Microsoft apologizes for 360 'cleaning' with Bill Gates-signed replacement

by Griffin McElroy { Mar 22nd 2008 at 5:00PM }

Most companies in the gaming industry never really atone for their egregious errors -- if so, Nintendo would have sent us a check for the $180 in hard-earned allowance money that we blew on the retina-singeing Virtual Boy by now. However, our poor investment in Nintendo's unwieldy system can't compare to the tragedy endured by Nathaniel, whose personalized 360 was wiped clean during a RROD repair. Luckily, Bungie jumped to the rescue with an equally collectible Halo care package -- and a recent delivery from Microsoft served as the caboose to Nate's apologetic gravy train.

Included in said delivery was a handful of games and, most notably, a new 360 signed by the Xbox team, Bungie (including replacement artwork by Rooster Teeth Comics' Luke McKay) and, with the flourish of a solid gold pen, Bill Gates. Whether you call it an act of kindness or a lesson in public relations, we think it's a neat gesture from the folks at Microsoft -- a gesture young Nathaniel will only enjoy for the next four months, of course, at which point the button above Gates' John Hancock will blink a menacing scarlet, leaving Nate with a highly collectible paperweight.

Tags: 360, BillGates, bungie, halo, microsoft, repair, rrod, xbox360

Related From Joystiq

'Pro plantiff' Erik Estavillo subpoenas Bill Gates in RROD suit
3 hours ago
Rumor: Gaming conventions to convene in Xbox Live
9 hours ago
Banned PSN player sues Nintendo and Microsoft
10 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

vidGuy @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:07PM

I wonder what eyeball singing would sound like? (AKA: "singeing")

But pretty cool work of art and consideration.

WhoMe @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:35PM

Consideration... or free publicity?

Seriously, you can't buy this kind of publicity. I think it's nice for the fella, but really I would feel used, esp. with the free couple of games thrown in. I'd feel like a $5 hooker.

MS has the whole blogoshpere damage control down alright.

Defenestrator2.0 @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:55PM

Is is possible that Microsoft simply feels bad for erasing something obviously dear to this guy? It's not always 'teh evil corporations,' you know.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:00PM

Defenestrator2.0 you just proved WhoMe point.

I still believe this is publicity for MS.

Mills and Boom @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:04PM

I remember Defenstrators poor games.

WhoMe @ Mar 22nd 2008 7:53PM

Funny how they didn't feel sorry until this was doing the rounds on the blogs.

I'm sure Gates wasn't losing any sleep over this.

Trickob @ Mar 22nd 2008 7:53PM

I guess it's a lose-lose situation for ms. those bastards! they should give me a free 360 'cause I can't afford one.

as far as eyeball singing goes:

HOMESTAR: See! SEEEEEE!!
STRONGBAD: What are you doing??
HOMESTAR: Isn't that um, the sound that eyeballs make? seeee, SEEEEEEE!!

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 23rd 2008 3:40AM

@Mr ESC

The problem with your logic is it is then impossible to prove that MS may have actually felt guilty about this siutation and wanted to make it right. Your logic is basically that if anyone talks about it then this was clearly done for the publicity. BTW, it should be poibnted out that it is Nathaniel himself that sent these pictures out, not MS.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 23rd 2008 2:51PM

So the guy manage alone to be in every Blog and gaming related news site by himself oh and yahoo too...huh.

So what? This guy suddenly owns the internet? No wonder how Bungie and MS heard him.

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 23rd 2008 3:53PM

Don't be stupid. As with most things ont he internet, it likely has a single source that it then spread by many otherpeople to other places. This very artcle is the perfect example. Notice that the Read link goes back to Engadget... and the link there goes back to the apparent source (hawtymcbloggy.com). That's what blogs do! This is not difficult.

NATO_Duke @ Mar 24th 2008 8:40AM

The same people who attack MS or whatever other company they can dig at now forget how the internet works. Shocking. Remember how you post something and then it spreads - that happens with positive things as well as negative rumors.

You guys need to give it a break with the evil corporation bullsh*t. Once in a while [employed] people act as people and do something cool. That’s it. Live with the shocking reality that not everything is part of the evil plan to take over your precious and innocent world.

Sometimes some folks around here sound like a bunch of unemployed bitter fools bent out of shape by "The Man".

x(wai)x @ Mar 24th 2008 5:28PM

Pffffft. You people are missing the point. Kindness, publicity, who the *bleep* cares why they did it? The dude got free games and a free console! If that were me, I'd grin and grab a mop to wipe up my own drool. Screw why they did it, I got free stuff!

There's an old saying that applies really well here: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Jansperus @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:10PM

I can't wait to pick this up on eBay!

Hala Madrid!!! SSBB Code:3866-7729-0830 @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:00PM

He also got a picture of Bill Gates
lucky bitch
But yeah this will end up in ebay anyway
ungrateful n00b

SQUIRTMESS @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:17PM

So one of the richest men in the world signs his name like he just learned cursive? What gives?

Shmil (Brawl Code 2621-2310-1994) @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:20PM

he must have dropped out of college before he could take cursive 102

Lone Starr @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:39PM

Contrary to what grade school teachers imply, good handwriting is not requisite for wealth.

Moofree @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:41PM

In fact, handwriting quality and income are commonly inversely related.

vidGuy @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:45PM

Yeah, it's more important to be able to lie and steal from your competitors then predatory price them out of the market. Who cares what your handwriting looks like when you have somebody else's word-processor?

Defenestrator2.0 @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:57PM

Obvious troll is obvious.

vidGuy @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:01PM

Damn. Ok, I'm not anti-Microsoft or anti-Gates, I'm just bored and wanted to see some fanboy fights ;)

Shane @ Mar 23rd 2008 7:25PM

Maybe he just keeps kids locked up at the headquarters to sign things for him. I know if I were rich that is what I would do. But I am a bastard like that.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:19PM

Why the signtaure in green?

