Xbox 360 Launches In Europe

The Xbox 360 has launched in Europe, to similarly high demand as in the U.S. The BBC has details on the long lines and consumer reaction, and Next Generation has some information from Microsoft on how the launch is going. From the BBC article: "The technology giant has been forced to defend itself against accusations it has failed to provide enough consoles ahead of Christmas. Some 300,000 Xbox 360s are likely to be available for Friday's European launch, though demand is expected to far exceed this."

Comments

CD scratching appears to be the most common defect

[henk54]

Posted Dec 1, 2005 "Several members from GameSHOUT are getting fedup with Xbox 360 defects. According to Microsoft, they will not refund or replace discs that are scratched from the Xbox 360 video game console. However, they will offer "Perfect Dark Zero" for free. One GameSHOUT member, going by the name "Insanity Rulez" stated that the Microsoft Xbox 360 failed to save his "Call of Duty 2" video game. All stats are gone, and he got an error when making any attempts to resume his game mission. He stated, "I took out my game and checked it over and the 360 had totally ruined my game! It looks like someone took a pencil with the eraser side down [covered with sand paper] and touched the disk while spinning it! There is a perfect circle around the center of the disk and it prevents it from working on certain missions." It's not just one Xbox 360 gamer, it's becoming a daily thing now as more GameSHOUT members report their defects. CD scratching appears to be the most common defect." http://www.gameshout.com/news/122005/article1785.h tm

Re:Advertising Taglines

[/ASCII]

I preordered a 360 over a month ago, and was required to pay upon ordering. Turns out that instead of filling the preorders, the reseller instead held an event where they sold 360:s to random people. Don't know when they'll start concentrating on filling orders, but since they already have the money, I'm guessing they're not in a hurry. If you're from Sweden, I suggest you avoid shopping at Webhallen...

Re:CD scratching appears to be the most common def

[Keeper]

The dumbasses changed the orientation of the machine while it was running. The same thing will happen with any 12x dvd drive if you rotate it 90 degrees while the disc is spinnning.

So?

[oGMo]

Most 12x DVD drives aren't in a consumer console that are typically subject to appliance-like treatment, not to mention an appliance that's built to stand either way. I have, for instance, moved my PS2 between upright and flat multiple times during play, and have experienced no such problems. If it's that big a problem, the 360 should detect when it's jarred or moved and immediately spin down the drive.

Re:So?

[Keeper]

A 12x DVD drive spins the disc at 7000rpm. You can't defeat physics; the disc will fight any attempt to rotate while spinning at that speed (recall the high school physics experiement where you try to rotate a spinning bicycle tire). Hardware isn't psychic; by the time it will have detected movement the damage is done.

You're correct, the 360 is built to STAND in either orientation. The unit isn't designed to MOVE while playing a game. It isn't build to withstand some dumbass showing his friends how cool it is that the green light changes its location when he rotates the unit around.

The manual tells you not to it. Common sense tells you not to it. Physics tells you not to it. Don't do it, and you won't fuck up your game disc. Crying about how much of a dumbass you are isn't going to help.

The PS2 doesn't spin the disc very fast. If you change orientation fast enough while the disc is spinning you will scratch the disc in the drive. People have done it, and they have complained about it just like these dumbasses.