Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BBC: Kinect caused 'Red Ring of Death' on out-of-warranty Xbox 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/bbc-kinect-caused-red-ring-of-death-on-out-of-warranty-xbox-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/bbc-kinect-caused-red-ring-of-death-on-out-of-warranty-xbox-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/bbc-kinect-caused-red-ring-of-death-on-out-of-warranty-xbox-3/#comments Grand Theft Auto IV blamed for RRoD -- Tipster on April 30, 2008

Red Dead Redemption blamed for RRoD -- Tipster on June 21, 2010

Kinect blamed for RRoD -- BBC on January 5, 2011

As our tips box can attest to over the years, every major Xbox 360 release causes the unholy specter of the Xbox 360's infamous 'Red Ring of Death' to return. The family interviewed in this BBC piece have an especially poignant tale: they just missed out on the three year warranty the product carries for the RRoD and E74 errors.

Microsoft said in a statement, "There is no correlation between the three flashing red lights error and Kinect. Any new instances of the three flashing red lights error are merely coincidental." We believe it, given our anecdotal history. It's still of little consolation to anyone who was blessed with an old, out of warranty Xbox 360 that somehow hadn't died/broken/etc.

JoystiqBBC: Kinect caused 'Red Ring of Death' on out-of-warranty Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e74kinectmicrosoftred-ring-of-deathrrodxboxWed, 05 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo: Reach causing Red Ring of Death (emblems)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/halo-reach-causing-red-ring-of-death-emblems/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/halo-reach-causing-red-ring-of-death-emblems/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/halo-reach-causing-red-ring-of-death-emblems/#commentsFiled under: , ,

And you thought the Covenant were scary! Seriously though, Halo: Reach doesn't cause the dreaded Red Ring of Death, but you can massage the emblem editor to make one for your Spartan. The image is part of a primer on Spartan customization, earning credits and uploading content to your file share.

Continue reading Halo: Reach causing Red Ring of Death (emblems)

JoystiqHalo: Reach causing Red Ring of Death (emblems) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-IndustriesHalo-ReachmicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-StudiosrrodxboxMon, 13 Sep 2010 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[New Xbox 360 shuts down before overheating]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/new-xbox-360-shuts-down-before-overheating/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/new-xbox-360-shuts-down-before-overheating/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/new-xbox-360-shuts-down-before-overheating/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Okay, gang, we really need your help. Though Microsoft's shrunken, Valhalla-equipped version of its home console was announced last week, new functions of the device are just now starting to surface. The latest is an auto-shutdown feature which turns off the console when its primary cooling vent is blocked, which displays a warning prompt on screen and turns the console's power button into the ominous vision seen above.

So, here's what we need your help with: We feel like we can still get in front of this thing, and coin the new colloquial phrase for this warning. That guy who came up with "Red Ring of Death?" He's making bank off royalties, and papa wants a slice. So, let's start spitballing: Red Eye of Danger? Red Dot of Poor Ventilation? Red Light of Uncomfortable Proximity? How about, like, "The Killswitch?" It's foreboding, yet strangely catchy.

JoystiqNew Xbox 360 shuts down before overheating originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftrrodvalhallaxboxxbox-360-slimTue, 22 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Ringed Xbox transforms into robot (sculpture)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/red-ringed-xbox-transforms-into-robot-sculpture/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/red-ringed-xbox-transforms-into-robot-sculpture/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/red-ringed-xbox-transforms-into-robot-sculpture/#commentsWhen your Xbox 360 suffers from the Red Ring of Death (and it will), there are a great many things you may want to do to it. You might feel like hurling it from the roof into a waiting wood chipper. You might feel like drowning it in your own tears in a desperate attempt to cool its heat-blasted insides and restore it to life. Ultimately, however, you'll probably do what we all do: Send it in for repair. That is, unless you're Jasper Stevens.

Stevens, you see, decided to turn his busted box into a robot sculpture. Featured at technabob, Stevens' RRoDMan is most productive form of nerd rage we've ever seen. Even more impressive, Stevens claims that the uses no tape or glue. We can only assume that the sculpture is held together by broken dreams.

[Via CNET]

JoystiqRed Ringed Xbox transforms into robot (sculpture) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftsrobotrrodrrodmanFri, 05 Mar 2010 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Police catch 360 thief thanks to RRoD return]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/police-catch-360-thief-thanks-to-rrod-return/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/police-catch-360-thief-thanks-to-rrod-return/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/police-catch-360-thief-thanks-to-rrod-return/#comments Ah, the Red Ring of Death. Most cursed malady of this console generation, maligned by the casual and the hardcore alike! But for all the frustration the Xbox 360's three lights of crimson chaos have caused, here's a little good: If it weren't for a certain RRoD in Florida, one Michael Dunbar would never have been brought to justice. Dunbar was accused of stealing the console and pawning it off to a shop, but without the serial number, police told the victim that they couldn't bring him in. Fortunately, the victim's grandmother suddenly remembered she'd sent the system in for an RRoD, and a phone call to Microsoft later, they got a serial number, Dunbar was arrested by the police, and we assume the console was returned to its rightful owner.

Little consolation, we're sure, for the eight painful weeks you had to wait while your Xbox was sent back to Microsoft for repairs (two separate breakdowns for me personally). But it's good to hear that someone somewhere has been helped by Microsoft's RRoD exchange process.

JoystiqPolice catch 360 thief thanks to RRoD return originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakfloridagrandmothermichael-dunbarmicrosoftred-ring-of-deathreturnrrodserial-numbertheftthiefvictimxbox-360Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA['Pro plantiff' Erik Estavillo subpoenas Bill Gates in RROD suit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/pro-plantiff-erik-estavillo-subpoenas-bill-gates-in-rrod-suit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/pro-plantiff-erik-estavillo-subpoenas-bill-gates-in-rrod-suit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/pro-plantiff-erik-estavillo-subpoenas-bill-gates-in-rrod-suit/#comments
[Image Source]
Erik Estavillo -- otherwise referred to as a "professional plantiff" by GamePolitics for his laundry list of legal claims -- has subpoenaed Microsoft's Bill Gates in his suit targeting the company for his run in with the Red Ring of Death. According to court documents filed in a U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the subpoena demands Gates hand over paperwork that reveal the "true and relative number of actual Xbox 360 units that have been fixed by Microsoft over the past 3 years." Estavillo also seeks data pertaining to the number of broken Xbox 360 consoles and the amount of people banned from Xbox Live for "piracy" between November 28, 2008 and 2009.

