Saturday, January 19, 2008

XBOX 360 Game Saves

The idea of using game saves, cheats, and/or hacks to unlock the full content of a video game is normally a mixed opinion for most gamers. When we legally purchase a game for our console or pc, we are under the assumption that we are entitled to the full content of the disc, but Microsoft has made it very clear that we are not free to experience this data unless a gamer has earned it. Now many people don't use cheats or hacks to achieve this goal. They find it unsportsmanlike, unfair and even wrong. To each their own, as I always say. Not everyone in the free world has the magical fingers to cruise through a particular game without assistance. There are many novice gamers, and though they make the best effort, some content is just beyond their skill. This inflicts a level of stress towards the casual gamer and grants them no progress, and a pissed off attitude. For the extra boost in assistance towards reaching their goal, they look to specific cheats whether it be an additional life, more rounds for their virtual weapon, or in dire circumstances the need for god mode. Arguably there are good cheats and bad cheats out there. Most of us are aware of the DOA Volleyball situation some time back, where as the use of a modified file enabled the female characters to be nude. Although interesting, kinda cool, and yummy to look at in a perverted 3D sense, it was illegal in nature due to the fact that it violated copyright laws by modifying and replacing it's original file. A lot of game hacks(trainers) do not permanently modify the games files, they just freeze hex values allowing an item such as the life bar to not drain. This can be used as a good cheat if not in a competitive environment. You eventually unlock the content you've already bought and suddenly there's more to enjoy from the game. Microsoft's version of fairness suggests that if you did not earn it, you do not receive it. They've combated hundreds of users for sharing their own saved accomplishments with others and have even blacklisted their systems from logging into XBOX Live as well as sharing another saved game. Of course XBOX 360 has a unique feature, the gamerscore, which through unlocked content you gain a certain amount of points. These points only add up and are by no means a ranking system among players, just a visual representation of what they have accomplished. Some users wish to gather saved games for a higher gamerscore, which is pointless but harmless. Those wishing to boost their own ego through another gateway. But there are those other gamers out there, which struggle to gain the chance of using their newest virtual weapon or ingame level. They wish to use another gamesave to spare the trouble of accomplishing near impossible feats at their skill. Microsoft shuts these individuals down, and the content which was bought, may never be experienced. So why does Microsoft do this? I haven't seen any developer attack websites which dish out saves and trainers for PC games. Datel and Gameshark appear to still be leaders in code manipulation. Why haven't they been shut down if it's so wrong? It only makes sense to me that if you are going to cheat, you are allowed, as long as it's not in a competitive environment(online games) or for profit.

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