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[Barnolde]

I really don't think the PS2 was this bad.

I don't think it was either, it was victim of a crummy DVD drive mainly, the 360 is just a hot potato of a system; you never know when you're ****ed. My last one just died randomly. MS wanted dominance and since the PS2 had it last, they wanted to copy them (year head start, no standard HDD, GTA, increased mem card reliance, etc.), except they shouldn't have copied the hardware quality..

Tell him to take a chill pill.

Tell MS to fix their shitty hardware.

 

[pr0cs]

I just can't believe they have not done anything to fix the problems, I am not confident that the most recent hardware revisions (extra cooling) will make any difference.
It's a shame really because their software this gen is simply awesome but every time you power up the unit it's like playing russian roulette. You cover your eyes and hold your breath until you hear the boot up sound.

 

[Pimpbaa]

my 360 since launch has never experienced any problems AND i keep it on the carpet

*knocks on wood*

Why would you do such a stupid thing?

 

[WickedLaharl]

i better have a new heatsink on my newly repaired 360. assholes.

my coffin arrived on thursday or friday while i was out of town and i'm hesitant to send it in because i want that freakin' heatsink

 

[AltogetherAndrews]

Tell him to take a chill pill.

Oh and, doesn't add anything new. Its been this way for quite some time.

Nothing new, perhaps. But more exposure for these issues can't hurt anyone but MS. And MS needs to hurt from this, or else nothing will change. Any real gamer would agree.

 

[Shamrock]

my coffin arrived on thursday or friday while i was out of town and i'm hesitant to send it in because i want that freakin' heatsink

The real question is are you going to have the balls to open the case (voiding the warranty) and see if you got the new heat sink when it returns?

I say Do it!!!!! Don't be scared of voided warranty's. It's only a fear tactic.

 

[tokkun]

dude, XP SUCKED until SP2

until then, there was no reason to switch from '98SE

dude, :lol

Microsoft's hardware support used to be fantastic during those days too. I had optical mice replaced out-of-warranty several times, completely free, and all I had to do was read the serial number off the bottom of the mouse.

 

[JayDubya]

Got my coffin Wednesday, sent it off Thursday, waiting for Refurb #1!

Can't wait for Refurb #2!

And still no Mass Effect, not even a release date. >_<

 

[WickedLaharl]

The real question is are you going to have the balls to open the case (voiding the warranty) and see if you got the new heat sink when it returns?

I say Do it!!!!! Don't be scared of voided warranty's. It's only a fear tactic.

no thanks, i'll just shine a flashlight up into it to see if it's there.

 

[Danielsan]

my coffin arrived on thursday or friday while i was out of town and i'm hesitant to send it in because i want that freakin' heatsink

It's not like overheating is it's only problem. My 360 crapped out last week, not because of the RROD but because the dvd drive decided to kill itself and my brand new disc of Forza 2 all in one blow.

 

[bishoptl]

My launch 360 is still going strong, which is more than I can say for my first PS3.

*knocks on wood*

 

[GhaleonEB]

bu-bu-bu-but I thought Penny-Arcade was in M$'s pocket! I'm confused.

This thread will come in handy the next time they ream Sony/Nintendo and that gets tossed around again. That, and all the Halo strips. :lol

 

[joelseph]

There are more people who don't own 360s and jump on every excuse to blast Microsoft for faulty hardware than there are 360 owners with faulty hardware.

 

[hkhawk]

This issue is extremely important. I have had a 360 since launch and loved it for a year. Now whenever a friend tells me that they are considering a 360 I do whatever I can to make them reconsider. Don't get me wrong, the games are great but I have NEVER bought a product of ANY KIND that was a bigger piece of crap. What I hate even more is when MS execs dismiss the issue and tell us to focus on the customer service experience. The customer service sucks.

In about January my 360 got the red rings just out of warranty and I paid $140 to get it fixed. Then, just after my replacement was out of warranty I got the red rings again. Now MS wants $105 to fix it! They act like they're doing me a favor by knocking 25% off because this is my second repair I've had to pay for. This is just so wrong and I don't know what to do. I have spent many phone conversations pleading my case to MS but they will not budge on the repair fee.

