Microsoft axing fake foreign Live accounts?

  • By TimSpot, GameSpot
  • Posted Nov 28, 2006 12:49 am GMT

Source: Xboxic.com, citing German Xbox site Xbox-Archiv. What we heard: Xbox Live Marketplace is an online store where gamers from all over the world can download various types of content, such as games, demos, trailers, and dashboard themes. However, because of various regional agreements and the...

Source: Xboxic.com, citing German Xbox site Xbox-Archiv.

What we heard: Xbox Live Marketplace is an online store where gamers from all over the world can download various types of content, such as games, demos, trailers, and dashboard themes. However, because of various regional agreements and the occasional timed exclusive, not all content is available in all areas.

It didn't take gamers long to figure out they didn't have to live in a certain country to get access to that country's content. Xbox Live users could simply set up a dummy Xbox Live account, put in a false address from abroad, and download what regional agreements said they couldn't.

That loophole may not be exploitable for too long. Soon, according to Xbox-Archiv, Microsoft will begin policing Xbox Live accounts and deleting "dummy" accounts. The reason stems largely from the recent addition of on-demand video content to Xbox Live and the multitude of regional restrictions movies and televisions have.

Xboxic has posted a rough translation from Xbox-Archiv, which claims to have known about the plan for weeks but is only reporting on this now as other sites have written about it. The site claims that Microsoft will shut down Xbox Live accounts with IP addresses that do not match the user's information.

Xbox-Archiv claims to have gotten the information from a "confidential discussion," and Microsoft has yet to make any announcements. Still, if Microsoft wants to get its on-demand service off the ground, it has to keep its content suppliers (that is, film and television studios) happy, which means obeying copyright agreements.

[UPDATE] A Microsoft representative posted the following on the Gaming-Age forums:

"Details aren't all in yet--BUT, I do know for a fact that we are NOT banning the accounts. We are blocking downloads in cases where gold accounts are being used to gain US content in foreign marketplaces."

The official story: Microsoft was unavailable for comment as of press time.

Bogus or not bogus?: It will happen sooner or later. Not bogus.

229 Comments

  • _Sam_

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 2:03 pm GMT

    why would someone do this?

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 3:41 pm GMT

    It's not a big deal.

  • djaferis

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 11:49 am GMT

    Noooo, that means no Halo 3 online for me I guess. That sucks Microsoft. When are they going to add Cyprus to the supported countries? Like no time soon I guess.

  • Zumafire

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 6:04 am GMT

    What ever.. I barely even look at the foreign content anyway... I set up a dummy account and it was real exciting for 2 days. You're still unable to purchase xbla games unless you have Japanese MS points. Plus, last time I checked there wasn't a single game available that wasn't available over here...

  • souledge77

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 12:20 pm GMT

    If Ms actually stuck to their original promise and launched everything worldwide at the same time it would have stopped this, but europe and to an even bigger extent japan get royally shafted on the content (and games) getting far less either never or many months after. This is why grey imports and piracy arise!

  • gixty7

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 10:45 am GMT

    WTFF!!!!!!!!!!!
    These people is crazy!!!!!!

    What if I live in two countries. For example, now I am in the US but in a few days I will be traveling to South America and will take my 360 with me. WTF is gonna happen to my account??? Not only I have to pay 50 bucks a year and buy their games for $60.... now they are going to say that I am allowed to play only in one country so I dont get my account blocked!!! OMG!! I am gonna sue them if they touch me!

    I am so pissed right now!!!!!!!!!!

  • saugh

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 8:35 am GMT

    Wow, that was quite smart, if only i thought of that.......

  • Drathyl

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 8:21 am GMT

    Yeah, MS is so stupid for this. If they only would let us download content regionfree, the movie companies would bail out and there wouldnt be any content so everyone could be happy.. oh wait!

  • Ahiru-San

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 6:44 am GMT

    so that's why i cannot use my credit card to buy M$ points lately o_O... i live in Brazil, using an US account....

