3 and give it some love.

I don’t own any other storage devices and the only one I have is the one that came with my 360 Pro. The one I have is the 20GB; If I knew and I waited a week I would have gotten a 60GB Pro and for way less then what I paid for this one. Not all of us are modders in here (I sure as hell am not). I only have 4GB left and there are some cheap arcade games I would like to get because my daughter and I enjoy them. Some of these games nowadays have large files and some of the add-ons have large files too. I have had the money a couple of times to buy a 120gb hard drive but there’s always a gut wrenching instinct that tell me, “don’t buy it cause its the wrong decision and that’s just way too much money on something that might break or you might lose interest later on.” In the past I have looked for cheap HDDs and a lot of them say they are “official” but I never got one. There is no harm if someone wants to save a little money for something else. I’m a cheapskate, and I would rather spend 60 bucks on 3-4 games than on 1 game. I understand if its to stop modders, but like people said before people have modded/hacked Xbox Certified HDDs. I hope this doesn’t mess with the people who saved files to a PC using non Microsoft Transfer cables or software; this brings a lot of things into people’s minds. Is MS just trying to stop the sales of other HDDs. Is Microsoft trying to get rid of modders looking for specific data in the update on the HDDs. Nobody knows because there is not a lot of information and we the people will be lost in oblivion wondering what the hell this is all about. I still and will always say lower the HDD’s price that 250gb MW2 console ain’t making me happy because 1. Its going to cost an arm and a leg 2. Those 250gb HDDs will not be sold in the market any time soon 3. If the 250gbs were in the market, they would cost you 2 arms, 2 leg and maybe a torso.

@nod nolan – you can quote T&c’s to your heart’s content – and I’m sure Microsoft will as well as they watch droves of their customers walk out the proverbial door into the welcoming arms of Sony Computer Entertainment.

So I ask you this – is it better for Microsoft to safeguard its conditions of service? Or is it better to save it’s entire console division from extinction?

Have a think – and please stop enabling the mindless rhetoric that has replaced any form of good news from these brainless Microsoft executives.

I am guessing that movies off USB sticks will still work??

Thanks

I’m glad Microsoft is doing this.

NOw with the PS3 Slim pricing, the 360 no longer looks a good deal.

If you were an arcade owner and want to upgrade, let me see
60Gb $99 – check
Wireless adaoter $99 – check

Does no look good at all.

It is almost as if M$ wants to be spanked into 3rd place.

Overpriced Games on Demand. What is the point if you can get those games half the price (I will buy sencond hand now or join gamefly from now)and not pay over the odds to store them?

micro$haft, you have shot yourself in the foot with this one, Lol. As you don’t get it, I hope you enjoy 3rd place.

Stores don’t even SELL 512MB flash cards anymore, the lowest I ever see is 1GB and usually in a 2-pack for $10. And Microsoft has the gall to charge $50 for 512MB and try to muscle out 3rd party accessories? **** this. Not another Microsoft product will enter this house ever again.

@LittleBlueAlien
This is going to affect so few people that it’ll hardly cause the console to go extinct.
What it will do is set back the game savers, pirates, hackers and modders who play unfairly online at the expense of people who want to play fairly and on a level playing field.

I read the T&C, and hence I am still using the 20G HDD that came with the console. It’s almost full now, which hindered me from buying a few of the XBLA titles I am interested in. And certainly I can’t enjoy the install-game feature. I would have bought a larger HDD long time ago, if the official HDD’s price is more reasonable.

An official 120G HDD costs HKD$12XX (USD$1 = HKD$7.8) here. If I pay for that, then I would rather pay HKD$23XX for a PS3. Although the price is doubled, it’s much more worth it. I would get a 120G HDD, plus WiFi, Bluray, a smaller, quieter, less-breakable console, and access to their upcoming AAA exclusive game-lineup.

PS3 slim is already attractive enough. Don’t help its sale by punishing your loyal customers, M$.

Hopefully the dumbasses at Microsoft see this page & realise it’s the wrong thing to do.

They’re gonna lose a LOT of money doing this move, from lost Marketplace sales & Loss of customers.

MicroShaft, this how you should price you Products

512Mb MU $20 while stocks last
4Gb MU $29
60Gb HDD $39 While stocks last (not $99)
120Gb HDD $79-$89 (not $150)
250Gb HDD $139-$159

Still over-priced, but bareable to a degree.
I am no business man, and I even know that.

Nolan you are deluding yourself if you actually think this will do anything to stop online laggers and cheaters. It is a money grab pure and simple.

no one is forcing anyone to buy a MS HDD, i’m certainly not buying one. i get by on my 20 Gb drive by only having the game I’m blaying installed on the X-Box at the time, and seeing as you can download an Arcade game infinite times after you buy it, I delet arcade games, and redownload them if i want to play again. All my Music is streamed from the PC.

no need for more than 20 gig.

Thanks for letting us know.

@Nod Nolan
Nice T&A you posted there… But scanning the whole system/hardware without a proof of guilt? Another step to the surveillance state *lol*

For your last comment about “20Gigs is enought for me”.
You know MS deletes some of those Arcade-Titles after a while? So you can only download them as long as they’re available. So you actually have to keep them.

Then you have the installation files. I have at least 3 games on my harddrive at a time. COD and Fifa which I play regulary and another game I play at that time.

Then we got the demos/movies which take a good ammount of space, even if it’s for one day only. Oh and of course the music. I normally turn my PC off when on the console… Electricity costs money you know…^^

And all the gamers who own a 360 Arcade and want to get the full Forza 3 experience will actually slap you for the “MS is not forcing you to buy a MS HDD”. Try to install the 2Gigs of Data from the second disc on the MU

I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. If you want lower prices then quit buying. They keep selling these “overpriced” hard drives & MU’s. Why would they lower the price? The people complaining about how they thought they purchased a legit storage device from an unauthorized seller. Your complaint is not with Microsoft for protecting the integrity of the product the make but rather to contact the person or persons who sold you the shotty merchandise. As Nod Nolan has posted, the T & C is very clear on this.

@ Nod Nolan – The way the Terms of Service worded, sounds like I can’t even paint my 360 as it would qualify as an “upgrade”. Along with 3rd party faceplates. My modded controller should void me as well right? And to nit-pick: 3rd party usb keybord, 3rd party remote control for the media center functions. Technically that should boot me from Live as well as all of that listed is in direct violation of the TOS as all of those listed are used to access Live. If MS would like the exact models of the devices so it will make it easier to write the code to stop me from using them, please email me.

TOS/EULA’s for most of the software and hardware I buy are utter crap. It’s almost to the point where they are worded in such a manner that you are just borrowing the equipment you “bought”. If I bought my 360 and shoved it where the sun don’t shine. So be it. As long as what I did didn’t allow me to steal games, cause harm to other players (other than delighted self), ruin another players experience on XBox Live or cause disruption to the Live Service, so freakin’ be it.

If the experience of having a 360 in my rear was awesome, then I might buy another… more money for MS. But the way things are going, looks like Mass Effect 2 will be running on my PC, since the word “exclusive” just means “Not on the PS3/Wii” now a days.

@DarkTear81 Anything you purchase on xbl can be re downloaded. Microsoft does not delete any of it. They may remove the game or item from the puplished listing allowing a new download. But once its paid for you can always go into your purchase history and re-download said item free of charge.

Thanks Major for passing some of the comments along.

No doubt the 250GB official harddrive will be coming to shops in the not too distant future, and that will give a great opportunity to adjust prices of other official harddrives down to a more acceptable level.

I may have clicked the TOS, but that doesn’t mean they can rape the money out of my wallet now does it. A lot of things happened in 1 yr with this system and customer service that I never had happen with a PS2 (I have had it for 8 yrs now) and any other console for that matter. If they are going to use the TOS as an excuse to fuck us in the a$$ then by all means you can take it all. I wonder what im going to do when the 4GB is used up from my 20GB HDD >.>

@SegaMasterSystm
That’s incorrect!. My 120gb hard drive somehow got corrupted a few weeks back. I had to reformat and use the download history menu to retrieve the several years worth of content I’d accumulated. To my surprise many items (including several Arcade titles and themes!) were listed as “NO LONGER AVAILABLE”. Don’t bank on content being available for download forever!. You only have access to your DLC as long as Microsoft’s servers remain active/ or until they decide to pull the plug.

@Nod Nolan
This has nothing to do with people messing around with gamesaves/profile editing or cheating!!. You don’t know what you are talking about. Accessing gamesaves/profile/game data is just as easy to do using official products as unofficial products. Plugging an official hard drive or memory card into a PC to gain access to the files is super easy. And any extra hardware you might need to do this (in most cases it’s not even required) will cost you far less than buying a Datel MU or knockoff ebay HDD. This has everything to do with Microsoft forcing people to buy their overpriced products, nothing else.

AFAIK the only two XBLA games unavailable are Lost Cities and Yaris, both due to no longer being supported by their developers. Lost Cities, as Sierra merged with Activision, and Yaris as the maker went bust.

@Nolan: Based on your TOS post, we shouldn’t buy the Turtle Beach X1 Headset or any variation of it from Turtle Beach, since they don’t list themselves as authorized. BUT WAIT, Major Nelson gave them away multiple times on his show. A Microsoft Employee from the Xbox Division giving away unauthorized equipment but yet he states that unauthorized equipment must not be used. Explain that to me Nolan?? Seems more like a money grab. Microsot’s headsets are dirt cheap so they don’t care about the X1, X3 competition. Their memory cards and HDD are extra expensive so they see the cheaper Datel cards as a “threat” to their profits from memory accessories. I really dislike this non-sensical people who reason everything a corporation does into something rational for people. I bet you’ll explain why Games on Demand is expensive and why thats good too.

@Nod Nolan: You *are* trolling here, aren’t you? When my 1st Elite system gave up the ghost and I had to re-download everything in my history (Which took hours) there were several items that were “No Longer Available” in my history… it doesn’t even tell you which things they were – whether they were game, video or add-on. Also, as you pointed out that this is only affecting modders or game save editors, I’d like you to stop and think for a moment about what you would do if you needed to move a 1 GB file off your 360 and didn’t have internet access to merely re-download again. Your comments paint a very vivid picture of the very tightly-enclosed bubble that you appear to be living in. You keep downloading and filling and emptying your HD, hopefully it will bite YOU in the a$$ someday yourself.

This is more-so a case of supply and demand. We demand more storage for reasonable prices, and MS has no supply… this is why Datel has been making money. If there was even an 8GB MS mem card I would own one (Unfortunately, almost no matter WHAT the gouge was.) Just so I could actually take some of my larger content OFF of my hard drive. (Criterion, I am looking at YOU.) As I said in my earlier post I was looking at getting a Datel prior to this announcement to move off the 2GB Burnout Paradise update. It will not fit on the 512MB card. I was looking for a solution to a problem where Microsoft currently has no answer. They wont even sell a 250GB drive so that I can just migrate over instead of having to swap things around. Our ISP’s have data caps here, re-downloading this on demand isn’t an option.

You also need to check your facts, Double Dragon is ALSO de-listed. And you can spout the ToS all you want, an external storage device on something that does have USB ports is not going to be considered modification of the core device in any court.

It’s funny how one little comment can create so many comments. I too am one of the people up here with an original 20 GB hard drive, and don’t understand why you just can’t swap out the HD like a PS3. Or does Sony frownon that as well. As far as piracy goes, if I swap out to a larger HD leave it like it is today… the game disc must be in to play. As far as some of the people complaining “Hey there’s a 250 GB drive coming out soon,” their missing the point, that the 120 GB is already over priced compared to “normal” computer hardware. Just imagine what the 250 GB will be priced at.

@ Nod Nolan
Geez, M$ is sure glad to have guys like you supporting them no mater what, huh!?

The question here is not the “T&C’s”, but if it is acceptable for Microsoft to stipulate such conditions, and charge such outrageous prices.

Getting a PS3, and im going to stick a 500GB drive, which will cost me around 70€/~100$

It’s unreal how ignorant the people that follow you and post on your little blog are, really.

First off, having a third-party MU will NOT make it easier to hack or cheat in any way. It still must have the PROPRIETARY plug and file system.

Second, MS price gouges on their storage options. Even in Retail stores like Best Buy, you can buy a 1TB internal PC HDD for $100. MS feels their 120GB HDD is worth $150 though.
I bought a 8GB flash drive 6+ months ago for $25, yet MS feels their 512MB MU is worth $30.

Why don’t you, Major Nelson, and the ignorant followers, wake up? Get with the program. Stop hurting your customers.
I don’t own a single third-party device, yet, for my 360. I have the MW2 Throat Communicator preordered though. Will devices like this and third-party controllers be next on your list? Am I wasting $30 on this headset because it wont work soon?

