While I own all of the major consoles, I’ve been a long time supporter of Microsoft and their Xbox. Since the days of the original Xbox I’ve been slaving away at my job mostly to support my love for video gaming, oh and my family too. But Microsoft has gone from a high quality competitor, to a low life corporate company who could care less about you or any other gamer out there.
From day one I’ve had an Xbox 360, loving every second of my time with my next generation box. About a year after my initial purchase, I started hearing horror stories of Xbox 360s dying for no reason. I thought I had been one of the lucky ones to avoid such tragedy, seeing how all of my friends had already missed a few weeks of gaming due to their system failure. I had managed to get passed the loss, or so I thought. One night after a long day at work, I got home and kicked on the box, only to see that my TV wasn’t picking up a signal. I had green lights, so I imagined that my cable was unplugged or something along those lines. So I shut the system down, checked all the cables and turned it on again, only to see the three red lights appear on the face of my console. My heart sank, and I suddenly realized that there was no one who could escape the Red Ring of Death.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m a huge online gamer. Xbox LIVE is without a doubt the best online service for gaming, and I wasn’t about to go without. So that very night that the feared Red Ring of Death hit my household, I went down to my local GameStop and purchased a brand new Xbox 360 Elite. I had been wanting one of them anyway, and the new found horror at home gave me an excuse that my wife couldn’t argue with.
Fast forward a year and a half..
Last night I was getting into the new Call of Duty World at War maps, and some buddies of mine decided we were going to play the new Nazi Zombie map. We were having a blast, when all of the sudden, the sky turned bright pink. “Holy shit!” I exclaimed, “do you guys see that?” My friends, probably thinking I had one too many beers, asked me, “What are you talking about man?” Me, knowing that I was far from drunk, continued to tell them about the bright pink sky that was showing up on my screen. Everything else was fine, no problems with the characters on screen, the zombies looked just as terrifying as always, just a bright pink sky. Thinking that this must be some sort of glitch that my game happened to encounter, I shut my system down and tried to jump back in. Suddenly, my system lost the will to live. As my TV continued to tell me that it was searching for a signal, I thought to myself, “please don’t be the RRoD again.” If I had only known what would happen next, I would have taken the RRoD with a smile.
After a couple conversations with my friends, I decided to try a new cable. I suppose that the cable could have been the problem, but a buddy of mine had warned that an HDMI cable wouldn’t have picture issues like that. Due to the type of signal it sends, it would either work or not. But I figured it was a good way to cover my bases, just to make sure. After plugging in the new cable and getting the same error on my TV screen, I had no choice but to call 1-800-4MY-Xbox. Upon talking to a tech supporter that I could barely understand, she had me run down a list of possible problems that I could be having. I even had to hook the Xbox up to my computer monitor to see if it would work for her. Once all of the trouble shooting was done, she confirmed that my video card was most likely the cause of my issue.
Though a console should surely last longer than one year, I was told that the video card would not be covered. “I’m sorry sir, the video card is only covered for the initial year,” said the representative of Microsoft. Frustrated with the entire situation, I explained to the woman that it was already my second Xbox 360 that I had purchased in full, and this was the second time that my system had, for no reason, died on me. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she told me, “but the cost of this repair will not be covered under a warranty, and if you would like to have it repaired it will cost you $99.99.”
Seriously Microsoft? Seriously!? I have been a loyal customer of yours since day one! I have purchased over 50 Xbox 360 video games, extra controllers, battery chargers, wireless headset, and so many downloadable games and content. Now after all of my thousands of dollars that I’ve poured into your company, you won’t fix a problem of mine that shouldn’t have happened in the first place? That’s about as low as you can go. This is a major quality problem that can be ignored, and you’re about to lose a customer that would have spent thousands more with you in the future. All because you won’t fix a bunk video card that should have never had a problem to begin with.
I hope everyone out there who is reading this knows that if I were to be forced to choose a side in the console war, even with the loss of my first Xbox 360, before last night, I would have said Microsoft. But after last nights phone conversation with Microsoft’s Tech Support, there’s no way that I can support a company that continues to shell out a product that they themselves won’t back up. So Microsoft, unless you can fix my issue, consider this a goodbye from a long time, faithful customer. Every one else should take notice, if you don’t know already, there is no quality in the Xbox 360’s hardware.
iIm sorry to hear that man. I'm about to go through a similar situation and microsoft difinitely needs to own up to its mistakes. While they are bringing more games and contents every time. They fail to provide the suitable hardware to enjoy it on. Which is the basis of all things gaming. I'm really sorry to hear that man.