  • tomertr

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 6:11 am GMT

    if this happens they lose atleat 10 guys from my area in israel and sony got some guys altho i hate them!!!! dont do it microsoft, ban only silver acounts

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 5:33 am GMT

    I knew this would happen eventually....

  • granposho

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 2:31 am GMT

    Just share the same content worldwide, what's next? Region specific youtube, if you're not from this country then you can't watch this video? Anyway, that was bound to happen... no surprises there

  • dark-neo

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 2:28 am GMT

    but im playing from saudi arabia and we dont have live yet so i had to get a us account.............. this sucs i gess il have to switch to wii and ps3 then...

  • Meskamo

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 1:10 am GMT

    if all regions got the same content and special offers, then this problem wouldn't even of arose.

    I'm gonna take this as M$ saying they care not about other regions as I bet most dummy accounts are set up to get US exclusive content

  • Jumbo120788

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 11:33 pm GMT

    makes sense

  • D_IMMORTAL

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 9:49 pm GMT

    this is not good. i am american, born and raised but i live overseas because i am in the military. all my credit card and registration info is stateside so now you are telling me that when i download something it will have a foreign ip address and they won't let me do it?!! they need to think this through or it will screw us honest folks.

  • rbop

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 7:30 pm GMT

    "kamikaze
    I bought the 360 because its a gaming device not to watch movies, and if get banned without even downloading any movie, then that would be really sad!

    they should block us from downloaidng movies but not block us from playing games ! "

    Did you even read the article? That's exactly what the M$ rep said.

  • Alpha_Omega69

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 6:02 pm GMT

    What if my locale is not there huh!!??! HUH!?!?! DID THEY EVER THINK OF THAT!!! DUMB M$!!!!!!! Anyways.... I'll be fine since I actually live where I set it to right now

  • kamikaze

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 4:52 pm GMT

    I bought the 360 because its a gaming device not to watch movies, and if get banned without even downloading any movie, then that would be really sad!

    they should block us from downloaidng movies but not block us from playing games !

  • HyperMetaDragon

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 4:02 pm GMT

    We all knew it was coming. No surprise here.

  • Digit2004

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 3:32 pm GMT

    Very bad translation through babelfish. They said it will be blocked OR deleted for downloads/videos/demos but they didn't know which of the two cases will happen.

  • Geo115

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 3:16 pm GMT

    So when us europeans are annoyed by m$ when they tell us media marketplace will never be coming out over here, there is nothing we can do?

    Come on M$ big features like this need to be global.. the freakin' US is not the only country in the world!

  • umbrae

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 3:11 pm GMT

    Funny all these people saying they are switching to PS3s. Like Sony isn't the #1 region enforcer. They have run companies in the ground to stop regionless sales. MS is not banning accounts: just blocking downloads. Sony would brick your system: after all, they did it to some PCs with their rootkits.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 3:03 pm GMT

    I have nothing aginst this. good job MS

  • StarFoxCOM

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 2:57 pm GMT

    OH **** oh **** oh god damn.

  • mooseman721

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 2:11 pm GMT

    i dont care

  • IQT786

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 2:03 pm GMT

    MAN M$ IS TURNING INTO $ONY I HAVE A UK , US , JAP ACCOUNT

  • ThunderMagev1

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 1:07 pm GMT

    I understand why some content is available in some regions and not others, because it'd be too much money and too big a risk to release it for sale in another country under thier code, but not why stuff wouldn't be region-free. What do these laws, passed to prevent people from foreign countries to gain access to certain products, protect these companies from? Making even more money? Why is it such a terrible thing(obviously it's illegal, but why?) if I import a game from another country to play it here? I paid for it, even more than I should have.

    Enough with that, I do feel it's not Microsoft's fault if, for whatever reason, these comapnies don't want their stuff accessible to other countries, so it's stupid to blame Microsoft for all this. Would their image be any better if they were labeled as crooks and criminals for breaking laws like this, ridiculous as these laws may be? So it does result in a money loss as well as a trust and reliablility loss for Microsoft if they don't do something.

