Microsoft can be sadistic when it wants. It seems part of the company’s MO to let pirates and modders enjoy Xbox Live during quiet periods, lulling them into a false sense of security, and then initiating a tidal wave of banhammers once a highly anticipated game is launched. With Gears of War 2 having tantalized gamers all weekend, reports are now coming in that 360s are getting the snip.
In case you don’t know how MS operates, once a system is “flagged” as modded or otherwise in violation of the company’s TOS, that console is frozen out of Xbox Live and will never be able to connect. Of course, the modder’s Gamertag goes unpunished, because far be it from Microsoft to not give you a chance to buy a brand new Xbox legally.
If you were looking for an Xbox 360, now is the time to be wary of places like eBay. A lot of useless 360s will be flying around if a new wave of consoles is being nuked.
What do you think of these notorious “banwaves” that Microsoft unleashes from time to time? I must admit that, even though I had trouble with an unmodded Xbox that was banned, the psychological aspect of this tactic is impressive. Waiting until people get really into a hyped game before cutting them off smacks of a quite delicious cruelty.
