^ Makingmusic.

I think that would be a violation of the terms on MS's part.

They would face substantial ramifications for doing that.

I get pre-release stuff from MS often. I think it's the pirated version, not the retail version or the debug versions.

Doesn't this apply to every game that gets played before the release date?

No. You have journalist, bloggers, game testers, devs, their friends who have access to early copies. As stated, I have Lips 2 and Forza 3 - and had ODST, Beatles: Rock Band, Godfather 2, Halo Wars (a month out) and Halo 3 before release. You can also see the game listed on profiles (before release) and you can see achievements, but you can't see what they unlocked.

I have been on LIVE for 5 years and have been getting early stuff for the past 3-4 years. I have never, ever gotten an e-mail like that.

Just a question buy how do you get so many games early?  Do you know someone that knows someone?

Good. Im glad people who pirate games should be made to pay.

What your sig says applies directly to what you said in this post... you seem to understand what happens when you assume

People that download the game and play online early deserve to get banned, this is currently the ONLY way you will get banned for having a flashed xbox (playing games before release date), if you don't play games early you will NOT get banned. 

I was looking on a few sites yesterday having a nosey so I am upto date on the bannings as I flash 360's and there is a 40 page thread on people saying they all got banned for playing forza 3 online early but have no idea why they were banned lmao, playing ANY game early will make your account stick out like a sore thumb, I dunno how many times I have to tell people on these other sites but its getting to a point where I won't bother saying a word in future.

No one with a flashed 360 will get banned as long as you don't play any games before they are released.

Also, regarding the bannings:

Microsoft still have no idea how to tell a proper copy of a game to a "pirate" copy, they have already banned 11 game reviewers (in less than a day) who have Forza 3 early, these reviewers were all given proper copies of the game at the Turn 10 press event in London, the reviewers banned include one from the official uk xbox magazine and one from eurogamer lol.

Turn 10 have an "approved list" of people that are allowed to play the game early, anyone not on this list is getting banned, the problem is that a lot of people who have proper copies of this game haven't been added to the list and as a result have got banned.....

would if you never played online? but are earning achievments. once you log online dont the acievments have a date you recieved them?

Those reviewers could have a flashed xbox360.

And that thing about how they ban is just bullshit you happen to believe.