So, I want to know, what can I do to get MS to waive this fee. I do not want to buy a new console and put the old one in the box and return it as I am not a dishonest person. What should I do? Who can I complain to that will listen? Is anyone out there organizing a class action lawsuit or anything? Are there any consumer advocacy groups who might be able to help me out? I would be very grateful if anyone can help me out. I have never felt so used by a company and less appreciated as a customer. MS is a disgrace to the entire video game industry! (And their smug execs who seem to think this not an issue are real scum and can go to hell! - I think their actions have disgusted me more than anything else.)

 

[Fragamemnon]

There are more people who don't own 360s and jump on every excuse to blast Microsoft for faulty hardware than there are 360 owners with faulty hardware.

That's probably because they really want to buy one and play the games, but don't want to have something break on them. Store warranty plans and coffins and return shipping suck compared to something that just works out of the box and you don't have to think about it.

 

[arab]

my 360 since launch has never experienced any problems AND i keep it on the carpet

*knocks on wood*

My launch 360 is still going strong, which is more than I can say for my first PS3.

*knocks on wood*

you and i, we aren't so different, you see.

 

[Barnolde]

That's probably because they really want to buy one and play the games, but don't want to have something break on them. Store warranty plans and coffins and return shipping suck compared to something that just works out of the box and you don't have to think about it.

Exactly. You shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to have a gaming experience, which many people will do and have done, because they just want to game. All this nonsense about xclamp fixes isn't something I'd ever do, because unlike the Xbox, I wouldn't want to void my 360's warranty.

 

[fallout]

I haven't been following the 360 failures too closely, but is the running theory that the multiple failures are due to refurbished ones being used for replacements?

bu-bu-bu-but I thought Penny-Arcade was in M$'s pocket! I'm confused.

****ing Penny Arcade! They're biased against everyone!

 

[hyp]

i can understand being price conscious and whatnot, but knowing all the potential problems that a newly bought 360 unit may have, how come people are so damn retarded not to buy an extended warranty? so you're willing to fork up $60+ for games, but not $40 or whatever it costs to get the extension, when the machine is the ENABLER of the game?

people confuse me. the 360 sure does have problems, i've got a unit being repaired right now, but a lot of you should blame yourself for putting so much trust in MS hardware in the first place.

 

[Shamrock]

My launch 360 is still going strong, which is more than I can say for my first PS3.

*knocks on wood*

I wouldn't leave you 360 in the Hands of Wood. You should get the new InterCooler Deluxe Edition CE

 

[SapientWolf]

my 360 since launch has never experienced any problems AND i keep it on the carpet

*knocks on wood*

Right when you boot up Halo 3. I'm starting a death pool.

I think they are holding out on the price drop until they get this problem fixed. Because, while a hardcore gamer will tolerate a few broken XBoxen the average shopper would just return it and hate the brand forever.

 

[FirstInHell]

I wouldn't leave you 360 in the Hands of Wood. You should get the new InterCooler Deluxe Edition CE

They should have a contest for who can come up with the most ridiculous cooling solution for the 360. The winner should win a free PS3.

 

[∀ Narayan]

I'm not purchasing an Xbox 360, until the hardware issues are addressed. I will even wait Halo 3 out, until Microsoft does something about it.

 

[FirstInHell]

Once again, I feel obligated to mention the conspicuous absence of MS's community representatives.

They have been nowhere to be seen in the past few days as the flurries of bad PR trickle in about their hardware.

 

[KTallguy]

people confuse me. the 360 sure does have problems, i've got a unit being repaired right now, but a lot of you should blame yourself for putting so much trust in MS hardware in the first place.

"Because, ya know, things break."

Do you anticipate everything you buy is going to break? Do you buy extended warranties at Best Buy for everything?

You know that Best Buy's biggest source of profit is service plans? If you want products that don't break, you go buy Consumer Reports and look at reliability statistics. I don't buy extended warrenties, and I've rarely, if ever, had a problem with hardware that I've bought breaking before the original warranty is up.

The fact that people just accept that a service plan is part of the cost of a Xbox 360 baffles me. If I bought a Sony TV and it ****ed up many times, I'd never buy a Sony branded TV again.

Luckily for MS, 360 is a closed platform, so people have no choice once they've bought enough software. I imagine they already realize this, which is why they aren't admitting any fault.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Once again, I feel obligated to mention the conspicuous absence of MS's community representatives.

They have been nowhere to be seen in the past few days as the flurries of bad PR trickle in about their hardware.

