Microsoft Knew About Xbox 360 Damaging Discs

Kelly writes "An unsealed document in a Washington lawsuit filed last week at Seattle, Microsoft was well aware that the Xbox 360 was prone to damaging game discs even before the console was introduced in November 2005. Microsoft had three solutions for solving the issue, but all three solutions were rejected due to technical concerns or on the basis of cost. Microsoft settled on a cost-free fourth solution: a warning was added to Xbox 360 manual, which essentially placed the blame on users instead of the hardware." The scratching-disks problem was mentioned a few years back, too. I wonder whether more people would prefer a slight discount on the price of a console to the ability to reorient it while a disk was playing inside.

Comments

Wii got it right

[AKAImBatman]

Generally I'm not a fan of slot-loading CD drives, but I think Nintendo got it right in this case. The slot-loader is gentle on the disc, works in multiple orientations, and is easy for even kids to use without damaging the system. IMHO, the 360 would have done well to also design around a slot-loader, especially given their desire to place the system in a vertical configuration. The Wii is a very inexpensive system, so I don't see such a solution adding much cost.

(Then again, what do I know? Microsoft did try to cut corners wherever possible to create the system as cheap as possible.)

Of course, Sony managed to get a tray system working without scratching disks. And the system can be placed in a vertical configuration. (Does anyone actually do that?) I can only guess that Sony's solution was one of the "more expensive" ideas that Microsoft rejected.

Isn't this usually a concern

[gEvil (beta)]

TFA says discs can get damaged when moving the console around/reorienting it (point it eastwards?!?) while there's a disc inside. Now, I tend to take the discs out before I move my equipment around, so I may be wrong. But isn't this usually a concern with ANY device with an optical drive? Or is it far worse with the 360 thanks to their superior engineering?

Re:Wow, a complete business plan.

[xpuppykickerx]

Step 5: Rip off Best Buy/Walmart/etc by saying you just got the game as a gift and it won't read. They replace the bad disc with a brand new one. Works 99% of the time.

Re:Oh Noes!

[Volante3192]

During a 5.0 in So. Cal, yeah, scratched game discs are usually a high priority. Right after fallen collectable plates and scared pets.

Why? Cause nothing is going to happen. A 5.0 will move stuff that's not nailed down, but safe odds that nothing load bearing is going to collapse.

So, frankly, this is MS dropping the ball. I'm not suggesting we're throwing around an xBox while playing it, but to expect a console to stay bolted down at all times is not a valid argument.

Re:Easy Fix

[marcop]

There is an even easier fix... MS should just install foam pads. See here:

http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEyyyZFZAuDOQEAioX.php

There is also do-it-yourself guides on xbox-scene, but it involves voiding the warranty by opening the box.

Suprised?

[BitZtream]

Let me start off by saying I own a 360 and have scracted a disk doing exactly what you are warned not to do. If the copyright police weren't such bastards I probably would have had a playable backup so it wouldn't have been a big deal, but thanks to all the DRM it wasted one of my games. That was shortly before christmas, and that year no 360 games were purchased in my household due to the state of anger I was holding towards Microsoft.

The point to this post however is ...

In all the years of running Windows and dealing with the stupid little bugs that bring the system to its knees due to cutting corners in the development process, are we not stupid ourselves for being suprised by these facts now that they've come out? I'm upset with myself for thinking for even a second that the 360 would be any different than Windows. I guess the MS mice I have used made me think maybe their hardware was different. Obviously I was wrong.

Re:In reality, people move things

[devjj]

If anyone needs evidence of the inherent crap that is the Xbox 360 DVD drive, do a little Googling and read up on the sheer number of different models they've been through. Almost every minor revision of the console has brought in a modified DVD drive (usually discernible by the design of the tray).

Re:Oh Noes!

[Galactic Dominator]

I don't move mine and my discs are scratched. Assassins Creed is unplayable, Others lock up more frequently on scratched discs. Basically the only time my 360 has moved is when it was sent in for service three separate times(meaning I'm on my 4th console). After all the documented problems with the 360 units, why are you still willing to give it the benefit of the doubt?

My ps3 discs are virtually flawless and it receives nearly as much use as the 360. Perhaps even more since I watch all my DVD's/videos on the ps3 due it upscaling better since I have an HDMI for it.

All that being said, I think 360's are better for gaming and the ps3 is better all around unit, but the recent 360 updates narrowed the gap.

Re:Oh Noes!

[theaveng]

>>>I don't move mine and my discs are scratched.

There you go. That's an engineering flaw not user mistake, and just as the U.S. CPA forced Toyota to replace engines (or get sued), they should force Microsoft to admit there's a problem and replace Xbox 360s with better drive units.