"One Ring To RUIN Them All"

My views on Microsoft’s next generation console the Xbox 360, and the problems I have had with the system. I have had about six different Xbox 360 console systems come through my house during a six month period. A while back I checked out the different Xbox 360 systems available for reserving: the “Core” system, and the “Elite” system. The difference between the two systems is around two hundred dollars worth of extra equipment added to the “Core” to become the “Elite.” With the bundle as oppose to buying them yourself you save fifty dollars and receive a silver Xbox LIVE online membership free. I have had many problems with the Xbox 360 console all due to the early release date that Microsoft set. I like the Xbox 360 system, I am just mad that Microsoft didn’t do enough testing on the console before selling it.

Since Microsoft's next generation console the Xbox 360 made its debut at the Electronic Entertainment Expo it was the talk of the town until Sony's PS3 made its debut one year later. At that point it became not a goal but a priority for Microsoft to beat Sony in what I like to call the race for the gamers. A year or so before, both manufacturers were spreading information about their new consoles and the power they could put forth for gaming. So it was no question weather both companies had next generation technology, the real question was who would release the console first. Unfortunately for Microsoft, a speedy release meant some bugs and software glitches would be over looked.

The day before Microsoft released the Xbox 360 I couldn't even go to bed due to all the hype that was made about the console. I found my mind running with thoughts instead of sleeping and my face wouldn't stop hurting I was smiling so hard. Due to the hype I would have to wait in line for twelve hours to get my console and it wasn't even the complete system it was the "Core” system. Seeing as how that store was only sent fourteen consoles and I was number thirteen in line I consider myself lucky to have purchased one. As a precaution I had reserved an “Elite” bundle of the console in advance incase I didn’t get one on the release night. I spent my time playing Perfect Dark Zero for a month or so until the second release date came and then I traded up from the "Core" system to the “Elite.” Now that I had my “Elite” system and the first game for that console Perfect Dark Zero, I played and waited patiently for word about Halo 3.

A year and a half before the Halo 3 debut I reserved a copy for myself to pick up on the release date, a release date that would be remembered as the day Halo lovers “finished the fight." Just months before that day, I had been playing games on my console when everything just froze up right in the middle of a game. The console then started flashing on its front display three red blinking lights that formed a ring, aptly called "the red ring of death." It seemed weird so I rebooted the system and tried again and I got the same results over and over after following Microsoft's troubleshooting tips. I then contacted Microsoft support who sent me an empty box with a return address and instruction for shipment of the console back to the factory for diagnosis.

During the three to five week period that Microsoft looked at my console, I had to pass the time so I read books, magazines, and hung out with old friends. Though I got word from Microsoft that they would send me another Xbox 360, I found myself waiting another week for shipping. As I saw the UPS truck come down my street the clouds opened up and a beam of bright yellow light followed the truck to my house. The next few days passed by quickly as I soared through the campaign mode of Halo 3. I then decided to let my friend Adam see how the game ends and so I began the campaign over with him. Adam and I were about fifteen minutes into the game and still on the first level when the system froze, again.

I remember shedding a tear as I began to curse Microsoft for such a big problem that should have been fixed before the release. I took a few minutes to gather myself before I called Microsoft and began the long task of getting the console replaced, a task that would soon become very familiar to me. I went through three more Xbox 360 consoles all with the same software bug before I received a bug free console. Though it does not sound like a long time, from the first console about six months went by until finally a console with no defects as far as I know showed up at my door. After the incident I found out that this was happening to many consoles around the world mostly those from the first and second generation Xbox 360. Those who waited a few months to get consoles were the ones who had, and probably still do have, working consoles.

My experience with the Xbox and PS2 led me to turn from a Sony lover to a Microsoft lover, but with the problems I had my love for Microsoft has been tested. Due to many problems the Xbox 360 console has I feel that Microsoft has not caught up with the overpowering PS3 from Sony. I have not heard anything bad about Sony since the Slim PS2 console had problems overheating a lot. Being first to release the next generation of gaming consoles was a nice idea for Microsoft, who had high hopes about the Xbox 360 console. In the end Microsoft was dealt a hard blow with the software problem that has plagued many consoles around the world giving them a bad rap. Microsoft had better pick it up or Sony is going to lead in the “gamers” market with the next console that the company makes.