When the Microsoft Xbox LIVE admins decide they have detected a cheater, a practically irreversible process is set rolling. Achievement history and Gamerscore are reset to zero, and a big fat CHEATER stamp is plastered over the offending gamer’s GamerCard, visible to all.
In a story initially reported by Q13 Fox, such a fate has befallen an 11 year-old autistic boy, Julias Jackson. His mother, Jennifer Zdenek, is outraged. Leaping to his defence, she claims that Julias is just really good at games, mastering some within three to four days.
This is a plausible argument. Autism is a neural development disorder that can lead to effected individuals being exceptionally gifted at certain tasks. Zdenek says that Julias is devastated by this turn of events, as Xbox LIVE makes up for most of his limited social interaction.
Having contacted Microsoft she received the following robotic response: “The only actions that we take are to correct the player’s current Gamerscore, and to label the player as a “cheater.” This label can be observed on Xbox.com and through the player’s view of their Gamercard on a console or computer that is connected to Xbox LIVE. The player can still legitimately gain future achievements. The player’s experience does not change in any other way.”
“It disgusts me that they did this to my child,” states Zdenek.
Microsoft is sticking by their decision however. Director of Policy and Enforcement for Xbox LIVE, Stephen Toulouse, has personally checked into the matter and he confirms via Twitter: “I confirmed that achievements were illegitimately modified on the account and contacted the customer directly w/ specifics.”
Microsoft has also reiterated that they do not negotiate with cheaters under any circumstances: “Gamerscore resets are done when cheating is detected to keep LIVE fun, fair and safe for everyone. We only do them when we are 100% confident that cheating has occurred, and they are not something that can be appealed. Details can be found here – http://www.xbox.com/Live/Cheating.”
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