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MS Responds To 360 Glitches
Chris_Yates writes "Microsoft has responded to the complaints of angry gamers popping up on the internet. As expected, they claim it is a very small percentage of Xbox 360 owners that are experiencing a problem. The main question remains, though, what kind of support will those unfortunate few receive? Molly O'Donnell says, 'It's unfortunate and it's important that we get working consoles for those few people who are having problems. We want to get them playing and happy and buying games!' An ABC article states: 'They'll be playing again in three to five days...'"
Let me get this straight. People paid like 300 bucks for a 360, and they don't even work right sometimes? Its seems like they were just trying to be the first next generation console out even if it was unfinished.
This is exactly the same type of thing that happened after both the PSP launch and in particular the iPod Nano launch with the faulty screens/susceptible to scratching fiasco. A few months on and it's still a more desirable item than ever.
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever.
- George Orwell
There was a fellow on the XBox360 forums who posted this link to a Gamespot forum post about a guy fixing his problems by getting his powersupply brick off the ground. Could this problem be due to poor cooling of that brick?
Most people probably heeded Microsoft's advice after people scoffed at the size of the thing - put it back behind your sofa or TV. But it could be that the lack of proper ventilation is causing this problem, which doesn't seem to be as "isolated" as Microsoft is saying. From what I've been reading on various forums around the net it's a higher percentage than one would expect.
"I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
-Hoban Washburn
The main question remains, though, what kind of support will those unfortunate few receive? Molly O'Donnell says, 'It's unfortunate and it's important that we get working consoles for those few people who are having problems. We want to get them playing and happy and buying games!'
Actually no, the main question does not remain. It gets a straight answer: Those few who have problems with their Xbox will get a new one. It's pretty simple really.
Why is FUD like this allowed to get through?
If 250,000 work and 5,000 don't, the console is obviously finished. Build quality might be questioned, just like the PSP recently but certainly the console works.
And let's not feel pitty for paying 300 bucks for a console that broke in 24 hours. Return it for a refund.
Whatever the problem is you can be sure that microsoft is going to make it right for those who have expierienced a defect. Dont forget, they lose money on every xbox. They want you to buy the games, and they want you to get your friends to buy xboxes. Allowing defective units to remain in the world is not something microsoft will do. They will either offer a software patch (if it's a software glitch), a replacement part via mailin (if it's the brick) or they will just replace the unit. At the very least i'm sure they're all under warrenty.
Microsoft's objective with this console is to snatch up as much market share as possible from its rivals (one of the reasons it will be priced lower in japan). The console market is like the car market. Getting market share is the most important aspect of the business, and it's also one of the hardest. Sony hasent made it easy for microsoft either, but with the second gen consoles (now that people know the xbox 1 wasnt a flop, like so many other "recent" consoles have been) Microsoft has a real opportunity to sieze an even larger share and you can bet your breakfast that they're doing their best to take advantage of it.
I'm a leaf ON the wind. Watch HOW I soar.
Clearly, Microsoft expected a lot of problems - this is why they so severely restricted supply. The beta test will last a few weeks, then the supply will be cranked up when the 360 goes RTM.
There seems to be varying power supplies, and you can even tell the difference from slight alterations of shape and color. It is shaping up that the 'bad' Xbox units seem to (at least partially) be because of bad PSUs. I know I've had flakey PCs because of rickety PSUs.
There was a posting on xbox-scene from a group who managed to get two of the pre-ordered Xbox units. Getting back home, they hooked up all the cables and power and viola -- bad Xbox 360. So they opened the other box, leaving all the existing plugs and wires into the TV and all in place, put the new XBox unit on the existing wires and viola -- bad Xbox 360. (They admit they were freaked that they may have had *two* broken Xbox 360s out of the gate.) The 'other' PSU made the Xbox work fine, even when tested on both console units. They mention there are slight variations in the two PSU designed.
So, it really appears that one of Microsofts PSU suppliers screwed up. With multiple PSU suppliers, It would also help explain why some people complain their XBox 360 is "loud" or has a lot of "fan noise" and others claim it is pretty quiet. This may not explain away every Xbox360 problem, but it sure seems reasonable.
