XBLA titles and refurb units *Spin-Off

[Dave Baumann]

I think in my case its because I bought a second 360 to use as a dev kit, but the new unit had hdmi. So I took the hdd off the old 360 and plopped it on the new 360 in the tv room. Hence why now if it doesn't connect to XBLive, then my purchased games run in demo mode. Not a huge deal, it only affects Robotron and Paperboy But still, it irks me when I can't play content that I've legally purchased.

Try redownloading them.

What I have discovered is that the account holder that purchased the game can download and run it in "full" mode on any unit. However, other people can only access the fully purchased title on the unit that it was initially downloaded to. i.e. A user downloads on to XBOX a, anyone using XBOX a can play the full game; subsequently the original user further downloads a purchased title to XBOX b only that user can use it on XBOX b, other users will automatically be pushed into the demo version.

 

[Diamond.G]

Try redownloading them.

What I have discovered is that the account holder that purchased the game can download and run it in "full" mode on any unit. However, other people can only access the fully purchased title on the unit that it was initially downloaded to. i.e. A user downloads on to XBOX a, anyone using XBOX a can play the full game; subsequently the original user further downloads a purchased title to XBOX b only that user can use it on XBOX b, other users will automatically be pushed into the demo version.

Based on my experience with a refub unit, in order to use content on the refurb unit that had been downloaded on the original machine (same HDD though), you have to be signed into live. Am I to understand that if you re dl it that you wont have to be signed in any longer?


In regards to the PS3 selling more. Well they will sell at least 1 more unit this year with this news... Dark Knight, Iron Man, and a few other tasty morsels...

 

[scooby_dooby]

Based on my experience with a refub unit, in order to use content on the refurb unit that had been downloaded on the original machine (same HDD though), you have to be signed into live. Am I to understand that if you re dl it that you wont have to be signed in any longer?

I'm glad that there's a workaround, but it's still rather stupid.

If the user is signed in to Console B, and they can download anything they've purchased, why force them to do this extra step? The software should be validated the first time Console B connects to the internet and the account is verified. It should be flagged and stored on the HDD, and all subsequent playthroughs should not require an active internet connection.

It's braindead DRM implementations like this that cripple Digital Downloads as a delivery medium.

If this is true, all they are doing is forcing you to waste your own time, for no conceivable reason. Like, in an effort to furstrate the 0.1% of people looking to abuse this service, they hamstring the experience of the other 99.9% of legit users. Brilliant

It was pretty annoying last week, every time I tried to play Geometry Wars it would default to the Trial version ending my game after 3 minutes. Diid I not pay full price for this game? So why the hell am I playing the Trial version? Because my console died? And whose fault is THAT?

What a silly implementation.

 

[valioso]

Is supposed to work by login onto live, but sometimes it doesn't I have that problem with Puzzle Quest, even if I am signed onto live, it tells me "trial version" so I have to call Microsoft and figuer it out how to fix it.

 

[Diamond.G]

I'm glad that there's a workaround, but it's still rather stupid.

If the user is signed in to Console B, and they can download anything they've purchased, why force them to do this extra step? The software should be validated the first time Console B connects to the internet and the account is verified. It should be flagged and stored on the HDD, and all subsequent playthroughs should not require an active internet connection.

It's braindead DRM implementations like this that cripple Digital Downloads as a delivery medium.

If this is true, all they are doing is forcing you to waste your own time, for no conceivable reason. Like, in an effort to furstrate the 0.1% of people looking to abuse this service, they hamstring the experience of the other 99.9% of legit users. Brilliant

It was pretty annoying last week, every time I tried to play Geometry Wars it would default to the Trial version ending my game after 3 minutes. Diid I not pay full price for this game? So why the hell am I playing the Trial version? Because my console died? And whose fault is THAT?

What a silly implementation.

Yeah I have the same issue. It is really annoying. I really wish they would fix it.

 

[infinity4]

I am getting confused. As far as you have the account that means you can use your account to play all XBLA games that you have downloaded on any console, on any HDD right? (with gamertags fully recovered to its HDD.)

 

[scooby_dooby]

I am getting confused. As far as you have one account that means you can use your account to play all XBLA games that you have downloaded on any console, on any HDD right?

If you take your HDD and put it in another console (or if you recieve a replacement console) you can only use DLC if you are currently connected to Xbox Live.

So, if XBLive goes down, or if you are not connected to the internet for some reason, the DLC you paid for can not be used. This even includes expansion packs, like the one I purchased for Oblivion. 30 hours of offline gameplay...and I cant use it unless I'm connected to the internet.

Apparently, you can re-download the DLC, to the new console, and then it will subsequently work without being 'Signed In'. While this is nice to know, it also makes the policy all the more stupid.

If they are allowing you to re-download content on Console B, to get around the issue, why not just automate the process and validate each piece of DLC automatically? Without requiring a full download?

