quote:

---

>
> We interrupt the automotive dominance debate to discuss the following...
>
> Anybody know off the top of their head what games include the two or three
> month Xbox Live trial? I just got a year-long subscription for Christmas,
> and the advice that came with it says that the best value is to start off
> with the trial, and then renew with the year subscription. I was going to
> go for Dead or Alive Ultimate, but the bad reviews have me second guessing
> myself.
>
> Thanks for any input. If any MVP's are reading, thanks also for any leads
> on how legitimately to get your hands on the Xbox Refresh disc or the Xbox
> factory build disc.
>
> -KKC, who doesn't want to resort to a ROM flash or a mod chip just to fix
> a busted hard drive. Come on, guys, more consoles in circulation means
> more games sold. Don't make me go underground for that...
> --
> -- I was treated unfairly and without consideration by eBay - kendrick
> and Paypal. If you require independent testimony about - @io.com
> or corroboration of illegal or questionable business -
> practices by those two companies, please contact me. -

quote:

---

>One of the three-month subscriptions is the starter kit here:
>http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/...erkit3month.htm If you nose
>around the games listing on www.xbox.com, you'll find several others, too.
>When you log onto Xbox Live! the first time, your console will be
>automatically updated.

quote:

---

> In article <efULR666EHA.208@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>,
> Chris H. <winxpnews@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks, but what I was looking for was a game that included the Live
> subscription as a bonus, rather than the other way around. The $40 starter
> kit is a decent package, but it's a terrible value compared to the $70
> year-long subscription (or a twenty dollar game with the trial.) Assuming
> that I go for Dead or Alive: Ultimate I get two months of Live free, and
> then renew with the 12-month kit, and I end up with a game I actually want
> and a Live account for 14 months for a total expenditure of $120 (less if
> I pick up DOA at the discounted prices from retailers stuck with too many
> copies.)
>
> So after poking around Xbox.com for about a half hour, I stumble on this
> link:
>
> http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live/2monthfreetrial.htm
>
> That's the list I wanted. Unfortunately, I already own copies of all the
> games on that list I could possibly want, and none of them were 'specially
> marked' to include the trial. This also tells me that if I don't go and
> get a copy of DOA:U that's specially marked, I won't have the trial
> either. Does anybody know what the print run is for the games that include
> the trial, as opposed to the same games that don't?
>
> -KKC, who notes with interest that the Xbox communicator controller dongle
> has a standard 3/32" jack for a cellular style headset but has a raised
> lip to prevent you from inserting your own cord. Looks like it's time for
> another hardware hack...
> --
> -- I was treated unfairly and without consideration by eBay - kendrick
> and Paypal. If you require independent testimony about - @io.com
> or corroboration of illegal or questionable business -
> practices by those two companies, please contact me. -

quote:

---

>
> We interrupt the automotive dominance debate to discuss the following...
>
> Anybody know off the top of their head what games include the two or three
> month Xbox Live trial? I just got a year-long subscription for Christmas,
> and the advice that came with it says that the best value is to start off
> with the trial, and then renew with the year subscription. I was going to
> go for Dead or Alive Ultimate, but the bad reviews have me second guessing
> myself.
>
> Thanks for any input. If any MVP's are reading, thanks also for any leads
> on how legitimately to get your hands on the Xbox Refresh disc or the Xbox
> factory build disc.
>
> -KKC, who doesn't want to resort to a ROM flash or a mod chip just to fix
> a busted hard drive. Come on, guys, more consoles in circulation means
> more games sold. Don't make me go underground for that...
> --
> -- I was treated unfairly and without consideration by eBay - kendrick
> and Paypal. If you require independent testimony about - @io.com
> or corroboration of illegal or questionable business -
> practices by those two companies, please contact me. -

quote:

---

> In article <efULR666EHA.208@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>,
> Chris H. <winxpnews@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks, but what I was looking for was a game that included the Live
> subscription as a bonus, rather than the other way around. The $40 starter
> kit is a decent package, but it's a terrible value compared to the $70
> year-long subscription (or a twenty dollar game with the trial.) Assuming
> that I go for Dead or Alive: Ultimate I get two months of Live free, and
> then renew with the 12-month kit, and I end up with a game I actually want
> and a Live account for 14 months for a total expenditure of $120 (less if
> I pick up DOA at the discounted prices from retailers stuck with too many
> copies.)
>
> So after poking around Xbox.com for about a half hour, I stumble on this
> link:
>
> http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live/2monthfreetrial.htm
>
> That's the list I wanted. Unfortunately, I already own copies of all the
> games on that list I could possibly want, and none of them were 'specially
> marked' to include the trial. This also tells me that if I don't go and
> get a copy of DOA:U that's specially marked, I won't have the trial
> either. Does anybody know what the print run is for the games that include
> the trial, as opposed to the same games that don't?
>
> -KKC, who notes with interest that the Xbox communicator controller dongle
> has a standard 3/32" jack for a cellular style headset but has a raised
> lip to prevent you from inserting your own cord. Looks like it's time for
> another hardware hack...
> --
> -- I was treated unfairly and without consideration by eBay - kendrick
> and Paypal. If you require independent testimony about - @io.com
> or corroboration of illegal or questionable business -
> practices by those two companies, please contact me. -

quote:

