360: Regarding Gamertags, Saves & XBL

[xth-o-dth]

I created a profile name before singing-up for XBL, but want to change my profile/Gamertag name. Problem is, I've been reading that once you do so, you no can no longer play from previous game saves.

However, a lot of the answers I'm reading are a bit ambiguous, so I'm not sure what the deal is when everything is still on the same drive and same console.

Everything is/will be on the same hard drive/360.

So...

- Is there a way to even change your profile name and not lose access to playing from your previous saved games?

I've seeing around that people are seeing their old profile name/Gamertag listed on the saves, even if the "owner" of the saves does change to their new name, but have still not been able to play those saved games because "profile a" is connected to the save gamed data.

(Note: I'm not talking about merging two profiles, but what happens when you change your profile name; the original profile name somehow seems to become linked to the saved game data.)

- If I change my Gamertag via XBL, would that somehow prevent the loss of not being able to play from saves that were under a different profile name?

I'm not changing drivers or consoles, and right now on this new 360, the only saved games I have are for Borderlands, but I've put a lot of time into it between my self and my wife, and don't want to have to start all over just due to changing profile name/Gamertag.

Is there a way around this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JohnleMVP]

You should have not game save issues if you change your XBL gamer tag through M$'s system. It cost like $10 in points. Your save games are linked to your XBL profile ID not a display name (gamer tag).

 

[xth-o-dth]

You should have not game save issues if you change your XBL gamer tag through M$'s system. It cost like $10 in points. Your save games are linked to your XBL profile ID not a display name (gamer tag).

This is where I'm getting confused, because if you change your name, it basically acts as starting a new profile which, if you do, prevents you from accessing previous saved games.

I've not seen anyone mention anything about saved games being linked to a separate profile ID, except by referring to the name you use in your profile as the ID.

I understand it costs MS points, but I'll have enough left over from purchasing points for some upcoming DLC that will cover it.

Problem is, both my self and my wife are coming up with the same info: what ever name you used in your profile, even offline, becomes part of saved game data. Therefore, when you change your GT, people have had to start their games all over, because they're not able to access saved games that were saved when you had a different profile name on the console itself.

Is this not correct? Neither of us are finding any info to the contrary, so I'm hesitant.

 

[JohnleMVP]

If you have a Xbox Live account (Gold or Silver), not just an offline account changing your name retains your saves and achievement points.

If you have an offline account you just make a new profile (free) and lose everything.

If you can view your gamer card on the internet its an XBL account. If you can't its just a offline account.

Try putting your gamertag into a gamer card service like this:
http://www.mygamercard.net/

If it can find your gamertag its an XBL account and changing your name cost $10 and you keep everything.

As for the profile ID it is on the system level and not something a user will ever see. Like a unique id in a database.
For example your HardForums username is xth-o-dth, but your user id is 206776.

 

[xth-o-dth]

Thanks for that info, and I understand the ID situation now that you've explained it...

...though I find it an odd situation regarding changing your GT offline vs online, and still finding people stating they're having problems accessing previously saved games.

How does changing it online affect the existing console/console data on HDD that prevents you from not being able to access previously saved games?

Something about that just seems "sneaky" on M$'s end... if there's a way to change your name online through paying that does not prevent you from playing previously saved games, but is not possible offline (which I've had happen to me via mem card/new system purchase).

I've had the 360 since it's launch, but only recently purchased a 2nd one for my wife. We stuck with System Linking to play together, but then decided to join XBL, so we both purchased Gold accounts. So, yes, I have a Gold account.

I understand what you're saying about the ID, but I find it odd that such a change cannot be made offline, but if you pay for it online, then nothing on your hard drive is affected. Moot point right now, since we both have Gold accounts, but that just seems strange to me.

Still though, I'm seeing a plethora off people stating that, even already having a Gold account, after they changed their GT that they could not longer go back and play their saved games, due to their "old profile name being in the saved game data", which they were able to see. So, I don't know what that's about, especially since you seem certain it works fine.

So, it also makes me curious about DLC... some are saying that some DLC can only be played when connected to XBL if you either change your GT and/or switch your hard drive to a new 360 (say, if your current one dies) even if it's been dl'd to the drive already.

Is that also untrue? On either count?

If it is, does that mean that when/if your XBL subscription runs out, that you'd no longer be able to play the DLC that you dl'd?

Apologies for all the questions, but understanding all the little "sneaky methods" M$ has apparently employed with XBL are things I'm not familiar with, coming from strictly online gaming on PC. My consoles have always been offline gaming.

 

[JohnleMVP]

I think a lot of the confusion is due to the fact that you can create an offline account and have whatever name you want. A lot of people do this when they first get an X360. What they should do is create and XBL silver account (free) which can be upgraded to gold at anytime.

Then at some point they decide they want XBL and end up having to create a new XBL account instead of being able to upgrade the offline account (I don't believe you can?). If you do this your game saves are still linked to the old offline account and cannot be used. I also don't believe you can change the name of an offline account, you just make a new one.

As for DLC it is tied to your XBL account and your console ID. It doesn't matter if you no longer have XBL Gold, your account becomes a Silver account. A Silver account just can't play online and get some time exclusive content. If you move your HD to another XBOX temporarily you have to be signed in to XBL to use the content (Internet connection). If your console dies or you get a new console you can transfer all licensed content from 1 console id to another online at xbox.com. You can do this once a year or if you send your console in for service. All users can use the DLC as long as the DLC is tied to the console id of the console they are using. For example if you bought the DLC on console X anyone who uses console X can use the DLC (even offline).

The system really isn't designed to screw you behind the scenes.

 

[xth-o-dth]

Ah, very helpful info (and insight) and I thank you much.

So, all should be good with changing my GT via M$ without messing with saved game data then, because I'm not working from an old offline account, but just changing the name of a new online account that I have now.

If it was a different strictly offline account, then that's where I would run into problems.

I'm following you correctly?

Makes sense to me now, as long as I'm following you correctly. I suppose that's why it seemed almost "sneaky" to me, since M$ never gives a warning/info about this when you buy a 360, so you don't ever find out until/unless you decide to join XBL. But, I suppose it's not so much "sneaky", as perhaps "lazy"... just would be a nice thing to let people know ahead of time.

Well, I should be OK then, I think... started playing borderlands offline, but created an online account (brand new) that I've been using for about two weeks, and just want to change the name.

Unless there's any problems with the fact that I started playing/saving the game before I went with XBL? Or does it work out in the end, since I started the account, and continued to play since then?

I did also read that your profile info (contact info etc.) all can stay the same w/o being changed... is that correct?

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[JohnleMVP]

If you can currently use the game saves with your XBL account, you will still be able to after your change that account's name.


Oh and for offline only you can actually change your name anytime you want and its free.