The DLC Usage Restrictions were misleading.

Games Other Halo
1

I entered the codes on my account under the assumption that all bonuses would be shared with users on the same console. At least, that was the information that I was provided with upon reading the usage restrictions immediately after entering the code, but before agreeing to the download. After finding out that my little brother couldn’t access the pre-order DLC, I did a little digging on the internet and I found a few topics that were relevant to my situation:

(you may skip the links and continue reading, these are here just for reference)

https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postst131642_Halo-4-DLC-usage-restrictions.aspx

http://forums.xbox.com/xbox_forums/xbox_support/f/27/t/376149.aspx?PageIndex=1

http://forums.gearboxsoftware.com/showthread.php?p=3208781

I particularly feel for the father who posted in the second topic I linked to. To save a bit of trouble, I’ll just paste his message here:

“This is BS, I had the same thing happen to me, we bought the HALO 4 console and I setup it all up and added all the codes specifically reading the usage and it said that it could be used by anyone on this Xbox, and my son who of course is the reason we got the thing in the first place, is pissed off because I get the gear (don’t even play the game) and he doesn’t.
This is unacceptable. If the Usage rights had said that it was tied only to the gamer tag then I would of never entered the code. Microsoft, you need to fix this even if it means I don’t get the gear.
Way to ruin what was supposed to be a great day at my house.”

I share his sentiments because I pre-ordered the game for my little brother and as it stands, he doesn’t have any of the pre-order content because I entered the codes on my Live account. I did so by force of habit because I make all of the purchases on my X-Box. Like the father and other posters in that topic mentioned, the usage restrictions specifically stated that users on the same console would be able to obtain the DLC.

I posted this message in another game forum and some people responded that they chose to limit the DLC bonus to gamertags to keep people from sharing them, but how is this a good idea for households with more than one child? Should a father have to pre-order two copies for both of his sons so that each of them can have the pre-order bonus content? Did Microsoft realize that in households with more than one child, one of those children would have the code and the other(s) would have to do without? I for one would gladly accept one of my kids’ friends having the DLC content while playing over at my house if it meant that one of my kids didn’t feel shafted.

I hope more attention is brought to this issue because it creates an unpleasant tension in a household when a kid doesn’t get some cool armor because something like this was overlooked. Kids don’t understand when things like this happen, and I shouldn’t have to be sitting there along with him, wondering what’s wrong instead of enjoying the game with him.

I appreciate the time you took to read this, and am open to your suggestions. I understand that Microsoft probably has more say regarding these issues, but it was my intent in posting this in the Waypoint forum to raise awareness of this matter to you fine people. This issue is important to me, so I gladly accept any help, support and opinion regarding this matter. Thank you for your time.

2

The third link that I provided in my original thread bears relevant information, as it contains the same usage restrictions that I read upon downloading the pre-order bonuses myself:

The item you are trying to download is subject to usage restrictions. You can use this item on the first Xbox 360 console you downloaded it to. 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.

3

I know how these things work and I have never heard of anything like this happening.

It is very disappointed to hear this, to be blatantly honest, Microsoft should be held reliable for this and should give compensation for not abiding by their TOS agreement that everyone, well, agrees to.

Have you tried contacting Xbox Live support and discussing this matter? It seems really shady and unethical.

4

I would also like to see someone get to the bottom of this. I accidentally redeemed all of my codes to my husband’s account, and even though we play on the same Xbox, it won’t let me use any of the stuff that I paid extra for, and since I bought the Limited Edition and can’t show anything for it, this is quite annoying.

He constantly makes fun of me for it. It makes me sad. :frowning:

5

This post has been edited by a moderator. Please do not flame or attack other members.

*Original post. Click at your own discretion.

u guys are noobs

its common sense and its always been like that with everything

6

>

Excuse me? No it has not, it’s NEVER been like that.

7

All in game content like armour, skins etc are gamertag locked.

While maps etc are for the console, unless stated.

8

> All in game content like armour, skins etc are gamertag locked.
>
> While maps etc are for the console, unless stated.

If that’s true, which I doubt it is, then it should say specifically that this is how it works.