While Estavillo is looking for answers to questions every journalist has been seeking, his track record of legal battles places him in eccentric territory. Estavillo is also suing Activision Blizzard claiming characters in World of Warcraft walk at an intentionally slow pace in order to bilk customers of more monthly fees. In the claim, he subpoenaed actress Winona Ryder and Depeche Mode member Martin Gore. Estavillo has also filed suit against Sony for being banned from online play, stemming from comments he supposedly made during matches of Resistance: Fall of Man; and Nintendo, for issuing firmware updates that disabled his Homebrew Channel.

Joystiq'Pro plantiff' Erik Estavillo subpoenas Bill Gates in RROD suit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-gatesbusinesserik-estavillolawsuitlegalmicrosoftred-ring-of-deathrrodXbox-360Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Banned PSN player sues Nintendo and Microsoft]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/banned-psn-player-sues-nintendo-and-microsoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/banned-psn-player-sues-nintendo-and-microsoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/banned-psn-player-sues-nintendo-and-microsoft/#comments After being banned from the PlayStation Network for hateful comments stated in Resistance's online community, Erik Estavillo launched not one, but two, lawsuits against Sony for infringing on his "first amendment rights" -- an argument that was shot down by Judge Ronald Whyte simply because "Sony is not part of the government."

However, what Estavillo lacks in civil online discourse, he makes up for with sheer determination and persistence. In addition to Sony, he now has both Microsoft and Nintendo in his sights. Estavillo is seeking $75,000 from Microsoft for the "undue stress" and "sadness" caused by his Xbox 360's RROD. "Microsoft should have to bear the burden that is now put on the shoulders of this disabled plaintiff," his claim states -- a burden that is equivalent to the sum of 375 Xbox 360 systems, apparently. Nintendo is being sued for interfering with Estavillo's "pursuit of happiness." And how exactly is Nintendo doing that? "Deleting, blocking or prohibiting the Homebrew Channel and Ocarina applications" via a system update.

We're hoping you can see the sheer brilliance of Estavillo's strategy. He's offering the perfect opportunity for PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo fans to agree on something for once.

JoystiqBanned PSN player sues Nintendo and Microsoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>erik-estavillohomebrewlawsuitmicrosoftnintendorrodWiixbox-360Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Study: Xbox 360 RROD on the decline]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/study-xbox-360-rrod-on-the-decline/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/study-xbox-360-rrod-on-the-decline/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/study-xbox-360-rrod-on-the-decline/#comments We're not sure there's a great way to write this post without you beautiful monsters turning it into flamebait -- nay, a flamesteak. We're just going to chuck it into the pit and then walk away in slow motion while the animals devour it. If we do it right, it should be very Guy Ritchie. SquareTrade, which claims to be the largest independent warranty provider in the world, has presented data indicating that the Red Ring of Death has been on the decline since the introduction of the Jasper chipset in early 2009. The findings were based on 16,000 new consoles covered by the company.

Well, that's great news! We don't think we're forgetting anything.Nope, we're all set. Well, we guess the report did say that the Wii was nine times more reliable than the 360 and four times more reliable than the PS3, but we can't imagine that's of much interest to anyone. [begin slo-mo walking]

[Via IndustryGamers]

JoystiqStudy: Xbox 360 RROD on the decline originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>failure-ratesMicrosoftrrodXbox-360Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Digital Foundry examines why 360 and PS3 can't take the heat]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/digital-foundry-examines-why-360-and-ps3-cant-take-the-heat/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/digital-foundry-examines-why-360-and-ps3-cant-take-the-heat/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/digital-foundry-examines-why-360-and-ps3-cant-take-the-heat/#comments You could make the argument that system reliability has been the preeminent conversation of this console generation, but it's one often clouded by speculation and a lack of reliable information. Digital Foundry talked to Darren Thickbroom, an engineer for an independent console workshop, who offered a lot of revealing insight into the issue.

Thickbroom explained that the massive amount of heat generated by the HD systems -- exacerbated by high-end technology crammed into a small compartment -- contribute to their eventual demise (and all because you played on them so often). And like many "exclusive" games this generation, this is by no means constrained to one console. Though Xbox 360 failure rates are abysmal, Thickbroom noted that more PS3s have been appearing in his workshop. His gloomy prognosis? "It comes down to how much you play it. People might disagree with us, but this is the way we see it: if you handle the machines day-in, day-out with the issues they've got, I'd expect to change them every year."

We have the same rule for our underwear, so that part should be easy to remember.

JoystiqDigital Foundry examines why 360 and PS3 can't take the heat originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-failuree74failure-rateMicrosoftrrodXbox-360ylodMon, 31 Aug 2009 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Game Informer: Xbox 360 at 54.2 percent failure rate]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/game-informer-xbox-360-at-54-2-percent-failure-rate/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/game-informer-xbox-360-at-54-2-percent-failure-rate/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/game-informer-xbox-360-at-54-2-percent-failure-rate/#comments The latest issue of Game Informer contains a surprising statistic for anyone who's ever loved and lost their Microsoft-branded home console - according to their survey, in which over 5,000 console owners participated, the Xbox 360's current failure rate due to the Red Ring of Death, E74 or other hardware failure is 54.2 percent. They also calculated the relative death toll for PS3s due to the Yellow Light of Death (10.3 percent) and Wiis, due to ... well, we're not actually sure what color the Wii's light turns to upon its demise (6.8 percent).

Unfortunately, for having the highest failure rate, survey participants also pinned Microsoft for having the least helpful customer service representatives. Not that it matters - later in the survey, only 3.8 percent of participants said they'd never buy another Xbox 360 due to its high failure rate.

Speaking of which, we're not sure what future techno-utopia this poll was conducted in, but a 54.2 percent Xbox 360 failure rate sounds awfully low. Had the survey's participants been comprised entirely of Joystiq staffers, it would have been a bone-chilling 100 percent.

