Easy now!
Following a report from the BBC's Watchdog TV show claiming that the Xbox 360 is scratching game discs, Microsoft has denied that its console is causing the problems. For some reason the show's investigation in the console is not a year to the day since its last stab.
Following complaints that the console was damaging discs, Watchdog sent two Xbox 360s off to a lab in Hampshire - one that Watchdog says has a track record of damaging discs and one that was "brand new". While both machines held up to simulations of people walking nearby, tests that mimicked the effect of someone putting a book on the table near the 360 apparently resulted in disc scratching in the older machine.
Given the size of the sample tested (two) it's impossible to say whether new 360 = "no disc scratching".
Microsoft responded with a statement dismissing the claims. "Microsoft reaffirms its longstanding position that it's not been able to ascertain any defect in the Xbox 360 console that causes concentric gouges (that is, 'scratching') on discs when a console is in a stationary position.
"Indeed, despite extensive testing and examination under static operating conditions, Microsoft has never been able to reproduce the concentric gouge that causes disc readability problems or find any such defect in consoles returned by consumers for examination. It's only with the movement of a console that such 'disc scratching' may occur."
Of course, vibrations of the surface the 360 sits on can happily be classed as 'movement'. Watchdog said that it was told by its testers that, "these are the kinds of vibrations you'd expect any household to have - particularly when playing games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero that encourage you to get physically involved."
Microsoft says that complaints about scratching have been minimal. "A very small fraction of our customers have contacted us about disc scratching. For those customers, Microsoft offers online support tools and call-in centre support and we encourage consumers to contact us online... Customers can send their consoles to Microsoft for further examination and repair, if required."
Microsoft said that it provides warnings on the Xbox 360 itself, in the manual and on its website that the console should not be moved while it has a disc inside it in use.
Watchdog also got on Microsoft's case a couple of years ago over the Red Ring of Death issue. It received a similarly dismissive response then, too.
The issue has prompted a lawsuit over in the US - one that has seen Microsoft admit to 55,000 360 users being affected by the problem.
Have you suffered from Xbox 360 disc scratching issues? Let us know in the Forum.
Source: Watchdog via MCV
Following complaints that the console was damaging discs, Watchdog sent two Xbox 360s off to a lab in Hampshire - one that Watchdog says has a track record of damaging discs and one that was "brand new". While both machines held up to simulations of people walking nearby, tests that mimicked the effect of someone putting a book on the table near the 360 apparently resulted in disc scratching in the older machine.
Given the size of the sample tested (two) it's impossible to say whether new 360 = "no disc scratching".
Microsoft responded with a statement dismissing the claims. "Microsoft reaffirms its longstanding position that it's not been able to ascertain any defect in the Xbox 360 console that causes concentric gouges (that is, 'scratching') on discs when a console is in a stationary position.
"Indeed, despite extensive testing and examination under static operating conditions, Microsoft has never been able to reproduce the concentric gouge that causes disc readability problems or find any such defect in consoles returned by consumers for examination. It's only with the movement of a console that such 'disc scratching' may occur."
Of course, vibrations of the surface the 360 sits on can happily be classed as 'movement'. Watchdog said that it was told by its testers that, "these are the kinds of vibrations you'd expect any household to have - particularly when playing games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero that encourage you to get physically involved."
Microsoft says that complaints about scratching have been minimal. "A very small fraction of our customers have contacted us about disc scratching. For those customers, Microsoft offers online support tools and call-in centre support and we encourage consumers to contact us online... Customers can send their consoles to Microsoft for further examination and repair, if required."
Microsoft said that it provides warnings on the Xbox 360 itself, in the manual and on its website that the console should not be moved while it has a disc inside it in use.
Watchdog also got on Microsoft's case a couple of years ago over the Red Ring of Death issue. It received a similarly dismissive response then, too.
The issue has prompted a lawsuit over in the US - one that has seen Microsoft admit to 55,000 360 users being affected by the problem.
Have you suffered from Xbox 360 disc scratching issues? Let us know in the Forum.
