If you aren't going to play the 360 in HD or online why buy it? Stick with the original xbox.

Uh, because the Xbox isn't being supported anymore? I could be wrong, but are Xbox games even being made anymore? If you want the newest games, you have to upgrade to the newest system. If you don't upgrade, then you are stuck playing your old games over and over and over again.

I don't have a HDTV and I hate online gaming, but I still enjoy my 360. The games still look beautiful, just not as beautiful as HD graphics.

Because the biggest thing I play is football games. And I play them year round. In fact, I've always bought new systems for the football games.

Madden and even NCAA graphics and player proportion wise look terrible compared to next-gen.

Edit. I called them last week and demanded to speak to a supervisor. None was available and they promised that one would call within 24 hours.

Fast forward one week. I wanted to give them time to respond, as well make it look better on my side.

After talking to his supervisor, my console was "magically" still under warranty. (those were his exact words) They are going to fix my console for free. It appears to be a launch console with a November serial number.

At first you dont succeed.....

Cool, congrats. I'm glad it turned out well for you.

My friend's Xbox (not a 360) works fine, but it always messes up when playing DVD's on it. I guess they assume that any DVD player is fine, even if it's a shitty one.

Well, I've been patiently waiting for the one I bought in December to crap out, thinking maybe I'd get lucky.

No such luck. I got the 3 red lights yesterday and they will be sending out a box to send it back.

When I heard of all the problems people were having on early units back in January, I got the extended warranty. Never received any paperwork, but they did cash the check. The said that the extended warranty was indeed applied to the system.

It'll be a tough couple weeks on the treadmill, but what are you gonna do?

They said it would take about 14 days, is that what others have been seeing?

I have a warranty through gamestop where they said they just replace the system with one in thier inventory if mine breaks (no waiting for repairs)

Hopefully they'd let me keep the hard drive.

I've been refraining from playing the 360 because it's been so hot in LA. My apartment is like an oven.

I can never understand people who dont blast the air conditioner when its hot. Im such a wuss when its as easy as flipping a switch and im comfy lol

I do blast my AC, but it still gets a little hot in my apartment. Either my AC is a pos or the apartment isn't very well insulated or something. I leave my AC on 68 degrees 24/7, and it is always hotter inside than outside.

wow. Something aint working right!


Is the AC turned the right direction in the window? lol

Yeah. My AC hasn't kicked off once since the middle of May. Thankfully, the electric bill is included with rent, so I don't have to pay it. I am looking forward to winter already.

Huh? Is this a serious piece of advice?

Granted that the graphics on a standard definition tv pale to an HD set, but there's the little issue of games pretty much no longer being made for the Xbox, as already stated.

And that's not even touching the fallacy that an upgrade in horsepower equals an upgrade in graphics, exclusively.

1. No AC
2. Just fans
3. I'm cheap/not rich (afraid of HUGE energy bill)

I bought one on Monday, hooked it up, played for a while, signed up for Live, then yest morning started playing and the screen during the game became all speckley...Took the game out and the dashboard was still speckley...exchanging it tonight if it's not better.

Yep. That doesn't sound good. I'd return it anyway.

I am guessing that you are having the same problem that I had. I think that it is a bad graphics card/chip in my console, and I made sure to note that to the MSFT repair shop when they take a look at it.

I would return it for a new one as well.

Do I need to swap the Hard Drive out? (Keep my old one?) I plan on just taking the unit/hd in when I go to Costco tonight, and swap out the whole thing. Or should I keep the HD? (I signed up for Live, downloaded a few game updates and that's about it)

Quick question...for those that have been having problems...did you also have to get a new hard drive? I'd hate to buy the system, have a bunch of saves on it, and have to get a new XBOX 360 including hard drive because the system is malfunctioning. I'd lose all my saved game data/progress.

Well, I deleted my profile, took the old one back to Costco, setup the new one, and it looks better. Already played PGR3 longer than I had played on the old one. (I did have to start all over)

I've read on some forums (teamxbox and xbox.com) that some people are not asked to send back their hard drives when the system appears to be the problem.

I was told by the person at MS that if the hard drive wasn't the issue they would send it back intact.

I should be receiving my box to return it today or tomorrow and I'll report what the instructions say.

When I shipped back my system, the box did not even have room for the hard drive. In troubleshooting, they will ask you to play it without the hard drive, to try and eliminate it as a source problem.

They should receive my xbox today. I hope it doesn't take longer than a week or so to get my xbox back.

Hmmm....well I'm thinking that if some people are possibly having issues with the hard drive and sometimes having to send it and the console to MS to get it fixed, maybe I should just buy the Core system in 2 months and use a memory card?

I'd hate to be like...playing Madden or some other game for 2 months straight, and all the sudden the system crashes and MS says send back the console and hard drive. Not only won't I have a system to play for 2 weeks while it gets repaired, but once they fix it, I'd have to start ALL over in my games. And it's not like I plan to play online or anything. Not sure what to do there.

Just make sure it's in a well ventilated area and I'm sure you will be fine. The problem is people stuff them into entertainment centers or throw the power brick behind one with 1 inch of ventilation and the thing overheats and they get all pissed and post on a message board about what a POS it is. The thing gets like a toaster. It needs air.

This seems to be the issue with my 360...only noticed crashes once the system got very, VERY hot. I'm lucky enough to have room for it next to my HDTV. There's enough space above and behind it for the hot air to escape.
Not a single crash/freeze ever again.

I should say, however, that I have never experienced the 3 red rings on my unit. I believe that once you've had the red rings it's possible that your unit may have sustained internal damage from the overheating. Hence, repositioning your 360 to ensure better circulation of air will not help.