Datel sues Microsoft over anti-trust practices with Xbox 360
Datel, the company behind the Action Replay and Game Shark is suing Microsoft over a recent firmware update. The firmware update locks out all third party memory cards except Microsoft’s. Datel is accusing Microsoft of anti-trust practices.
It seems like every other week someone is either suing Sony or Microsoft. It seems like this week is no exception. If you recall there was a bit of an outcry not that long ago after Microsoft blocked out all third party memory cards with a firmware update.
According to the Seattle Pi, Datal is accusing Microsoft of anti-competitive practices by locking out third party companies.
According to the suit:
On information and belief, Microsoft’s purpose in disabling Datel’s memory cards is to prevent consumers from choosing a Datel product that offers far better value for the price. There is no benefit to consumers from Microsoft’s decision to target and disable Datel memory cards. To the contrary, Microsoft’s actions will leave approximately 50,000 consumers with useless memory cards (and without the ability to access their data on the cards), forestall innovation, and deprive future consumers of the benefits of competition.
According to Microsoft, the reason the company locked out third party memory cards were because some gamers were using them to cheat by manipulating game save files. However, on the flip side, Datel’s 2GB memory card ($40) costs significantly less when compared with Microsoft’s lower 512MB ($30).
What do our readers think? Should Microsoft leave those wanting to cheat in single player games alone or should the company step in at least to preserve the integrity of the Achievement system?
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80 Responses to “Datel sues Microsoft over anti-trust practices with Xbox 360”
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November 24th, 2009
Blah who cares about 50,000. What do you really need a memory card for. A few more dollars and you can get a 20 GB
November 24th, 2009
I’d love to know if Datel can simply become a third party licensed memory card maker. I thought the fact that they weren’t was the problem. I also don’t care if people cheat in sp games. All they’re doing is cheating themselves.
It’s kind of humorous seeing an anti trust lawsuit against MS. Don’t recall ever seeing that. Lol.
Ms is successfully sued twice in one week.
November 24th, 2009
“Ms is successfully sued twice in one week.”
3 times actually…dont foget Erik Estavillo
also sue MS for the “stress†and “sadness†caused by the Xbox Red Ring of Death.
November 24th, 2009
I’ve hardly heard Microsoft’s side of this. If they could use Datel memory cards to cheat, fine with me if they’re disabled. I just use a hard-drive.
And Roca… Don’t tell me that Erik actually succeeded in sueing Microsoft? Oh please…
November 24th, 2009
idk if he succeeded but he filed a lawsuit. I just added it because I think its funny and that ppl will actually take it “personal”…just watch.
November 24th, 2009
I’m all for more competition so I’d like to see Datel win this one.
I expect Microsoft to fight a rear-guard action and take wins where they can on this but overall I hope they lose and we can all eventually have the choice in the accessories we buy.
Microsoft have had a good run with the 360, taking it all the way to profit without any 3rd party spoiling things for them – if the numbers are right then even these Datel memory cards didn’t grab a big share of the potential market.
Not surprising really, who wants a tiny card verses a hard drive?
November 24th, 2009
phranctoast & Roca
Filing a law suit means nothing, millions get filed every year and they go nowhere.
Big deal.
“Successfully sued”?
To me means a successful outcome,
not the meagre filing of intent to sue
(which hasn’t even been heard in Court and may get thrown out and fail to progress at that stage)
November 24th, 2009
“To me means a successful outcome,”
To me it doesn’t. Not until a judgment is issued.
This all goes back to the ps2 and how kev claims they were successfully sued, which the normal reply would be “no shit”. It takes nothing to sue. No evidence at all. They settled also making a judgment unnecessary.
November 24th, 2009
lmaoo..I was just going to bring up the PS2 argument. its been annoying watching these xbots wilding about it to cover the 360s issues
November 24th, 2009
How the hell can you claim the mere filing of a suit is ‘successful’ then?!
Settling is the point – either by judgement or settling out of court.
Even settling out of court is ambiguous, it’s neither a win or a loss, it can look bad but it’s also sometimes merely a mechanism for both sides to stop a costly business.
With settling out of court you need to know how much for and how long the case had gone on (so as to judge whether costs are merely being paid or what).
