XBLA Games will be Transferable
Filed under: News Picks , Xbox 360 , Xbox Live Arcade
There was some coverage on sites Ars Technica and Kotaku today talking about how Xbox Live Arcade games are not fully transferable to the Xbox 360 Elite. This was mentioned on the Gamerscore Blog last week.
This has to do with a form of digital rights management (DRM) on the 360. The DRM allows:
- Any account to play the full Arcade title on the original Xbox 360 that the game was purchased on. Meaning: The whole family or visiting friends can play the full version.
- The original purchasing account to play on any console, as long as that account is logged into Xbox Live. Meaning: You can play full versions when visiting friends.
But, if your 360 is replaced or if you buy an Elite and transfer the titles over then all Arcade games previously purchased will require you to be logged into Live. No Live connectivity then the game plays like a demo.
Obviously not ideal. But listening to Major Nelson's latest podcast they state they are going to fix the licensing issue (approx. 21 minutes and 10 seconds in). Major said:
'Yes, we know the licensing isn't perfect. We know that. We are working on it.'
Given the bold lettering from the Gamescore blog and Major's podcast comment, they clearly knew this was going to upset some people. It is good that they are going to address it. I have a few arcade titles that require me to sign-in to play.
Congratulations. Everyone found out what was confirmed almost 12 months ago. Sign into a second account and try to play an XBLA arcade game you bought on account number one. See what happens. Then use brain.
... so said 'Well Duh' on May 1, 2007 @ 1:49:17 AM [Direct Link]
Hey 'Well Duh',
You are right that they did mention the policy I outlined above when the Xbox 360 was released but it never really hit home for folks until they saw it in action. I first experienced this issue when repair replaced my entire 360 back in April 2006.
To clarify though ... If you do what you said on the same console that the game was purchased on then the second account will in fact be able to use the full (non-trial) version of the game; a game I purchased using my Gold account was fully playable from a secondary Silver account.
Their goal was to make it so on the 'primary' console anyone can enjoy the game.
... so said 'Joseph Molnar' on May 1, 2007 @ 2:18:32 AM [Direct Link]
Does anyone know that all you have to do is click on the arcade title to download it again (and it should already have a checkmark next to it meaning that it is paid for) and the liscense is transferred to your new console. I had my xbox break two times and this has worked for me. Just download it again!
... so said 'Ben C' on May 1, 2007 @ 10:04:23 AM [Direct Link]
Hey Ben,
I can't explicitly talk to the situation involving a new console and an HD from an older console, but the problem definitely exists with new consoles and new HDs (either an Elite, purchase of additional Premium, or repair replaces both console and HD). Downloading in that situation doesn't transfer the license. You can easily see this by simplying disconnecting your network; all XBLA games will remain as demos until you can log into Live.
I have two 360s, so I'll try the HD swap tonight to see if that makes a difference. If it does, then XBLA games would appear to bind to the HD not the console. This would mean most folks who had a 360 repair that replaced the console would be in good shape since the repair center typically doesn't want you to send in the HD.
... so said 'Joseph Molnar' on May 1, 2007 @ 12:55:58 PM [Direct Link]
Hey Ben,
Just did a check between my 360s. Swapping HDs didn't work, nor did re-downloading after the swap. As a note, I didn't re-download Hexic (the game that comes on the 360 HD), but it was the only game that was fully playable when not logged into Live and when the HD was in another machine. It is either bound to the HD or not bound by the same DRM.
... so said 'Joseph Molnar' on May 1, 2007 @ 9:51:44 PM [Direct Link]