---

> In article <efULR666EHA.208@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>,
> Chris H. <winxpnews@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks, but what I was looking for was a game that included the Live
> subscription as a bonus, rather than the other way around. The $40 starter
> kit is a decent package, but it's a terrible value compared to the $70
> year-long subscription (or a twenty dollar game with the trial.) Assuming
> that I go for Dead or Alive: Ultimate I get two months of Live free, and
> then renew with the 12-month kit, and I end up with a game I actually want
> and a Live account for 14 months for a total expenditure of $120 (less if
> I pick up DOA at the discounted prices from retailers stuck with too many
> copies.)
>
> So after poking around Xbox.com for about a half hour, I stumble on this
> link:
>
> http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live/2monthfreetrial.htm
>
> That's the list I wanted. Unfortunately, I already own copies of all the
> games on that list I could possibly want, and none of them were 'specially
> marked' to include the trial. This also tells me that if I don't go and
> get a copy of DOA:U that's specially marked, I won't have the trial
> either. Does anybody know what the print run is for the games that include
> the trial, as opposed to the same games that don't?
>
> -KKC, who notes with interest that the Xbox communicator controller dongle
> has a standard 3/32" jack for a cellular style headset but has a raised
> lip to prevent you from inserting your own cord. Looks like it's time for
> another hardware hack...
> --
> -- I was treated unfairly and without consideration by eBay - kendrick
> and Paypal. If you require independent testimony about - @io.com
> or corroboration of illegal or questionable business -
> practices by those two companies, please contact me. -

quote:

---

>
>As for the other issues you have, why on earth do you think MS would release
>a refresh disc - that would just make it even easier for people to hack the
>unit and/or screw up things like Live.

quote:

---

> In article <efULR666EHA.208@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>,
> Chris H. <winxpnews@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks, but what I was looking for was a game that included the Live
> subscription as a bonus, rather than the other way around. The $40 starter
> kit is a decent package, but it's a terrible value compared to the $70
> year-long subscription (or a twenty dollar game with the trial.) Assuming
> that I go for Dead or Alive: Ultimate I get two months of Live free, and
> then renew with the 12-month kit, and I end up with a game I actually want
> and a Live account for 14 months for a total expenditure of $120 (less if
> I pick up DOA at the discounted prices from retailers stuck with too many
> copies.)
>
> So after poking around Xbox.com for about a half hour, I stumble on this
> link:
>
> http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live/2monthfreetrial.htm
>
> That's the list I wanted. Unfortunately, I already own copies of all the
> games on that list I could possibly want, and none of them were 'specially
> marked' to include the trial. This also tells me that if I don't go and
> get a copy of DOA:U that's specially marked, I won't have the trial
> either. Does anybody know what the print run is for the games that include
> the trial, as opposed to the same games that don't?
>
> -KKC, who notes with interest that the Xbox communicator controller dongle
> has a standard 3/32" jack for a cellular style headset but has a raised
> lip to prevent you from inserting your own cord. Looks like it's time for
> another hardware hack...
> --
> -- I was treated unfairly and without consideration by eBay - kendrick
> and Paypal. If you require independent testimony about - @io.com
> or corroboration of illegal or questionable business -
> practices by those two companies, please contact me. -

quote:

---

> In article <#RD#yt76EHA.4040@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl>,
> Nick <nfwilson@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> All the refresh disc does is erase the save game partition and update the
> dashboard if necessary. It also overrides any other boot process, meaning
> that if you have a corrupt save keeping your dashboard from booting, the
> refresh will fix it 100 percent of the time.
>
> All I'm interested in is being able to fix Xboxes for people without
> resorting to paying Microsoft's hourly service rate, buying a mod chip or
> buying a new console outright. If there's a certification, or a license to
> buy, or a bribe to submit or something in order to legally make use of
> the thing, then fine. That the information isn't available means that I
> fix less Xboxes and more PS2's and Gamecubes. Who's that better for?
>
> -KKC, digging on Champions of Norrath. It's like Gauntlet for obsessive
> compulsives.
> --
> -- I was treated unfairly and without consideration by eBay - kendrick
> and Paypal. If you require independent testimony about - @io.com
> or corroboration of illegal or questionable business -
> practices by those two companies, please contact me. -

quote:

---

> I would assume that Micrsoft doesn't want people just going about and
> "fixing" xboxes for people that aren't properly trained.

quote:

