Microsoft no longer repairing Xbox 1 Comments by Tom Bramwell

The Xbox was only around for three years? It seemed like longer.

You write here as if the Xbox was here and gone in a matter of months, and while in the annals of history it will probably feel that way. I still remember it being a big deal and a fun time, and it felt longer than three years!

Personally I'm glad MS joined the gaming industry, I think in so many ways it's helped change things largely for the better in what felt like was becoming a stagnant area due to the dominance of Sony at the time.


And really, in spite of its size and ugliness the Xbox was a success in my eyes, technically solid and (eventually) coming with a fantastic pad design after admittedly one of the worst.

Huzzah for Microsoft, if only your Windows could become so nice. Windows 7...

The Xbox was easily the best console of the last generation (especially in technical terms, perhaps less so software-wise) so it's a shame to see it disappear. The 360 was a worthy successor.

MS should focus even more on its ludic skills. Xbox took the driver seat in the XXI century. Sony sure feels old (they couln'd even design a new controller, ffs...), and Nintendo is too gimmick.

Driving seat?! The released two PC's in console cases. They may have released there consoles before the others, but I would not say that it was leading anything.

Sony DID design new controller! Surely you must remember the horrible banana -thingie!? I was so certain that they must change that... At least once I was right!

@bigbadbeasty shure not....

the first xbox was in many ways much more a revolution then the 360.

first console with hd on board, xbox live and lan on every box. it was a great gaming machine and an even better mediacenter!

@bigbadbeasty

The hardware was not what revolutionised the console industry, the software and infrastructure was.

@bigbadbeasty:

The original Xbox was pretty much a PC in a console case. The 360 less so, what with being a multiple core PPC and whatnot it has a lot of custom built parts.

But, in this day and age why does every machine have to be bespoke? In an age where all arcade machines (including Sega's two new ones) are PC based it proves that the tried and tested works. Plus, it makes things much easier for developers who already know the benefits and pitfalls of the hardware.

Also, while we're on the subject, I would say the Dreamcast was as "PC based" as the 360 is. Apart from the MIPS processor everything else was pretty standard.

I still use my xbox1 everyday.. though only for XBMC.
Is my most used consol ever.

Never owned one but gotta say man that thing was HUGE! Still at least it was reliable.....I think!?!

Edit - mingster just confirmed it is ;)

@AusFreelancer

It was very reliable once the got the DVD issue sorted out. I still have my Xbox1 I use everyday and it's 5 years old with no issues.

"Driving seat?! The released two PC's in console cases. They may have released there consoles before the others, but I would not say that it was leading anything."

Heh. Good to red crap like that on the monday morning. \0/

I had one, but it was pretty much only used for Halo 2.

"The released two PC's in console cases. They may have released there consoles before the others, but I would not say that it was leading anything."

Err... read this: http://www.redroom.com/publishedwork/the...

The 360 is as much a PC as the PS3, as a matter of fact the same team designed both. Same suit, different tie.
And... if you read the book you'd know the only thing that kept the PS3 from coming out in Xmas 05 was the Blu-Ray, the machine itself was ready.

At least you xbox users get good backward compatibility between 360 and xbox 1, so I guess if it does break, then you could just get a 2nd hand 360 unit relatively cheaply.

Typical responses.

I did not compare any console to another. This not a fanboy Microsoft vs Sony discussion. I do not feel as I said that Microsoft have diven anything with the consoles. Xbox live is a paid service that on the whole has been offered on PC's for free. Neither of the Microsoft consoles have been a 'revolution' imo.

I've still got my original US launch day import box (£750 !!!!, inc step down convertor,SCART box,3 controllers, PGR,Halo and Dead Or Alive....OUCH!!!) sitting under my TV....and i got it modded in 2003, so loads of lovely emulation goodness, as well as..err,cough, games..:)

7yrs on and it still works perfectly, although my controllers are on their way out.

Only trouble is, most games look shit on modern HDTV Tv's....the scaling is horrific...JAGGY-VISION!!!!!

I am currently 'converting' my xbox to run XBMC on a projector in my loft. It truly is a great console.

As for microsoft not fixing them, it makes sense really. You can get them used for £20 now and I know some shops who do still fix them. With that they don't seem to fail too often.

@bigbadbeasty

We're not talking about PC's or anything PC related here.

The XBOX and Xbox Live specifically took consoles from standalone toys and created a unified online gaming community.

Hell, even on the PC you still can't check the stats of other players whereas on XBL you can invite, chat with and compare scores to absolutely anyone who has a Live account.

If you can't see how that has utterly changed the face of console gaming then you sir, are either blind or in denial.