Why would they come in this thread just to say no comment and open themselves up to this subject again. Everybody knows that the 90nm version of the 360 is not right. That is already established. This heatsink just reinforces this. Even then, I view the heatsink as something better than what they have done in the past, which is absolutely nothing. They can't get their newer consoles out fast enough for their benefit, but you have people being cheap on manufacturing, shit like this is bound to happen.

 

[calder]

I'm on my first 360, but it's technically the second as I bought it from my brother after he had swapped it for a new one at Wal-Mart or wherever the hell he bought it last year. His first one RROD'd after only a few months, but the replacement has been pretty good.

One shitty thing though, since I don't have the receipt for it (I could get my brother to look for it if I needed it but who knows if he held onto it) and I know he didn't get an extended warranty or anything I'm always worried about it. I actually play my 360 less due to worries about it breaking (almost subconsciously limiting sessions to under 90 minutes) despite the fact I've personally never had a problem with it beyond the terrifyingly loud drive which still freaks me out a bit every time it starts up. By this point I'm convinced BioShock is going to kill my system dead.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

Once again, I feel obligated to mention the conspicuous absence of MS's community representatives.

They have been nowhere to be seen in the past few days as the flurries of bad PR trickle in about their hardware.

Calling off the hounds for a fix announcement (coming soon)?


Believe.

 

[BudokaiMR2]

Great to see that the bullshit from MS is getting more and more bad press.

They really need to own up on all of the points he mentioned, especially the first one.

 

[Son of Godzilla]

Wow, that title is more than a little stretching it. I read that post earlier today and didn't think it was that inflamatory.

 

[Belfast]

All of my next-gen consoles have worked almost perfectly since day one. Though the 360 did give me a little scare once with the red ring of death and whatnot. Luckily, it was just trying to inform me that the A/V cables weren't secure.

Still, this seems to be a widespread problem and needs to be fixed and/or owned up to ASAP.

 

[MutFox]

MS will never own up to this, you guys should know this.
Any transaction (refurb, etc...) they can make puts their gaming division more in the black,
which they can then show their stockholders.

 

[Kabouter]

He sure is right. I'm sick and tired of wondering when (not if) my 360s will fail. Especially the japanese one since I can hardly have it repaired under warranty.

Even worse, the European repair centre is currently having HUGE capacity problems. So your European one is going to take ages to get back. Mine's already been gone for more than three weeks and I'm far from an exception, I know people who have been waiting 5 weeks to get theirs back. Luckily they got some compensation from Microsoft in the form of a game.

 

[WickedLaharl]

Any transaction (refurb, etc...) they can make puts their gaming division more in the black,
which they can then show their stockholders.

WHAT

 

[SapientWolf]

MS will never own up to this, you guys should know this.
Any transaction (refurb, etc...) they can make puts their gaming division more in the black,
which they can then show their stockholders.

Only if it's out of warranty, otherwise they bleed money on shipping and repair costs.

I think we should put pressure on the retailers because they will have the clout to really put the heat on MS. So if you have to return your XBox 360 to Wal-Mart you should take the time to write them a letter about it.

 

[Burai]

i can understand being price conscious and whatnot, but knowing all the potential problems that a newly bought 360 unit may have, how come people are so damn retarded not to buy an extended warranty? so you're willing to fork up $60+ for games, but not $40 or whatever it costs to get the extension, when the machine is the ENABLER of the game?

Most people did buy the extension. But how will that help if it's expired? The warranty extension isn't infinite.

Most machines purchased between Nov '05 and Jun '06 are now no longer covered.

Not, of course, that you should need a warranty. Extended service plans should be peace of mind, not an essential purchase.

 

[Branduil]

Hopefully this snowballs to the point where they have to address it. And by address I mean actually fix it, not send out a PR rep to say "things break lol."

 

[Big-E]

I don't think I will be buying any multi platform games for the 360. I don't want to overuse the hardware when I can play the same game on a different console. To be worried about playing games on a god damn game system is inexcusable.

 

[Speevy]

You might as well play it. Trying to get the system to outlast your warranty seems dumber than trying to baby it.

 

[Big-E]

You might as well play it. Trying to get the system to outlast your warranty seems dumber than trying to baby it.

