Microsoft sued because of Xbox 360 glitch

[heartless bowser]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Chicago man who bought Microsoft Corp.'s new Xbox 360 has sued the world's largest software maker, saying the new video game console has a design flaw that causes it to overheat and freeze up.

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The proposed class action claims that in Microsoft's bid to gain share in the $25 billion global video game market, the company was so intent on releasing the Xbox 360 before competing next-generation machines from Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news). and Nintendo Co Ltd. that it sold a "defectively designed" product.

Robert Byers, who brought the suit, said the power supply and central processing unit in the Xbox 360 overheat, affecting heat-sensitive chips and causing the console to lock up.

Microsoft spokeswoman Molly O'Donnell on Monday said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

Complaints about the problem surfaced quickly on gaming enthusiast Web sites after the Xbox 360 debuted on November 22.

Console owners reported that some systems had crashed during regular use as well as during online game play using the Xbox Live service. Problems included screens going black and the appearance of a variety of error messages.

At the time O'Donnell told Reuters: "We have received a few isolated reports of consoles not working as expected."

She declined to say how many reports Microsoft had received and said that calls reporting the issue to the company represented a "very, very small fraction" of units sold.

The lawsuit, filed on Friday in federal court in Illinois, seeks unspecified damages and litigation-related expenses, as well as the replacement or recall of Xbox 360 game consoles.
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haha lol.

[Zephyrus]

Common sense not to buy the 'first one' of a product that is taking whatever it is made for to the next generation. Of course there will be defects. However, it is recommended to save after an hour gameplay, turn the game off and let it rest for 1/2 hour.

[Orion19819]

Yeah... The first versions will always be defected in some way... Plus when you mass produce anything theres a good chance that something will go wrong. You can't produce millions of perfecy units... I think people just over re-act and don't use common sense most of the time.

[Zephyrus]

Yeah, that's how it is. That's why I'm waiting until next Christmas when they've more than likely perfected it to only have a 1% defect rate.

[Orion19819]

Well like I've said. When something is mass produced there will always be defective ones and you have to face that. Its not really a big deal seeing as how you can get them replaced... If the place refuses to replace then something is wrong.

[Zephyrus]

Most stores have a policy in which they must take all defective mercandice(sp?) back and replace it.

[Orion19819]

Yeah. It would be pretty stupid not to accept them back. Its not like the person chose to pick one of the defective ones.

[OzzyMcGee]

That's Microsoft. Preferring to release a defective product before the other companies and make money than to wait and release a good product. That's just me talking though.

[Orion19819]

Eh. Actually thats the norm nowadays. You'll find a lot of games that could have been great but were given such a strict deadline that the glitches and exploits just ruin it. Same basic thing transfers to products as well.

[Zephyrus]

Yar. Imagin' how great Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen would have been if there was trainers with reasonable Pokemon levels. Hmm? Now wouldn't that be fun.

But seriously, Microsoft has been quiet as of lately. Wonder what's up.

[heartless bowser]

Microsoft better sells Rare to Nintendo again. Those Banjo Kazooie and DK games rock.

Fortunaly DK remains in Ninty's control though,

[Zephyrus]

Be forewarned though, there is always a chance Nintendo might let Rare make a DK game on the X-Box.