License Transfer on the XBox 360 is a NIGHTMARE STILL!!

[artphotodude]

I have bought a LOT on the 360: about 400 TV Shows and 170 games (mostly XBL). Anyway, I finally got sick of my old 360's many technical flaws (Noisy, Poor Disc Reader, Remote Sensor Doesn't Work) and I bought a Slim. I was told that I would just have to do the transfer juju and then hit re-download, and that games I already had downloaded would instantly show 'Download Complete' and I would be on my way. EVEN THIS sounds pretty lame. Why doesn't it simply do a dashboard update to my machine next time I log in and refresh my license database (only a few MBs)? But I thought it is just something I have to put up with.

Well Boys and Girls, I find myself yearning now for it to be that easy. It turns out that games that have been updated, get re-downloaded in full. Also, any Xbox originals will also be downloaded again and it sticks the entire game in the License Database folder??!?!? Also, in my case, because Microsoft determined that I MUST change my gamertag because it was 'unsafe' to use one's actual name for it, none of my TV shows show-up on xbox.com, so I can't add them to my download que to re-download without deleting them from my machine first.

I have about 200GBs worth of TV Shows on my system and a 20GB monthly download limit. They are telling me that it doesn't matter as long as I am online, but if I am online, why wouldn't I simply watch them on Netflix for $8.00 a month? The point was to have content to take with me when I DON"T have an internet connection. Also, contrary to the original song and dance about being able to also view them on a PC or Zune device, zune.net has NO RECORD I ever purchased anything! Am about to head over to Washington State on my upcoming time off and take Microsoft to small-claims court for this.

And now I hear that they are saying the next generation machines (XBOX 720 and PS4) will require you to be online to use at all). I AM DONE WITH MICROSOFT AND SONY! If Nintendo bucks these BS trends, I will buy a Wii U.

Even now, if you have a Wii fail, you can send it to Nintendo and they will transfer your downloaded content and re-license to a new console for free, you just pay for the new machine. That is you you do that!

[irixith]

The reason my 360 slim sits collecting dust in the closet is that after 12 months and innumerable calls to Microsoft, the license transfer still does not work.

I said screw it, got a PS3 when they went on sale, and haven't ever touched the 360 again.

I don't have any particular moral stance against the ridiculous DRM, but when something as basic as 'transfer my licenses to a new unit' doesn't work, I'm out.

[Flake]

Supposedly Nintendo has something planned for license transfers with the Wii-U. I am kind of in the same boat as you guys: Probably at least $500 worth of downloaded games and material on my launch model Wii.

Well that Wii's disc drive started to go out. Nintendo wanted $65 to fix it but I'd rather wait and get those licenses moved over to the new hot-ness. So I took that money and instead bought a new model Wii just to tide me over.

I do feel less inclined to spend my money on virtual goods whenever I feel doubt about my ability to move licenses. But then again, DRM hurting paying customers is not exactly a new tale.

[Yancakes]

I signed up for XBL years ago on an email account THAT IS NO LONGER ACTIVE. As in, it does not exist anymore. Period. I have confirmed this.

But because I don't remember my XBL password and the email is inactive, I no longer have access to any of my games. I spent hours on the phone with Microsoft trying to get it sorted, but the XBL people would refer me to another branch of XBL who would refer me to MSN who referred me to Canadian MSN who referred me back to XBL.

This lead to me boycotting non-Steam digital games. I'm happy that I only had about 20-25 XBL games anyways, but all of those fighting games that had special digital-only releases and whatnot are now off limits to me :\

I never buy systems until they've been out for 1 or 2 years, so we'll see how the next gen handles digital games... not excited about it, though.

[CRTGAMER]

This Thread should be stickied as an awareness to the headaches of transferring Downloads to a new console. I almost fell in this trap too, but not for purchased downloads, but saves and even free demos locked to my Wii console. Lucky in my case the Laser is an inexpensive change out. I would even buy a replacement used Wii and swap drives if I had to.

[xan_racketBOY_fan]

Damn, this does sound like a nightmare. You'd think it would be easy, just provide a name and address, shit, provide your last four if you have to. I know I'd be pretty pissed.

[Forlorn Drifter]

.... another reason I haven't updated to a slim. Currently have a last gen fat 360, and I'm currently not changing it. I'm playing it safe. Of course, I know many people who have transferred without a single problem. HOWEVER, none of those had bought anything besides downloadable games.

Hate to say it, but methinks that these downloadable games will be all kinds of pirated once the 360 is no longer online. It will be a madhouse....

Also, artphotodude, there has been no confirmation about the Nextbox or PS4 not playing used games or having to always be online. I personally see it as a possibility, but I also largely doubt it, as it would kill sales.

[Niode]

Am I the only person who's successfully licence transferred all his content from one 360 to another?

Maybe I'm just smarter than you guys? Oh well...

[Duke.Togo]

I had no problems when I recently moved everything over to a new slim, but I used a transfer cable and did the license transfer after. I haven't bought anything other than XBLA games and DLC though, so I have no idea about shows, movies, etc. I'm glad I have never bothered to buy any.

[Yancakes]

Damn, this does sound like a nightmare. You'd think it would be easy, just provide a name and address, shit, provide your last four if you have to. I know I'd be pretty pissed.

Thing is, the XBL people don't keep the passwords on their server so they have no way to reset them. They said to call MSN, so I called MSN and they wouldn't help me because I don't have a paid MSN account.