Red Ring of death.... In public. (GDC)

[Mrbloodworth]

Microsoft wants consumers to believe that its problems with the Xbox 360 console in terms of hardware failure are over.

But wandering through the Game Developers Conference halls and it's clear that the problem persists.

On Microsoft's own stand at the show one of the demo consoles has a rather familiar problem - the red ring of death. There's no way of knowing if this particular console was manufactured before or after Microsoft identified the problems with the machines.

But at the very least it's embarrassing for the company that its own stock of demo machines are still susceptible to the problem.

Video with the article on BBC.

[Riggswolfe]

You know, I think this is overblown. I've had my console since about 6 months after the 360 came out and have never had a problem with it.

[stray]

You have just jinxed yourself, bud. 

[Mrbloodworth]

Apparently RROD is quite problematic. I don't know, i don't own one, but i know 3 people who do, who have RROD'd. Not to mention the thread here about it. *shrug*

[Ozzu]

Read this on another site in reference to this story:

"That is not the RROD. The RROD is lights 1,3 and 4. That has lights 2,3,4 which is a cable issue. someone just needs to make sure the cables are plugged in properly."

That kind of makes it not as funny, but still amusing.

[Xilren's Twin]

Friend of mine got the RRoD on Christmas eve when he was trying to get Rock Band setup for Xmas morning fun.  Needless to say, panic ensued 

Through furious googling, he found a homemade temporary solution which actually worked.  Basically, he wrapped the whole unit in towels so it would get good and hot for some period of time, then let it cool, hit the power button and it worked.  Supposedly, one of the chips was getting unseated from the board and by heating the unit up, the plastic expanded enough to allow the chip to reseat itself.  At any rate he was able to use it for the all important Christmas morning and about two weeks after before shipping it off for a refurb.

I suppose the thought is "well it's already not working, so what the hell" but when he told me that i got a good chuckle over the mental scene.  I suspect he was about ready to try voodoo rituals at 3am Christmas morning if they might get that xbox working for the kids...

[Azazel]

I read about that, or actualy, I saw the video on youtube by that scottish guy. Muy interesting to watch.

[stray]

Friend of mine got the RRoD on Christmas eve when he was trying to get Rock Band setup for Xmas morning fun.  Needless to say, panic ensued 

Through furious googling, he found a homemade temporary solution which actually worked.  Basically, he wrapped the whole unit in towels so it would get good and hot for some period of time, then let it cool, hit the power button and it worked.  Supposedly, one of the chips was getting unseated from the board and by heating the unit up, the plastic expanded enough to allow the chip to reseat itself.  At any rate he was able to use it for the all important Christmas morning and about two weeks after before shipping it off for a refurb.

I suppose the thought is "well it's already not working, so what the hell" but when he told me that i got a good chuckle over the mental scene.  I suspect he was about ready to try voodoo rituals at 3am Christmas morning if they might get that xbox working for the kids...

Now THAT is a fucking nightmare!

[schild]

Not like it matters. We had the PS3 version and instead of a red ring of death, the guitar and bass pedal went.

Technology isn't what it used to be. Except, FUCKING IRONICALLY, the PS3 itself.

[SnakeCharmer]

Reminds me of the story about the Win XP (I think?) unveiling where Gates was touting it's increased stability, then it blue screened on cue.

No idea if that actually happened.

[Miasma]

It was windows 98 but yes it happened.

[Dren]

I now of three friends that have the 360.  All three have had this problem and got them fixed or replaced.  Out of the 3:

1. Happened once and got a replacement.
2. Happened once.  Got it fixed.  Happened again while I was actually standing in their living room watching their son play.
3.  Happened once.  Got replaced due to in-store warranty (BBuy)  Happened again on the second one.  He's on his 3rd one now.

3 consoles that I have personal knowledge of and there have been 5 failures.  Great record from my strawman.

[Azazel]

That's not a strawman, it's anecdotal.

[NiX]

I have two, one of which my younger brother has back at home and one I have here at my school apartment.

The one he has gets more use and is a day 1 360. Never had a problem. Mine was bought about a year and a half ago and still no problem. It really depends on how you treat it and luck. Shit happens, I wish the PSP pixel issue was this blown up. That shit ruined EB.

[Phildo]

Mine was almost a year old when it went dead last week.  I thought I was safe.  You're not safe.  No one is safe!

[Fabricated]

One of my best friends works at Best Buy and they were handling 1-3 returns on 360s PER DAY at one point. I hear something like a 30% overall console failure rate and that is fucking atrocious.

[Moosehands]

When mine died last year I shipped it off in the MS provided coffin.  The very next day my local UPS man was on my doorstep delivering a replacement, which surprised the hell out of me.  Until we double-checked the shipping label and realized that it was for my downstairs neighbor.  2 dead 360s within 1 week in a 4-unit apartment building.