Shipwreck’s Guide To Half-Priced Xbox Live Arcade Games and Marketplace Content

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Shipwreck’s Guide To Half-Priced Xbox Live Arcade Games and Marketplace Content

Okay, we all want cheaper Xbox Live Arcade Games and Marketplace Content. Doom might sound a little expensive at $10, but for $5 you might be tempted to go back and re-kill all those demons you took care of 13 years ago. Maybe you’ve been itching to buy some new content for Oblivion or some snazzy Lego Star Wars GamerPics and in true Cheap Ass Gamer fashion want to find a way around paying the dreaded MSRP. Well CAGs, how does 50% off all Marketplace Content with full online play and Achievements sound?


First of all, let’s get the minimum requirements out of the way.


Minimum Requirements:
  1. A friend with an Xbox Live Gamertag Profile (Silver or Gold) that owns an Xbox 360 with a hard drive
  2. You must have an Xbox Live Gamertag Profile (Silver or Gold) and own an Xbox 360 with a hard drive
  3. You must both have access to Xbox Live with your respective Xbox 360’s
  4. You must have Marketplace Points on at least one of the accounts
  5. In order to get the 50% off price, both friends agree to pay half of the full price of the content

Recommended:
  1. One Xbox 360 Memory Unit (this is a memory “card” for those that are not familiar)
  2. Multiple Xbox 360 controllers for each console

Quick Terminology:
To make this easier, let me introduce you to our two friends that will help us through getting our cheap Marketplace content today: CAG A and CAG B. Both of them meet all of the requirements above and CAG A has a memory unit. In the following steps, CAG A and CAG B will be buying an Xbox Live Arcade game that they both want to play, but the same steps would apply to any content on the Marketplace including Game Content, Themes, and GamerPics.

[NOTE: A memory unit was used to test this procedure, but “Account Recovery” would also be an option in transferring Xbox Live Profiles between the Xbox 360’s. Instructions on how to use "Account Recovery" instead of a memory unit can be found here: http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2385158&postcount=98].

How to Get the Cheap Content (AKA The Part You Care About):

Part 1: Getting the Content on CAG B’s Xbox 360

  • Step 1: CAG A loads his/her Xbox Live Profile onto CAG A’s Xbox 360 memory unit. (System Blade-->Memory-->Hard Drive-->Gamer Profiles-->CAG A Gamer Profile-->Move-->MU)
  • Step 2: CAG A inserts CAG A’s memory unit into CAG B’s Xbox 360.
  • Step 3: If CAG B’s Xbox 360 is not powered on, power on CAG B’s Xbox 360.
  • Step 4: If CAG B’s Live Profile is signed in, sign CAG B’s Live Profile out. (Xbox Live Blade-->”X” Button-->Yes, sign out)
  • Step 5: Sign in CAG A’s Live Profile. (Xbox Live Blade-->Sign In-->CAG A Xbox Live MU)
  • Step 6: Go to the Xbox Live Marketplace and find the Xbox Live Arcade game CAG A and CAG B want to download using the Marketplace Points on CAG A’s Live Profile.
  • Step 7: Download the Xbox Live Arcade game by selecting “Confirm Download”. If prompted, save the content to “Hard Drive”. Wait for the game to finish downloading.
  • Step 8: Once the game is on the hard drive, sign CAG A’s Live Profile out. (Xbox Live Blade->”X” button-->Yes, sign out)
  • Step 9: Sign in CAG B’s Live Profile. (Xbox Live Blade-->Sign In-->CAG B Xbox Live HDD)
  • Step 10: Play the game that was just downloaded. CAG B now has a fully featured Xbox Live Arcade Game including Achievements and online play. In fact, any profile that signs into CAG B’s Xbox 360 will be able to play the fully featured Xbox Live Arcade Game.

