One of the year’s most anticipated Xbox Live Arcade titles was Minecraft. It went on to set single day sales records, and Microsoft was riding high off its release. One feature predominantly showcased in the games trailer was the four-player local co-op mode. Shortly after the games release, problems began to arise when gamers on standard definition television sets realized that the popular co-op mode was not available to them.

Nowhere on the purchase screen did it state that a high definition television was a requirement to access all of Minecraft’s features. Microsoft acknowledged this mistake and changed it so that purchasers were informed of the high definition television set requirement. Much to their credit, Microsoft didn't just end it there. They also offered purchasers that play on standard definition televisions a full refund! With the error corrected and all effected parties reimbursed, you would think this story has a happy ending, right? No, not really.

The refund process was simple: contact Microsoft and request it. Microsoft just refunded the 1600 Microsoft Points, taking people at their word. You know… the old fashion honor system. Word soon got out that people receiving refunds kept their licenses and were able to still play the game! It did not take long for people who were not affected by the SD/HD snafu to get fraudulent refunds and share how they scammed Microsoft into giving them a refund, and still got to keep the game. 

The internet is now flooded with people boasting about how they got refunds even though they were never actually wronged. One user on a popular gaming message board posted, "Actually, since Microsoft is a greedy corporation, stealing from them is okay." Simply put, if someone is getting a refund for something that they are not entitled to, it is stealing.

Microsoft has a track record of not acknowledging when there is something wrong. In this case they promptly admitted it, corrected it, and issued refunds to affected gamers.  Microsoft may in the future, be less likely to issue refunds in the future if they discover how much they are being taken advantage of fraudulently.

If you purchased they game for the four-player co-op and cannot play it because you have a standard definition television; by all means get your refund. However, if you are purposely requesting a refund that you are not entitled to, then in my opinion you are a piece of crap. Stealing is bad enough, but then to brag about it on the internet is even more disturbing to me. When Microsoft decides to never issue a refund again, we will partially have you to blame for it. It is truly a sad day when someone is willing to give up their integrity for 1600 Microsoft Points.