Man how they create such a great system in terms of user content but so bad at everything else. The number of quality games and the stunning quality in those games is just out of this world. The content and quality through Xbox Live is insane. The games and online community just crush the offerings of Sony and Nintendo.
I've been buy systems since the NES, I've owned an NES, SNES, Genesis, Playstation, Dreamcast, Playstation 2, and Gamecube. Other than the NES and SNES there hasn't been a system with this many great games this quick, at least in my opinion. I think my opinion is skewed because the NES and SNES were when I was in school and younger so my impression is probably a little different. All of the critics and most of the game developers also agree, the Xbox 360 is a great system. It is better than the PS3. Neither the PS3 or the 360 are really comparable to the Wii. Everything the Wii is good at the PS3/360 aren't and vice versa. Anyway the 360 is great.
Well almost great. The quality is abysmal. Their Red Ring of Death affects almost 30% of their systems. Their DRM is awful, well most DRM is awful but this is worse. The DRM is tied to your user account and to the system ID. If one changes it can still check the other one to make sure you're allowed to use the content you've paid for. MS wants to push their larger harddrives because they sell HD movies and full games through XBL. But moving your content from on HD to another can somehow lose your system ID numbers in the DRM. It only affects certain content since you aren't changing systems just storage devices. That isn't the real issue, the real issue is DRM mixed with the Red Ring of Death. Now you're getting a new console back and your content won't work properly. It will work only when you're online and even then there are also some issues just like transferring the HDs.
Microsoft has never been known for good customer service and their Xbox team is no different. Calling their support line for either the RROD or DRM issues, both issues MS is well aware of and even admits in public a lot, is like pulling teeth. The calls take far too long for one. This is mainly because they are outsourced to India. The most recent call was a nice guy with a thick Indian accent and a vague understanding of the english language named Fred. I've talked to a 'Bob', 'Janet', "Kim", and 'Pete'; all thick Indian accents although some are pretty good at english.
The call center is not empowered to handle complaints, only offer scripted solutions. There is no person to complain to, they don't have supervisors at least for you to talk to. Their forums have moderators that are helpful in answering questions but don't work for MS and don't have any power to do anything. There are multiple huge DRM issues constantly updated on their forums as 'in progress' and those were started when the system was launched.
Apparently the RROD is getting a lot more under control but the DRM and customer service issues will remain an issue. MS is a huge proponent of DRM and like I wrote earlier has never been good with customer service. So I'm torn, all three of us love playing the 360. I've played and enjoyed at least 15 great games since the system was released. I have an HD TV and a huge fan of video games so I want a system that shows that off. The 360 is just a ton better in terms of games library than the PS3 and that doesn't look to change.
So I don't know what I'd recommend to someone looking for a new system. Well I'd recommend a Wii but a new system for HD I just don't know. I'd probably recommend a 360 since their RROD is a lot more under control and they do handle it quickly. Be warned about the DRM though, don't spend too much money on XBL or at least research it first before you buy it, some developers are much better with DRM than others.
But a system with Mass Effect and Halo 3 is not to be missed. In addition to the multiple platform games almost always rate better on the 360 than PS3. Just understand that your $400 might only last 18 months and then you'll spend a few hours on the phone and then a few weeks without a system.
1 comment:
I had my 360 for 20 months before the RRoD hit during a game of Guitar Hero II. It took a couple weeks to get the shipping box and a couple weeks for them to fix it and send it back. That was November. I'm only now getting back to playing it (picked up Rock Band yesterday).
But yeah, expect your 360 to die at least once. I hear that after they fix it, it's far less likely to happen again.
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