Tech Blog

[#1]

A full 3 weeks before its official launch, hackers have already got their hands on Microsoft's highly anticipated Halo: Reach. While online leaks of yet to be released games are nothing new, how they got it is the biggest surprise. They simply grabbed it right from Microsoft's servers.

Microsoft had placed a full version of Halo: Reach on its servers so reviewers can get a good handle on the game before review embargos are lifted. Reviewers have been given a special download code which gives them access. A member of an online game-modifying community was able to circumvent the process, allowing them to download the entire game. Since the game has already been authenticated by Microsoft the hackers say it will run on any console, even if it's not modified.

For those of you who are familiar with the Halo franchise, you'll know this scenario has played out before. Back in 2004, hackers got their Hands on Halo 2 a full month before release after a European manufacturing plant released code from a retail version of the disc. Then again in 2007 Halo 3 hit torrent sites two months ahead of the games release, only this time Microsoft had a plan. It banned consoles which ran the game ahead of schedule, since consoles had to be modified in order to run the advanced copy.

The online community which initially posted that it had obtained a copy of the game has now pulled down all the threads regarding the hack, and is claiming it will in not release the game online. Microsoft has yet to comment on the incident.

What do you think? Did Microsoft screw up? Is this just a publicity campaign? Is another ban wave coming?

[#2]

I'd very much expect another ban wave. Last I heard, the majority of first party or hyped games tend to attract the auto-ban from Xbox Live when played before their release date.

I recall Rock Band (I think the second) had a similar feature where when loaded up it would say something along the lines of "Congratulations, you're playing a game that hasn't been released yet!" and would ban consoles. My advice if you're going to modify an Xbox; come to peace with being banned online for doing something illegal.

I expect something similar from Sony with their recent hack.

[#3]

Hackers are a wily bunch, but a big profile release must be guarded at all costs.