Quick Jump Daily Digest

Thank you for your interest in the Quick Jump Daily Digest. Get notified of all new content on QJ in our free Daily Digest. To subscribe, enter your email address below and click the subscribe button.

Cancel and Return to page

Cheaters: the reason why unauthorized storage devices are getting the boot

Posted Oct 24, 2009 at 7:15AM EST by Glenn M.

Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: Datel, G4TV, Microsoft, xbox 360 titles

Xbox 360 owners all over were not at all pleased when the latest Xbox 360 update was set to prevent the use of "unauthorized storage devices" for the console. Datel, too, expressed their disappointment with this development. While users have basically begun verbally crucifying Microsoft for the decision, a spokesperson explains their side. The reason? Cheaters.

"Microsoft goes to great lengths to protect the Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE service from cheating, which is the primary purpose and use of these unauthorized MUs [memory units]," the spokesperson told G4TV. "Unauthorized MUs are not tested for compatibility or certified for safety and compliance standards and thus could damage customerÂ’s Xbox 360 consoles."

Unfortunately, this explanation wouldn't appease users who've been affected by the change, especially those who've been using the third party devices without experiencing problems. The update, as G4TV reported, only affects profiles, game data, and other Xbox 360-specific files. Storage devices with music, photos, and the like will still be read by the console.

More on this story:

Via G4TV

This story sucks? This story rocks!

Vote Now!

(0)

(0)

on the cheaters thing: bull*****. using a third party memory unit doesn't make cheating any easier than using official m$ branded ones...

on causing damage: again, bull*****. this is piss poor attempt to refute that it is all about the money they make on officially licensed products. if this were truly an issue we would have seen lawsuits against datel.

it's just an underhanded business practice that should not be tolerated. they use crap like this to try to explain it away to the uninformed.

seems to me microsoft is taking a page from the apple playbook... i guess this appears better than the sony approach of just voiding the warranty.

# Yeah because — mhawk134 2009-10-24 10:02

You know Microsoft doesn't give you a data transfer cable to make sure that you can easily connect the HDD to the PC. I'm xbox all the way but this was just stupid for them to patch. Not to mention it's even easier to just get a memory card and a transfer cable from datel. But MS provides the data migration cables when you purchase a 120 gb HDD. This is just a cover, it's not going to slow down cheating at all.

# MU is so last gen!!!! — bobby18121 2009-10-24 11:20

I don't see Sony has a problem with cheating where they let all there users use normal non-SONY memory sticks or hard drives to save there profile, game save etc. Why make a Memory card slot and usb slot lol...

btw i have both PS3 and Xbox 360 and i play xbox 360 more so im not being biased. i just don't give in to MS bull****. Like the no blu ray drive thing and online streaming or download is better where PS3 can have a HD upgrade and MS can't without buying from them

# Microsoft protects profits not gammers dont be fooled! — drwhyer 2009-10-24 11:24

"Microsoft goes to great lengths to protect the Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE service from cheating, which is the primary purpose and use of these unauthorized MUs [memory units],"

BULLSH*T. Microsoft goes to great lenghts to protect thier PROFITS and if some one makes a better memory card than them they loose PROFITS.

When I Stumbled upon the Datel Max Memory Card. I thought to myself, "Cool a bigger memory card" not "Wow somehow I can cheat with this thing." I highly doubt cheating is the "primary purpose" of these memory cards. Its probably... well I dont know "STORAGE FOR PROFILES AND GAME SAVES!!"

screw microsoft BOYCOTT XBOX LIVE!! or they might be banning your unauthorized usb drives and keyboards next.

# Hmm... — Bountyhunter53 2009-10-24 11:51

MS are the people who protect their profits at any any cost neccessary. Remember their campaign of stopping pirating in China. They spent craploads of money tracking them down.

Same thing here is happening. MS protecting profits and sacrificing users. For them they don't care about the user experience or the user. But how much they will indefinetly cough up.

# 3rd email to Microsoft on the subject. — drwhyer 2009-10-24 12:00

So I have heard the new excuse!

http://www.qj.net/Cheaters-the-reason-why-unauthorized-storage-devices-are-getting-the-boot/pg/49/aid/135458

Liars Liars Liars.

The google research I have done shows that it is just as easy to cheat with a microsoft memorycard or harddrive. And as damage to customers xbox 360 is concerned I call BULL*****! Mirosoft has enough trouble keeping thier hardware running without the help of 3rd party hardware. Ex. rrod and e-74.

