Microsoft to charge royalties for peripherals
- Thread starter Ty
- Start date
Wow.....I wonder how this will affect Third-Party companies..and there creating of peripherals. I usually buy stuff like that from the company that created the the system anyways...so it doesn't really affect me.
I don't care. I wouldn't buy a 3rd party controller or such anyway. I did buy two Madcatz xbox controllers, but those were for my PC, using a Lik-Sang xbox-to-USB converter cable. MS can charge whatever the heck they like from their peripheral licensees for all I care. 
Wasn't this news posted a while ago? Maybe it was buried in some thread...
Anyway, here's a link for it: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=10728
Anyway, here's a link for it: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=10728
scooby_dooby
Legend
Ya I only buy first party stuff anyways.
I'm still kicking myself for buying the Mad Catz HD cables.
The article is a little misleading I think, they say it encompasses all hardware but I don't think all hardware is eligible for 3rd party.
From what I recall only certain things like controllers, keyboards, steering wheels etc where available for licensing, while many other peripherals will only be offered as first party.
I'm still kicking myself for buying the Mad Catz HD cables.
The article is a little misleading I think, they say it encompasses all hardware but I don't think all hardware is eligible for 3rd party.
From what I recall only certain things like controllers, keyboards, steering wheels etc where available for licensing, while many other peripherals will only be offered as first party.
I bought logitech controllers for my xbox which I'm quite happy with (for $14 a piece too!). It would suck if they ended up being a lot more expensive because of license fees.
Still, who knows if this will even fly in court. Using the DMCA to try to restrict people from creating hardware that interacts with yours is pretty far fetched. They risk having provisions of the DMCA thrown out if someone seriously challenges it, and that would bring the house of cards tumbling down.
Nite_Hawk
Still, who knows if this will even fly in court. Using the DMCA to try to restrict people from creating hardware that interacts with yours is pretty far fetched. They risk having provisions of the DMCA thrown out if someone seriously challenges it, and that would bring the house of cards tumbling down.
Nite_Hawk
scooby_dooby
Legend
Hell ya I'd buy logitech.
One of the few hardware makers I would actually prefer over 1st party.
More specifically 3d parties can only create WIRED controllers, joypads and steering wheels and maybe some others, but will not be able to license wireless controllers, memory cards, or HDD's.
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Interestingly, the Mad Catz contract also specifies that the firm is only permitted to make wired controllers for the Xbox 360, seemingly locking it out creating other acceessories such as wireless controllers, memory units or add-on hard drives.
It's not clear whether Microsoft will allow other third parties to make a more expansive range of peripherals, or if it is planning to offer first-party versions of those accessories only
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One of the few hardware makers I would actually prefer over 1st party.
More specifically 3d parties can only create WIRED controllers, joypads and steering wheels and maybe some others, but will not be able to license wireless controllers, memory cards, or HDD's.
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Interestingly, the Mad Catz contract also specifies that the firm is only permitted to make wired controllers for the Xbox 360, seemingly locking it out creating other acceessories such as wireless controllers, memory units or add-on hard drives.
It's not clear whether Microsoft will allow other third parties to make a more expansive range of peripherals, or if it is planning to offer first-party versions of those accessories only
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Nite_Hawk said:
Logitech (and any other respectable 3rd party HW) was already licensed. This really only effects the really crappy unlicensed 3rd party HW.
I don't know what the DMCA has to do with anything. They aren't using the DMCA to restrict people from making hardware that interacts with the xbox, they are using a proprietary security chip. Perhaps they'd try to use the DMCA against a company that reverse engineered the chip, but Lexmark already tried that and it was thrown out.
This is what MadCatz had to say about it:
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=747&Itemid=2
I thought MS said people would be able to change out the harddrive for a bigger unit of their own if they wanted to...? Hope they're not backing out on that commitment and forcing people to buy some overpriced peripheral MS harddrive.
Guden Oden said:
No you have to buy one o f thiers . They have a custom case that the hardrive sits in that isn't changeable . You basicly need the hardrive to come with the case .
Anyway this can only help matters. 1) it allows ms to make more money nad perhaps sell the consoles for less and 2) it stops really crappy controllers coming out . We've had a ton of people bring back controllers after a day or two because they stopped working
scooby_dooby
Legend
Guden Oden said:
All they said is that upgradeable HDD will be available at some point i the future.
The doesn't mean you can't attach another mass storage device to the usb 2.0 slot and use that though.
I see no reason you couldn't purchase a 200GB external HDD and use that, via usb 2.0, as your expanded HDD.
Problem is you may miss out on some functionality, but that depends on how their operating system handles mass storage devices as compared to the built-in HDD.
Are they using a special type of HDD for the 360? I know its 2.5" drives...but if thats the case..why wouldn't you be able to buy a bigger drive (2.5") and use it in the actual slot...unless they have some type of unique pin array in the HDD dock or something...
scooby_dooby
Legend
BlueTsunami said:
lol I think they learnt their lesson abou having off the shelf connections to the HD.
I can mod out an xbox in 15 minutes, with nothing more than 2 Torx screwdrives and a PC to hot-swap the HDD to.
jvd said:
Personally I don't care whether or not MS charges royalties for peripherals but I fail to see how this "can only help matters". Unless you are equating "matters" with MS' bottom line.
There is no correlation between MS making money off of Peripherals and then lowering the cost of the console.
WRT Quality Control the article I have states:
So yes, it certainly might help with the quality of some peripherals.
jvd said:
Er, where did you get that from? Madcatz has a number of accessories planned for launch
From their website/PR:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=69024&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=710883&highlight=