Just read a report that M$ are indeed planning to check the XBOX for modchips before you go onto the LIVE program. I read it on blockbuster.co.uk, as follows:

MS to track mod-chips, suspend play
Wording in the literature sent out with the first batch of Xbox Live kits appears to indicate that Microsoft will use the service to hunt down consoles fitted with region and piracy protection by-passing devices.The 14-page user agreement bundled with the beta-testing kits contains the following clause. "Xbox Live may only be accessed with an unmodified, except for Microsoft authorised repairs and upgrades, Xbox video game console. Any attempt to disassemble, decompile, create derivative works of, reverse engineer, modify, further sublicense, distribute or use for other purposes either the hardware or software of this system is strictly prohibited. Microsoft may retrieve information from the Xbox used to log on to Xbox Live as necessary to operate and protect the security of Xbox Live, and to enforce this Agreement."Reading between the lines of the first and last sentences of this quote, it appears that Microsoft will gather information from Xboxes trying to access the Xbox Live service and stop them from accessing if they are modified in any way.Although this news backtracks upon previous MS statements, the wider gaming fraternity will surely welcome it. Allowing hacked machines onto the network could result in possible security issues, as well as the sort of in-game cheating that has plagued online titles such as Counter Strike. It's also worth mentioning that Microsoft and other publishers deserve to see money from legitimate game sales and subscribers to the online service.Although the user agreement may hamper "legitimate" hacking of the Xbox, such as the attempts to see Linux running on the MS console, surely Microsoft has no real option as it sees no benefit from tampering of any kind with the Xbox.Expect to see more as it breaks.


So that doesn't sound too good to me. But as with most things should we expect to see a way around this? Looks like they're pretty determined

:eek:

Damn can they not make up their bloody minds.

I'm lookin forward the Xbox Live but i won't bbe buying an unmodified Xbox specifically for it.

C'mon Microsoft Let it go!!!!

No..they havent said they will look for modified xbox's, but simply left themselves open to allowing themselves to do it if they choose to. Personally i dont care as i'll never play on xbox live since im in Oz, and they dont plan on bringing it to Australia. Best we will be able to do is play on servers that reside in the US, meaning crap ping times.

haZ

marketing ploy.

Probably true....I think if the people out there can crack the copy protection in the first place, I can't for one minute think that it would stop anyone from hacking the XBOX live system too. Just my two cents :)

Everyone knows there gonna try to prevent chips, but they won't start till there X-box live gets off the ground.

If your worried about playing backups, you have 2 options

Don't mod your X-box and buy originals

Or

Don't play online

if using xcuter chip with switch they souldnt know that you have a chip if the chip is switched off.

Well if im not mistaken, couldnt you just use a mod with a switch on it like the guy above said, and just boot up the cdr copy with the mod on and as soon as the games booted up switch the mod off and join online..........wouldnt that work?

I think there are probably multiple mod-checks the games make throughout the game, as apposed to just when the XBOX boots up. If it wasn't bypassing it during the game I guess it wouldn't work, that's what used to happen with the NeoKey anyways...

for the xbox to check if a chip is installed or not it would have to run an unasigned code, meaning if there was a chip the code would run and if there wasnt a chip the code wouldnt run

If Xbox Live can detect the chip it won't run the game; then probably send some code back to your Xbox, so next time you boot anything it doesn't work, then telling you to contact Microsoft!!!

I dont think MS or any other company can lawfully disable a machine. Modding is not illegal in all counties therefore renering you xbox useless would in turn be illegal. Worst they could do is ban modded xbox's from xbox online.

haZ

it could be they are just bluffing and giving the hackers more thoughts about what their doing.

Couldn't you just have a chip that has the on/off switch and leave it off when playing Live. This would obviously mean buying original games for playing on Live but so what.

Dave

that would be the most likely solution at this point in time. Down the track the modders may find a way around this...time will tell.

haZ

This is why I'm considering to buy a premodded @ ****.com / with the sporty switch, leave it off when playing online and then when I want to play with boots, turn it on. But what if I want all the other good stuff, like divx and emus installed, does that stuff work with the other bios, I'm pretty confused.