Report: Xbox 360 defects caused by pre-launch rush
- September 07, 2008 20:49 PM PST
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New analysis on Microsoft's development of the Xbox 360 points to improper testing and rushed manufacturing behind nearly two million defective consoles.
A scathing analysis by journalist Dean Takahashi contends that Microsoft was fully aware of defects in its Xbox 360 console before launch.
A defective Xbox 360.
Prior to the console's November 2005 release, Microsoft knowingly pushed manufacturing ahead despite glaring test failures. The drive to beat rivals Sony and Nintendo to market were behind the decision to ship the console in light of the problems.
"Everything Microsoft did was under time pressure," writes Takahashi. Microsoft began on Xbox 360 hardware development later than rival Sony, yet forced an early launch a full year ahead of PlayStation 3.
Takahashi goes as far as claiming, "The Xbox 360s defect problem will go down as one of the worst snafus in consumer electronics history."
Ironically enough, that hasn't stopped gamers from snatching up the console. Well over 20 million units have been snatched up since 2005. Declining sales against PlayStation 3 and Wii, however, have slowed reception. According to Takahashi, a cheaper, smaller version of the console will be sold next year.
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- Sep 07 2008 at 10:38:55:PM PST
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I don't know if it was the "worst snafu" because the early release did what it was intended to with minimal repercussions. All of these companies are jerks. . . I JUST WANT GOOD GAMES.
Oh yeah and a console that works. LOL!!!
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Such an enormous mistake. And quite frankly, for all the talk of how they "stepped up to the plate" to fix the issue... the fix doesn't work. My Xbox 360 is about to go back to their service department for weeks on end, and I have zero faith that it'll come back with any longer a lifespan than it did last time.
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Well those problems better be fixed because I'm set to get my 60 gb 360 at the end of this month.
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Worst snafus? There are so many more because, as I see it, the 360's did not set some poor man's pickup truck on fire.
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I've had mine for over a year and NEVER had any problems with it. I guess when you buy it, it's a luck of the draw, but I also take very good care of mine to ensure that it doesn't mess up.
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I just want to know how to identify an XBOX 360 with a Jasper motherboard inside.
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All i know is that ps2 had quite its share of problems, maybe not as many as the 360 but when your told by the gaming public and sony themselves to not use the dvd player in the console too much or it will shorten its lifespan that nots saying to much about the tech inside that console. Also look up the ps2 you'll see they were sued and lost a class action law suit because of the infamous disc read error with the ps2's (they lost the suit and had to pay out money to customers).I myself went through 4 consoles and not once would sony even attempt to help me, i sent my console out to them under the pretense of what they told me is that as long as i payed shipping they would fix it due to this being my 4th console. Low and behold 3 weeks later i get my console back untouched claiming that since i had starland video repair it the first time it broke it was no longer their problem although i told them this before i sent it out. That 4th console stayed broke and i bought the slim edition, which crapped out in the first week luckily i had a warranty through Gamestop so they replaced it for me. At the end of the day as the guy said above its the luck of the draw, the 360 clearly has its issues but lets not forget that the internet is the main form of communication for gamers and 10 years ago or whatever when the ps2 came out it wasnt as nearly publiczed with its faults due to the lack of people blogging and bitching!!! END RANT
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