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Microsoft Might Just Hate You

Posted by John Constantine

This is a rumor. It might not be true. Someone on the internet thinks it is. Others do not.

Maybe. Can’t tell for sure yet. I mean, Fable 2 sure does make it seem like Microsoft loves you and everyone else. That game is delightful. But there was that little matter of launching a console too early, shipping hundreds of thousands of units with faulty innards that ultimately caused them to crash and flash nasty red lights at game players across the land. This would seem to indicate that they do in fact hate you. Now, a purported customer service rep from Microsoft has said that the impending Xbox 360 fall update, which will introduce the brand new Xbox Experience and all of its avatar-ly goodness, might just cause a very large number of Xbox 360s, particularly launch consoles, to start flashing those little red rings of death. Not only that, but the rep has implied that Micorsoft’s positioned the launch of the update specifically so that it releases after the Xbox 360 extended warranty, instituted last year to compensate for the red ring failures, has lapsed.

There’s no way to confirm that this is true, mind you. Considering the nature of net rumors, it most likely isn’t true at all. But wouldn’t that be a pisser? The idea of it alone now has me nervous about the impending update. I’m actually quite excited about the new 360 interface. It’s attractive and looks like a far friendlier system than the current “blades” UI, and while I think the new avatars are a fairly limp attempt at competing with Nintendo’s Miis, I don’t exactly find them offensive either. Still, my roommate’s 360, the only one I have regular access to, is over two years old now, manufactured during the Red Ring of Death’s prime, and I’m nervous enough about its life expectancy without having to worry about a software update potentially bricking the poor thing.

For what it’s worth, you can check out the original story here. You can then join me in senseless anxiety.

(Link: Gaming Confidential via Xbox Scene via NeoGAF)

Related links:

Have You Seen This XBox Game?
R.I.P. Xbox 720 and Playstation 4: The Future of Gaming
The Banjo Kazooie Text Debacle Part 3: Text Hard With a Vengeance
Impressions: Fable 2
The Curious Case of Playstation Home
E3 Day Two: Spin, Malaise, Sony’s New Clothes, and Nintendo’s True Disruption

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Posted Nov 11 2008, 02:00 PM

Filed under: john constantine, xbox 360, fable 2

Comments

Roto13 said:

That sounds pretty unlikely, but as a former Xbox customer support rep myself, believe me when I say that Microsoft most definitely hates its customers.

November 11, 2008 7:30 PM

Demaar said:

Oh jeez. I think I might just hold off updating my 360 and see what happens to everyone else then. I can live with not playing any games on live if it means avoiding three red ringing my console.

November 11, 2008 9:15 PM

about the blogger

John Constantine, our superhero, was raised by birds and then attended Penn State University. He is currently working on a novel about a fictional city that exists only in his mind. John has an astonishingly extensive knowledge of Scientology. Ultimately he would like to learn how to effectively use his brain. He continues to keep Wu-Tang's secret to himself.

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