Or at the very least, if the content absolutemy MUST be downloaded again, create some sort of transparent automated batch process, where the console automatically re-downloads all DLC purchased in low power mode. Don't force users to spends hours, on hours re-downloading content they've already purchased...

 

[infinity4]

I don't mind redownloading them. It is just that if they swap my 360 I just want contents to work properly without any worries (whether I am off LIVE or not) as far as I redownloaded them to another 360.

Cheers for the help. :smile:

 

[AzBat]

Apparently, you can re-download the DLC, to the new console, and then it will subsequently work without being 'Signed In'. While this is nice to know, it also makes the policy all the more stupid.

If they are allowing you to re-download content on Console B, to get around the issue, why not just automate the process and validate each piece of DLC automatically? Without requiring a full download?

Or at the very least, if the content absolutemy MUST be downloaded again, create some sort of transparent automated batch process, where the console automatically re-downloads all DLC purchased in low power mode. Don't force users to spends hours, on hours re-downloading content they've already purchased...

Actually you can't re-download the content to a new console and it work without signing in. Yes, you can redownload it, but if it's a new console, it will still require you to be signed in. There has been talk of some customers being able to call Customer Service and getting them to issue new download codes or free Microsoft Points to re-purchase the content, but I don't think it happens very often. The DRM issue still works the same as it ever has.

Tommy McClain

 

[Diamond.G]

Actually you can't re-download the content to a new console and it work without signing in. Yes, you can redownload it, but if it's a new console, it will still require you to be signed in. There has been talk of some customers being able to call Customer Service and getting them to issue new download codes or free Microsoft Points to re-purchase the content, but I don't think it happens very often. The DRM issue still works the same as it ever has.

Tommy McClain

Man that is depressing.

 

[thatdude90210]

Yeah, you still have to sign on. I only have 2 controllers, so now my nephew & niece can't play against each other using their own profiles in Bomberman. Because one controller has to sign on as me. They both have already build up their own custom bomber person so they don't want to use my profile.

The DRM wouldn't be so bad if their consoles don't break as often. I'm on my 3rd 360, and I'm a lite user (only about 2000 gamers score even though I have one since launch).

 

[kyleb]

Try redownloading them.

That doesn't fix anything. I've had to redownload games a couple of times to a new HDD after swapping out broken consoles, and I haven't been able to play the full versions without being logged in since the 360 I bought them from died.

 

[scooby_dooby]

See, people can talk about the need for higher broadband speeds all day long, but until some sort of standardized "Best Practices" is developed for Digital Downloads, which prevents issues like this, DD's will never come close to replacing physical media.

It's just too easy for the individual consumer to get screwed, or majorly inconvenienced, and there are absolutely no acceptable channels to rectify these situations.

Not only is phone-based customer service virtually useless at solving individual problems, the process takes the greater part of an HOUR to even get through.

This acts as a major deterrent for me personally, to purchase anything (other than rentals) off of XBLive, I'll take my physical disc, or nothing, thanks! The potential frustration and inconvenience is just not worth the small benefit of not having to go to a retail store.

 

[AzBat]

For me personally, I don't see a problem. For the majority of the people that actually use it as intended, it will work for them. I bought my system to actually play and use, instead of complaining when it doesn't work outside the norm. And so far of the 24 or so Live Arcade titles I've purchased so far, I don't have any complaints. Pigeon holing yourself out of 105+ games doesn't seem very fun to me.

Tommy McClain

 

[kyleb]

Its a good thing that physical discs dont have DRM which can cause problems with peoples devices!

Well I certainly appreciate the ablity to play every 360 game I bought on disk regardless of if Live is down or not.

 

[scooby_dooby]

For consoles, yes, but it did not appear that scoob was referring specifically to consoles. Having seen many an install issue on PCs with DRM, it is the DRM itself that is the issue, not the digital downloads.

Having said all of that, I would GREATLY appreciate being able to play the MANY (80+) XBLA games I have purchased when either Live has issues or Comcast, especially with the multiple machines I have gone through (hoping this will be the last one that has issues).

Ya, DRM as a whole certainly is annoying, but you sortof have to live with DRM on physical media because there is no alternative.

With downloadable software I think it's much more important for the experience to be completely hassle free, otherwise the pros simply don't outweigh the cons.

I mean, it only takes one really bad experience to negate dozens of successful purchases. I just don't see it really gaining mainstream appeal until they ensure that silly policies like this are eliminated.

I guess what I'm trying to say is the upside of DLC is fairly negligible, and in order for it to be appreciated, they really need to remove any drawbacks that cause consumers to be frustrated, or waste their valuable time troubleshooting something they've paid for, otherwise the appeal just isn't there.

They also need to offer consumer protection that is somewhat comparable to the inherent protection recieved from holding a physical copy of the media.