One of the biggest complaints about the Xbox 360 dashboard update was the fact that advertisements now took up a ridiculous amount of screen space. For some gamers, it's gone too far, and a number of ad-blocking methods have been publicized via Reddit for those who don't like to be sold extra crap on top of a service they paid for.
One of the simplest methods is to block the ad server (rad.msn.com) using your router, if the router settings support it. A more complex method uses the free OpenDNS service, and the instructions for use can be found at the bottom of this post.
I've not got a problem with advertising (it's how Destructoid can provide so much free content, after all) but when people have bought an electronic device outright and then pay an extra $60 a year to access its online service, I think it's a bit rich to litter the customer's screen with ads. Excuse me if I don't cry a river for Microsoft in this situation.
- Sign up for a free OpenDNS account.
- Add a network for your current IP address.
- Go to Advanced Settings and next to 'Domain Typos', ensure 'Enable typo correction' is checked.
- Go to Web Content Filtering settings and set the filtering level to 'None', and under 'Manage individual domains', put rad.msn.com and select 'Always block' and then click 'Add domain'.
- On your Xbox, go to System Settings -> Network Settings -> (your connection) -> Configure Network -> DNS settings -> Manual, and enter the OpenDNS IP addresses for the primary and secondary DNS servers: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220.
- Clear your hard drive cache: System Settings -> Storage -> Hard Drive -> press Y -> Clear System Cache
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
Likes
PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
87 comments | showing # 1 to 50
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
9:00 AM on 12.09.2011 | 
Thanks.
You know who else have big gaping open spaces?
MY MOM!
You bastard. I wish I'd thought of that.
Advertising has no place within a paid service. It's one of the reason that going to the movies pisses me off so much now. I LIKE trailers... I don't like watching extended commercials before a movie I just paid good money to see.
Microsoft is already getting my money. I paid for the console, I paid for the game, I paid for XBLA Gold access... and now you're quadruple dipping and getting even more revenue through ads. Despicable.
Subsidize the service through ads entirely OR make it a premium subscription service. Not both. If you're going to do both, let people get a discount if they choose to see ads.
You know who else likes Jim Sterling click-bait?
MY MOM!
(it was worth it.)
I once saw a WoW ad. Why would microsoft try to loose members to that addictive mmo?
Yes just like them, Cable started out commercial free and the weaseled them in over the years ..... now its indistinguishable from free broadcast television.
And DvDs that lock you into watching 5-10min of Coming soon attractions from 5 years ago.....
And with the way things are going this is going to end up just like those, Enjoy :)
If only that law also applied to Xbox LIVE.
It's not like you have to wait 10 seconds and watch a trailer before you play a game or download something, these are the least intrusive ads I've encountered which is why I don't care.
Out of curiousity, where are you from?
I'm not a network engineer, but I think something like that might be worth a quick check with one of your tech guys, as if it is, it'd be worth including so the angry 7 year old Halo fanboy parade doesn't hate you even more.
Also, next time you do one of these kinds of stories, could you put in something Beavis and Butthead related? I like Regular Show, but I wouldn't mind the MTV duo.
Know who else likes MTV?
MY MOM!
(im done now :3)
That's right, you keep championing the good fight of complacency! Why should anyone give a fuck about anything anywhere ever! Yayyy apathy!
Anyone know where the Indie games have disappeared to? I can Bing them fine, so they still exist, but not sure where their primary listing is.
But it seems like xbox's ads are intrusive. I don't know what the hell I'm clicking on.
They need to make the service ad supported and lose the subscription or at least not charge for stuff that's free on the PS3.
Trailers are advertisments. They are created for the sold purpose of getting you to buy or pay for that movie.
There are ads on all kinds of pay services, movies, cable, satellite, at sporting events. It's everywhere and news flash here, you pay for that service too. It's unfortunate, but it's part of life, it's what brings you your entertainment for free or cheaper price.
My only issue would be the size they are on the screen not their presence.
MICROSOFT WHITE KNIGHTING YEAH!
And... just so we are clear on this whole "HURR STEAM DOES ADS DURRRRR" Shit people seem to bring up... YOU DONT PAY FOR STEAM. YOU DONT PAY FOR DESTRUCTOID. The ads are NOT just for games or movies, car commercials, food items, military, etc.
It boils down to the fact that microsoft is taking more money from us, and not putting any of it back into improving the service. Adding Kinect features, or slowly trickling in free applications available everywhere else under the disguise of "value of a gold membership" is not improving, its asinine.
And before anyone else says "You pay for cable, it has ads" No shit, thats why you get yourself a DVR, watch it online, or on demand. With Cable, at least it gives you the option to skip channels, create a lineup, and avoid shit you dont want to see.
"What I find funny is that people complaining about ads will criticize Microsoft about ads but they wont criticize steam for having ads or Destructoid for that matter... I mean come on guys seriously, are you that retarded?"
How much do you pay a year to Steam to view their site? How much to view Destructoid?
Obviously it's you who's a fucking retard.
Ads help keep free sites up and running. People are upset because they already pay for LIVE. They shouldn't be burdened with ads.
Because this is an instance where people know exactly what the long term probable ramifications of this action mean and are poised to actually do something about it.
Instead of sitting back complacently until something finally comes along that has them saying "enough is enough" about 5 years too effing late.
But that would also require most people not to be total stooges ..... so like I said, Enjoy the adverts ^^
Ragnar Dragonfyre
"Advertising has no place within a paid service"
Cable TV, magazines and newspapers unfortunately all do. I think it would be almost impossible to consume mass media if you held your entertainment to that standard. I agree that ideally there shouldn't be ads in addition to these services, but there simply are, and the business models are based on them being there.
I knew the long term ramifications years ago, hence the blog post back then. Bringing it up now is the too late.
When I pay $60 a year for destructoid or to have access to steam .... you will have a point..... of course I can't think of the last non steam related add I have seen in Steam .... So short of advertising HEY THIS GAME IS ON SALE NAO! ..... what advertisements am I missing?
I don't know if that's the case with XBL as well. It may well be. Or not. Simply pointing out the mechanism of advertisement in the case of the analogies people are making.
2) Ask "who gives a fuck?"
3) ????
4) Kill yourself.
I haven't been able to try this out yet and haven't read into it since I don't currently have a functioning Xbox. Is what you've described actually what happens as a result?
Or are you just making an assumption so you have further reason to complain?