I guess everything that he touch turns into green.

Defenestrator2.0 @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:57PM

Looks more like a gold to me, but I suppose that that pun works, too.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:09PM

I wonder why he didn't use a Gold Marker.

Sora267 @ Mar 23rd 2008 3:05PM

If everything he touches turns to green, that means that that 360 will only ever have GREEN lights around the ring, not RED. In other words, that 360 is RROD-proof.

Deck @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:23PM

This is pretty cool.

Find the Bill Gates pictured signed rather funny.

Ryan LN @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:27PM

That's absolutely hilarious, and almost makes up for the shear NOOOOOOO!!!!! moment the dude must've had when he opened the box that his original console was in. If they TRULY wanted to make this up to him, that signed, illustrated model is a new 2008 edition with an HDMI port.

Obie @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:32PM

I am sorry, but anyone that uses their 360 as a place to collect impressive signatures is an idiot. It's not like the system is known for it's longevity, might as well sign a dayfly...it will last longer.

Fatass of Kickassness @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:12PM

Notice several instances of 'DON'T WASH THIS OFF MICROSOFT' and such drawn on the console?

They're there for a reason.

Oh, also, this is the SECOND 360 that they've sent to him (they fixed his first, remember? They just washed it off.) so he doesn't even have to use it.

Lone Starr @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:41PM

Even his boogers were green from birth.

Mills and Boom @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:49PM

What a mess, someone pass the turps and a cloth. Ruining a games console by drawing on it.

oshin @ Mar 22nd 2008 5:53PM

Whos Bill Bates ?

Youthinized @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:01PM

His signature does look like it was done by a 8 year old just learning cursive.

I was expecting some wild scribble like most signatures, but its legible and clear looking... I almost bet he did that on purpose. Or he hasn't done alot of autographs.

Poisoned Al @ Mar 22nd 2008 11:56PM

As one of the richest men on earth, I have a feeling he signs a LOT of things. Maybe not autographs, but I'll bet he's tagged a lot of paper in his time.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:06PM

I like the part that says wash me lol.

I wonder if I make an appointment with Bungie and bring them my Halo helmet, console and some fan made stuff they would sign my console or call security.

I have mixed feeling about Bungie, sometimes they do cool stuff like this or give people armors and stuff (did he received the recon armor?) and sometimes charge 800p for maps and refuse to make the game fun.

Seriously Bungie remove the friendly fire.

Now if Ms could be this attend with all their costumers. And if you were wondering yes this is totally free publicity for MS.

Shmil (Brawl Code 2621-2310-1994) @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:22PM

bungie doesn't set the prices they just make the maps

vidGuy @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:36PM

Heroic Map Pack is free as of next week. Legendary will cost 800P until the last pack of three is ready for release.

Shmil (Brawl Code 2621-2310-1994) @ Mar 22nd 2008 10:00PM

also you always seem to complain about the friendly fire
is it that hard to recognize the people on your team?

Shmil (Brawl Code 2621-2310-1994) @ Mar 22nd 2008 10:24PM

i'm really not sure what to make of that last statement, I guess I'll have to move my triforce of courage to a new hiding spot so he can't get it.

But the problem seems to be your current rank, when playing ranked games it seems that anywhere below 15 you can get just some douchebag kids, 15-20 you should be good, however when you break 20 you'll be back with the same whiny pre-pubescent kids that do this type of shit. I can definitely understand your annoyance with being betrayed for a power weapon but you shouldn't let a few bad eggs ruin an omlette... that's a horrible analogy

i guess what i'm trying to say is: not everyone on xbox live is a prick

Mr.ESC @ Mar 23rd 2008 2:24AM

Shmil your last comment couldn't be more right. I was in the 20 or something rank and I was perfectly fine but after breaking that limit I was back to shitiness.

No,not every xbox live user is a prick I have met very nice people in the xbox live but it seems that in Halo is more common to met a total spaz than someone who actually knows how to play fair.

Then again if it wasn't for Halo 3 that same people would be playing Cod4 (I doubt they would be playing TF2 I have seen Halo 3 players attempt playing Tf2 and they fail so hard that is actually funny) but Bungie knowing this should remove friendly fire, is annoying and I wouldn’t be worry if my stickies hit an ally that will precede to chase me with a rocket launcher the next round.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:14PM

I'm the only one that thinks Cortana looks like a 9 year old.Daimn Master chief is a pedo.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:35PM

Oh yeah...

Master chief why don't you take a seat right over there.

Chase @ Mar 22nd 2008 9:47PM

What can he say? He's a rebel.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 23rd 2008 2:26AM

I meant Am I not I am...huh I wonder why I didn't notice that before.

DangerMouse @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:24PM

That's Bill Gates from the Custodial Engineering department.

Nithron @ Mar 22nd 2008 7:01PM

Seriously, people, MS go out of their way to correct a mistake they made, and then some, and you people are still complaining that they're evil. Oh, it's just for publicity, you say!

Well what, would you rather they just didn't bother doing anything about it? Would that be less evil?

They just can't bloody win with you people.

Also, I doubt Bill Gates cares what his signature looks like. He's got more money than you and your children will earn in your combined lifetimes.

Edge @ Mar 22nd 2008 7:30PM

I think that Microsoft is doing this because it makes sense to make up for their mistake, for both selfish reasons as well as honest to god altruistic reasons. Of course, this is good press for Microsoft. The question I ask is, since when was MS only allowed to generate bad press?

You could say that no one does anything nice for completely unselfish reasons. It's a classic philosophy topic. It's really unfair to think that this situation is only one or the other.