Even though I don’t own any of these memory devices, I find this utterly insane, monopolistic, and downright illegal. I can’t wait to get my form in the mail telling me about a class action law suit against you. I can’t wait to sign in and participate.

One last thing: I signed up for the preview program. Remove me from that list, I want nothing to do with your forced garbage.

I’m actually starting to root for PS3 to get more popular and 360 to lose heavily to it. I’m still using a 20gb hard drive and no wireless adapter (just can’t pay so much for an adapter).

Next gen, I’ll be more careful with my money.

Dear Microsoft,

in order to boost your xbox markertplace sales, we need space. the new features of NXE is pretty hard to use (install game to hard drive) when you don’t have enough space.

Please allow us to use our own hard drives a with case kit. Its pretty bad when you have to go download history and download a arcade on a 120GB

Thank you.
GT yolarrydabomb

@vI Demon Iv you can quit the program same place you signed in for. I have done it yesterday. I would recommend that to all of you that feel used and mistreated…

Micro$oft should keep the following in mind:
“The success and acceptance of the next xbox (xbox720 or whatever) is greatly going to be influenced by the way it does business TODAY (X360)” .

If I, at the end of this console cycle, I feel that i’m better off with Sony after all (dont think they will f***-up two times in a row… ) and feel that they treat me with more respect, I might stop think about making “x720″ my 1st choice in the future (you might not believe it, but not everybody LOVES Halo. I don’t. So its not a factor to me).
Give it a thought. You guys already messed up in the beginning with all those RROD issues (your responsability; poor architecture. Later solved.)

@peejam You’re right. And I might add that Halo means absolutely nothing outside US.

I love my 360. And i don’t use any 3rd party anything. But recently, it seems like everything Microsoft does 360 related is pissing consumers off. And it won’t be long before they drive everyone away. When the PS3 catches up and overtakes the 360 this generation, it won’t be because Sony did anything right, it’ll be because Microsoft is doing it wrong. The great things the 360 has to offer, will not be enough to keep it afloat forever when Microsoft continues to make mistakes like this. And it WILL happen the way things are going. Microsoft hasn’t been in the console gaming business long, and they’re about to learn a very hard lesson.

This is very crappy on Microsoft’s part. And I know they want everyone to just go out and uy a 120gb HDD, but it way overpriced. A bring new 120gb Xbox 360 HDD MSRP cost $150. A few months ago I bought a 1TB external HDD for my laptop for $100. People know a rip-off when they see it and went with 3rd party memory, and now Microsoft is blocking them out.

Micro$haft will lock this thread down soon – to shut us all up

Ubelievable! Microsoft, this is something you to AT PRODUCT LAUNCH! Not halfway thru the product cycle. It seems MS really only cares about making hand-over-fist dollars, and not the satisfaction of its customers. Yes, I have 2 fake hard drives. HOWEVER i have pruchased MANY games on live, and was considering using games on demand in the future. Not too mention 3rd party acessories have been a staple of the console industry for MANY years. I feel now its tough to justify even using my xbox. Here is why.

I have had 2 RROD xbox’s
During the RMA process the repair depot actually sent me a pro console with no HDMI when i sent an elite back. TOOK MONTHS TO WORK OUT!
Call center promised me a wireless controller as compensation, I NEVER GOT IT!
Now the 3rd party storage mediums I have pruchased (which I use for purchased games)will no longer be good halfway thru this product cycle!

I can say with certainty, my next console will not be a microsoft one

I hope MS reconsider this decision or lower the prices of the “official” HDD’s because the price for that here in The Netherlands is ridiculous.. 120 GB HDD (which is not enough space) cost €120,- for 30 euro more I can buy an new xbox 360 (arcade)!?WTF..

Pretty greedy if you ask me. In sweden you can get a Class6 16 GB SDHC far cheaper than a 512 Mb Xbox Memory Unit.

There are five gamers in my house. We purchased a second XBOX 360 so that multiple people could game at the same time. We had to put all of the profiles and game saves on Memory Units so that we could easily move from one xbox to another. I purchased a Datel MAX 4GB MU since the 512MB MU from MS doesn’t have enough space for all of our data (Orange Box alone takes over 80MB for games saves per profile).

I spent $39 for a 12GB MU ($30 for a 4GB Datel MU and $9 for an 8GB micro SD) To match this capacity with “authorized” memory units, I would have to buy 24 Microsoft 512MB memory units at $40 each ($960). I don’t think anyone would agree that 12GB of memory should cost $960. The xbox only has space for two MU’s, so even if I did by 24 of them, it would be impractical to use. What ever happened to the idea that the xbox was all about giving the user choices?

I am not a hacker or a modder. I am an avid gamer that just wants space to store his profile and games saves at a reasonable price.

I could buy a PS3 and a lot of games for $960. Microsoft obviously doesn’t value my business. It’s too bad, because I really do love my xbox. Oh well. At least now I will get to play God of War III and Little Big Planet.

Can’t help but wonder if this has anything to do with the 250 gig HDD bundles, followed soon after by the standalone 250 gig HDD?

@UNSCleric

Glad? cmon that’s gotta be sarcasm.

NOOBS! This does not stop hackers!!!!

@Count Macphisto: I found it amusing that you asked, “What ever happened to the idea that the xbox was all about giving the user choices?”, because whenever I hear a corporation mention giving the users “choices” or “flexibility” it’s usually marketing spin for removing pre-existing or industry-standard features & services.

To QUIT THE PREVIEW PROGRAM, do the following…
Go here: https://connect.microsoft.com/dashboard/?wa=wsignin1.0 and sign in. Then click QUIT next to Participating. You may have to confirm. Once confirmed you have quit the preview program.

this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16874103062
vs this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136130

Better off to save 100 bucks to do it yourself.

everyone conveniently forgets that they are also pay Intel and Nvidia for that HDD due to BC

I have both a ps3 and a 360. I used to buy most every game movie rental, and tv purchase on the 360. That has now changed. I will only be purchasing exclusives for the 360 and everything else on the ps3.

Thanks for making the choice so easy Microsoft!

I use my 360 to view videos from an external hard drive. Will this no longer be possible?

@ Nomadicgamer
considering that Micro$oft doesnt sell (for now) “external xbox360 branded HDDs”, i think that you can safely continue stream your videos from your external hdd (trough usb).

I think that the only hdd’s M$ wants to ban are the unofficial ones that slot on top of the xbox (the system drive), and that is because they take out a chunk of the sales of the official drives. the rest has no effect on M$ sales, so M$ doesnt care what you plug into your usb slot.

So much for being user friendly. First time viewing this blog and I just had to reply to his post. Not sure he actually replies but how is this a good move for anybody but Microsoft? If the 3rd party turns out to not work well then that is up to the user to use or not. Shouldn’t be some large company choosing what consumers should buy and not buy for 3rd party accessories. Are controllers next because Microsoft feels theirs are better?

The most expensive 500 GB hard drive right now at newegg.com is $119.99. At Best Buy I can buy the Microsoft 120 GB hard drive for the bargain price of $149.99. With the ability of installing drives and more games getting bigger we need the space. They know so they can charge what they want. This is so wrong in my book and why I am so glad the PC is my primary gaming platform.

Microsoft gets my money when I need to upgrade my OS so they are not out of the picture but I get put thing together as I see fit and not how some large corporation sees fit. Not here to start a war of console or PC gaming is cheaper or not. That is a personal question that in my opinion does not make one platform better than another.

@Nod Nolan: One of the problems with the Ts and Cs is that they are very poorly written because they don’t define the boundary. It is reasonable to assume that “unauthorized repairs, unauthorized upgrades, or unauthorized downloads” refers to opening the 360 itself and modifying it, or uploading unauthorized software to the console. But it is a really big stretch to call a third party peripheral an “unauthorized upgrade”. If MS think that they can ban Memory Units from competing companies (and I think that ‘competing companies’ is the important point here) then will they next ban controllers from competing companies? How about video cables? Or how about saying that you can only connect to Live through an approved router? Or from an approved Internet Service Provider? Where is the line?

MS have been forced to offer alternative Web Browsers on EU copies of Windows because they were abusing their dominant position in the marketplace. Now in the console market they do not have a dominant position, so they won’t be hauled over the coals for these sort of anti-consumer practices (the competition from Sony and Nintendo means that consumer protection agencies think that this means that people can just switch to another console, even though we all know it’s not as simple as that). The point is that just because MS _can_ abuse their customers by trying to eliminate fair competition (and therefore allow themselves to continue to dictate the extremely high price of hard drives and memory units) doesn’t mean that they _should_.

Thanks to Major Nelson for putting these views to his colleagues. I like my 360 and don’t have an unauthorised hard drive or MU (though I have been highly tempted in the past). I’ve also signed up for the preview programme. Microsoft do a hell of a lot of things right.

It’s just that I get really annoyed when I see something like this where the policy appears to have come from somebody who failed their Business Ethics training.

@IconicSoulJA
what good is that going to do you? Everyone wanting to connect to XBL will get a forced update after the Beta anyway…

@ Nod Nolan

i agree – there is no point in quitting the Beta, you’re just gonna have to update shortly after anyway.

sigh, i guess my Max Memory is just gonna be a worthless piece of plastic =’(

@DarkGin87 this has nothing to do with modding, about the only thing it stops AFAIK is people artificially increasing their gamerscore. Who wants a very high gamerscore anyways … it just attracts attention to your account to have people try to steal it.

I was looking at getting one of those datel memory units because I want to back-up my save games and $30-40 for a 512MB Offical MS unit seemd such a ripoff when one can buy 8-16GB thumb drives for that price.

As far as stopping modded controllers, nothing short of some expensive technology … think case seals that can monitor if they are being tampered with and send a electronic kill signal. Stuff like that is used in military black boxes and would add $1000s to the cost of the unit. LOL

@Killer Hornet, What type of memory device do you have that you are worried about.

So Microsoft just placed another tick mark in the why someone should by a PS3 over an Xbox this upcoming holiday. Great job guys!!!

Second of all, and I think the bigger issue is the fact they are simply announcing this on MajorNelson.com. This should be a full blown ad campaign with Dashboard messages, emails to all registered users, and possibly mailings.

Disabling someone’s MU because it doesn’t have a Microsoft logo is completely unacceptable!! I just lost all my game saves do to a poorly designed menu option and I’m super annoyed! I can’t imagine someone’s utter anger who doesn’t read game blogs who finds out that after the update he can no longer access his game saves because Microsoft doesn’t approve.

An announcement on MajorNelson.com is not sufficient to announce such a potentially lose in data.

Wow, what an astonishingly dick move while the official hard drives are so stupidly overpriced.

Announce this at the same time as cutting two thirds off the price of memory for the 360 and people would accept it.

But not like this.

@ Beasty Drummer

The main target…
Datel Max Memory Unit 2GB: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Datel-Max-Memory-Unit-Xbox/dp/B002AN1QDU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=toys&qid=1255907249&sr=8-2

& if my ebay 120GB HDD is blocked, i will be furious.

@ Muzzymate

Did you delete all your gamesaves when trying to delete your gamer profile?
That happened to me – lost 100′s of hrs of game saves :’(
Luckily i had a few backed up on another storage device – but still lost around 90% of my saves.

:O Major any thoughts on all this?

id want to stay out of the pit to :}

lol

I’m an Xbox 360 lover. See that 42000 gamerscore? That’s from one year of playing. I’ve bought probably over $200-$300 worth of Arcade marketplace stuff, not to mention hundreds of dollars of games.
I’ve looked past my 360 dying in the first month of me owning it. I’ve looked past having to buy a huge ethernet cable because you charge $100 for a wireless adapter that should have been included with the system. I’ve looked past having to purchase a $150 120 GB HDD when you can buy 2 TB external HDDs for that price, or 4 TB internal and plugged them directly into a PS3. I’ve looked past loud, overhot Xbox. I’ve looked over bad Gears of War 2 multiplayer. I’ve looked past paying for content on Live when it has been free on PC. I’ve looked past the moronic Microsoft Points system, overpriced themes and gamerpics. I’ve looked past having to pay for online gaming when every other console on the market has it for free (and a wifi adapter).
Major, if you read the comments, I want you to know: I’m your core consumer. I’m the person who fills your pockets with money. I’m the hardcore gamer who made it so your system survived despite a 53% failure rate.
And I’m fed up.
You overcharge us for storage. You overcharge us for internet usage. You overcharge for a system that cannot compete with the features of the PS3. And with this, you are really pushing this to the last straw.
When MS released Vista, I tried my hardest, like I’ve tried with the Xbox, to enjoy it. It was good, I kept telling myself. It’ll be fixed soon. My investment well pay off. It never did. I own an Apple computer now.
Now, with this, you have pushed me too far. If my HDD (which I actually bought on Ebay) doesn’t work with this update, I’m selling my Xbox and buying a PS3 and never looking back.
You aren’t listening to your customers. I know you have some say in this, Nelson. Please, please listen to what we are saying. Don’t do this. Don’t destroy what has taken you so long to build up. I don’t want to give up on my Xbox, but if it comes down to it I will. You have offered me nothing to keep my loyalty.
Please, please rethink what you are doing. Please, for the customers and the gamers.

