After an incident made public last year where an Xbox Live user was banned for self-identifying as a lesbian in her gamertag profile, the terms of service for Microsoft’s online service have come under increased scrutiny by the LGBT community. Microsoft claimed that any expression of sexual preference (including straight) was banned under the TOS, clarifying and stating that it was to prevent potential harassment and hate speech. This claim rang rather hollow with anyone who has actually played the average multiplayer game online, however, since it takes all of about 20 seconds to get called a faggot by some random idiot halfway across the country.
Still, the verbal outcry following the incident apparently caused Microsoft to look into reevaluating their policy, as Xbox Live General Manager Marc Whitten announced Friday on the Gamerscore Blog that the service’s TOS had been altered, finding ways to include, rather than exclude, LGBT gamers.
It’s a sad day for those few faithful out there who were still hanging on to their old Xboxes, or playing the few backward compatible games that still had active online communities on their 360s. Microsoft announced on Friday that it was pulling the plug on the original incarnation of Xbox Live after seven years.
The announcement came via Major Nelson, with a follow-up from XBL General Manager Marc Whitten on the Gamerscore blog. Hit the jump for more details.
The Big M swung the banhammer fast and hard earlier this week, leaving as many as 1 million modded consoles without Xbox Live access, reports Information Week.
It should be noted that this action comes on the heels of the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, whose multiplayer functionality is expected to strain the online service substantially. The move may have been accelerated by the troubling number of pirated copies floating around the internet prior to its official launch on the 10th.
And in even more Halo-related news, Halo Waypoint, fanboy-central for all things related to Master Chief and crew, orbitally dropped onto Xbox Live today. And, along with it, we also have a metric boatload of screenshots, showing off everything from the Halo Legends anime to avatar rewards to the fantastically drab interface itself.
I could go into excruciating detail outlining everything you’ll find there, including the next two or so months of streaming video exclusives, but I think I’ll save myself the headache and just drop the press release under the jump, along with a gallery of the 30 or so screenshots for all of you Bungiephiles to digest at your leisure.
Yesterday I was prepared to give in to my once-a-year habit. Yes, every 12 months I feel that familiar itch. Work seems to stretch on longer; my favorite foods taste bland. Life is agony, and the only way I know how to set the world right is with a fix; with renewing my Xbox Live Gold Membership. Yes, the days feel complete again knowing that I have ensured another year of all the great features Xbox Live provides.
Though, as I slid my credit card from its well-worn slot in my wallet, once again ready to drop $50 like it were, in fact, hot, I happened upon a news story. I rubbed my eyes, convinced that they played jest at my expense, yet the text reemerged just the same: the PS3 was going to begin streaming Netflix movies. I placed the card upon my desk, and began to ponder these events.
Do you insist that your friends and family call you “Chief” or even just “MC” for short? Do your bedsheets have images of Grunts and Warthogs adorning them? Does your poor cat keep running into the wall because of that damn Legendary Edition helmet you keep forcing over his little fuzzy head? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’ll likely be excited for this next update.
Bungie and 343 Industries have released the following video, giving Halo fans a short walkthrough of what they will find when the Waypoint fan portal launches on Xbox Live next month – November 5th to be specific.
The newest trailer for The Ballad of Gay Tony is out and believe it or not, it actually focuses on Tony himself! Not so many explosions this time around.
Be warned – there is one instance of harsh language in it, so turn the volume down or pop some headphones on if you’re at work.
GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony is coming October 29th on both Xbox Live and at retail as part of the Episodes From Liberty City DLC pack.
Rockstar pulled back the curtain on the trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto IV DLC expansion this morning and, well, let’s just say there seems to be a hell of a lot going on in it.
The Ballad of Gay Tony looks as though there may be a return to some of the more over-the-top aspects that got left behind when the series took a more serious tone with GTA IV. How over-the-top, you ask? How about helicopters with miniguns, pit fighting, golf carts driving through explosions, subway cars being airlifted away by other helicopters and parachuting out of still more helicopters?
Oh, and let’s not forget the dancing – lots of dancing. Though that’s less “over-the-top” and more “fabulous” really.
Either way, GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony will be dancing, exploding and parachuting your way (probably from a helicopter, no less) on October 29th when it hits Xbox Live as well as retails shelves as part of the “Episodes from Liberty City” disc alongside The Lost and Damned.
Joystiq reported today that an anonymous visitor to the site sent them a curious image of what appears to be a survey question. Taken from MyThoughtsCount.com, the question asks “If 1 vs 100 were not available as part of your Gold Membership account, how likely would you be to purchase 1 vs 100 for $15 per season (13 weeks)?”. Currently, 1 vs. 100 is paid for through advertising, with commercials breaking up the gameplay. The game is free to all Gold members, so we’ll see if Microsoft will be successful in charging members via a service that is already being charged for.
Feel like firing up your chopper and cruising the streets with your band of maladjusted drug-dealing buddies but you need that last fiver in your pocket for gas? Well worry not, my violent, possibly sociopathic friend. This week, Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned is on sale!
Yesterday I was prepared to give in to my once-a-year habit. Yes, every 12 months I feel that familiar itch. Work seems to stretch on longer; my favorite foods taste bland. Life is agony, and the only way I know how to set the world right is with a fix; with renewing my Xbox Live Gold Membership. Yes, the days feel complete again knowing that I have ensured another year of all the great features Xbox Live provides.
Zuri Grimm
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