NEWS - Wednesday, March 17, 2004

Modded Singapore Xboxes Banned
The good news is Microsoft will launch Xbox Live in Singapore on Apr. 30. The bad news, for some, is "modified" consoles will be banned from accessing the online gaming service. "When you subscribe and open an account on Xbox Live, we scan the console and make sure its not been altered," said Alex Chua, Microsofts division manager for Home & Entertainment. "If it is, youll be banned from the Live service." Some owners modify their Xbox consoles by affixing chips to bypass the machines security systems. This allows them to play pirated games or run applications on their units but voids the warranty. One user, who carries out such installations outside his regular job, told CNETAsia that he has worked on about 100 units in Singapore. He also suggested that modified units may be able to circumvent the authentication systems on Xbox Live, a claim Chua said he was "not aware of".Source: http://asia.cnet.com/