In the arena of the PC Microsoft have settled out of court lots of times.
November 24th, 2009
Yes Happy. I’m playing on the fact that kev has repeatedly in the past throw the term successfully sued when making reference to the ps2.
I’m pointing out in order for a lawsuit to be successful it simply needs to be filed. This at no point is a reflection of whether the accused party is guilty and will have a judgement rendered on them.
November 24th, 2009
Oh god, the hypocrisy runs deep today. “Successful” PS2 lawsuit filings = evil sony. The same happens to MS, and it’s ambiguous. THIS IS HIGH-LARRY-US. Where is my lorazepam, I’m overwhelmed.
November 24th, 2009
It’s just a pathetic attempt to try to justify Xbox360′s failure rate. This is why they are always attempting to compare Xbox360′s failure rate to the Ps2′s failure rate.
November 24th, 2009
@twilight.
According to CAD, the Internet didn’t exist back then so the PS2′s issues weren’t wide known… lmao.
November 24th, 2009
I remember browsing the web all day long looking for tips on how to get a Golden Chocobo in FF7 and what Piano keys I should press to get Tifa’s Final Limit Break. or the combination to the safe where you the basement key to unlock Vincent.
ohh those were the good days
November 24th, 2009
oh…but you confuse me Roca….
That would mean the Internet was around during the PS1 days…
the horror!
November 24th, 2009
@happy
why are u even arguing with these fangirls, if they feel MS is getting successfully sued, let them think that way !!
November 24th, 2009
Toshi
It’s ludicrous.
The mere fact of being sued is now (in the PS3 fangirls eyes) ‘successful’.
I guess after raising the point about the PS2s problems they felt the need to quibble about the fact it didn’t go the whole way to a formal judgement.
The day thousands of disgruntled Xbox owners (ie people who actually own an Xbox and had problems with it, as opposed to pathetic whinging PS fanboys who love to pretend all sorts of horrors inflicted upon them by Microsoft) end up with Microsoft shelling out $25 each, a freebie game and a formal reduced cost repair schedule then they might have grounds to compare.
Until then they’re just howling at the moon weeping & gurning their fanboy whining.
November 24th, 2009
mano-a-mano
November 24th, 2009
Merely using the same standards as the xbots use to damn sony and the PS2. Take it like a man, ffs.
November 24th, 2009
$25+ for 512MB is ridiculously overpriced.
$135+ for 120GB is ridiculously overpriced.
However, I do prefer that they have taken these steps and many others to keep cheaters from proliferating. That said, I still have my 64MB (also ridiculously overpriced back then) from launch four years ago that still works fine to save my profile and current game saves (about 150KB each, depending on the game, 11MB is the top end I’ve seen with BioShock… I usually on need 1-3 to travel with as I finish most games the first time through). That there is now 512MB on board now is an improvement as well, and my 120GB is more than enough room to take care of all my memory needs as a gamer.
November 24th, 2009
17MB now the top end for saves with Dragon Age… only need one to go on the road with though.
November 24th, 2009
I agree with you in that aspect CarlB, that by keeping the OEM control of peripherals, they are doing their best to control hackers abuse of game saves, achievement spoofing etc.
But it leaves the question to be asked: Why is the 360 so prone to hacking, so much so that every peripheral has to be MS licensed and IDed? Why can the PS3 offer basically the opposite philosophy with peripherals and not be experiencing the same problems?
Surely, MS could have taken greater steps to preserve the integrity of their online and achievement systems without having a great excuse to milk the consumer with severly overpriced parts? I imagine it has something to do with how close the 360 resemebles a PC, but I am not aware of the technical details of 360 hacking, heh.
November 24th, 2009
Yeah this is just one of those sucky situations.
MS needs to protect people from others hacking, but at the same time they burn the people that invested in the cheaper alternatives.
November 24th, 2009
JofaMang
Like I said, you’ll have a point the day you can show us thousands of disgruntled Xbox owners
end up with Microsoft shelling out $25 each, a freebie game and a formal reduced cost repair schedule.
Until you (or anyone else) can do you’re just pulling the usual trick of trying to compare apples to oranges.
November 24th, 2009
Take it like a man, ffs.