[Via Consumerist]

JoystiqGame Informer: Xbox 360 at 54.2 percent failure rate originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e74failurefailure-rategame-informerhardwareMicrosoftrrodsurveyXbox-360Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: E74 victims should have received refund check by now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/psa-e74-victims-should-have-received-refund-check-by-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/psa-e74-victims-should-have-received-refund-check-by-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/psa-e74-victims-should-have-received-refund-check-by-now/#comments
If your Xbox 360 fell victim to the E74 error and you paid Microsoft for the repair, you should have received a refund check back from the company by today. If you paid for a repair and have yet to receive a check, you'll need to follow up with Microsoft before the hard deadline of November 1, 2009. After that ... well, you're just going to have to eat it.

The E74 error was placed under a similar warranty to that of the Xbox 360's "Red Ring of Death," after data revealed it was another widespread defect for the console.

[Thanks, Matt L]

JoystiqPSA: E74 victims should have received refund check by now originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defecte74microsoftrefundrrodXbox-360Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft kills 'coffin' policy, time to pack your RRoD Xbox yourself]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/microsoft-kills-coffin-policy-time-to-pack-your-rrod-xbox-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/microsoft-kills-coffin-policy-time-to-pack-your-rrod-xbox-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/microsoft-kills-coffin-policy-time-to-pack-your-rrod-xbox-you/#comments
Microsoft - the manufacturer of the RRoD-prone Xbox 360 - has confirmed to Joystiq that it's discontinued its policy of providing a prepaid box with shipping label, more commonly referred to as the "coffin," for all Xbox 360 repairs. As of May 26 the policy was discontinued "in an effort to expedite the repair process." Customers will have the option of receiving an e-label to slap on the box they ship their bricked consoles in, but the days of the "coffin" are now over. A Microsoft spokesperson tell us, "Customers can now ship their consoles themselves using an e-label provided by Microsoft and do not need to wait for an empty box to be shipped to them."

Apparently Microsoft's accountants were getting tired of that budget line item signifying thousands of dollars spent on providing cardboard boxes to the millions of consumers with defective units (often multiple times). We likely should have seen the writing on the wall when we recently contacted Microsoft to find out what recourse customers had if customer service wasn't offering coffins.

Our advice: Mail it to Microsoft in whatever packaging you've got lying around (remember: they're going to fix it regardless) and save the special, custom-fit packaging they mail it back to you in. Odds are you'll use it again.

JoystiqMicrosoft kills 'coffin' policy, time to pack your RRoD Xbox yourself originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coffinmicrosoftrepairrrodwarrantyxbox-360Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[3-year Xbox 360 warranty extended to cover E74 errors]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/3-year-xbox-360-warranty-extended-to-cover-e74-errors/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/3-year-xbox-360-warranty-extended-to-cover-e74-errors/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/3-year-xbox-360-warranty-extended-to-cover-e74-errors/#comments
It's been a difficult time for you, we know. While all your friends were getting the radical Red Ring of Death and happily cashing in on Microsoft's three-year Xbox 360 warranty, you had to make do with a decidedly less impressive (though equally cataclysmic) hardware failure, one that couldn't even manage to spit out more than a few crimson lights.

But your lonely torment is at an end, with Microsoft ceasing its defection discrimination and revealing via the Xbox Support page that the mysterious E74 error is now covered by the RROD's three-year warranty. Microsoft has determined "that the E74 error message can indicate the general hardware failure that is associated with three flashing red lights error on the console," and will "refund to customers the amount paid for an out of warranty repair due to a general hardware failure associated with the e74 error message." If you don't automatically receive this refund by July 1, 2009, you'll need to claim one through xbox.com/support before November 1, 2009.

Hooray! Welcome to the club, E74 victims! Um, sorry about your Xbox.

[Thanks, Peter]

Joystiq3-year Xbox 360 warranty extended to cover E74 errors originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e74microsoftRRODwarrantyXbox-360Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Reminder: Xbox 360 repairs should always have the option of a 'coffin']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/07/reminder-xbox-360-repairs-should-always-have-the-option-of-a-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/07/reminder-xbox-360-repairs-should-always-have-the-option-of-a-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/07/reminder-xbox-360-repairs-should-always-have-the-option-of-a-c/#comments
We discussed it at the end of Episode 111 of X3F yesterday, but we continue to hear from folks that Microsoft's repair support isn't offering "coffins" to return busted consoles. Just to retread this issue, Microsoft confirmed to us a couple weeks ago that postage-paid boxes should be offered in "all scenarios, regardless of the repair." Furthermore, "this policy is global, not region-specific."

To help those out who continue to have issues with this explicitly stated service, we've contacted Microsoft PR to ask what recourse customers have who are not being offered coffins. We will update as soon as we receive a response. We've placed the policy after the break for reference.

Continue reading Reminder: Xbox 360 repairs should always have the option of a 'coffin'

JoystiqReminder: Xbox 360 repairs should always have the option of a 'coffin' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coffinmicrosoftrepairrrodwarrantyxbox-360Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[More survey data backs up Xbox 360's E74 increase ]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/more-survey-data-backs-up-xbox-360s-e74-increase/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/more-survey-data-backs-up-xbox-360s-e74-increase/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/more-survey-data-backs-up-xbox-360s-e74-increase/#comments
So, we only tracked around 60 incidences of E74 in our last batch of emails, so we thought you'd be interested in seeing the results after we cataloged the more than 170 emails we've received about E74 since our original piece went live.

As you'll see, there's a huge increase of E74 claims since the launch of the New Xbox Experience. In fact, you can see a spike right around November, and many claiming an E74 in that month say it was just a day or two after installing the firmware. The evidence that we've gathered from emails, our poll and the Engadget poll all points to the same conclusion: There's been a definite increase in E74 errors since the NXE dropped. Whether that's due to a change in error reporting, a change in the way the system operates causing the error or simply increased use during that time, we can't say. Check past the jump for all the data.

