1,128 gamers were polled (note: it was a self-selected survey, not a blind study), with 562 owning an Xbox 360, 473 having a PS3 and 591 a Wii. Obviously, some respondents owned more than one console.

The results found that a crushing 60% of 360s had died, while only 16% of PS3s and 6% of Wiis had suffered the same fate. Even worse was the rate of repeat failre: of those who have reported a busted console, 32% say it’s happened more than once, with 19% saying it’s broken three times or more.

Count me in the latter camp; I’ve had two red-ringed consoles, and recently got back from my honeymoon to find my third 360’s power brick had simply ceased to function, despite the console not being turned on.

Being a self-selected survey, it’s likely the actual numbers across the board would be lower, but still; a little less than awful is still awful.

CNET UK’s games console reliability survey: 60 per cent of Xbox 360s have broken [CNET]

Now, before we go any further, know this: we have our doubts when it comes to SquareTrade. A third-party warranty provider? Who nobody had ever heard of until they released some selective statistics? This isn’t exactly hard science.

Then again, when Microsoft (or major retailers, for that matter) refuse to disclose official figures on the subject, outlets like SquareTrade are all we’ve got. So take these figures with a grain of salt and jump on in.

Interestingly, to go with the 360 figures, SquareTrade also said that while 23.7% of their 360-owning customer base reported a system failure, only 10% of PS3 users and a miniscule 2.7% of Wii users had any problems.

Xbox 360 ‘Red Ring of Death’ Abating? [IndustryGamers]

Plainly and repeatedly listed as a “faulty Xbox 360″ – and that picture isn’t deceptive advertising – UK eBayer jonnyandco05’s bricked 360 comes to you “modified for better ventilation, with a turbo inlet on the side.” Also, “the disk drive has been repositioned for optimal performance at 37 degrees.” No doubt by a massive blow to the case.

The seller says the console ringed and he tried to fix it, but his skills weren’t up to it. “Sadly, it does have a bit of fire damage and rage damage.” But just a bit.

Pros: Has “authentic Microsoft sticker.”

Cons: “Some parts are a bit missing, like the on button.” I’m sure that’s what’s preventing it from starting up.

Bidding started at 1 pence, At time of publication, it was up to £6.01. “Please note if you buy this it is sold as faulty, in quite a faulty way,” he writes. “But faulty is the new fashion now days so you may become super trendy. no returns, no refunds, no job.”

Kotaku AU Note: If you stand it on its end, does that make it a “faulty tower”?

Faulty xbox 360, bargaiiiinnn quite possibly maybe? [ebay.co.uk, thanks James B.]

In a statement to TG Daily, Microsoft said:

Microsoft stands behind the Xbox 360 as a superior entertainment console with one of the best warranties in the industry. We are constantly improving the design, manufacture and performance of the console through extensive testing of potential sources of any problems. Xbox 360 is pleased to maintain the title of ‘most played console’ and the vast majority of Xbox 360 customers have enjoyed a terrific gaming and entertainment experience since their first day, and continue to, day in and day out.

As always, when you are dealing with a spokesman, it’s what’s not said that’s the story. In this case, Microsoft didn’t even take a swipe at Game Informer’s survey methodology, or the staggering 54.6 percent figure. in February 2008, they disputed the validity of a report saying the console had a 16 percent failure rate.

Then again, Microsoft probably knows that to continue the who-shot-john over its original motherboard and Falcon designs is to propagate the console’s rep as a failboat. Plus challenging someone else’s numbers either dredges up ones reported in the past, or creates demands for you to produce your own. Probably best to give it some “superior console” boilerplate and invite the issue to go away.

Microsoft still didn’t say anything about the suck-egg customer service numbers – that only 38 percent found theirs helpful.

Microsoft Defends Infamous Red Ring of Death [TG Daily]

In a survey of the print edition of Game Informer, nearly 5,000 readers were surveyed about the consoles. Here’s how console failure broke down:

¥ Xbox 360 has a 54.2 per cent failure rate
¥ PS3 has a 10.6 per cent failure rate
¥ Wii has a 6.8 per cent failure rate

But think about it this way: 45.8 percent of Xbox 360s are JUST FINE. The rest? Totally screwed! Worse yet for Microsoft is that only 37.7 per cent found Xbox customer service helpful — compared to Sony’s 51.1 per cent customer service satisfaction and Nintendo’s 56.1 per cent.

Yet, only 3.8 per cent of Xbox 360 owners say that they would never buy another Xbox 360 because of hardware failure. Masochists!

EPIC FAIL (print edition only) [Game Informer via The Consumerist via VG247 Thanks Mugenkits!]

Up on eBay right now is an auction for a red-ringed 360. The seller asks: Why pay $300+ for a new XBOX 360 that CAN ONLY play games?

Why indeed, when it has so many other potential uses. Such as:

- Door Stop
- Novelty Key Chain
- Book Stand
- Chopping Board
- Car/Bike Stand
- Paper Weight
- Game Console Stand
- Dog Tie-Out
- Childrens High Chair
- Ironing Board
- Bike Ramp

Check out the full listing and several other comedy photos at the link below. It’s only $15, but there’s still four days to go!

XBOX 360 RROD [eBay]

When Microsoft announced they were extending their warranty for Xbox 360s that received a E74 error, I was curious how different the code was from the red ring of death. Not very, it turns out.

I contacted the company earlier this week to find out what a E74 code meant and whether it was possibly just a rebranded red ring of death.

Here’s what they told me:

Once a repair is made and a person gets their 360 back, does the clock reset for the extended warranty in regards to this error?
No. The same terms of the three-year warranty associated with three flashing red lights error apply.

We reported in 2007 that Microsoft was reworking their 360s to no longer give the red rings to report certain errors because people were sometimes misconstruing them. Is that the case?
No, that is not accurate.

Can a 360 still get a red ring error, aka the red ring of death?
Yes, the three flashing red lights error message can still be present on the console in the event of certain general hardware failures. We have made improvements to the console that will reduce the likelihood of an occurrence of this issue. The majority of customers who own Xbox 360 consoles have a terrific experience from their first day, and continue to, day in and day out.

Is the e74 code a replacement for the red ring of death?
No. The E74 error message can indicate the general hardware failure that is associated with three flashing red lights error on the console. This issue remains relatively narrow in scope and a very small percentage of our customers have contacted us about this issue. Again, we have already made improvements to the console that will reduce the likelihood of an occurrence of this issue.

But wait. What’s with the contradiction? How can an E74 error message apply to the same hardware failures that are associated with a red ring if they’re not the same?

“In some cases there is no difference. As we said, the E74 error message and three flashing red lights can in some cases indicate the same general hardware failure. However, it is not the same failure mode in all cases and there is no single root cause for these malfunctions.”

So it sounds like there is an overlap between hardware issues that cause the E74 message and hardware issues that cause the red ring of death.

Faced with a red-ringed 360, a user is left with a few options. They could brave Microsoft customer support and send it back. Or… they could make a fighting stick out of it.

We like the second option better, if only because it shows a little more of that good old pioneering spirit. The kind of spirit Seppun showed, when he took his busted 360, cut it open, drilled some holes, did some wiring and had himself a weighty, fiery new arcade stick.

RRoD Xbox Turned Into the Stupendous Arcade Stick [Gizmodo]