The Rings Of Red Catastrophe: Will it make Microsoft lose the console war?

Gamesindustry has posted an article stating that MS needs to get their hardware for the 360 fixed now or it will result a loss of consumer support in the future.

Do you guys think the 360 hardware breaking down is a problem? I mean, obviously it's bad for 360 owners but PS2 also had plenty of hardware issues but still won the console war. My question is: Do you think the failure rate for 360 hardware will stop it from winning this console war?

From GamesIndustryBiz.

Microsoft needs to act now on hardware failures - or risk losing consumer support.

Given the circumstances, it's not hard to see why some more ill-advised comments from Microsoft executives regarding the Wii have seemed... Well, a touch bitter. Right now, Microsoft must feel like the kid who stayed up all night learning all the best combos in Street Fighter, only to arrive in school the next day and discover that everyone else in the room has decided to play marbles instead.

It's obvious, then, that Microsoft is doing more than just making headway with the hardcore audience. Frankly, that battle is all but won, and the onus is now on Sony to demonstrate that it is capable of creating an offering for hardcore gamers that is as attractive as the one Microsoft has crafted.

The obvious criticism - which is no less true for being so obvious - is that there's precious little evidence of Microsoft's software line-up managing to break out of that hardcore market. The company still lacks not only the kind of Singstar, Eye Toy and Buzz titles which drive casual market adoption, but also the Final Fantasies and Tekkens which appeal to the vast mass of "average" gamers who lie outside the hardcore market Xbox 360 has so far exploited.

This problem hasn't gone away; in fact, from a consumer point of view, Microsoft appears to have done precisely nothing to address it. While the attention of the media may have turned to scrutiny of Sony's failings, the vast numbers of Xbox 360 owners who have been let down first by Microsoft's shoddy manufacturing, and subsequently by the company's arrogant and unfair policies with regard to customer service, have increased. Their voices are contributing to a groundswell of unrest and negative buzz which will hurt Microsoft very badly indeed if it is not addressed.

Right now, those horror stories are proliferating; the word of mouth about Xbox 360 is that the games are great, but the hardware is a nightmare.If Microsoft is serious about reaching an audience with Xbox 360 which is bigger than the 20 million units achieved by Xbox, then that simply isn't good enough. It's time for Redmond to stop burying its head in the sand over this problem, and start coming up with solutions - before its unhappy customers become one of Sony's best assets.

GamesIndustryBiz

What do you guys think about this?

Is shoddy hardware the reason MS will lose the console war or will consumers neglect the issue just like they did with the PS2?

The issue isn't even that great. I play my 360 hours on end and nothing happens, probably because mine is in agood cooling spot. And with the 65nm processor it will cause less noise thus making less heat in the 360 virtually eliminating the "Rings of Death" problem.Aljosa23

My friend has a launch 360 and it works perfectly, none of the disks have scratched, no red rings, all good. I think the issue is definitely being blown out of proportion but that doesn't really matter does it?

If consumers hear about this (and it is circulating in the media worldwide) it could become an obstacle.

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]The issue isn't even that great. I play my 360 hours on end and nothing happens, probably because mine is in agood cooling spot. And with the 65nm processor it will cause less noise thus making less heat in the 360 virtually eliminating the "Rings of Death" problem.the-very-best

My friend has a launch 360 and it works perfectly, none of the disks have scratched, no red rings, all good. I think the issue is definitely being blown out of proportion but that doesn't really matter does it?

If consumers hear about this (and it is circulating in the media worldwide) it could become an obstacle.

I doubt people actually look into the product before making a purchase. There's only a handful of us smart people in the world.NobuoMusicMaker

That's partly true. People follow what the media tells them.

The media (atm) is saying:

• Get the Wii. It's cheap, innovative and most importantly - strips all strong hardware to provide pure fun.
• Don't get the PS3. It's too expensive and there aren't enough standout games available yet.
• Don't get the 360. Its hardware is not good. MS should fix the problem so wait for them to do that.

Main message from the media: Get a Wii.

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]The issue isn't even that great. I play my 360 hours on end and nothing happens, probably because mine is in agood cooling spot. And with the 65nm processor it will cause less noise thus making less heat in the 360 virtually eliminating the "Rings of Death" problem.the-very-best

My friend has a launch 360 and it works perfectly, none of the disks have scratched, no red rings, all good. I think the issue is definitely being blown out of proportion but that doesn't really matter does it?

If consumers hear about this (and it is circulating in the media worldwide) it could become an obstacle.

I've been lucky with my 360 so far with absolutely no problems (day 1 launch console).

The PS2's issues probably had even more press concerning faulty hardware than the 360 is getting and it did'nt do much damage to its sales, so i presume it would'nt do much to hinder 360's either. 

The company still lacks not only the kind of Singstar, Eye Toy and Buzz titles which drive casual market adoption, but also the Final Fantasies and Tekkens which appeal to the vast mass of "average" gamers who lie outside the hardcore market Xbox 360 has so far exploited.

the-very-best

360 has games that appeal to the "average" gamers. Gears of War and Halo are two of em. Let's not forget about Dead Rising. There is nothing reallly complex, or deep about that game. All you do is go around hacking and slashing hordes of zombies.  

[QUOTE="the-very-best"]

The company still lacks not only the kind of Singstar, Eye Toy and Buzz titles which drive casual market adoption, but also the Final Fantasies and Tekkens which appeal to the vast mass of "average" gamers who lie outside the hardcore market Xbox 360 has so far exploited.

majadamus

360 has games that appeal to the "average" gamers. Gears of War and Halo are two of em. Let's not forget about Dead Rising. There is nothing reallly complex, or deep about that game. All you do is go around hacking and slashing hordes of zombies.

Agreed, but those games appeal to different audiences than Singstar, Eyetoy etc.

DR, Halo and Gears are the games that appeal to GTA loving casuals while Singstar, Eyetoy are more quick fun games appealing to the same people that like Wiisports, Nintendogs etc.