Continue reading More survey data backs up Xbox 360's E74 increase

JoystiqMore survey data backs up Xbox 360's E74 increase originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e74Microsoftrrodxbox-360xbox-360-errorsMon, 23 Mar 2009 16:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 repairs should always have the option of a 'coffin']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/xbox-360-repairs-should-always-have-the-option-of-a-coffin/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/xbox-360-repairs-should-always-have-the-option-of-a-coffin/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/xbox-360-repairs-should-always-have-the-option-of-a-coffin/#comments
With all this talk of the Xbox 360's E74 error, and the continued presence of the RRoD, we are reminded of former Microsoft executive Peter Moore's request that we not focus on the Xbox's problems, but rather on the quality of the repair service. To that end, we've received conflicting reports about whether consumers are being offered the option of receiving a box -- which has come to be known as "the coffin" -- from the company, when dealing with Microsoft's customer service in India. When we took a quick sampling earlier this week using Twitter, answers were all over the map, so we followed up with Microsoft to get a clear and direct answer.

Reports that the company now requires consumers to find their own packaging when sending in an Xbox 360 for repair are "inaccurate," a Microsoft spokesperson told us. The company has always given two options and "this policy is global, not region-specific." Customers have the choice of either printing an e-Label (and providing their own box) or receiving a coffin from the company (this should take about five business days).

The representative did "confirm that the same policy applies to all scenarios, regardless of the repair." So, just to clear up any future confusion: There should always be the option of receiving a coffin when dealing with an Xbox 360 repair scenario.

Reference -- Official Microsoft repair FAQ
Reference -- Online console repair support

JoystiqXbox 360 repairs should always have the option of a 'coffin' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customer-servicee74microsoftrepairrrodXbox-360Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq survey: Xbox 360 E74 errors on the rise since NXE [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/joystiq-survey-xbox-360-e74-errors-on-the-rise-since-nxe/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/joystiq-survey-xbox-360-e74-errors-on-the-rise-since-nxe/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/joystiq-survey-xbox-360-e74-errors-on-the-rise-since-nxe/#comments
When we recently posted about the Xbox 360's E74 error and asked for your input, we weren't prepared for the staggering response we'd receive. Within a few hours, we had dozens of emails from readers like you who had experienced this particular hardware failure (typically caused, according to unofficial web reports, by a loose scaling chip). It was surprising to touch such a nerve, but what really knocked us for a loop was what we found when we started compiling the data sent to us.

Continue reading Joystiq survey: Xbox 360 E74 errors on the rise since NXE [update]

JoystiqJoystiq survey: Xbox 360 E74 errors on the rise since NXE [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e74microsoftnew-xbox-experiencenxered-ring-of-deathrrodxbox-360xbox-360-errorsxbox-supportThu, 19 Mar 2009 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Is your Xbox 360 an E74 victim?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/17/is-your-xbox-360-an-e74-victim/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/17/is-your-xbox-360-an-e74-victim/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/17/is-your-xbox-360-an-e74-victim/#comments
[Update 2: The results are in, check them all out right here.]

Considering the Red Ring of Death (to put it kindly) debacle, we're going to be extremely careful with what we say here. We're starting to see and receive numerous reports from readers, friends and in forums like this of Xbox 360s becoming the victims of an error labeled by the console as "E74." We've received only a few of these reports (two in '07; one in '08) prior to the recent barrage of complaints. When contacted, a Microsoft rep told Joystiq she wasn't familiar with the problem (the company is currently looking into it), so here's what we've been able to piece together by ourselves:

The E74 error seems to be related to video problems. It's occasionally caused by a faulty AV cord, but more often than not, the solder on the ANA/HANA (in HDMI models) scaling chip has come loose. In fact, many have reported creating a temporary fix by wrapping pennies in electrical tape and weighing the ANA/HANA down. (For the record, we're not suggesting you do that.) Before the error, the system usually starts showing graphical problems like lines across the screen or snow. It's accompanied by one red light in the lower right-hand quadrant.

So, we've got a poll right after the break where you can weigh in with your own experience. Also, if you've got more details, we'd love it if you would email us here.

[Update 1: Our friends at Negative Gamer just sent this interesting Google Trends result our way. As you can see, E74 was basically a non-issue until August of 2008. Interesting ...]

Continue reading Is your Xbox 360 an E74 victim?

JoystiqIs your Xbox 360 an E74 victim? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e74microsoftred-ring-of-deathrrodxboxxbox-360xbox-360-errorsTue, 17 Mar 2009 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Broken Xbox 360? Be happy you don't live in Nome, Alaska]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/broken-xbox-360-be-happy-you-dont-live-in-nome-alaska/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/broken-xbox-360-be-happy-you-dont-live-in-nome-alaska/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/broken-xbox-360-be-happy-you-dont-live-in-nome-alaska/#comments
We almost all have Red Ring of Death stories at this point, but few compare to that of Kim Galleher in Nome, Alaska. The Seattle Times reports on the mother's month-long quest to get her 13-year-old son's Xbox 360's RRoD warranty honored by Microsoft. Turns out the main situation revolves around MS not sending a coffin because Galleher's address wasn't recognized -- it's speculated in the piece this is because the United States Postal Service delivers mail in the region to post-office boxes. Meanwhile, other attempts to circumvent the address glitch with Microsoft also failed. Although Galleher's circumstances are slightly out of standard parameters, the whole piece reads like one giant failure in customer service.

One of the better parts in the story is Galleher wrote a letter to Xbox honcho Robbie Bach, stating that Microsoft ought to be "ashamed that a group of women at Victoria Secret can figure out how to send a bra to [her] via UPS and yet Microsoft can't figure out how to send an empty box."

For fairness, we contacted the Nome, Alaska visitor's bureau to get a little more background about the mail situation in the town, located at the end of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The incredibly pleasant woman on the phone said she had the same problem when dealing with another computer warranty situation and the post-office box issue causes problems from time to time. As for Galleher, Microsoft contacted her directly through an advocate to inform her a "repaired console" should arrive by March 17.

[Thanks, Matt S.]

