14 DAY TRIAL // Despite reports from vendors in Seoul concerning increased sales of modified Xbox 360 consoles over the past month, Microsoft remains confident that piracy will be kept in check thanks to the additional security provided through Xbox Live.
"We will not place too much attention on it," stated Xbox local product manager Do Jung-han. "Microsoft has warned the people who try to spread the knowledge that they will be subjected to the law. The users of pirated consoles will not benefit from the hardware warranty and they will not be able to download important software upgrades through the Xbox Live. So we don't think many people will try it,'' he added.
According to local magazine Gamespot however, the number of consumers attempting to bypass the security of the machine in order to purchase software at a considerably lower price has increased. Pirated software is said to be available for as little as 15,000 KRW (South Korean Wons) (12 Euro), compared to the standard retail price of 40,000 KRW (33 Euro).
Microsoft's original Xbox suffered heavily from piracy, as hackers broke down the security of the system with apparent ease and modified consoles were readily available worldwide. Will the Xbox 360 fare any better? Time will tell.