Source: Watchdog via MCV
Companies:
Microsoft
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Comments
deleted 24 Mar 2009 14:37
1/19
never had a sngle disc scratched and my kiddy knocked it off the cabinet once while i was playing COD4 with teh playa nd charger in (my own fault really) but the disc and console was fine,
maybe i was lucky? quite honestly until it effects me i dont care :-))
maybe i was lucky? quite honestly until it effects me i dont care :-))
Chewybb 25 Mar 2009 04:59
2/19
I have posted several comments in the BBC Watchdog forum related to the disc scratching problem. I have had several discs ruined by the console, which is in a horizontal position and never moved according to original instructions. MS support just tell you the machine is not at fault, even though I have offered my console to them for testing. Their disc replacement scheme only covers MS published games (which are very few compared to the number of games on the market) and costs £10 PER DISC to cover postage. £10 seems quite steep to post 1 game. I assume the scheme is a way of keeping the unhappy Xbox 360 users fairly quiet whilst generating some cash back to MS to help cover the RROD fiasco.
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Chewybb 25 Mar 2009 05:39
3/19
I would also like to add, like RROD, disc scratching Xbox 360 consoles are replaced free of charge in the Netherlands.
This is largely down to media coverage there especially from the infamous TV report from the programme Kassa. When will it also apply to the rest of us?
This is largely down to media coverage there especially from the infamous TV report from the programme Kassa. When will it also apply to the rest of us?
XboxIsAFault 25 Mar 2009 12:48
4/19
Please Microsoft.... Xbox 360 is one big problem. Also, Microsofts 'Call-in Centre Support' is far from any kind of support at all....
YAAAAAAAAY!!
YAAAAAAAAY!!
Mister pip 25 Mar 2009 16:11
5/19
Install to hard drive then the disc doesnt spin whilst playing. This doesnt let m$ off the hook just a way for peeps to not lose games
e 25 Mar 2009 17:13
6/19
I had 3 discs get laser burnt... MS has a $20 damaged disc replacement plan, but that only works for MS games...
Gavin 25 Mar 2009 23:59
7/19
Yes, this has happened when playing Guitar Hero World Tour. I reckon it is because of banging the drums. I got a replacement disc, and after playing a couple of times that one also had concentric scratches. Concentric scratches are worse than straight ones, as error correction does not work well when consecutive bits are damaged. I called MS on the Watchdog number, and they were not admitting fault and had not seen Watchdog. As my system is out of warranty it would cost £68 for them to look at, which I am not willing to pay. Hopefully enough users will report this issue that they admit there is a fault. If MS only test without vibrations it shows they are not comparing with actual home conditions. Also, I heard that some DVD drives are missing protective padding, so they need to ensure they test with such drives.
Scott 26 Mar 2009 16:17
8/19
I've had the same concentric sratching problem playing rock band, was realy anoying as it happed during a party
kim 27 Mar 2009 09:18
9/19
I have had scratching playing halo 3 only had consol 5 weeks and was the only one at hone at the time, so no movment
mark 27 Mar 2009 23:40
10/19
for thoses people saying, until it effects me, I don't care, well, all I can say is, your idiot to think that, microsoft are constantly losing in the stockmarket due to their poor progress and by the looks of things, they will not be going on for long if they keep it up, they vista operating system is failing to sell and xbox 360 systems sales profits are decreasing, including this recession is not helping, but the gaming company and many pc stores are profiting on their sales as people are buying more games and softwares.
If you have a xbox 360 and warrenty won't run out for another 12 months...etc, it doesn't matter, once microsoft is out of the picture, your screwed, just remember, that xbox you got is a ticking time bomb, it's just a matter of time until it fails on you and you will have to fawk out £50 to have it repaired.
If i was you, I would take it back to the store and ask for a refund why you still got the chance, sell it on ebay while the prices are fair, you won't get much for it as you will have to much compition trying to flog it.
if think i'm a liar and some sony or nintendo fan boy, then you are wrong, I am a pc engineer who has used all forms of microsoft, including worked for retailers working in the compaints department and I am also gamer, I'm only advising you not to be an idiot and end up being a victim.
If you still don't believe me, please research it for yourself, including taking time to look at the microsoft stockmarket chart for over the last 5 years, you will notice that 2005-06 was their profitable years, this is due to release of Vista and Xbox 360, it stayed stable till 2007 and now, they are rapidly losing money.
If you have a xbox 360 and warrenty won't run out for another 12 months...etc, it doesn't matter, once microsoft is out of the picture, your screwed, just remember, that xbox you got is a ticking time bomb, it's just a matter of time until it fails on you and you will have to fawk out £50 to have it repaired.
