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Microsoft Giving Xbox Live Users a Free Game
Earlier this week we covered the Xbox Live outages over the holidays. Several users have pointed out that Microsoft has acknowledged its lack of performance, and is now offering a free game to compensate its users. Unfortunately for Microsoft, disgruntled patrons have already filed a class action lawsuit over the recent difficulties. Quoting the PC World article:
"Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten said that the problems with Xbox Live downtime were caused by an influx of new users who had gotten an Xbox 360 over the holidays. It's been a record-setting season for Xbox Live. 'This included our largest sign-up of new members to Xbox LIVE in our 5 year history and just yesterday you broke the record for the single biggest day of concurrent members ever on the service,' said Whitten."
... until it crashes the Xbox Live servers when everyone tries to download that game ;-)
Apology to Ubuntu forum.
"Could someone explain the logic behind this?"
This is Insightful???
So, you must think that the technical issues with Xbox Live are all part of Microsoft's evil plan? Yes, if you listen carefully in the direction of Redmond, you can hear a faint "Eeeexcellent!"
They are providing an Xbox Live game as compensation because they expect the technical issues to be resolved soon. Is that logical enough for you?
Really, I'm quite sure that those responsible for Xbox Live are working overtime trying to get the issues resolved. Do you REALLY think MS wants bad PR over the online service for their console?? They have taken it in the shorts financially trying to get the Xbox into the console market. Now that they are actually seeing some improvements in market share, they're just going to alienate their new found customers?? It seems that they had a much higher than anticipated growth in the 4th quarter of '07. Maybe someone dropped the ball in being prepared, but they will get the issues resolved as quickly as possible.
Why? Because it is good for business. Xbox Live is a huge selling point for their console.
As a consumer, I would be upset if the service I paid for did not work. In this case, MS is offering a form of compensation. Is this form of compensation adequate for all users? I would say probably not. I'm sure many would prefer a refund. Well, how much is MS required to refund to all users? Do they just give everyone $5 back? In my opinion, extending each users subscription by a month would be a more equitable compensation than an arcade game that many may not even want. Still, I'm not sure MS is legally bound to provide any compensation for these issues, but they have. To file a class-action lawsuit is a bit over the top though, and I doubt it will go anywhere.
On a side note. How are the online services for the other consoles doing????
Because I'm typing this on a legal XP box that has never failed on me in the 3 years I've owned and upgraded it.
Because this is the first time I've ever experienced this on XBLive and I've been playing since Halo 2 was released.
My Xbox red-ringed last year. Without a penny paid they shipped me a box in 2 days, and I had a working Xbox in 5 business days. Did it suck? Yep, but they took care of it as they will (and are) this. If people really needed the entertainment THAT BAD then they should have maybe played a card game with their parents. This lawsuit is dumb.