The Consumerist is reporting that Microsoft is making good on re-licensing downloadable content for Xbox 360 owners who got replacement machines. Finally.
At issue is the fact that the Xbox Marketplace’s content is tied to each Xbox’s serial number. When you make a purchase the Marketplace checks your serial number and generates a license. That license basically says that Xbox 123 has access to content ABC. If you get a new Xbox, say you get the Red Ring of Death and you get a warranty replacement, that serial number is different, and thus the license doesn’t work.
As it stands now, it’s a long process, but they are honoring re-licenses, so if you’re patient, you’re in luck.
I actually got rrod’d about 3 weeks ago — went to frys to get my replacement, and when I signed back on xbox live, and went to re-pay for all my downloads (ie: guitar hero songs, halo maps) it all showed up as being able to download again for free! (that’s marketplace stuff, no?)
Yeah, you can re-download, but the account that purchased it must be signed in to Xbox Live to play it. So if there’s a problem with Xbox Live, your ISP or maybe you took it to your cousin’s house to play and you’re not able to get on his network… then you can’t play all the XBLA arcade games or DLC you bought on the old system. Since your Gamertag can’t re-purchase it, you would have to create a second account and re-purchase it for the new console on that account to get it to work offline. And then you’ve bought the same thing twice just to fix a problem they’ve created. I heard that before they would credit a second account you created with the MS points or send you codes to unlock the original content you bought.
wow microsoft thanks for that HOW ABOUT YOU FIX THOSE FU*KING Red Rings and stop making everyone of us who paid hard earned money for our console to keep breaking you IDIOTS
Well they are kinda fixing it seeing that the newer consoles are less likely to Red Ring and we all have our 3 year warrantys.
All your content can be redownloaded for free. The DRM issue is that you cannot play your purchases offline, or with another account on that machine anymore.
It’s a pain, and totally unnecessary. and in the wake of the RRoD fiasco it shouldn’t exist anymore.
Hahahaha thats all i can do for people buying a x360.
Actually, this solution was discovered and promoted back in August of last year by Tim Wilsie on the Commander Tim podcast in episode 45. Link here: http://www.commandertim.com/?p=119#top3
Here’s a quote from the August 17, 2008 post: “This episode, I found the solution to my XBLA woes, no thanks to the wonderful tech support of Microsoft. Tune in to learn how you can avoid ever having to speak to them to fix it.”
Too bad Kotaku won’t give credit where credit is due, despite many people pointing this fact out to them.
I was juat about to say that Commander Tim covered this a while ago. But I was beaten to the punch.
http://www.commandertim.com/?p=119#top3
In case you didn’t see the link the first time.
You have a podcast from August 17, 2008? Man from the future, I salute you.
Oops! I meant 2007. Been typing 2008 at work all day! :)
Nice on Commander Tim. You da man!
Very cool!
http://no-effort-money.blogspot.com/
I tried the method described in the podcast, and the game is still only working for my account.
Is anyone else able to get this to work?
Yea Michael, I am having the same problem. I used the method described and the content still does not work when offline.
fuck off cocksuckers
Good to see ignorance is alive and well.
yeah, totally. The guy above me has AIDS.
you know, it would be awesome if they would do this for upgrading from the original xbox. The only reason I’m keeping it around is to retain the $200 in downloads that are on it.
HEY MICROSOFT PLEASE WORK ON THIS!
Yeah Commander Tim’s solution does not work. If you are offline your games show up as locked.
So… when can we get re-licensed? Can we just Download Again and have everything fixed, or will it be rolled out in an update?
If u download content again, will it be on your harddrive twice and take up twice as much space?
This seems to be the new “FIX” from microsoft. Hope it works for you.
http://www.360-hq.com/article-2709-thread-1-0.html