I still have the 20GB HDD that came with my launch console. A 60 GB HDD would be a nice upgrade, but the best way to get that is a $90 starter combo kit. And even then, it won’t be a true 60 GB drive, after formatting and Microsoft’s junk on there it will probably be less than 50 GB. My 20 GB only has 13GB of usable space.

I can only install one retail game on the drive at a time. Currently it’s Gears 2. I would like to have WaW, soon MW2, Dead Rising, etc on there. But it’s just not worth $90. The prices are just too freaking high. My laptop has a 160GB drive in it and it’s a tiny little guy. Right now on NewEgg I can buy a 320GB 2.5″ Internal laptop HDD for $73. It’s small, internal, has HUGE storage space, and guess what Microsoft…. IT’S CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!

@High im Hungry: To be fair, Major Nelson has commented (briefly) on about page 9.

@ Scand3licious

Thanks – that just about sums up how i feel; Vista aside, worked perfectly for me

@ BryceS

No he doesn’t…
On page 8 he says: “Not sure if this will get read by many, but I have echoed some of the concerns posted here w/ the accessories team.”
That’s about it…

Amen Scand3licious. Best post Ive read so far. M$ just screwed themselves over for the holiday season. Watch the PS3 sales will sky rocket this Christmas. Ive decided to get a PS3 this Christmas just in case. Sony knows how to please their fanbase.

@ BryceS
thanks for the heads up didn’t know he posted
but still..

some actual thoughts on the matter would be nice.

@ yolarrydabomb – Yeah, when I bought the 120GB HDD, I bought A LOT of Live content after and my activity went up as well. I still don’t buy videos because of space.

But on my PS3, I feel free to buy whatever I want and not worry about space to put it. If MS were to release an “official” empty HDD case, I a sure it would sell like MAD.

I bought my 120GB HDD on ebay. It was cheap but guy that sold me this HDD said to me that this is genius MS product. It look’s like original HDD but as I said it was cheap. It was used…I don’t even know do I have original HDD or fake.

If this update block my profile or HDD I will sell my X360 and dust off my PS3. I love X360 but this is too much.

Awesome post Scand3licious, I unfortunately had the mishap of the system messing up on me right of the box (same day). I sent it in and had it “replaced” (or so I thought) only to find out that it was the exact same console and was NEVER replaced. When I called to get it sent in again for repair I had problems just to make a ticket and had the phone hung up on me. If it wasn’t for my love of gaming I think I would have given it up a long time ago; a person can only be pushed so far.

Also, Major…

I appreciate the nod that you are giving feedback to the accessories team. You might want to check out Joystiq, Destructoid, and other high-profile gaming blogs and let those reactions be known as well. There is some pretty violent backlash from this update.
As I’ve said before, I love the 360. I don’t know if my HDD is false; it looks real to me, but again there is no way to determine that when buying used. While I can see the idea behind this is to cut down on gamescore cheating and piracy, to be honest you are only catching the innocent consumers. If I had a modded xbox, I wouldn’t run the update, and thus wouldn’t need to worry about these accessories (I don’t have a modded box, by the way, and never will). You aren’t hurting pirates, you are hurting the basic level of consumers. And let me add my voice to others in saying this will seriously hurt the 360 with regard to the overall market.
This might have been said a hundred times before, but your market has spoken: this is bad. While a move like this might have flown a year or so ago when your system was clearly stomping the PS3, in this day and age it really is hurting your competition, especially when the PS3 allows people to save stuff to USB flash drives and install their own internal hard drives.
Please, reconsider. And let the group know they should reconsider as well.

@NodNolan: Mister Nod, you apear to be a Microsoft butt kisser who can’t face reality!!! Microsoft has crapped on us gamers the last time and we need to stand up against this kind of controlling crap.

Wow, Mr Nelson, you and your fellow douche bags have gone too far. You ban other products to fatten youre wallets at the expense of YOUR customers. Good job you twat.

@Patriot298
I’m no butt kisser, they just haven’t done anything to upset me yet. Trust me if they DID do something to upset me, and I could do something about it. I would be very vociferous in my condemnation. They may do in the future, they may not.
At least it sounds as if Microsoft’re not gonna brick your console like Nintendo did with modded Wii’s after its system menu 4.2 update.

There are both pros and cons to this purported ruling to brick out ‘ALL’ unauthorized storage devices with this new Dashboard Preview/Update.

First of all, I for one am very glad that MS is rendering the unauthorized devices useless, most of them ARE inferior and unreliable, in very much the same way as most of Microsoft’s products are cheaply made and, above all, overly expensive. However, this ‘BRICKING’ should not be done at the expense of the user, Microsoft should instead stamp out these so called ‘UNAUTHORIZED’ manufacturers instead! Not everyone can afford the overly priced yet cheaply made Microsoft storage devices, so MS is being anal by shafting their users with this new update!

As long as these unauthorized manufacturers are around, and they will get around this firmware update, they’ll just keep pumping out their unauthorized products, so why not go after them?

well said @Scand3licious. I have made a promise to myself: if this goes on and my hdd gets rendered useless, then this is it. i’ll be buying an ps3.

@ Scand3licious
Way to go! I hope you’re listening Major Nelson; you and the people that price this garbage.

If you do go through with this then you need to send a message to each and every user
and not just rely on a message on this blog.
It’s a bad, bad decision in my opinion and will alienate many, many of your valued and loyal users.

If microsoft believes that this is better for the service, than it probably is.

People using modded equipment are breaking the rules… so it doesn’t seem unreasonable to me to have those things blocked. I know it sucks that Microsoft doesn’t have much out there for storage, but we can all keep our fingers crossed for something this holiday season! (maybe a 320 or 500 gig drive )

Same old Microsoft trying to control everything you buy. What’s next? and update to stop you using Duracell batteries in the controllers.

NEWSFLASH: Micrsoft release AA battery, anyone found using these in their controllers will be banned from Xbox live and controllers will self destruct in 5 seconds.

No wander hackers are creating a new dashboard

EDIT*** anyone found NOT using these

http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2009/10/microsoft_cracking_down_on_unauthorized_xbox_360_memory_units.html

‘A Microsoft spokesman confirmed this morning via email that this particular move is targeted at memory units that plug into the front of the console, not unauthorized hard drives.’

Instead of sabotaging other companies efforts, why not offer sensibly sized storage options for a reasonable price?

The current pricing scheme is outrageous, and a move like this makes your actions simply evil.

(Im’a noob)

Just wants to be sure, since i bought my Elite from some guy on the internet.

Is this a legit 120GB HDD?

http://imageshack.dk//viewimage.php?file=/imagesfree/n9q44219.jpg

http://imageshack.dk//viewimage.php?file=/imagesfree/t1p44257.jpg

(Im’a noob)

Whats to stop them from them doing it to the HDDs? As you can see from some of the comments some are not authorized by MS either.

I’m glad they are not doing it to the HDD’s as it’s a much bigger expense to the customer, but I still think it’s wrong to force people to buy your products like this.

Like nearly everyone who has commented so far has said, if MS offered reasonable priced MUs and HDDs then most people would just buy Microsoft products anyway. £100 for 120 gig is ridiculous.

if this upsets you guys i feel bad for you next time you wont buy something you know is shadey and thats using Microsofts harddrvie software with out authorized permission to do so and for the very small few that bought it on ebay and the like that Truely didnt know iam sorry.

@at captainkicker. I have 120Gb HDD.
The one I boght from Game retail store in the UK says ‘Xbox 360tm 120Gb Hard Dive’ at the back (you 1st picture)
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/6200/p1040012h.jpg

The second one I bought from and Amazon Affiliate says ‘Xbox 360tm Hard Drive’
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2318/p1040013z.jpg

They are both 120GB but the second does not play XBox1 games. They both say genuine (Microsoft) in system settings

@ DarkEquitus

If it doesn’t play XBOX 1 games, then it isn’t genuine.

But don’t worry, MS won’t be banning Hard Drives, just the memory units :’(

At least we have the 250GB to look forward to.

@K1ller Hornet. I have a ‘MS(?)’512Mb i bought from one of the Amazon guys too. This one is more important to keep my house profile mobile between boxes. I am going to assume this one is fake too.

@ DarkEquitus

Nope – that Memory Unit would most likely be real.
If you bought it from ebay, then it would be questionable.

Ok, the harddrive i have now, can play Xbox1 games. I’ve played “Counter Strike” a few times with it, so that means mine is legit?

I agree with the very first comment, but I’m hoping this action is just a precursor to MS lowering its hard drive prices considerably, since they won’t have to worry about 3rd party price competition very much longer.

@CaptainKicker

No. My wd homemade clone can play x1 games too. Anyone can download partition no 2 (xbox emulator) from the net and extract it to drive using xplorer360 app to get working x1 emu.

I’d like to echo the sentiments of Scand3licious.

I’ve had an XBox360 since launch, currently own 251 games (will be 252 on Friday and Forza 3 launches) and even bought an Elite when my original unit RROD and it went in for repair.

Although this move won’t affect me, it smacks of anti-competitive action, forcing people to pay for over-priced storage, something I cannot support at all.

With the RROD issue, the over-inflated cost of GoD, the cynical move of charging for the L4D DLC and now this move, it seems that Microsoft is determined to hurt the very consumers that are (or soon to be were) supporting it.

The Datel Max Memory MU is far better and larger than the official one (which I had to replace when I ran out of room).

It appears this is the real thing to be blocked out.

Which means I WILL LOSE ALL MY IMMOVEABLE SAVES!

This isnt right, and isnt fair. I will fight it all the way.
A retroactice punishment to its own consumers is a bad PR move.

By the way – I just now noticed WHEN this was announced here. Friday night. Politicians almost ALWAYS deliver bad news on Friday nights/Saturday mornings to avoid the full gauntlet of negative press for the first 2 days.

Then by the time Monday rolls around most of the people that care about the bad news already know about it, but it hasn’t been crammed down everyone’s throat yet.

So then the regular media will have to treat it as a passing issue, not something that takes major headlines Monday and Tuesday.

It really does work that way, and there’s no surprise here when Major announced this. Nice and slick.

@i tomek i

What are you talking about? Does that mean, mine is not legit. Yeeesh, that’s what you get, when you buy an Elite from some guy. Always thought i had a legit HDD, but now i have to buy a new one..

@ Giganticube

Xplorer360 will let you back-up & move those ‘immovable’ saves.

The 250GB HDD on my friends new Slim PS3 is the only thing that makes me jealous. My 60GB is ok but I keep having to choose between which fave game I delete in order to spare my ears from the buzzsaw that is the dvd drive.

If this update kills modded HDD’s (standard laptop drives faked to be 360 drives) then thats the lowest blow from MS thus far. Securing your own bottom and going after a harmless minority line when you should be securing the quality of this lemon of a product is low.. looooooww.

bottom line, minority.. hehe.

@ CaptainKicker

You DO NOT have to buy a new one.

It’s most likely a legit HDD.

The ones that do not have partition 2 are the obviously fake ones.
But the fact that you can get & put P2 onto a HDD doesn’t mean that your one is fake.
The fake ones do not have P2 as the counterfeiters are in too much of a rush to make as many HDD’s as possible; so they don’t bother with the extras (ie. backwards compatibility).

Don’t worry though, MS are not banning HDD’s, just the ‘unauthorized’ memory unit’s ie. Datel’s Max Memory Unit.

If MS was to release a cheap upgradable memory unit (like the Max Memory), then it wouldn’t be so bad.
But this move is just hurting their customers.
At a time where 16GB microSD flash media is widely available, why would someone pay the same price for 512mb?

This is what you call a dick move.

I have bought 3rd party accessories in the past for my older consoles and it seemed like those companies NEVER had a problem with it. Some people here are praising MS like I used to for cracking down on things people want to save money on. It starts now with just a simple 2GB memory unit and then what.

The only thing I don’t own that is not from MS I just remembered is the VGA cable. MS product costs about $40-$50; I got mine for $14.99 because as a parent with a not so good job that is all I could afford and it has been working wonderfully. When my system busted the first day I bought it due to the video; it wasn’t because of the 3rd party product because I didn’t have it just yet. I bought the VGA cable thinking there was something wrong with the MS AV cables and the VGA cables would do a better job. It was the system itself that was faulty.