JoystiqBroken Xbox 360? Be happy you don't live in Nome, Alaska originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alaskacustomer-servicecustomer-supportmicrosoftnomerrodMon, 16 Mar 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft on RROD: The worst is behind us]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/microsoft-on-rrod-the-worst-is-behind-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/microsoft-on-rrod-the-worst-is-behind-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/microsoft-on-rrod-the-worst-is-behind-us/#commentsTalking with Edge Online, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg discusses the past and present Xbox 360 hardware situation, claiming that those bleak days of RROD failure are (mostly) over.

"What it comes down to is isolating and figuring out the issue, fixing the issue, and the more that we can fix the issue, and know it's fixed, then we're good going forward," said Greenberg. "We've put the worst behind us on this, but we know there are a few lagging systems, and so we want to take those and make it right."

Hopefully, Microsoft can move towards a brighter future with its more reliable Jasper technology and leave its problematic hardware past behind. Those early RROD days were really, really, really bad and we welcome any improvement in hardware quality. If not for Microsoft's sake, at least for ours. Sending out RROD condolence cards is getting old.

JoystiqMicrosoft on RROD: The worst is behind us originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwaremicrosoftred-ring-of-deathrrodxbox-360Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Counting Rupees: Once bitten, twice shy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/counting-rupees-once-bitten-twice-shy/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/counting-rupees-once-bitten-twice-shy/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/counting-rupees-once-bitten-twice-shy/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week Jeff Engel and Geoff Brooks contribute Counting Rupees, a column on the business behind gaming:

This past week, my 360 finally gave up the ghost. It began with an occasional hard freeze, and a day later was freezing every two or three minutes - a tell-tale symptom of impending red rings of death. Unfortunately, my Xbox exhibited all of the symptoms except an actual series of red rings: a problem that, as the Microsoft support agent informed me, meant that my device was no longer covered by the extended warranty. There goes $99. A series of problems sending me e-mails (and later the actual shipping box) have cost me at least a month of playing time ... during the busiest gaming season of the year.

The point is not to complain about my problems per se - I'm hardly the first gamer to have experienced these issues and I'm sure that I won't be the last. But since I haven't been playing, I've had a lot of time to think about the implications of these issues on hardware manufacturers, publishers, developers, and even retailers. Do my problems matter to the businesses that care about me?

Continue reading Counting Rupees: Once bitten, twice shy

JoystiqCounting Rupees: Once bitten, twice shy originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Counting-RupeesRRODXbox-360Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft to open 'Avatar Store' next year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/microsoft-to-open-avatar-store-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/microsoft-to-open-avatar-store-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/microsoft-to-open-avatar-store-next-year/#commentsFiled under:

A Microsoft staffer has revealed that, beginning next year, users of the New Xbox Experience will be able to use an "Avatar Store" to buy clothes and other branded items for their avatars. What's with the surprised expressions everyone? Oh, sorry, did you not totally see this coming?

Robin Burrowes, European product manager for Xbox Live, told Videogamer.com, "The plan of record will be to launch a more extensive Avatar Store from spring time onwards next year, and that store in theory would have branded content in there, game publisher IP stuff in there as well."

What shirt do we most look forward to spending our hard-earned cash on? Why, a red-ringer-T, of course! Thank you.

[Via X3F]

JoystiqMicrosoft to open 'Avatar Store' next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>new-xbox-experiencenxerrodXbox-360Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft sued in California for faulty Xbox 360s]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/microsoft-sued-in-california-for-faulty-xbox-360s/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/microsoft-sued-in-california-for-faulty-xbox-360s/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/microsoft-sued-in-california-for-faulty-xbox-360s/#commentsFiled under:

According to DailyGamesNews, Microsoft is the target of a class action lawsuit in California, alleging that not only have too many Xbox 360s failed, but that the company concealed the fact to "compete with the pending launch of Sony's Playstation 3 and Nintendo's Wii gaming systems." If it loses the suit, Microsoft would have to "disgorge" all the cash it made on the 360 and implement a refund program in California.

... Ladies and gentlemen, our economy is hurting. Now is the time for us to rally around our gigantic corporations, not try to tear them down! Did you know that Bill Gates is only the planet's third richest man now? Can you imagine how that must feel, being a hair's breadth from being surpassed by steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal? No. No, we bet you can't.

You know that part of the beach where there's only one set of bald-eagle-skin loafer footprints? That's where he carried you.

JoystiqMicrosoft sued in California for faulty Xbox 360s originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-gatesmicrosoftrrodXbox-360Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft fires tester for speaking out about red rings]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/microsoft-fires-tester-for-speaking-out-about-red-rings/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/microsoft-fires-tester-for-speaking-out-about-red-rings/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/microsoft-fires-tester-for-speaking-out-about-red-rings/#commentsFiled under:

When tester Robert Delaware spoke with VentureBeat about problems with the 360 hardware, he said he did so because he "believes passionately in his work ... and in the Xbox 360 gamer community." Now, Delaware has been rewarded for that passion by being fired by Microsoft. Lest there be any doubt about Delaware's job performance, VB reports that a Microsoft manager told him it was as a direct result of aiding with the article.

The twist? Well, we're going to have to side with the giant corporation on this one. If Microsoft was still insisting that nothing was wrong, that would be one thing, but its decision is already hurting it both in the pocketbook and in the reputation department. Plus, Delaware even said he knew this was a possible repercussion of his actions. We hate for anybody to be out of a gig, but our advice to Delaware would be this: There's a reason some sources are anonymous, and it's not just so they can wear cool hats and hang out in dimly lit parking garages.

JoystiqMicrosoft fires tester for speaking out about red rings originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftrrodXbox-360Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: The five-hour Xbox 360 relaunch Sept. 25]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/rumor-the-five-hour-xbox-360-relaunch-sept-25/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/rumor-the-five-hour-xbox-360-relaunch-sept-25/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/rumor-the-five-hour-xbox-360-relaunch-sept-25/#commentsFiled under: ,


VGChartz is running a megaton rumor about the launch of the new Xbox 360 dashboard. It has our curiosity piqued because of its creativity and sheer audacity. The story goes that Microsoft will have a five-hour televised countdown beginning September 25 at 7PM Eastern leading to the New Xbox Experience and the software-based relaunch of the console at midnight.