I bought a PS3 on day one, and have been a very happy customer since :)
My first PS3 didn't work out of the box, but that's a RARE occurrence from Sony. The second PS3 I got works fine to this day. I like it, but it still can't match the NXE. I'll have to wait for Sony's PSN to grow a little more.
You're having bad luck this gen :P
I do not look forward to the day when my 360 RRoD's.
i know, right?! I'm almost afraid to play mine anymore. It's like every time I turn it on could be the last.
Sounds like you use your console a lot. Think of it like a car. You have driven 200,000 miles. You can't really complain if the transmission dies even if it is within the warranty period.
As an aside, my PS3 died the other day a few months after warranty. I don't have the miles like you, but lets just say I do lots of stunts (trying everything possible with the machine used as a Linux box)
Yeah, I had 4 360s 2 premium and 2 elite, they all broke eventually… so i went to Sony… My launch PS3 works flawlessly.
PSN: necronzero
XBL: necronzero, frenrihr, Thyraei (all dead, sold XBOX, sick of paying for XBL and repairs)
ive had 3 xbox's break myself the last one i would've had to pay the 100 dollars too….. so i switched to sony and boy am i glad ….. the best games are on ps3…. i opened up my 360 and fixed my problem but i cant send that one in now cuz the warranty says the case shouldn't be tampered with so death to the 360 it would have sucked having a 360 this year….. having to wait for 9 months till a ok game come out (odst) lol
This is how technology works. Manufacturer's warranty covers the hardware for an initial period (usually one year). If it breaks after that, you're out of luck. There hasn't exactly been a considerable number of video card failures on Xbox 360 consoles, hence it isn't considered a defective design, and hence, they haven't extended the warranty period for it like they did the RRoD issue.
If the hard drive in your PC gives up the ghost after the warranty period, you wouldn't expect the manufacturer to replace it, and they wouldn't offer to. If you want the manufacturer to replace every issue, then buy the overpriced extended warranties. They exist precisely for whiny people who want every single problem fixed for free by the manufacturer. Microsoft, nor any other tech company, made any guarantee that the hardware would work forever. They guaranteed that it would work for one year, or they would fix it. They extended the guarantee period only in relation to the RRoD issue, not everything else.
In short, stop whining that your hardware needs repairs every so often, and that big bad Microsoft won't pay for every issue your Xbox might have until the end of time.
I'm a very happy PS3 customer from day 1 and a unlucky xbox360 from day 1 customer using my 3rd console which is running on its 3rd year warrenty.
what the hell is this ?
btw does any one know how to open the tray when the cd is in the console by using the controller ?
because i cant
It is pretty much known that Microsoft launched the 360 knowing fully well that it had issues out of paranoia about beating Sony to the market. Because of that and the still ongoing RROD problem including many other breakdowns, I absolutely refuse to buy their console. I do not care about how long of a warranty they give me, it's a shoddily built console and I'm not penny-wise pound foolish to bother with that sort of irritation. I simply can't fathom how some people can go through up to 15 360 consoles breaking down on them… that's simply pathetic.
Yes Adam you're right – but tell me, how much MS paid you ?
I understand that one year warranty it's standard time but MOST of HDD (since you've mentioned it) have warranty's for at least TWO years and most of them broke after 4-5 yrs.
X360 has failure rate above 40% atm and most of the consoles sold are doubled or tripled ones.
One qestion – Valve announced L4D2 – protest. Why u don't protest about MS selling highly brokenable consoles ??
That is a tough thing about electronics manufacturer's warranties. Most electronics warranties are only 90 days. I understand what you are saying, but Microsoft's warranty is one of the best in the business at 1-3 years, depending on problem. I am on my third, but I use Best Buy's replacement warranty, so I have had no worries and no downtime waiting for a refurb to be sent. It made the most sense to me.
I have no use for a PS3, myself. Granted there are some cool games there, but my gaming is all about social and not about single player. Everyone I know and everyone I like to play with online plays on 360. I won't be trading in my friends! I may add a PS3 at some point, but there is no big draw on that system for me. And besides, I have never liked the controller. It feels like cheap plastic in my hand compared to the 360.
ms sucks sony ftw now join me my fellow ps3 fanboys and adam u r a 360 xbot so stfu
pay the $99 to fix it, then sell it and all your games for a load of cash and buy a ps3 and a bunch of new games. problem solved. it will set you back a ways, but at least it wont happen again.