Not all 3rd party products are harmful and even their own product are faulty. Why ban those Memory Cards, I mean really? I know there are people who will just buy MS overpriced products because they just can, some of us have no choice or do we…I guess not. I love gaming because its something I have loved doing since I was five (I am 30 now), but MS is making me realize that it just costs too much money to keep on playing. I remember back in the day when games weren’t so expensive.

way to piss off your customers. I get that MS wants to fight piracy & stop people from modding their consoles, but this seems like nothing more than a way to stick it to everyone. With the ridiculous prices of officially licensed memory units and such, its no wonder that people look for a cheaper alternatives to back up things when the puny 20GB HDD is full and you get tired of deleting & re-downloading things. Even if the 250GB HDD is released, I imagine it will probably cost as much as the Arcade SKU is or more; & in a effort to appear like MS cares, they will lower the cost of the 120GB one by $10.

Oh ok, thank you guys

It took some time, but I have read all the comments here. Some interesting points that I’ll be sharing.

Up until reading this I have been buying all multi-platform games to play on my 360…as of now I will be getting them for my PS3 instead.

Wow, Major Nelson, you all the posts; over 360 of them…
Now that’s dedicated.
Hopefully something will be done about it.
I haven’t seen anything MS has done before get people so angry before; maybe the RRoD thing, but that’s completely different.

Thanks Major Nelson,
At least 1 person in the XBOX community is listening to the customers

@K1LLER HORNET – Yep, tried to delete my profile so I could Recover it back to the console. Instead of hitting up twice, I accidentally hit up once which was Delete Profile and All Items which went through and deleted all my game saves without even a confirmation prompt. I was many hours into Lost Odyssey… been playing it since January. And now it’s gone. I was heart broken. 30 some hours of progress gone in that one game alone. I hope someone at Microsoft read my suggestion on fixing that issue.

Also, I’m willing to give Microsoft a pass on the unauthorized storage device if they would be upfront on the reasoning. Did the Datel take advantage of an exploit in the dashboard that when they were coding the new update went away? Fine! Or are they just being spiteful since Microsoft isn’t getting a cut. Just tell us.

And I still stand by my statement that this needs to be better advertised to everyone who has a 360… not just readers of Majornelson.com and internet blogs. If you still can buy the Datel device from BestBuy, imagine all the people who bought it thinking they were getting a good deal. If the Xbox division knew the update was going to kill my access to my game saves and didn’t find a way to tell me, I’d be incredibly upset. Not every gamer reads Joystiq or Majornelson

@Major

I must say… that is impressive.

I attempted to read them… and got through about a page before i skimmed through the rest of the pages.

But I do want to express my appreciation that you do take the time to read the comments {and all your emails}… whilst passing on the good in them… I can just imagine what a daunting and neverending task that is.

also, I concur with the need for a larger “authorized” MU. My husband and I are also in a household with 2 systems, which we alternate on regularly for online games. it would be very convenient if we were able to put all our many, many game saves on one card. and save space on the hdd in the process.

@muzzymate

Oh, man… Sorry to hear about your loss.

I deleted my BioShock save on accident a while back… I was almost done. I was so mad… I still haven’t gone back and finish it.

Also.. good point on the letting people know. Seems like they should be able to just send out a message to everyone’s account… like they do when they notify everyone about a system update.

Glad to know my comment was at least recognized. Thanks, Nelson. Sorry if I came off as shooting the messenger. I wish you the best with regard to this situation.

@ Muzzymate
-
Yep – exactly what i did.
It’s a mistake that i will remember every time I go to delete my profile.

@Major
Thanks for at least taking this to the team. For people like me who are already inconvenienced with having to use a memory card in the first place because of owning multiple 360′s. Now that I spent $40 bucks on a memory card because I bought 2 of Microsoft’s consoles, they’re trying to screw me. Please say something will be done about this because I am prepared to drop Live if it isn’t. I am a owner of all 3 current gen consoles and will not mind going to silver here and just get my multiplatform games on PS3.

Yah really not everyone who walks into a Best Buy and buys a Datel MU is going to read this or other gaming websites. Does suck that MS has to do this, but at least it doesn’t affect me.

@MajorNelson

While you MAY share the community’s disdain for your company’s practices on a regular basis it seems that the major issues with accessories NEVER get resolved. There is no arguing that the Wifi adapters, memory units, and hard drives are overpriced. So who cares if you share the thoughts of the community with some suit in the games division when nothing changes?

I’m glad you have taken the time to say hey, I’m seeing your posts and “X” is being done/mentioned, but after years of the hearing the same complaints about pricing and other various issues it just feels like lip service at this point.

Microsoft has turned Xbox 360 into a joke. $150 for a 120gb hard drive? $30 for a 512mb memory card? $100 for a wireless network adapter? As long as we, the idiot consumers, keep buying their stuff, they’ll keep raping us on the prices.

I would like to add my comments on this subject. I don’t blame Microsoft for banning unauthorized Xbox 360 Storage Devices, after all they could be used to hack the system itself or game-saves (who knows what these hackers do) BUT I am very annoyed at the pricing of the Official HDD’s. My 120GB HDD cost me £120, thats £1 for every GIG! Microsoft should lower the price for ALL Microsoft Storage Devices and once the 250GB HDD is released on it’s own it should be priced fairly. Thanks Major & the Xbox Teams, your work is appreciated

Microsoft can claim hardware that they want hardware that is secure and that has a better reliability rate, but then look at all those failed Xbox consoles. Maybe they should have let other people make the console too.

I agree with Sly Jon; bring out competitively priced hardware and then you won’t get people up in arms about it. It’s shameful how much Microsoft charges for their storage devices.

Microsoft:——–512 MB – $30
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8300929&st=xbox+360+memory&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1172881539294

Sony: ———512 MB SD card (from SanDisk) – $7 (Google Shopping)
Yeah, they don’t even sell their own stuff…use whatever you want!

Nintendo: —-2GB SD card – $15 (Best Buy)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8854714&type=product&id=1209772373140&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8854714

Ludicrous!!!

http://gamepolitics.com/2009/10/19/xbl-update-cripple-unauthorized-storage-devices

Corporations always ruin everything. They did it to music, radio, movies and now gaming.
Again, I appreciate Major’s post but it means nothing if nothing changes.
It’s like Bill Gates coming out and saying the next version of Windows is FREE! Then three years later, it cost $200. The update will happen. People will get screwed. That’s the end of it. The sad thing is that I had an “authorized” 512MB card until I lost it in an airport (security check area). I really hope they stop such an update but again, I doubt it.
Scoreboard: Monopoly: 1 ; People: 0.

MS is a joke with their pricing of hard drives and memory cards. I’m done with them after this generation. What a shame they need to lock out 3rd party accessory makers so MS can continue to have a 500% markup on memory.

I love my 360 and all ready have invested plenty of money into it but with the latest decisions they are making down the road when a newer system is released I will be putting more thought into if I plan on buying anything from them again.
I’ve looked into these 3rd parties on 360 but hadn’t got any yet. I hate the fact if my HD goes out thats it for some of my game saves because they can’t be moved.

Personally I only have the “authorized” memory cards and HDD’s, but do understand peoples frustration. However, MS are within their rights to do this to protect their system and Datel should have perhaps been more upfront about them not being officially supported.

I think some of the issues comes from Datel’s own positioning of the products.

Taken from the product description of the XPort: “You can also install files from your PC to your console’s hard drive, and inspect, modify and install files of your own using Datel’s impressive XPORT 360 PC application”, followed by: “Transfer game saves from the internet to boost your achievements”

And there is a similar thing for the memory cards: “Because you can access individual files stored on your memory card, MAX Memory is the perfect Xbox 360 memory card if you want to make use of suitable game saves and content downloaded from the internet too.”

Perhaps MS will lower the prices on the memory cards as a good will guesture so all those effected can pick on up for a decent price.

Perhaps some confusion can be alleviated about the intent of this update. Techflash blog writer Todd Bishop claims that he has spoken with MS and they have said the intent is only for unauthorized memory units and not unauthorized HDDs.

“A Microsoft spokesman confirmed this morning via email that this particular move is targeted at memory units that plug into the front of the console, not unauthorized hard drives.”

http://bit.ly/34a2rK

Hope this is good news to some. I also hope that the memory unit issues and pricing can also be resolved.
——
I do not think Major Nelson deserves some of the harsh words from commentators. He is only doing his job. He could have not warned us about this and a lot of us would be even worse off. Do I agree with MS about this issue and how they are handling it? No. But I also think Major has power, just not the kind people are assuming. He is only the messenger. Thank you to everyone that knows that and to everyone that does not care, please rethink how you are handling this. Maybe escalating to an upper level would work, like emailing Robert Bach (President, Entertainment and Devices Division – rbach@microsoft.com)… Just thinking out loud here. Major has always been our advocate and that is the bottom line.

On that note, there’s nothing wrong with downloading and using other people’s saves. Well, assuming you can’t get achievements for it (like what happens when you move it to another profile in the dashboard) and it doesn’t effect your rank/stats on Live.
I haven’t tried lately, but almost all saves now disable moving saves between profiles, right? Why?

@IRB
The way M$ has gone about this s poor. Where do you hear about this bricking of MU? On a blog most 360 owners will never see. Have they told Bestbuy, Gamestop, Gamestaion and amazon (And now their shady affiliates – got stung with a HDD) what they are about to do. How many people will sign on one day only to find out they have lost everything. Where is the announcement on xbox live so people can prepare in plenty of time? Even Major Nelson blanked the issue on his podcast.

Forget about Xport, an average Joe will go down Gamestop and, and say “I want a good memory device for my 360″ Here the Datel is value for money the salesperson says, selling the buyer down the river. Most people are looking for value for money, not to cheat etc.

P.S. Major Nelson, Stop giving a turtle beach headsets unless you can show me the authorized logo on their product website or manual.

Yep I agree with an above poster while Nelson says he’s going to pass along comments nothing ever changes, Microsoft will never change because of what their customers think because fact is they just don’t give a shit about their customers never has and never will. Nothing against Nelson but in my opinion he’s nothing more then a puppet on a string here to try and appease the masses. No matter whats said Microsoft will continue their nazi tactics and quest for world domination. They won’t care if you run off to sony either they know their will be some other poor sole who doesn’t know any better to replace you. The harddrive issue should be a non issue people should be able to use whatever harddrive they want at whatever size they want. Far as a modder making his own drive I don’t see a problem with it as it stands now because you can make a 120gb harddrive for $40, compare that to paying $150 for an actual 120gb from Microsoft your saving $110 of your hard earned money. Microsoft knows nothing of hard earned money they steal theirs. So if you can save yourself some money so be it, I understand not all modders are good and some like cheating all the way with gamesave hacks and all but you can’t class a bunch just because of a few bad apples. This will be another nail in the coffin for Microsoft’s downfall in this generations console war. I would say Microsoft should stick with operating systems but they haven’t been able to do that right either.

And I’m wishing I would’ve backed up my saves as I accidentally hit “Delete Profile and Items” when trying to just delete a duplicate profile.

Awesome, I now know that I am not affected. It is unfair to those who purchased the other products which are not authorized though.

http://bit.ly/34a2rK

Maybe it was already covered, but I would like to hear an official stance from Microsoft on what “unauthorized” means? I recently purchased the Datel Memory Max card, and a 16GB MicroSD card so I could take my Rock Band music to play at my friends house. I can’t just take my HDD with me because then we couldn’t use the Rock Band music my friend purchased without exiting the game and swapping harddrives.

If Microsoft made a 16GB memory card, or even an 8GB memory card, I would have bought theirs, but since 512KB only holds about a dozen songs, it didn’t work for me.

It is too late for me to return the Datel Memory Card and the MicroSD card, so if MS kills it, that’s money wasted, plus I lose the ability to take all my Rock Band music with me anymore.

And it isn’t like I ordered something on some shady website, I bought this at a local Best Buy store. How is Datel going to take this news?

Lastly, if this is to avoid save game hacks, or people posting their save games, There are devices where you can connect an “authorized” MS harddrive or MS Memory card to it, then connect via USB to your PC. So by MS banning unauthorized memory cards, it isn’t going to stop the hacking.

I have never been more disappointed and furious with Microsoft than I am right now. Maybe it’s time to stop buying Rock Band music on the 360 and get it for the PS3 instead.

I wish this announcement was followed by: “& Microsoft is going to price their current Hard Drives according to current average prices of similar products”. Really guy’s, the current priceing of 360 HD’s is obscene. Your leaveing a bad taste in a lot of your customers mouths. Everybody —outside MS corporate-suit-land– sites this as one of the #1 gripes with the system. I’ll soon be able to buy a terabyte HD for my computer for less thenwhat the 60gb 360 model costs!!

@Khyron: I thoroughly agree – I bought an official MS memory card this weekend (for £40 / $65!) because we were having a Rock Band party at a mate’s house and I wanted to bring my profile and some songs. But I had to really pick and choose due to the woefully small storage capability despite the exorbitant cost. In the case of Memory Units and Hard Drives Microsoft simply aren’t providing products that meet the demand. Other companies have seen this gap in the market and filled it (and well done to them, say I). People would respect Microsoft if they themselves produced products to meet this demand at competitive prices.
Where Microsoft has really caused anger is instead of embracing honest competition they want to both close it down and punish all users who have bought from their competitors – even though they themselves don’t have an official product which does the same job.