Yes we the gammers are Crucifying Microsoft! Isnt it enough we have tolerated Microsofts faulty/buggy operating systems and Microsofts faulty xbox and xbox 360 consoles. Microsoft now has the audacity to zap our hardware that we paid our hard earned money for. I dont give a sh*t if the device has Microsofts name on it.

We as gammers dont have to put up with this. There is but one simple resolve to this matter. Unplug your xbox 360 from live before Microsoft destroys your hardware. What next? Blocking unofficial usb keyboards for typing. Blocking unofficial usb drives for music. How about blocking unofficial non Microsoft approved AA batterys. Microsoft wants their name on every piece of gamming hardware you own.

This is my 3rd email to Microsoft. Please dont insult me with another computerized response telling me to go to xbox.com for more information.

Boycott XBOX LIVE!!!!

"I forgive Microsoft for Vista, I will not forgive Microsoft for this!!!!"

drwhyer

# .. — unggoy 2009-10-24 12:59

what is this cheat that everyone is talking about anyway?..

# well — rollypoly 2009-10-24 13:49

gamerscore "hacking" and saved game downloading are the two most common.

the point is, EVERY possible hack can be done with ALL storage devices... not just datel's cards.

# lastgen — MagilsugaM 2009-10-24 13:52

memory cards are last gen they jsut doing it so that they can sell their onw storage device. Why can't they use usb sticsk like playstation?

# Lol — pookiepoo 2009-10-24 14:33

U lot are funny as hell man! ure going on like you didn't know what Microsoft was like from the outset.

FYI Microsoft - favour their game developers and their profits first not their consumers no matter how much wool they try to pull over their consumers eyes.

Sony - favour their consumers first end of story.

I can't speak for Nintendo as I don't own a Wii yet :)

Oh and don't get it twisted I am not a fanboy I just call it how I see it.

Anyway couldn't they just authorise the datel MC's? because they (Datel) have obviously invested money in the technology and consumers have brought MC's for it.

In any event this takes the P*** as it would mean that profiles etc saved to a UMC cannot be recovered once it is Xbox updated

# wow — vizard00 2009-10-24 15:25

thats why we need a mod chip , to bring back respect for gamers

# Dont Worry!!! — BryanNitro 2009-10-24 16:10

they aren't talking about 3rd party hard-drives they are talking abot MU's the little memory cards. they already make a security system for the HDD but that didn't last long since people can just use HDDhacker

# lol — narutosaiyan 2009-10-24 16:10

I think its funny how people always have to back up their comments by saying " i have a 360 and a ps3 so im not bias"

Grow the balls and say whats on your mind. Everyone has the right to an opinion, and your opinion is just as useless as mine because nobody really gives a *****.

I think Microsoft are a bunch of money grubbing whores who dont give a ***** about their consumers. PS3 is way better than 360, this doesnt mean xbox is a ***** console it just means its not as good as ps3. Microsoft will lose this console war because all they do is rip people off, and rip other companies ideas off. THERE

# if... — Dark_Skai 2009-10-24 16:57

altering your gamer score and all that is all it is that's a retarded reason to block 3rd party products, in any case this is another thorn in my book for MS I've had a few bad run in's with them already, Fable 2 not having that damn DLC in the box (I'll never listen to my friends about pre ordering again), Lost Odyssey having a crap package (the 4 disc was in a CD paper case slipped snuggly in front of the manual....), and of course halo's packaging having issues too (luckily that wasn't me but my friend hahaha), course can't forget RROD, e-74, and now this, just too much, I've had all PS console's and I've really had one issue, and that was my dualshock 2 not working anymore and that was just recently that I found that out.

# Fair play — bond109 2009-10-24 17:16

more power to Microsoft thats what i say why shouldnt they only want to sell there memory units

# p.s — bond109 2009-10-24 17:20

Microsoft are a business not a charity maybe one day unicef will make games consoles but until that day microsoft are the people to see

# Memory Card Magic — drwhyer 2009-10-24 17:31

This lame line about Datel's Max Memory Card allowing people to cheat and change their gamer score and such. Is complete Bullsh*t. You can cheat with a Official Microsoft memory card. Same thing with the Official Microsoft hard drive. And you can do it cheaper than the price of a Datel Max Memory. The Datel Max Memory doesn't have magical powers that allow you to "Hack" or "Cheat"!! If people wanna mod their systems they are gonna do it. Leave the loyal gamers alone! I have a Datel Max Memory. And I dont cheat. Hell Ive only got about 3,000 gamer score points. I could give a ***** about the gamer score.