9

> >
>
> Excuse me? No it has not, it’s NEVER been like that.

1,6, 12 month xbl codes - 1 account
48 hour free xbl trial - 1 account
halo reach recon code - 1 account

codes and dlc are ususally always for 1 account on the xbox never for all players

10

> > All in game content like armour, skins etc are gamertag locked.
> >
> > While maps etc are for the console, unless stated.
>
> If that’s true, which I doubt it is, then it should say specifically that this is how it works.

of coarse its true
its always worked like that

11

Yep… always worked like this… a one-time-use code is for one time, one user. Codes, and items received from codes, can never be shared amongst multiple users, even on the same console.

Gamertags are NOT locked to consoles, so content cannot be shared in the manner described.

12

You know a really easy solution to this and code scammers is to allow people to buy your preorder crap. Put it on the market place if someone is willing to spend $50 on a helmet that’s money you could have from millions of players!

I am completely sick of preorder bonus trash. What’s next Elite purple and Spartan green versions of Halo 5 like Pokemon?

13

> > > u guys are noobs
> > >
> > > its common sense and its always been like that with everything
> >
> > Excuse me? No it has not, it’s NEVER been like that.
>
> 1,6, 12 month xbl codes - 1 account
> 48 hour free xbl trial - 1 account
> halo reach recon code - 1 account
>
> codes and dlc are ususally always for 1 account on the xbox never for all players

Account membership codes have only worked for 1 account. That part is true.

Halo Reach content worked any account that was on the same console with the Console ID associated with the content (as long as within the redeemers download history, that content is tied to that console ID)

All content has two IDs, the Profile ID and the Console ID.
The profile ID is associated with the account that purchased/redeemed the content.
The console ID is the one that the content was first purchased, but it can be changed with a license transfer to a different console.

Game content has always allowed up to two people to use one content.
In Reach, my friend bought the Legendary edition, and so he let me sign into his account on my Xbox, and then redeem his flaming helmet code on his account (but still on my xbox). Because this content was redeemed on my console, it made the content accessible to any account on my Xbox (offline or online) to use the flaming armor effect. He then had to go to his download history, and then download the content. This allowed him to access the content ONLY on his profile, and ONLY online.

Basically the Profile ID is specific to the profile and only online, and the console ID is for any account on that console both online and offline.
Every content downloaded uses both.

Even within Halo 4’s content’s usage restrictions, it says for any account on the console that it was purchased on.
This is a bug, and must be fixed.

14

> Yep… always worked like this… a one-time-use code is for one time, one user. Codes, and items received from codes, can never be shared amongst multiple users, even on the same console.
>
> Gamertags are NOT locked to consoles, so content cannot be shared in the manner described.

No, everyone on the same console as the GT can use it as long as that is the xbox that it was originally downloaded on. This is the first time i have seen it not.

15

> > Yep… always worked like this… a one-time-use code is for one time, one user. Codes, and items received from codes, can never be shared amongst multiple users, even on the same console.
> >
> > Gamertags are NOT locked to consoles, so content cannot be shared in the manner described.
>
> No, everyone on the same console as the GT can use it as long as that is the xbox that it was originally downloaded on. This is the first time i have seen it not.

I’ve never ever had it work this way. I have probably 100 or more DLC items I’ve picked up while owning my 360, for dozens of games, and noone else on my console has ever been able to use the items. DLC is tied to your Gamertag.

Now, if the redemption instructions said they were for the entire console, then that’s certainly misleading.

16

I got the reach legendary and all 4 of the accounts have red flamed helmets.
I got the halo 4 le and only 1 person get the stuff

Bungie > 343 nd microsoft

In fact when I called microsoft the rep told me to just post on the forums to get this problem fixed. Thats not gunna happen

17

> Now, if the redemption instructions said they were for the entire console, then that’s certainly misleading.

This was the case for me and for at least several other users to whose complaints I have provided links to. As for examples of DLC that was made available to every user on the console, I’d like to use Fable 2 and 3’s DLC, Halo 2 and 3’s and Reach’s multiplayer maps as well as the Call of Duty games’ multiplayer map packs as examples from my very limited history with online downloadable content.

