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Cole Stryker asked a question in Microsoft Corporation on December 12, 2007 16:44:
Xbox 360 Failure Rate: Will My Christmas Present be a Dud?Here's my nightmare scenario: I convince my mom to fork over a big chunk of her paycheck on the shiny new Xbox 360 I want. Christmas morning, I unwrap it, set it up and bask in the glow of HD video, savoring that "new console box smell". A few hours into my first game I feel a crazy amount of heat radiating from the machine. It gets warmer and warmer until the green circle on the front of the console fades into the sickening red of hardware failure. Instead of a game box I now have a worthless brick.
Am I paranoid, or should I really be worried about this scenario I've heard so much about?
Here are the results of my research.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 has weathered an incessant battery of bad PR due to its high failure rate. Their initial policy was to ignore the problem (always a bad move!). Gizmodo reports that retailers estimate Xbox 360 failure rates could be as high as thirty percent. Private surveys from game fansites find even higher failure rates climbing as high as sixty percent! As customer dissatisfaction reached embarrassing levels, Microsoft finally admitted in July that there was indeed a widespread problem with their machine.
Here's the short-list of the major problems that can kill your machine:
- Red Ring of Death
- Game discs that get scratched by the console
- Overheating consoles
- Update incompatibility
- 3D glitching
But nothing captures the scale of the problem like reading about the personal horror stories out there. For instance:
- One Xbox devotee went through a whopping seven consoles before finally giving up.
- A single UK repair center has been flooded with thousands of faulty Xbox 360's every day.
- This guy had to deal with dozens of unhelpful outsourced tech support reps.
- This poor game journalist waited six weeks for his refurbbed Xbox.
- One poor sap's Xbox actually exploded, and this was one of eleven that he burned through. Eleven!
A condolences card for someone who lost their XBox to the Ring of Death
Gamestop has now stopped offering extended warrantees on all Xbox 360 consoles. This is a telling sign. After all, if a game retail giant doesn't trust the Xbox's quality, why should I? This vote of no-confidence alone is enough to scare me away.
But wait, Microsoft is no stranger to poor product performance (Blue Screen of Death anyone?) and has extended the Xbox 360's warranty to a full 3 years. Microsoft has also beefed up its service policy. If you experience problems with your Xbox, you will most likely get it repaired or replaced within a short period of time. Then again, you'll probably get a refurbbed unit that is almost as likely to conk out.
Microsoft still refuses to inform the public as to the root causes of these varying malfunctions. In mass failures like these, honesty is always the best policy. Consumers are right to be wary of such high failure rates, especially when their causes remain shrouded in speculation. What's the deal, Microsoft? When rumors are flying around that more than half of Xbox's are bricks, don't you think that's a good time for full disclosure?
Contrast this behavior with Nintendo's handling of the Wii Remote strap issue. They immediately warned consumers of the flaw and subsequently changed production to provide for thicker straps and sent out free new and improved straps to all users. If that weren't enough, they released a slip cover to provide better "grip and cushioning". That's customer service. Nintendo didn't have to wait for lawsuits or even grumbling in the blogosphere. "We screwed up, here's what went wrong, and here's how we're going to fix it."
Microsoft is now manufacturing all Xbox 360s with an updated "Falcon" chip. Yet, even these new and improved models are suffering from a similar ring of death, this time with Christmas cheer. Just in time for the holidays! A buddy of mine told me recently that every single Xbox 360 owner he knew had experienced technical problems of some sort with his/her console. "The red ring of death is the Xbox's puberty," he said. "They all have to go through it."
Such high failure rates, coupled with Microsoft's consistent inability to address the issue head-on make them the Firestone of videogames. Those who would prefer to avoid the hassle are better off waiting until Microsoft releases an updated version of the hardware (that actually fixes the problem) or simply buy a Wii instead.
PS: In the middle of writing this post, my friend told me that his Xbox had bitten the dust. He was almost in tears.-
Cole Stryker replied on December 09, 2007 11:55 to the question "Will the Gamecube's Wavebird controllers work with Wii?" in Nintendo:
I agree with Jason. Nintendo doesn't allow you to map specific button functions, leaving you with an often awkward control scheme. This is probably Nintendo's way of forcing us to shell out $20 to buy their Classic Controller.
It's probably worth giving each game a try with the GameCube controller first. -
Cole Stryker replied on December 06, 2007 11:27 to the idea "How to get your hands on a Wii before Christmas" in Nintendo:
I got my Wii back in March. My fiance called her local Gamestop every morning from last November-March.
What a dame. -
Cole Stryker replied on December 06, 2007 11:18 to the discussion "The Wii background music is so soothing..." in Nintendo:
It reminds me of Brian Eno's '70s ambient work.
