14 DAY TRIAL // It seems that Microsoft is at it again, banning all the Xbox 360 owners who use modified DVD firmwares and modded consoles. There are already a couple of such users being banned and they've expressed their grief on various forums and other 360 fan communities. This ban applies to the gamers using flashed DVD drives and according to the latest reports, Toshiba-Samsung and Hitachi-LG drives have been banned, being used with illegal firmwares.
No telling if Microsoft detects the firmware or the discs, or even a certain game, but this phenomenon is bound to make a few modders and 360 owners bite their hands with anger. In case you're an illegal user you'll receive a "Z Code" (8015-190D) letting you know that you're banned, or at least your serial is from the Xbox Live service. Keep in mind that your account isn't banned, so in case you want to wash the shame away and buy a legit console, you can still log on using the Live account you previously had.
I've never seen such major anti-piracy actions, coming from Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, like the ones that took place this year. While Nintendo helped the authorities confiscate Mario's Mexican evil (illegal) twin "El Senor Jumpo", Sony started banning its official forum users who asked questions about modding issues and now Microsoft is ready to battle modders through measures of its own. It may be that the Xbox 360's fathering company is getting ready for Christmas and it fears that gamers might want to get their hands on new titles earlier than they should, downloading the games and playing them on flashed Xbox drives.
So, in case you don't want to spend your Thanksgiving off the Xbox Live being banned and all, stay away from the service and better quit using those flashed drives.