{ - Generic Guy - }
"It's what you would expect with a consumer electronics instrument of this complexity .... Par for the course."
Can you imagine Panasonic or Toshiba using that excuse regarding a stereo? No. These are consumer-grade electronics, which should Just Work. Bugginess is par for the course in computers because Microsoft has convinced people of that; they are apparently trying to do the same with consumer electronics. If someone's stereo kept rebooting/hanging in the first 2 days that they got it, and they heard about other people having the same problem, widespread or not, they would go get a different brand.
Can't help but laugh at the people who stood in line, paid 3-5 times the retail price on ebay or otherwise made a joke out of themselves to be the first on the block to own the overhyped playstation copy - only to be told that "They'll be playing again in three to five days..." - probably after some of their friends who were a little more sane.
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
Anyone else find it a bit suspicious that MS released a statement so soon after launch? I mean, if it really is such a small percentage, as they claim, I wouldn't think they'd need to be releasing a statement about it the day after launch. A week, sure, but the next day? Looking around at a few forums with polls up, it seems that the defect rate is around the 15% mark.
Be a real patriot: Question authority. Think for yourself. Formulate your own conclusions.
"MS Responds To 360 Glitches" :)
only 360? IE must have at least a few hundred...and let's not forget windows 98...
360 is only the tip of the iceberg.
How have you waited 6 days when it was only release 3 days ago?
"We want to get them playing and happy and buying games!"
;)
Well, they've got their priorities straight. At least they're honest
"When the atomic bomb goes off there's devastation...but when the atomic bong goes off there's celebraaaaation!"
Yeah, I think that most if not all the 360s work, and the only problem that so many people had problems with their xboxes was because of a bad/faulty PSU.
I also don't think that this is MSFT's problem... (there goes my karma)
Imagine an assembly line, where people test the xboxes. Every station has a tv controller power supply, and when a xbox comes to the tester, he/she plugs it in and makes sure it works then puts it back in the assembly line and the xbox gets boxed. In the box, there is a defective power supply... There is absolutely no way that microsoft could test the PSU chealy, because the testers would have to have the box with the xbox, plug in the psu, plug xbox in and then test it. That's why they probably have PSU's dedicated to testing. I think the problems that the people have are related solely to the PSUs and nothing else.
It seems like certain people (you) can turn anything, even a fast response to a small number of customers who are having a problem, against a company if they want. If Microsoft hadn't issued a response, you would have been complaining about how they are ignoring their customers. With someone like you, Microsoft is "Damned if they do, damned if they don't."
Don't you realize the blinders you have put on your own thoughts?
Very similar experiece actually, recently I saw a job advertisement that wanted 5+ years experience with Windows 2003...
Curiosity was framed; ignorance killed the cat. -- Author unknown
Never, ever buy something that's just out. You'll be the guinea pig for the company in question to find out about the children's illnesses of the product.
-- Cheers!
Let's just sum up these 'glitches'
1) The well known overheating problems
2) Other system crashes that have nothing to do with heat
3) Huge numbers of dead out of the box 360 units
4) Backwards compatibility looks like it is completely worthless - has anyone been able to play any Xbox games without crashing? And not only do Xbox games crash many of them have huge framerate problems or other gameplay issues that make them unplayable.
5) New 360 games crashes. PGR3 seems to be the worst with large numbers of people not even able to play the game for more than a short while before the game crashes.
So right now if you are lucky enough to have a 360 that actually turns on you will be able to use your new machine for a short while before you have to start fiddling around with the unit's positioning to make sure that the thing is getting as much ventilation as possible. And then if you get that far you will be waiting around for patches for the games you bought and the Xbox games that don't work.
WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON UP THERE IN REDMOND???
This was supposed to be the console where Microsoft "got it right". Instead they have managed to create the biggest console launch disaster ever.
The PS3 and Revolution will be out by the time Microsoft is able to fix all of the 'glitches' in the 360!
