A potential Class Action Lawsuit at Abington IP against Microsoft following the recent spate of Xbox Live bannings has appeared. Abington IP are encouraging banned users to take part.
An investigation is currently being conducted regarding business practices of Microsoft with respect to its recent cancellation of certain modified Xbox consoles for use with Xbox Live.
As has been reported widely in the media, tens of thousands of Xbox owners have had their modified Xbox consoles banned from Microsoft's online gaming service Xbox Live. Although modification of Xbox consoles is against the terms of use for Xbox/Xbox Live, Microsoft "conveniently" timed the Xbox console ban to occur just after the release of the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 game and less than two months after the release of the very popular Halo 3: ODST game. This "convenient" timing may have resulted in more Xbox Live subscription revenues for Microsoft than it would have generated had these Xbox console bans taken place at some time before the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Halo 3: ODST. Additionally, sales of both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (published by Activision) and Halo 3: ODST (published by Microsoft Game Studios) would likely have been greatly diminished had the Xbox console ban occurred prior to the release of these games.
If you are an Xbox Live subscriber, had your modified Xbox console banned from Xbox Live, were not refunded a prorated sum for the time left on your subscription, and would like to participate in a class action against Microsoft, please submit your information below.
According to Bungie's latest stats, you and about 2,533,978 of your closest friends have already cooperatively played through 47,000,000 online games.
"Some new numbers made it out onto the interweb this week that chart the sales progress of our latest little title, Halo 3: ODST. Word is that it's already reached a tremendously stupendous tally of 2.5 million copies sold. When Miller said it was dropping into all stores, everywhere, turns out he wasn't kidding around.
According to our online stats page, you and about 2,533,978 of your closest friends have already cooperatively chewed though a thoroughly frightening forty seven million online games. You've collectively banded together to purge the galaxy of over one billion Brutes and over 1.5 billion Grunts. You, dear friends, are a freakishly-focused and digitally genocidal conglomeration of alien exterminatin' maniacs. The Covenant ain't got nothin' on you. We're just glad that you're on our side.
We're also glad you're playing. Great news like this reminds the hardworking men and ladies on the Bungie team why they do what they do. Thanks for picking up our game."
Here is the latest report on Xbox 360 LIVE Activity for the week of September 21st, 2008. This includes Xbox Live & 360-HQ Xbox Live statistics combined.
Where we can, we will also display our own list of most played games on XBOX LIVE as tracked by the 360-HQ.com website with all LIVE Activity news..:)
The 360-HQ Xbox LIVE top 10 list is compiled automatically by our the HQ server which tracks each and every gamercard on our site and what game they are playing or have played most recently.
The list below are statistics from XBOX LIVE itself.. Read on..:)
Xbox 360 Top Live Titles
1. Halo 3
2. Halo 3: ODST
3. Call of Duty 4
4. Call of Duty: WaW
5. Gears of War 2
6. Forza 3 Demo (Download the demo)
7. Madden NFL 10 (Download the demo)
8. GTA IV
9. FIFA Soccer 10 Demo (Download the demo)
10. FIFA 09
The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.
As always for more of the latest gaming info, screenshots, trailers & videos, cheats and much more check back to our site or download and install our FREE 360-HQ toolbar for Internet Explorer, Firefox and most other browsers..
“Halo 3: ODST” Releases Worldwide, Marking Bold New Chapter for Critically Acclaimed “Halo” Franchise.
The latest addition to the blockbuster Xbox 360 series delights fans and critics alike with a gripping new story and riveting cooperative multiplayer gameplay
The wait is finally over. Today, a new chapter in the legendary “Halo” saga opens up with the highly anticipated launch of “Halo 3: ODST.” After finishing the fight with Master Chief in “Halo 3,” players now have the opportunity to take a step back in time and experience the “Halo” universe from a whole new perspective.
Last night, more than 7,000 retail stores in the United States and a host of retailers in other countries opened their doors at midnight to usher in a flood of fans who sought to be the first to play the critically acclaimed title. Launch festivities were capped off with a “Halo” franchise celebration at the Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, where Bungie and 343 Industries luminaries were on hand to meet and greet fans and celebrate the launch together.
Xbox 360 exclusive “Halo 3: ODST” is already winning critical acclaim from the nation’s top media outlets. Here’s what they are saying about the game:
“The best Halo game yet,” and “An action-packed thrill ride from start to finish.”
--Game Pro
“It's part Blade Runner, part Saving Private Ryan, and yet in the end it's still definitely Halo.”
--1UP.com
“ODST is simply an excellent game.”
--G4TV’s X-Play
With “Halo 3: ODST,” developer Bungie takes the “Halo” franchise into all new territory. Players are put in the boots of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, some of the toughest and bravest soldiers of the UNSC. Players must search for clues to find out what happened to their squad when a drop into the city of New Mombosa goes wrong, and discover the secret behind the Covenant’s interest in the city.
In addition to a full-fledged campaign, “Halo 3: ODST” introduces Firefight, a new cooperative multiplayer mode where up to four players battle waves of unrelenting Covenant onslaughts. The game also introduces three new “Halo 3” competitive multiplayer maps and contains the complete, standalone “Halo 3” multiplayer experience on a second disc. “Halo 3: ODST” will also act as a key to entry into the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta at a later date.