If I was Sony I’d go into overdrive producing “checklist” type ads highlighting the myriad ways Sony’s system reduces the burden on consumers pocketbooks and how Microsoft keeps gouging us…maybe get a lend of the Apple ad duo. If the 360 HD’s were cheaper I’d buy “more” games & install them to it. Duh! It does not instil much confidence in the 360 to see such boneheaded and asinine decisions being made on X Box 360 HD pricing!

Has no one else thought of the other major issue with this update? You quote the Xbox LIVE T&Cs, but what if…
Someone has bought a second hand Xbox with no hard drive but a none-authorised storage unit (say Datel memory card for example) and does not have internet access. They have not signed up for Xbox LIVE (silver or gold) due to no internet. M$ deploy this update. As per M$, this update will eventually end up on game disks (they have put updates on games before so people that do not have internet access will eventually get system updates). This update gets installed as a mandatory update from the game disk and now the user does not have a usable storage unit. I dont recall having to agree to any T&Cs when creating a local account and to play games. Can any one confirm if they had to agree to T&Cs to use their xbox without having a LIVE account?
Also, how are we surposed to tell if a storage is authorised or not? I have a genuine M$ 64Mb memory card. Under system setting/memory, both hard drive and memory card are shown. To the right of the hard drive shows “Microsoft”. However, there is no “Microsoft” to the right of the memory card. So is my genuine M$ memory card not an authorised product?

And I’ve just seen Major’s twitter from this morning “Don’t want a messenger kit….a LOT of USB keyboards will work w/ the 360. If you have one lying about the house, plug it in and try it.”.
This is the absurd thing – many average consumers who bought third party memory units from reputable high-street stores won’t understand why on one day Microsoft is threatening to stop them working and a couple of days later is positively encouraging people to use unauthorised keyboards instead of the official Microsoft solution.

@BryceS and then you go out and buy yourself a nice usb keyboard, but then someday they decide it is not authorized and ban it.

@K1LLER HORNET

You are really pushing your luck between posting here and on xbox-scene with Forza 3 actively on your profile. I would keep a low “profile” if I were you (pun intended)

Major Nelson keeps giving away unauthorized headsets as prizes(checked Turlebeach website, unless I am missing something) – will those be banned soon? Great prize

@Caspersworld: yeah i had to repurchase a new 360 to replace my rrod 3 year old system, and my new system is a jasper with 256mb memory card built in. i moved my 120gb (official) drive to my new system, re-authorized all content. but to make a long story short, my hard drive shows the ‘microsoft’ logo in the system/memory settings, but my built in 256mb memory card doesn’t show any logo.

so i think the ‘microsoft’ logo doesn’t designate whether the product is legit or not.

@ZaZeeMan: yeah i noticed K1LLER HORNET also doing what you mentioned, i brought it up the other day to him, so far he says he’s not banned. perhaps he’s just very lucky.

What MS should do is use this as a oppertunity to stop ripping their customers off. They can see the bad blood this causing w/ extremely overpriced accessories. Whats worse is while they are ripping us off other companies are giving the same stuff for free. I mean 360 just came in last for NPD sales numbers. Why is that?

360 Elite w/ 120 gig HDD/DVD: 299
Wireless adapter: 75
Xbox Live: 50
Total 425

Ps3 w/ 120 GB HDD/Blue-Ray: 299
WiFi: Free
PS Network: Free
Total: 299

Boy I wonder what new owners who are just getting into next gen consoles are going to pick? MS greed will be their undoing. Their wireless adapter is not as good as WiFi, DVD is not as good as Blue Ray. This stuff should be free w/ every system yet they have the nerve to charge huge markups for inferior technology when their main competitor gives you better stuff FREE!!!!!

I have no interest in the PS3 but even I’m probably going to pick one up soon just for the amazing deal they are for what you get. Unfortunately for MS from here on out I expect them to be dead last in US sales from here on out and no 50 mail in rebate is going to save them.

Those micro$haft suits are obvliously wearing their silkties too tight; cutting of the circulation to the brain, preventing them from thinkg straight.

1. FOrcing a charge on Valve crash course DLC. Like a mug, I bought it. The chapter was over before it started. But hey, I had the honor of pay 540MSP for it.

2. Changing the MSP ratio, so you get odd amount left over.

3. Vastly overpriced GoD

4. Forcing me to have two Gold accounts; one for the UK (original) and a US one if I want to keep up my gamer score and use neflix etc.

5. and now their most recent move to obtain a pound of fesh from every xbox owner.

6. Forza 3 was a ploy to sell more overpriced HDDs. The 1st game I can think of that the gamer will be playing a gimped version if they do not have a HDD. Nurburgring on disk 2? WTF!!

So when Sony becomes more competitive, M$ does the exact opposite. What Business so did you suits go to then?

Major Nelsons “back it up” statement was cynical assuming everyone that backs up their profile has a sinister motive.

Just2Lazzzy : I agree about what you are saying about cheaters and there Gamerscore.
As some would probably judge me by saying that I do such things but i can assure you I do not.

I would just like to ask anyone who reads this but have you EVER came across a Gamertag that has had the Gamerscore cheated, Hacked, Boosted whatever. I have never seen one in the Near 3 Years of Xbox Live.

@Xx DazzArma xX I would not know what to look for. I have been on live since Xbox1.
Between 2005 day1 and April 2009 my score was only 7500. It has only been since then, now that I have more frien on live, I have gota bit competitive an jumpt to 22000. You acore is reasonable.

Any are not the achievemetns time stamps? If someone got the achievments all at once. that would stand out like a light house beacon

Not a good move Microsoft. Lots and lots of people including myself will be returning MAX memory cards or hard drive units made by Datel to retailers such as Gamestop, Best Buy, etc. and get our money back from them which in turn will drive these retailers up the wall due to all the complaints they’ll be receiving. That’s just on a microscopic level. On the macroscopic level, these retailers will want to return these products to Datel (a company that operates in the UK and Florida, USA), that seeks to provide a cheaper solution to millions of XBOX 360 consumers. Datel will obviously be making a loss on these units and all the ones out on the market already and that won’t be a nice thing for them.

Shifting our focus back on probably hundreds or thousands of 360 owners who own these 3rd party storage drives, a good portion of whom are probably not informed about this new update and when it’s time for the update, they find out that they just lost all their savegames that had them spending hours and hours on their favorite games and all of that will be taken away from them. It will not be a pleasant experience that MS customer support will have to deal with after the update. Retract on this feature of the update and you’ll be avoiding thousands of complaint calls, losses for Datel and well-known third-party companies alike, arguments with retailers, etc. all because of one small update that concerns you making money for yourselves. If this is your idea of the end justifying the means, then I’m sorry to be a part of this new XBOX experience.

Here’s a suggestion, if you want to make money off of someone why don’t you just make an agreement with these 3rd party manufacturers (at least those ones based in UK or US who are supplying through known retail stores), make authorization permissions on your update for a company like Datel whilst still preventing unknown or modified hard drives from being accessed and that way you can take a portion of their profits?

Any person taking their time to replying to my statement in a negative way can just keep it to themselves as I have made my statement and have nothing more to say or argue with anyone. Point made. Now it’s up to Microsoft to make the right decision. Knowing MS they will go ahead with their decision anyway.

I as well hope my ebay bought 120GB hard drive is indeed genuine. I just put in Halo 2 and it boots just fine so I have hope. I will be extremely upset if this update does something to me and my gaming experience. That gamerscore did not come easy. I have had no bad experiences with my Xbox, such as the RROD, but if something happens after this update, PS3 here I come.

I called xbox tech support to complain about the planned update. I must not have been the first to call about this because they already knew about the planned update and the implications to people like me. They told me to move my profile and saves to an authorized memory device before the update (as expected). After venting to them for a while about my disapproval, they offered to send my complaints on as “feedback”. Not sure who, if anyone, will get my feedback. However, it sure felt good to complain about this to an actual Microsoft representative. (even if it was some no-body in India).

Tomorrow, I will formally register a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I had to resort to the BBB once before when MS was dragging their feet on transferring my dlc licencing to a repaired console (before they had the utility for this). I called tech support weekly for 90 days trying to get the problem fixed. After contacting the BBB, I had an American MS rep calling ME and the problem was fixed in less than a week.

(btw. don’t bother replying with the XBOX Live T&C – I’m not interested)

I’ve seen someone with a hacked/boosted gamerscore and he got his score reset and all his achievements erased. Now his second account quickly rose up again to 100k and I’m not sure if he learned his lesson the first time :\. I don’t have him on my friends list anymore though. I don’t know why people do that when its nothing but a number and its more satisfying when you see the achievement pop up after you busted your ass getting it. The saying goes because of one (or a few) everyone suffers.

I don’t see how this can Include the datel products, as they are sold on a retail level to the public. I think this must refer to Homemade HDD’s.
Also it states move your profiles and game saves it says nothing of your video’s or themes or pics ect?
I thought 3rd parties like datel had a right to make products for 360, I have not seen anything where Microsoft has tried to stop there sales or warned people not to buy them. You would think they would attempt to clear this up, I would assume if it does stop the datel units them there would be a legal battle ensue. I would have to say I wouldn’t be on the Microsoft side on this one.
For the record I think that people that make there own HDD’s are not doing anything wrong. They do not modify the game system they just save some money.
The only thing on my xmas list is the datel memcard.

I think it is focused on people not making 250gb hdd’s.

@EveofLight I’m sure this kind of hacking / gamerscore boosting goes on, but as has been mentioned before this is as easily done with an official memory unit as it is with the Datel Max Memory cards. As this is the case then the only reason I can see for the course of action MS are taking is greed, it also shows a complete lack of regard for us as consumers of their products.
Obviously this has hit a nerve with a lot of us (over 400 comments and rising!), and I imagine they didn’t expect this kind of backlash, but to me it looks like they have dropped the bomb then ran and hid. The complete lack of any further information on this matter from MS is pathetic. I don’t expect a u-turn, that’s not microsoft’s way, but a real explanation as to why they are doing this is in order.

Hi, need some help, is there a way to know if a 120hd is a home made,

last week I order a new 1 because the HD, because the 1 I’m using is not loading up all the time, some times I need to reset the xbox 2-3 times to get it going.

the new HD came today, did not come with any packaging, so I think its a home made HD. the IDs on the HD are x812647-001 and 0521014375929

not going to say witch seller but hear is the like
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B000U1JI1Q/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

if you can help my email is DemolitionDoc@live.co.uk

thanks

think I need to reread my posts before submitting them LOL.

Only a small number of 360 owners a represented on this site. However, apart from on butt kisser on this thread (no names mentioned) everyone else has gone ape-sh*t. Imaging if this got out to the wider community. Cleverly, micro$haft have taken a leaf out of the politicians book an made the announcement on Friday. Slimey.

Well if this can believed its aimed at memory units and not HDDs
http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Unauthorized_Xbox_360_Storage_Devices_to_be_Banned/551-106963-585.html

@ Demolition Doc. The 1st number on my suspected fake HDD id 812646-001. I don’t know if this is the product ID though

Have to keep tightening the noose huh? Why is it that we don’t have more options over time? We should have everything capable of storing things compatible for use. In the end, being more user friendly and not so controlling would sell more consoles. Between this and the rumor I heard of XBox Live price increase, maybe more people will go back to PC gaming. If we can’t have unauthorized save devices, at least give us some sort of program to back up our hard drive info(Game saves) on some sort of device other than the Xbox. I guess if our Xbox get’s stolen or burned up, we are on our own to replay everything.

Microsoft, what a good idea to punish your own consumers for unlicensed third parties eating into your cake. That’s a brilliant. Especially as you created this problem to begin with, because never before has the difference in pricing been so enormous between licensed and unlicensed peripherals.

Even those of us who would never touch an unlicensed product with a 20 foot pole are reacting to this. That’s food for thought. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/think)

Now here’s a better solution:

1.) Lower the prices of the official memory cards to a reasonable level that third parties will find hard to undercut by much.

2.) Release a bigger official memory card already.

Maybe the bean counters at Microsoft need to watch Barney & Friends to learn some fundamental logic.

@ Demolition Doc
There is a simple test to see if you have bought a counterfeit prouct:
If the price you paid is so cheap that it’s too good to be true, then it usually is.

This is doubly so if you buy from China or Hong Kong.