When microsoft where designing the Xbox 360 they origionally didn't include wireless contollers, this is what cause all the problems, they added this large component in when they heard sony had wireless contollers, thus the reason for the bulky power pack, this also cause the requirement to place the harddrive on the side on the console thus causing the overheat problems. I read this somewhere resently just can't find the link….
BTW my launch PS3 broke !! Luckily i had insurance so i was covered, Sony staff where very very helpfull before i turned to my other insurance, they said if i could provide a reciept then they would send me a refurb for free in 3 days!!!
Welcome to the club dude. Its a club that continues to grow as each day passes. This will also be the reason why XBox 720 will fail horribly. Only way I see them being succesful is if they give out a 5 year warranty with their new console. I doubt that will happen and I doubt gamers will be willing to jump in.
Another danger of replacing your console is XBL content. I have two gamertags. Now that I am on my 9th XBox, only one gamertag is able to use everything I have purchased on XBL. While the other tag see’s everything as demo’s or as unpurchased.
So yeah, M$ does not give a F about their users.
cory, you're a sony fanboy. stop pretending you got a 360, as a matter of fact, whats your gamer tag?
Gamertag is CrAppleton
also this guy is a idiot for buying a 360 elite after getting rrod. i guess ms must hav really brainwashed u people with halo and gears
and i got my ps3 2wks after launch 60 gig, and till this day havent had a single problem im currently enjoying infamous and the uncharted 2 beta
Got a ps3 and two xbox360's – took out the continous play insurance on my ps3 which covers everything that goes wrong even if i damage it and my ps3 drive died – phoned them up next day less than 24hrs as well – replacement comes and just swap them over.
PS3 is a much better machine – home is a cool idea and now its getting into its stride with the likes of Heavy Rain and Infamous.
ms is a software company…sony is a hardware company….i hope people understand that.
what ms did was put out a crappy product which th public would basically pay to beta test for the first 2 years as they fixed bugs both hardware and software. just like they do with umm lets think umm windows!!! but is sony any better? i my opinon yes, you may not have the games or the live experience you have soild hardware and a free online service.
This is why all my roommates and I have switched to the PS3. Our 360 would even burn circular scratches in games to the point where certain modes or songs in Rock Band for example were not even playable. Then it RRoD and that was it.. PS3 conversion and I haven't looked back since.
Honestly, if it is after warranty i suggest gutting the thing and looking at it. You will find that you can replace most things yourself with minimal computer or electronic knowledge. While it isn't a 360 or PS3, i have replaced a bunch of things in my Nintendo Wii. Quite literally it is all about diagnosing the problem and replacing the part. Chances are that the particular part is made in bulk and you can buy it cheap and replace it with ease. – Here is an awesome trick for your broken video card. Since you obviously have no intentions of returning the machine you should give this a try. Take out the video card (if possible) roll up a few balls of aluminum foil and place them in your oven (preheat to 385 degrees F) and then your graphics card on top of them, make sure that the card is level and that you remove all of the heatsinks (huge metal pieces designed to disperse heat). Wait five minutes and replace the card in your system (after it cools of course). What this does is it provides just enough heat to re connect the micro connections. We PC gamers have been doing this for a while. In fact, this is why PC's are so superior to consoles, the modular structure. Being able to replace and upgrade whatever you like. Well anyways, if the graphics card wont fix after that or you can't sepparate it from the rest of the hardware you can try sticking that entire chunk of silicon in there.
That Sucks Bro!!! I remember when My XBox did the same thing!! -Psypher
LOL, oddly enough, I had the exact same thing happen to me. Except when my video card died, the tv was receiving a black signal. Once the Support Person had me reset my settings, the TV was showing NO signal. How's that for great customer service.
Here are two pics of my dash before and while the video card was failing:
(Normal) http://twitpic.com/6bjra
(Failing) http://twitpic.com/6tl54
Did you try escalating it to a supervisor? They seem to be a shit ton more helpful. I escalated mine, and in the supervisor's opening spiel, they basically said "this repair will be free." Granted, this was my 6th repair… LOL
Either way, try calling them back and escalating it. If you need any help with it, hit me up on Twitter or XBL, same username as ID.
that good thanks for this story
Most of you guys say PS3 is alot better than an x box 360, but the ps3 will also break sooner or later. Im not sure if i should change to an PS3 after reading this, but i have only had my x box for about a month. If you guys have had a problem with the PS3 then can u send me a message cuz i might wanna change over………
I have also bought a PS3, and have been a very satisfied…