Part 2: Using the Content on CAG A’s Xbox 360

  • Step 1: Insert CAG A’s Memory Unit into CAG A’s Xbox 360.
  • Step 2: If CAG A’s Xbox 360 is not powered on, power on CAG A’s Xbox 360.
  • Step 3: Sign in CAG A’s Live Profile. (Xbox Live Blade-->Sign In-->CAG A Xbox Live MU) [Note: CAG A’s Live Profile could also be moved back to the Hard Drive and then signed in.]
  • Step 4: Go to the Xbox Live Marketplace and find the Xbox Live Arcade game CAG A downloaded on CAG B’s Xbox 360.
  • Step 5: Re-Download the Xbox Live Arcade game. This will not cost any Marketplace Points since CAG A has already bought this game. (Game Download Screen-->Full Game-->Download Again)
  • Step 6: Play the game that was just downloaded. CAG A now has a fully featured Xbox Live Arcade Game including Achievements and online play. The game is also still fully functioning on CAG B’s Xbox 360. CAG A and CAG B can even play online multiplayer with each other for games that support that feature.

Part 3: Using the Content of CAG A’s Xbox 360 with Other Profiles

(This section can also be used to take your profile to another person’s house and allow them to play the full versions of Xbox Live Arcade Games under their Profile and earn Achievements on their Xbox 360.)

Minimum Requirements:
  1. More than 1 Xbox 360 controller
  2. More than 1 Xbox 360 profile (it does not matter if it is an actual Live profile or whether it is just a local profile, but all features associated with the level of that profile still apply). For these instructions, we will just use CAG C as the other profile.

The Actual Steps:

  • Step 1: If CAG A is signed in, sign CAG A out. (This is not actually necessary, but it’s generally easier to do this so that CAG C can use controller #1.) (Xbox Live Blade-->”X” button-->Yes, sign out)
  • Step 2: Using controller #1, sign in CAG C’s Profile. (Xbox Live Blade-->Sign In-->CAG B HDD)
  • Step 3: Using controller #2, sign in CAG A’s Xbox Live Profile (Xbox Guide Button-->Sign In-->CAG A Xbox Live)
  • Step 4: Using controller #1, play the Xbox Live Arcade Game. CAG C is now playing the fully functioning game including Achievements. If CAG A signs out, the game will return to Demo form.

The Means that Make all of this Possible:

Each time you download content on Xbox Live Marketplace, there is something called “Usage Restrictions” which I’m sure most people have never bothered to read. So, here it is:

[quote name='Usage Restrictions']The item you are trying to download is subject to usage restrictions. You can use this item on the first Xbox 360 console that you used to download it. Access to this item will also be granted to all users on this first console. If you transfer the item using a memory unit or other storage device, you will also be able to use it on other Xbox 360 consoles, but you’ll need to sign in to Xbox Live with your Xbox Live account on that console before accessing the item.[/quote]

Disclaimers:

  1. If CAG B’s Xbox 360 breaks, the games on his console are lost. This is true even if CAG B just replaces the “Core Xbox 360 unit” and is still able to use the Hard Drive from the original Xbox 360. The content is tied to the console itself and not just the hard drive.
    This is a potential downfall in the way Marketplace Content is protected and not an issue that arises strictly from the procedures outlined above. Just ask anyone who has had to have their Xbox 360 repaired and then comes to find out that when they re-download their games that none of the other profiles can use the content anymore! (See “Using Content on CAG A’s Xbox 360 with Other Profiles” above for the workaround.)
  2. The Xbox Live profile that purchased the content will not be able to play it on his/her Xbox 360 without being signed into Xbox Live. This is closely related to Disclaimer #1.
  3. Anything else that may go wrong or change in the future. Cheap Ass Gamer does not take any responsibility for any problems that arise from following this tutorial.
  4. There are slightly different ways to get the same results as described in this tutorial, but to try to make this as concise as possible, only one method was described. If you have questions, please post them here and I’ll try to answer them the best I can.
 
