Got a question for Ask X3F? Maybe you have a story or some information you'd like to share? Send it all to ask [at] xbox360fanboy [dawt] com.
Hey X3F,
I was very excited to read an article a couple of months back regarding a supposed DRM fix for downloaded titles/downloadable content, and I was wondering if you had any updated information about how and more importantly WHEN this DRM fix might be available. If I remember correctly, your article said something about the DRM fix coming in June, and with June nearly half over, I was wondering if Microsoft or Major Nelson were getting into specifics about when all of us 360 owners who've upgraded or had the RRoD (sadly I've had both, and in that order too) can safely and easily, play all of our downloaded content offline again.
I am aware that you can phone Xbox support and have them re-tie your downloads to your new console if you've had the RRoD, but honestly that process is very time consuming, involves communicating with phone support which sometimes has a signinficant language barrier problem, and I've already been told that (at least for now) any arcade titles I purchased on my old 360 would NOT be re-tied to my new elite because of the "liscense agreement" for XBLA games. I've also tried this fix after receiving my new console after my elite RRoD'ed, and that didn't really work either. Frustrating to say the least...
Any info you can provide would be great! Thanks, keep up the great work on the site!
--
-Jason
We checked with Microsoft, and the word is that the DRM fix is still scheduled to release this month, so it should be any day now in theory. Unless, of course, it isn't.
What's up with the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. rumor Richard posted a while back? Any recent developments? It sounds really interesting and I hear there's a sequel on the way to the PC.
Neuromancer
Our email to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developer GSC Gameworld has gone unanswered thus far. We'd say there's definitely something on the way though, as we don't see why the company would go through the trouble of becoming a certified 360 developer if it didn't, you know, plan to develop for it.
Okay, I have had a recurring issue with my 360 controllers. The left analog stick likes to stick EVER SO SLIGHTLY to the left instead of centering. It has happened on two different controllers now and it makes me wonder if it is a wider spread problem (a la anyone else with issues?). No mere coincidence.
What happens is when trying to nudge a character to the left a small amount, it will cause the character to start walking in that direction even after I let go of the analog stick. This isn't a problem in all games, only ones where it is sensitive to that small amount close to the dead zone (the area where you should be able to move the stick with no response). No issues in Bioshock or Halo3, but games like Ninja Gaiden II, Dead Rising, and Crackdown cause me numerous times to fall off a ledge or platform when I only want to move a tiny bit, but end up just strolling along like a moron. Slightly touching the pad again will center it correctly, but this isn't acceptable.
The weird this is is that the physical appearance of the analog stick looks centered just like the right analog stick. Doesn't feel loose, and you couldn't tell by looking. And this is on a controller less than a month old. The original controller came with the XBOX 360 and had the same issues shortly after buying the system. And no, I don't play like some fanatical retard who is always pulling to the left and causing damage, I actually don't play all that much (compared to some). So, anyone else with a similar issue?
We've encountered similar problems before, but never with a new controller. For example, when resellers shrink wrap controllers, sometimes the sticks are wedged in a certain direction. When left this way for a long time, it can permanently screw up the "zero" of the stick (this is a good thing to look out for if anyone out there plans to pick up a used controller, by the way).
If you're honestly not torquing your sticks too hard*, then you may want to make sure that the sticks aren't being pressed when you store your controllers. Beyond that, we're not sure what could be causing the problem. Anyone else out there have the same mysterious problem?
*That wasn't supposed to sound dirty ....
Hey Guys,
My friends and I have been wanting to get some of the McFarlane Halo 3 figures, but have been waiting for the right one. Well...I think we have found it. The blue EOD Spartan that is a Wal-Mart exclusive. It releases sometime in July according to Spawn.com. My question is, do you know an exact release date and will they be in limited quantities. We would love to be able to get them the day they come out, especially if they will be limited. Thanks.
GT: Philip JFryrish
Considering we haven't been able to find any figures from the first series at retail stores for over a month, we'd definitely say that wave two will be a limited batch. As for when they will release, we don't have specific info, but according to Amazon, they will release on July 6. That sounds like a sensible date to us.
That's it for this week, folks. Keep sending your questions to: ask [at] xbox360fanboy [dawt] com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-18-2008 @ 1:32PM
haukke said...
i am having the same problem with my controllers.i had an original elite controller that started doing it so i bought a brand new black controller and it started doing it out of the package, leaving me to believe it might be a hardware problem.microsoft said that they have never come across this problem with either old or new controllers..surprise, surprise.....the guy said and i quote"i have never ever heard of such a thing, is there anything else i can do for you."