I hope you might understand my perspective more clearly if I were to frame my argument this way: Doesn’t it make sense that if I buy a product for my household that everyone in my household should benefit from my purchase of that item? Bear with me as I enter this ‘more than one child per household’ scenario again, but if I buy a map pack for my kids to play on, shouldn’t they be able to play together on their own accounts rather than one of them having to sign on as a guest on their own console? Or should I have to buy the map pack twice so that my kids would be able to play with each other?

I understand very clearly that armors are individual achievements and they always have been, but why should that individual achievement also be applied to purchasing the game itself? Shouldn’t one copy of the game per household be enough to make Microsoft want their customers to feel rewarded for pre-ordering the game? I hope you understand where I’m coming from and really appreciate you ScarecrowES for your contribution to this topic.

18

Yep, same thing here. There are several threads about it here on Waypoint, and I’ve posted on a few of them already but basically:
I downloaded everything (except the avatar items that I wanted) to my son’s gamertag, thinking that it wouldn’t make any difference. I even checked the usage restrictions to make sure they said the same thing as before (with the Halo Reach Legendary flames and Elite Officer armor, for example) and they did. See here and here. The only things where it actually says that they are locked to one gamertag are the avatar items, just like before.
I have talked to Xbox support on Twitter @XboxSupport1) and called the phone # that they gave me (if you’re in the US the # is 1-800-469-9269), and both times I was told that everything is locked to the gamertag that downloaded it. They didn’t really have an answer for why that is, when the usage restrictions say otherwise. They really need to fix this.

19

> > Now, if the redemption instructions said they were for the entire console, then that’s certainly misleading.
>
> This was the case for me and for at least several other users to whose complaints I have provided links to. As for examples of DLC that was made available to every user on the console, I’d like to use Fable 2 and 3’s DLC, Halo 2 and 3’s and Reach’s multiplayer maps as well as the Call of Duty games’ multiplayer map packs as examples from my very limited history with online downloadable content.
>
> I hope you might understand my perspective more clearly if I were to frame my argument this way: Doesn’t it make sense that if I buy a product for my household that everyone in my household should benefit from my purchase of that item? Bear with me as I enter this ‘more than one child per household’ scenario again, but if I buy a map pack for my kids to play on, shouldn’t they be able to play together on their own accounts rather than one of them having to sign on as a guest on their own console? Or should I have to buy the map pack twice so that my kids would be able to play with each other?
>
> I understand very clearly that armors are individual achievements and they always have been, but why should that individual achievement also be applied to purchasing the game itself? Shouldn’t one copy of the game per household be enough to make Microsoft want their customers to feel rewarded for pre-ordering the game? I hope you understand where I’m coming from and really appreciate you ScarecrowES for your contribution to this topic.

I’m right there with you… it doesn’t often make much sense for content to be locked to an individual gamertag when its purchased for use by an entire household that may benefit. Unfotunately, I’m not sure how developers/publishers balance providing content access to focus for the console (which is used by many) or for the gamertag (which is unique to one person).

Its the same now for digital media distribution. When I buy a DVD, I can take that and put it in any player anywhere in the world and watch my movie. I own the disc and can use it as I want. But if I buy the same movie digitally, there is a limit as to where I can transfer and view the movie. I can’t necessarily watch it on my PC at home, then take it on the road on my laptop, and also put it on my Kindle in case my child wants to watch it in the car or something.

So for DLC, it’s a problem. YOU got the content, YOU can access it, right? Just the buyer. But you bought it so that the whole family could experience it. It’s tough to balance that.

I do think there’s a difference between content purchased through the marketplace, and content received by redeeming a code. I know all codes are supposed to be one-time-use items.

But as far as I’m concerned, for this particular issue… there is only one thing that matters… did the redemption information say that the content should be available for all users on a console? If yes, then it should be.

20

> 1,6, 12 month xbl codes - 1 account
> 48 hour free xbl trial - 1 account
> halo reach recon code - every account on the Xbox
>
> codes and dlc are ususally always for 1 account on the xbox never for all players

Fixed.