I think that this is the music that babies hear in the womb. -
Cole Stryker replied on December 06, 2007 11:16 to the question "Will the Gamecube's Wavebird controllers work with Wii?" in Nintendo:
The Wavebird does work on the Wii. It uses the same ports. -
Cole Stryker replied on December 06, 2007 11:12 to the discussion "Husband finds evidence wife cheating via Wii, deems her "Wiitarded"." in Nintendo:
She should have at least written him a "Dear John" letter via Wii.
A professional bowler playing Wii Bowling? This is too much. -
Cole Stryker replied on December 06, 2007 11:08 to the discussion "The Wii kills again!" in Nintendo:
Do girls have pii-pii's? -
Cole Stryker replied on December 06, 2007 11:07 to the problem "The questions that make their way on "Everybody Votes" totally suck!" in Nintendo:
I'm surprised they haven't started using this for market research (eg "Which game would you rather see on the Virtual Console")
So far, these questions do not appeal to my inner fanboy and I ignore them thusly. -
Cole Stryker replied on December 06, 2007 10:18 to the question "What can I use those USB ports in the back of my Wii for?" in Nintendo:
You're a brave man. -
Cole Stryker replied on December 06, 2007 10:18 to the question "What are the best games to buy for Virtual Console?" in Nintendo:
Generally, NES games are playable with the Wii Remote. Some Super Nintendo games are playable with the Remote, but you're better off with a Classic Controller or Gamecube Controller. Same with N64 games.
To find out for sure, just look the game up within the Shop Channel. The description for each game includes information about which controller you'll need. -
Cole Stryker started following the discussion "Husband finds evidence wife cheating via Wii, deems her "Wiitarded"." in Nintendo.
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Cole Stryker started following the question "Will the Gamecube's Wavebird controllers work with Wii?" in Nintendo.
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Cole Stryker started following the discussion "The Wii kills again!" in Nintendo.
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Cole Stryker started following the discussion "The Wii background music is so soothing..." in Nintendo.
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Cole Stryker started a conversation in Nintendo on December 04, 2007 23:35:
Top 10 Wii Games I Want for ChristmasWhen I was a kid, I always looked for that familiar rectangular package underneath the tree. I was lucky to get one video game each year, so I had to make it count. Today, I can afford a few more. My wife said that I've been good this year, so I made her this Christmas list:
1. Super Mario Galaxy
It is a Mario game. This means that Shigeru Miyamoto has lovingly crafted it from the far reaches of his imagination and brought it to life like a modern-day Geppetto. All the video game sites are treating this game like the second coming, so I don't think it's going to disappoint.
Why she'll buy it for me: Co-op play! You collect stars while I do everything else, OK honey? (More likely it will be the other way around!)
Metacritic rating: 97 out of 100
2. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
This one's a little old, but it's still the best shooter available for the Wii. This is the game that we all imagined when Nintendo first announced the Wii Remote. The ability to bust caps a la Duck Hunt in grotesque environments that would make H.R. Geiger blush should make for some creepy fun.
Why she'll buy it for me: The hero is a chick. Girl power and all that.
Metacritic rating: 90 out of 100
3. Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure
The underdog of the lot, Zack & Wiki is an oddball puzzle/adventure hybrid that came out of nowhere, but quickly won accolades for its clever design. I miss classic Lucasarts-style point-and-click adventure games (before they devoted themselves entirely to milking the Star Wars franchise) like the Secret of Monkey Island and Full Throttle, so this is manna from heaven. We need more games that aren't afraid to be quirky. Don't we have enough gun toting heroes with 'roid rage and femme RPG stars with daddy issues?
Why she'll buy it for me: It's a puzzle game. Do you know what the most popular game among women is? Hint: It's not the Sims.
Metacritic rating: 87 out of 100
4. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Wii owners finally get the chance to shred with Slash, Gene, Alice and more on the third installment of the Guitar Hero series. I don't have to worry about shelling out for a second wireless guitar controller—I'll can rock out with anyone in the world using Nintendo's WiFi network. Best of all, the developers have decided to include a few indie rockers like Weezer's "My Name is Jonas", Sonic Youth's "Kool Thing", and the Stone Roses' "She Bangs the Drums." Thanks, Neversoft, for remembering the sensitive hipster demographic. We aren't all heshers.
Why she'll buy it for me: She's always wanted to marry a bass player.
Metacritic rating: 85 out of 100
5. MLB Power Pros
This cartoonish take on America's pastime surprised critics with its complexity lying underneath the cutesy style. Although it lacks real-world players and statistics, that doesn't keep MLB Power Pros from being this year's best baseball game. I'm hungry for more peanuts and crackerjack after last year's Wii Sports, and I've heard that MLB Power Pros will satisfy.
Why she'll buy it for me: It's adorable.