# yet again microshaft attacks — nicod3mus 2009-10-24 17:58

Firstly, I don't own an Xbox360. I do however have an Xbox live gold account.

So last week I drove an hour to pick up one of these datel MU because I play Xbox live from multiple locations on multiple machines. Occasionally I borrow an Xbox for a few days from a friend here or there, and on game night I could have to switch from machine to machine depending on who's playin' what on which machine or the seating arrangements, so a memory stick was a neccesity.

Financially speaking the datel memory card was my only option. (i'm not exactly rolling in spare cash here). Now Microshaft is completely negating my purchase, so it makes me stop and wonder if i really want to buy a 360 afterall.

If Datel is capable of making these MU and selling them at a reasonable price there's no reason microshaft couldn't have done the same. In the end it always comes back to the cash. I can see the person that made this decision sitting back in their chair and saying to themself, "it doesn't really matter what the consumer thinks, we already own them." Maybe they don't own me as tightly as they think.

# Microsoft's Reply to 3rd email. — drwhyer 2009-10-25 09:11

Hello Drwhyer,

Thank you for using XBOX Customer Support! I am Errol and I will be helping you today with this issue.

We understand your concern about your issue, and we are sorry to hear that you are disappointed about the service we have offered. We apologize for the inconvenience you have felt regarding this issue.

We consider all of the suggestions and comments sent in by our members, and we maintain an internal database of suggestions that we consult and prioritize.

We are committed to improve our service to you, and you can expect to see many improvements in the near future.

Customer satisfaction is our main goal and we will improve our service in the future. Again, In behalf of Microsoft Xbox Customer Support, we deeply apologize for the inconvenience.

After carefully reviewing your issue, we have determined that it is best that you call the Xbox Customer Support due to the complexity of your issue please provide all information and ask for assistance to escalate your concern.

Furthermore, as much as I want to assist you Email support team does not have the proper tools to pull up your information and process your request. Thank you for your time and understanding.

Note: to prevent issues in the future, we arer not advise our customer to use third party memory unit. They should use the Xbox official memory unit.

For US and Canada customers, you may call Xbox Customer Service at 1-800-469-9269 at your earliest convenience, and we'll be happy to help you. We are open everyday from 6am to 10pm US Pacific Time.

For international customers, please contact Xbox Customer Service in your local region. (To find the correct Customer Service number for your region first use this link http://www.xbox.com/en-US/ChangeLocale.htm to select the appropriate country and then use the contact number found under the support menu). You may also choose to call international assistance (direct dial to the US) by dialing 425-635-7180.

To expedite service, please provide Service Request Number 111******* when you call.

Thank you for visiting Xbox.com. If you should have future questions on Xbox products or services, please be sure to revisit our Web site as we are continually adding information to enhance our service.

Best Regards,

Errol

Microsoft XBOX Support Services

http://support.microsoft.com/

# oh the ignorance... — rollypoly 2009-10-25 12:16

"fair play" is not trying to block other companies from offering solutions that you do not... or the same solutions for a better price. that is the very essence of competition, and what makes a free market economy work.

microsoft charges way too much for just about everything, and any pressure on them from third parties to drop prices is a good thing for US (the consumers). any action taken to the contrary is anti-consumer.

if they had instituted something like this from the very beginning, it wouldn't be as bad. however they allowed their customers to spend their money and rely on third party accessories (that microsoft did not even offer) before essentially making them useless pieces of plastic.

so they wasted OUR money for NO GOOD REASON. most consumers are reasonable, and willing to accept extra costs in the things they enjoy... but it must benefit them in some way.

i was unhappy with the decision they had made, but lying like this and expecting me to buy it... is an insult and i won't continue to be a paying customer.

# Haha — Shabbypenguin 2009-10-25 17:59

I've owned 2 360's and i refuse to buy another (sticking with my ps3, ive only had one fail on me). maybe you xbox owners should be happy..