I just got my 360 so babying it now until the exclusives come out in the fall does not seem like that bad of idea. Once Blue Dragon and Mass Effect hit I will be playing it a lot.

 

[storybook77]

Actually, a lot of people have problems with their Zunes breaking when they charge it. The battery heats up and expands and it causes the screen to crack.

I've left my out in the heat, in my truck, and it still works. (not intentionally, of course) Also, my launch 360 is still running like a champ. *knocks on oak wood*

 

[Forgotten Ancient]

Well, to be fair, their flagship product - Windows has always been known for years to mysteriously crash for absolutely no reason. It's never been addressed or fixed. People have just learned to accept this. Computer froze up...oh well.

(yes I realize this is software, not hardware if you want to be nitpicky)

I have an intellimouse also, however, and it has served me well. I think the blanket statement that all MS products break is going a bit too far.

I'm not exactly super fond of Windows, however: I own 4 PCs that all have XP installed on them. I've only ever had my computers crash a combined < 10 times.

Windows 98 and ME...well, heh...godawful.

2000 and XP have been fantastic. Vista's a bit rough right now, but I suspect it'll turn around and become a great OS too. Hopefully.

But yeah, Tycho's right. I'm on 360 #3 and I'm always very careful and nervous with the thing.

 

[BrodiemanTTR]

One of the main reasons I won't be getting a 360 in the foreseeable future. $400 is expensive enough for a videogame console to me, add in the required $40 warranty and the knowledge that it'll break at least 2 or 3 or 4 times and the 360 proposition reads like the first chapter of "How Not to Sell Me a System".

 

[Diatribe1974]

With how easilly (and cheaply I might add) that normal users found to FIX the 3RoD for the 360's, I can 100% assure you that not only has MS figured out how to fix it as well, but also even more professionally than what you or I could've ever have done. I will only possibly guess as to why they've yet to impliment these fixes on the wait on the .65nm CPU and use that as the excuse for the hardware revisions. Not only will going down in die size help reduce the heat, but the other revisions will fix whatever that didn't cover in and of itself. But till then, to revise the hardware and release it to the public would be MS' silent admission to the problem & open themselves up for potential class action lawsuits. Doing it this way, voids any possible lawsuit against them as they could say that the revision wasn't meant as a "Fix" for any reported problems, just the direct result of a smaller die size for the CPU.

Either way, our 360's get more reliable.

 

[Brashnir]

Explain. The Xbox was rock solid. MS mice and keyboards are beyond excellent. I don't own a zune (who does amirite?) but you certainly don't hear about them breaking. The X360 is an aberration in the normal high build quality of MS hardware. It is the antithesis of their way of thinking.

I own a Zune. I dropped it on the asphalt getting into my car the first day I owned it. It didn't even stop playing the song. It's been knocked off my desk by people twice at work while playing onto a very hard floor and it keeps ticking. The thing is a little tank. The software on the other hand... well, I'm used to it now, and it works, but it doesn't work the way I wish it worked.

Luckily, it's never been dropped in front of my 360, because the 360 would probably die from the sight.

 

[AppleMIX]

My 360 died once and I was expecting it to happen.

As for the other two points, given what the competition is doing for online, shelling out 4 bucks a month is hardly a sacrifice.

The Market place can be pretty ridiculous at some times, buy nobody is forcing you to buy extra content.

 

[Xenon]

My 360 died after a year and a month. First console I have ever had die on me so I might have been due. I'm not counting the PS1 because it worked upside down =)

I'm not sure I buy into the huge percentages that people are trying to push, like 20-30% failure rates. But I do think MS really rushed the system out before they could do all the necessary QA. The noisy DVD Drives alone make me question MS's commitment to make a solid piece of hardware.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Once again, I feel obligated to mention the conspicuous absence of MS's community representatives.

They have been nowhere to be seen in the past few days as the flurries of bad PR trickle in about their hardware.

"guys, this is all anecdotal, and we have seen and heard the numbers and they are within what we think the numbers should be within, there's no cause for alarm, and remember to call 1-800-4-MY-XBOX if you were to ever have an unfortunate incident"

 

[kaching]

Tell him to take a chill pill.

Oh and, doesn't add anything new. Its been this way for quite some time.

Oh, well, since you put it that way.

 

[giga]

A week and some days, my 360 is still alive!

You won't take my 360, you god damn dirty apes! */charlton heston*

You're next.