Anyone know where I can find some threads about Morrowind? The advanced search was no help

After thirty minutes of holding last night, I was basically told that if I get a new system on my own accord that I'm screwed concerning my XBLA games (at least playing them offline or over another Gamertag). The guy was not very nice about it at all, he had a "too bad, so sad" attitude in the way he said everything.

Pinata, I'd suggest giving them a call since you've already got both systems at hand. If they refuse to assist you try to complain higher up. I couldn't do much since I was calling on a "hypothetical" basis, but if you've got two serial numbers in front of you.. maybe they can do something. At the very least they'll have two complaints on the same issue in two days.

yea, i'd probably call them a few times on speaker if that was the case. I'll probably be in the market for a newer 360 in the next month or two so this problem will definitely come up

I can understand the desire to get the points back in this instance, but
honestly, if they were to do so there'd be no guarantee of the recipient using
them on the same games as the original purchase thus opening up the issue of
abuse whereby you don't like a game, no problem just get the points back.
And they do have the "no refunds for this purchase" caveat when initially
downloading. They should just tie the games to your tag.

They already do this. The whole point is getting to play the games you purchased while your gamertag is offline.

I understand why there are 2 modes of authentication for these things and being connected to live is a minor annoyance at worst (for me). But, by now, there should be some method in place to transfer the licenses from S/N A to S/N B.

Not so much. There IS a difference between DD/DTS based on the compression differences alone. That's two different audio streams with DTS being "better." On the other hand, Component and HDMI send the exact same video signal, just analog vs. digital. Anecdotal tests show that minute differences between the two generally lies in how the hardware interrupts the two sources.

Where HDMI is better is that it can pass HD audio formats and that Hollywood copyright tomfoolery prohibit DVD/HD/BR players from sending 1080p over component. Since the Xbox 360 cannot pass HD audio, the HDMI port really only enables playback of DVDs and HD-DVDs at 1080p.

Concerning getting your XBLA games on a 2nd system...not sure if your intentions are simply to get them on your new system and not your old system, or get them on both at the same time? But...if you just wanted them on 1 system, couldn't you just get the old system registered in a spouse/family member's name?

he just wants to upgrade his system, use the same HDD, and be able to play XBLA games on the newer console without having to stay connected to the internets

I know, but if it wasn't tied to your box as well then you could bring the games
wherever your tag went, making upgrading the system a non-issue. Without
the tie to the system wouldn't the tag tie work if you were merely signed in,
but not necessarily online?

How is the 360's DVD upscaling vs. the average standalone player?

Not sure because I haven't experienced yet. From what I understand when people get a 2nd box (like a refurb from MS when the first one RRODs) then they can only play their XBLA games when they are connected to Live online. There is no option to play the games offline.

It's like they're at their buddy's house, signed in, so they can re-download the game for free (since their live account already owns it) and play it (while they're signed in because they can't be anywhere else simultaneously) until they sign out. The game remains on the buddy's HDD but is useless unless the original purchaser is signed in (or the buddy buys it himself).

That's my understanding. That's why there's 2 modes of authentication. The license allows the game to be played if the original gamertag is signed into Live -OR- if the game is being played on the original 360 it was purchased from.

i'd say the 360 is good at upscaling, but I have absolutely no comparison to any other player that will upscale

I understand too (copyright issues, obviously), but there should be some method for them to re-authenticate them to new hardware, in my opinion. I wouldn't even care if I had to send it to them to do it, given it would likely be a one-time thing. With all the hardware updates, new SKUs and LEs they've been putting out there.. expecting people to "take it" on their XBLA purchases is a bit ridiculous.

...that, and they OBVIOUSLY want people to upgrade their consoles either to the elite, the new Halo edition, or the new chipsets coming out.

I don't know if that's so obvious since they've released this HDMI-Premium with absolutely no fanfare. And if it has the new heatsink and/or quieter drives and/or 65nm chips - again, no PR from Microsoft.

By the way, I did notice that the UPCs on the 2 boxes I have are different so the retailers have to be aware of the new model at some level, right?

Ok, sure.

Well.. given that I wanted to "upgrade" mostly for the new heat sink, I suppose I shouldn't be too despondent. There's no confirmation of 65nm at this point either. Pinata, do you think could do a heat/noise test on the two systems? Try leaving them both on for an hour (away from each other, obviously) to check the heat, if possible/willing.

So, here are my options.. I could wait until I RROD, get a refurb, get a points refund, buy a new system to put the points on and pawn off the refurb. By that point, I'm sure the 65nm models will be quite common. Or, I could still sell mine to my friend for $300 and have him cover the cost of the XBLA games as well since I think he was planning on getting almost all of what I've gotten.

I'll definitely do a noise test since that's fast. I had planned to not open anything in the new box besides console so I'll only have one A/C adapter making simultaneous tests impossible.

Does the 360 generate ample heat just in the dashboard if I turn off the screen saver or should I plan to play some game in that time?

Here's the 65nm answer:

The packaging has more details, however, on what exactly is inside the case. A label clearly refers to the model as "Zephyr" – the codename for the Elite motherboard. It would appear that the purported 65nm "Falcon" motherboard has yet to make it into stores so, for know, HDMI and an improved heatsink is all you're getting.

that would really be good enough for me...


hopefully a new one won't start eating my games

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/10/sp...ium-at-retail/

This seems to prove that these are simply the "Zephyr" Elite hardware - not the 65nm "Falcon" yet.

Once I actually open the new box, I'll be able to visibly confirm the new heatsink or not thanks to Ben Heck. I already know the one I have doesn't have the new heatsink from looking last night.

Then I'll check the DVD drive. The old one is the Samsung. I expect I've been upgraded to the BENQ.

Edit: Scooped. Stupid coworkers interrupting my posting... Can't they see I'm busy!

What's the reason for checking the DVD drive? Noise? Disc scratching potential?

Noise for sure. Not sure about the scratching.

Not the answer I expected at all about the points.

At this point, the angry/bitter part of me just wants to sell off my 360 and not bother with buying a new one.

My plan was to upgrade to an Elite, but if I can't get fully functional use of the 41 XBLA games I've purchased...why should I? Why should I give Microsoft even more money?

I'm certainly not willing to go buy the Elite, only to find out I CAN'T get the points.

Pixy, did they give you to a supervisor, or was it just a regular rep? I've heard that if you have a RROD'd system, you do have to get a supervisor on the line.

The only other thing I can think of is maybe to call with the Elite, and say my old system died, and rather than having it fixed, I just decided to upgrade it.

VERY disappointed.

both, really

BenQ is supposed to be the quiet one. Hitachi is the one I currently have that has eaten a few discs already