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What Programs Do I Need to Mod My Gamertag?

Form many Xbox 360 users, a gamer tag is more important than a real name. The tag carries with it a player's history, accomplishments and reputation in the online community. Sadly, many people do not make this realization until long after they have created their accounts. Microsoft does not consider the ability to modify gamertags as a priority. Because of this oversight, many people who use Xbox Live services modify their online profile names using various applications.

Gamertag Modding
- One need only look as far as an online session of "Call of Duty" or "Battlefield" to realize that a high percentage of players modify their gamertags. The modified tags include colors and symbols not found in the standard character set and stand out like a beacon next to standard tags. These customized labels provide an opportunity for personal expression, as well as bragging rights over those who don't use them. These tags don't come easy. You will need several pieces of software to modify your online name.
Extracting Gamertag Information
- The gamertag assigned to your Xbox 360 is stored in a file in the Profile sub-directory of the HDD directory. To modify it, you will need to move it to your PC via a memory stick. However, the file is in a format that your PC cannot understand. You can use USB XPlorer to load your gamer profile and convert it into a PC-compatible file that you can edit. Once you have modified the tag information in those files, you can use USB XPlorer to inject them back onto your USB stick in a format your X-Box will recognize.
Editing the Gamertag
- EZGt is a must-have program for gamertag editing. EZGt is a PC-based program that provides a simple graphic user interface to edit your tag. It adds one-click capability to add custom characters (such as the game controller-specific characters "LT", "RT", "A" and "B") within your gamertag line as if they were standard text. EZGt also lets you use colors and create up to 16 distinct tags. Like Modio (a general purpose modding tool for save files of all kinds which used to be a must), EZGt now has the capability to rehash and resign the files. Aversion Media's Profile Editor accomplishes the same task, but at a greater cost.
Limitations
- Some game companies are limiting the use of modified gamertags in their online gaming arenas. This has come about because the same tools used to create these tags (such as modio) can also be utilized to access premium content without paying for it. If you find yourself in one of those online games, you will likely be banned until you disable the gamertag. While the tags will still function in offline play, you will be denied the ability to show off your creation. While software updates to the modding tools can circumvent these bans, the process tends to be a back and forth affair, which ultimately means that in some games, a custom tag is a short-term perk.

Xbox 360