Microsoft Doesn’t Seem Bothered by Gameinformer Survey

I am no stranger to the infamous red ring of death; I’m just getting over my third such misfortune. A few people with whom I regularly play have also had three or more RROD’s. So it came as no surprise when last week Game Informer published a survey in which 54.2% of the 5000 people surveyed had suffered a RROD, I was personally shocked that it wasn’t more. The statement Microsoft released in reply to TG Daily asking them for comment on the matter is brilliant, they don’t argue with the data and they don’t provide any of their own to counter Game Informer’s, the statement does however reek of pre-prepared PR bullshit.

In the statement, Microsoft claims to have ‘˜one of the best warranty’s in the industry’ this may well be true to some, however my own personal experience and that of many others would suggest differently. Still having a great warranty does not make up for having terrible hardware defects. I don’t think Microsoft have gotten their heads around this, or the fact that the warranty should be in place for the odd broken machine not just to placate a growing number of gamers with faulty hardware, unfortunately the latter seems to be more in keeping with their current thinking.

The statement goes on to say ‘˜We are constantly improving the design, manufacture and performance of the console through extensive testing of potential sources of any problems’. This should go without saying as with such a high failure rate, improving the design, manufacture and performance should be a top priority. In an ideal world it should not be necessary at all, these are problems that should not exist in such numbers, surely defective hardware should always be a small minority?

Microsoft go on to say that the 360 is ‘˜pleased to maintain the title of ‘most played console’. This statement alone could have been improved by adding ‘˜despite the hardware deciding to give up the ghost if you have the audacity to try and use it as a games console’. Seriously it seems to me that Microsoft have decided that, despite having the console equivalent of the mayfly and a Customer Service that can be best described as schizophrenic in its helpfulness, people will continue to buy their system. These people will more likely than not fork over their hard earned cash to pay to fix something that shouldn’t be broken or just give up entirely and buy a new console.

What I would like to know is how many Xbox owners have suffered more than one RROD and have bought more than one Xbox as a result?