Nice shoot on foot.
People that live on US and other countries, really don’t know what overpriced really means.
Look at this, the price of a xbox360 on brazil:
http://www.walmart.com.br/Produto/Games/Consoles-Xbox-360/Microsoft/Console-Xbox-360-Kit-Oficial-Brasil-3-HD-60-GB-Cabo-HDMI-PGR4-Too-Human-Halo-3-ODST-Mochila.aspx?Filtro=&strBusca=xbox

R$1950.. convert it to dollars: USD: 1.136. 1.100+ Dollars to buy a 60GB xbox.

Now, think the price of the 120GB HDD
A game here, costs ~R$230 (USD135). A mu? What is this? Never saw one before

Whats the next? Only MS thumbdrives, HDMI cables, Microsoft Television?
Look at the iPhone, a lot of people do the jailbreak to use 3rd party things, because the apple monopoly is ridiculous, and btw, microsoft is starting to do the samething to the 360.

Contacted the seller he say it from a new elite. And I see the product description is been updated to to say that, fun thing there was only in stock then I ordered, now there 4. description then I ordered was a new 120hdd

I’m singed up for live update preview, so I’ll test it when I get the update, and hope that My old 1 holds out

thanks for the replays

For those here who have accidently deleted their profile in the 360 dashboard when they meant to just delete so they could re-claim it onto another device via LIVE, try doing the following (no promises but might work):
Back up your memory card to an UNCOMPRESSED image using the Datel Memory Card Manager software. Search for and download “FatX Undelete”. Use FatX Undelete software to undelete your profile. Put the image back onto your memory card. Hopefully your profile should be back ready for you to delete it again!!!

GS HaXoR is here & does not approve of this move.

Max Memory Unit is great for backing up saves – that’s the main reason i have mine :-/

The price per gig is about 12.5 cents when you buy a hard drive. When you buy an xbox hard drive you are paying 80 cents per gig!!!

This is a disgusting….

If Microsoft didn’t want anyone to use 3rd party storage devices, they could have either contacted the manufacturer or the consumers WHEN IT WAS RELEASED. This has to be their way of thinking:

“If we let people buy 3rd party storage devices at first, they will be more inclined to buy downloadable content, thus having more of a need for storage. But after they have had time to download more games, have more saves, etc, we will not allow people to use “Unauthorized” Storage Devices. This will cause them to panic, and if they want to keep their saves, games, etc, they will then have to purchase our overpriced HD’s and MU’s. Now not only did we get peoples money from DLC by letting them use 3rd party MU’s, but we also get money from the people who wouldn’t at first buy our overpriced MU’s, but now will have to.”

Nobody wanted to buy their overpriced MU’s or HD’s and they either settled to not download content, or to use a cheaper 3rd party solution. They realized this needed to give people motivation to buy theirs. And nothing is more motivating then being threatened to lose all your content you paid/worked for.

Absolutely genius. And it will work too, most consumers are in fact either stupid or willing to take it up the ass like “Nod Nolan”.

And btw: this is not going to stop hacking at all. Maybe a temporary stall, but anyone who thinks differently is just deluding themselves into thinking that Microsoft has a reason to do this beyond making a profit.

@TROGDOR 007: Oops! Edit:
“They realized this AND needed to give…”

@TROGDOR 007

Like in one of my previous comment, I did want to mention the ‘rimming artist’ on this thread. Thanks for doing it for me.

You are right thought! Why wait years to drop this bomb on people. it is not like datel started selling this stuff last week.

I just feel sorry for the people who will turn on their 360 one day totally unaware connect to live, get the update and loose everything.

IS Micro$haft going get out of the console business or something; shaft consumers as much as they can now? The way they are acting now, they are killing themselves before the 3rd round even starts.

Only Memory units, or also the HHD?

I just paid $40 for a Datel unit last weekend and now I find out that it will soon stop working? MS, would you like to reimburse me for the cost of that card, or should I just take it back to the retailer and let them hash it out with you. Is that all you do, drive other smaller companies out of business so everyone buys your product? Can we say “Netscape”? How about Monopoly?

Give me a break. There are legitimate people out there who purchase this stuff NOT for hacking or modding. I just wanted a bigger memory card. Lets face it, there are tons of ways to mod this machine, and no amount of updates will stop people from finding a way to do so.

Wake up Microsoft! Quit destroying small companies and peoples lives to make a buck, and let us just enjoy our Xbox experience!

@Dr3x318: Supposedly only Memory Units, but the fact that nobody from Microsoft or Xbox has come out and given information is unsettling.

@VGMNSTR: I’ve contacted Datel and a few other companies. When I hear from them I’ll let you know whats going on.

@Dr3x318: Just memory units that re affected, but although it may extend to hard drives as well. Major Nelson or Microsoft needs to clarify this.

Everybody just Chill for a Min.. DAMn!!!
========================================
1. if you are worried about your game saves, dump them to your PC harddrive for now and copy them over to an authorized memory card as you need them. Hopefully ,Microsoft will come out with some big memory cards as I was also thinking of getting a second xbox for the convenience of moving between consoles.

2. Microsoft has the power to easily lock down their dashboard environment with some secure coding. No ban on memory cards or anything else would be needed. I think its just a question of do they really give a fuck if people hack gamerscore or mod games. Perhaps this update will be doing other stuff behind the scenes that will secure things. I personally dont see any reason to hack gamerscore or mod games as it kind of negates the point of what achievements are supposed to be about.

3. Nobody said anything about harddrives being affected. and if they are in the future, we would be given advance notice just like the notice Major gave us on this. Eveyrbody is jumping to conclusions here about the harddrives and running scared. I say wait till the update or hear from the people signed up for the preview before making crazy assumptions about whats going to happen.

4. To the people bitching about microsoft’s high priced wifi adapter, I have to laugh. Why would you ever consider buying one when any standard wireless access point, bridge or game adapter will work? hahahha I use an old netgear wireless game adapter that I bought for the orginal xbox. as long as you can plug a network cable into the xbox360 and plug the other end into the wirleless device and then of course have your wireless device connect to your wireless router, it will work like a charm. The even funnier thing is the 360 thinks im using a wired connection. I know that the point made was to illustrate entry costs of someone buying for the first time but still you dont always have to buy every official accessory from the maker.

5. I agree with people about the dashboard updates. It seems like every major update lately has been about how much more money can Microsoft squeeze out of us. I thought avatars were stupid when they came out but I said fuck it, I’ll play along. Then I see the reason that they brought them out: Avatar marketplace.. Its apallings that during a recession, this update comes out with over priced avatar anything, overpriced games on demand as well as some other crap I dont care for. A very dumb move, but I guess they are forward thinking to when the ecnonomy gets better. Even then, you wont find me buying any clothes or props for my avatar.

6. What concerns me about Hardrive’s is not space but if microsoft’s dashboard is capable of keeping fragmentation from occuring. When you are constantly deleting stuff of your harddrive and then putting new stuff on there, your drive can become fragmented. The more fragmented it becomes, the more likely data loss can occur. Thats why all of microsofts operating systems use a defrag tool to fix and detect those issues before they happen. So I think Micrsoft ought to implement a defrag tool for their dashboard. I think a 60GB would do me fine. why would you want to load tons of the games on the hardrive? its makes sense to maybe do the 3 you are currently working on or playing. But yeah thats why America is great: freedom of choice right?
Once Im done with a game, I unistall it off the hdd. I delete any games saves unless Im going to need them to play with friends. Once im done with an arcade game, its deleted. I dont keep any music on there and I delete any extra content I no longer need. I DEFINITELY Agree with everyone on the HDD’s being overpriced and think that a price drop is in order.

For all they do wrong, Microsoft still has the best Online gaming network period.
The automatic party chat re-connect is a great feature as it saves so much time. so I was really pleased to see that added with the last update. Also I bought a 3rd party headset that came with a dvd remote. I took it back cuz their headset was so crappy compared to the microsoft one. Im not a MS fanboy but I will give props where it is due.

Really, we just want to get online, play games with our friends and chat and not be hassled.
So lets just hope that MS listens to their customer base and really thinks about their next moves with us in mind and everyone will be happier in the long run.

Wow and M$ wonders why there console sales have slipped in the last 4 months I think it may be time to listen to the consumer.

The reason that the sales haave probably dropped is because of the PS3 price drop, which was long overdue (not that I intend to buy one anytime soon).

The reason that the sales haave probably dropped is because of the PS3 price drop, which was long overdue (not that I intend to buy one anytime soon).

@DJ ZibbyMan Damn, that was some long comment after reading i’m still not sure of your point, however you do contradict yourself on a couple of points.
Firstly not everybody reads Majors blog, so there are many people out there that are unaware of what will happen to their ‘unauthorized’ memory card when this update rolls out and will loose all of their hard earned game saves on that day. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! What you do with your game saves, arcade games, music and storage in general is irrelevent, that’s you.
Let me quote you – “you dont always have to buy every official accessory from the maker”. Err this is the whole point of this discussion!! Microsoft DO want you to only buy official accessories – this is why they are going to make ‘unauthorised’ memory units not work after the update!! If they get away with this, then in the future who knows what else they will decide to disable from working in the future… Hard Drives, Headsets etc. etc.
Another quote – “But yeah thats why America is great: freedom of choice right?” This is what Microsoft is taking away with this update!!
Not all 3rd party accessories are ‘crappy’, Major for example gives away turtle beach headsets that are supposed to be excellent, but once again even these are ‘unauthorised’ and could possibly be made useless with an update.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my 360 (I have 3 of them!), and Microsoft get a lot of things right (ie Live), but this move is completely wrong and will loose them a lot of loyal consumers. If we don’t voice our concerns and opinions then we just become corporate butt kissers and don’t deserve any better.

@BryceS, capiotti, and DarkEquitus: You guys are jumping to ridiculous conclusions. First of all, Major Nelson Tweeted about USB keyboards because he knows that not everyone has or wants to buy a Chatpad, so he’s letting people know that you don’t have to buy one to be able to type messages, Tweets, etc. on your 360. Secondly, why would Major Nelson be giving away unauthorized third-party headsets? He’s obviously giving them away because Microsoft DOES authorize them. And anyways, this isn’t even about third-party products being banned, its about UNAUTHORIZED products being banned. Huge difference.

OK I got a 120 GB HDD in from ebay yesterday that has a big ass “MADE IN CHINA” sticker on it. It didn’t mention this in the auction but it turns out it’s a 3rd party HDD from OEM (a Microsoft OEM *original equipment manufacturer*? I don’t know.) But when I put the HDD on my 360 & go into the memory tab there is a bold MICROSOFT on the HDD column.

Anyways I would like to get some specific info on whether my HDD is gonna go down the crapper or not because the only specifics any article has pointed to is the 2GB memory cards.

And I would like to know before my return period is up!!! Guess all I can hope for is that the update comes before the return period expires

@Judau X

As Microsoft have stated, authorized means the accessory an a big dirty MS seal on it, the point Major Nelson emphasized on the link. No seal = not authorized.
http://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/xbox360/xboxlive/getconnected/xboxlivecompatiblelogo/xboxlivecompatiblelogo.aspx

Where does it say except keyboards or Turtle beach headsets and other devices? These other devices are not on the ban hit list, but as things are they could be. You may think I am takening Major Nelson ‘s statement too litereal, but there is no other way to take it.

Either a 3rd party product is authorized or not. If it is not, then it is fair game at any time. Without any clarification – Microsoft are very silent at the moment – they could change their mind at anytime.

P.S. There are no licensed logo on turtle beach as MS demand to be authorized. If I am wrong, I stand corrected

P.S. what eve Major Nelson says is very different to what these who wear their silk ties so tight they starve their brans of oxygen thing or implement. Their stance would be from a legal perspective rather than a practical one.

My younger sister’s husband doesn’t go to Major Nelson site and doesn’t surf the internet much but luckily I do and I had the chance to tell them in time to transfer their stuff before their profiles and their children’s profiles got damaged.

so my 20GB HDD that came with my system broke, bc its a piece of crap and microsoft rushed everything with the 360. I bought a new 20GB HDD off of ebay, that im sure is probably not OEM. So now its not gonna work? WTF i wouldnt have had to replace the original if microsoft would have made a competent system. If my new Hard drive doesnt work im going straight to amazon to buy a PS3 and never ever buyin a microsoft gaming device. This is a joke.

W00T – this made it to Yahoo news!
-
There ya go MS – take some bad press =D – maybe now you’ll do the sensible thing & stop this update from ever going Live.
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This update is not about anything other than Money & Greed!

News: Datel ‘disappointed’ with 360 memory lock-out
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http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=225782

I sent Datel an email, this is the response.

Unfortunately there is no way for us to know for sure how/if the Xbox 360 Fall Update will have an effect on the Max Memory Unit until it is released publicly. As a precaution, we are advising Max Memory owners to back their data from the Max Memory unit to another memory unit, hard drive, or the internal memory* of their Xbox 360 console.

*NOTE: Internal memory is only available on newer Xbox 360 consoles.