Metacritic rating: 83 out of 100
6. Geometry Wars: Galaxies
Like Asteroids<font> on steroids, Geometry Wars hearkens back to the halcyon days of seedy arcades, where teenagers enjoyed a parentless oasis of gaming. This subculture valued lightening-fast gameplay and mindboggling high scores over character development and fancy graphics. Galaxies brings the popular Xbox Live game to the Wii with sixty-four chaotic new levels, a unique Wii-centric control scheme and a bevy of new bells and whistles.
Why she'll buy it for me: Again we fall back on co-op mode.
Metacritic rating: 80 out of 100
7. Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Those of us thirsting for RPG's after a decade-long draught can get their fix in Radiant Dawn. Featuring a thoroughly Japanese storyline that undoubtedly includes a bunch of feminine dudes grunting at each other from really far away. Critics have been calling it everything from fiendishly difficult and absurdly difficult to crazily difficult (seriously dudes, use a thesaurus), so it should take me a while to beat. It also features plenty of blue hair. What more can we ask for?
Why she'll buy it for me: True love blooming on the battlefield.
Metacritic rating: 79 out of 100
8. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
The LEGO Star Wars series is a union that no one asked for, but everyone is thankful that it came to be. LucasArts combined the first two entries to create The Complete Saga, 36 levels and more bonus features than you can swing a lightsaber at. I hear there's an unlockable Indiana Jones LEGO, so I can finally act out my fanfic battle between Yoda and Dr. Jones. If only they had included that Asian kid from Temple of Doom<font> so I could pit him against Artoo.
Why she'll buy it for me: LEGO Wicket.
Metacritic rating: 79 out of 100
9. Medal of Honor Heroes 2
Continuing the longstanding videogame tradition of taking out Nazi's with true-to-life WWII weaponry (It's kosher to shoot demons, zombies, and nazis because they are pure evil), Medal of Honor Heroes 2 supports the new Wii Zapper, giving me ultimate immersion. I'll be throwing the Wii Remote over my shoulder to simulate a massive Panzerfaust rocket launcher and lobbing grenades with up to 31 other Americans who couldn't locate Normandy on a map in no time.
Why she'll buy it for me: She loves a man in uniform.
Metacritic rating: 79 out of 100
10. Mario Strikers Charged
Mario and Co. battle it out in lightening-fast soccer matches, cleverly utilizing Wii motion controls and taking full advantage of the built-in WiFi connection. I moved to England this year, and the guys at work persuaded me to join them to watch some "football". What a snore! I want soccer players to be able to throw fireballs and chuck hammers at each other. How can real soccer compare?
Why she'll buy it for me: I'll get all my anger out by yelling at the cheap AI.
Metacritic rating: 79 out of 100
It looks like we'll be wearing many hats this Christmas, from Mario's
trademark cap to Slash's signature top hat to a +1 Helm of Grognor (she's starting to pick up the geek lingo). These games should keep me and my sweetheart busy until our tree's
needles start falling. Happy holidays!</font></font> -
Cole Stryker replied on December 04, 2007 17:35 to the question "What are the best games to buy for Virtual Console?" in Nintendo:
Excellent choices so far:
Here are my top 15 picks, in no particular order:
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Castlevania
- Tecmo Bowl
- Super Ghouls and Ghosts
- ActRaiser
- Super Metroid
- Street Fighter II
- Super Mario 64
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Golden Axe
- Streets of Rage 2
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- R-type
- Bomberman '93
These games haven't aged with time, unlike many VC offerings. Shining examples of the best videogames have to offer, these fifteen titles should make you a little less ashamed of your secret life.
I picked a few from each system. Only one from TurboGrafx because, well, the TurboGrafx sucked! -
Cole Stryker started following the problem "The questions that make their way on "Everybody Votes" totally suck!" in Nintendo.
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Cole Stryker started following the question "What are the best games to buy for Virtual Console?" in Nintendo.
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Cole Stryker asked a question in Nintendo on December 03, 2007 16:48:
What can I use those USB ports in the back of my Wii for?Mouse/keyboard? Headset?
Smell-o-vision? -
Cole Stryker replied on December 03, 2007 16:35 to the question "Can you put spin on the tennis ball in Wii Sports?" in Nintendo:
Topspin: Roll your wrist forward so that the Wii Remote buttons face down as you connect with the tennis ball. This shot is tough to return.
Backspin: Roll your wrist back so that the buttons face up.
The key is to think *table* tennis motions rather than traditional tennis. It'll take a while to get the hang of it, but when you do, it really deepens the mechanics of the game and you'll wonder why you ever played it without these techniques.
I can't find any conclusive info regarding sidespin. I don't think Nintendo actually built this into the game, but I could be wrong. Can anyone else pull sidespin off consistently?
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