November 24th, 2009
I also wonder why it’s so easy to hack the Xbox360.
Phranctoast,
I laughed at this statement as well. It’s so funny the stuff that they come up with.
November 24th, 2009
I laughed at this statement as well. It’s so funny the stuff that they come up with.”
@ Twilight
its so funny but here we still have HH arguing/trolling about it, he’s taken Kev’s spot lately
November 24th, 2009
Slow down the Hate, HH, I was asking a question, being a part of a rational discussion, not dumping on anything. Fact:360 is hacked heavily. Question: Why?
Go away you little bitch, you are not equipped to take part.
November 24th, 2009
ctually, even i haven’t seen xbox owners diss abt this but mostly ps3 fanboys.. Maybe xbox owners did their research, knew what they were getting into..
November 24th, 2009
“Why can the PS3 offer basically the opposite philosophy with peripherals and not be experiencing the same problems?”
I’m not so sure PSN does not have it’s own problems with cheaters. Certainly XBL does get more press about it though.
November 24th, 2009
Oh yeah, I forgot the Xbots passed a forum law forbidding PS3 owners from talking about the 360, my apologies.
/sarcasm off
What is your point? If anything it “might” prove that your standard Xbot takes whatever they are spoonfed, while PS3 owners are more honestly critical thinkers. I am not making that claim, just saying that your support of such a ridiculous premise (that owners are the only ones capable of discussing a console) is not only false, but hypocritical. It is a rare PS3 thread that doesn’t have xbots droning on with the same old propoghanda from 2007, and stating their supiority without having any actual argument behind their stances.
Other than BECAUSE I SAID SO, just like how PS3 owners shouldn’t talk about the 360. Protectionist ignorami tactics, and not worthy of being paid any heed in the slightest.
November 24th, 2009
JofaMang
F*ck you you sad to$$er.
“bitch”
LMAO
What a pathetic “hater”.
Toshi
For some reason it’s not obvious to them.
It is funny to see them try and make this something to whine about though.
More Xboxes (just like more copies of Windows) = bigger target to attack & more of that owner base likely to try hacking.
The fact that it’s heavily based on the PC also doesn’t seem to have entered their confused wittwle minds.
Bless.
November 24th, 2009
HappyHater:
I hate quoting myself, but I will quote you first:
**The fact that it’s heavily based on the PC also doesn’t seem to have entered their confused wittwle minds.**
And my post about 9 before the one i just quoted:
**I imagine it has something to do with how close the 360 resemebles a PC, but I am not aware of the technical details of 360 hacking, heh.**
You see, this is how a rational person has a discussion. I admitted my shortcoming (not knowing how to hack a 360) after asking a question.
But what we have here is a classic example of your sociopathic trolling. Go on, please prove it some more.
November 24th, 2009
great.
HH….jofa is exposing you panties…and badly.
you really need to back up ur arguments with valid points and not just ur usual trolling/evading question business.
November 24th, 2009
“just saying that your support of such a ridiculous premise (that owners are the only ones capable of discussing a console) is not only false, but hypocritical”
@jofa
How can he diss onps3, when he doesn’t even own one..
Does those words ring a bell, oh i am sure they didnt, or did they
November 24th, 2009
“great.
HH….jofa is exposing you panties…and badly.
you really need to back up ur arguments with valid points and not just ur usual trolling/evading question business”
@troll
i dont see u add anything to the discussion, neither i see u actually agreeing or disageeing to anything, but i can assume that u might b playing ur (second fiddle) role as usual..
+1 to u again to add to ur imaginery/fantasy ps3 scorecard.. Thank You
November 24th, 2009
“Slow down the Hate, HH”
“Go away you little bitch, you are not equipped to take part”
@jofamang
Its funny u want happy to slow down the hate, as u are just asking a question, then feel totally justified name calling him.. Which contradicts ur first statement “Slow down the hate”
November 24th, 2009
JofaMang
S’funny how you claim to answer the question yourself and yet you keep posing it & circle-jerking you pal who also continues to ask away and leg-hump as much as he can.
Toshi
Don’t mind Jofa; he’s seen Roca get slapped all over the site something rotten for the last couple of weeks and is feeling left out.