Shipwreck,

Thanks for taking the time to write this up. It answered a lot of questions I have and it's pretty cool.

One point of confusion for me though: in part 1, I am assuming CAG A would need to have live marketplace points AND he isn't just "downloading" the game, but buying it on CAG B's 360, correct?

Good work though!
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']Shipwreck,

Thanks for taking the time to write this up. It answered a lot of questions I have and it's pretty cool.

One point of confusion for me though: in part 1, I am assuming CAG A would need to have live marketplace points AND he isn't just "downloading" the game, but buying it on CAG B's 360, correct?

Good work though![/QUOTE]

Yep, that's why I was mentioning the Marketplace Points on CAG A's account on Part 1, Step 6. You've got the idea though. CAG A must buy the content on CAG B's Xbox 360.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']Holly shit. Nice job. Too bad I don't personally know anyone with a X360 :cry:[/QUOTE]

Well, you could technically do it through account recovery with someone you trusted enough, but I'm not going to advocate that as it could possibly lead to a lot of account and identity theft due to people not realizing what they are actually doing.
 
[quote name='shipwreck']Yep, that's why I was mentioning the Marketplace Points on CAG A's account on Part 1, Step 6. You've got the idea though. CAG A must buy the content on CAG B's Xbox 360.[/QUOTE]

Oh, silly me, I somehow overlooked the mention of Marketplace Points in part 1.

Carry on, nothing to see here folks.....
 
I have a feeling that some other sites are going to steal this and It will somehow get to MS and this option will end up getting killing this in the future. Hope I'm wrong, but this site is quite popular.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']I have a feeling that some other sites are going to steal this and It will somehow get to MS and this option will end up getting killing this in the future. Hope I'm wrong, but this site is quite popular.[/QUOTE]

Same, I really hope that doesn't happen though.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']I have a feeling that some other sites are going to steal this and It will somehow get to MS and this option will end up getting killing this in the future. Hope I'm wrong, but this site is quite popular.[/QUOTE]

I don't know, it's kind of nichy. I mean, in order to do it, one person is going to have to be the sole player on his 360, or anyone else that wants to play those games will have to log in as him first. I actually think Microsoft designed it that way on purpose and doesn't really care if people attempt to 'abuse' it.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']I have a feeling that some other sites are going to steal this and It will somehow get to MS and this option will end up getting killing this in the future. Hope I'm wrong, but this site is quite popular.[/QUOTE]

Hopefully not, it's built into the "Usage Agreement" right now, so they'd have to change their agreement and deal with that. I don't think this information really hurts Microsoft as it could actually cause more content to get purchased.

Were my friend or I going to buy Dig Dug for $5, no. Did we decide for $2.50 that we were both interested, yes. So Microsoft gains $5 from us that we normally wouldn't have spent.

Besides, I don't think Microsoft has to worry about the majority of Xbox 360 owners even being knowledgable enough to even attempt this.
 
[quote name='shipwreck']Hopefully not, it's built into the "Usage Agreement" right now, so they'd have to change their agreement and deal with that. I don't think this information really hurts Microsoft as it could actually cause more content to get purchased.

Were my friend or I going to buy Dig Dug for $5, no. Did we decide for $2.50 that we were both interested, yes. So Microsoft gains $5 from us that we normally wouldn't have spent.

Besides, I don't think Microsoft has to worry about the majority of Xbox 360 owners even being knowledgable enough to even attempt this.[/quote]

:applause: You did your reseach.
 
As usual Shipwreck rocks the party! Awesome post, much appreciated as I think many of these arcade games are over priced but would gladly split the cost with a buddy.
 
Isn't this just as bad as burning a game? Granted you aren't modding anything but it just seems like stealing to me. Not only that but it would seem to be so much easier to buy points with a gamer gift card or getting the points with a good trade-in deal in your favor....like getting a $20 card for $10 or whatever. I guess via Microsoft's terminology its a loophole as of right now but it still seems pretty shady to me.
 