I just read the ABC news article, did anyone else notice the typo under the picture?
Yes, there's also a misspelled "complaining" but seriously... They're angry because their unit does work. I found that so fitting for some, unknown reason.
Want to find other gamers to play board and role playing game
This may not be the best place to ask this, but I can't resist. Is it true that people with the core system will be unable to save in their games unless they buy an additional memory card?
They make a console nice and big with a good fan and well-thought out air-flow, and they get the assholes from Penny Arcade comparing them to space stations.
They cram it all together into a tight goofy-ass sideways case like the PS2, and from the reports we're seeing, users are wrapping them in blankets and storing them on top of burning cans of Sterno, and pissing and moaning about the resulting heat problems.
Let's just criticize it for the REAL reason we don't like it:
"It's not a Sony, and we're all Playstation fanboys."
If this is such a small percentage of consoles experiencing these problems. Why is there an ad taken out by Wal-Mart in my local paper requesting that people not play certain games on the demo units because it causes them to lock up? I am not joking this actually has happened. Everytime I've been to either of the Wal-Marts here the XBox360 displays have been locked up or crashed. What amazes me is people saw this and still bought the things and now act surprised that they are buggy as all hell.
Well, that's because a year with Win2k3 seems like 2.5 years normal time ;)
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever.
- George Orwell
Oh, but you've never heard of Microsoft's history. That's understandable; it is a secret after all.
Even the new version, assuming it doesn't have an igniting power supply like earlier versions, is expected to cost 40% more than its retail price. The total cost to manufacture and test a premium Xbox 360 is $552.27 compared with its retail price of $399. So MS is losing money on each one, unlike the market leaders the Playstation or the GameCube.
Beta is broken and the link to classic doesn't work. Stop wasting our time or there won't be anybody left here.
CTRL + ALT + DELETE
I agree with other posters... Xbox360 errors are indeed caused bye bad Design...
Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
I got the Core System.
Oh you mean RC1?
OSGGFG - Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games
Exactly what small percentage, number wise reported issues, vs. the total number of worldwide sales? Is this ratio 3000:1, 300:1, 30:1?
Could this issue be the real reason M$ held off on suppling more units, or was it truely some PR stunt?
Curious gamer.
I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
the main problem is the wireless part of the unit, wal mart had a multi million dollar contract with an outside vendor to disable the wireless on the unit because it was locking up the telxons the store used for inventory...
Here's one thing I find very interesting, people who've bought the 360 like myself have found that alot of times shit happens. I mean seriously dont you think that if every piece of electronic equipment were flawless, everyone who were technicians would be outta a job. All be granted that yes not many consoles have had issues, but MS is going to fix the problem. If something were to go wrong with my machine(knock on wood), I'd be pissed off too. Here's some food for thought, what if when the PS3 and the Revolultion comes out that there fan craps out or starts to smoke? Well goddamn choas ensues and anarchy in the streets, but seriously when you take a multi billion dollar company like MS with Billy gates at the helm Im sure he isnt liking the fact there are alot of unhappy campers with bad machines. Im sure in a month or two this will all blow over and we're all going to find something else to find faulty with the next console. Till then lets all join hands and sing cumbia.
This piece of equipment is for all intensive purposes a high power computer and should be treated as such. How many people take a 2000 dollar or even 400 dollar computer and stuff it in a cabinet with virtually no ability to cool itself and expect it to last? Computer desks are designed with open air in mind for the computer to cool itself for a reason. Same thing could be said about a high power AMP or reciever. There is no way I'd leave my 1000 watt system blasting away inside a closed cabinet unless I wanted to burnout the amp like a friend of mine did. These are simple basic things. If you buy high level electronics expect to cool it as such also the instructions even state this. I followed them along with my friends and none of us have had a single problem.
I'm willing to bet that even the PS3 will have the same issues.
Microsoft has only responded to 360 of the 1 million glitches in Windows? They've sure got their work cut out for themselves. Good thing they bought themselves some time with those quality XBox 360's.