Takahashi
09-15-2002, 05:24 PM
The Xbox version of Phantasy Star Online will, as usual, be released in Japan before North America and then Europe. Those of you planning to import the Japanese version of PSO for Xbox may wish to reconsider your decision: some recent information from CNET's News.com suggests that Xbox consoles that have been modified to play imported software may be banned from the Xbox Live network.
Microsoft had previously stated that it would allow users of modified Xbox consoles to access the network, but the user agreement included with Xbox Live beta test kits suggests that Microsoft may choose not to honor that statement. The agreement states that users may not modify their Xbox unless authorized by Microsoft, and that Microsoft reserves the right to scan the Xbox Live network for modified machines. An Xbox will not allow you to run software from another region out of the box, so some Xbox owners have chosen to alter their console for import games.
They do this by using a special chip known as a "mod-chip". Xbox Mod-Chips can be used to run pirated or imported games, as well as software created by hobbyists. Despite recent claims by CNN, mod-chips are not exactly illegal, but not 100% legal either. In any case, Xbox owners will probably not be affected by this at all. Microsoft's ability to detect current mod-chips is questionable, and many mod-chips are upgradeable so hackers may be able to bypass any security measures Microsoft implements.
Microsoft had previously stated that it would allow users of modified Xbox consoles to access the network, but the user agreement included with Xbox Live beta test kits suggests that Microsoft may choose not to honor that statement. The agreement states that users may not modify their Xbox unless authorized by Microsoft, and that Microsoft reserves the right to scan the Xbox Live network for modified machines. An Xbox will not allow you to run software from another region out of the box, so some Xbox owners have chosen to alter their console for import games.
They do this by using a special chip known as a "mod-chip". Xbox Mod-Chips can be used to run pirated or imported games, as well as software created by hobbyists. Despite recent claims by CNN, mod-chips are not exactly illegal, but not 100% legal either. In any case, Xbox owners will probably not be affected by this at all. Microsoft's ability to detect current mod-chips is questionable, and many mod-chips are upgradeable so hackers may be able to bypass any security measures Microsoft implements.