It looks like Microsoft is trying to get out ahead of heat complaints

[Zenien]

It looks like Microsoft is trying to get out ahead of heat complaints on their system, which I think we may take as an admission of guilt. Hardware troubles on the Xbox 360 have ceased to be something one reads about deep in forum threads, buried on page four, beyond the depth that wisdom can penetrate. Certainly, such tales would break the surface and then recede. Anecdotal offerings of a user's "fifth" or "seventh" consecutive failed Xbox always struck me as worse, the implication being that they have no solution, and are waving a censer over it or something and sending it back out. I wondered to what extent these reports were being gamed, their message of widespread failure amplified, but I don't think we need to look for a knife in the dark. I think it really is that bad.

In advance of the most crucial holiday the platform has ever known, the system's hardware quality is becoming a mainstream story. Dean Takahashi probably knows more about the Xbox as a business than anyone outside the company, and he's put up a well trafficked interview about the failures that, in terms of actual information about hardware failures, is like a recipe for potato salad. I saw an episode of Bonus Round over at Gametrailers recently that was hard to watch for a similar reason. Does Microsoft not not give their people any hints before they throw them to the wolves? Or is it pretty much "Hey look, some wolves" before they shove the person out?

You need to have answers for this ****. It's like this: the problems that the platform faces are 1) hardware that isn't dependable, 2) for-pay multiplayer and 3) abuse of Marketplace. Everyone knows this, and if they didn't, it would take five minutes to find it out.

(CW)TB out.

 

[EdRyder]

I'm curious what you mean by "abuse" of Marketplace?

 

[WhatsHisFace]

As long as they're fixing the problem once and for all. I want to trade in my 360 for one that won't become a fire-place down the line, and with all this back-and-forth nonsense over what to do, I just want a change so I can get the worry of this launch 360 off my shoulders.

 

[Wolfwood]

I believe they are talking about developers who try to force you into buying DLC or, in the case of EA, conduct a lot of micro-transactions for things you shouldn't have to buy, like cheats and so on.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

Indeed. A lot of people are backlashing against the "milking" publishers are doing for extra content. Stuff that doesn't make sense, like charging $1 for a picture, is ridiculous.

However, people are paying $1 for a gamerpic, so I guess we just need to assemble a boycott against frivolous purchases. I can understand a few dollars for a Gears of War map-pack or a bunch of new vehicles/weapons/agents for Crackdown... but themes and gamerpics should be free.

 

[Wolfwood]

I agree with you on themes and gamerpics. I bought one, Penny Arcade theme, and since then I've switched over to one of the free ones on my system. It's like having to buy screen savers and desktop images. I refuse to drop another dollar on any theme/picture pack again, total waste.

I've read one of those interviews mentioned in the OP and they do really make Microsoft personnel look either incompetent or careless when it comes to costumer service. Now I know neither of those are true, for the most part, but they don't seem to understand how to represent themselves and discuss issues without alienating the consumers.

Then again, that's true with most companies, they'll throw as much rhetoric and company bylines at you as it takes to make people forget they had any complaints to begin with.

 

[Zenien]

Honestly I would have bought a 360 of my own at this point were it not for the realization that I'd probably have it break on me, have to ship is back and forth or any of that nonesense. I'd bought a PS2 only after the hardware was smoothed out, the amount of time it's taking for the 360 to get reliable hardware on shelves is horrible.

 

[EdRyder]

Honestly I would have bought a 360 of my own at this point were it not for the realization that I'd probably have it break on me, have to ship is back and forth or any of that nonesense. I'd bought a PS2 only after the hardware was smoothed out, the amount of time it's taking for the 360 to get reliable hardware on shelves is horrible.

Street goes both ways tho,Plenty of launch day PS2's are still working strong,same goes for 360's.But I still swear all the horror stories you hear about 360 can be chalked up to misuse.In fact Im going to take the opportunity here and round up some youtube vids for you all...

 

[EdRyder]

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkraMOuidXQ[/YT]

Lets start with this goon here.Not to pick on this moron in particular,If you bother to go through youtube you'll find countless videos like this.People not showing proper care for the console.These idiots actually take the time to add production value and editing to videos featuring red ringed consoles,but cannot take the time to show proper care for their possessions.Note the position of his console,less than half an inch of breathing room in every direction.Now don't get me wrong,I'm not one of these xbox dweebs who trash every other console.The XBox does have flaws,but these flaws can be avoided with proper care.The real truth is:Theres never been a console that you had to treat like that before.But just ask yourself this-Would you put your desktop PC up against the wall blocking the fan?