@DarkEquitus You need to remember that keyboards and headsets don’t store/handle game or profile data in any way so are never going to be an issue. Memory cards/hard drives do and therefore could be a potential source for modification etc.

I will stand correct when we read the headline on here that unauthorized headsets are being banned!! but this just wont happen.

They are trying to combat a serious problem (potential piracy) that has implications for every gamer, but sadly it will also directly impact innocent users who have bought these products without knowing they were not authorized, but that is the fault of the seller rather than MS.

This keeps getting traction in more and more places lets keep it alive so maybe we can change it.

Best news post about it yet
http://bit.ly/48IOJu

Best personal post about it yet
http://bit.ly/31XAS2

I’m working on a petition I wanna make it of decent professionalism. I will post it here and on twitter.com/cave but you don’t have to follow me I will also send Live messages when it’s done. Please sign it so we can prevent many people who don’t know about this change from being in a whole lotta trouble losing Gamertags and irrecoverable game saves. Plus I already paid for the darn thing I can’t get my money back.

There’s an awful lot of FUD being spouted in these comments (and no, FUD isn’t a naughty word).
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How exactly do you believe a memory card can be used to pirate Xbox360 software? In what way do you think the Datel memory card is able to circumvent the Xbox360’s copy protection? You can’t just plug the Datel unit in to a PC, transfer some files you’ve downloaded from the Internet to it and expect to execute Xbox360 software; content is digitally signed. The method of running dodgy software doesn’t involve a memory card at all, it can’t boot unsigned code and it can’t circumvent region protection. If you believe a memory card can even potentially be used to circumvent the Xbox360′s software protection, then you don’t understand how the challenge/response mechanism at boot works on the machine or what digital signing involves.
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A memory card CAN be used to transfer downloaded saved game files to acquire achievements you’ve not earned, so called “gamersaves”; a pretty sad practice, which has little if any impact on anyone else’s gaming, something that’s obvious looking at a person’s profile when it’s been done and from what I gather a rather minority practice. These aren’t tied to a specific device, which is why you can do it.
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As has already been pointed out, the official memory devices and HDD can be used in exactly the same way to achieve the same thing, as the Xbox360 file system was hacked wide open back in 2006 – the Datel Memory Max device has only been on the market since around May 2009. The official memory cards are effectively USB devices with Microsoft proprietary sockets, and all of them can be plugged in to a PC and the content browsed with the right lead and software.
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Also, the HDD in the Xbox360 is just that, a Hard Disk Drive – it is NOT a Solid State Device (or SSD) making it more expensive as some people here are claiming, it’s simply an overpriced 2.5″ laptop drive in a shiny case with a proprietary file system and connector to the Xbox360 – many of the 20GB drives were/are Seagate devices.
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“Potential Piracy” won’t wash as an excuse at all given the above reasoning that all memory cards, not just unauthorised third party devices, can be read on a PC so any could use the same exploit.
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This is a case of forcing consumers to use overpriced Microsoft storage and locking out the competition. The one very tiny marginal amount of truth maybe that 3rd party cards won’t behave exactly like the official devices as they were backwardly engineered, like perhaps access write/read timings could be different giving odd results in retail games – but it’s pretty weak sauce at best.
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I’ve supported the Xbox360 (and Xbox1) from launch, with retail games, XBLA games and plenty of DLC – IMO this (coupled with the cynical charging for the L4D DLC) is simply a move too far on Microsoft’s part, a move that could generate a lot of ill will towards the company.
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And before any any smart-alec looks at my profile, sees over 250 titles then acuses me of piracy, I invite you to go look at my collection all paid for bar a number I get for review for ConsoleMonster.com : http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/martypg/VideoGames#5395108089738913906 – taken about 30 minutes ago.
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( The views in this comment are those of MartyPG13, not those of ConsoleMonster.com or any other organisation and is provided “as-is” without any express or implied warranty ).

Seriously, can Microsoft stop with the douchebaggery for even a minute?

OK petition is up, took a while cause I was seeing red while writing it

http://bit.ly/2pVtXq

These memory units do not effect piracy. That was going on before these cards and will continue after. Pirating games is from a DVD drive hack. Even MS latest attempt was already cracked.

This is only going to hurt legit users looking for cheeper way to store their games saves and marketplace content.

@MartyPG13

Well Said

Oh – buffer overruns – as I’m sure someone might bring that up as a way of exploiting game saves to run unsigned code on the Xbox360 (as was used on the Nintendo Wii via the Zelda game save to open the homebrew channel, now closed via updates AFAIK) – yes potentially one could turn up, but I’ll mention again that all memory cards can be read on a PC and since the file system was hacked in 2006, that’s been three years or more in which to find such an exploit – so I’m pretty certain this is well locked down, besides it would be closed in a matter of days.

Some great posts on here today especially from PCX Jack Burton and MartyPG13, both read with great interest.

The thing that is really annoying me though is the complete lack of reply for Major Nelson or anyone from the ‘accessories team’, it really seems cowardly in both how they broke this information and in how it has been handled since. I used to be a fan of Major’s blog, but it’s really starting to leave a bitter taste since this announcement.

I think if this does include Datel, then MS is really killing the consumers who do stay faithful to them. I use my 60gbs very sparingly considering I have 16GB sd chip in my datel, but this would totally suck so much that it would be insane to even support MS as a whole because you already kwnow you’ll end up getting Windows Me’d in the end.

complete joke…if my hard drive doesnt work i will immediately buy a ps3 and never buy an xbox product…i was already thinkin about buyin a ps3, but if this holds true i will definetly be in the market, and officiall out of the xbox market…3 RROD and mine was out of warranty so had to buy a new box, a broken 20GB hard drive from original xbox, 1 broken wired controller (no idea how this happened), and 2 scratched games later…and now this crap…i also respect my xbox and equipment like gold so there is no way it should break…PURE CRAP PRODUCT…microsoft and xbox can regain my trust by doing away with this

I have to feel that the players are being punished here for business reasons that have nothing to do with them. They’re not Pirating memory cards, after all, they went to a store and bought them.

I do hope that MS will make this process as painless as possible for them. Some way that post-update it will still be possible to move data from an old memory card to a licensed one. This still imposes the burden on the player of paying extra money for something they already have, but at least they won’t lose all of their data in the process.

Still, even with that I’m still sensing a PR nightmare. The best move might be to accept that this generation of memory cards is a loss, and build this protection into the next system. Or do the “right” thing and offer a trade-in program.

Oh, and thanks for letting us know, Major Nelson. I know this is the kind of call that gets made by other people. Thanks for reading our feedback, and bringing it up with appropriate people.

I agree with M$ on this one its a good business practice to not allow third parties to illegally copy your technology I am sure Datel did not receive permission from M$. To all the people who are pissed blame Datel not M$ Datel could have easily applied for and obtained properly licensing from Microsoft for this and its not like Microsoft is banning you or anything.

@CCanfield maybe Datel should offer a trade in program M$ didn’t sell you the card Datel did.

to conclude Microsoft did not do anything wrong other than selling overpriced hardware this action was needed to stop unauthorized third parties from selling non licensed goods.

“To conclude Microsoft did not do anything wrong other than selling overpriced hardware this action was needed to stop unauthorized third parties from selling non licensed goods”
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Do you think as a consumer of Microsoft products that this in anyway is good thing? You even acknowledge that the official products are overpriced – I can’t fathom the logic there.
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If you support Microsoft on this action, then you’ll continue to have to pay for overpriced hardware because there will be no alternative at all.

@MartyPG13 What I am saying is Microsoft’s action was justified, They are stopping people who do not have a Microsoft license they are not stopping a third party like MadKatz or Datel from obtaining a license and then selling the same product cheaper. What your saying is that if you don’t like the price of something and someone else steals the item or remakes it without permission than that is ok and its not. As a consumer high prices are bad however Datel should have obtained permission from Microsoft instead of copying what they did without permission from the manufacturer.

As far as your overpriced question I have not bought a replacement drive i still have and use my 20GB i got with my console. I have not purchased any accessory that was out of my price range. Microsoft will lower the price when people stop buying it. So to stick it to them we should not purchase the expensive drives and eventually they will lower it. The consumer is the power in this situation look at the PS3 people did not buy it for years then sony realized that they could sell more if they dropped the price which worked. PS3 Beat out Nintendo and Xbox in this months NPD numbers.

How can you possibly argue with skewed logic like that?

Hey MS. Try this! Sell us HD’s that aren’t %200 above cost!!!!
Are you trying REALLY hard to make the PS3 the system of chioce?????
As far as nailing people for using aftermarket memory cards it’s assinine.

Everyone knows the Xbox 360 COULD be a powerhouse if you didn’t try to restrict the life out of it and nickel everyone to death.

Maybe they were right about Mr.Gates.

PS3 PS3 PS3

It won’t be a hard call if MS keeps it up.

Just gonna post this a couple a times more so people who have a problem with Microsoft can do something about it.

You can sign this petition and let Microsoft know that this is completely disrespectful to the customers that did buy it for legitimate reasons. And the “piracy” and “game save swapping” can all be done without these soon to be blocked devices. I go into more detail on the petition please read it I did spend a long time reading over 700 comments on here and Joystiq as well as IRC chats finding out the truth to what would be affected, only Microsoft’s bottom line and the negative impact on consumers. Please if you do decide to sign it let other people know, change your bio to include the petition and tell people read it on xbox.com for the link. If you don’t sign maybe you should still let people know, the main issue is that there is no large scale alert about this.

Petition
http://bit.ly/2pVtXq

And also thanks for the kind words Zeebot

Yep, Bad press gave us the 3 year warranty and something else i forgot.

MS stop being tyrants! Love your gamer and they will love and protect your MONEY.
Greedy jerks…

And yes you can still protect your data from evil hackers.
Heck why dont you hire em.
They do the job better than you many times.

My girlfriend bought me a 512MB memory card for my birthday last year because she knew that my launch 20GB drive was full, and I couldn’t afford to upgrade to anything better. Knowing she doesn’t have much money either, I imagine it was from eBay. Indeed, when I first put it in it wanted to format it, which seemed strange. But since then, it’s been fine. It came in official looking packaging and has a hologram.

We’re both Xbox 360 fans, and we’ve both spent a lot of money on this platform, as well as suffering multiple RRoDs.

I’ve never done this before, due to weighing up the best console of the generation and dismissing any brand loyalty, but I swear to the almighty Flying Spaghetti Monster if that present gets disabled because of what I can only see to be Microsoft’s greed, I’m selling the 360.

It’s your move.

@Sheepeh, If the Xbox asked you to format the MU when you plugged it in, it is fake I am afraid.

Don’t miss a great deal… just to the left of this screen, I’m looking at an ad that says “Xbox 360 256Mb memory, only $13.95″… WHAT A DEAL!
C’mon…
I think everything’s already been said, so you’ll find nothing new in this post, except another disappointed MS customer.
I’ve got (as everyone else) few storage options from MS, and at insanely high prices. I can’t be sure that in the near future, they block some other piece of hardware from my 360, just because they want to -even the ones Major Nelson gives away-. OH WAIT! Maybe my 360 RRODd twice on purpose…maybe it wasn’t “authorized hardware” and that’s why it happened.

I love my 360, and I was going to buy a second one, but all this made my decision easier. I got myself a PS3. Almost the same games, unlimited storage, wifi included, and a company that has learnt from their mistakes (and hence, makes NEW mistakes, but rarely the same ones, as MS seems to do very often).
Even if MS now lowers the price of their “authorized” accessories, it’s already too late for many of us. Damage has already been done to your fan base, even if they have never used “unauthorized” stuff.

Let’s see:
1 Xbox Pro System.
~30 games.
1 official MS memory card.
2 official XBOX controllers.
1 official MS cordless microphone.
2 years of Xbox Live
All items bought brand spanking new, no second hand “pre-played” crap here.

Haven’t I paid you enough MS? Why do you have to steal from me?
If they had a real case to make here they’d sue Datel – but they’re just being jerks disabling my hardware.
And for the record I’ve never had a problem with my Datel card, I use it to play my rock band dlc with friends, those albums are fricking huge!

I use all M$ memory and have to pay a lot for it. But I don’t like this move. Obviously M$ doesn’t like the competition. Instead of lowering their prices on memory, they just get rid of cheaper third party devices by disabling them.

I still don’t get why a lot of you guys are thinking that they’ll disable third-party memory units. They’ll be disabling unauthorized memory units, not necessarily the third-party ones. Then again, the only third-party memory unit I know of is that Datel one and I only know about it because of this blog post.

@Judau X.
If it is not on this list then it will be disabled. I see no 3rd party MU on the safe list.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/catalog.aspx?st=&g=209000000&sd=2&p=1&c=10

@Judau X.
There are no authorized 3rd party memory solutions, period. All MU whether flash or HDD are from Microsoft and Microsoft alone. Therefore, if it is not one of theirs, it is getting bricked.