Reply
6-18-2008 @ 2:10PM
TORO said...
omg I have the exact same problem, only happens in GTA IV Niko starts going in circles imitating Zoolander
"If you're honestly not torquing your sticks too hard*
*That wasn't supposed to sound dirty ...."
LOL ooohh but it did, I'll take the advice
6-18-2008 @ 4:32PM
AoE said...
I'm sorry to hear you had this with a new controller, that sucks, that does sound like a hardware fault in that case for sure!
This is in my experience a pretty common issue with controllers that have seen some use, especially on the first xbox. If you're having this issue, there's a simple solution that generally works for me:
Jiggle the affected thumbstick as quickly as you can in as many different directions as possible... generally 10-15 seconds of this seems to solve the problem for me at least.
6-18-2008 @ 5:04PM
Azshros said...
I have this problem also, but i rarely notice it for the most part.
Happend to me a couple of times in Halo and GTAIV
6-18-2008 @ 1:33PM
Jonman said...
I have a similar issue with one of my controllers. It's about a year old, and has seen a lot of use. I've only just noticed it with GRID, where it seems like I've always got my foot *slighty* on the gas - I'll rev up to the redline while on the starting grid without touching it.
That said, it doesn't affect me at all - I think that for most games, the off-center-ness is still within the stick's deadzone, so it's not been an issue so far. If it becomes an issue, I'll switch over to using my second controller, and relegate the primary one to secondary.
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6-18-2008 @ 1:37PM
RC said...
With regards to the left leaning analog stick problem:
I have the same exact issue with one of my first 360 controllers. My guess is the first generation of game pads are all susceptible to this type of occurrence. I later got a newer, black controller and after many hours/days of game play it has worked great. I have no real fix for this problem but at least you know it’s not just you.
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6-18-2008 @ 1:48PM
emirabal said...
Wow, i thought it was just me with the controllers, hey, not for nothing, but could you guys do a quick record of teh ask x3f read, sometimes i think i would rather hear it on the car stereo. I think it would be a great addition. Just a thought
Reply
6-18-2008 @ 1:50PM
Viridium said...
Controllers sticking left - I bought a brand new Elite, and the wireless black controller had this problem out of the box.
I phoned MS customer support who agreed to replace it. I shipped it back but they don't cross ship so I had to use my spare controller in the meantime (no more gaming with my wife), and then got a wired white replacement. I called and complained again, and they sent out a proper replacement which works fine, and let me keep the wired one for my "troubles".
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6-18-2008 @ 2:02PM
mattclarkie said...
Two of my controller's analog sticks also suffer this issue. Both were fine at launch, both are stored with nothing touching the sticks, so it is general wear.
It isn't too bad, unlike my D-Pads that don't work at all.
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6-18-2008 @ 2:11PM
PerfectStrategy said...
I haven't had any problems with my 7 controllers. But older controllers usually do have problems with the joysticks. I know I have had my joysticks messed up after 2-3 years on some of my old controllers like N64, PS2, Dreamcast, etc. I also had it happen to an original Xbox controller. My 360 controllers have been fine though, but I imagine some of them will get a little bad in another year or more, especially with how much they are used (a lot).
I would recommend opening the controller up (torx bit, you can google search how to do it) and at least cleaning the joystick ball. Maybe you can even try to adjust it slightly back to normal. Worth a try if the controller is really bothering you.
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6-18-2008 @ 2:14PM
CyberKnight said...
I'll throw my name on the pile of people with a "slight left drift" on the left stick. You really notice it with things that try to do digital directions -- it drove me nuts when I was trying out Sudoku, as I'd bump the stick left to move one square, and it'd slide over three or four until I gave it a tap to the right to recenter it. >:(
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6-18-2008 @ 2:19PM
007craft said...
I have the same problem with controllers. My original console had the problem. My replacment elite also had it + the 2 spares I bought. I have since replaced 2 controlers with the buy return trick at retail and those have also been under the influence. Once more from a warranty exchange and still an issue. Thats a total of 8 controllers all from me which have the issue.
