One ring to ruin them all

One Ring to ruin them all, One Ring to fry them, One Ring to bring them all (in for repairs) and in the darkness bind them.


Xbox 360 owners fear Microsoft's infamous "red ring of death" - the sign that the expensive gaming console's insides are fried beyond repair - more than Samwise Gamgee fears the Eye of Sauron.

It's a fate that my Xbox 360 suffered late last week ... and something I've feared since buying Microsoft's second-generation console.

Now let's put this particular system meltdown into context. I'm a recreational gamer. I play for less than four hours a week on average. I own an intercooler to pump up the console's cooling system. Yet... my Xbox died at eight months old, extremely young for a $499 device to kick the bucket.

So I mourned. I wailed. I cried until there were no more tears.

Then I packed up my 360 into the original box, dug up my carefully filed receipt proving my purchase of a $100 one-year replacement warranty and headed for EB Games.

(Before I go any further, let's put the cost of the warranty into context: It cost me one-fifth of the purchase price ... for one year. I just bought a brand new video camera and accessories for about $1,500 from Future Shop. The warranty cost me just over $200, and covers the camera and all the accessories for four years.)

As soon as I walk in the door toting my system I get a dirty look from the guy behind the counter.

I get into line. It's very busy in the store. Finally, I get to the counter and before I can even say, "My Xbox suffered the red ring of death," the EB Games guy says, "That's not my problem. Send it to Microsoft."

"Uh, actually, I have a warranty with EB Ga..."

"We don't honour those. Send it to Microsoft."

"You don't honour them?" I asked in disbelief. I can only imagine he was confused by recent news stories saying EB Games was no longer selling warranties on 360s. "You don't understand; I bought a $100 replacement warranty from your store when I bought my 360."

I'm wildly flaying the receipt in his face, as several customers watch.

"I bought the warranty already. That means you replace it," I add, hoping he understands my message.

"Fine," he said abruptly. "We'll give you a refurbished one. But we have to order it in, so it may take a while to get here."

"What?" I said, my voice rising. "You're telling me I paid $100 for a warranty so you can order me a refurbished Xbox that I have to wait for? I bought the warranty so I wouldn't have to ship my console to Microsoft and wait for them to send me a refurbished one - which costs nothing."

I continued, a little louder so everyone in the store could hear me: "I was promised a new Xbox to replace the Xbox I bought new from you. That's what a $100 'replacement warranty' means."

Clearly annoyed, he grabs my Xbox and roughly places it on the counter next to him. "Fine. Wait until I'm done with the customers."

So I wait and he gets me a new Xbox 360 off the shelf, adding he'll give it to me this time, but next time I have to send it back to Microsoft. I leave the store flustered, but happy that I raised serious hell in front of a store full of customers - something I've never done in my life.

The experience showed me just how frustrated Xbox 360 owners and gaming industry workers are with Microsoft's fatal product flaw. The red ring of death better fade into oblivion soon; otherwise Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii will start to look extremely attractiveto those long considered faithful to Xbox.

And here's a little math: A 360 costs $399, plus $75 to get on to Xbox Live, plus $more than $200 for an HD DVD player. A PS3 now costs $399, online play is free and the system comes with a blu-ray player.

I know what I want for Christmas.

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Postscript: When I got home and plugged in the controller to my "new" 360, I noticed the front casing had a large crack in it. So I had to take it back again.