Microsoft shuns XBL account sharing
by Ross Miller 
{ Oct 31st 2007 at 2:08PM }
Rocking in his comfortable, leather office chair, Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb scours the landscape viewed through his widescreen computer monitor, his hand gently resting on an enormous and ominous banhammer. ... okay, maybe it's not Major Nelson personally banning accounts (although we love the scene we've envisioned), but the director of programming for Xbox Live has delivered a rather stern message to the community about the consequences of sharing and/or tampering with Xbox Live accounts. We're not sure what exactly prompted the public warning, although there is a specific reference to people sharing gamertags for the purpose of earning Halo 3 skulls (tsk, tsk people).
The short answer: just don't do it. If you need more motivation, Major Nelson outlines what will happen should Microsoft have to go to the pain on you.
[Via X3F]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zertoss @ Oct 31st 2007 2:28PM
So, people are willingly sharing their account info with random guys on the lollernets who promise them higher ranks and gamerscores? Do these same people jump in a van with some random guy in a trench coat when he says he has some candy?
ForcedSterilizationsForAll @ Oct 31st 2007 3:58PM
In situations like that, sometimes the rewards outweigh the risks. I mean, the guy may ass rape you, but then again you might get some free candy.
Sean @ Oct 31st 2007 4:12PM
What kind of candy?
The Boo @ Oct 31st 2007 4:39PM
I am very interested in this candy you speak of. Where is this van?
DP @ Oct 31st 2007 5:37PM
I like Starbursts, but no lemon please.
gonk @ Oct 31st 2007 6:11PM
what if it's cake?
mccomber @ Oct 31st 2007 2:29PM
Easy for him to say, he's probably got an intern to find the skulls for him.
The Fuzz 53 @ Oct 31st 2007 3:44PM
Any monkey with half a brain can go to Google and type, "Halo 3 skulls" and find where they are. I think using the Google to find them would be much less frowned up than letting somebody else find them for you.
Also, what do I do if I want to use my profile on somebody elses Xbox? Do I just go to "Recover Gamertag" and that's it? That shouldn't screw up anything back on my 360 at home right?
Billiam247 @ Oct 31st 2007 4:10PM
I'm surprised you haven't been hit with the ban stick for not recommending Live Search.
gonk @ Oct 31st 2007 6:14PM
what the hell is that?
Neon Jebus @ Oct 31st 2007 2:31PM
Since he mentions the horror story using a shared account to purchase items I really understood it as a warning to not give your account information to someone you don't know.
I didn't get the feeling he was saying you shouldn't retrieve your account at your buddies house.
Came across a little more 'buyer beware' and not 'we want your monies on a memory card or we'll ban you'.
As for the game saves to get achievements? Well it's lame to begin with but since there are contests to reward gamerscore from time to time I understand them taking a shot at those people.
nerrrrrrd @ Oct 31st 2007 2:45PM
my gamescore is higher then yours, me be more l33t!!!!
but then again, i deny friend requests from random people in halo 3 when they have less then a 1000 total points to their profile. i don't know why. i guess i just need a reason.
Otis Whitaker @ Oct 31st 2007 3:10PM
I always accept people who have low scores, because they're new, and I'm not a jerk.
gonk @ Oct 31st 2007 6:15PM
i've never gotten a friend request, or sent one
ssuk @ Nov 1st 2007 3:49AM
and you wonder why, gonk?
poprocker @ Oct 31st 2007 3:30PM
hope stripclubdj and sufoor are reading. At least i got mine honest.
ThornedVenom @ Oct 31st 2007 3:47PM
Does that include account sharing between sibings? Otherwise that'd really suck ass trying to convince your parents to pay two seperate subscriptions for that one same shared console.
thenino85 @ Oct 31st 2007 4:12PM
Why the hell would people share their gamertags to get skulls in Halo 3? Every single skull can be gotten by one person alone easily, although IWHBYD is a pain in the ass alone just due to the time it takes, especially if you forgot to save and had to do it twice like I did. But none of them are remotely difficult.
Are you sure the account sharing wasn't for doing the "my language only" Live achievements exploit?
Matt B @ Oct 31st 2007 4:12PM
Shun the non-believers......
Shun...
brad77 @ Oct 31st 2007 5:21PM
+1 for the Charlie the Unicorn reference.
It's a Liopleurodon, Charlie! A magical Liopleurodon!
Ken C @ Oct 31st 2007 4:14PM
Yeah honestly I think this was all scare tactics and all. Stripclub DJ and Sufoor are known for "cheating" to get their achievements This is also what they talk about banning them, if this was true and this is what they were going to do they would have been banned before or imeditatly after Major made his post.
I will believe it when I see it.
Mischa @ Oct 31st 2007 5:18PM
How would they be able to even *know* that you were sharing your gamertag for something as retarded as having someone help you find the skulls?? If true, this kind of frightens me, and it seems inevitable that those trying to use their gamertag on another 360 will be banned for the wrong reason.
amusedtoe @ Oct 31st 2007 5:34PM
Oh that's funny considering I called and cancelled my account today. What do they suggest as an alternative since I'm not using it? Instead let friends use it!
quickshade @ Oct 31st 2007 5:55PM
It's not sharing if your on the same console. What they are referring to is that people go into matchmaking and ask people if they want achievements or all the skulls and in return you give them something (people do it for free but most times it's for a points card) you give them the live Id and they recover you account and get you the skulls.
Well leave it to some kids to be complete idiots and some people to be assholes and to not only trade accounts but rack up a couple 100 dollars worth of content with YOUR credit card. So better to be safe than sorry. The gamerscore thing I've seen since last summer. Xbox live pulled some data that was a Interesting to some people and the spring update showed why. Anyone who was uploading gameshares had their gameshares blocked. It gets even more complicated but basically without some work game sharing is alot harder (profile uploading with those add on devices) no they have started phase 2, which is banning people that do it. Should be a very interesting few months for Xbox live.
jwach26 @ Nov 1st 2007 12:28AM
+1 for the obscure princess bride reference. Although you could have left out the link just to see how many people would get it. On topic, I think the pain is forthcoming. I wouldn't be surprised to see the top 100 or so gamerscores disappear with the fall update.