[quote name='jkam']Isn't this just as bad as burning a game? Granted you aren't modding anything but it just seems like stealing to me. Not only that but it would seem to be so much easier to buy points with a gamer gift card or getting the points with a good trade-in deal in your favor....like getting a $20 card for $10 or whatever. I guess via Microsoft's terminology its a loophole as of right now but it still seems pretty shady to me.[/QUOTE]

I see your point. But I have a rebuttal:

1- The value of XBLA games are lower, thus the amount that could be considered "Lost" by doing this, is negligible compared to a retail game being pirated.

2- The process to do this effectively is archaic and hard to understand. Your average gamer won't be doing this any time soon.

3- You can't trade in XBLA games. Doing this could be viewed as an acceptable trade off for the fact that XBLA games can't be user sold, traded, or even lent out (all of which ARE factors for many people in buying retail games).

All this adds up to, what I think, is why Microsoft doesn't really give a shit.

However, if 90% of all 360 owners started doing this rapantly, they probably would start to give a shit.
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']However, if 90% of all 360 owners started doing this rapantly, they probably would start to give a shit.[/quote]Which is why this doesn't leave CAG :lol:
 
[quote name='jkam']Isn't this just as bad as burning a game? Granted you aren't modding anything but it just seems like stealing to me. Not only that but it would seem to be so much easier to buy points with a gamer gift card or getting the points with a good trade-in deal in your favor....like getting a $20 card for $10 or whatever. I guess via Microsoft's terminology its a loophole as of right now but it still seems pretty shady to me.[/QUOTE]

It's not even a loophole, it's built right into the "Usage Agreement" set forth by Microsoft. If this was something illegal, I would not be posting it. But you're right about getting a good deal on the cards though. It would make this deal even better.
 
[quote name='shipwreck']It's not even a loophole, it's built right into the "Usage Agreement" set forth by Microsoft. If this was something illegal, I would not be posting it. But you're right about getting a good deal on the cards though. It would make this deal even better.[/QUOTE]

After reading the argeement again you are right. I think the only thing is how they mention if you move your arcade game to a memory card you would have to sign in with your Live account to access it. Once you move past that step the "intended use" of said arcade game could be the issue. I have to agree though I don't think Joe average would be up to doing this and I'm not sure it would affect anyone in a huge way. If however this information is spread it could potentially be an issue. Cheapassgamer being the source would not be a good thing.
 
so, if me and my younger cousin (who doesnt know much) did this, i should be CAG A, right? this means that the XBA game will be tied to my account as long as i have the account, correct?

what if i d/l the games to the harddrive and decide not to keep xbox live...will it still be on CAG B's harddrive? just not on CAG A's HD? if i'm CAG A, i am only able to play it online or is that CAG B again
 
[quote name='KingDox']ejoy it while it lasts. The will end up on Digg or Joystiq and MS will patch it.[/QUOTE]

I kind of doubt it. It's by design to work that way, it isn't really a loop hole.
 
[quote name='swetooth9']so, if me and my younger cousin (who doesnt know much) did this, i should be CAG A, right? this means that the XBA game will be tied to my account as long as i have the account, correct?[/quote]

Correct, the game is tied to CAG A's account.

what if i d/l the games to the harddrive and decide not to keep xbox live...will it still be on CAG B's harddrive? just not on CAG A's HD?
Click to expand...

Yes, if you cancel CAG A's Live account the game will still be on CAG B's hard drive. CAG A will not be able to play it on CAG A's Xbox 360.

if i'm CAG A, i am only able to play it online or is that CAG B again
Click to expand...

CAG A must be signed into Xbox Live to play it. CAG B does not have to be signed into Xbox Live to play it.
 
[quote name='shipwreck']

Yes, if you cancel CAG A's Live account the game will still be on CAG B's hard drive. CAG A will not be able to play it on CAG A's Xbox 360.

