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Increase In Xbox 360 E74 Problems
Xbm360 writes "According to data collected by Joystiq as well as Google Trends, there's been a steady rise in reports and discussion of the so-called E74 error on Xbox 360 consoles since August of last year. The E74 error is related to video problems caused by either a faulty AV connector or, more often, a loosened ANA/HANA scaling chip. This is not the first time the Xbox 360 has experienced technical issues; in recent years many people have complained about scratched discs and over-heating consoles — the 'red ring of death.'"
They are gradually getting games accustomed to strange errors through the steady introduction of problems. As time goes on, these errors will become so prevalent that they become invisible to the average player.
As unlikely as it seems, this is actually Microsoft's strategy to decrease their own support costs. By reducing the helpdesk manual size to "have you checked that your cables are plugged in correctly?" and "Have you tried rebooting the machine?", they are also reducing the amount of time each support call requires. Reduced call times means fewer support technicians which means more money remains in Microsoft's pockets.
It's sad that they always think of the bottom line rather than their customers.
In October or so of '07, the 360's video died. Thankfully, I had the BB extended warranty and swapped it right out.
Still, it sucks to have to lose everything you downloaded and played through.