Let’s face it. There’s quite a bit of confusion going on these days with gamers and what we all feel we can believe about our favorite video games. There’s just so much denial and then confirmation and then more denial and confirmation in the world of video game marketing and public relations (PR) that it’s hard to decipher the code. What’s going on with our favorite title or console? Who really knows?
Well, I decided to inject a bit of my famous Truth Serum to help you all get down to the bottom line of what is really meant with “PR Speak”. I know the stress levels involved when you’re looking for straight answers so hopefully this little guide will help you figure out what’s going on. What’s the truth you ask? Let the Truth Serum do its magic and follow along.
It’s no secret that Digital Rights Management (DRM) has presented a few issues to Xbox 360 gamers. I posted a Truth Serum article recently about it and had a very interesting show last Saturday about it. It was a shocker to hear some of the cases and how long some of them have gone on. However, I did find out some things invovlving the issue that I wanted to share. This may not be the case for many of you but hopefully for a few, it will help.
During the repair process, a technician or representative or whomever is supposed to update your console’s serial number with that of the new one. This would prevent any licensing issues with content and would stop you from having to authenticate via Xbox Live. I’ve verified that this is supposed to happen but unfortunately it sometimes doesn’t. It’s also unfortunate that no notification of this is given. You could be free of any potential DRM issues but you’d never know it because there’s no notification currently being sent.
This tip will help those of you who don’t know that you’ve been updated. For those still in a DRM punked status, I’ll keep investigating to see if something more can be done. Now let’s get on to the tip shall we.
DRM Tip (for those trying to access Arcade titles offline and can’t)
-Log on to Xbox Live with the same Gamertag you initially downloaded the content to
- Go to your Systems Blade > Memory > Games
- Locate the Arcade games you can not access offline and delete them including saves
- Go to your Marketplace Blade > Account Management > Download History
- Search for the same content in your history and download it again
This may not work for those who a) have not had your console serial # properly updated or b) if the content is no longer in your Download History. I know a few users who tried this after last weekend’s show (including myself) and it took care of the problem. So give it a shot.
To help me with further investigating and hopefully finding a solution to being punked by DRM, I’m encouraging those who have been punked to email me your situation. I’ll get a list together and try to present it to the proper people.
It’s time for an injection of that special serum into a subject that I’m sure is a personal one for many of you. You don’t read very much about it but it affects everyone who owns an Xbox 360. DRM, as most of you will recognize it, stands for Digital Rights Management. It is a technology used by many publishers and copyright holders to limit the use of digital content/devices and in some cases restrict use altogether. I’m here to say that it sucks especially when talking about how it affects some Xbox 360 owners.
Do you really own the things that you download from the Xbox Live Marketplace? Is that really your copy of Rez HD that you purchased from the Xbox Live Arcade? The short answer should be yes after you’ve obviously spent your Microsoft Points to obtain them. However, the long answer is that instead you’ve been punked by the DRM system currently in place on the Xbox 360.
No, you don’t own that content or rather you do until you have to replace your console through the repair process or some other reason. Repairs, new purchase Elite data transfers…whatever the reason you’ve ended up with a new console, it results in being punked by DRM.
Ready for another injection of Truth Serum? I know you are and I have something in dire need of the injection. Because of the recent news about Warner Bros. (and supposedly New Line Cinema) opting to support Blu-ray, I thought I’d write another dose of Truth Serum to let people know this war is teh suck. So for all of you rejoicing in the so-called “end of HD DVD”, allow me to shed some light on just how your checking account will suffer.
First let’s start with the defintion of the two. Blu-ray is a new high-definition video disc standard that offers up to six times the visual detail of traditional DVDs. HD DVD is a new high-definition video disc standard that offers up to six times the visual detail of traditional DVDs. Wait a second Deacon, that sounds the same. That’s because they are the same! Beyond the storage capacity (Blu-ray) and a few additional features (HD DVD), these formats are mirror images.
Truth Serum is when I give you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help my Xbox 360 controllers. I’ll inject truth serum into a variety of topics I come across to hopefully help you make sound decisions in your gaming world. The first topic to be injected is one concerning the new Xbox 360 Pro console equipped with HDMI and just how you may not have a true digital experience out of the box.
It turns out that the AV cable/adapter that comes packaged with the Pro restricts you from connecting the HDMI cable. Bottom line is that the component cable included with the Pro has a connecting end that’s just too big and it covers the HDMI port making it impossible to connect the HDMI cable when you want to use your optical cable for 5.1 Dolby. So it’s either utilize the HDMI or 5.1 Dolby but not both.
This applies to those of you who have A/V receivers without an HDMI connection like myself. I only have a receiver with optical ports for 5.1 Dolby so this would definitely bite the big one. The solution is to purchase the $49.99 HDMI cable with the smaller end. If you add that up though, an Xbox 360 Pro is now $400 when purchasing the HDMI cable thus making it only $50 cheaper than the Elite.
It makes sense then to simply spring for the Xbox 360 Elite no? Fifty extra dollars would get you 100 more gigs of hard drive space and the cables necessary right out of the box. Is this a Microsoft treat or trick? It’s Halloween today so you decide.