"Driving seat?! The released two PC's in console cases. They may have released there consoles before the others, but I would not say that it was leading anything "

Clueless! similar chipsets don't mean it's a Personal Computer.
In the old days, Home Computers were built on similar chipsets to the Atari VCS. Consoles got custom gaming sound and graphics chipsets way before the PC!

I never had to repair my Xbox, I got it on the release date in 2002. It still works and I gave it to my dad. He still plays a bit of PGR 2 and 1.
Unfortunately my 360 has decided to play up again. Hopefully it will sort itself out.

Had threeoriginal Xboxs. I did have to change the laser diode on the oldest one, but other than that no problems. I gave away one, sold one, and still have one running in the bedroom. I actually played some Forza on it last night.

Love the Xbox...

p.s. I'm one of the odd few that actually LOVED the original controller, but I can see how most don't...

@ bigbadbeasty Typical MS hater response.

I do not feel as I said that Microsoft have diven anything with the consoles. Xbox live is a paid service that on the whole has been offered on PC's for free. Neither of the Microsoft consoles have been a 'revolution' imo.

You do realise most things have been done on the PC and Console manufacturers aim to emulate that for the console/casual gamers(theres not much to mention for Nintendo and nothing at all for Sony... I dont see where you were going with that)... but it doesnt count for other Platform holders? Double standards much?

Also the point is you were completely wrong in your first post regarding the 360. Heck the only console with a part close enough to an off the shelf PC part is the PS3 funnily enough.(RSX) That in itself just shows your post was nothing more than an ignorrance fueled dismissal of MS doing anything worth while in the console industry(because you're just a hater and an ill informed one to boot).

I find the attitudes/logic by some anti xbox folk utterly braindead to be frank. Anything that resembles or can be related to PC = bad... what a utterly dense attitude that is, MS's home was on the PC you tit, they've worked with devs for yonks. Bringing the best of what could be usefull to console/casual gamers IS in itself a huge step forward from before they arrived.

They didnt just bundle these things in and let the devs deal with how they should be tailored for a console, they really did lead the way, they took things that already existed and used them in innovative ways for the console industry(the Wii-motes tech isnt new either its how it was put together and used that hadnt been done before).

Lets have a quick look of the things I give them props for personally:

Hard drives, they showed how usefull they could be to consoles when up untill that point they were deemed unecessary or niche addons that wouldnt get much use.

Online, before MS established a successfull and profitable online service it was said console gamers werent interested, it was something they didnt want. Sega(which I have much respect for) didnt do much to sway those folks did they? MS did a much better job on that and its something that has been underappreciated by people happily playing on PSN and such(MS were the ones to show how it should be done, to the devs and to other platform holders... by their influence).

The software tools/dev tools, I dont think Nintendo had a problem with this much in the past but its clear MS have raised standards for the console industry, now devs can rightfully say Sony should be providing better tools and support for them than they have been because its something which should be the platform holders responsibility not lumped on the devs who have to take the flak from angry Sony fanboys and Reviewers when the inevitable happens.

I beleive they are resposible for alot of PC devs going so console friendly this gen, it's for the better too IMO, before MS turned up PC ports or Console exclusives werent something that were often marked on peoples calenders.

I say MS has done far more than Sony as far as influence to the industry goes IMO, Sonys greatetst strength was always in their marketing (thats what grew the market for PS1 and PS2... thats what did it for Wii this time, it wasnt the hardware*ok the controller set it apart but it looks like its biggest benifit to Nintendo was just that... it set them apart for the marketing rather than wowing consumers with things they'd never seen before* or games... its how they sold it)... their hardware wasnt ever all that innovative beyond the fancy names they made up for them(Emotion Engine, Cell... different yes... leaps forward/innovative? No thats a different matter), most of their best games were done by 3rd parties... they never were a big 1st party player untill they had to be.(towards the end of last gen)

I like the dude's irony, "the original Xbox was quickly abandoned once Microsoft got the Xbox 360 sorted (relatively sorted, anyway)".

It won't be held up to SNES levels in the history books, but the Xbox was a damn great console.

@frankfurter209
I would compare the 360 to the snes though. I am having as much fun with it as I did the snes and it is a lot easier to get import games now.

At least we don't have to use those silly region converter cartridges anymore.

"
Personally I'm glad MS joined the gaming industry, I think in so many ways it's helped change things largely for the better i"


... if you like fps games..

>The original Xbox was pretty much a PC in a console case. The 360 less so,

You're right there.. it's a power mac in a console case...

bigbadbeasty - I like your name................. (someone had to say something nice)

"... if you like fps games.. "

And there we have our most stupid and ignorant post of the day. Well done smelly, well done.