Allegedly, G4 will cover the event exclusively and Live members will be able to stream it. The rumor gets even bigger by saying that three new components of the NXE will be unveiled when the update happens at midnight. First is a partnership with Sirius Radio, allowing users to access the satellite radio station for a "modest monthly fee." Then there's the music store page -- think iTunes, except on your Xbox. Finally, there's the "mad lib" page, though nobody seems to know what the _______ it is.

Sending this whole thing into overdrive, the source claims Microsoft will announce 12 new titles "exclusive or first" on the 360, including Assassin's Creed 2, Mass Effect 2, a new Conker game and two new Halo titles. Also, six free original Xbox games will be available to download, with Halo being one of them.

The whole thing sounds like madness (and fanboy conjecture), but given the Xbox 360's slipping sales, a mega-event relaunch might just be the reset button the company needs for the console best-known to general consumers for the RRoD. The whole rumor isn't even that insane when we recall how Microsoft went all-out for the first Xbox 360 launch and, if Microsoft execs are to be believed, this is "an entirely new Xbox" made possible by "the magic of software."

[Via X3F]

Gallery: New Xbox Experience

JoystiqRumor: The five-hour Xbox 360 relaunch Sept. 25 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fall-updatemicrosoftnew-xbox-experiencerrodrumorvgchartzXbox-360Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Xbox 360's defect rate was as high as 68%]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/rumor-xbox-360s-defect-rate-was-as-high-as-68/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/rumor-xbox-360s-defect-rate-was-as-high-as-68/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/rumor-xbox-360s-defect-rate-was-as-high-as-68/#commentsFiled under: ,

According to VentureBeat's own Dean Takahashi and his numerous insider sources, 68% of all the early manufactured Xbox 360 consoles were defective and Microsoft knew it. Takahashi does mention that it's common industry knowledge that "early yields on electronic goods are almost always lousy", but in the case of the 360, the problem was never fixed and production of the defective consoles went as planned. Because, you know, Microsoft had launch plans to stick to.

Again, this is all rumor seeing that Microsoft would never admit to such knowledge or such high defective rate numbers, but let's say they knew that 68% of all their consoles had a potential for failure. If so, shame on them, but we think they learned their lesson.

[Via Eurogamer]

JoystiqRumor: Xbox 360's defect rate was as high as 68% originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-warsmicrosoftrrodrumorxbox-360Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Opus-model 360s begining to flow?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/opus-model-360s-begining-to-flow/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/opus-model-360s-begining-to-flow/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/opus-model-360s-begining-to-flow/#commentsFiled under:

Thanks to a tipster in our last post, we've now heard our first real world tale of the previously rumored "Zombie Repaired" 360, code named Opus. The Opus "model" is for those who have had their 360's red ring and have sent them off to Microsoft for repair. In an effort to use (instead of toss) the older Xenon motherboards, Microsoft is basically upgrading repaired 360's with the Falcon model chips (65nm CPU, 90nm GPU) and one of the older motherboards that doesn't have have HDMI, effectively creating a zombie 360 that cannot be purchased in stores.

According to a specific poster over at GameTrailers, when a repaired RROD is now returned to its owner it includes a slip of paper marked "OPUS" as well as a new power supply. So if you've recently had a 360 red ring, keep an eye out for that little slip of paper when it returns, as it basically says that your 360 is now of the undead, and thus is quite unlikely to ever die again.

JoystiqOpus-model 360s begining to flow? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>falconhardwarejasperopusrepairrrodWed, 18 Jun 2008 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Robbie Bach: broken Xbox 360s did not affect brand preference]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/robbie-bach-broken-xbox-360s-did-not-affect-brand-preference/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/robbie-bach-broken-xbox-360s-did-not-affect-brand-preference/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/robbie-bach-broken-xbox-360s-did-not-affect-brand-preference/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Fun fact: the Xbox 360 hardware issues did not affect customers' overall view of the console. Robbie Bach, head of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Group, told a group of reporters, "The amazing part of that whole situation is that when we look at brand preference, customer satisfaction, willingness to recommend, none of that data has moved through that whole process" (via VentureBeat).

In case you think you misread that, Bach continues. "It speaks to the fact that they love their games and Xbox Live. Does it frustrate them? Yes. On the other hand, they know we're taking care of them," he said. Bach, who was not part of yesterday's executive reshuffle, covered quite a few topics (and managed to dodge most of them): the next Xbox console, Japan failures, a hinted Wii remote, "Wii 360" and the loss of Bizarre Creations.

JoystiqRobbie Bach: broken Xbox 360s did not affect brand preference originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftrobbie-bachrrodxboxxbox-360Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst blames Xbox RRoD on MS-designed graphics chip]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/researcher-blames-xbox-rrod-on-ms-designed-graphics-chip/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/researcher-blames-xbox-rrod-on-ms-designed-graphics-chip/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/researcher-blames-xbox-rrod-on-ms-designed-graphics-chip/#commentsFiled under: ,

With Microsoft remaining officially mum on the reasons behind the wave of Xbox 360-killing red rings of death, owners and experts have speculated on causes ranging from cheap heat sinks to bad soldering to power surges. Now, Gartner Research Vice President and Chief Analyst Bryan Lewis thinks he's honed in on the real reason behind the system failures: cheap, Microsoft-designed graphics processors.

Speaking at the Design Automation Conference, Lewis said Microsoft tried to save a few million dollars by designing the Xbox 360's GPU in-house, rather than farming the design out to an experienced, approved application-specific integrated circuit vendor. Lewis chalked the high failure rate to Microsoft's inexperience designing such chips. "How many ASICs per year does Microsoft design? Not many.," Lewis said. "The ASIC vendor could have been able to design a graphics processor that dissipates much less power."

The irony is that Microsoft is widely believed to have gone to experienced ASIC-designer ATI for a redesigned Xbox 360 graphics chip in the middle of 2007. So, in addition to spending over a billion dollars on a warranty extension, Microsoft probably still ended up having to spend the few million dollars they were trying to avoid in the first place. Smooth move, ex-lax.

[Thanks copa.]

