Consumerist
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more like system down-date
Gamers Accuse Sony, Nintendo Of Breaking Their Consoles From Afar
It's a good week for Microsoft and its fanboys, because both Playstation 3 and Wii gamers are reporting recent system updates are rendering their consoles nothing more than bricks. More » -
console wars
GamePro Names Five Best Console Wars
The history of video game console competitions reads much like that of New York's crime families — you see powerful leaders making bold, risky moves to snuff out their rivals and fierce, tribal alliances that breed clashes between vocal factions. More » -
epic fail
Xbox 360 Failure Rate is 54.2 Percent, Game Informer Finds
The Xbox 360 breaks five times as often as its closest failure-prone competitor, the PlayStation 3, a print edition-only Game Informer survey found. More » -
microsoft
Read Pachter's Lips: No New Consoles Till 2013
Bad news for gamers who are dreaming of an Xbox 361, PlayStation 4 or Wiii. You won't be playing hovercraft Mario Kart or holographic Halo until well into President Palin's first term. More » -
extended warranties
Sorry, Your XBOX 360 Isn't The Right Kind Of Broken
By now, most people know about the dreaded Red Ring of Death issue on the XBOX 360 — and the accompanying 3 year warranty. What many do not know is that that 3 year warranty only covers the "3 red lights" issue. If you get any other error code, you're out of luck. More » -
sony
VISA Won't Replace Dusty PS3 After All
Remember that guy with the PS3 Sony said was too dusty to repair? The saga continues. More » -
nintendo
Nintendo Repairs Out-Of-Warranty Wii In One Day, For Free
Joseph writes:
I have a first generation Nintendo Wii and I recently bought the game Boom Blox for it. When I put the game in to start playing it would often lock up at the health warning screen and I would have to restart my Wii by unplugging it since no other method would work.
Here's what happened when he contacted Nintendo for help. More »
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xbox 360
You Can Now Transfer Licenses For Your Xbox 360 Content
As suspected, Microsoft has finally addressed the DRM issue with content you've purchased on your Xbox 360. In the past, if you bought a new console you couldn't transfer the licenses—one customer was told by an Xbox 360 CSR to "buy the content again." Now you can visit this page on xbox.com and transfer your licenses to a new console. Hooray for progress! More » -
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xbox
Microsoft Accuses Gamer Of Tampering With Xbox, Tamper-Proof Sticker Says Otherwise
Reader Jeff writes in with yet another tale of Xbox woe: After sending in his third Xbox 360 for a third Red Ring of Death, he was surprised to receive a package from Microsoft only seven days later. "I figured Microsoft was so efficient and concerned about their loyal customers that the quickly delivered me another 360," says Jeff. That's not what happened. More » -
sony
Sony's Email Customer Service Is Extremely Unhelpful
Reader Dustin had a question about his PS3, so he emailed Sony. Now he's starting to suspect that they don't actually read the emails people send... More » -
consoles
Toys"R"Us Pretends To Have Wiis In Stock, Disappoints Customers
Toys"R"Us' website may claim to have Wiis in stock, but as reader Nick discovered yesterday, they don't. Nick ordered the elusive console first thing yesterday morning, but Toys"R"Us quickly sent an email explaining that the Wii was backordered and unavailable. As of this morning, Toys"R"Us' website still inexplicably lists the Wiis as "In Stock."
More »
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best buy
Let Best Buy 'Professionally Install' Your XBox Games
Are you one of the tens of customers who has trouble inserting their XBox 360 games? Do you find the whole concept of optical media frightening? Well, Best Buy has a service for you! For a low, low price, Best Buy will come to your home and professionally install those complex XBox games. More » -
complaints
Microsoft Keeps Your Repaired XBox For 4 Months, Calls You A Thief For Wanting It Back
Microsoft hasn't returned Tiffany's XBox 360 for four months because they think she is a thief, even though she has her original receipt and a credit card statement proving that she is the console's rightful owner. Microsoft repaired the XBox back in January and tried to return it via FedEx, but a shipping snafu landed the box back at Microsoft's service center. Tiffany has called repeatedly. She even sent a letter to Microsoft's legal department, after sending her receipt and statement, asking how else she could prove ownership. That was 22 days ago. She has yet to receive a response. More » -
xbox
Microsoft Doesn't Know Why You Can't Access Any Of Your Saved Games
Reader Brad took his XBOX Live Gamertag to a friend's house. When he got home, he realized that he'd forgotten his memory card (with the Gamertag on it) at his friend's place. More » -
defective
Scratch Too Hard On Your XBOX Live Card? Microsoft Won't Tell You The Code
Microsoft sells scratch off cards that contain codes you can use with XBOX live. Trouble is, if you get overzealous and scratch off the code along with the scratch-off stuff—you're out of luck. More » -
bummer
Walmart Slaps Down Super Smash Bros. Brawl Pre-Orders
Don't worry avid gamers, Walmart has "received your request to cancel" your pre-ordered copy of Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii. Oh, you didn't ask to cancel the order, you say? $19.82 is an amazing price for a $50 game?
Walmart now lists the game for $49.82. After the jump, Walmart's email of lies, and the best way to speak out against their thuggery. More »
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above and beyond
Wii Stolen From Porch, Amazon Executive Customer Service Replaces For Free
I read consumerist everyday and your tips help me procure a Wii for xmas. I had bought one through Amazon, and it was delivered when I wasn't home. By the time I got home, someone had stolen it off my porch...
That's right folks, there is a magical email address for acute Amazon.com customer service issues, and it's ecr@amazon.com. Before using it, you should try calling 1-800-201-7575, use one of their online forms, or have them call you.I tried calling regular customer service who offered to refund my account but couldn't help me get another Wii. I emailed Executive Customer Relations at Amazon and they were able to get me another one without having to wait and get lucky again. I wouldn't have known to use that email address to get better service without your blog. So, thanks and happy holidays.
- Kyle
(Photo: funny strange or funny ha ha)
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consoles
Why Are Nintendo Wiis So Hard To Find?
Nintendo thinks depriving potential customers of the coveted Wii is a sound business decision that will ensure its long-term survival. Sure, you want the Wii now, but your passions are fleeting and unreliable. If you can't wait for Nintendo's post-holiday production ramp-up, hit the jump and we'll tell you how we snagged our Wii. More »
consoles
New York, 2:11 PM
Wed Nov 11
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