The Lost Gamer writes: "As we enter into 2010, which is surely set to be an exciting year for owners of any of the current generation consoles, I still feel that one overarching issue still remains within the console market, that of the Red Ring of Death."
It was the single biggest issue that could have destroyed Microsoft’s hope of being a strong competitor in the gaming industry. In its early days, the Xbox 360 suffered from a number of technical problems that would render the console useless, many of the issues were identified by a series of red flashing lights on the face of the console, with the three red flashing lights" Red Ring of Death" (RROD) being the most infamous. The situation was so bad back in 2005 that the courts almost ordered a recall of the system. But I’ve noticed something happening, not many are complaining about Xbox 360’s shoddy hardware anymore; in fact the internet is so silent about the issue you could hear a pin drop, and with research after research and poll after poll coming out in favor of Microsoft’s console, one must wonder, did the RROD plague that almost destroyed the Xbox 360 die in 2009?
SquareTrade found that Xbox 360 quality has improved dramatically since the third quarter of 2008, shortly before the 65nm CPU/GPU "Jasper" model was introduced. Since then, first-year failure rates have plummeted to below the 4 percent the company projected. Looking at 500 units purchased in 2009, SquareTrade found that less than 1 percent had suffered the Red Ring of Death.
"Consumers and developers alike have been talking about the variety of issues that have plagued Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console since launch. The infamous Red Ring of Death was something that millions of consumers have had to deal with over the past few years. Although these issues are well-known, the exact failure rates are still unknown…"
Yahoo! Games: Playback 92 Part 1
The Xbox ‘red ring of death’ error may have affected as many as half of the console’s users.
Reports have been rolling across the Gamesmen Media Desk, as of the last four days, from our small community and their friends lists. Reports about what, you say? The dreaded Red Ring of Death, of course. If the numbers multiply on a percentage basis, it would seem that Xbox360’s could very well be dropping like flies. Again. What game was spooling and spinning as these unfortunate circumstances occurred? Modern Warfare 2.
GamePolitics.com writes:Erik Estavillo, the Resistance: Fall of Man gamer who sued Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) over being banned from the PlayStation Network has targeted the remaining two major console makers in a new lawsuit.
Microsoft Corporation and Nintendo of America are defendants in a federal complaint, which was filed November 18 in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
Microsoft is being sued for a "red ring of death" affecting the plaintiff’s Xbox 360 console. Estavillo notes that as he is disabled, he cannot afford to pay the "well over $100" fee to fix the console, nor can he afford to purchase a new one. He feels "that Microsoft should have to bear the burden that is now put on the shoulders of this disabled plaintiff."
Earlier today PlanetXbox360.com posted their official study of the Red Ring of Death and the corresponding results, once live the editors asked Microsoft’s own Aaron Greenberg for his "official" response to said study. His response seems right on par with what the study shows and it’s great to see the console manufacturer is now supporting the dreaded E74 error in it’s warranty program; the entire quote is viewable at the link below:
From the PlanetXbox360 feature study:
"Over the past couple months PlanetXbox360.com has been conducting a massive comprehensive study (online, via the phone, and in person), in an attempt to find out once and for all how many of the Microsoft loyalists have experienced the dreaded red ring of death. A recent study was posted on the internet that found 50% of all Xbox 360’s had the RRoD issue, the findings of this study did not fall in line with those results. If you’re not familiar with this phenomenon that has plagued the Xbox 360 since it’s successful release in 2005 the RRoD happens because of a console hardware failure (from a number of different possibilities).
Only 10% of the entire survey stated that they did not return to the Xbox 360 after getting a ring of death, showing that even with the failure Xbox 360 fans stick by their favorite console, through the good and the ugly. The number we found of total Xbox 360 units that got hit with the RRoD will probably shock you, and hopefully clear this up once and for all."
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Remember that news overload from yesterday? Well it is back again with vengance, looking to consume, I mean invade your brain… So how about we touch on things like Sony finally getting their own RROD, Left 4 Dead fans down-under are hosed again, and even Microsoft being swindled by developers. All that and more, coming your way NOW!
Links to Topics Discussed:
1. Sony has their own ‘Red Ring of Death?’
2. Aussie Left 4 Dead fans will be left on the outside looking in.
3. Microsoft could inadvertently be funding PS3 development. (WARNING NSFW)
4. The console shake-up continues
5. Combine your love for games with your love for music.
6. LucasArts bundles Jedi Knight Classics exclusively for Steam.
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If you have any comments, ideas or suggestions, get off your ass and get them to us!