JoystiqAnalyst blames Xbox RRoD on MS-designed graphics chip originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>failureGPUhardwarered-ringred-ring-of-deathRRoDxbox 360Xbox-360Xbox360Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: MS's chip design team caused RROD fiasco]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/rumor-mss-chip-design-team-caused-rrod-fiasco/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/rumor-mss-chip-design-team-caused-rrod-fiasco/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/rumor-mss-chip-design-team-caused-rrod-fiasco/#commentsFiled under: ,

This week, EETimes.com posted an interesting article regarding what they believe to be the truth behind the Xbox 360's RROD problems which led to last year's 360 "recall". And they're firmly placing all the blame on Microsoft and their attempt to save a few bucks.

Even though they formally acknowledged it with billion dollar warranty extensions, Microsoft never completely revealed what the cause of the Xbox 360's RROD hardware problems were. The reason for this, as EETimes speculates, is because MS's 360 graphics chip design team is to blame for creating a faulty chip design that was prone to overheating. This "in house" chip development is sort of a rarity, seeing that companies usually leave the design of specialized chips to an outside application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) vendor who has more experience in designing specialized chips. But that would have costed MS tens of millions of dollars, so they decided to leave it to their own, less experienced design team. A decision that could have led to the billion dollar RROD fiasco and a giant blow to the Xbox 360's overall image. If this speculation is true, we hope MS learned their lesson. Albeit the hard way.

JoystiqRumor: MS's chip design team caused RROD fiasco originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftrrodrumorxbox-360Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Poll: Are you having technical issues with GTA IV?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/poll-are-you-having-technical-issues-with-gta-iv/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/poll-are-you-having-technical-issues-with-gta-iv/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/poll-are-you-having-technical-issues-with-gta-iv/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We've heard about various reports of the technical problems with Grand Theft Auto IV. We're conducting a network-wide poll with our friends at X3F and PS3 Fanboy to see how the Joystiq community has been afflicted with the issues. After voting, please let us know your specific problems in the comments below.

Are you having problems with Grand Theft Auto IV?
Yes, and I use the Xbox 360
Yes, and I use the 60GB PS3
Yes, and I use the non-60GB PS3 (please specify in comments)
No problem (Xbox 360)
No problem (60GB PS3)
No problem (non-60GB PS3; please specify in comments)
Don't own the game, I just felt compelled to click something

JoystiqPoll: Are you having technical issues with GTA IV? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>grand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgtagtaivhardwareissuespollproblemsPS3rockstarrrodtake-twotechnicalXbox-360Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA IV Poll results: Achievements, DLC put 360 ahead]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/poll-results-achievements-dlc-main-reason-to-pick-gta-iv-for-x/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/poll-results-achievements-dlc-main-reason-to-pick-gta-iv-for-x/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/poll-results-achievements-dlc-main-reason-to-pick-gta-iv-for-x/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Last week, Joystiq (with some help from PS3 Fanboy and Xbox 360 Fanboy) asked you which version of Grand Theft Auto IV you were planning to purchase. We got a great response from everyone, with over 38,400 votes coming in! Check out the results after the break, as well as a breakdown of the reasons (as noted in the comments section).

Gallery: Grand Theft Auto IV

Continue reading GTA IV Poll results: Achievements, DLC put 360 ahead

JoystiqGTA IV Poll results: Achievements, DLC put 360 ahead originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsdlcgrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgtagta4gtaivPCPS3rrodXbox-360xbox-liveMon, 14 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA["Red Light of Death": The new Red Ring?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/red-light-of-death-the-new-red-ring/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/red-light-of-death-the-new-red-ring/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/red-light-of-death-the-new-red-ring/#commentsFiled under:

The brouhaha over Microsoft's ever-present Red Ring of Death is sooooo 2007. The "Red Light of Death" is the new Xbox 360-breaking craze for the oh-eight ... if a Consumerist post is the front end of a trend, that is.

Unlike the distinctive three red lights of the RRoD, the "E74" error is characterized by a blinking red light in the lower-right corner of the ring and graphical problems on the television. The problem has been known for a while but is currently not covered by Microsoft's extended three-year Xbox 360 warranty, which only applies to traditional Red Ring problems -- E74 sufferers have to shell out the money to ship their system in for repairs.

Of course, we don't know just how widespread this E74 problem is, so it's not necessarily a cause for alarm just yet. Still, we have to agree with the Consumerist that the warranty extension should apply to all sorts of hardware malfunctions, not just the common ones that get a lot of media attention. How about it, Microsoft?

Joystiq"Red Light of Death": The new Red Ring? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E74emalfunctionhardwarered-light-of-deathred-ring-of-deathrlodrrodXbox-360Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Even more problems with MS customer service]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/even-more-problems-with-ms-customer-service/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/even-more-problems-with-ms-customer-service/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/even-more-problems-with-ms-customer-service/#commentsFiled under:


Microsoft just can't seem to do much right on the customer support front. So much so that we're rather tired of hearing about it. This time however, the story has more than a few new wrinkles that made it insightful enough to take a second look. The story begins with a review of the whole crazy situation and in it the author remains relatively fair and calm. Then comes the fifth paragraph, and specifics about repeat failures begin to surface.

Things like the fact that the 3-year warranty won't extend to any problem other than the RROD for any replacement console that you are sent by Microsoft. Things like the fact that if Microsoft sends you a replacement console that does not function, you're then stuck with the original 1-year warranty that came with your first 360. Basically, if your 360 RROD'd between 366 and 1095 days after purchase (just over one year to three years) then Microsoft will send you a replacement console. But if that one has something wrong with it other than the RROD, then it'll cost you $100 to send it back to Microsoft to get it fixed. Remember kids, it's wrong to screw people over if you're not a multinational corporation.

JoystiqEven more problems with MS customer service originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftrepairrrodwarrantySun, 06 Apr 2008 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft apologizes for 360 'cleaning' with Bill Gates-signed replacement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/microsoft-apologizes-for-360-cleaning-with-bill-gates-signed-r/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/microsoft-apologizes-for-360-cleaning-with-bill-gates-signed-r/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/microsoft-apologizes-for-360-cleaning-with-bill-gates-signed-r/#commentsFiled under:


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.