This is a sign that M$ is going back to how it used to do business... maybe you'll all get Internet explorer 8 packaged into the system

Then everyone can complain about it being a true monopoly

# email response to xbox live customer support — nicod3mus 2009-10-28 14:19

What's the point of even sending an email to people if your not actually going to respond to them? If i wanted to talk to a computer via email, i'd email myself, at least then the conversation wouldn't be full of lies and a complete waste of my time.

Does Microsoft even care that the update implementing the ban on third party MU will cause people to leave xbox live, or not even purchase the 360s they had plans for? It seems to me that maybe you could come up with a better line than.. "it's going to stop cheaters." I mean really, does anyone actually buy this BS, or has microsoft got everyone so snowed by now that they don't even bother questioning the all mighty software giant?

Thanks for not addressing the issue in my original email. I guess i'll call customer support and file a complaint that way, not that i expect them to care about customers anymore than the email customer support staff obviously does.

nicod3mus

i'm not entirely sure i'm going to renew my xbox live subscription next month, and i'm positive my plans to purchase a 360 are going to undergo some serious rethinking.

nicod3mus

Refresh comments list

Add comment

JComments

HOT GAMING NEWS | LATEST GAMING SEARCHES | FORUMS

QUICK JUMP DAILY DIGEST

Welcome to QJ.Net!

If you want your comments to go live without waiting for moderation, you need to be logged in. Being logged in has its benefits:

Logged in members do not wait for their comments to be approved.
Logged in members can create Profiles to be seen by other users.

So why wait? Create an account or login now! It's easy, quick, and free.

To get started, use the LOGIN boxes, or the REGISTER link below!

Want to learn more about the team who brings you the QJ news?

Read about them now!

HOT FLASH GAMES

QJ.NET Categories
• Apple • E3 • Featured Articles • Gadgets • Games for Windows • iPad • iPhone • MMORPG • Mobile • News • Nintendo 3DS • Nintendo DS • Opinions & Analysis	• Photography • PlayStation 3 • PoV • PS Vita • PSP • Rumors • Science • Site News • Tabula Rasa • Wii • Wii U • World of Warcraft • Xbox 360

Sitemap

Newest Downloads

05/22/2012 - 06/01/2012

WiiFlow Mod 3.0 r431	05/31/2012
XeBuild GUI 2.061	05/30/2012
edicpopDS v0.3.01	05/29/2012
RGLoader 0v290 Beta	05/27/2012
WiiMod 3.2	05/27/2012
WiiMC v1.2.7	05/25/2012
True Blue Firmeware v2.7	05/24/2012
3DS Video Converter v2.3	05/24/2012
Mobile Assault 1.8.2	05/24/2012
PSP Tools Alpha 0.1	05/22/2012
Newton War	05/22/2012
DaedalusX64 r766	05/22/2012
PSPMarble	05/22/2012
The Undead 4 - Nazi Zombies	05/21/2012
3DSExplorer v1.2.1	05/21/2012

Most Comments this Month
Japan Says No To Pirates	(2)
Party like Rockstar—But..	(1)
Rumor: Modern Warfare 4 to..	(1)
3D On Your Vita, iPhone an..	(1)
Get a Load of the Doom 3:..	(1)
Watch This: The Elder Scro..	(1)

Top Jumps this Month
Pokemon Liquid Cryst..	(4)
Official Pokemon Bat..	(1)
Final Fantasy IV: Co..	(1)
Total War: Shogun 2..	(1)
PSP homebrew - PSPdi..	(1)
Bust Out Your PSP Fo..	(1)
dTunes v2.6 - downlo..	(1)
PSP homebrew - OpenI..	(1)
PSP homebrew - Custo..	(1)
Wii homebrew - HackM..	(1)
Daedalus R12 preview..	(1)
Naruto Shippuden: Ul..	(1)
CWCheat Universal Ch..	(1)
Latest Left 4 Dead 2..	(1)
PSP Go!Explore GPS N..	(1)
USBCAM.PRX legal mod..	(1)
PSP Is Back, Whiter,..	(1)
Hellcat's Recovery F..	(1)
PSP homebrew - LameC..	(1)
PlayStation 3: Now F..	(1)
Custom Firmware PRO-..	(1)
Cops 'n Robbers...'n..	(1)
Hellcat Working On R..	(1)
Some Cyber in Your P..	(1)

HOT GAMING NEWS TOPICS

Quick Jump Daily Digest

Cheaters: the reason why unauthorized storage devices are getting the boot

Related Stories:

Comments

Add comment

Newest Downloads