 

[Jerry!]

Yeah my problem was that I didn't have it in a well enough ventilated area, which was stupid of me. It lasted about 7 months, then it went out for good, shipped it off, got a replacement and haven't had any problems. I think that a certain percentage of 360s just stop working are legit, I just don't think its as much as certain people make it out to be. I mean, the thing is a powerful piece of equipment, if you are going to practically suffocate it, then you better expect problems. I'm willing to bet that a good third or more of the reported failures of 360 consoles are due to the users own doing. I'm willing to bet those same jokers who say they are on their seventh 360 don't make any effort to just move it to an open area.

 

[Zenien]

Street goes both ways tho,Plenty of launch day PS2's are still working strong,same goes for 360's.But I still swear all the horror stories you hear about 360 can be chalked up to misuse.In fact Im going to take the opportunity here and round up some youtube vids for you all...

It's more then just misuses just like it was for the PS2. The 360 has ****ty build quality and the pins pop on the motherboard quite easily. Just like how the PS2 has ****ty build quality back in the day. The difference is the problem isn't going away and the Microsoft response is:

$50 for extended warranties and $120 for out-of-warranty repairs make this a relatively painless thing for them. They had a setback when they were forced to extend the launch warranties for free to avoid a class-action lawsuit, but now that many people's extended warranty periods are over, they are going to be making an absolute killing.

Getting DRE's? Microsoft will replace your $20 DVD drive for $120. Three red lights? Microsoft will re-assemble your 360 in their $6.50 manufacturing process for $120. Broken USB ports? They'll replace those 50 cent ports for $120.

They didn't even use any revised design to prevent the pin popping in the elite it's the exact same failure prone guts of the original. Maybe they think they don't need to do anything about build quality when they have an admittedly good customer service set up for repairing and responding to these things, maybe they enjoy the profits of built in obsolescence or something and that's why a year out they still haven't really address the failure issues that are about more then just heating.

Plenty of launch PS2s aren't working fine anymore just like 360 launch consoles. For a lot of people there is an issue of taking care of your console but if you look the majority of people complaining about their system dying online are the tech savvy bunch who keep things like ventilation in mind.

 

[JackBauer]

seriously, I don't get all the complaints about overheating. I've had my 360 for over a year. not ONCE has it had ANY problems of that sort.

now, I can understand it happening the first time, maybe even the second time. but having it burnout on you for six or seven times, you should probably realise you're doing something wrong there.

 

[StrainedEyes]

I've had my 360 for a year come august. And the only problems it's given me were a few disc read errors on certain games.

My warrenty with EB goes out when the year comes along, and I have been debating whether or not to trade it in for a newer one. Mine's been decently good to me, and I risk getting a faultier one (My friend bought a 360 which wouldn't read any games, then returned it for another one which wouldn't read 360 games)

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I've had my 360 for a year come august. And the only problems it's given me were a few disc read errors on certain games.

My warrenty with EB goes out when the year comes along, and I have been debating whether or not to trade it in for a newer one. Mine's been decently good to me, and I risk getting a faultier one (My friend bought a 360 which wouldn't read any games, then returned it for another one which wouldn't read 360 games)

For 30 bux, you can get a refurb system from eb if you give them your broken system.

 

[Speedball]

I had the red ring of death on monday.
I had turned the thing on earlier that day, then went back later, and there were the lights.
I said" OH S***!" right in front of my mom.

I took it to Best Buy, because I had a two year warranty. The girl told me she had like four of them that day.

 

[Kritish]

Zenein, give it a rest.

 

[Phaser]

I got the three red lights again yesterday when I booted up GRAW 2. It's the third time now. And like before, I just simply turned it off and then back on and it's working fine now.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

I've gotten the three lights before also, but then one day, playing GRAW, it just pooped out. Good thing I got the EB warranty and I can just get another one for free.

 

[Mr. Smash'n Bash]

I've only had the red lights come up because my video cable wasn't plugged in all the way in the back. Going on a year and a half with my 360.