I was reading a thread on boards.ie the other day (GTA IV Will you play it before it's out ????? - boards.ie) about whether or not you would take GTA IV online before the April 29th release date. The original poster seemed to be worried that MS would be tracking peoples activities like they did before the Halo 3 launch.

I thought that MS would be monitoring but I didn't think there would be much chance of the gamer being banned. Anyway, I was reading an article that confirms that MS and Rockstar will be monitoring if people try to take the game online early. It doesn't say if any punitive action will be taken though.

videogaming247 » Blog Archive » GTA IV: Microsoft and Rockstar tracking Gamertags before April 29

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If you get the game early...plug out the ethernet cable, job done.

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exactly not a big deal really.

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Microsoft cannot ban you for playing a game early.

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TBH, they'll be more pissed at the retailer than the user for selling it early.

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If a retailer sells it early then it is fined something like 2000 euro.

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Microsoft cant ban you as the other guys said its the retailer who will get in trouble with a big fine for breaking the street date. Iv the special edition preordered and i am collecting it at midnight monday night thats when xtravision is opening up for gamers to collect the game. Cant wait for this game loved San Andreas but this is just going to be an amazing game.

I'll be playing it tonight

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whats this I buisness!!!

Yeah I cant see there been any legal stance that ms could take against a user for playing the game online unless its a downloaded version of the gam. Then like the Halo 3 beta they'll just ban consoles for having modified firmware and stuff!

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