The pitiable thing is (and the PS3 gang here know it) if they don’t troll all over all the Xbox threads (everytime)then nobody give a flying f*ck about their opinions about the PS3 or whats going on with the PS3.
So every Xbox thread gets hijacked into something about Sony & the PS3.
Just like little doggies always leaping up for desperate for attention they find it impossible to confine their adulation for PS3 and all things Sony to the relevant threads.
November 24th, 2009
There is plenty of trolling coming from both sides Mr. Happy
That aside, you confused me with this part :
“nobody give a flying fuck about their opinions about the PS3 or whats going on with the PS3.”
Are you saying no one would care about the PS3, but they WOULD care about the 360? Maybe I can’t read or something this aft.
November 24th, 2009
……no need to waste my time on this thread anymore.
thanks to toshi, HH and kev there is nothing worth to see here other than fanboy trolling rants. – - – moving on
November 24th, 2009
SW
It’s just an observation based on what I’ve been noticing here over the last month since I got back.
Most of the activity revolves around the Xbox threads.
Invariably they get hijacked by one of, usually 2 but sometimes 3 or 4 people, er, sorry, log-in names, here and a row starts about PS3 v Xbox.
Every time.
I don’t notice anything close to the same thing going on in PS3 threads.
Maybe you do?
November 25th, 2009
“– – – moving on”
Oh yeah, moving on to post troll baiting comments on other threads
November 25th, 2009
“Don’t mind Jofa; he’s seen Roca get slapped all over the site something rotten for the last couple of weeks and is feeling left out.”
@happy
But Roca, has anyway accepted that he does post messages to argue, coz he gets bored at work..
November 25th, 2009
It would be better, that from now on, if we cud Point out, “Troll of the Thread” (one who’s start dissing odr console first).. I dont care if its a Xbot or a Pbot
November 25th, 2009
Great idea Toshi. But we would have to be sure to define the rules. For instance, I would think a fair and reasonable comparison that is relative to the topic, that does not include “teh superiorz console” type of language (you know what I mean), would not rate the TotT award. Links/lists related to the console(s) mentioned in the topic would also not rate (unless they clearly become “list wars”). I would also suggest renaming it to FTotT, (First Troll of the Thread) as other trolls usually follow… so, who would be the first one here?
My vote goes to roca, for the comment “lmaoo..I was just going to bring up the PS2 argument. its been annoying watching these xbots wilding about it to cover the 360s issues”.
Congrats roca, here is your first FTotT award. “xbots wilding about it to cover the 360s issues” put you over the top for the win.
November 25th, 2009
Nice carl, i see that CAD is already leading the pack with two awards, roca’s a close second..
November 25th, 2009
Great idea, then we could have a running total for ‘Troll of the Month’ culminating in an annual ‘Troll of the Year’ finale
(with ceremony & prize, natch……a 1mth ban)?
Come on Mike & Dave, the board is speaking and asking for a little sensible & justifiable modding.
Make it so.
Please.
November 25th, 2009
@Carlb.
Oh come on!!! the award clearly goes to me.
Roca was just smart enough to see where I was going with it.
November 25th, 2009
Phranc dont bother, they are playing kids game now. I bet you wont see any PS3 owner awarding anything to any xbot. the biggest troll here (other than Ivan/Kev/HH) was the one who came up with this stupid game..
for some reason CarlB is always on the xbot side of things. because I know for sure he have seen the rants about the PS2 defect rate (and lawsuits) and we know its not nearly as bad as the 360s but yet he seems to ignore it but he is always there to defend anything 360-related.
November 25th, 2009
“Come on Mike & Dave, the board is speaking and asking for a little sensible & justifiable modding.
Make it so”
since there is no arguments to back up you “opinion” (filled w/air) now we have a childish game (basically a blaming kids game) to be excited about lol
November 25th, 2009
AC2 FTW. Trade back COD and buy it now.
November 25th, 2009
No surprises to see the biggest troll in every Xbox thread going whinging & crying his eyes out at this idea.
What’s up Roca?
Afraid that a months ban won’t go down too well with your PR’ing for PS3?
