As far back as this report from SPOnG in January 2006, issues with Xbox 360s scratching game discs have dogged the console. Microsoft even started a replacement service, charging $20 to replace scratched first-party games.
Now, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reports Hiroo Umeno, a Microsoft program manager, stating in a declaration relating to a class action suit that information regarding drives scratching discs "information that we as a team, optical disc drive team, knew about. When we first discovered the problem in September or October (2005), when we got a first report of disc movement, we knew this is what's causing the problem."
This is the line that has been picked up on around the Internet. However, Umeno also states (in the declaration that you can download in PDF form here.) "[G]yroscopic precession force is what causes the disc to unchuck, which is what we’ve . . . known. In order for the force to act on the disc, the assembly, the console and the disc drive, which is inside the console, has to move relative to the rotation of the disc".
So, you've got to move the console while the disc is in the drive and moving? Microsoft's most recent statement on the matter is, "Xbox 360 is designed so that it will not damage a game disc as long as the console is not moved while the disc is spinning.
"Too much movement of any game console, not just Xbox 360, can cause scratches on a disc. That's why we put a warning on the face of the disc tray, which the user has to physically remove before the initial use of the system. We also have warnings posted online and in hard copy instruction manuals."
Apparently this has resulted in 55,000 complaints and/or returns, to which Microsoft responds, "While we have had some users contact us with concerns about scratched discs, it is less than one-half of 1% of the total Xbox 360 user base".
The case continues...
Now, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reports Hiroo Umeno, a Microsoft program manager, stating in a declaration relating to a class action suit that information regarding drives scratching discs "information that we as a team, optical disc drive team, knew about. When we first discovered the problem in September or October (2005), when we got a first report of disc movement, we knew this is what's causing the problem."
This is the line that has been picked up on around the Internet. However, Umeno also states (in the declaration that you can download in PDF form here.) "[G]yroscopic precession force is what causes the disc to unchuck, which is what we’ve . . . known. In order for the force to act on the disc, the assembly, the console and the disc drive, which is inside the console, has to move relative to the rotation of the disc".
So, you've got to move the console while the disc is in the drive and moving? Microsoft's most recent statement on the matter is, "Xbox 360 is designed so that it will not damage a game disc as long as the console is not moved while the disc is spinning.
"Too much movement of any game console, not just Xbox 360, can cause scratches on a disc. That's why we put a warning on the face of the disc tray, which the user has to physically remove before the initial use of the system. We also have warnings posted online and in hard copy instruction manuals."
Apparently this has resulted in 55,000 complaints and/or returns, to which Microsoft responds, "While we have had some users contact us with concerns about scratched discs, it is less than one-half of 1% of the total Xbox 360 user base".
The case continues...
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Comments
James 16 Dec 2008 16:00
1/8
Has this problem been fixed in newer xbox's?
SuperSaiyan4 16 Dec 2008 16:21
2/8
I have NEVER had any problems with disc scratching and its not a wide problem as big as the RROD case.
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Daz 16 Dec 2008 17:29
3/8
If you ask me if your dumb enough to move the console or it's in a place it could easily get knocked while in use you deserve a scratched disc
SuperSaiyan4 17 Dec 2008 12:05
4/8
Well to be fair there was a video made by a guy from Germany I think who explained the reason why some 360's were scratching discs, basically they did not have shock absorbers or these little sponge things which caused the disc to basically be knocked about inside.
A friend of mine actually had his Gears of war 1 disc scratched on several occassions and even cracked on a couple of occassions.
What I truely hate about Microsoft is in regards to the above they always said this is unheard of and its because of the user 'moving' the console.
Good thing is I have never had this issue and always have had my 360 upright.
A friend of mine actually had his Gears of war 1 disc scratched on several occassions and even cracked on a couple of occassions.
What I truely hate about Microsoft is in regards to the above they always said this is unheard of and its because of the user 'moving' the console.
Good thing is I have never had this issue and always have had my 360 upright.
Bill 5 Jan 2009 01:35
5/8
Well I just got my kids a new Xbox 360 2 days before Christmas, and it has scratched a RockBand 2 disc till it's unusable as of today, never used unsupervised, never bumped at all, this sucks, make than 55,001 discs replaced
Justin 14 Feb 2009 22:56
6/8
Yeah well Bill I am in your same boat my Xbox put a nice Circular scrath all the way around my Rockband 2 and now it refuses to load any song so i can't play mine either
shane 4 May 2009 14:49
7/8
it is microsofts fault. Ive just taken mine back after it destroyed fable 2 and resi 5. the woman in the shop had seen it 100s of times and confirmed it is a problem that microsoft know about but deny all responsibilty for. its stupid i only had it 2 years. My 15 year old snes still works fine.
BIG BEAR 4 May 2009 21:41
8/8
Ya my 360 do that to my games too. Damn Microsoft thats y sony will come up top in the end.