[/QUOTE]

Correct me if I'm wrong. But I think he may have been reffering to his live gold account. And if he is, then canceling gold will not keep CAG A from playing. However, I think what shipwreck is saying is if you disconnected from live, CAG A could not play the game.
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']Correct me if I'm wrong. But I think he may have been reffering to his live gold account. And if he is, then canceling gold will not keep CAG A from playing. However, I think what shipwreck is saying is if you disconnected from live, CAG A could not play the game.[/QUOTE]

Right, I guess I might have misunderstood what he was saying. What you just described is correct.

[quote name='Dijital']This might sound like a dumb question but would this work GRAW Chapter 2?[/QUOTE]

Yes, it works with any content.
 
[quote name='shipwreck']Right, I guess I might have misunderstood what he was saying. What you just described is correct.



Yes, it works with any content.[/quote]

yes, i was referring to dropping my XBL account...

so it's better to be CAG A or B for the long run?
 
[quote name='swetooth9']yes, i was referring to dropping my XBL account...

so it's better to be CAG A or B for the long run?[/QUOTE]

CAG A has the ability to recover the data at anytime, so in the long run I guess that's the better CAG to be.
 
[quote name='swetooth9']yes, i was referring to dropping my XBL account...

so it's better to be CAG A or B for the long run?[/QUOTE]

Just curious, but why would you drop your account? Do you mean just completely delete / cancel?
 
yea, im goin to college next year and my playtime may be severly cut so i may just cancel my xbl account...but i dont want my games to be deleted along with my account...can i just d/l the games to my HD before i cancel and they'll still be there?
 
[quote name='swetooth9']yea, im goin to college next year and my playtime may be severly cut so i may just cancel my xbl account...but i dont want my games to be deleted along with my account...can i just d/l the games to my HD before i cancel and they'll still be there?[/QUOTE]

I'm not even sure you CAN delete your gamertag, is that what you mean? The only thing there is to cancel is your Xbox Gold account, which gives you the ability to play games online. If you stop paying for that, you can still have an Xbox Live Silver account, which lets you do everything else online, except play games. (Mostly marketplace).

So even if you aren't paying for your gold account, as long as your have your Xbox connected to the internet, you'll always have access to anything you have bought, and you can still visit and purchase things on Live marketplace.
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']I'm not even sure you CAN delete your gamertag, is that what you mean? The only thing there is to cancel is your Xbox Gold account, which gives you the ability to play games online. If you stop paying for that, you can still have an Xbox Live Silver account, which lets you do everything else online, except play games. (Mostly marketplace).

So even if you aren't paying for your gold account, as long as your have your Xbox connected to the internet, you'll always have access to anything you have bought, and you can still visit and purchase things on Live marketplace.[/quote]

OOOOOoooooohhhh yeaaaaaaaaaaaa...forgot about that...silver account, eh? sounds good; dont have to worry about my achievments getting lost if i cancel my gold account :)

thanks for the reminder!
 
Glad that I'm a Cheap Ass Gamer.
Big Props for that.
Gotta con my friend into doing this.
 
[quote name='AshesofWake']someone will get totally screwed over if their 360 dies though :/[/QUOTE]


That is true, CAG B would get screwed. That's why my idea is to not do the half price thing, but to get a friend and just take turns buying games. Then if someone's 360 dies, it's just understood that person would have to rebuy their own games if they really wanted them back.
 
[quote name='fullhavok']I tried to add this to DIGG. but someone beat me to it.

This Rocks, Thanks Shipwreck[/QUOTE]


Eh, I'm not sure he wanted it on digg......
 
Another variation of what's being discussed, this time in a manner that will earn anyone that has had to have their console replaced FREE Marketplace Points.


