Some people in the online forums have recently expressed some concerns about how to protect themselves from potentially inappropriate behavior from others using the Xbox Live Vision Camera on Xbox Live. So I decided to go and talk to Christopher, the Xbox Live Policy Program Manager here at Microsoft who manages the feedback that we receive from Xbox Live users to find out what happens to complaints that get submitted using the File Complaint system in the Xbox Live dashboard.
Christopher told me that every complaint that is sent in using the File Complaint system is counted. He mentioned that not only has action been taken on thousands of the individuals that have been reported, but he has terminated accounts as well (which includes the loss of the person's Gamerscore and any time left on their Xbox Live subscription).
So what can you do to help protect yourself from unwanted images? Here are 3 things you can do to help make Xbox Live an enjoyable environment for everyone:
1. Block Communications - If you run into someone in online play that does something that you don't like, you can quickly mute all communications, and you will no longer hear, or see anyone. For example in UNO, click Start > Help & Options > Camera Settings > (Y) Disable Camera.
2. Set Communications to Friends Only - Within the privacy settings, you can change your preference to only communicate online with people on your Friends List. This means that only your friends voice and video will come through to you. From the Dashboard, click your Gamer Profile > Edit Gamer Profile > Privacy Settings > Communications > Friends Only. You can also block all communications in the same menu.
3. File a Complaint - If you encounter someone that breaks the Xbox Live Code of Conduct, be sure to use the File Complaint system. All complaints are reviewed by Xbox Live (however, Xbox Live policy does not disclose the status or results of individual complaints). Trust me it works. From a person's Gamer Profile: File Complaint > Complaint type > File Complaint.
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: gsharpshooter on September 30, 2006, 03:38:00 PM
Hey not bad ideas here good to protect lil jimmy
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: MeanMF on September 30, 2006, 03:51:00 PM
This post has been edited by bucko: Sep 30 2006, 11:25 PM
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: HamSandwhich on September 30, 2006, 04:33:00 PM
Man some people are uptight about stupid shit, "don't watch a live football match there maybe a streaker! ". time for me to expose myself to little children
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: iPwn on September 30, 2006, 04:38:00 PM
QUOTE(HamSandwhich @ Sep 30 2006, 11:40 PM)
Man some people are uptight about stupid shit, "don't watch a live football match there maybe a streaker! ". time for me to expose myself to little children
lol, im sure u guys seen that 23 banned topic at xbox.com of that one kid who showed his nuts to EVERYONE, hes not banned yet, just 2 suspensions in a row, so probably a ban coming soon.
but i do use this when necessary, becuase i like to keep xbox clean, i have lil cousins that love uno and stuff, so the last thing they need is to see a old man's knockerz
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: HamSandwhich on September 30, 2006, 06:08:00 PM
Well then if children are going to be playing use that block feature Beware, my balls coming to a HDTV near you! LMAO Just joking children, no need to get overly excited .
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: proger on September 30, 2006, 07:18:00 PM
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: Boydster on September 30, 2006, 10:11:00 PM
There should definitely be a way to block only the camera communications to friends only, rather than cam and mic.
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: throwingks on October 01, 2006, 05:12:00 AM
nevermind me
This post has been edited by throwingks: Oct 1 2006, 12:12 PM
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: skylined on October 01, 2006, 05:49:00 AM
i remember when the camera was first announced and everyone started saying that all your gonna see is pictures of peoples nuts and the such. my friend and I thought it was funny (that people would do that, and that people were freakin out about it) that as soon as i got my camera in i hooked it up and instantly sent him a picture of my nuts....good times
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: twistedsymphony on October 01, 2006, 06:50:00 AM
I haven't yet seen any nudity over the camera yet (watch after posting this I'll get barraged with picture messages) but I think most adult players can easily stomach such things long enough to block someone.
Personally I think the camera is great, voice is OK but being able to see someone and where they are is pretty cool and adds a whole new dimension to games like Uno.
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: Lord Serebi on October 01, 2006, 10:47:00 AM
4. use stealth firmware
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: picopir8 on October 01, 2006, 11:11:00 AM
I think M$ released the camera to make money off of morons. People who do something stupid loose their account then have to buy a new live subscription.
If M$ was truely concerned, they would ban the console as they did for hacked consoles.
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: j3y q on October 01, 2006, 11:37:00 AM
yes i agree voice is great but the new dimension of seeing all the ugly gamers or friends is cool
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: R-Dawggy Dawg on October 02, 2006, 10:03:00 AM
So many ways to get banned... but still not by having your firmware hacked. Heck yes!
BTW.. M$ has had plenty of time to deal with this... so duz this mean everyone is in the clear?
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: HamSandwhich on October 02, 2006, 04:08:00 PM
Hahaha I bet they say "everyone with firmware hacked consoles, contact us and we will pick up your console and take the firmware off for you, completely free!" then some suspicious looking guy will come and "pick it up" but just smash it against your wall lol
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: 0794 on October 02, 2006, 08:14:00 PM
i will be curious to see how this camera is integrated into other games besides the ones out now...or if it ever will be...
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: twistedsymphony on October 04, 2006, 09:09:00 AM
QUOTE(picopir8 @ Oct 1 2006, 01:18 PM)
I think M$ released the camera to make money off of morons. People who do something stupid loose their account then have to buy a new live subscription.
If M$ was truely concerned, they would ban the console as they did for hacked consoles.
bad idea.. what if you share your console?
I've seen universities that have a game room with 10 or so TVs and consoles at each one for recreation... do you want some moron at your school getting the whole unit banned for everyone that uses it?
What if you've got a roommate who uses your console on occasion and while your out he decided to drop his pants for the camera or starts swearing up a storm and flipping people off and gets YOUR console banned... what if a sibling did something like that? what if your child did something like that? What if someone did something like that and sold the console and YOU bought it and now you can't connect to XBL because of what someone else did?
The console can have numerous profiles, it's purpose built to be used by more then one person, just because someone used the console and did something bad doesn't mean the console should be banished from connecting to XBL... From what I've heard if MS bans you they block your CC#, passport account, and name/address (IRL), It's not impossible to create a new account with those measures but it makes it difficult. and it can get very costly if you go back to breaking the rules with your new account.
Entering a report when you see someone like that is the fastest way to get them off of XBL... after just 1 full lobbies worth of complaints they'll review and ban the guy then he has to pay another $50 and do some information fudging to get back in... plus looses all of their Gamerscore, gamertag, rep (probably not good anyway) friends list, etc.. If you see him do it again and report him, he has to do it all over again.
You slap someone with a $50 "Fee" and an account reset every few weeks and they'll either learn to stop or run out of money and go somewhere else.
Title: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself on Xbox LIVE
Post by: jimjom on October 04, 2006, 03:14:00 PM