I was a frustrated Xbox 360 owner. Long story short, I had 6 Xbox 360 since launch that needed to be replaced, 4 of them due to poor quality control with the refurbished units (only 2 fell victim to the overheating issue). I had already purchased an extended warranty, beyond the extended one Microsoft provided. On the 6th repair, I was insisting on getting a new, not-refurb, unit. I escalated the call as high as I could, to where I was given a special phone number and extension for a case worker of sorts.
gaming
XBOX 360 Gets $50 Cheaper Tomorrow
By 8.7.07
The rumored 20 gigabyte XBOX 360 price cut goes into effect tomorrow according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. If you’re in the market for an XBOX, don’t buy one today or you’ll pay $50 more for no reason.
Ads In Video Games: Annoying Intrusion, Or Welcome Dose Of Reality?
By 8.3.07
Advertisers are expected to quintuple the amount spent placing ads in video games over the next five years. Beyond mere brand placement, consoles with an internet connection are capable of displaying dynamic billboards that can advertise The Simpsons Movie today, and The Simpsons Movie Sequel: The Return Of Spider Pig, in two years. From the LA Times:
The player’s ability to don, kick, toss or use products is part of the appeal. In “Super Monkey Ball,” players try to get their monkey characters to collect Dole-branded bananas. And in “Tony Hawk’s Project 8,” players use Nokia phones.
After the jump, tell us whether you greet ads in video games with skepticism and disdain, or appreciate them as a dose of reality in an otherwise virtual world.
Sony Cuts PlayStation 3 Price
By 7.9.07
Poor Sony. Despite telling Reuters on July 6 that they had no plans for a price cut, they’ve cut the price of the Playstation 3 by $100.
Video Game Spending To Overtake Music As Soon As This Year
By 6.25.07
Spending on video game products is poised to surpass the music industry as soon as this year, according to Ars Technica.
PricewaterhouseCooperss released the data in its annual “Global Entertainment and Media Outlook” report covering 2007 through 2011, which outlines expected growth in the entertainment, film, music, and video game industries, among others.
eVGA, A-OK
By 4.30.07
‘Omaha Corrections Guy’ purchased two 256MB eVGA 7900 GT video cards. He was reveling in his “SLI-fueled gaming joy,” which can only be enjoyed with two video cards, until he began to notice artifacting, explained below:
I can’t game for 20 minutes without spikey jagged graphical flickering obscuring my view. I finally get annoyed enough to start fixing the problem. Evidently, 7900 GT’s, such as mine, are now notorious for memory problems which are causing (gasp) artifacting. They’re being RMA’ed left and right. So I pull out one card, test the remaining 7900 GT…yup, it’s….artifacting. I pull out that card, put in the other one…it’s fine. Ok, this is workable, I can still play on the one card while I send back the other for replacement.
The replacement that arrived was not the 256MG 7900 GT he sent away.
Nintendo Ramping Up Production Of The Wii
By 4.23.07
Didn’t feel like standing in line for a Wii? No worries. Nintendo says they’re ramping up production. Could the Wii drought be over?
GameStop: No Solicitation Calls = No Reservation Calls
By 2.16.07
I called my local Gamestop, where I know most of the employees by name, and asked what to do. They said they couldn’t help me directly, but to call customer service at (800) 883-8895. I called that number, waited on hold for a few minutes, got a CSR and asked that my name be removed from the solicitation list. I said that I don’t mind the calls telling me my reserved games are in, but that the solicitations needed to stop. He said that the two systems are linked, and that I couldn’t be removed from one without being removed from the other. I said that was acceptable, since I really didn’t want the solicitations. He asked for my phone number, I gave it to him, and he said he’d “put in a request” to have me removed from the system.
GameStop Matches Customer Contact Info To Purchases, Asks If They Can Buy Back Games
By 2.16.07
“We hope you’re enjoying your copy of Twiliight Princess, but if you’re finished with it, why don’t you bring it to the store and trade it in? We’re willing to give you $35 in trade for your copy of Twilight Princess….” I hung up at this point, and try not to curse. I really don’t like this sort of phone call, but I’m almost willing to tolerate it when they’re telling me a game I want to buy is coming in.
It seems that GameStop has cross-referenced their reservation database with the records of what their customers purchase. Then, when they’re running low on used copies of Twilight Princess or whatever, they can call and harass people to sell them back. Damn, GameStop. We know a lot of your customers are used to being treated like crap, but this is a new low. —MEGHANN MARCO
PS3: Are Consumers Put Off By The Price?
By 12.21.06
Prices on eBay have fallen as well. Whoops. Of course this doesn’t mean you can walk in to a store and actually buy a PS3, but it does mean you can’t gouge someone on eBay quite as easily.—MEGHANN MARCO
CompUSA PS3 Bundle Turns Out to Be A Scam
By 11.21.06
Did Mary get her TV or her PS3? Nope. The staff told her there was a priority list for the PS3, but couldn’t tell her if she was on it. Then, after Mary left the store TV-less and PS3-less she got a telephone call from the store manager, who informed her:
Get A Sweet Xbox360 Bundle This Weekend
By 10.9.06
UPDATE: The deal could be ready as early as Thursday or Friday, according to a reader who spoke with a different Fry’s Outpost rep.
Microsoft: We’ll Fix Your Damn Xbox
By 9.22.06
It freezes. It crashes. It gives you the red light of death. Well, you’re not alone. Microsoft has admitted it. Early Xbox 360s are defective and will be repaired free of charge...providing that you purchased yours before January 1, 2006.
Our Computer Fixed Yay!
By 6.15.06
Today, our laptop was fixed. A wonderful man named Vinnie V. came to our apartment and all was right with the world.
Kotaku, Eater of Worlds, E3 Coverage
By 5.11.06
It’s day 2 of the mega E3 gaming expo, and Kotaku has grown stronger and faster, previewing all the games and devices you’ll be begging for/awarding yourself this Christmas.
Hot Hot Kotaku on E3 Man Machine Love Association
By 5.9.06
If you lovvvvvvvvve video games, go to Kotaku. They’re covering the E3 game conference with reckless abandon, fanboy intensity and of course, Gawker Media Network’s trademark wit and panache.