JoystiqMicrosoft apologizes for 360 'cleaning' with Bill Gates-signed replacement originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360BillGatesbungiehalomicrosoftrepairrrodXbox-360xbox360Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report cites 10% of all 360 failures due to RROD]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/report-cites-10-of-all-360-failures-due-to-rrod/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/report-cites-10-of-all-360-failures-due-to-rrod/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/report-cites-10-of-all-360-failures-due-to-rrod/#commentsFiled under:

Earlier this month, we mentioned that the total Xbox 360 failure rate was found to be somewhere around 16% and now new details from warranty testing firm SquareTrade is telling us just how many were the result of the dreaded RROD.

SquareTrade released a report today detailing their warranty tests and out of the 16% failed 360 total, roughly 10% of them were due to RROD general hardware failures. The other 6% were attributed to things like disc read errors, hard drive freezes and disc tray malfunctions all of which would not be covered under Micrsoft's extended warranty. SquareTrade also mentioned that due to the Elite and Core test subjects not having enough warranty claims, they removed them from their statistical analysis and based their numbers on the more problematic Pro SKUs.

We're not certain if this is good or bad news seeing that SquareTrade still found 16% of all Xbox 360s to be problematic, it's just only 10% of them red ring. Nothing to get excited over, it's still way too high of a failure rate and way too many headaches to deal with. Fly Falcon fly and send us our RROD relief!

JoystiqReport cites 10% of all 360 failures due to RROD originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwaremicrosoftrrodsquaretradexbox-360Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RRoGDC? Xbox 360 failure shows up at trade show]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/rrogdc-xbox-360-failure-shows-up-at-trade-show/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/rrogdc-xbox-360-failure-shows-up-at-trade-show/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/rrogdc-xbox-360-failure-shows-up-at-trade-show/#commentsFiled under: ,

Microsoft's efforts to divert attention from the Xbox 360's reportedly high failure rates were were certainly not helped today by an infamous Red Ring of Death that showed up at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. An intrepid BBC reporter noted the common hardware failure on display at Microsoft's XNA area in the Moscone Center's North Hall.

Perhaps this is why the whole XNA area was protected by a shroud as recently as yesterday. Then again, perhaps not. Regardless, the BBC is certainly correct in noting that "at the very least it's embarrassing for the company that its own stock of demo machines are still susceptible to the problem." Check out the full video of the "event" below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

Continue reading RRoGDC? Xbox 360 failure shows up at trade show

JoystiqRRoGDC? Xbox 360 failure shows up at trade show originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>embarassingfailureGDCGDC08microsoftRRoDXboxXbox-360Xbox360Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 red rings on GDC show floor]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/xbox-360-red-rings-on-gdc-show-floor/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/xbox-360-red-rings-on-gdc-show-floor/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/xbox-360-red-rings-on-gdc-show-floor/#commentsFiled under:


Now in the news of hilarity. In the XNA area of Microsoft's GDC '08 booth Blip.tv caught one of the playable consoles had suffered from the red ring of death. We suppose it fell into that 16th percentile. It's not as embarrassing as it sound though. The room was only filled with game developers, press and executives all armed with cameras and the internets to blog the occurrence. Oh wait. Yeah, that's not good.

JoystiqXbox 360 red rings on GDC show floor originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc08gdc08fanboyrrodTue, 19 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft issues response to 360 shortages]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/16/microsoft-issues-reponse-to-360-shortages/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/16/microsoft-issues-reponse-to-360-shortages/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/16/microsoft-issues-reponse-to-360-shortages/#commentsFiled under:

We all know that the Xbox 360 suffers from a fairly high failure rate, as we've all known someone (or been someone) who has experienced first hand the devastating effect of the dreaded Red Ring. However, many of us haven't seen the widespread effect this failure rate is having on the gaming market -- in a recent convo with Reuters, Microsoft's Jeff "Jeff Bell" Bell reported that retailers are having a hard time keeping the system in stock, and that MS is "running short of product here in the United States."

Microsoft issued their own official announcement on the matter in their response to the January NPD report (the same response that those GameDaily gumshoes discovered was chock full o' statistical gerrymandering), saying that "due to this high demand, Xbox 360 is experiencing temporary shortages." We can't help but wonder how much of the shortage is caused by actual post-holiday demand for the system, and how much is caused by the high numbers of Red Ring replacements being shipped out.

Then again, we haven't bought any 360s in a while; the shortage might not be as bad as MS is making it out to be. Has anyone had a hard time getting their hands on Microsoft's console/radiator lately?

JoystiqMicrosoft issues response to 360 shortages originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360demandjeffbellmicrosoftnpdrrodshortagexboxXbox-360xbox360Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Two new Xbox 360 models in production]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/rumor-two-new-xbox-360-motherboards-in-the-works/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/rumor-two-new-xbox-360-motherboards-in-the-works/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/rumor-two-new-xbox-360-motherboards-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under:


The blogger who famously broke the news that Bungie was parting ways from Microsoft has tipped us off to yet another internal MS situation. 8Bit Joystick is reporting that Microsoft is working on two new motherboards for the Xbox 360 to combat the persistent, but apparently dwindling, failure rates of our favorite console. Fifth and sixth generation Xbox 360's are being developed in Redmond codenamed Opus and Valhalla, respectively.

In October 2007, Joystiq reported that the third generation Xbox 360, codename Jasper, was being developed for an August 2008 launch to replace the current Falcon models. The Opus is described as the "zombie Xbox 360 killer," a mishmash of working parts from current red-ringed first generation Xbox 360's (codenamed Xenon) that includes a 90nm GPU and a 65nm CPU fitted onto a Falcon motherboard squeezed into the original Xenon case, which means this console would lack the new HDMI port. This replace-repair scenario was designed to rid Microsoft of the "millions of dead Xenon's" they currently have in stock according to the post by Jake Metcalf at 8Bit Joystick. Due to its refurbished nature, the Opus will never be available at retail and will only be used as replacement units for replacement during RRoD situations.

Continue reading Rumor: Two new Xbox 360 models in production

JoystiqRumor: Two new Xbox 360 models in production originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>falconhardware-failurejasperopusridiculously-named-craprrodvalhallaFri, 15 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST