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Microsoft Shuts Down Lik Sang
An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft has taken legal action, shutting down popular import gaming site Lik Sang for distributing X-box mod chips. Lik Sang is a popular import gaming site based out of Hong Kong. The full article (MSNBC) can be found here." Several people have pointed to the same story on news.com.
"It just goes to show you how abusive MS is, as if you needed any more evidence."
Oh really? Well I have a question for ya then:
Let's say you made a product intended to sell games. You are forced to sell it at a loss because of market pressure. You need to sell 4 games for every system sold to make your money back. Unfortunately, the likeness of your machine to a PC encourages people to buy the system (costing you money) without serious consideration to buying games as well.
Would you not shut down a place making chips that threaten your profitability? I think you would.
Sorry, but 'abusive' is not the word I'd use. Microsoft did not get big by running around and pissing people off. Most anti-MS zealots don't seem to understand that.
Yeah .. is it illegal to start a spark plug company and sell spark plugs for cars you don't manufacture yourself?
/. post I have ever read. You should have said "Yeah.. is it illegal to start a company that "redials" odometers on cars?" and I would have said. "Duh"
Conrgrats, this is probably the stupidest
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ok, so MS may not be the most popular of the bunch, but i get the feeling that most of the resentment is about MS and not the actual issue. with that in mind, i point you to...
http://www.actsofgord.com/Annoy/chapter07.html
you see. if you want a mod chip to play stolen/copied games, you hurt the gaming business in general. so chill out about it and realize that your dishonesty is wrong!
Nearly every product on this planet comes with a Terms of Use agreement.
This specifically states what you can and cannot do with the product. While it may sound like a total invasion of privacy or restriction on freedom, it is something that is required for the better of all of us. For example, the first thing that pops into my head is the Terms of Use statements on pool chemicals. They tell me that I cannot use the product in conflict with its label. Good idea! They are just protecting their buns the best they can.
One of the chemicals I use in my pool in Chi Town is called "Ultra Shock".
Hmm... sounds like something you could conceivably convince someone was a drug that randomly sends eletrical impulses to neurons on the brain and causes you to spasm uncontrollably. While you might love this idea, its not practical and definitely not safe and legal. hehe
So... given that you know products have terms agreements, what makes Xbox any different? I would defend Sony or any other company with the same vigor with which I defend Microsoft. Their product is not to be illegally modified. These mod chips void people's warranties as well as totally fuck with the system. They break more systems than they add capabilities to by far. You should see the soldering diagram that is required on some of these motherfuckers, I have trouble understanding them and I'm an electronics expert!
They break tons of boxes, cause Microsoft havoc in support, cost the consumer money, cost Microsoft game sales, and overall are a detriment to the industry. It does nobody any good to have these things out there. Even though Microsoft has tons of money, they have a right to make money on their product damnit! Why doesn't anyone seem to understand that? Where the fuck does this attitude come from that just because a company happens to be fiscally healthy it should stop running a for-profit business. Sorry people... you don't just go pro-bono when you feel you've made enough.
Morons who don't understand business, simple as that.
People should NOT be allowed to market modifications like this. Microsoft per the terms of use agreement must approve the add-ons that are made for the system. This is a fucking good idea! Its one of the things that Microsoft gets that the Linux morons don't seem to. Standardize and centralize you fuckin' idiots!!! What??? Microsoft actually ***know*** whats going on with their game console??? Imagine that, they can actually determine if someone is about to sell a total piece of shit for the system or not. Good marketing, good low level management.
Anyway, I could go on forever... you get the point. The course of action they are taking is legal and not only are the mod chips illegal and should be removed from the market, they also totally suck. Read the tech specs on them, seems like a dipshit from high school came up with the ideas for the 'added bugs'. I mean... features.
The coolest voice ever.