The problem is with ALL 360 controlers. Even those still in production. The problem occurs right out of the package, and worsens over time. The reason their has not been widespread complaints is because most players dont notice it or have it effect them. This is because it only occurs on games with low deadzone threasholds. This means with 99% of games, you wont notice it until you have played a good 500+ hours with the controler, and even then only on the more sensitive games.
IF you really want to experience the problem, go play a game thats ultra sensitive to movement. The best game for this is on XBLA - Marble blast ultra. Go download the demo. Now make a marble movement to the left, and release your thumb from the stick so the stick naturally flicks back to center. The marble or screen will be moving left ever so slightly. More-so the worse off your controller is. If you move the stick manually back to the center or tap it a bit after its stuck, there wont be a problem.
Me theory as to why this happens is because of our thumbs poistioning on the left stick. Notice how your thumb is curved when resting on the stick, and its higher in position then the other right stick. This cause more preasure to be put on the left side of the stick when stick clicking and moving fast. So over time it effects the controller.
I think the problem could be fixed in a hardware change internally with perhaps better parts for the left stick. I dont see that happening tho as no1 seems to complain about this problem. My complaints in the past have been met with name calling and accusations of being a troll. Im glad to see this that others are noticing the problem too. Its been my only complaint with the 360 controller from launch (oh and the dpad)
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6-18-2008 @ 2:32PM
joey said...
It didn't sound dirty until you mentioned it.
Reply
6-18-2008 @ 2:38PM
rkrone said...
same problem, except both my sticks pull to the left, the left stick more-so than the right though.
Reply
6-18-2008 @ 3:09PM
J said...
I'm a pepper... on a left-leaning stick.
Reply
6-18-2008 @ 3:12PM
Outinthedark said...
I'd like to chime in on the DRM issues...
It took me 7 months to get my licenses onto my new console.
I find this new "tool" is not going to be on the users side but on MS side.
Even if it will be easier for MS to re-license a console it will still be within their margins of repaired by MS or a warantee replacement.
People like myself who had RROD got a replacement console and then "upgraded" so to speak [I bought the Halo 3 Edition Console the day it came out] will still be out of luck.
It took me 60+ hours on the phone 27+ support tickets and escalating 18 times to get them to re-license my console.
I feel like the DRM will still be broken in this manner and the user will feel no effect save for the time it takes for them to actually re-license. They will still have to investigate like they do every single case.
Do not expect this to be an instant solution I feel like it will be far from an overall solution.
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6-18-2008 @ 5:17PM
Azshros said...
What causes this issue with the arcade games license?
I have RROD thru 4 consolse and bought the arcade version after the warenty expired and I always kept the same HDD. I have 2 XBL accounts and multiple arcade games on the drive. Never once have i had any problems with this.
My brother on the other hand Transferred to a bigger HDD when his Xbox RROD and is going thru the process of trying to get his license back.
I was thinking that if you kept the same HDD you would not have problems. no?
6-18-2008 @ 5:23PM
Outinthedark said...
Keeping the HD yes stores the license information but if the console changes you do not have full functionality of your content such as other users playing your downloaded games on your console, playing offline, and actually playing them [have issues with all Sega games still having to re-download them to unlock full versions.
If you return the RROD console to MS they will transfer your licenses to the refurbed/repaired console. The process took a months time [most I believe is researching the account in question].
I think their new tool will only speed the process up but the DRM issues will still be around when people upgrade or their console RROD.
6-18-2008 @ 3:29PM
kyosh1ro said...
Sign my name on the analog stick problem as well. My wired controller is now so messed up I can no longer use it. Not only does the left analog stick drift to the left, both LT and RT get stuck. What I mean by this is not that the button gets physically stuck down, but sometimes when I press and release the triggers it will "half-press" it as fast as a turbo controller. This only affects games that are sensitive enough to detect those half-presses but it renders those games unplayable. I had to buy a Quick Charge Kit so I could use my wireless controller exclusively without eating through batteries. So far it has worked without a hitch but it's a pain to buy a new controller. MS needs to ensure that new controllers will not have this problem, although judging by the previous posts this does not seem to be the case.
Reply
6-18-2008 @ 3:31PM
kyosh1ro said...
Oh, and I forgot to mention..some websites and people recommend opening up the controller and going over the plastic parts with cleaning alcohol. I personally tried this to no avail. The only time I have heard of this working is when a stick would get physically stuck in a direction. Anyway, good luck.