The “Halo” franchise is an award-winning collection of properties that have grown into a global entertainment phenomenon. Beginning with the original “Halo: Combat Evolved” for Xbox in 2001, the rich fiction of the franchise has since inspired a series of blockbuster Xbox and Xbox 360 video games, New York Times best-selling novels, comic books, action figures, apparel and more.
Published by Microsoft Game Studios, the “Halo” franchise of games is exclusive to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the games are optimized for the Xbox LIVE online entertainment network. To date, more than 27 million copies of “Halo” games have been sold worldwide, driving more than 2 billion hours of gameplay by people connected to Xbox LIVE.
To keep abreast of the latest “Halo” news, follow the Halo Waypoint Twitter @HaloWaypoint. You can also learn more by visiting the Halo Waypoint page at http://www.facebook.com/HaloWaypoint. For more information about Bungie, visit www.bungie.net.
Calling all HALO fans found in the UK and in to all things HALO like ODST, seem you guys and girls will be getting a peek at what all this new game will have to offer by way of the FX channel so be sure to tune in.
The Microsoft MEDIA ALERT reads as follows: Xbox 360 Unleashes the full force of Halo 3: ODST in a stunning live-action, feature-length TV spot
Fans to get their first glimpse of incredible Halo 3: ODST live action footage exclusively in the UK on the FX Channel tonight
Xbox 360 today is thrilled to announce that to celebrate the impending launch of Halo 3: ODST, the full length version of the Halo 3: ODST TV commercial will air exclusively in the UK on the FX Channel (Sky Digital channel 164) this evening.
This ground-breaking 2min 30 second footage, inspired by the upcoming Halo 3: ODST game, will air tonight at 23.41 during “True Blood” and kicks off an exclusive Halo 3: ODST sponsorship of the FX Channel commencing 18th September.
Halo 3: ODST launches on 22nd September, available exclusively on Xbox 360.
Microsoft today began permanently banning gamers they describe as "illegitimate ODST players" from their Xbox Live online service.
Earlier today Xbox Live Chief of Police Stephen Toulouse wrote on his Twitter page that he had seen some illegitimate ODST players, referring to Xbox 360's upcoming Halo 3: ODST, online.
"No early play for you," he wrote. "Commencing permabans."
Toulouse later clarified on his Twitter that people who bought the game early and are playing it safe.
We contacted Toulouse for more details about how widespread the bannings are and how Microsoft is differentiating between legitimate owners of the game, which went on sale at at least one store early, and those who obtained the game through illegitimate means.
Toulouse told Kotaku that he can't go into specifics about how they detect and how many they ban because they don't want to tip off pirates to their methods.
"I can be clear however that this applies to illegitimate copies only, the ban covers the Xbox LIVE account and could possibly include their console depending on the results of our investigations (which are ongoing). We do this from time to time with titles to combat piracy," he wrote to Kotaku. "If a user happens to purchase a legit copy of Halo 3: ODST early, then our problem is not with the user but the retailer who broke the street date. Those individuals will not be punished."
Today, Microsoft unveils a “Halo 3: ODST” live-action short, a 90 second ad spot for the eagerly awaited Xbox 360 exclusive, “Halo 3: ODST.” The ad debuts today exclusively on MySpace at www.myspace.com/gametrailers and IGN.com. The “Halo 3: ODST” live-action short is a haunting, action-packed production that charts the life of a UNSC Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, or ODST.
In addition to the online debut of the 90 second short, Halo fans in the United States will be treated to a special, extended two minute 30 second version exclusively on Spike TV on Monday September 7. The extended version will premiere during “Band of Brothers” at 10:30 PM ET/PT.
The short will also be available to download on Xbox LIVE starting September 8.
For the production of the “Halo 3: ODST” live-action short, Microsoft and Bungie partnered with ad agency TAG SF, Legacy Effects (props), Asylum (visual effects) and Final Cut (editing). The short features an original musical score written and produced by Human. The short was directed by Rupert Sanders with MJZ, the director of the award-winning “Halo 3” ad spot “Believe.” The short was filmed on location in Budapest, Hungary.
Also launching today at 6:00 p.m. PT is a unique “Halo 3: ODST” interactive experience site on www.xbox.com/halo. Visitors will be in control of an Operations of Naval Intelligence (ONI) application that blends science, psychology and analysis to evaluate which ODST candidates are best suited for upcoming missions in “Halo 3: ODST.” Featuring over 20 minutes of interactive content, visitors can interact with the evaluations of the four ODST squad members they will be fighting alongside in “Halo 3: ODST” in order to dive deeper into the fiction of the game. Microsoft and Bungie worked with AKQA SF and TAG SF on the experience site.
Suit up and prepare to drop September 22 when “Halo 3: ODST” hits retail stores worldwide.