---

>
> We interrupt the automotive dominance debate to discuss the following...
>
> Anybody know off the top of their head what games include the two or three
> month Xbox Live trial? I just got a year-long subscription for Christmas,
> and the advice that came with it says that the best value is to start off
> with the trial, and then renew with the year subscription. I was going to
> go for Dead or Alive Ultimate, but the bad reviews have me second guessing
> myself.

quote:

---

>"Kendrick Kerwin Chua" <kendrick@io.com> wrote in message
>news:s_2dncToF_T7x1LcRVn-oQ@io.com...
>
>Bad reviews? IGN gave it best fighting game of the year....and a 9.2.
>Gamespot gave it an 8.8...so what bad reviews are you talking about. The
>game is great on Live...some lag here and there but no worse than any other

quote:

---

>I would assume that Micrsoft doesn't want people just going about and
>"fixing" xboxes for people that aren't properly trained. This isn't like a
>case where you can bring it to any dealership. I'd rather MS fix my unit and
>apply a warranty to it instead of relying on a 3rd party to fix it.

quote:

---

> In article <OS#Lgd86EHA.2180@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>,
> Nick <nfwilson@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I have a counter argument to that, and I want to get this part of it out
> of the way first... There's a segment of the Xbox market that just can't
> afford that. After spending $112.90 on a refurb unit, it doesn't occur to
> them to drop $35 on a yearly warranty or $20 an hour for official service.
> There's an argument to be made that maybe such people shouldn't be
> spending money on a video game console, but we live in a free societ and I
> don't feel like I have the right to tell anybody how they can spend their
> money.
>
> Now then. If you want to make an automotive analogy, then I would argue
> that what I'm doing is akin to replacing brake pads or changing oil.
> Swapping out a bad power supply or a faulty CD drive is simple and hard to
> screw up. It's not as if I'm reprogramming a bios or changing controller
> input timing, which would be the video game equivalent of a transmission
> swap or a steering rack adjustment. If Microsoft were a car maker, then
> the Xbox would be a Mercedes, with every single last component wrapped up
> in three layers of plastic bolted together with stickers saying 'don't
> touch me, I'm evil poison that's always hot' in big red letters.
>
> I feel like people in a particular consumer segment have the right to find
> alternative repair options. To just come right out and say it, not
> everybody can go to the dealer because they may not have the money for it.
> If you trust a friend or a relation to do the work, or know someone who
> can do the work, there's no reason not to explore that option.
>
> Just to nip the subject of piracy and modding in the bud, I have to say
> that it's something that bothers me a lot. Mainly, because it just seems
> so expensive. You're spending as much money on a mod chip or a hardware
> hack as you did on the console, and then you end up having to expend a lot
> of effort in order to produce playable copies. Worse yet, not buying games
> means that you're not funding the development teams that produce them,
> which leads to less games in the long run. From every arguable standpoint,
> it makes more sense to me to buy games than not buy games.
>
> Sorry, long winded. How about them Bengals?
>
> -KKC, digging on Soul Calibur 2. Hey, there's almost a full-fledged RPG in
> here somewhere. It's not Ehrgeiz by any measurement, but it's still a nice
> bonus.
> --
> -- I was treated unfairly and without consideration by eBay - kendrick
> and Paypal. If you require independent testimony about - @io.com
> or corroboration of illegal or questionable business -
> practices by those two companies, please contact me. -

quote:

---

> However, unless you're an authorized repair center for Xbox, Microsoft
> will probably come knocking on your door. 8-)

quote:

---

>"Chris H." <winxpnews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:eSE63%23F7EHA.3236@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
>
>UH, why is that? To continue with the car theme, does Ford go after local
>mechanics that work on Fords without certfication?
>
>The authorization is for the consumer's peace of mind, not a license to
>practice business.

quote:

---

> In article <#1Vy6FS7EHA.936@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>,
>
> My biggest fear is that in the future, all video games will be server-side
> ASP products (that's Application Service Provider, not Active Server
> Page.) What that means is that all games will be offered with a fee, and
> with no independent media, meaning that to play any game you must have a
> network connection and a credit card. We're already halfway there, with
> lots of gaming experiences that are lost to that world and can't ever be
> repeated or shared with later generations of gamers. When video games
> completely fit the ASP model, I predict that our hobby will cease its
> mainstream integration and become a tiny niche market again by providing
> less reward for exponentially greater effort and cost. I hope I'm wrong.
>

quote:

---

>
> "Chris H." <winxpnews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:eSE63%23F7EHA.3236@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
>
>
> UH, why is that? To continue with the car theme, does Ford go after local
> mechanics that work on Fords without certfication?
>
> The authorization is for the consumer's peace of mind, not a license to
> practice business.
>
>
>

quote:

---

>"xTenn" <xTennRemovePart@tds.net> wrote in message
>news:%231Vy6FS7EHA.936@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>Simple. Someone opens the box, whether the user or a "qualified" repair
>person. Something goes wrong. Who is liable? Not Microsoft, even if the
>Xbox is still under warranty, since someone tampered with it.