Xbox360 failure rate as high as 33%?

[Triple_6]

Reported from Daily Tech:

By several metrics, the Xbox 360 is the most successful console so far of this generation. Despite the startling pace of the Wii, the Xbox 360 still has the most consoles sold worldwide and the longest list of games and exclusives. For a gamer looking for online-enabled high-definition gaming today, the Xbox 360 appears to satisfy those needs.

One often overlooked factor when considering a console purchase is reliability, an area that is becoming apparent where the Xbox 360 falls short. Anecdotal evidence is heavily pointing to Microsoft’s latest console as being significantly more prone to failure than what consumers are accustomed to.

Microsoft has said before that its Xbox 360 failure rate falls within three to five percent, what it believes to be well within industry standards. Internet reports from Xbox 360 owners, however, suggest that the failure rate is much higher than that.

Article continued here (http://www.dailytech.com/Retailers+Estimate+Xbox+360+Failure+Rate+High+as+3 3+Percent/article7892.htm)

That's pretty wild if true. I know I've heard about constant red rings of death and other malfunctions from friends with 360s. I know personally one person who has had to send theirs back 3 times, the 3rd time it was out of warranty and he had to pay to get it fixed (needed a new hard drive or some such). He plays it a lot but no more than the average hardcore gamer.

[Frillmo]

Via work, 7 units were purchased for personal use by various staff.
I've heard 3 of those died over a 2 month period with a very convoluted process to have them repaired (in this country anyway).

These consoles are at home, not being used for works testing or anything.

Heat was raised as an issue amongst those with failed units. Further discussion by the people with broken boxes ruled that out.. They were well ventilated in rooms with AC.

I've only ever considered a 360 to power a guitar hero based drinking game during a bbq [cookout] (should be able to rent them from local bottle shops)... but after watching failure rates and hearing what was required to get them fixed... I think I'll pass.

[Triple_6]

Ain't that the truth, or at least wait for a price drop so the extended warranty purchases don't hurt as bad. That's probably what I'll do, along with hoping that by that time Microsoft will have worked out whatever kinks are causing these problems.

[HHBizzle]

Sony is supposed to drop the ps3 100 bux in october

[JimbobSS]

glad I got the extended warranty. I wonder though if the majority of those that failed were partly due to the owners leaving them on 24/7........I've left mine on for weeks before with little problems. Also if you stand them on end I know it cuts off some of the ventilation(because it has vents on both sides). Either way, I plan on extending my warranty when the time comes.

[Hae-Yu]

That sucks. When people buy game consoles, they expect an all-in-one box with higher reliability than your average PC. My SNES lasted 7 years with no issues and some periods of near-constant play. My OG XBox has lasted what, 3-4 years so far, with no kinks and a few high frequency periods.

It goes without saying though, the more complex the machines, the more opportunity for malfunction. I'd expect failure rates for the latest gen to be higher than last gen. At least for the first couple of years.

[sylverarrow]

Yeah when the PS2 and Xbox first came out they had issues as well. I got the first gen PS2 and died a year later. I know several people that purchased the Xbox first gen which died 6 months to a year later. It's horrible. Like Hae-Yu said, when I purchase a console it should run longer and more reliable then a computer system. For now on I will wait for the system to be out for a year or two and when they drop prices. I still have my SNES, since the first time it came out. It runs fine. My PS1 still runs to this day. My brother still has our NES and it runs great. It's almost like they rely on people to buy up these systems to break so they ave to buy them again.

[Frillmo]

Early adopters should get priority warranty service. You pay the premium price for the crappy unit, it should be sorted easily and fast.