If i was you, I would take it back to the store and ask for a refund why you still got the chance, sell it on ebay while the prices are fair, you won't get much for it as you will have to much compition trying to flog it.
if think i'm a liar and some sony or nintendo fan boy, then you are wrong, I am a pc engineer who has used all forms of microsoft, including worked for retailers working in the compaints department and I am also gamer, I'm only advising you not to be an idiot and end up being a victim.
If you still don't believe me, please research it for yourself, including taking time to look at the microsoft stockmarket chart for over the last 5 years, you will notice that 2005-06 was their profitable years, this is due to release of Vista and Xbox 360, it stayed stable till 2007 and now, they are rapidly losing money.
Scratch 20 Jun 2009 22:13
11/19
I've had an Xbox 360 since Christmas 2008 and it has destroyed 5 of my discs. Microsoft must except reponsibility surely?
Mark H 30 Jun 2009 22:21
12/19
My 60 gig developed a disk error and wouldn't read the discs, it was 7 months old so i sent it back, got it back 3 weeks later and it' worked for a months then it scratched my CoD WaW and Fifa 09 i'm really annoyed that a console that was supposed to have been fixed managed to eat two disks, neither of which is covered in the disk replacement programme, and thye won't accept liability, if they dont sort it as soon as I get my xbox back it will be traded for a PS3, and i'll never buy another xbox, which is annoying as most of my friends have xboxes, but im so hacked off with their customer service
Jon....Cornwall 9 Sep 2009 22:14
13/19
Pesky thing chewed up Halo 3. Only fit for a beer glass coaster now. I wasnt exactly lobbing plasma granades at it to cause the" Microsort movement get out of jail free" excuse. My mate has traded his for a PS3. might follow suit.
Karen Mills 7 Nov 2009 13:30
14/19
My sons Xbox360 was purchased christmas 2008 and so is not a year old and has damaged Fifa 10.
Katie 11 Nov 2009 11:59
15/19
Rock Band, my brother in laws, who had received it as a gift for his birthday the day before the 'incident' - playing, then suddenly and error message - can't read disk, wiped as they said on screen, restarted the system, nothing.....when I examined the disk, burned to bugg*ry!!
Tried to find a replacement for the evening as he was having a party, searched for ages!!!
He's also had his XBox re-conditioned 3 times !
Tried to find a replacement for the evening as he was having a party, searched for ages!!!
He's also had his XBox re-conditioned 3 times !
Jon Newport, south wales 27 Dec 2009 10:07
16/19
just bought my son the xbox 360 elite.
First game that went in there got scratched within seconds.
All i did was carefully reposition it (a fairly reasonable requirement I thought). and there was a really loud grinding and hey presto one scratched disk.
His PS2 has lasted 4 years of young kids use (abuse) and is still functioning perfectly.
Good advert for Sony - Bad advert for Microsoft
First game that went in there got scratched within seconds.
All i did was carefully reposition it (a fairly reasonable requirement I thought). and there was a really loud grinding and hey presto one scratched disk.
His PS2 has lasted 4 years of young kids use (abuse) and is still functioning perfectly.
Good advert for Sony - Bad advert for Microsoft
George Priestner (Solihull) 17 Sep 2010 22:02
17/19
On the same day as my copy of Halo:Reach was delivered to me (14th September), I also received my Xbox 360 back from repair for the third time (3 Red Rings each time). I was thrilled to play the game as I was waiting for a long time for its release. After a few minutes of playing the game I heard a loud scraping noise from my the console. An error message then came up saying 'This disc is unreadable'. I then ejected the disc and to my horror, saw that my disc had suffered a deep concentric scratch. We phoned Microsoft and they said they would do nothing for us. They said it was
not company policy to replace a disc scratched in this way because it was always the users fault
. We think this is very unfair to loyal xbox customers.
Steve 24 Sep 2010 12:04
18/19
2 days ago I tried to use Halo Reach, not even a week old when it started to freeze, tried to use it again and basically all the same as the post from George....grrr am sure there is some fault. Microsoft are having my colsole to "look at" but not holding out any hope and so it seems I to have to pay to replace my disc....what a joke!
Joanne 10 Jan 2011 20:14
19/19
I bought an xbox for my son for xmas... within a week it had damaged fifa 11 and Indiana Jones 2. They now cant be played. Xbox have said my own fault (but console was definately not moved) was told by xbox that they wont send it for repair as it will just get sent straight back. They are not accepting responsibilty for it and £70 worth of games now ruined. How can they say its not a common fault when most of these forums are packed with people who have had same problem. Ridiculous