I’m sure Microsoft has been aware of the Max Memory since it came out.

If MS had a problem with this product, they should have immediately issued a press release, letting the public at large know that this product was not authorized, and that they would be actively working to lock out the Max Memory card.

There have been at least two dashboard updates since the launch of the Max Memory. Neither of these attempted to lock out unauthorized memory cards.

MS neglected to diligently protect their closed system. These are being sold in store and online by major retailers, including Best Buy and Gamestop. Surely MS’s Xbox vendors have seen them on store shelves during their visits.

Till now, MS has said nothing about the Max Memory, which has been out for about 6 months. In their silence, MS has let people purchase the Max Memory cards, many not knowing that they weren’t licensed.

I eagerly await news about the class-action lawsuit, should MS proceed as planned.

@Zeebot
Yes my post was probably too long. When people dont’t follow all the replies, they don’t get the whole story. It was pointed out by a person on here who got an email response from Microsoft stating that it was only about memory units. Even in the official announcement, harddrives are never mentioned. I dont agree with Microsoft doing anything that is monopolistic and I think the whole memory unit thing is a dirty move on their part. Unfortunately, there may be no legal recourse because there is competition that customers can choose from as someone has already pointed out.

MartyPG13: Yes you are correct about the digital signing, but apparently profiles and game saves are not or people wouldn’t be able to edit them with software foreign to the xbox 360.
What’s surprising to me is that MS did not secure the file system any better than the original xbox. They chose to focus on signing of the hardware so no exploits could be done like the first gen system.

470 comments, and counting… This time Microsoft should listen to their customers. In my country, a 120 HDD for Xbox 360 is 4x the price of a 120 HDD for PC. That’s really too expensive!. If Microsoft would lower the price of their devices, people will stop looking for cheaper alternatives…

I think this must be fought, simple because if Microsoft gets away with disabling memory cards without a massive consumer backlash they WILL go after the HDD next time.

@ TechReconR6: I don’t see the 64 MB memory unit, the 256 MB memory unit, or the 20 GB HDD on that list, but I doubt that MS counts those as “unauthorized” memory units.

@ DarkEquitus: Okay, so now the complaints make a lot more sense. Its a really strange move on Microsoft’s part, especially seeing as how Datel (the only third-party I know of who makes memory units for the 360) have been selling their memory units through major retailers.

I love the 360… but I hate Microsoft.

I pretty much all but abandoned the 360. I went out and bought a PS3, and a 500gb hard drive for about 50 dollars.

Just think if Microsoft made a 500gb HDD for the 360, it’d cost you 700 dollars.

I only use it for the exclusives now. Multiplatform games I’ll be getting on the PS3. It’s a better quality, and they don’t rob you blind in the process.

@Judau X. MS discontinued the 64MB and 20GB harddrive. The 256MB was only bundled with arcade consoles. But now arcades come with onboard memory. So far as MS is concerned those are the only current authorized off the shelf memory solutions. So the Major’s list is correct. Since Datel is on the shelves now but not on the list, this is directed at them.

@Laterali That sounds like a great idea. A PS3 with at 500GB drive is nice. I think I am going to do the same. Most of the games I like are multiplatform anyway

http://360.kombo.com/article.php?artid=17527
We need to stop buying MS over priced memory.

“Accessory pricing is certainly something we’ve heard a lot about from consumers,” Dennis said in regards to their higher prices. “That said, we go to great lengths to ensure the accessories we’re selling are high quality. A lot of the price comparisons you hear have to do with the hard drive, but your average off-the-shelf PC hard drive isn’t as exhaustively tested or run through the same quality and safety compliance checklists we employ.” That is a bunch of crap. The 360 drive is an off the shelf 2.5 laptop drive. Most PC Drives are expected to run 24/7 for years. We run servers where I work. “High quality”, those headsets break all the time. Battery packs are crap. MS makes you pay $12 for two standard rechargeable batteries in that pack. I have taken mines apart. The electronics in them die before the batteries do. I use a standard charger now for the batteries that where in the packs I took apart. To me over priced junk!

I know it has been said, but I agree that Microsoft charges WAY to much for memory. Microsoft wants to push digital sales via XBL Marketplace and to really push digital sales they need to give us reasonably priced memory storage options. I won’t say anything stupid like I am jumping ship to Sony. But I will say that when the next generation of consoles comes out, I won’t even consider whatever it is that Microsoft offers. I am truly tired of buying products from a company that constantly rips its very own customers.

I think what Microsoft and Sony needs to learn is Loyal customers should not be thrown out if you are new to xbox Microsoft has a deal for you 120GB Elite for $299 and same goes for sony. Both companies really rip off their loyal customers in this case M$ more than Sony.

The update is out! Let see what happens to one of my fake HDD and I think fake official MS MU.

I sent an email to Datel about their memory max card. Got the same reply as others that they won’t know how it will affect their memory max card until MS releases the update.

What is disappointing is that Datel released a note to the press (as others here pointed out) that said Datel was disappointed on MS for this move. Also on Datel’s website I didn’t see anything in their FAQ talking about it. Plus they still say on their website that the Memory Max card is 100% compatible with the xbox 360. I guess it still is, but a shame they don’t at least warn their customers

So I am very disappointed in both MS and Datel right now.

We haven’t heard from Major Nelson on this in awhile. Any updates on this?

Just got update. I can confirm that the Datel Memory card is not working.

^Bummer, this is not going to bode well.

Any word on 120gb hard drive users?

MMM MMM MMM Xbox or PS3 mmm mmm mmm how about the one who don’t use me…

Lets all jump ship….

The Ps3 is a great system too…

Are you listening BillySoft????

I have updated my HDD that was a HK knockoff (NO xbox1 emulation etc) from an amazon affiliate. It works

So you didn’t listen to the huge numbers of people telling you how derisory they think this is and you’ve gone ahead an included it in the update anyway, without any reasonable or credible explanation as to why, particularly given you can hook up the Xbox360 HDD to a PC using YOUR transfer cable and the right bit of software.
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It’s a repugnant move Microsoft, such that from now on I’ll be carefully considering which platform I’ll be purchasing multi-format releases on. I see no reason to continue to support a company at the level I have been when it treats its customer with such disrespect.
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This has begun with Operation Flashpoint, Tropico III, and Left4Dead 2 which I’ve ordered on PC and Borderlands which is a PS3 purchase. If you care to look at my user account on your database, you’ll also discover the massive amount of extra game content I fork out for, now nearing 50 GB odd and at substantial cost. I’d imagine all four of those titles listed above will have DLC at some point, so not only are you losing out on the initial purchase, but you’re also missing out on further money I’m liking to spend for extending those games.
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Well done at Redmond – give yourself a one handed round of applause.
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Oh, the Turtle Beach headsets – I emailed Turtle Beach Tech Support to clarify if they are indeed authorized 3rd party peripherals, this is the response I received from Rowan there:
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QUOTE “Our products are not officially licensed by Microsoft for use on the Xbox 360. However, they are specifically designed and tested to work on the Xbox 360, and are very popular among Xbox 360 gamers — including pro’s!”
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So not only are you poking loyal customers in the eye by banning “unauthorized” 3rd party memory cards, you’re also being a bunch of hypocrites for allowing the Xbox360 to continue to support the Turtle Beach products.

I have signed the petition: http://bit.ly/2pVtXq
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In fact all FIVE gamers in my house have signed the petition. As we were taking turns to signing, I realized that not only will Microsoft loose me as a customer, but they are going to loose me and my kids for the next generation as well. Up until now, my kids barely knew anything about the PS3. Well, now they will be getting one for Christmas. I just bought a PS3 Slim for $199 (discounted because I was purchasing a Bravia TV as well) Based on our experience with the XBOX 360 (two systems failed for RROD and now this), my kids will be raised to know the difference between a company that hates their customers and one that doesn’t.
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Don’t get me wrong. I love my xbox (games). In fact we loved it so much we purchased two systems because everyone wanted to play at the same time. The second one was an Arcade system. We keep all of our profiles and games saves on g DATEL MAX memory units so we can move back and forth between the two consoles. However, it is obvious that Microsoft is not interested in my business anymore. At least I won’t have to pay for online gaming anymore (5 x $40 per year).

I am FURIOUS about this. I’m not one of those people that spells MS with a dollar sign, but this has me really ticked off. I love my Datel 4GB memory card. The reason people are paying good money for them is because they fill a hole microsoft refuses to. Microsoft’s prices are RIDICULOUS for memory. $30 for 512MB? These days I can get a thumb drive with four times that much space. With my Datel card, I can save my profile, Avatar items, theme, and all of my game saves on my memory, so that when I go to a friend’s house, all I have to do is plug it in and I’ve got virtualy everything I need to play my game. You think this is going to stop pirates? Don’t make me laugh! They’ll have a work around for this within a week. The only people who are going to suffer are the legitimate customers, many of whom, in this case, are willing to PAY for more storage, but are relying on third party equipment because MS won’t make their own. You think I wouldn’t prefer a 1st part card? Of course I would, but if Microsoft won’t make one, I should be able to go with someone else. In fact, even if Microsoft DOES make one, I should be able to go with someone else. This whole “unauthorized” devices thing is ridiculous. I paid three hundred bucks for my console. It’s mine. Wy do I need someone else’s authorization to use a peripheral? The whole thing makes me sick.

I’ve been logging on every day to see some kind of official reply, and still nothing. What a bunch of cowards you are at Microsoft. The sh*t is really going to hit the fan the day this update hits everyone, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I for one will also now be spending more time and money on my PS3 as I don’t feel any respect from the suits at Microsoft. At least Sony give you choice, where as Microsoft is all about greed. Shame on you!

@WraithTDK
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At $30 per 512MB, if Microsoft made a 4G Memory Unit, it would cost $240. If they decide to comete with Datel by making a larger MU, they definately need to rethink the price per GB that they charge.

To Microsoft.

This is not fair move, Microsoft.
I planned to use such device to transfer my files to new HDD (no transfer cables are offered in russian Xbox support) and use my content on my other console, which don’t have access to network (located to far away in countryside).
I planned to use this device as fair user.

Blocking unauthorized MUs won’t solve any your problem.
Look at eBay. Did you see, how much 120Gb Xbox chinese fake drives are there?
Did you know how much of them are sold, or even hacked by users at home?
Can you block them? Perhaps. You can read their unique identificators when they goes online, and because mostly they are clones you will see many duplicates.
But will you do this? Of course, not. You will not dare.
At same time you think, that it is OK to block MU users?
Probably, you can block unauthorised memory units, but if users really want to copy large files or backup their saves, they can use 3rd-party MU adapters or chinese transfer cable for $7 (or even official transfer cable), which allows full access to storages.

If you worry about cheating (like boosting gamerscore) then just punish such peoples when you notice cheating.
Blocking non-MS devices only will anger your users, who own such memory units, and you will rob them for 30 british pounds (in Europe).
Hackers and unfair players using other tools for their deeds, they don’t need to buy expensive 3rd-party memory units.
You trying to punish normal users now.

Your 512Mb memory unit is not enough already for long time, even if it’s cost less than unauthorised memory unit.
Your 120Gb drives are not even a solution while they priced at $150.
And do you know how much they are cost in Russia? I let you know – $200-250 (if you can find them).
Do you really know, how much users are now own Arcade version of Xbox 360?
It is enough for them to have 512Mb memory units?

I’m feeling very uncomfortable, knowing, that I can’t make backups of my saves and content.
Sony allow users to backup their saves to USB drives, and if saves can’t be copied, there is always possibility to make full system backup in PS3.
What will happens if something goes wrong with MS devices?
Yes, you will lose all your precious data, which you collected many years, and there is no solution, except 3rd-party products.
And I already noticed, that some of my saves and DLC are gone from your 20GB drive (maybe, because of strong fragmentation, which occurs when you using such small drive for many years).

My own save files (not other content) is not your property.
Let us have possibility, at least, to backup them (maybe they must be encrypted to prevent access).
Let us have possibility to transfer large files between devices.
What if I want to transfer 1GB addon to my other console which have no access to network?
Or, maybe, this is my last access to network ever, and there will be no possibility to download purchased content again? In this case I want to keep my purchased content somewhere.

Microsoft, you should think about user’s convenience, and not how to restrict them everywhere.
Don’t make such stupid move.
Did you see, what resonance this news caused in community?

I always preferred Xbox 360 games over PS3 – all my multiplatform games are for Xbox 360, PS3 is only for exclusives.
And I’m paying twice each year for Gold status (for me and my brother).
I really like your console, despite some drawbacks like noise, paid subscription, lack of official Live in our region and $80-90 price per game here.
But looks like you still can find some more dirty tricks to make gamer’s life a little worse.
You have time to change your mind. Don’t spoil your karma more than it is.

Thanks for listening.