    Besides, there's a beautiful invention called DVD box sets for TV shows, as well as getting off your lazy backside and taping it on VHS, there's DVDs and movie theatres for films, and there's EB Games and much, much more for games. Why would we need yet another method of getting this content when all of these methods work perfectly and are available to anyone? I think the whole thing is stupid. Why should we be able to download TV shows and crap? Demos? They should be on or with the game for God's sake. And get up off your rear and buy it at the store. There's almost certainly one near you and if there isn't, there's definitely a reason why. It isn't convenient, but suck it up.

  • chaos386

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 12:39 pm GMT

    @maestromjs

    It's not about cheating the system. Legitimate Live users (like Kamikaze in Kuwait), could be banned just because their country of residence isn't listed. The only reason MS needs to do this for is their TV and movie download service, which they did not negotiate international rights for (because it costs more and it would get complicated as they track down who has distributor rights in each country). All I am saying is that, while the restrictions are due to the wishes of the TV and movie industries, it was entirely Microsoft's decision to include their content, so they are entirely responsible for any restrictions that come with it. They can't say "Don't blame us, the MPAA made us do it!"

  • ericblue21

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 12:22 pm GMT

    I just want to say this to MS, why put region lock? why make it different and difficult to the gamers? some games can only play or comes out in some region not world wide why? why can't the gamers in US download the game or contants from Asia or the Asia gamers download the games from US? I'm not saying you gotta do what Sony or Nintendo has done but time is change and things should have some change, I'm sure lots gamers who live in the US or UK would love to play some games or contants that only release in Asia or Japan, as other gamers would love to play or download the contants only aviliable here in the US. Region Free! we want region free console and game contants!!!

  • maestromjs

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 11:53 am GMT

    Ok Chaos on your point, it's ok if you purposely 'cheated' the system and got caught, then it isn't your fault? Should MS reward you for circumventing their procedures?

  • JockDarkside

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 11:53 am GMT

    Piracy 1, MS 0, Another one for piracy thx you MS

  • chaos386

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 11:22 am GMT

    @bluemonkeyuk

    They don't have legal obligations to offer a TV and Movie download service. If MS starts banning people just because of the restrictions that service requires, it's still entirely their fault.

  • maestromjs

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 11:18 am GMT

    Ok, so if I get the point from the majority of people, you are upset that you couldn't get away with lying. I am from Canada, I wasn't too happy about the fact we don't get the same content as others, but that's the brakes. I have universal health care here in Canada, would someone living elsewhere like to take advantage of that? I mean I get this overwhelming sense that everyone feels that they are inherently entitled to have everything automatically given to them. I feel for the honest people wanting to play in their countries that MS hasn't yet been able to reach, but please have paitence. Life isn't as simple as flipping a switch!. Please also take you own lives back, it also appears that everyone thinks MS, Sony, Nintendo (each within their respective ''fan boy'' arenas) are out to get them and to control you and take all of your money and screw you over for kicks. You control them, not by falsifying where you live, but by reclaiming your own sense of oneself. You are not controlled by anyone, well, perhaps until you drink the kool aid, or perhaps by your parents (sorry I realise there are many smart kids, but it seems that many of the less smrt'er ones like to post here)