November 25th, 2009
“Phranc dont bother, they are playing kids game now. I bet you wont see any PS3 owner awarding anything to any xbot. the biggest troll here (other than Ivan/Kev/HH) was the one who came up with this stupid game..”
@Roca
Well err, phranc just did give the first FTotT award to kev on the other thread.. Besides that, it wud be good fun, it may or may not stop us from arguing and stuff, but it will keep blorge community together..
come on now, i know u mite be running for troll of the month, ehh
)() (damn, how do put that winkie smiley in there)
@Happy
lol, that was really funny, Troll of the year will get banned for a month.. lol
November 25th, 2009
Toshi
I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard to add ‘Troll of the Year’ as a custom title next to the log-in name either.
Hanged by your own petard & forced to wear the crown for the year, justice!
November 25th, 2009
you might running for ass kisser of the year.
Happy,
you proved to be full of air. trolling/acusing other/evading question is you only escape.
November 25th, 2009
“lol, that was really funny, Troll of the year will get banned for a month.. lol”
ass kissing and fanboy wishing.
November 25th, 2009
“ass kissing and fanboy wishing.”
For some reason that reminded me a bit of Danny Devitos “hush hush” monologue in LA Confidential.
November 25th, 2009
or maybe something from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.
November 25th, 2009
“I bet you wont see any PS3 owner awarding anything to any xbot”
@roca
u lost the bet, NOW wud u mind losing ur fsnboy shades for a day..
November 25th, 2009
“ass kissing and fanboy wishing.”
ass kissing ?? For what, finding something funny, come on, do u want me to say “Go get’em jofa”
November 25th, 2009
Phranc i just pointing out how many of you be trolling “first” on threads. you must be excited about you awards.
talking about awards..Uncharted 2 was nominated for 9 awards and a total of 18 nomiations for PS3 exclusive……its all about the games for me. keep you lil party going. it wont create any new games for any of you to play. on the onther hand i have my hands full with GoW collection, AC2, U2, R+C, Demon’s Souls and NGS2
November 25th, 2009
“u lost the bet, NOW wud u mind losing ur fsnboy shades for a day..”
would you mind losing you fanboy femine face for a second…oh wait thats permanent!
damnit I gues we’re going to have to put up with it.
November 25th, 2009
Toshi,
do me a favor and asked Phranc if he is taking your game seriously….I bet you will end up being disappointed. he was just pointing out that a day after you came up with the kids game. you, HH have both been cought winning the award. couldnt even wait 24hrs?? lol
see what I have been ignoring you. your just here to waste ppl’s time. your just plain boring, kev is more fun than you and sadly he has a “bit” more knowledge than you
November 25th, 2009
“for some reason CarlB is always on the xbot side of things.”
Don’t feel left out roca, I gave CAD just as many FTotT awards as you last time I checked. You also seemed to have ignored my very recent comments on all XBox memory devices being ridiculously overpriced. Don’t be mad, you should wear the distinction with pride, Mr. “I can always make a list bigger than you”
“Oh come on!!! the award clearly goes to me.”
Nope. Your preceding comments lacking the distinctive fanboy term and description like “xbots wilding about” means no award for you. (*Seinfeld “no soup for you” guy accent on that last part
)
November 25th, 2009
I’ll play if they want to. Lord knows we all troll to some degree and they are clearly lying if they say otherwise.
My troll attempts are to incite conversation. Everyone knows this place would be very boring without the back and forth.
They know they like to debate just as much as us. Mos of the things said are supposed to rile people up.
The PS3 fans just prefer the lack of lies.
November 25th, 2009
“Don’t feel left out roca, I gave CAD just as many FTotT awards as you last time I checked. You also seemed to have ignored my very recent comments on all XBox memory devices being ridiculously overpriced.”
I dont care about you glorious “award”. all im saying you usually jump in to defend the 360. and you usually ignore the rants about the PS3.
for example.
Happy said some like “MS is known for making user friendly deviced at a reasonable price”
I showed him how most of MS product are overprice but you came out the cut attacking me instead. and I Have yet to you trying to correct happy on this matter. you also came here defending the 360 failure rate rants but yet you always seem to ignore the rants about the PS2 defect rate and the lawsuit, even though we all know its not nearly close to the 360s defect rate.
thats just a few examples.