[quote name='"BamelinatPennyArcade"']If you had to use your 360 warrenty to replace your console you may have noticed that none of your purchased Xbox Live Marketplace content (Live Arcade, Themes, Picture Packs) can be accessed unless you are online (connected to internet) and logged on with the profile you orignially bought the content with. Other gamertags on your console will also not be able to access the content whether or not you are connected to the internet or not. [/quote][quote name='"BamelinatPennyArcade"']

When you purchase Marketplace content the content is liscensed to your console in two ways:

1. By the gamertag making the purchase
2. By the console serial number (NOT the HDD) downloading the content

The reason it works this way is so that you cannot pass purchased content to your friends (you have to be there at his/her house and logged on with your own gamertag OR using the console you bought the content on)

The problem with this system is that if your console breaks and you get a new one via warrenty the only way for MS to check to make sure you are liscensed to be using marketplace content you've purchased is by checking your gamertag when you are connected to the internet as shown in number #1 above. The new console you have has a different serial number from the one you originally purchased the content, so #2 above can no longer be used for proof of liscense.

This is a problem for some people who either a. play offline alot, or b. have multiple family members with gamertags.

The long and short of it is this: If you have had to replace your console, you can call Microsoft and complain that you are no longer able to access your purchased Marketplace content when offline. Microsoft will refund you all the points (they'll give you redemption codes for the value of the points) you used to purchase the original content.

The rep I spoke with stated that I could either:

a. Put the points on my wife's silver profile so I can redownload all the games thereby "liscensing" them all to the console so they can be played by all profiles on the console as well as when offline.

or

b. Use the points to buy new games.

Keep in mind that if I do decide to use the points for new games, the "old" marketplace content I own can still be used when online (internet connected) with the gamertag I purchased them with.

I recieved redemption codes for 4000 marketplace points today and can confirm that Microsoft will indeed do this.

Mind you if you used a Best Buy/other retail store warrenty it's going to be more of a hassle (providing proof ie. console serial number of both the defective and new console and a photocopied reciept proving you used a retail store warrenty). If you used the MS warrenty they have it all on their system and will give you no hassle at all. I called, they moved the call to "escelation", a rep called me back and said I would be called within 72 hours with redemption codes for the value of the content and they did indeed call back with the codes.

Anyways since I know there are some PA folks that have had defective consoles I thought you guys might be interested in knowing this.

I should also add that the rep mentioned that they are doing this "quietly" for anyone whose console broke, if that person calls in and complains. They are well aware of the flaw with the liscensing system when it comes to 360's that have been replaced.[/quote]


Basically it all comes down to how MS checks for game liscense. It checks 2 things and if the answer is yes to either one of them you can play the games.


1. Is content liscensed to Console? If yes allow access to content
2. Is content liscensed to Gamertag? If yes allow access to content


I have to admit it's a cute work around you guys figured out. While MS took steps to make sure that I can't buy stuff and then pass it to my friend, you guys are essentially bypassing this by "splitting" the liscense rights right at the get go.

One guy gets Console liscense rights, the other guy gets Gamertag liscense rights.

Very slick and goes to show even further than I realized how badly flawed the liscense system truly is.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']I was really hoping people wouldnt spread this but it just hit TeamXbox:

http://forum.teamxbox.com/showthread.php?t=477625[/quote]

I love the responses...

"uh this is nothing new"
"Nice find. Bu the best way is Darkspace's method" [which is asked for but never posted]
"um this has been known for a long time, congrats on catching up with the rest of us"
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']I was really hoping people wouldnt spread this but it just hit TeamXbox:

http://forum.teamxbox.com/showthread.php?t=477625[/quote]

Regardless of where it spreads to, I don't think this will ever become common knowledge to the point where Microsoft will go to the trouble of changing their Usage Agreement, so I'm not really concerned.

I just wanted to write an easy step-by-step process for something a lot of CAGs may not have known about.

[quote name='javeryh']I love the responses...

"uh this is nothing new"
"Nice find. Bu the best way is Darkspace's method" [which is asked for but never posted]
"um this has been known for a long time, congrats on catching up with the rest of us"[/quote]

Gotta love the internet!
 
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