  • FraserAlexander

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 11:16 am GMT

    I'm canadian, and here's why i can't get movies/tv shows; 1) our television networks pay US networks big bucks to display their programs, so if a canadian wants to buy US Tv shows they should pay the Canadian programmers who paid for the rights of distribution in Canada - microsoft haasn't wheeled and dealed in other regions besides US to accomodate outside-the-usa customers...sucks. 2) Our governing body that regulates media content. We have to have a certain percentage of our media as "Canadian Content" so Live would have to add porkey's, beachcomers, canadian bacon etc...enough so that it satisfies our 'content' requirements. Movies i don't understand aside from the content policy..if i go to blockbuster and rent a movie, blockbuster gets my money (USA corp.) why can't i rent from XBL??? here's another question, i don't believe there is a Canadian content policy for games (and there shouldn't be) there are many canadian development houses, but even if there weren't I would still be able to purchase any game...Also I can buy and order a physical DVD from the States, I don't see a reason why i can't buy a Hard drive one. It's very tangled and I think content over XBL should be universal w/o restrictions because MS has gotten the rights and anyone w/ a 360 has in a sense subscribed to MS and should therefore have access to their content. If the Canadain gov't is worried too many people are giving money to Us corp's than make deals w/ microsoft ...or produce more canadain content worth buying..or just sit down and shut up

  • bluemonkeyuk

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:40 am GMT

    If they don't do this they will be breaking the laws in many countries. They are not doing it to spite you but because they have legal obligations to follow the law.

  • gametester1424

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:40 am GMT

    I have a feeling this will upset a lot of people. I import games a lot and being able to download a Japanese demo before I buy the game worked great for me. BTW, where is the Zoids demo? Now I have to rely on written reviews again...grrr

  • ckat609

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:22 am GMT

    I second that! Lock movie content... I just wanna be able to play online!

  • sdron

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:22 am GMT

    Hope that my friend in the US when he come at my home with its 360 and connected to my Network they wont decide to cut his account because they detected an IP coming from Canada!!

  • gagan21

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:20 am GMT

    If they ban me than i guess its time to sell my 360 that i love and definately get a ps3 . Gamers want games ms. They dont want movies. I mean wtf . U r paying ms to play online and now they ll ban us just coz we live in a country where there is no xbl service. MS should not do this otherwise i am sure there will be thousands of 360 owners that will be sad and sell thier 360s and get a ps3. Why not lock movie content for users outside u.s .

  • sllim777

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:12 am GMT

    To those who have moved out of the USA... You are in the same situation as those who have fake accounts. They are checking IP address. Understand what M$ has to do concerning these movies or TV shows on XBL. To resolve this they need to open up the regions and countries when you create a account. So then they will know who can see what. So all the people from the Islands like Cayman, Jamaica, Trini, Bermuda etc. Even the other countries like Iceland will lose out on XBL

  • MoodyFlame

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:10 am GMT

    You see I live in a country where it doesn't exist but yet I am totally willing to pay seeing as I have relatives in that country so now what my account will get shut-down?! I didnt buy one yet but if live is not going to be available i dont quite see the proper point of 360 in that case...

  • Cloud737

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:02 am GMT

    That sucks. But even so, no one mentioned that after your fake account is deleted the system will try and find if any other accounts has the same IP.
    Practically, you can just create a new account when your old fake one is deleted without the worry of your real account to be deleted. And from what the article says, account deletion does not appear to be instantaneous, so you`ll have some time to download what you want.

  • kamikaze

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 9:50 am GMT

    I dont care about the movies or tv shows, i just want to play !!! list our countries in your list and dont give us anything !!! just dont ban us !!!!! we are innocent !!

  • Reetesh

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 9:43 am GMT

    No One Wants Anyone to have Freedom If someone PAYS for a DOwnload whats there in getting it no matter here one lives.

  • Metalnoid

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 9:35 am GMT

    The XBOX 360 is a great multimedia machine, the microsoft products come in 1000 languages, why this cant be the same.
    Make content in every language, at same time, and for anyone. Things like that will bring more happy customers. =)

  • VexRed4

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 8:59 am GMT

    lame... so very lame!

  • 5yellow5

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 8:45 am GMT

    OMG!!!! This really Sucks ......... Im from the bahamas and they dont have an option for my country so i had to make a dummy account ..... For the last week they stopped allowing me to get microsoft points and i was wondering what the problem was..... If they delete my account that would really suck, i paid the same amount of cash as US users to buy my Xbox 360, even more then them, because i had to pay like $250 for custom. I was really getting into gears of war :'(...... Well PS3, u just gained a fan.

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