November 25th, 2009
I am a truth based troll. I admit it, I put the truth (as I see it) out there, and wait for one of the fish to take the bait. I am not ashamed of this.
November 25th, 2009
@Jofa
your analogy about harry a couple of weeks ago was great.
November 25th, 2009
Roca
“for example.
Happy said some like “MS is known for making user friendly deviced at a reasonable priceâ€
I showed him how most of MS product are overprice but you came out the cut attacking me instead”
Er, no.
More lies and half-truth, as is usual with you.
In fact you whinged and gurned about game related items posting them up at the maximum prices you could find.
Your pretending that the game stuff was what it was all about & all that was relevant, when my comment to you was to give some consideration to how Microsoft as a whole got as big as they did do, is just an eaxmple of how either dishonest or moronic you are, in fact.
Which is it? Both?
November 25th, 2009
“My troll attempts are to incite conversation”
I guess they havent figured that out yet. maybe the awards will help
November 25th, 2009
“In fact you whinged and gurned about game related items posting them up at the maximum prices you could find.”
at a retail price (MS official price).
the fact was MS is not know for having the product a “reasonable price” as you claimed. your full of air HH.
November 25th, 2009
Once again the point whizzes past over your head by several thousand feet.
Microsoft did not get where they are today because of the gaming stuff. That all came much later. K?
(…..and, amusingly, even with your crying and whinging about prices Xbox still outsells PS3)
They did get where they are today because of exactly what I said, compatible, affordable and user friendly products at a price people are willing to pay.
Largely software related products.
You might want to look into that, if you’re going to discuss this, as your knowledge seems laughably lacking.
Now go ahead and deny that……and then explain to us how they did become one of the planet’s largest corps by not doing any of that.
You’ve been taking extra ‘how to be a brain-dead moron’ lessons again haven’t you?
November 25th, 2009
“you came out the cut attacking me instead. and I Have yet to you trying to correct happy on this matter. you also came here defending the 360 failure rate rants but yet you always seem to ignore the rants about the PS2 defect rate and the lawsuit, even though we all know its not nearly close to the 360s defect rate.”
Roca. Relax. I’m not “attacking” you, just asking you questions or putting forward a different viewpoint from my own personal perspective. If you perceive me to “usually jump in to defend the 360″ it is because you or somebody else is usually attacking it and usually not being, let’s say, “balanced” in their comment or leaving themselves open by making certain mistakes in what they are saying (like, “this is what MS does when it has no games” or “there are no Sony movies on Netflix for 360″, etc.). I don’t have to defend PS3 as much because between you, Jofa, Ivan, etc. you guys usually have that very well covered.
If you thought I was actually “defending” the 360 failure rants I’ll correct you there. I was merely asking an honest question based upon what PS3 fans have brought up here before:
Are twice as many MW2 sales (if initial estimates are to believed) based solely upon their being twice as many actual working 360 units in the sales region?
Or,
Is the %50 failure rate of the 360 true, as it has been quoted by some here as fact previously? This would mean that though it has the same number of working units in the region, it is still trouncing the PS3 in sales of this title regardless.
November 25th, 2009
@Carlb
Sooo many factors.
It could be that it’s a combination of both.
It could also mean there are a lot of people with both the 360 and the PS3, and they are choosing to play on the 360 because most of their friends have not bought a PS3 yet and MW2 is a social game first and foremost.
November 25th, 2009
“I’ll play if they want to. Lord knows we all troll to some degree and they are clearly lying if they say otherwise.”
@phranc
Exactly, evryone is a troll to an extent, odrwise we wont be out here arguing n stuff.. Its a fun game, who knows, we mite even find, who’s the biggest troll over at blorge..
ps cud someone let me know, how to use that winkie smiley
@roca
I just agreed with franky to an extent, so wud that count as ass kissing ??
November 25th, 2009
“ps cud someone let me know, how to use that winkie smiley”
; followed with a )
November 25th, 2009
“I bet you will end up being disappointed.”
@roca
I didnt, u lost again.. U always keep losing
November 25th, 2009
thanks franky
November 25th, 2009
“I just agreed with franky to an extent, so wud that count as ass kissing ”
coming from you…yes