With Halo 3: ODST releasing right around the corner (September 22 2009.) We at 360-HQ figured we would offer up everyone a little treat here. The official Achievements list with pictures! Remember this is an exclusive list and 360-HQ is where you saw it first
Well not much to say about this other than I'm super stoked to play this game, there are 47 Achievements and it looks like all but 3 can be achieved while offline, and only 2 requiring you to play online with other people. Let's hope those difficulty ones are stackable like in Halo 3.
Stoked to play this, comments? Post on our forums here
Click the link below to check out the achievement list and all info regarding Halo 3: ODST
Now this might not seem like a Microsoft thing to do but from what i can see it looks like the best way to handle the situation at this point, so go on and play your copy of ODST but make sure you have a copy on order or you might not play anything online again.
Kotaku reports: Let's say, hypothetically speaking, you're French. And somehow, your local game store was selling copies of Halo: ODST weeks before it was meant to be out. Then Microsoft threatens action. You'd think "action" meant "XBL bans", right?
Gladly, that's not the case. Well, provided you bought the game, at any rate. Xbox Live Chief of Police Stephen Toulouse has issued a brief statement saying that while Microsoft are looking into how this whole mess took place, "we will not be banning legitimate customers from Xbox LIVE who play early".
Glad we got that cleared up. Microsoft refused to clarify the situation with us yesterday, so it's nice to see that things have been sorted out.
So if you're French, speak English, are reading this and managed to get one of those copies...play away! You got lucky, hope you're enjoying it.
If, however, you're in possession of a copy not procured through innocent, legitimate means...well, you deserve what you get.
The action begins this Saturday, Aug. 22, in Redmond, Washington when Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson and Bungie kick off the nationwide “Halo 3: ODST” GameStop Tour outside the Redmond Town Center GameStop (17128 Redmond Way, Redmond, WA). The “Halo 3: ODST” Transport Vehicle deploys at noon and will remain active until 8:00 p.m.
Fans in each city of the tour will have the opportunity to experience the all new Firefight multiplayer mode in “Halo 3: ODST” and score “Halo” swag for proving their skills (all participants must be age 17 or older).
Built from a modified M820A2 expandable truck, the “Halo 3: ODST” Transport Vehicle provides a fully customized mobile gaming experience. Measuring 27 feet long and 14 feet wide when fully expanded, and weighing a beefy 13 tons, the “Halo 3: ODST” Transport Vehicle is a “Halo” party on wheels, outfitted with eight Xbox 360 console rigs featuring “Halo 3: ODST.”
A list of cities and tour dates is below*:
City
Seattle (Redmond, WA)
Portland (Hillsboro, OR)
San Francisco (Union City, CA)
San Jose (Antioch, CA)
Los Angeles (Pasadena, CA)
San Diego, CA
Las Vegas (Henderson, NV)
Phoenix (Avondale, AZ)
Dallas (Southlake, TX)
Austin (Cedar Park, TX)
Houston (Tomball, TX)
Memphis, TN
Nashville (Murfreesboro, TN)
Indianapolis, IN
Chicago, IL
Detroit (Shelby Township, MI)
Cleveland (N. Olmstead, OH)
Pittsburgh, PA
Philadelphia (Fairless Hills, PA)
Wash., DC (Woodbridge, VA)
Baltimore (Owings Mills, MD)
New York (North Babylon, NY)
Location
Redmond Town Center
Tanasbourne Town Center
Union Landing
Center At Slatten Ranch
Hastings Village
Carmel Mt. Ranch
Whitney Ranch
Gateway Pavilion
Shops of Southlake
Lakeline Plaza
Spring Cypress Wal-Mart Center
Marketplace at Wolfcreek
College Central Shopping Center
Target 31 Shopping Center
The Brickyard Shopping Center
Shelby Town Center
Great Northern Plaza South
North Hills Village
Fairless Hills Towne Center
Smoketown Station
Garrison Forest Plaza
Sunset Plaza
For the most up to date list of tour cities, times and locations, visit http://www.gamestop.com/halo
To follow along with developments from the “Halo 3: ODST” GameStop Tour and to keep abreast of the latest “Halo” news, follow the Halo Waypoint Twitter @HaloWaypoint or by searching for tweets tagged with the #ODSTTour hashtag. You can also learn more by visiting the Halo Waypoint Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/HaloWaypoint, including news about future promotions and developments on the road to the “Halo 3: ODST” launch.
The “Halo” franchise is an entertainment phenomenon, with more than 27 million units sold worldwide. “Halo 3” redefined multiplayer gaming through the power of Xbox LIVE and boasts more than one billion online multiplayer games played to date, and remains one of the most popular games played on Xbox LIVE with an average of one million daily players.
Back to school comes early this year as “Halo 3: ODST” invades college campuses later this summer. Students will get to join in all the action and play the new co-op mode Firefight at select universities around the country. More details will be available soon via the Halo Waypoint Twitter and Facebook page, so keep an eye on them for details!
“Halo 3: ODST” will have a suggested retail price of $59.99 USD and the Collector’s Pack available at GameStop (which includes an exclusive, laser etched “Halo 3: ODST” Wireless Controller) will have a suggested retail price of $99.99 USD. “Halo 3: ODST” launches on Sept. 22. and is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB.
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